The Confinement Cliff jutted from the eastern peak like a broken blade, perpetually wrapped in churning mist and humming restriction arrays. Stone cells were carved directly into its sheer face, each sealed with spirit-binding talismans that crushed cultivation down to the barest flicker.
A place meant to break wills.
Inside one such cell, Ling Xiao sat cross-legged on the cold stone floor, eyes closed, breath slow and even.
To any observer, he appeared resigned.
In truth—
He was refining.
Blood essence taken from abyss beasts and fallen disciples flowed through his meridians in disciplined cycles, guided by the Asura Dragon Dao. Each revolution strengthened his golden core, etching deeper, sharper dragon runes into its surface.
HUM—HUM—
His Asura Dragon Body advanced silently toward the late Bone Forging stage. Bones gleamed faintly beneath his flesh, dense as divine iron—capable of withstanding Core Formation strikes head-on.
Within his sea of consciousness, Qinglong coiled lazily, vast and amused.
"Wise," the dragon murmured.
"Let the fools believe you helpless."
"The longer you remain 'imprisoned,' the more essence you consolidate."
"When you emerge… none in this insignificant sect will be your match."
Ling Xiao's lips curved almost imperceptibly.
"I'm counting on their arrogance."
Outside, dusk bled across the sky.
A white-robed figure approached the cliff along a narrow suspension bridge, silver hair flowing like moonlight over snow. Her footsteps were soundless upon the swaying chains.
The two enforcement disciples guarding the platform snapped upright.
"Senior Sister Bai!"
Bai Xue.
Inner disciple of Frost Moon Peak.
A living legend within the Flowing Cloud Sect—early Core Formation at twenty, bearer of the rare Frost Phoenix Constitution, distant and untouchable as the winter moon.
She rarely left her peak.
Yet here she was.
"I wish to speak with the outer disciple Ling Xiao," she said, voice clear and cold as winter wind.
The guards exchanged uneasy glances.
"Senior Sister, he is under confinement by order of Elder Liu. No visitors—"
Bai Xue flicked her sleeve.
KRRRRSH—!
A faint phoenix cry echoed as frost spread across the bridge in intricate crystalline patterns. The temperature plummeted, breath frosting instantly in the air.
The guards shuddered.
"…We will make an exception," one muttered, hastily deactivating the array.
The stone door groaned open.
Bai Xue stepped inside alone.
CLANG—
The door sealed behind her.
Ling Xiao opened his eyes.
The cell was dim—yet her presence illuminated it like moonlight on fresh snow.
Up close, Bai Xue's beauty was ethereal. Flawless skin. Pale lips. Eyes so clear and cold they seemed capable of freezing souls.
But beneath the calm exterior—
Spiritual turbulence.
Phoenix flame veiled beneath absolute frost.
She studied him for a long moment.
"You carry the aura of an Azure Dragon," she said finally, voice sharp and direct.
"And something far darker."
Her gaze hardened.
"Asura killing intent. How is that possible?"
Ling Xiao remained seated, utterly unperturbed.
"And you carry the cry of a Frost Phoenix," he replied calmly.
"It seems we are both anomalies."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Answer the question."
Ling Xiao rose slowly. The suppression chains around his wrists rattled faintly—mere decoration now.
"I awakened a bloodline in the abyss," he said evenly.
"The dragon recognized me as its heir."
His gaze sharpened.
"The Asura… is part of the same inheritance."
He met her eyes.
"Why does it concern you, Senior Sister?"
Bai Xue's fingers tightened around her sword hilt.
"Because ten thousand years ago," she said quietly,
"the Azure Dragon Clan fell in the Dragonfall Cataclysm."
Her voice wavered—just for an instant.
"My master's lineage—the Frost Phoenix Clan—was their sworn ally."
"We fell with them."
A breath passed.
Then—
"If you truly are the heir, destiny binds us."
She looked straight at him.
