The formation trembled.
Yu Meixing's palms pressed against the glowing array lines carved into the ground, her qi feeding into the phoenix-shaped barrier. Sparks of crimson light traced the air as the Envoy of Heaven stalked around its edge, his robes untouched by the dust and chaos outside.
"Impressive," the Envoy said, his voice calm, almost bored. "This formation… It carries the scent of the Ninth Shadow's hand."
Meixing's breath tightened. "You speak as though you knew her."
"Knew her?" The Envoy smiled faintly. "I was there the night she burned."
Hearing this, her qi surged in fury. The formation flared, threads of shadow lacing through the crimson light, hardening the barrier. From her right, Lei Qing shouted over the rising hum of energy.
"He's trying to bait you! Focus on the seals—we can't let him breach this layer."
The Envoy finally moved. His hand extended, a single fingertip brushing the barrier. Light cracked outward from that point, like frost spreading across glass.
Meixing's heart skipped. That wasn't flame or brute force—it was erosion.
She shifted her stance, weaving the Soul-Thread Restoration technique into the formation. Shadow threads crawled through the cracks, knitting them shut faster than they formed.
"You've improved," the Envoy murmured, his eyes narrowing slightly. "But how long can you sustain it, little shadow?"
Behind her, Lei Qing drew his glaive, stepping forward. "Long enough for Liu Shen to cut your friend in half."
The Envoy's smile vanished. His qi surged—silver-white light spilling from his sleeves, each strand like a spear. They struck the barrier in a blinding rhythm, each blow eating away at the phoenix's light.
Meixing gritted her teeth, pouring more of her own lifeforce into the array. The shadows deepened. The phoenix in the barrier opened its mouth, releasing a silent cry.
Far above, the clouds twisted.
Wings of shadow and flame spread across the night sky, an omen to anyone who looked up.