The Inner Court towered like a fortress of jade and mist.
Twelve bridges crossed a lake of still water, leading to the Grand Hall — where the sect's highest decisions were carved into fate itself.
At the center of that hall, the Council of Elders gathered.
Incense burned slowly. The air trembled with the weight of formation seals.
Supreme Elder Tian sat above them all, his expression placid — yet behind those pale eyes, something ancient flickered.
[Objective: Observe undetected.]
[Skill: Shadow Domain — Phase Shift (Silent Entry).]
[Success Probability: 98%.]
A ripple of air moved near the ceiling.
Li Feng materialized within the shadow of a spirit lantern, his presence erased from every spiritual sense.
He stood invisible, eyes gleaming faintly silver, listening.
Elder Wu bowed deeply. "All divisions have reported. We've found residual energy signatures of the Maze's power spreading beyond containment lines."
Elder Jian frowned. "Residuals? You mean corruption. The disciples' spiritual roots are decaying."
Another elder snapped, "Then seal the grounds! If the Shadowborne survived, he is the source!"
The hall stirred with murmurs.
Tian raised a hand. Silence fell like a blade.
"The Shadowborne," he said quietly, "is not our enemy. He is a mirror. A reflection of what we sought to reach."
He looked up — and Li Feng felt those pale eyes pierce through the darkness, almost touching him.
"The Maze was not failure," Tian continued. "It was revelation. The path to transcend the Heavenly Vein itself."
Elder Wu hesitated. "Supreme Elder… do you mean to continue the Project?"
Tian smiled. "Of course. The 'Hunter Project' was never meant to end. You all think of the Shadowborne as a monster — but he is proof. Proof that the mortal vessel can hold divinity if refined properly."
He stood, hands clasped behind his back.
"Do you know why Heaven despises us? Because we sought equality. The Higher World fears mortals who can steal their laws."
The elders exchanged uneasy looks.
Tian's voice deepened. "Tell me, Wu, how long have you served this sect?"
"Three hundred years," Wu answered cautiously.
"And yet," Tian murmured, "you still believe our purpose is obedience — to cultivate until Heaven grants mercy. Pathetic."
He turned toward the great mural behind the dais — a mural depicting the "Celestial Gate" and twelve radiant beings descending.
"The Higher World created our cultivation paths," Tian said. "They dictated the limit of spirit evolution. But through the Abyss, we found freedom."
He lifted a fragment of black crystal from his sleeve. The air around it bent.
Even the spiritual wards dimmed, struggling to contain its pressure.
"Behold," he whispered, "the Origin Fragment. One of seven keys that opened the Maze."
Hidden above, Li Feng's mind tightened.
Origin Fragment? The resonance pulsed through his core — identical to the energy in his own body.
[System Alert: Synchronization Detected.]
[Correlation: 99.8% match between Host Core and Fragment Signature.]
[Inference: Host functions as living key to Maze construct.]
Li Feng's breath caught.
"So I'm not just a vessel… I'm the gate."
A tremor shook the hall.
The incense flames bent backward, flickering as a rift of golden light split the air.
Every elder froze — even Tian's calm expression flickered.
From the rift stepped a figure clad in celestial armor, her aura blinding — the scent of divine law heavy in the air.
"By decree of the Heavenly Tribunal, this domain is under investigation," she declared. Her voice echoed like thunder yet rang with beauty.
Elder Wu stumbled back. "A… a Celestial Envoy?"
Her gaze swept the room like a blade.
"Unauthorized use of abyssal essence has reached Heaven's notice. Surrender the fragment and the vessel tied to it."
Tian chuckled softly. "So Heaven finally sends one of its dogs."
The Envoy's eyes narrowed. "Watch your tongue, mortal."
The Supreme Elder's aura surged — cold, infinite. "Mortal? Perhaps once. But we no longer kneel to Heaven's leash."
Lightning cracked across the floor.
The Envoy drew her spear — a weapon of pure radiance.
The elders screamed as the clash erupted — light versus shadow, divine law versus forbidden essence.
Li Feng moved.
Shadows swallowed him as he descended silently from the rafters, slipping through the flurry of divine energy.
The Fragment still pulsed on Tian's desk — and its resonance called to him.
[Objective Updated: Retrieve Origin Fragment.]
[Warning: Divine energy interference — extreme hazard.]
[Success Probability: 37%.]
He darted forward — invisible — as divine light split the air.
The Envoy's spear shattered an entire pillar, celestial flames flooding the hall.
Tian's laughter echoed through the destruction. "You think Heaven's rules bind us?"
He lifted his hand — the black crystal rose, pulsing violently.
Li Feng reached it at the same time.
Their fingers brushed the Fragment's surface — and the world exploded.
Light and shadow collided — divine runes screamed, collapsing into formless chaos.
For a heartbeat, the council hall ceased to exist.
Li Feng saw flashes — Tian's face twisted in awe, the Envoy's spear dissolving, the system flooding his mind with error codes.
[System Overload: 278% energy surge detected.]
[Host merging with Origin Fragment…]
[Warning: Cross-Realm resonance detected.]
[Heavenly Barrier breach imminent!]
A golden symbol burned into Li Feng's palm — the mark of the Celestial Gate.
Pain seared through his body. His veins turned silver-black, glowing like rivers of night.
The last thing he heard was the System's voice splintering:
[Designation Update: Shadowborne → Dual-Origin Vessel.]
[Evolution Threshold Reached.]
[Commencing… Phase II Ascension.]
Then everything went dark.
When Li Feng awoke, he lay among ruins.
The Grand Hall was gone — replaced by scorched stone and drifting ash.
The elders were missing. Only faint echoes of energy remained.
He rose shakily, the mark on his palm pulsing faintly.
[Status: Unknown Realm Resonance Detected.]
[Note: Host's existence now registers across Heavenly and Abyssal channels simultaneously.]
[Interpretation: You are both blasphemy and proof.]
Li Feng's gaze hardened.
"So… Heaven finally noticed me."
He looked toward the shattered horizon.
Above the clouds, faint golden light gathered — the first wave of divine judgment descending.
He smiled, cold and resolute.
"Then let Heaven descend. I'll collect them too."
The shadow at his feet deepened — and the world trembled.