The path to the hidden cave wound through the valley's northern cliffs, a rugged terrain of jagged rocks and sparse vegetation, the air heavy with ancient qi. Naya led the way, her journal open to a map sketched in her mother's hand, her staff glowing faintly to stabilize the wild currents. Saria followed, her sword drawn, her qi flaring as she scanned for threats. Arin walked between them, the grove's fruit in his satchel, its qi a steady hum that kept him grounded. The cave's entrance was hidden behind a waterfall, its roar masking the faint glow of lotus runes etched into the stone.
Naya pressed her hand against the runes, her qi resonating with their energy, and the stone parted, revealing a narrow passage. They stepped inside, the air cool and damp, the walls shimmering with qi-infused crystals that cast a soft light. The cave was a sanctuary, its chambers filled with relics of the ancient guardians—stone tablets inscribed with lotus motifs, jars of preserved seeds, and a central altar where a crystal orb pulsed with the Eternal Seed's light. Arin approached the orb, his hand hovering over it, when a vision seized him.
The cave came alive in his mind—the ancient guardians, their qi tied to the Eternal Seed, working in harmony to balance the valley's energy. Lyra, a guardian with emerald eyes, stood among them, her staff glowing with power, her voice sweet but laced with ambition. She spoke of harnessing the seed's light for herself, of using it to ascend beyond the valley, to become a god among cultivators. The others refused, their voices firm, their qi united against her. Lyra's smile turned cold, her staff unleashing a wave of dark qi that shattered the guardians' unity, her betrayal the spark that ignited the valley's fall. The voice whispered, "Her shadow lingers, Jade Farmer. Break the cycle."
The vision faded, leaving Arin breathless, the orb's light dimming in his hand. Naya and Saria watched, their eyes wide with concern. "Lyra," Arin said, his voice low. "She wanted the Eternal Seed's power for herself. That's why she betrayed them. Veyra… she's following in her footsteps." Naya's hand tightened on her staff, her expression grim. "Then we stop her," she said. "We can't let her repeat the past."
Saria's gaze shifted to the relics, her hand brushing against a stone tablet. "There's more here," she said, her voice sharp. "These tablets… they describe a technique to seal dark qi, to protect the seed's light. We can use it against Veyra." Arin nodded, the weight of the past settling into him, a guide for the present. They gathered the tablets and seeds, their hands careful, their hearts heavy with the guardians' legacy.