Clue from the Divination Granny
The atmosphere in the Star Glow Royal Court, after Wyrselon's resolute declaration of war, was like a fully drawn bowstring—tense and solemn. The king's fury and determination infected every winged clan member present, igniting flames of vengeance in their eyes.
In the royal palace's grand hall, Wyrselon's six silver-blue wings slightly spread, emanating a gentle yet vast aura. He gazed at Fa and her companions, his tone carrying concern and anticipation: "Everyone, you have saved the dome from peril; your merits are immeasurable. What are your plans for the next three months? If you wish, you may stay in the Light Feather Dome temporarily. After three months, I will personally lead the Winged Clan Guard to join you in destroying the Doomsday Rebirth organization."
"We appreciate Your Majesty's kindness." Fa's voice was steady and firm, a flicker of ethereal light flashing in her right eye's Star Eye when mentioning Arius. "But three months is too long. Every moment Arius remains in Doomsday Rebirth's hands adds another layer of danger. We must depart immediately and rescue him as soon as possible." She paused, her gaze sweeping over her companions, each with resolute eyes, silently expressing support. "Moreover, Doomsday Rebirth won't pause because we're waiting. We have a more important mission—has Your Majesty ever heard of the Starfall Land or news of the inheritors?"
"Inheritors?" Wyrselon slightly furrowed his brows; the term was somewhat unfamiliar to him. He shook his head, indicating ignorance. "I'm sorry, I haven't heard of these terms." He turned to the guardians beside him. "Does anyone among you know?"
The guardians exchanged glances, most shaking their heads in denial.
Suddenly, "Your Majesty!" A guardian with devil wings burning with crimson flame patterns on his back and a resolute face—"Flame Wing" Gelsak—stepped forward, saluting with his right hand over his chest. "This subordinate recalls someone. At the edge of the 'Silent Wind Cliff' near the Light Feather Dome, close to the turbulent zone of the 'Eternal Storm' in the Fallen Snow Valley, lives an elderly winged clan diviner, 'Blind-Eyed Granny Mara.' She mutters to the starry sky all day, sometimes in ecstasy, sometimes in sorrow; the clanspeople mostly see her as mad and avoid her. But..." Gelsak looked at the glowing stone in Fa's hand. "She has mentioned vague phrases like 'fallen stars' and 'waiting fragments' more than once in her ramblings, which we thought were mere nonsense at the time. Thinking back now, perhaps..."
"Granny Mara?" Another guardian scoffed. "Gelsak, what are you talking about? That divination granny is crazy; how could she know any important information?"
Gelsak insisted: "Perhaps she's not as mad as she seems. I've heard that she occasionally utters prophecies, some of which have even come true. She might be hiding secrets we don't know about."
Upon hearing this, Fa felt a stir in her heart. Having been born in this world, she knew well that many seemingly mad people often possessed unknown wisdom. She decided not to overlook any clues and said to Wyrselon: "Your Majesty, I am willing to meet this Granny Mara. Perhaps she can give us some guidance."
Wyrselon nodded and immediately commanded: "Gelsak, lead them to the Fallen Snow Valley to find Granny Mara. Ensure their safety."
Gelsak accepted the order and led Fa and her companions away from the royal court, heading to the edge of the Silent Wind Cliff.
The Mad Whisperer of the Silent Wind Cliff
Under Gelsak's guidance, the group passed through the still-repairing floating islands, crossed broken rainbow paths connected by temporary light bridges, and finally arrived at the "Silent Wind Cliff" at the edge of the Light Feather Dome's space. Here, fierce winds howled, and seas of clouds churned below their feet, as if ready to engulf anyone into endless void at any moment. At the cliff's edge, a crude hut built from rough black stones stood alone at the precipice's end, seemingly about to be swept away by the gale at any time.
