The Starfall Abyss churned with fading void mist, its cliffs etched with starlit runes that pulsed weakly under a dimming sky. Ye Tian faced the Core Formation Stage 11 Court Vanguard, 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 Starshatter Relic's vision of Zhao Wuji's coercion—his sworn brother forced into Hua Qing's ritual—burned in Ye Tian's mind, deepening the sting of betrayal. The Vanguard's blade radiated corrupted Starshatter Qi, a jade slip pulsing with malice, its words echoing: "Hua Qing's ritual awakens."
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 trembling, blood staining her robe from her sacrifice against the Starvoid Beast, her Starlit Melody a faint but resolute anchor against the Void Scar's chaos. Chen Wei lingered, his scarred face tense, clutching the stone tablet, his knowledge of the ritual fueling Ye Tian's suspicion.
The Vanguard's voice hissed, cold and venomous. "Hua Qing's ritual will bind the Oath's heart. You'll fall, Sovereign."
Ye Tian's eyes narrowed, Sword Intent rippling the air. "Her ritual ends with my blade." The Void Scar pulsed, a memory flashing—Zhao Wuji, his sworn brother, forging a Void Shard under Hua Qing's command, his voice broken. "The Court forced me, brother." Pain blurred the vision, but Su Mei's weakened melody cut through, steadying him.
Her jade eyes met his, fierce despite her pallor. "We'll break her chains together," she said, her flute's notes weaving a fragile barrier. The melody, though faint, synced with his Qi, easing the Void Scar's burn, their bond a spark in the abyss.
Xiao Lan's voice snapped, sharp with frustration. "Cut this pawn down!" Her gaze flicked to Su Mei, rivalry crackling, but she charged, her crescent slashes slicing the air.
Lian Yue's aura surged. "The Vanguard's tied to a Void Shard. Find it!"
Chen Wei's hand twitched, his voice low. "The shard's in the shrine's core. I saw its runes in the vale."
Ye Tian's gaze hardened, the Void Scar whispering doubt. "You're too certain, Chen Wei." He stepped forward, the Lunar Fang ready, Su Mei at his side.
The Vanguard struck, its blade a storm of corrupted Qi, starfire trailing. 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, kneeling before Hua Qing, a Void Shard glowing in his hand. "I had no choice," 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 Vanguard's arm, blood and sparks flying.
Su Mei's Starlit Melody, though weakened, summoned a faint Starlit Phoenix, its wings scattering the Vanguard's dark Qi. The bird dove, talons grazing its shoulder, but the Vanguard's blade lashed, shattering the phoenix and forcing Su Mei to her knees. Ye Tian caught her, their hands clasping briefly, her touch a warmth against his pain despite her bloodied state. "I'm still here," she whispered, her melody struggling to rise, vines weakly binding the Vanguard's legs.
Xiao Lan's slashes carved the Vanguard's side, blood spraying, but its blade grazed her arm, her grunt sharp. Lian Yue's Crescent Moon Slash unleashed a blue arc, slicing its armor, but the Vanguard pressed forward, relentless. Chen Wei struck, his blade precise, but his eyes darted to the shrine, hesitation flickering. "The shard—destroy it!" he shouted.
Ye Tian's gaze snapped to him, doubt coiling. "Find it!" He ducked the Vanguard's strike, the corrupted blade nicking his shoulder, blood dripping. Pain surged, but Su Mei's faint melody wrapped around him, a Starlit Barrier shielding him despite her weakening strength. "Stay with me," she urged, her jade eyes fierce with resolve, her voice trembling from pain.
The Vanguard's blade flashed, aiming for Ye Tian's heart. He parried, Sword Intent quaking the air. Su Mei's melody shifted, vines tightening, slowing the Vanguard. Ye Tian lunged, Iron Vein Slash infused with Starlight Resonance, slashing its chest. Blood arced, the Vanguard staggering, but its jade slip flared, summoning Void Wraiths, Stage 10, their red eyes glowing in the abyss's mist.
Xiao Lan and Lian Yue fought back-to-back, their blades felling wraiths, but more emerged. 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 Vanguard's core. The figure roared, collapsing into ash, the jade slip 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 despite her pain. "You broke their line," she said, a faint smile breaking through her pallor. "My mother's sacrifice… it's in you."
Ye Tian's heart clenched, her sacrifice mirroring his guilt over Zhao Wuji's coercion. "Her strength binds us," he said, their gazes holding, a spark of unspoken connection flaring under the starlight. Her weakened state, her unyielding resolve, deepened their bond.
Xiao Lan's voice cut through, sharp. "We're exposed! They'll come for the fragment." Her eyes lingered on Su Mei, tension raw, her rivalry flaring at their moment.
Lian Yue frowned, her aura probing. "The shrine holds a map to the next fragment, tied to Zhao Wuji's coercion."
Chen Wei's voice was urgent. "The tablet's runes mention a map—pointing to the Starshatter Vault, 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's chains bound me, brother." The betrayal's weight was clear.
They searched the shrine, finding a hidden compartment with a Starlit Map, its star runes detailing the Starshatter Vault, the next fragment's resting place. 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. "Your betrayal seals the Oath's heart." Pain spiked, but Su Mei's hand steadied him, her jade eyes shimmering despite her wound. "My mother died to break this ritual," she whispered, her voice breaking. "We'll end it."
Their shared loss bound them tighter, her touch a quiet vow despite her pain. Before Ye Tian could study the map, the abyss trembled, a massive aura surging. A Court Ritual Guardian—Core Formation Stage 12—emerged from the shadows, its form woven from starlight and void, its blade pulsing with corrupted Qi. "Hua Qing's ritual nears completion," it intoned. "The Oath's heart is hers."
Ye Tian raised the Lunar Fang, Su Mei's weakened melody rising beside him, their energies entwined despite her fading strength. The Void Scar burned, but her presence steadied him. Was this guardian Hua Qing's final creation, or a key to the Starshatter Vault?