The Continental Spiritual Pattern Exchange is held in Starmoon City, a settlement built within a meteor crater on the East Sea coast. Its surface is strewn with deep blue Starmoon Meteorite shards, each etched with ancient spiritual patterns—said to be fragments of the "Spiritual Meteor" that fell in ancient times, naturally resonating with spiritual energy.
Lin Ye stands at the exchange's entrance, gazing up at the massive spiritual pattern array hovering overhead. Composed of ten thousand Starmoon Meteorite pieces, the circular formation centers on a crystal platform interspersed with seven colored spiritual pattern pillars representing the seven major attributes: Fire, Ice, Thunder, Wood, Wind, Darkness, and Light.
"Welcome to Starmoon City," a guide's voice crackles over the PA. "This exchange is themed 'Spiritual Pattern Symbiosis.' Teams must complete three challenges: the Pattern Resonance Test, Cross-Attribute Collaboration Battle, and..." He pauses. "A duel with the 'Starmoon Guardian'."
Xiaotao's bracelet suddenly warms, deep blue light reflecting in her glasses: "Starmoon Guardian? What's that?"
"The embodied will of Starmoon City's earth veins," Ajiu's Shadow Raven patterns dance at her fingertips. "Legend says it reads challengers' pattern memories and counters with their own strengths."
Before Lin Ye can respond, the crowd gasps. He turns to see a maiden in a moon-white kimono beside the crystal platform. A cherry blossom spiritual pattern hairpin adorns her hair, and her wrist's Sakura Patterns glow pink-white in the sun—it's the "Japanese Spiritual Pattern User" from league broadcasts: Sakura.
"Lin Ye of the Burning Heaven!" The maiden speaks, her voice like clear springs striking stone. "I am Sakura of Japan's Spiritual Pattern Alliance, representing the Japanese team." She raises her hand, and her Sakura Patterns sync with his Burning Heaven Flames. "Our patterns resonated at the East Asia Youth Tournament three years ago."
Lin Ye's pupils contract. He does recall that match—back then, deemed "vein-disabled," he watched from the stands. A kimono-clad maiden cheered for him with Sakura Patterns, petal-shaped spiritual energy landing on his hand as a faint pink mark.
"It was you?" he blurts.
Sakura smiles, Sakura Patterns blooming around her like a cherry tree. "I've been searching for you." She produces a cherry blossom specimen from her sleeve. "You dropped this Starmoon Meteorite fragment in the stands. I sealed it with my Sakura Patterns."
As Lin Ye takes the specimen, memories flood in: three years ago, burned by his surging core, Sakura secretly healed him with Sakura Patterns. Petals of spiritual energy landed on his hand, forming pink patterns that now perfectly align with his Burning Heaven Flames.
"So that's how..."
"First challenge about to begin," a referee interrupts. "Spiritual Pattern Resonance Test—team representatives, approach the stage."
—
The first test is simple: in pairs, touch spiritual pattern cores; if resonance occurs within three minutes, pass.
Team Rebellion faces Japan's Sakura and her teammate "Thunder Falcon"—a silver-haired teen whose Thunder Patterns crackle blue arcs on the test platform.
"Begin!"
Thunder Falcon's Thunder Patterns activate first, arcs striking toward Sakura. She doesn't flinch; Sakura Patterns burst from her fingertips, pink petals enveloping the arcs and transforming them into gentle light mist. The mist drifts to Lin Ye, whose Burning Heaven Flames surge, intertwining with the mist to form gold-pink butterflies.
"Resonance successful!" the referee exclaims. "The first natural cross-attribute spiritual pattern resonance!"
The stands erupt. Lin Ye looks to Sakura—her Sakura Patterns and his new mark (Starmoon Meteorite encircled by dark gold scales) glow in unison, like flowers blooming across an ocean.
"This is 'Rebellion's' power," Xiaotao whispers, her Starmoon bracelet glowing in the mist. "Not consumption, but connection."
—
The second challenge is Cross-Attribute Collaboration. Team Rebellion is pitted against Nordic Team Ice Wolf, whose Frostfang and Snow Soul Patterns specialize in sealing fields with ice spikes and walls.
"Their pattern concentration is 15% higher," Ajiu narrows her eyes, Shadow Raven Patterns forming a dark purple mist in her hair. "But ice patterns have a weakness—fire."
