đ Cold Ridge â Northern Frontier of the Azure Lands
The cold wind swept across the jagged black cliffs of the Midnight Ridge as Jiang Chen stood silently atop a flat obsidian outcrop, his dark cloak billowing like a phantom's wing under the pale moonlight.
Below, hidden beneath layers of mist, lay the forbidden valley known only in ancient texts and whispered nightmares:
> The Hollow of Ancients.
Long ago, it was a battlefield of gods, sealed by immortals and erased from the official records. Now, it was the first waypoint on the path to the Obsidian Moon Tomb, as marked on the map Jiang Chen had retrieved from the secret archives in Elder Mo's destroyed sanctum.
Behind him, three figures stood, each casting long shadows in the moonlight.
Xiao Bai â the silent swordsman, who once defeated a Nascent Soul cultivator with a single unsheathed strike. He wore snow-white robes and a blindfold over his eyesâbut saw everything through his Qi sense.
Lin Yue â a rogue alchemist from the Crimson Willow Sect, expelled for creating soul-corroding poisons. Her hair was bound in jade pins, her smile always edged with venom.
Mei Xin â a veiled operative once enslaved by the Radiant Heaven Sect. She bore scars beneath her mask, but her loyalty now belonged to Jiang Chen alone after he saved her from soul branding.
---
Lin Yue squinted into the darkness.
> "Are you sure this is the place? It reeks of old death and sealed spirits."
Jiang Chen unfolded the Obsidian Moon Map, a living scroll inked with shifting silver runes. The symbols pulsed as if reacting to the surroundings.
> "This is it," he said calmly. "The real path opens at midnight. And it will test more than just our strength."
A soft rumble beneath their feet answered him.
The mountain... was awakening.
---
âł Midnight Strikes â The First Trial
As the moon reached its zenith, the valley below began to shimmer.
The mist cleared in unnatural spirals, revealing a stone gate, cracked and overgrownâbut covered in celestial glyphs that radiated suppression aura. Every step closer felt like a spiritual blade against the skin.
> "It's a Soul Seal Array," Jiang Chen said. "Designed to reject anyone not of the original bloodline."
Mei Xin cocked her head. "But you're not..."
> "I am now," he interrupted, slicing his palm.
Blood struck the gate.
The glyphs trembledârecognizing the reconstructed soul of the man who once ruled the heavens.
The gate opened.
Beyond it lay black earth and ancient ruins.
And silence.
Too much silence.
---
đď¸ The Hollow of Ancients â Forgotten City
Inside the valley, they walked through crumbling structures that once echoed with divine chants.
The bones of celestial beasts lay petrified in the streetsâmassive serpents, six-legged tigers, and phoenix husksâall long dead but perfectly preserved.
Suddenlyâ
> A whisper.
So faint it could have been the wind.
> "He returns⌠The Tyrant returnsâŚ"
Mei Xin shivered.
> "This place remembers you."
Jiang Chen narrowed his eyes. "Then it will remember what happens to those who stand in my way."
---
â ď¸ Trial One â The Mirror of Regret
In the center of the ruined plaza stood a towering obsidian monolith, carved in the likeness of an open eye.
As they approached, the eye blinkedâand four beams of light struck them, locking their bodies in place.
Each found themselves suddenly alone in a vision of their greatest regret.
---
Xiao Bai saw himself holding his sister's lifeless body, the blood on his blade unmistakably his own. He had failed to protect her.
Lin Yue stood in the burning ruins of her sect, her poisons having turned against those she loved when she lost control.
Mei Xin relived her branding, screaming as her soul was seared and her screams went unanswered by the sect she had once believed in.
And Jiang ChenâŚ
He stood again on the peak of the Void Path Sect, moments before his betrayal.
But this time, as Xue Lian drove the blade into his heart, he didn't fight back.
He smiled.
> "You were never strong enough to kill me," he whispered in the vision. "Even now, you only exist in my shadow."
The illusion shattered.
---
â Breakthrough
Jiang Chen emerged first, aura blazing, the second layer of the Ninefold Soul Destruction Art fully stabilized in his soul core.
The others followed soon after, shaken, but stronger.
The monolith cracked open, revealing a silver flame seed floating in midair.
It hovered into Jiang Chen's palm, fusing into his soul.
> "The Obsidian Moon FlameâŚ" he whispered. "One of nine."
---
đ Trial Two â The Gate of Beasts
As they reached the next platform, a row of colossal statues rose from the groundâeach depicting a mythical beast: Qilin, Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Black Tortoise, and Vermilion Bird.
A booming voice echoed from the void.
> "Choose your opponent. Only one may pass unharmed. The others⌠must fight."
Xiao Bai chose the Azure Dragon, a test of sword versus fury.
Lin Yue faced the White Tiger, where poison met feral strength.
Mei Xin took the Vermilion Bird, testing stealth against flame.
Jiang Chen?
He walked into the Qilin's Trialâthe path of law, judgment, and legacy.
Each fight was brutal. Each companion pushed to the edge.
Jiang Chen's battle wasn't one of fistsâbut of will.
The Qilin asked:
> "Do you have the right to challenge the heavens again?"
He answered:
> "I do not seek permission. I take it."
---
The beasts vanished.
The path forward opened.
---
đ§ Discovery â A Name Etched in Stone
Deeper in the ruins, Jiang Chen found a cracked altar with a celestial compass hovering above it.
Inscribed on the stone were the words:
> "Obsidian Moon Flame â Keeper: Lei Qingsheng."
His breath chilled.
> "He was here... before me."
Lei Qingshengâthe traitor who split his soul and laughed while doing itâhad been in this tomb.
And worseâŚ
He had likely taken a portion of the flame.
Jiang Chen clenched his fist.
> "Then I'll take it backâwith interest."