The Starforge Nexus pulsed with radiant starlight, its crystalline spires casting shimmering reflections across the void-rift floor. Ye Tian faced the Celestial Guardian, a Core Formation Stage 10 entity woven from pure starlight, its blade radiating uncorrupted Starshatter Qi. 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 for divinity—burned in his mind. The guardian's voice echoed, ancient and solemn: "The Oath's keeper must face the soul's truth." 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 guardian's blade gleamed, its aura a tide of starlight. "Prove your truth, or the Oath rejects you."
Ye Tian's eyes narrowed, Sword Intent rippling the air. "My truth is my blade." 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 face the truth 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. "Prove it with steel!" Her gaze flicked to Su Mei, rivalry flaring. "You're too weak to matter," she hissed, her words sharp. She readied her blade, her stance tense.
Su Mei's eyes hardened, her voice faint but firm. "My strength serves the Oath, Xiao Lan, not your scorn."
Lian Yue's aura surged. "The guardian's test is tied to the Oath's heart. Find its source!"
Chen Wei's hand twitched, his voice low. "The source is 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 certain, Chen Wei." He stepped forward, the Lunar Fang ready, Su Mei at his side.
The guardian struck, its blade a flash of starlight, pure and unyielding. 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 truth." Ye Tian roared, channeling Starlight Resonance. The nexus's starlight surged into his blade, amplifying his Qi, his strikes glowing as he slashed the guardian's arm, starlight mist spraying.
Su Mei's Starlit Melody, though weakened, summoned a faint Starlit Phoenix, its wings scattering the guardian's radiant Qi. The bird dove, talons grazing its shoulder, but the guardian's blade lashed, shattering the phoenix and sending Su Mei stumbling. 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 guardian's legs.
Xiao Lan's slashes carved the guardian's side, mist spraying, but its blade grazed her arm, her grunt sharp. Lian Yue's Crescent Moon Slash unleashed a blue arc, slicing its form, but the guardian reformed, its aura intensifying. Chen Wei struck, his blade precise, but his eyes darted to the nexus's core, hesitation flickering. "The source—destroy it!" he shouted.
Ye Tian's gaze snapped to him, doubt coiling. "Find it!" He ducked the guardian's strike, the starlight blade nicking 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 guardian'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 guardian. Ye Tian lunged, Iron Vein Slash infused with Starlight Resonance, slashing its chest. Starlight erupted, the guardian staggering, but the nexus's runes flared, a Celestial Core pulsing within, amplifying its power.
Su Mei's voice, faint but urgent, broke through. "The core holds the Oath's truth. Use the fragments!" Her melody surged, her lore knowledge guiding him, her notes weaving a path to the core.
Ye Tian's eyes met her jade gaze, her resolve strengthening his own. "Guide me," he said, his voice low, her faith a spark against his pain. He clutched the Starshatter Fragments, their glow merging with the nexus's light. Su Mei's melody enveloped him, its warmth syncing with his Qi, amplifying his focus.
Xiao Lan's voice snapped, sharp with tension. "Hurry! We're exposed!" Her eyes lingered on Su Mei, tension raw, her rivalry a smoldering flame.
Lian Yue nodded, her aura probing. "The core's power is tied to the Oath. Break it."
Ye Tian approached the nexus's core, the fragments in hand, channeling Starlight Resonance. The core pulsed, its light clashing with his Qi. A vision erupted—Ye Tian's master, forging the Starshatter Sword, his voice heavy. "The Oath binds the soul's truth, forged in trust." Hua Qing stood beside him, her eyes cold, betraying that trust. Pain spiked, but Su Mei's melody anchored him, her notes a lifeline.
Ye Tian struck the core, the fragments flaring, their light shattering its radiance. The guardian faltered, its form flickering. He lunged, the Lunar Fang piercing its core. The guardian dissolved into starlit mist, its voice echoing, "The Oath's heart lies where trust is forged."
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 faced the truth," 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 nexus. "I won't let you fall."
Her eyes softened, a flicker of fear beneath her resolve. "Then we forge on," she whispered, her hand tightening briefly, sealing their bond.
Xiao Lan's voice cut through, sharp. "We're not safe! They'll come for the fragment." Her eyes bored into Su Mei, tension raw. "You're too weak to keep up," 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 core's clue—'where trust is forged.' A relic tied to the Oath's heart lies here."
Chen Wei's voice was urgent. "The tablet's runes mention a jade relic, linked to Hua Qing's 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 relic, chanting in a Court ritual. The third betrayer's ambition burned clear.
They searched the nexus's core, finding a hidden compartment with a Jade Relic, its star runes etched with the Oath's heart: "The blade's heart forges trust in sacrifice." As Ye Tian touched it, a vision erupted: Hua Qing, betraying Ye Tian's master, offering a Void Shard to a Court elder. "The Oath's heart will make me divine," she declared. Pain spiked, but Su Mei's faint melody steadied him. "My mother trusted her," she whispered, her voice breaking. "She burned for it."
Their shared betrayal bound them tighter, her resolve a quiet vow. Before Ye Tian could study the relic, the nexus trembled, a massive aura surging. A Court Ambush erupted—three Core Formation Stage 9 agents, their blades radiating corrupted Starshatter Qi, jade slips pulsing in their hands. Their leader sneered, "Hua Qing's ritual claims the Oath's heart."
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 ambush Hua Qing's final stand, or a step closer to her ritual's heart?