The Heavenly Sword Palace shimmered under the light of twin suns — vast, endless, divine.
White towers floated amidst golden clouds, and the hum of swords filled the air like a quiet hymn.
Every disciple who walked these paths radiated pride; every aura trembled with hidden sharpness.
Lin Feng stood at the base of the Mission Hall, his azure robe fluttering lightly in the high wind. His newly earned Inner Court insignia gleamed faintly at his chest. Around him, groups of disciples whispered — curious, skeptical, mocking.
"Isn't that the lower realm ascendant?"
"He's strong, but taking an inner court badge doesn't make him one of us."
"He should stick to low-rank missions. The ones out there aren't playground duels."
Lin Feng ignored the voices. He'd long stopped explaining himself.
He stepped forward toward the jade wall where hundreds of mission plaques floated — each glowing with different runic hues.
Gold plaques for low-risk missions.
Crimson for dangerous ones.
And at the very top — three black plaques that pulsed faintly with divine energy.
Each bore a warning sigil:
"For Celestial-Level Disciples Only."
A familiar voice called behind him.
"You shouldn't look at those, Lin Feng."
It was Wu Tian, a scholarly disciple with calm eyes and an old soul. They'd crossed paths during training days ago.
"The last three who took black-tier missions never returned."
Lin Feng studied the plaques quietly. His hand rose, tracing one of them — the letters flickering to life in response.
Mission: Investigation of Starfall Abyss.
Region: Outer Domain Rift, beyond the Cloud Veil Mountains.
Objective: Determine source of void energy disturbances.
Rank: Celestial Danger.
Reward: 2,000 merit points and recognition by the Elder Council.
A murmur ran through the hall. Even seasoned disciples frowned.
Wu Tian sighed. "You don't need to do this. There are safer paths to earn merit."
Lin Feng smiled faintly. "If I wanted safety, I wouldn't have ascended."
From a nearby table, another voice chimed in — harsh and cold.
"Arrogance suits you, Lin Feng. Let's see if it keeps you alive."
It was Feng Hao, a lean, sharp-eyed swordsman who'd ranked among the top fifty inner disciples. His disdain was open.
Beside him stood Lu Xiang, Yue Lian's silver-robed attendant, his smile faint but mocking.
Feng Hao crossed his arms. "Starfall Abyss is a graveyard. Even Celestial experts avoid it. You'll die before you find anything."
Lin Feng met his gaze evenly. "Then the graveyard will have company."
The hall quieted. Elder Mo Zu, who oversaw the mission records, appeared from behind the counter — his long hair tied loosely, eyes gleaming with ancient sharpness.
He studied Lin Feng for a long moment before speaking.
"Starfall Abyss is not just a rift. It is a scar of the Divine War. Those who enter often meet remnants of celestial beasts or worse — fragments of divine will. Are you certain, Lin Feng?"
"I am," Lin Feng said without hesitation.
Mo Xu's lips twitched into something between warning and respect. "Very well. By the authority of the Mission Hall, this trial shall stand. You may select a team of three other disciples. Return alive, and your name will enter the inner hall archives."
As the elder spoke, three forms stepped forward — Wu Tian, Lu Xiang, and, surprisingly, Feng Hao himself.
Feng Hao smirked. "If you're going to die, might as well make sure it's worth watching."
Lin Feng didn't respond. He simply signed his name on the jade slate, accepting the mission.
---
Hours Later — Skyship en route to Starfall Abyss
The silver vessel cut through clouds, powered by arrays that shimmered faintly with celestial runes. Lin Feng sat cross-legged on the deck, eyes closed, feeling the vast energy of the higher realm pulsing beneath the surface of the world.
Wu Tian leaned against the rail. "You really don't rest, do you?"
"Resting dulls the edge," Lin Feng replied. His sword rested across his knees, faintly glowing with azure light. "And dull swords die fast."
