The Starforge Nexus shimmered with fading starlight, its crystalline spires casting fractured 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 unveils 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 Starlit Relic's vision of Hua Qing's ritual—"The Oath's heart will make me divine"—burned in his mind, her ambition for divinity clear.
The Guardian's voice echoed, ancient and solemn: "Unveil the soul's truth, or the Oath rejects you." 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 flared, its aura a tide of pure starlight. "Your soul hides truths. Prove its worth."
Ye Tian's eyes narrowed, Sword Intent rippling the air. "My blade unveils all truths." 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 unveil 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 dimming light.
Xiao Lan's voice snapped, sharp with frustration. "Prove it with steel!" Her gaze flicked to Su Mei, rivalry flaring. "You're too frail to matter," 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 envy."
Lian Yue's aura surged. "The Guardian's 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 pure 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—Hua Qing, forging a Void Shard with a Court elder, her voice cold. "The ritual demands the 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 chest, 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 shoulder, 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 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 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 under a dying star, 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 arm, the Void Scar quiet but lingering. Su Mei, barely standing, steadied herself against him, her touch a faint warmth. "You unveiled 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 origin 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 origin: "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 Starlit Map glowed, revealing a path to the Starveil Shrine's sanctum, where the next fragment lay. A new clue read: "The blade's heart pierces the soul's shadow." But a shadow stirred—a Court Ritualist, Core Formation Stage 10, its blade radiating corrupted Starshatter Qi, a jade slip pulsing in its hand. "Hua Qing's ritual nears its end," 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 shadow?