In front of the hut, a hunched figure faced away from the group, her gray-white long hair dancing wildly in the fierce wind. She wore a tattered gray cloth robe, extending her withered fingers toward the roiling storm clouds overhead and the lightning occasionally tearing across the sky, emitting intermittent, strangely toned chants:
"...Star trails... deviated... orbits... omens of chaos..."
"...Fragments calling... return to position... time is running out..."
"...Look! That eye! The abyss stares... danger! Danger!"
Her voice was hoarse, fluctuating in pitch, filled with indescribable anxiety and fear.
"Granny Mara?" Gelsak raised his voice, trying to overpower the wind.
The figure trembled violently and slowly turned around. A face etched with deep wrinkles came into view. Her eyes were empty and lifeless, covered by a layer of murky white haze, clearly blind long ago. But when she "looked" in the group's direction, those blind eyes seemed to pierce through space, precisely "locking" onto Fa, especially her right eye!
"Ah—!" Granny Mara let out a short, sharp scream, her withered fingers trembling as she pointed at Fa, her face instantly filled with extreme terror. "It's here! It's come! The Eye of the Abyss! Omen of destruction! Run! Everyone run!" She staggered back, as if Fa were some horrific monster.
"Granny! Calm down!" Arya tried to step forward to soothe her.
"Don't come near me!" Granny Mara screamed, waving her hands wildly. An invisible mental shockwave accompanied by fearful emotions burst forth, causing a sting in everyone's minds.
Gelsak and the other accompanying soldiers immediately stood guard in front of Fa, magical fluctuations faintly appearing.
In the midst of the chaos, Granny Mara's movements suddenly halted. She tilted her head, her empty blind eyes "gazing" at Fa, the fear on her face receding like a tide, replaced by a strange calm, even carrying a hint of... fondness?
"No... not right..." she murmured, her voice becoming gentle and ethereal. "Not the abyss... it's... the starlight of return..." She shuffled forward two steps, her withered hand trembling as it reached toward Fa, the wrinkles on her face smoothing out, revealing an almost innocent smile. "You've finally come... earlier than expected... My master... has been waiting for you for a very, very long time..."
This abrupt change stunned everyone.
"Master?" Fa caught the key word. "Granny, who is your master? Where is he?"
Granny Mara didn't answer directly, just smiling mysteriously, her wrinkled face like a withered flower struggling to bloom: "Follow me... The master... is inside the 'Eternal Storm'... waiting to guide the lost stars..." Her withered fingers traced a few arcane symbols in the air seemingly at random, an invisible wind magic beginning to gather around her.
Upon hearing "Eternal Storm," Fa and her group felt a stir in their hearts. They had heard from King Wyrselon that the Eternal Storm was the most mysterious and dangerous place in the Light Feather Dome, said to hide many ancient secrets and powerful forces.
Seeing their hesitation, Granny Mara said: "Don't worry, I'll use magic to send you there." With that, she waved her hand. In an instant, an invisible gentle wind force spread out from her as the center, forming a rotating small tornado wall that enveloped Fa, Arya, TISK, Salsa, Kayla, Yuyuer, Zhamisi, Lin Ya, Rex, and Celestia entirely! It isolated the guiding Gelsak and the other accompanying soldiers outside.
"Wait! Mara! Where are you taking them?" Gelsak shouted sternly, stepping forward to stop her. He and the other soldiers had duties and could not let these esteemed guests venture into danger with a mad old woman.
However, Granny Mara simply waved her hand lightly. Hum! An invisible yet incredibly resilient wind barrier instantly rose between her and Gelsak's group! This wind wall was not a violent attack but contained extremely exquisite, almost law-level flow and repulsion force! Gelsak's fist, condensed with crimson flames, smashed into it like a bull into the sea, the power dissipated layer by layer, and even a flexible counter-push force steadily pushed him and the other soldiers back several meters without injury!
