The Starfall Abyss roared with void-tainted winds, its cliffs cloaked in swirling mist that pulsed with fading starlight. Ye Tian stood before the shrine, the Lunar Fang in one hand, its blue steel humming, and the Starshatter Fragment in the other, its black steel resonating with the Starlit Map's clue: "The blade's heart burns where stars die." The Void Scar in his dantian throbbed, its black Qi weakened but persistent, a jagged reminder of the Celestial Court's curse. The Starvoid Beast, a Core Formation Stage 10 monstrosity of void and starlight, loomed before them, its roar shaking the cliffs, its claws radiating corrupted Starshatter Qi.
The Void Shard Trap's black runes flared, binding the shrine in a web of malice tied to Hua Qing's ritual for divinity. Behind Ye Tian, Xiao Lan gripped her crescent blade, blood seeping from her wounds, her eyes fierce with defiance. Elder Lian Yue's silver hair gleamed, her Core Formation aura a steady shield. Su Mei stood close, her jade flute raised, its star runes glowing, her Starlit Melody a quiet anchor against the Void Scar's chaos. Chen Wei lingered, his scarred face tense, clutching the stone tablet, his knowledge of the trap deepening Ye Tian's suspicion.
The beast's molten eyes glowed, its voice a guttural snarl. "The Oath's heart is sealed by Hua Qing's will. You'll perish, Sovereign."
Ye Tian's eyes narrowed, Sword Intent rippling the air. "Her will breaks before my blade." The Void Scar pulsed, a memory flashing—Hua Qing, her cold eyes fixed on a Void Shard, chanting in a Court ritual. "The Oath will make me divine," she vowed. Pain blurred the vision, but Su Mei's melody cut through, steadying him.
Her jade eyes met his, fierce yet warm. "We'll tear her ritual apart," she said, her flute's notes weaving a shimmering barrier. The melody synced with his Qi, easing the Void Scar's burn, their bond a spark in the void.
Xiao Lan's voice snapped, sharp with frustration. "Slay this beast already!" Her gaze flicked to Su Mei, rivalry crackling, but she charged, her crescent slashes slicing the air.
Lian Yue's aura surged. "The beast's tied to the Void Shard Trap. Destroy the shards!"
Chen Wei's hand twitched, his voice low. "The shards are in the shrine's core. I saw their runes in the vale."
Ye Tian's gaze hardened, the Void Scar whispering doubt. "You're too precise, Chen Wei." He stepped forward, the Lunar Fang ready, Su Mei at his side.
The beast lunged, its claws a storm of void and starlight. Ye Tian flowed into Body Sword Stance, parrying with a burst of silver sparks. The impact rattled his bones, the Void Scar flaring, a vision searing—Zhao Wuji, his sworn brother, kneeling before Hua Qing, forging a Void Shard. "I had no choice, brother," he whispered. Ye Tian roared, channeling Starlight Resonance. The abyss's starlight surged into his blade, amplifying his Qi, his strikes glowing as he slashed the beast's flank, void mist spraying.
Su Mei's Starlit Melody swelled, summoning a Starlit Phoenix, its wings scattering the beast's dark Qi. The bird dove, talons grazing its shoulder, but the beast's claw lashed, shattering the phoenix and sending Su Mei staggering. Ye Tian caught her, their hands clasping briefly, her touch a warmth against his pain. "I'm with you," she whispered, her melody rising again, vines binding the beast's claws.
Xiao Lan's slashes carved the beast's side, molten blood spraying, but its tail grazed her leg, her grunt sharp. Lian Yue's Crescent Moon Slash unleashed a blue arc, slicing its hide, but the beast roared, its aura intensifying. Chen Wei struck, his blade precise, but his eyes darted to the shrine, hesitation flickering. "The shards—destroy them!" he shouted.
The Void Shard Trap flared, black runes tightening, summoning Void Wraiths, Stage 9, their red eyes glowing. Ye Tian's gaze snapped to Su Mei as a wraith's blade aimed for her. "No!" he roared, lunging to shield her, but Su Mei moved faster, her melody surging. She threw herself between Ye Tian and the wraith, her Starlit Barrier flaring to block its strike. The barrier shattered, the wraith's blade grazing her side, blood blooming on her robe. She staggered, her flute trembling, but her melody held, vines binding the wraith.
Ye Tian's heart clenched, the Void Scar burning. "Su Mei!" He struck, the Lunar Fang cleaving the wraith, his Sword Intent quaking the air. Su Mei steadied herself, her jade eyes fierce despite her pain. "I can't lose you," she whispered, her voice breaking, her sacrifice cementing her loyalty.
Chen Wei dashed to the shrine, his blade striking a Void Shard at its core. It cracked, black light erupting, the wraiths faltering. Ye Tian seized the moment, Starlight Resonance peaking, his blade a silver comet. He struck, the Lunar Fang piercing the beast's core. The creature roared, collapsing into ash, the trap's runes dimming.
The abyss stilled, the shrine's glow softening. Ye Tian rushed to Su Mei, supporting her as blood dripped from her wound. Her hand clung to his, her touch a warmth against his pain. "You're our light," she said, a faint smile breaking through despite her pallor. "My mother died for the Oath… for you."
Ye Tian's heart stirred, her sacrifice mirroring his guilt over Fallen Moon's fall. "Her strength lives in you," he said, their gazes holding, a spark of unspoken connection flaring under the starlight. Her pain, her loyalty, bound them tighter.
Xiao Lan's voice cut through, sharp. "We're not safe! They'll come for us." Her eyes lingered on Su Mei, tension raw, her rivalry flaring at their moment.
Lian Yue frowned, her aura probing. "The shrine holds a relic tied to the Oath's origin."
Chen Wei's voice was urgent. "The tablet's runes mention a vision—Zhao Wuji's coercion, linked to Hua Qing's ritual. I saw it in the vale."
Ye Tian's gaze hardened, the Void Scar pulsing. "Show us." He helped Su Mei to the shrine, a vision flashing—Zhao Wuji, his sworn brother, forging a Void Shard under Hua Qing's command, his voice broken. "The Court forced me, brother." The third betrayer's web was clear.
They searched the shrine, finding a hidden compartment with a Starshatter Relic, a jade tablet etched with star runes, pulsing with celestial Qi. As Ye Tian touched it, a vision erupted: Zhao Wuji in a Court ritual, Void Shards circling a shadowed altar, Hua Qing's voice cold. "The Oath's heart will make me divine, and you'll serve." Pain spiked, but Su Mei's hand steadied him, her jade eyes shimmering despite her wound. "My mother died to stop this," she whispered, her voice breaking. "We'll end it."
Their shared loss bound them tighter, her touch a quiet vow. Before Ye Tian could study the relic, the abyss trembled, a massive aura surging. A Court Vanguard—Core Formation Stage 11—emerged from the shadows, its blade radiating corrupted Starshatter Qi, a jade slip pulsing in its hand. "Hua Qing's ritual awakens," it hissed. "You'll fall, Sovereign."
Ye Tian raised the Lunar Fang, Su Mei's weakened melody rising beside him, their energies entwined despite her pain. The Void Scar burned, but her presence steadied him. Was this vanguard the key to Hua Qing's ritual, or a pawn guarding its heart?