The Ritual's Veil
The Soulforge Sanctum shimmered with fading celestial light, its obsidian pillars pulsing faintly with star runes as the celestial alignment's glow dimmed. Ye Tian faced the Court Vanguard, a Core Formation Stage 10 warrior, its blade radiating corrupted Starshatter Qi, a jade slip pulsing with malice. The Lunar Fang in his hand hummed, its blue steel resonating with the Starshatter Fragment, its black steel glowing with the Starlit Map's clue: "The blade's heart tests the soul's fire." The Void Scar in his dantian throbbed, its black Qi weakened by the Moonlit Purification Art but persistent, a jagged reminder of the Celestial Court's curse. The Jade Relic's vision of Hua Qing's betrayal—"The Oath's heart burns where trust dies"—burned in his mind, her ambition for divinity clear. The Vanguard's voice hissed, "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, recovering but still pale from her sacrifice, stood close, her jade flute raised, its star runes flickering, her Starlit Melody a faint anchor against the Void Scar's chaos. Chen Wei lingered, his scarred face tense, clutching the stone tablet, his knowledge of Hua Qing's ritual fueling Ye Tian's suspicion.
The Vanguard's blade flared, its aura a tide of corruption. "Hua Qing's ritual claims the Oath's heart. You'll break."
Ye Tian's eyes narrowed, Sword Intent rippling the air. "My blade shatters her lies." The Void Scar pulsed, a memory flashing—Hua Qing, her cold eyes fixed on a Void Shard, chanting in a Court ritual under a blood moon. "The Oath will make me a god," she vowed. Pain blurred the vision, but Su Mei's faint melody cut through, steadying him.
Her jade eyes met his, resolute despite her weakness. "We'll unveil her ritual together," she said, her flute's notes weaving a fragile barrier. The melody synced with his Qi, easing the Void Scar's burn, their bond a spark in the sanctum's fading light.
Xiao Lan's voice snapped, sharp with frustration. "End this traitor's pawn!" Her gaze flicked to Su Mei, rivalry flaring. "You're barely standing—stay back," she hissed, her words sharp. She charged, her crescent slashes slicing the air.
Su Mei's eyes hardened, her voice faint but firm. "My strength serves the Oath, Xiao Lan, not your jealousy."
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 sanctum's altar. I saw its 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 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—Hua Qing, forging a Void Shard with a Court elder, her voice cold. "The ritual ascends me to eternity." Ye Tian roared, channeling Starlight Resonance. The sanctum's embers 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 chest, but the Vanguard's blade lashed, shattering the phoenix and sending Su Mei staggering. Ye Tian caught her, their hands clasping briefly, her touch a faint warmth against his pain. "I'm still here," she whispered, her melody rising again, vines weakly binding the Vanguard's legs.
Xiao Lan's slashes carved the Vanguard's side, blood spraying, but its blade grazed her shoulder, 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 altar, 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 arm, blood dripping. Pain surged, but Su Mei's faint melody wrapped around him, a Starlit Barrier shielding him. "Stay strong," she urged, her jade eyes fierce despite her weakness.
The Vanguard's blade flashed, aiming for Ye Tian's heart. He parried, Sword Intent quaking the air. Su Mei's melody tightened the vines, 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 Specters, Stage 9, their red eyes glowing in the sanctum's shadows.
Xiao Lan and Lian Yue fought back-to-back, their blades felling specters, but more emerged. Chen Wei dashed to the altar, his blade striking a Void Shard at its base. It cracked, black light erupting, the specters 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 collapsed, its jade slip dimming.
The sanctum stilled, the fragment's glow softening. Ye Tian panted, blood dripping from his arm, the Void Scar quiet but lingering. Su Mei, barely standing, steadied herself against him, her touch a faint warmth. "You broke their chains," she said, her voice weak but resolute. "My mother's faith in you shines true."
Ye Tian's heart stirred, her resolve a mirror to his own. "Your strength carries her will," he said, their gazes holding, a spark of unspoken connection flaring in the sanctum. "I won't let you fall."
Her eyes softened, a flicker of fear beneath her resolve. "Then we end this together," she whispered, her hand tightening briefly, sealing their bond.
Xiao Lan's voice cut through, sharp. "We're exposed! They'll come for us." Her eyes bored into Su Mei, tension raw. "You're a burden now," she hissed, her rivalry a smoldering flame.
Su Mei's gaze held steady, her voice faint but firm. "My place is here, Xiao Lan, for the Oath—and him."
Lian Yue frowned, her aura probing. "The relic's clue—'where betrayal burns.' It points to Hua Qing's final ritual plans."
Chen Wei's voice was urgent. "The tablet's runes mention a jade tablet, detailing her ritual. I saw it in the vale."
Ye Tian's gaze hardened, the Void Scar pulsing. "Show us." He supported Su Mei, a vision flashing—Hua Qing, her cold eyes fixed on a jade tablet, chanting in a Court ritual. The third betrayer's ambition burned clear.
They searched the altar, finding a hidden compartment with a Jade Tablet, its star runes etched with Hua Qing's ritual: "The blade's heart ascends through the soul's sacrifice." As Ye Tian touched it, a vision erupted: Hua Qing in a Court ritual, Void Shards circling a shadowed altar, a celestial alignment above. "The Oath's heart will make me divine," she declared, her ritual requiring the Starshatter Sword's fragments and a soul's sacrifice. Pain spiked, but Su Mei's faint melody steadied him. "My mother was her sacrifice," she whispered, her voice breaking. "She trusted Hua Qing."
Their shared betrayal bound them tighter, her resolve a quiet vow. Before Ye Tian could study the tablet, the sanctum trembled, a massive aura surging. A Starlit Map glowed, revealing a path to the Starforge Nexus, where the next fragment lay. A new clue read: "The blade's heart binds the soul's truth." But a shadow stirred—a Court Ritualist, Core Formation Stage 10, its blade radiating corrupted Qi. "Hua Qing's ritual is complete," it hissed.
Ye Tian raised the Lunar Fang, Su Mei's faint melody rising beside him, their energies entwined despite her wounds. The Void Scar burned, but her presence steadied him. Was this ritualist the key to Hua Qing's ritual, or a final barrier to the Oath's truth?