"My master's dying prophecy:
When the last dragon returns from the abyss, the final phoenix shall walk beside him—through fire and ruin, to rebirth… or annihilation."
Ling Xiao's dual-colored eyes gleamed faintly.
"A convenient prophecy."
"Convenient or not," Bai Xue replied coolly,
"I felt your awakening from a hundred li away."
She stepped closer.
"I came to confirm."
"And now…"
"I am certain."
The air crackled.
Dragon might pressed against phoenix frost—two supreme bloodlines instinctively testing one another.
Yet beneath the tension—
Recognition.
A pull.
Fate's invisible thread tightening.
Then—
BOOM—!
The cliff trembled.
Heavy footsteps approached.
Killing intent poured in like blood.
Elder Liu appeared at the cell entrance, flanked by four enforcement elders—each mid to late Core Formation. Their auras locked onto Ling Xiao like iron chains.
"Little bastard," Elder Liu snarled.
"You think a jade slip will protect you?"
"Tonight, you die quietly."
"No witnesses."
He waved a hand.
The guards outside collapsed—unconscious from a silent palm strike.
Bai Xue's expression turned glacial.
"Elder Liu," she said coldly.
"This violates sect law. Even you cannot—"
"Silence, girl!" Elder Liu barked.
"This trash murdered my nephew. I act for justice!"
The four elders moved to block her.
SHING—!
Bai Xue drew her sword.
Frostmoon Blade.
Phoenix frost erupted, freezing the air into solid crystal.
Ling Xiao sighed softly.
"I was hoping to refine one more cycle."
His voice carried no anger.
Only mild regret.
Then—
He moved.
KRASH—!
The suppression arrays shattered like glass.
Crimson light exploded outward as phantom Asura blades erupted—twenty meters long, painting the cell blood-red.
Asura Dragon Domain.
A dual-colored domain unfurled.
One half shimmered with azure dragon scales.
The other burned with crimson killing runes.
THUD—!
The four elders froze mid-step.
Blood streamed from their eyes, ears, and mouths as bloodline pressure crushed their souls.
Elder Liu's face went deathly pale.
"You—what realm are you?!"
Ling Xiao stepped forward.
The chains fell from his wrists like torn paper.
"Peak Core Formation," he said calmly.
"Thanks to your generous confinement time."
Elder Liu roared, summoning a massive fiery hammer artifact.
Too late.
Ling Xiao's blade swept once.
SHRRRRK—!
Four elders—bisected.
Blood splashed across Bai Xue's frozen ground, hissing as it steamed.
Elder Liu swung his hammer in blind panic.
Ling Xiao caught it bare-handed.
Azure scales shimmered across his palm.
CRACK—!
The hammer shattered.
Elder Liu staggered back, terror flooding his eyes.
"Spare me! I can give you resources—status—"
Ling Xiao's blade pierced his dantian.
FWOOM—!
The golden core vanished, devoured instantly.
"No need."
Elder Liu collapsed, lifeless.
The entire massacre lasted—
Less than ten breaths.
Bai Xue slowly lowered her sword, staring at the carnage.
Frost retreated from her blade.
"You truly are…" she whispered,
"the Dragonfall heir."
Ling Xiao retracted his domain and turned to her.
Blood dripped from his blade.
His expression was calm.
"And you," he said quietly,
"are the phoenix who walks through ruin with me."
Outside—
CLANG—CLANG—CLANG—!
Alarm bells rang across the sect.
Transmission talismans flared like shooting stars as reports poured in.
An outer disciple had slain five Core Formation experts.
Including an elder.
Impossible.
Unprecedented.
Within the shattered confinement cell, open now to the night sky, Ling Xiao and Bai Xue stood side by side.
She glanced at him.
"What now?"
Ling Xiao looked toward the glowing main peak, eyes burning with twin lights.
"Now," he said,
"the Flowing Cloud Sect learns what happens…"
"…when it discards a dragon."
A faint phoenix cry echoed in agreement.