Morning sunlight washed over the mountains surrounding the sect.
Yet peace did not exist within its walls.
Because today…
Two battles were about to take place.
Not wars.
But tests.
Tests between warriors whose strength could shake kingdoms.
The Courtyard of Heavenly Silence
At the center of the sect stood a vast stone courtyard.
Thousands of disciples had gathered quietly around its borders.
Word had spread quickly.
The Supreme Master himself had agreed to a sparring match.
And his opponent…
Was Lucifer.
The silver-haired warrior stood calmly in the middle of the arena.
His long dark coat fluttered slightly in the morning wind.
In his hand rested a slender black blade.
Across from him stood the Supreme Master.
His expression was calm, yet his presence alone made the air feel heavy.
The old master smiled.
"So… you truly wish to test yourself against me?"
Lucifer smirked slightly.
"I wouldn't call it testing."
"I simply wish to know how strong the guardian of this sect truly is."
A ripple passed through the crowd.
Bold words.
The Supreme Master chuckled.
"Young people always carry such fire."
He slowly stepped forward.
"Very well."
"But remember…"
His eyes gleamed sharply.
"I will not hold back too much."
Lucifer's smile widened.
"That would be disappointing."
The moment the words ended—
The wind exploded.
Both warriors vanished.
CLANG!!
Their blades collided in the center of the arena, releasing a shockwave that cracked the stone floor.
The disciples gasped.
The speed was terrifying.
Lucifer spun his blade in a wide arc, sending a crescent of dark energy toward the Supreme Master.
But the old man simply raised two fingers.
The energy shattered instantly.
Then he appeared behind Lucifer.
Palm strike.
Lucifer twisted his body mid-air, barely blocking the attack with his sword.
BOOM!!
The impact launched him across the courtyard.
He slid across the ground before stopping.
Lucifer wiped the corner of his mouth.
Blood.
He smiled.
"So this is the strength of a Supreme Master…"
The old man chuckled.
"You're not bad yourself."
Lucifer's eyes sharpened.
Then suddenly—
His aura exploded.
Dark flames erupted around his body.
"Second stance."
His sword glowed black.
"Fallen Seraph Slash."
He vanished.
The next instant—
Hundreds of blade shadows rained down toward the Supreme Master.
CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG
The old master blocked them effortlessly.
But slowly…
Very slowly…
He began stepping back.
The crowd gasped.
Lucifer was pushing him.
The Supreme Master suddenly laughed loudly.
"Excellent!"
Then he raised his palm.
Golden energy burst from his body.
"Divine Palm — Heaven Split."
BOOOOM!!
The courtyard trembled as a massive golden wave struck Lucifer.
Dust filled the arena.
For a moment…
Everything went silent.
Then—
A figure stepped out of the smoke.
Lucifer.
Bruised.
Bleeding slightly.
But still standing.
He raised his sword again.
"Let's finish this."
The Supreme Master smiled proudly.
"That's exactly what I hoped you'd say."
Their final clash shook the entire courtyard.
And when the dust finally settled…
Lucifer stood victorious.
Barely.
Breathing heavily.
The Supreme Master laughed heartily.
"Well done."
"It seems this old man has been surpassed."
The Garden of Silver Blossoms
Not far from the arena…
Another battle was unfolding.
But this one looked far more elegant.
Luna stood quietly beneath a blooming tree.
Across from her stood Yun Lianhua's mother, the ruler of the Yun clan.
Yun Meiying.
Her presence was calm but powerful.
She held a slender jade spear.
"So…"
She said softly.
"You're the one who protected Lin Xianwu during the war."
Luna smiled slightly.
"And you're the woman known as the Moon Spear Empress."
Yun Meiying raised an eyebrow.
"You know your history."
Luna nodded.
"History remembers the strong."
Then suddenly—
The ground cracked beneath Luna's feet.
Yun Meiying had already moved.
Her spear pierced forward like lightning.
Luna tilted her body slightly.
The spear missed by a hair's breadth.
Then Luna's hand flickered.
A ribbon of blue flame spiraled around her arm.
"Half-Core Flame Art."
The fire shot forward like a serpent.
Yun Meiying spun her spear.
CLANG!!
The flame scattered into sparks.
The duel became a dance.
Spear and flame moved like poetry.
Each strike precise.
Each dodge graceful.
But the power behind them was terrifying.
BOOM!!
Another collision shattered a stone pillar nearby.
Yun Meiying smiled.
"You fight beautifully."
Luna smirked.
"You too."
Then Luna's flames intensified.
"Third Cycle."
The air temperature skyrocketed.
Even Yun Meiying's expression became serious.
"This girl…"
"She's holding back."
The duel continued with breathtaking speed.
Neither side willing to concede.
The Ancient Library
Far away from the battles…
Two figures walked through a forgotten hallway filled with ancient stone shelves.
Dust floated through the air.
Thousands of old scrolls rested in silence.
This was the Ancient Library of the Sect.
A place few people visited anymore.
Walking through the corridor were two young women.
Emilie.
And the elven princess.
Sylvarielle.
Her silver hair shimmered softly under the lantern light.
Sylvarielle ran her fingers across an old stone wall.
"This library is older than your kingdom."
Emilie looked around in awe.
"So the clues should be here?"
Sylvarielle nodded.
"Yes."
"We are searching for something very dangerous."
She stopped before a massive stone door covered in ancient runes.
Emilie tilted her head.
"What exactly are we searching for again?"
Sylvarielle's eyes became serious.
"The Nine Ancient Books of Origin."
Emilie blinked.
"Those legendary texts?"
Sylvarielle nodded slowly.
"They contain knowledge that predates the creation of most universes."
She pushed the door open.
Dust exploded into the air.
Inside the chamber…
A massive circular archive stood in the center.
Hundreds of ancient books floated within a magical formation.
Sylvarielle walked forward slowly.
Her eyes scanned the ancient runes carved into the walls.
Then suddenly—
She stopped.
Her pupils shrank.
"Found it…"
Emilie rushed over.
"What is it?"
Sylvarielle pointed at an inscription.
Ancient elven letters glowed faintly.
She read them slowly.
"The Fifth Book…"
Her voice trembled slightly.
"The Abyssal Codex of Eternal Night."
Emilie frowned.
"That sounds ominous."
Sylvarielle nodded.
"It should be sealed beyond the northern void…"
Her eyes widened.
"But according to this record…"
She whispered slowly.
"It has already been awakened."
The lantern flame flickered violently.
Emilie felt a chill run down her spine.
"Awakened…?"
Sylvarielle turned toward her.
Her voice was barely a whisper.
"And whoever possesses it…"
"Can rewrite the boundaries between worlds."
At that exact moment—
Far away in the courtyard…
Lucifer suddenly felt a strange disturbance in the air.
His eyes narrowed.
"Something just changed…"
And deep within the silent universe…
A dark book slowly opened by itself.
As if waiting.
For its next master.