"Guardians and others... stay behind..." The granny's voice carried an unquestionable magical pressure, the wind wall suddenly strengthening, forming a flexible yet indestructible barrier that gently but firmly pushed Gelsak back a few steps. "The master... only sees those who should be seen..."
The wind wall carried the group, as if lifted by an invisible giant hand, away from the Silent Wind Cliff, flying at astonishing speed toward the most treacherous area within the Light Feather Dome's space, perpetually shrouded in violent energy turbulence and thick ice clouds—the forbidden zone "Eternal Storm." Fierce winds whistled in their ears, below them the bottomless dark snowy cloud abyss and ice peaks ferocious like giant beast fangs.
The flight lasted about ten minutes before the wind wall's speed gradually slowed, finally placing them steadily on a snow-covered, jagged mountain platform. The platform's edge was a ten-thousand-foot abyss, howling cold winds whipping ice particles against their faces. Granny Mara floated in the platform's center, pointing to a narrow path half-buried in snow, winding upward along the higher ridge: "Follow this path... proceed... The master awaits you at the end... My task is complete..." She deeply "gazed" toward the valley, her haze-covered eyes revealing a devout longing. Then, her figure dissipated like sand scattered by the wind, turning into specks of cyan light particles, vanishing into the sulfur-scented air, leaving only a final ethereal whisper echoing in the wind: "...May the star glow guide you..."
The group exchanged glances, their hearts filled with shock and doubt. This "mad" blind diviner possessed such unfathomable wind-system magic and spatial mastery! What kind of existence was her master?
"Let's go," Fa took a deep breath, suppressing the waves in her heart, her Star Eye vigilantly scanning the perilous surroundings. "The answers are ahead."
The Guardian of the Eternal Storm
The group could only proceed as instructed. The narrow ice path was extremely treacherous, with a steep ice wall on one side and a deep abyss roiling with deadly cold mist on the other. Kayla and TISK led the way, using weapons to chisel footholds in the slick ice surface. Arya used wind magic to stabilize everyone's steps as much as possible. Though shackled, Celestia's steps were exceptionally steady, silently following at the rear. Fa's right Star Eye flowed with ethereal light, piercing through the pervasive ice mist ahead, vaguely seeing what seemed like a relatively flat open area at the path's end, and... the outline of a building.
After nearly an hour of arduous trekking, just as they were about to step onto that open area—
"Roar—!!!"
Several deafening, wild and majestic roars tore through the mountain silence! Fierce winds rose, whipping up snow flurries! Nine massive beasts leaped out from behind the boulders at the open area's edge, blocking the path!
They were nine majestic and heart-palpitating "Frost Roar Griffins"! Their sizes far exceeded ordinary griffins, standing almost as tall as three Kaylas stacked. Their bodies were covered in thick, armor-like blue-white feathers, edges condensed with sharp ice crystals. Their eagle heads were ferocious, amber vertical pupils flashing with a predator's cold gleam, massive eagle claws digging deep into the frozen soil, each pawing bringing up hard ice chunks. Steel-like wings spread, stirring up bone-chilling cold winds laced with ice blades, instantly forcing the group back several steps! The lead griffin's size was the largest, with a circle of lightning-shaped golden patterns on its neck feathers. It lowered its head, emitting a threatening low growl from its throat, cold breath condensing into white mist in the air, filled with rage at its territory being invaded!
"Alert!" Fa shouted sharply, her short blade instantly drawn, earth and ice magical auras wrapping around it!
"Roar!" Kayla reacted almost instinctively, the violent aura of her Annihilation Form about to erupt, the phantom of Thunder Fang Ice Prison flashing around her but forcibly suppressed, assuming her most ferocious combat stance.
"Targets locked! Frost Roar Griffin pack! Threat level: Extreme!" Rex's armor emitted urgent humming, ion cannon muzzles on his back and shoulder missile pods popping open instantly, hundreds of nano-drones swarming out like agitated bees, weaving into a flickering defensive net of ghostly blue cold light in the icy air!
