The Pure Yin Well's icy radiance permeated the cavern, casting an ethereal, pale blue glow that seemed to penetrate every shadow.
This profound chill, born of raw yin qi, enveloped Kai Shen—but rather than succumbing, he met it with a defiant surge of his own power.
His Heavenly Flame Requiem flared to life, a stark, brilliant white against the pervasive frost, its warmth pushing back the invading cold in a silent, resolute battle of opposing energies.
Standing before him was Lin Shi—the legendary Phoenix Empress.
Her presence alone was an overwhelming force. Her qi was an ocean of boundless power that filled every inch of the cavern like a living, breathing entity.
Her beauty was flawless. Breathtaking.
Yet etched upon her perfect features was a subtle, profound weariness. A hint of burdens carried for ages.
Kai's heart hammered against his ribs, a frantic drumbeat of conflicting emotions—shame for his unintentional summons, a deep-seated fear of her unimaginable power, and an overwhelming awe at the sheer magnitude of her presence.
She wasn't merely a legend.
She was a living, breathing testament to power beyond mortal comprehension.
His Spiritual Sensitivity, usually a steady compass, now quaked violently within him.
Her strength—it eclipsed that of even the most formidable masters within the entire Fort.
He had heard whispers of her title: Dragon's Beloved.
A name steeped in both reverence... and tragedy.
Could such a magnificent being truly have been sacrificed?
The thought sent a cold shiver down his spine—a testament to the darker truths hidden within legends.
To ground himself, to keep from being swept away by awe, Kai instinctively clutched So Yun's Glyph Manual.
The familiar leather and paper offered a small, tangible anchor in the face of such overwhelming spiritual might.
Overhead, he could still sense it: Lu's demonic qi.
Vile. Festering.
A reminder of the immediate threat lurking just above.
His internal readings remained stable—a constant feedback loop reflecting his progress:
Qi Reserve: 165A healthy reserve, slightly increased, indicating a sustained, powerful flow.
Concentration Stage: Rank 12 (Max)His focus was absolute, honed to a razor's edge, perceiving every minute detail of his surroundings and internal energies.
Heavenly Flame Requiem: Level 2Still burning brightly, a testament to its consistent efficacy and his growing mastery.
Spiritual Nodes: Body (Inactive)Dormant... but waiting. Waiting for the right moment to awaken.
Talent: Three Flames TemperingA silent, powerful foundation reinforcing his meridians.
Items:So Yun's Bag, Glyph Manual, Spirit Stones (10), Meridian Pill, Phoenix Sect RingAll accounted for. Each a tool—or a memory.
"Lin Shi?" Kai ventured.
His voice was barely a whisper, laced with a tremor of uncertainty and profound respect.
The name felt impossibly heavy on his tongue.
A name from ancient lore, not current reality.
Her gaze met his—sharp as winter ice, yet holding an untold depth.
"You know me, fire child?" she asked.
Her voice was soft, almost melodic, but with an undercurrent of ancient power that resonated deep within his bones.
There was a subtle note of surprise in her tone. A silent inquiry.
Kai swallowed, throat dry.
"Legends name you Phoenix Empress," he replied.
Carefully chosen words, each one weighed and measured. He was painfully aware of the chasm of power between them.
Lin Shi's flawless features remained impassive for a moment.
Then, a faint, almost imperceptible softening touched her lips.
Her voice, however, remained smooth as polished jade—yet edged with a chilling weariness.
"Legends often twist truth to suit their narratives," she said.
The weight of millennia clung to every word.
Then her gaze sharpened, piercing straight through him.
"Tell me, young cultivator. Why did you summon me to this desolate place?"
There was no accusation. No threat.
Just cold, exacting truth.
Kai's heart thudded hard.
"It was... unintended," he admitted, cheeks flushing with embarrassment despite the chill.
"My qi simply overflowed. I was... channeling my technique, and the Well's energy, it just..."
He trailed off, fumbling for words that could explain the raw surge of power.
A fleeting understanding passed through Lin Shi's eyes—perhaps even compassion.
"This Well," she said, her tone a gentle current now, "amplifies the qi of those who channel within its vicinity."
Her gaze swept over the brilliant white energy cloaking him.
"And your flame—it burns with an undeniable purity. A rare and potent purity."
Her words were simple, yet heavy with insight.
Despite the Empress before him, Kai's mind drifted.
He thought of the Phoenix Sect.
The corruption festering behind its gilded walls. The false righteousness.
He remembered the whispers. The hidden agendas. The demonic cultivators walking freely in the shadows.
And So Yun.
Her bag was still clutched in his hand—a symbol of her defiance. Of her faith in him.
She had risked everything for his sake.
His eyes scanned the cavern's formation—ancient glyphs spiraling outward from the central pool.
A masterpiece of spiritual alchemy.
Neutral qi, refined into pure yin. A process both powerful and forgotten.
A soft chime of system notification blinked in his mind:
Pure Yin Well — Heavenly+ RankEffect: Converts neutral qi to pure yin qi
"Lu," Kai said grimly.
The name came out like poison.
"He's above. He's... demonic."
There was no hesitation. No uncertainty. Just a cold declaration of fact.
Lin Shi's fleeting softness vanished.
Her features darkened.
Eyes blazing with a cold fury.
"Demons corrupt everything they touch," she said.
Her voice no longer melodic—now sharp. Cutting.
"Your sect permits this?"
Kai hesitated.
The weight of truth pressed heavy on his chest.
"They... they turn a blind eye," he said.
It hurt to admit. But he couldn't lie to her.
"Folly," Lin Shi uttered.
One word. Soft. Final.
A condemnation heavier than any curse.
Not just disappointment—judgment.
A surge of rage flared in Kai's chest.
Not against Lin Shi—but against everything he'd lost. Everything twisted.
His mother's death.
The betrayal rooted in the very heart of the Phoenix Sect.
"I'll purge it," he vowed inwardly.
No matter the cost.
With grim resolve, he turned his Heavenly Flame Requiem inward.
Not on enemies.
But on himself.
Toward the Body Node.
Searing pain exploded through him.
But the Three Flames Tempering activated instantly, steadying the surge.
It was time.
The Meridian Stage beckoned.
Lin Shi watched.
Silent.
Still.
Unmoving.
Neither helping... nor hindering.
She was a witness. Nothing more.
Then it came.
A pulse of demonic qi—powerful, sickening—rippled through the cavern from above.
A tremor of pure malevolence.
Lu moves.
The quiet was over.
To be continued…