[The Ancient Grandeur]
The Sanctuary stood atop a ten-thousand-foot peak, hidden within a sea of clouds. Inside, massive pillars carved with ancient Yao-runes reached for the heavens, radiating a faint, fading light. At the center stood the Gates of the Yao-Source, a colossal stone portal pulsing like the heartbeat of an ancient beast.
On the walls, murals depicted the first Saintess and her Five Yao offering the Heart of the Yao-Spirit to the Emperor. The air was no longer peaceful; it was violent, heavy with a thousand years of repressed power.
[The Awakening of the Heart]
Before the gate sat an ancient compass made of black iron and bronze. Five slots awaited the keys. One by one, the Five Yao stepped forward, their seals glowing in resonance.
—BOOM!
The temple shuddered. As the five keys clicked into place, a pillar of pure light descended from the dome. Floating in the center of the whirlpool was a crystalline core of divine radiance—the Heart of the Yao-Spirit.
[The Descent of the Four Generals]
But as the light peaked, shadows tore through the air. Black mist flooded the hall, and four nightmare figures emerged:
Tu Tan (Po Jun): Dragging a massive blade wreathed in black flames.
Jia Luo (Xuan Lin): Surrounded by shadows of wolves, eagles, and serpents.
Lian Yu (Bai Gu): Clad in bone armor, summoning the whispers of the dead.
Feng Mian (Night Crow): A flickering phantom laughing in the dark.
"By order of Hades," they roared, "Seize the Heart! Destroy the Saintess! Slay the Five Yao!"
[The Near Departure]
As Xingyu held the glowing Heart, the sound of battle faded. In her ears, the infant's cry from her dreams grew deafening. Her eyes fixed on the swirling vortex behind the gate—the very place that baby had been thrown. Lost in a trance, she took a step toward the abyss.
Suddenly, a hand grabbed her with desperate force, yanking her back.
"What do you think you're doing?!"
Si Moheng's voice was ragged with terror. He pulled her into a burning embrace, crushing her against his chest as if his soul would shatter if he let go. He didn't see the war; he only saw the woman he loved about to disappear into another world.
The Five Yao froze, caught between the shock of Xingyu almost leaving and the sight of her in Moheng's arms. In that split second of distraction, the enemy struck.
[The Outbreak of War]
"Kill!"
Tu Tan leaped into the air, his giant blade shattering the stone steps beneath them. Jia Luo unleashed a tide of shadow beasts, while Lian Yu's bone-claws clawed at Xingyu's feet.
The Five Yao snapped back into focus.
Luo Ye roared, his dual rings erupting in a firestorm to incinerate the beasts.
Lin Lie slammed his staff down, golden runes shielding them from falling debris.
Sang Qi's needles flew like silver rain, silencing the dead's whispers.
Cang Yuan's blade moved like water, slicing through the encroaching mist.
Li Yan stood at the very front, his heavy shield clashing against Tu Tan's massive blade with a sound that cracked the heavens.
The war for the Yao-world had begun. Light and shadow, faith and betrayal—all converged in the Sanctuary as the blood-red dawn of battle rose.