[The Gathering Shadows]
In the depths of the Guan-Dian Palace, the Preceptor Feng Mian knelt before the Obsidian Soul Mirror. A dark, cold mist swirled as the projection of Hades You Nian appeared.
"The puppet is ready," Feng Mian hissed, referring to the King. "Once the Saintess falls at the Sanctuary, the Yao-world will have no one left to resist you."
Across the rift in the Rift-曜 Underworld, the Three Generals knelt before their Emperor:
Po Jun · Tu Tan: The mountain of a man with a heavy blade.
Xuan Lin · Jia Luo: The master of mist and ancient beasts.
Bai Gu · Lian Yu: The bone-armored necromancer.
"This time," You Nian's crimson eyes burned with a madness born of loss, "I will not be late. The Heart of the Yao-Spirit will be mine." Yet, in the quiet of his inner chambers, he held his wife Qing Fei as she wept for their lost daughter. For the Emperor, this war was not just for power—it was for a grief that had never healed.
[The Saintess's Command]
At the edge of the Sanctuary, the air was thick with violent energy. Gu Xingyu turned to her escort of soldiers. "Stop here. You do not need to follow us further."
When they protested, her voice remained steady. "This is our fight. I will not have innocent blood spilled here. Go back to the Capital. Tell the Prince and the Court about the wells we dug, the clinics we built, and the food we secured. Let them know the people's hope lies in peace, not war."
The soldiers knelt in tears, realizing their mission was no longer to die as shields, but to live as messengers of hope. "We obey, Saintess!"
[The Desperate Vow]
As the soldiers retreated, only the six of them remained before the dark entrance of the temple.
"From here on," Xingyu whispered, her voice barely audible, "we don't know if we will return alive. If something happens to me... you must live on."
"Don't you dare say that again!"
Si Moheng stepped out of the shadows, his black robes fluttering like a storm. He gripped her shoulders, his eyes a terrifying crimson. "You think I would stay alive if you were gone? Say it once more, I dare you!"
The air froze. The Five Yao stood in silent shock. Moheng's words were a raw, bleeding confession.
Lin Lie's heart shook; he finally saw the depth of Moheng's terror.
Luo Ye's anger was suppressed by a bitter realization of his own fear.
Sang Qi watched, realizing Moheng wasn't angry—he was petrified.
Cang Yuan's smile vanished, seeing his own darkest thoughts mirrored in the Prince.
Li Yan remained like iron, vowing to carry her out even if she fell.
Xingyu looked down, offering a soft, forced smile. "Fine... I won't say it again."
But as they walked into the darkness, Moheng watched her back. He knew that smile. It wasn't a promise of safety; it was the quiet resolve of a martyr. His fingers tore at his sleeves, his internal rage brewing like a dark flame.
If you try to sacrifice yourself, Xingyu... I will tear this world apart to bring you back.