HEAVENLY THUNDER HALL, TIANSHAO CITY
The Heavenly Thunder Hall stood at the very heart of Tianshao City, a testament to the might and legacy of the Lightning Dragon Clan. The hall's walls were forged from obsidian stone and reinforced with threads of pure silver that shimmered faintly like lightning trapped beneath ice. Towering dragon-shaped pillars lined either side, their scales carved in exquisite detail, each one coiled upward as though ready to take flight.
The vaulted ceiling was painted with scenes of ancient battles, where dragons clashed against enemies long forgotten. Streaks of faint blue light pulsed across the murals, powered by spiritual energy flowing through hidden channels in the walls. Every flicker of light cast shifting shadows, making it seem as though the dragons were alive and still battling overhead.
At the center of the hall rested a massive circular war table, carved from an ancient glacier's hearthstone — cold to the touch, yet strong enough to endure centuries of use. Spread across its surface were maps of Tianshao's territories, marked with jade figurines representing sect forces, allied clans, and enemy troops. The air was sharp and heavy, humming faintly with spiritual power, as if the hall itself were listening to the decisions being made within it.
High-backed chairs ringed the table, each marked with the insignia of the Lightning Dragon Clan — a soaring dragon surrounded by storm clouds. At the head sat Lord Lei Tianlong, the undisputed leader of the clan and ruler of Leitian doamain. His presence was commanding, like a thundercloud heavy with storm, his sharp eyes glinting with a cold, dangerous light.
Elders, generals, and strategists filled the seats around him, their expressions grave. The hum of low conversation died instantly when Lei Tianlong raised his hand.
"Report," his deep voice rumbled, reverberating through the hall.
A grizzled warrior stepped forward — General Han Wu, his armor etched with patterns of lightning bolts. He bowed before speaking, his tone clipped and urgent.
"My lord, scouts have confirmed movements along our northern borders. The rival clans are gathering strength. If we delay, they will encroach further into our lands."
Before Lei Tianlong could reply, Elder Lei Shaoweng, an austere man with snow-white hair, interjected.
"If we strike now, we risk revealing our full forces. The Lightning Dragon Clan has always prevailed through patience and precision. To act rashly would be folly."
Han Wu's hand slammed against the table with a metallic clang.
"Patience will cost us more than land, Elder Shao. The enemy's numbers grow with each passing day. If we sever their supply routes here—" He jabbed at a narrow valley marked on the map. "—their entire campaign will collapse."
The hall grew tense. The warriors and elders shifted uneasily, torn between bold action and cautious defense.
Lei Tianlong's gaze swept over them all, his expression unreadable. After a long, heavy silence, he spoke, his voice like distant thunder.
"We will not be cornered like prey, nor will we charge blindly into their trap." His eyes flickered with cold lightning as he pointed at the map.
"General Han, lead a strike force to disrupt their supply line — but move under the cover of night and storm. Elder Shao, you will maintain our defenses and fortify the northern borders."
His tone sharpened, each word striking like a blade.
"Tianshao City is the heart of the Lightning Dragon Clan. If we fall, the storm itself will die. Failure is not an option."
The gathered council members rose to their feet, fists clasped to their chests, their voices thundering in unison:
"Yes, my lord!",
Lei Tianlong face was filled with confusion, he turned towards Elder Lei Yan, a confidant of Lei Tianlong.
"Something is behind the Kirin clan's motive, though they are powerful, they know they can't stand a chance with us. Yet they still plan for war", Lei Tianlong said
Lei Yan sighed, "I'm afraid the Eternal frost empire is behind this",
Lei Yan's words confirmed Lei Tianlong suspicion.
Though the Kirin clan and the Heavenly Lightning Dragon clan aren't in good terms, the Kirin clan wouldn't call for war so rashly, they must have someone powerful backing them.
" Emperor Han Zhiye quest for the Ancestral dragon of snow and Thunder's blood core is strong. We must not let the blood core fall into his hands nor the other body remnants ",Lei Tianlong said.
"Xueyi will be his next target. Inform Elder Lei Yufeng ",
" Yes, my Lord", Lei Yan said and left.
BEILUO VALLEY
The air in Beiluo Valley was crisp and cool, carrying with it the faint scent of wildflowers and damp earth. Though it was a remote and almost forgotten corner of the world, its beauty was undeniable — rolling hills blanketed with mist, ancient trees arching like watchful guardians, and streams that glimmered like silver threads under the midday sun.
