The Starforge Nexus loomed within the Soulforge Sanctum, its crystalline spires pulsing with radiant starlight that danced across jagged void rifts. Ye Tian faced a Core Formation Stage 10 Starbeast, a colossal creature of flame and shadow, its claws radiating corrupted Starshatter Qi, its eyes glowing 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 binds the soul's truth." The Void Scar in his dantian throbbed, its black Qi weakened but persistent, a jagged reminder of the Celestial Court's curse. The Jade Tablet's vision of Hua Qing's ritual—a soul's sacrifice to ascend to divinity—burned in his mind. The beast roared, its voice echoing the Court Ritualist's words: "Hua Qing's ritual is complete." 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, 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 beast's claws flared, its aura a tide of corrupted flame. "The Oath's heart feeds Hua Qing's ascension."
Ye Tian's eyes narrowed, Sword Intent rippling the air. "My blade binds 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's heart will make me eternal," 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 shatter 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 nexus's light.
Xiao Lan's voice snapped, sharp with frustration. "Slay this beast!" Her gaze flicked to Su Mei, rivalry flaring. "You're too frail to fight," 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 spite."
Lian Yue's aura surged. "The beast's tied to a Void Shard array. Find it!"
Chen Wei's hand twitched, his voice low. "The array's in the nexus's core. 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 beast lunged, its claws a storm of corrupted flame. 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 demands a soul's fire." Ye Tian roared, channeling Starlight Resonance. The nexus's starlight surged into his blade, amplifying his Qi, his strikes glowing as he slashed the beast's flank, shadow and flame spraying.
Su Mei's Starlit Melody, though weakened, summoned a faint Starlit Phoenix, its wings scattering the beast's dark Qi. The bird dove, talons grazing its hide, 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 faint warmth against his pain. "I'm still here," she whispered, her melody rising again, vines weakly binding the beast's legs.
Xiao Lan's slashes carved the beast's side, shadow spraying, but its claw grazed her arm, 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 nexus's core, hesitation flickering. "The shard—destroy it!" he shouted.
Ye Tian's gaze snapped to him, doubt coiling. "Find it!" He ducked the beast's claw, the corrupted flame singeing his shoulder, 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 beast's claws flashed, aiming for Ye Tian's heart. He parried, Sword Intent quaking the air. Su Mei's melody tightened the vines, slowing the beast. Ye Tian lunged, Iron Vein Slash infused with Starlight Resonance, slashing its chest. Shadow and flame erupted, the beast staggering, but the nexus's runes flared, a Void Shard Array activating, summoning Void Specters, Stage 9, their red eyes glowing in the starlight.
Xiao Lan and Lian Yue fought back-to-back, their blades felling specters, but more emerged. Chen Wei dashed to the nexus's core, 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 beast's core. The creature roared, collapsing into a storm of shadow and flame, the array dimming.
The nexus stilled, the fragment's glow softening. Ye Tian panted, blood dripping from his shoulder, 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 burns 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 nexus. "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 the fragment." Her eyes bored into Su Mei, tension raw. "You're slowing us down," 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 map points to the nexus's heart, where a fragment lies."
Chen Wei's voice was urgent. "The tablet's runes mention a vision—Hua Qing's ritual nearing its peak. 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 Void Shard, chanting in a Court ritual. The third betrayer's ambition burned clear.
They reached the nexus's heart, finding a hidden compartment with a Starshatter Fragment, its glow resonating with the others. As Ye Tian grasped it, a vision erupted: Hua Qing in a Court ritual, Void Shards circling a shadowed altar, a celestial alignment above. "The Oath's heart demands a soul's sacrifice," she declared. The vision shifted—Ye Tian's master, forging the Starshatter Sword, his voice heavy. "The Oath binds the soul's truth." Pain spiked, but Su Mei's faint melody steadied him. "My mother was her sacrifice," she whispered, her voice breaking. "End her ritual."
Their shared betrayal bound them tighter, her resolve a quiet vow. The nexus trembled, a massive aura surging. A Celestial Guardian, Core Formation Stage 10, emerged, its form woven from pure starlight, its blade radiating uncorrupted Starshatter Qi. "The Oath's keeper must face the soul's truth," it intoned, its voice ancient and solemn.
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 guardian the final test of the Oath, or a herald of Hua Qing's ritual's peak?