TISK's Lava Hammer slammed heavily into the ground, ice-fire patterns exploding in a circle of scorching air waves, melting the snow underfoot! "Damn flat-feathered beasts! Want a fight? I'm in!"
Arya's Storm Bow was instantly drawn full, light and dark elements wildly spinning and compressing at her fingertips, an arrow wrapped in a destructive energy vortex ready to fire!
Yuyuer's crystal orb shone with brilliant blue light, an ice crystal storm rapidly condensing overhead!
Zhamisi's poison fang curved blades were coated in inky green venom, her snake tail coiled, entering combat mode!
Lin Ya's feet cracked the ice layer, emerald mycelium spreading like living things!
Salsa's mechanical cat shell's eyes condensed with ethereal light, shadow energy surging around her!
Though Celestia couldn't muster power, her gaze was sharp as a knife, fixed on the griffin leader's every move!
Battle was imminent! The lead griffin's eyes burst with murderous light, its massive eagle claw raised, wrapped in freezing air and strength enough to tear steel, about to pounce fiercely at the forefront Kayla! Rex's cannon muzzles lit with blinding charging glow, Kayla's muscles tensed to the limit—
At this critical moment!
"Stop."
A calm, gentle voice, yet seemingly containing supreme authority and soul-piercing power, clearly came from the seemingly simple stone hut behind the open area.
The voice wasn't loud, but it carried a kind of absolute decree, instantly soothing the violent energy and freezing time!
The nine ferocious, poised Frost Roar Griffins were as if reined in by invisible bridles! Their pouncing actions froze mid-air! The boiling killing intent and wildness in their eyes receded like a tide, replaced by absolute obedience and... fondness? Their massive heads bowed submissively, throats emitting appeasing "purrs" like giant cats, enormous bodies even slightly crouching, retracting all hostility.
The seemingly ordinary wooden door of the stone hut was pushed open by a slender, elegant hand with skin like the finest white jade.
A woman slowly stepped out.
When her figure was fully bathed in the pale sky light of the wintry ridge, everyone—including Fa and her group, who had just experienced the great battle at the Light Feather Dome and witnessed King Wyrselon's majesty—felt an instant suffocation and soul-deep shock!
She wore a simple, ancient-style ink-black long robe, its hem embroidered with flowing silver star trails, understated yet exuding endless depth. Her silver-gray long hair flowed like moonlight, casually draped behind her, tips nearly reaching her ankles. Her face couldn't be described with mere beauty; it was a tranquility and wisdom transcending time's tempering, with a composure born of vicissitudes between her brows, her eyes a purer ice-blue than the sky above the Eternal Storm, clear to the bottom, as if reflecting the essence of souls.
However, what was most impossible to look away from was behind her—
Six wings!
Unlike King Wyrselon's silver-blue gradient wings flowing with starlight, her six wings were pure, profound ink-black! As if cut from the most silent night sky! The wings' lines were elegant and powerful, each feather flowing with restrained dark light, edges sharp as blades, yet carrying an indescribable sacredness. This pure darkness was not evil but contained the cosmic essence that embraced all things, devouring all light yet nurturing endless stars! The six wings weren't fully spread, just naturally drooping and folded behind her, but the invisible, vast pressure seemingly integrated with the entire mountain range and the starry sky overhead made everyone feel their own insignificance like dust! This was absolutely an existence on the same level as the Sand Sage 'Saladin' and the Rage Tide Shell Emperor 'Lantis'!
The moment this woman appeared, the Inheritor's Stone Fa wore close to her body erupted with an unprecedented, nearly scorching heat! Intense light even penetrated Fa's thick clothing, casting a small patch of brilliant light spot on her chest! At the same time, Fa's right Star Eye resonated strongly, deep blue light uncontrollably shining forth, echoing remotely with the woman's ice-blue eyes!
