Fallen Heaven Rise of Faizi Tian
**Episode 36 – Shadows Beneath the Moonlight**
The moon hung low in the sky, veiled by thin, ghostly clouds. Its pale light spilled across the ancient training grounds of the Northern Peak. Faizi Tian stood alone on the cliffside, his gaze fixed on the valley below where Elder Ren's courtyard was nestled. The elder's lantern glowed faintly in the distance, swaying in the night wind like a heartbeat in the darkness.
For days, Faizi Tian had felt it—a subtle shift in Elder Ren's behavior. His words were still kind, his guidance still precise, but there were moments… brief moments… where his eyes reflected something deeper, something he kept buried. That shadow was what gnawed at Faizi Tian's mind.
He inhaled slowly, letting the night air calm the storm inside him. *If Elder Ren truly hides a connection to the demons, I cannot confront him openly. Not yet. I must see the truth with my own eyes.*
From the shadows, a faint rustle. A small golden hawk—his scouting spirit beast—landed quietly on his shoulder. A soft mental link pulsed between them, delivering the images it had seen: Elder Ren meeting a cloaked figure near the old Spirit Well. The figure handed him something—an ancient scroll, bound with crimson thread.
Faizi's jaw tightened. The Spirit Well was a forbidden place, a sealed location said to hold remnants of the Demon War. Only trusted elders were allowed near it. *What business does Elder Ren have there… at midnight?*
---
The next morning, Elder Ren was all smiles as he oversaw the training of disciples. His voice carried authority but also warmth, making it hard for anyone to doubt his loyalty. To everyone, he was the pillar of the Northern Peak. But Faizi Tian now watched every gesture, every subtle glance.
After training, Elder Ren approached him.
"Faizi," he said with that familiar calm tone, "you have been pushing yourself harder than ever. Your progress in the Void Spirit Steps is impressive. But remember—cultivation is not just about speed. Patience shapes power."
Faizi forced a polite smile. "Yes, Elder Ren. I will remember your advice."
Their eyes met for a fleeting moment. Faizi thought he caught a flicker—just a flicker—of something calculating in the elder's gaze. Or maybe it was his own suspicion clouding his judgment.
---
That night, Faizi made his move.
Using the Void Spirit Steps, he slipped past the outer guards without sound. The moon was brighter tonight, silver light pooling over the mountain paths. Every shadow felt alive. He reached the outskirts of the Spirit Well, crouching behind an old stone arch carved with warding runes.
There—two silhouettes. One was unmistakably Elder Ren. The other… wore a tattered black cloak, face hidden, voice like gravel. They spoke in low tones, words carried just enough by the wind for Faizi to catch fragments.
"…the seal… weakening… cannot delay…"
"…prepare the vessel… the boy is not ready…"
Faizi's heart pounded. *The boy? Me?* He strained to hear more, but the cloaked figure noticed something and vanished into the mist with unnatural speed. Elder Ren lingered a moment longer, clutching the crimson-thread scroll before tucking it into his robe and leaving.
---
Faizi remained hidden until the elder was gone. Then he approached the Spirit Well's edge. The air here was thick, heavy with demonic residue. His spiritual sense prickled with danger. Looking down into its dark depths, faint crimson light pulsed below like a heartbeat.
Whispers—so faint they might have been imagined—brushed against his mind. *"Release… feed… awaken…"*
A wave of cold swept over him, forcing him to step back. Whatever was down there… it was alive.
---
Back in his quarters, Faizi sat cross-legged, eyes closed. His mind replayed everything. Elder Ren's kindness, his teachings… but also his midnight meetings, the forbidden place, and that scroll.
*Is Elder Ren protecting the sect from this… or feeding it?*
One thing was certain—if the Demon Seal hidden in the Spirit Well broke, chaos would engulf the entire Northern Peak. And if Elder Ren truly played a part in it, then Faizi Tian would have to choose between loyalty… and survival.
---
At dawn, Faizi received a summons. Elder Ren wanted to see him immediately.
Inside the elder's chamber, the air smelled faintly of incense. Scrolls lined the walls, some ancient enough to crumble at a touch. Elder Ren sat at the low table, studying the crimson-thread scroll.
"Faizi," he said without looking up, "I have a task for you. One that must remain between us."
Faizi hid his unease. "What kind of task?"
Elder Ren finally looked at him, his gaze calm but sharp. "You will travel beyond the sect… to a place where few have returned from. There is an artifact there—the key to strengthening the seal at the Spirit Well. Only you have the potential to retrieve it."
The words were steady, but Faizi caught the faintest hint of urgency behind them. Was this truly to protect the seal… or to break it?
Either way, the path ahead was now set. And in the shadows, unseen by both of them, the Abyss Flame Monarch stirred.
*To be continued…*