Zhi Yan said to Moyan,
"Chief, you have two pieces of Yinmoji, and the third piece still hasn't been found. Then how did Zhichen and Lixuan survive the power of that sharp stone?"
Moyan gave no answer to Zhi Yan's question.
In a cold voice, he ordered,
"Tie Zhichen and Lixuan up with all the other students."
Zhi Yan took the two of them toward the Chamber of Restraint. The path outside was completely silent.
But the moment Zhi Yan stretched out his hand, the ancient symbols carved into the ground began to glow one by one. The air grew heavy. Slowly, a deep, hazy gate began to open.
This was no ordinary chamber of confinement.
Here, even a person's power itself could be imprisoned.
Along with the unconscious Lixuan and Zhichen, all the students who had disappeared from the forest and different directions were also there.
The world inside the Chamber of Restraint was entirely different. No day, no night. Only a faint blue light dripping from the stone walls.
Just then, Mingzhao slowly opened his eyes. Seeing the surroundings, he froze in shock.
He quickly began waking everyone.
He shook Fengli, who was lying nearby.
In a weak voice, Fengli said,
"Brother Ming… I feel suffocated…"
Mingzhao said in panic,
"We have to wake everyone quickly. Otherwise we'll all die here."
Together, they woke all the students.
But Zhichen's condition was very bad.
He could barely even stand.
Lixuan supported him and said softly,
"I'm here… I won't let you fall."
Just then, a strange smoke began spreading inside the chamber.
Breathing grew heavy for everyone.
Mingzhao said to Lixuan,
"Find a way out of here!"
Even in fear, Lixuan remained calm and said,
"Everyone, use your powers. Together we have to stop this smoke!"
But no one's powers were working.
Blood began coming from everyone's mouths. Their bodies grew weak.
Lixuan shouted,
"Everyone, sit in meditation! Focus your minds in one place!"
He himself was about to gather all his power when Mingzhao grabbed his hand.
"No, Lixuan! If you use all your power, you'll be in danger…"
Lixuan said in a soft but firm voice,
"If I do nothing, we'll all die here… And if my power can save all of you, then only my life will be lost."
Mingzhao's eyes widened. Not a single word came out of his mouth. He stood there silently.
Lixuan began slowly concentrating all his power in one place. His breathing grew fast. Suddenly, blood came out of his mouth. His heartbeat went out of control.
The ancient lines on the chamber walls began to glow. A strong wind started swirling in the room.
The black smoke that was choking everyone slowly began to fade.
But the more power Lixuan used, the worse his condition became.
As his power increased, the restraints on everyone's bodies slowly began to weaken.
Suddenly, an old door appeared on the wall — a door that had never been there before.
On it were written the words:
"Only the self-sacrificing can break the Bond of Sacrifice."
Seeing this, Mingzhao's face turned pale. He looked at Lixuan and began to cry.
But there was a faint smile on Lixuan's face — his effort was working.
He understood.
That door was demanding his sacrifice in exchange for everyone's lives.
Suddenly a bright light flashed. The chamber door burst open.
Lixuan shouted,
"Mingzhao! Take everyone and go outside — Zhichen too!"
All the students ran out.
Fengli placed Zhichen's arm over his shoulder and helped him leave.
But the door was slowly closing.
Mingzhao shouted,
"I won't leave you behind!"
Just then, Lanxin ran inside. She grabbed Mingzhao's hand and forcefully pulled him out.
As soon as they got out, Lixuan collapsed to the ground. The door kept closing.
Zhichen suddenly opened his eyes. He was looking for Lixuan. The moment he saw the door, he saw Lixuan falling.
Even in his injured state, Zhichen ran toward him. Fengli tried to stop him, but Zhichen didn't stop.
Before the door closed, he reached Lixuan.
Outside, Mingzhao kept banging on the door and screaming.
He tried to break it. His hands were injured, blood flowing.
Lanxin stopped him and said,
"This door is made of dark power. We can't break it. We must go to the Yuzhen Tribe immediately and seek Master, Jinhai, and Xiangu's help!"
Mingzhao's eyes turned red. He fell to his knees and cried,
"Lixuan… I will definitely save you. Even if I have to give my life."
Inside, Lixuan's eyes were closing.