The woman's ice-blue eyes fell first on Fa, more precisely on her right eye's flowing Star Eye and the inheritor's glow from her chest. In those ancient well-like eyes, a trace of understanding and... faint ripples of dust-sealed years being awakened finally flashed.
She ignored the Frost Roar Griffins that had instantly turned from fierce hunters to docile big cats, rubbing affectionately around her legs, her gaze slowly sweeping over the shocked and wary group, finally stopping on Fa. Her voice remained calm and gentle, yet with penetrating insight:
"The Star Eye shines, the inheritance responds... The long wait has not been in vain." She nodded slightly, dark light flowing on the edges of her ink-black six wings. "I am the Hurricane Sun Inheritor 'Villanette.' One of the five inheritors of the Star Heart, wielding the 'Origin of Wind' and the 'True Essence of Light.' Welcome... you all."
As her words fell, Villanette slowly spread her arms, two of her black six wings elegantly unfolding to the sides!
In an instant, the calm ice plain was distorted by an indescribable immense force! The air was no longer merely cold but substantialized, like countless sharp blades madly slicing through space! Centered on Villanette, a pitch-black, profound terrifying storm suddenly formed! This was no ordinary gale but a bizarre energy vortex woven from the pure Origin of Wind and True Essence of Light!
The storm rapidly expanded, spreading outward at astonishing speed, whipping up the thick ice and snow on the platform, exposing the hard black rock below. The snow flurries were no longer mere flakes but transformed into billions of tiny ice crystal blades, rotating at high speed in the storm, emitting piercing whistles! The ground beneath began to tremble, cracks spreading like spiderwebs on the sturdy ice walls, even the perpetual ice clouds overhead stirred by this sudden terrifying storm, forming a massive, bottomless black funnel!
The violent winds tore at the group's bodies, each feeling breathing difficult, as if gripped by countless invisible hands! The wind sounds were no longer mere howls but transformed into the wails and whispers of billions of beings, pouring directly into their minds, making souls tremble. TISK's massive body swayed precariously in the wind, Kayla's defensive stance seemed so fragile, Arya's wind magic like firefly light before this origin power! Rex's nano-drone net was mercilessly shredded in the storm, emitting sharp explosions, fragments sucked into the eye of the storm and vanishing in an instant!
However, this terrifying storm uniquely bypassed Villanette herself, strangely avoiding the nine Frost Roar Griffins and Fa's group locked by her gaze! Though they could feel the storm's immense pressure, they weren't directly affected, as if an invisible barrier isolated them from the external fury. Even so, the absolute power Villanette displayed—enough to alter terrain and even influence weather—still delivered an unprecedented shock to their minds! This was a force transcending common sense, akin to a divine miracle, making them profoundly understand the true meaning of "Inheritor."
In the storm's center, Villanette's figure seemed so small yet so towering. Her black wings fluttered in the violent energy, the silver star trails on them shining brightly, echoing her ice-blue eyes. She stood there calmly, like the incarnation of the storm, yet like the only unchanging anchor in this world. She had no intent to attack, merely using this soul-shaking power to silently declare her existence and the "origin" power she wielded.
Several minutes later, this earth-shaking storm receded like a tide with Villanette's gentle folding of her wings. The chaotic ice crystal blades returned to calm, the trembling earth stabilized, even the stirred funnel-shaped ice clouds overhead slowly healed, as if everything just now was an illusion. However, the deep gouges plowed on the platform, the storm-torn rocks, and the lingering horror and awe on everyone's faces clearly proved how real it all had been.
Villanette's gaze fell on Fa again, those ice-blue pupils deep as the universe's end, softly repeating: "Welcome, chosen of the stars, to this forgotten frontier. Please follow me inside; here lies everything you need to know." Her voice remained gentle, yet added an unquestionable guidance.
The group almost subconsciously followed Villanette toward the simple stone hut. They knew that what awaited was not just the inheritor's guidance but an ancient secret about stars and destiny.