Lei long Xueyi stood quietly at the edge of a rocky outcrop, letting her gaze travel over the valley below.
For a moment, she simply breathed, filling her lungs with the clean, untouched air.
It was so different from the stifling halls of Tianshao City. Here, everything felt alive. Free.
A faint flutter caught her attention.
Lei long Xueyi turned, just in time to see a delicate butterfly drifting past her — its wings unlike any she had ever seen.
They shimmered with a soft glow, like morning dew catching moonlight, tinted with violet and pale blue.
"Hyacinth wings…", she thought, recalling an old story her father once told her.
Creatures like this weren't supposed to exist anymore, not outside of legends.
The butterfly hovered for a heartbeat, almost as if beckoning her, then glided off into the trees.
Without thinking, Lei long Xueyi stepped forward.
One step became two… then three…
Soon, she was following it deeper into the valley, her feet moving of their own accord.
The world grew quieter the farther she went.
The cheerful chirping of birds faded, replaced by a heavy, unnatural stillness.
She blinked, realizing the sunlight had dimmed, the forest canopy above closing tighter and tighter until only thin rays of light pierced through.
The butterfly kept drifting just ahead of her, always within sight but never close enough to catch.
Her breathing quickened.
A chill crept up her spine.
Then—
The butterfly vanished.
Xueyi froze.
Her eyes darted around, confusion clawing at her chest.
Where was she?
The air here was different — colder, thicker, carrying a faint, metallic tang that made her stomach twist and her chest tightened
And then it hit her.
"No… it can't be."
Her voice trembled as she whispered
"Miyin Forest…"
Her heart pounded violently. She had heard countless stories of this place — a forbidden land, sealed away for centuries.
No one who entered ever returned.
And yet… here she was
A soft crunch beneath her foot drew her gaze downward.
Her breath caught.
Bones!
Old, bleached-white skeletons littered the ground, tangled with rusted weapons and torn scraps of cloth.
The sight turned her stomach, bile rising in her throat.
Lei long Xueyi stumbled back, one hand pressed to her mouth.
This wasn't just a cursed forest.
It was a graveyard.
A low growl rumbled through the shadows.
Her head snapped up.
From between the gnarled roots of a massive, blackened tree, something moved.
Two glowing eyes — pale and sickly, like frozen moonlight — stared out at her.
Then the rest of it emerged, massive and hulking.
The creature's form was twisted and unnatural, its fur matted with dried blood.
Jagged horns curved from its skull, and its claws were long enough to tear through steel.
Each breath it took released a foul mist, thick with the stench of decay.
Lei long Xueyi's entire body went rigid.
Her legs went numb, she has never seen something like this before.
The monster stepped forward, and the ground trembled under its weight.
Behind it, half-buried beneath roots and moss, lay heaps of bones, evidence of decades — perhaps centuries — of slaughter.
Her heart raced, panic clawing at her throat.
She stumbled back a step, then another, but the creature's gaze locked on her, its lips peeling back to reveal jagged, yellowed fangs.
The silence shattered with a piercing roar, so loud and deep it seemed to shake the entire forest.
And in that moment, Lei long Xueyi realized two terrifying truths:
One, She was trapped inside Miyin Forest, two, the beast had no intention of letting her leave alive.
She breathed unevenly not having any idea of what to do.
I shouldn't have followed that butterfly, she thought.
"You have no trace of cultivation. What brings you here?", the beast asked.
Lei long Xueyi couldn't believe her ears, she was shocked to see the beast talked. From what she know, only beast who is at the peak of entering divinity could talk.
" I-I nothing ",Lei long Xueyi stammered.
" Lies! You must be sent to acquire the soul spirit of the ancestral dragon", the beast positioned itself for an attack.
Lei long Xueyi didn't wait for any instructions from her brain before she took her heels.
The forest was filled mist and was dense,but Lei long Xueyi didn't mind. She kept running not knowing where the path led to. She could feel the terrifying presence of the beast behind her as it tried to grab her by its claws. But Lei long Xueyi was swift,this even shocked her as she never knew she could be so fast.
As she took another step, she fell into a hole. The whole was so narrow,that she kept falling until she fell on a solid floor, then she felt pain allover her body.
The place was cold and dry. Snow flakes floated around as if it was winter. Then a faint blue light shimmered through her eyes and caught her attention. Before she knew it, she felt a powerful being entered her and fell unconscious.