Below them, the world stretched out — forests of silver trees, rivers of luminous qi, and beyond them, the black scar that was Starfall Abyss.
Even from this distance, the air shimmered with chaotic energy, bending light unnaturally.
Lu Xiang approached, his smile unreadable. "Lin Feng, I've heard the abyss contains fragments of ancient swords — perhaps even ones tied to the Azure lineage you follow."
Lin Feng's eyes flickered slightly. "You know of it?"
"I read old records," Lu Xiang replied smoothly. "Every Azure sword bearer in history met a violent end. Perhaps you'll break that curse."
Feng Hao snorted. "Or prove it true."
The ship descended. The moment they neared the abyss, the sky dimmed unnaturally. The suns seemed distant, and the wind grew heavy — humming faintly with ancient resonance.
They landed on a jagged cliff overlooking a sea of floating islands. Each fragment of land glowed faintly with embedded sword marks that cut into space itself.
Wu Tian whispered, awed. "These aren't cracks… they're sword scars."
Feng Hao scoffed but drew his sword anyway. "Whatever caused them, it's long gone."
Lin Feng knelt, pressing a hand to the ground. The energy here was wild, alive — like something still breathing after millions of years. His sword trembled faintly, resonating with the abyssal hum.
A faint pulse answered from within the blade — a heartbeat of light.
Lu Xiang watched quietly, his smile widening just slightly.
---
Deeper Within the Abyss..
The team moved carefully across the floating terrain. Sword storms occasionally tore through the air, flashes of silver energy that devoured anything they touched.
Lin Feng moved at the front, his senses sharpened.
The deeper they went, the more chaotic the laws of space became. Gravity shifted without warning, and at times, light bent backward — reflections moving before the actual shadows.
At one point, they discovered the remains of a Starborn Sect outpost — stone pillars half-buried in dust, glowing faintly with ancient sigils. Wu Tian examined the carvings.
"These are celestial runes… this sect existed before the Heavenly Sword Palace itself."
Feng Hao frowned. "Then why did it fall?"
Wu Tian traced one line carefully. "'When the Azure Flame awakens, the heavens shall bleed anew.' That's… prophecy."
Lin Feng's heart tightened.
The Azure Sword in his hand pulsed faintly again, almost in acknowledgment.
---
As they set up camp near the ruins, the others slept — or pretended to.
Lin Feng sat alone at the edge of a cliff, staring into the abyss below.
The wind carried whispers — voices too faint to be human.
He closed his eyes, meditating, reaching deeper into the Azure Sword Art.
The air around him shimmered as the Four Azure Forms danced within his mind — the essence of battle, dragon, reversal, and destiny. But beyond them… something else stirred. A faint fifth pattern, formless yet eternal.
A voice — old, distant, commanding — echoed faintly within his consciousness:
"The flame that burns against heaven cannot rest. Seek the star beneath the void… and claim your destiny."
Lin Feng opened his eyes. The world around him felt heavier — as if the abyss itself had taken notice.
A sudden tremor rippled through the ground. Rocks cracked.
Wu Tian bolted upright. "What was that?!"
From the depths of the chasm, blue light erupted — vast and violent, shaking the very sky.
The ancient ruins trembled, and from below came a roar that shattered mountains.
ROOOOOAAAR!!!
Wind blasted outward, carrying shards of azure flame.
The team scrambled to their feet as a colossal shadow rose from the abyss — a being with scales of starlight and eyes like molten suns.
Feng Hao's face went pale. "That… that's not possible."
Wu Tian whispered in horror, "A Void Serpent Beast — a Celestial entity!"
Lin Feng's sword thrummed with unbearable resonance, almost singing with recognition.
He took a single step forward, eyes burning with azure light.
"So this is the abyss's guardian…"
He raised his sword, calm despite the trembling sky.
"Then let's see if the heavens still fear a mortal's blade."
The serpent roared again, diving from the stars.
And Lin Feng met it head-on.