"More than that," Sakura interjects. "Ice pattern energy flows linearly; we can disrupt their rhythm with Shadow Raven's darkness."
Lin Ye nods, Burning Heaven Flames igniting. He senses Xiaotao's Starmoon cooling the flames, Ajiu's Shadow Ravens creating shadows, and Sakura's Sakura Patterns condensing moisture into ice crystals—not for attack, but to fuel the flames.
"First round: Shadow Raven pin down!" Ajiu commands.
Shadow Ravens storm Ice Wolf Team, their wings shaking ice walls. Frostfang claws through the wall, only to find shadows entangling his wrist—Ajiu's patterns disrupting his flow via shadow energy.
"Second round: Starmoon Meteorite field control!" Xiaotao leaps, her bracelet forming a blue net that traps Snow Soul. Ice spikes freeze mid-penetration, becoming sculptures.
"Third round: Burning Heaven Domain!" Lin Ye's core fully activates, golden flames surging as a dragon. This time, the flames carry Sakura's ice crystals, Xiaotao's Starmoon chill, and Ajiu's shadows, forming an "Ice-Fire Storm" that freezes and burns simultaneously, destabilizing Ice Wolf's patterns.
"We forfeit!" Ice Wolf's captain raises his hand.
Cheers nearly lift the arena roof. Lin Ye sees Sakura's, Xiaotao's, and Ajiu's patterns weaving into a new design—three flowers in three colors, blooming as Rebellion's totem.
"So this is..." Sakura murmurs. "Our patterns have been preparing for this."
—
The third challenge: duel with the Starmoon Guardian.
When the Guardian appears, Starmoon City trembles. Two stories tall, its body is semi-transparent Starmoon Meteorite, surface swirling with galaxy-like star trails. Its eyes are pulsing spiritual pattern cores—one gold, one pink—marks from Lin Ye and Sakura's resonance three years ago.
"It's reading our memories," Lin Ye feels an icy needle pierce his temple, flooding him with images: the Spiritual Vein Temple three hundred years ago, seven guardians sealing the Heaven-Burning Beast; two hundred years later, the eighth guardian sacrificing to pass on their core; ten years ago, the league founder discovering Lin Ye's patterns and the "Rebellion" prophecy...
"It's asking why we protect," Sakura's voice rings in his mind. "It's witnessed too much betrayal—guardians betraying partners for power, cores devouring veins for desire."
The Guardian's right hand condenses black chains aimed at Lin Ye, inscribed with names of past guardians—some failed, some compromised, some sacrificed, but all names purified by Starmoon light.
"Because we don't seek power," Lin Ye raises his core, golden flames swirling. "We fight for partners."
Xiaotao's bracelet and Sakura's Sakura Patterns glow, blue and pink energy flowing into his patterns. Ajiu's Shadow Ravens dive at the chains, corroding gaps with darkness. Where their hands join, Rebellion patterns shine brighter than any flame.
The chains disintegrate on contact. The Guardian's eyes soften, its gold and pink cores flying to merge with Lin Ye's and Sakura's, forming a new core inscribed with "Rebellion," surrounded by Starmoon, Sakura, and Shadow Raven totems.
"It has chosen its master," the referee chokes up. "The Starmoon Guardian names Team Rebellion as new protectors."
—
The closing ceremony is held at Starmoon City's highest point. Lin Ye stands on the observation deck, watching the city below—every Starmoon Meteorite glows like scattered stars. Sakura stands beside him, Xiaotao and Ajiu join with beer cans, Old Jin captures the moment, and Chen Zhuo appears in the crowd, raising a glass.
"Where to next?" Ajiu asks.
"Northern Europe for aurora patterns," Xiaotao licks beer from her lips. "They say users there paint rainbows in snow."
"Africa for desert patterns," Sakura points east. "I hear Sahara sands hold ancient pattern memories."
Lin Ye looks to the horizon where a meteor streaks. He touches his new core, sensing global pattern vibrations—like countless heartbeats resonating in the clouds.
"Everywhere," he says. "Because pattern mastery ends not in arenas."
He raises his glass, teammates following suit. Old Jin's flash freezes the moment: four youths' patterns shining in the sun, behind them Starmoon City's river of light, a star trail leading to tomorrow.