The Ninefold Mountain Sect's vaults stretched deeper, a labyrinth of jade and shadow where the air thrummed with the weight of ancient qi, thick with the echoes of celestial wars. Wei Chen led the way, the two jade fragments in his tunic pulsing like twin stars, their runes forming a map in his mind—a hidden chamber where the second fragment waited, its celestial call tugging at his Late Qi Condensation qi. Lin Xiyue followed, her sword drawn, its blade catching the vault's faint glow, her crimson ribbon a defiant splash of fire. Su Meilin's fan cast soft light, her celestial qi illuminating the path, but her moonstone eyes darted to the shadows, wary of the Abyss Cult's reach.
"This is madness," Wei Chen muttered, ducking under a low jade arch, his dagger glowing faintly. "Sneaking into vaults, fighting assassins—my ancestors owe me a long nap after this." His sarcasm masked the tension coiling in his chest. The fragments burned hotter, their celestial qi pushing him to the cusp of Foundation Realm. Lian Xue's face—clear in his last vision, smiling before her blade struck—haunted him, her betrayal a puzzle he couldn't solve.
Lin Xiyue grinned, her sword twirling as she stayed close. "A nap? Scholar, you'd be bored without me to keep you sharp." Her teasing was sharp, but her shoulder brushed his, a warmth that steadied his racing heart. "Admit it—you're loving the thrill." Her eyes sparkled, a mix of challenge and affection that made Wei Chen's pulse skip.
He chuckled, despite the fragments' insistent pulse. "Thrill? You're delusional, sword maiden. But I'll keep you around for the laughs." Her laugh was bright, a burst of light in the vault's gloom, and he caught her glancing at him, her grin softer, almost tender.
Su Meilin's voice cut through, calm but urgent. "The fragment's qi is close. We must be cautious—the cult won't let it go without a fight." Her fan glowed brighter, its celestial light revealing runes on the walls that pulsed in sync with the fragments. Her eyes met Wei Chen's, and the fragments flared, as if acknowledging her celestial blood. "Your memories are guiding us, Wei Chen. Trust them."
The chamber was a dome of polished jade, its walls etched with celestial runes that shimmered like a starry sky. At its center, a pedestal held the second fragment, its surface pulsing in harmony with Wei Chen's. He stepped forward, heart pounding, the air thick with anticipation. But as his hand reached out, demonic qi erupted, a malevolent wave that shook the chamber. Shadow Viper emerged from the shadows, their mask glinting like a crescent moon, flanked by three cultists, their qi at Early Foundation Realm, daggers dripping with venom.
"You're persistent, Jade Sovereign," Shadow Viper rasped, their voice a chilling echo of Wei Chen's past. "The fragments belong to the Abyss Cult. Hand them over, or this sect becomes your grave." Their mask hid their face, but their qi felt familiar, a shadow of Lian Xue's betrayal.
Wei Chen's blood ran cold, the fragments searing his chest. "You know me?" he demanded, his dagger glowing with Jade Soul Scripture qi. The vision of Lian Xue flashed—her smile, her blade, her broken promise. Was Shadow Viper her agent, or something more? He gripped the fragments, resolve hardening.
Lin Xiyue's sword ignited, her Flame Blossom Strike lighting the chamber like a phoenix's blaze. "Enough chatter, creep!" she snarled, slashing at a cultist, her fiery qi clashing with their venomous blades, sparks illuminating the dome. Su Meilin's fan spun, sending celestial waves that stunned another, her movements a dance of grace and power. Wei Chen's Jade Sovereign's Step blurred his form, dodging a dagger aimed at his heart, his shield flaring green.
The fight was a storm, jade walls trembling as qi tore through the chamber. Wei Chen's qi strained, his Late Qi Condensation barely holding against the cultists' strength. The fragments glowed, merging their celestial qi with his, and a vision hit: the Jade Sovereign, sealing the fragments with Lian Xue, her voice soft—"Together, forever"—then her blade piercing his heart. He staggered, the memory fading as Shadow Viper's dagger grazed his arm, drawing blood.
Lin Xiyue tackled the assassin, her fiery qi forcing them back. "Stay with us, scholar!" she shouted, her voice sharp with worry, her sword a whirlwind. Her eyes flicked to him, a flicker of fear beneath her bravado. Su Meilin threw an elixir from her sleeve, its celestial glow healing Wei Chen's wound, her gaze meeting his with quiet resolve. "We need you," she whispered, her fan deflecting another strike.
Together, they drove the cultists back, their teamwork a symphony of fire, celestial light, and jade qi. Wei Chen's dagger struck Shadow Viper's mask, cracking it, revealing a glimpse of pale skin before they vanished, hissing, "The fragments will be ours, Sovereign." The cultists fell, their bodies dissolving into demonic mist, leaving a jade token etched with the Abyss Cult's sigil.
Wei Chen seized the second fragment, its qi merging with his, a surge that pushed his cultivation to Early Foundation Realm. His meridians stabilized, his qi flowing like a river breaking free. The chamber trembled, its arrays destabilizing, and the trio fled, emerging into the sect's dawn light, the three fragments pulsing in Wei Chen's hands.
"Lian Xue," he whispered, the name a bitter weight. "She betrayed me… but why?" The fragments offered no answers, only power—and a growing sense of peril.
Lin Xiyue's hand rested on his shoulder, her grin fierce but soft. "Whoever she was, she's not here now. You've got us, scholar. Don't go brooding on me." Her touch lingered, a warmth that eased the ache in his heart, her eyes holding a promise of loyalty.
Su Meilin nodded, her fan closed, her voice steady. "The fragments are waking your past, Wei Chen. We must find the others—before the cult does." Her eyes held a flicker of fear, mirroring the fragments' pulse, but also a resolve that matched his own.
As they returned to the sect, Wei Chen felt the fragments' weight, a call to a destiny he couldn't escape. The tournament loomed, but the real battle was with his past—and the allies who stood with him, their bonds stronger than any blade.