Zhichen lifted him, but Lixuan wouldn't open his eyes.
Zhichen placed Lixuan's head in his lap,
"Lixuan… open your eyes…"
Tears flowed from his eyes. It was clear — he did not want to lose him.
Tears also slipped from the corners of Lixuan's closed eyes.
As if he could hear everything… but could not open them.
The walls of the chamber began glowing again — as if feeling their pain.
Zhichen tried to restore Lixuan's energy with his power…
But Lixuan's powers were gone.
He was now just an ordinary person.
All his power had merged into Yinmoji.
Suddenly, a bright light entered from outside.
It was the power of Master, Jinhai, and Xiangu.
Outside, the three of them broke the door with their combined strength.
Inside, the atmosphere was completely different. A deep silence was everywhere.
Lixuan lay in Zhichen's arms. Silent tears flowed from Zhichen's eyes.
Xiangu came closer and, seeing Lixuan, said,
"His condition is very bad. We must take him to the Yuzhen Tribe immediately."
Master, Jinhai, and Xiangu together brought Lixuan and Zhichen back to the academy. Lixuan was laid in his chamber.
Mingzhao could not bear to see Lixuan's condition — and fainted there. Fengli supported him and put him to rest.
Meanwhile, Lixuan lay quietly on the bed. Master was watching him. In a low voice he said,
"Now… the return of his powers is very difficult."
Jinhai spoke,
"So does that mean Lixuan—"
Master stopped him.
"He has lost his powers, not his life."
The room was dimly lit. Curtains moved gently with the wind.
Lixuan's face was calm, but that calmness was filled with deep exhaustion — like someone who had fought a long battle and fallen silent.
Zhichen sat beside him. Not for a moment did his gaze leave Lixuan. No mantra, no power — only waiting.
In another chamber, Mingzhao had regained consciousness. Fengli sat beside him, placing a cold cloth on his forehead.
Mingzhao asked softly,
"Where is Lixuan… take me to him…"
Fengli stopped him,
"You're not well. You shouldn't get up now. Lixuan is okay for now…"
Meanwhile, Master, Jinhai, and Xiangu sat in a sacred place in deep silence.
Master said,
"Lixuan is a brave warrior… but if his power does not return, he may not live long. We must save him. Somehow, his life is connected to a fragment of Yinmoji."
At that moment, Lixuan took a faint breath… and slowly opened his eyes.
There was little light in them — but life was still there.
In a very weak voice he said,
"I… am still here… right?"
Tears again fell from Zhichen's eyes.
"You are here…" was all he could say.
Night grew deeper.
Lixuan said softly,
"You never talk to me… then why are you crying?"
Zhichen lowered his head.
"When you were lying on the ground and I couldn't do anything… I felt all my power was just an illusion. Even while being by your side, I couldn't save you…"
Lixuan said gently,
"Saving with power was your job… but enduring was mine. And you didn't leave me alone, Zhichen… that is enough."
Just then, Master entered.
"Lixuan, are you alright?"
Lixuan tried to smile, but the pain in his eyes could not be hidden. He asked softly,
"If my power never returns… will I still stay here?"
The question was deep.
Suddenly, the academy bells began ringing loudly. Master stood up at once.
Everyone went outside. Xiangu closed his eyes and felt the air.
"This energy is not coming from the academy… it's coming from the village."
Dark clouds gathered in the sky. The village sank into shadow.
People came out of their homes — but their steps moved in unison. Their eyes were slowly turning black. No fear, no pain on their faces… only control.
In the center of the village stood Moyan. In his hands, two fragments of Yinmoji glowed, releasing dark energy.
He roared,
"You are all just pawns! My real target is the academy!"
The villagers turned together toward the academy.
Fengli said in shock,
"Master… the villagers… they are all coming here!"
Master's voice grew heavy,
"Moyan is forcing us… If we save the students, the villagers will die…"
Everyone fell silent.
Inside, Lixuan tried to get up — but couldn't. Zhichen stopped him,
"Stop, you're still weak."
At that moment, a black streak in the sky moved straight toward the academy gate. Moyan's laughter echoed — and he disappeared.
The villagers began breaking the gate. The academy doors trembled.
That night… the screams rising from the village changed the color of the sky.
And the academy's students stood at the most dangerous turning point of their lives.