The sacred contract slowly faded.
The radiant runes that had filled the throne hall dissolved into streams of light before disappearing entirely. The immense spiritual energy that had surged moments earlier gradually calmed, leaving behind a peaceful silence.
Yan Fu lowered his staff.
Before him stood Aetherion, its turquoise eyes calm and steady, the faint glow of celestial magic still flowing gently around its body.
The pact had been completed.
Ji Xia Sect now possessed its second guardian.
Aetherion lifted its head slightly, sensing a familiar presence outside the palace.
"Your companion still waits beyond the gates," it said calmly.
Yan Fu nodded.
"Then let us greet him properly."
Together they walked toward the entrance hall. Their footsteps echoed softly through the grand palace corridors.
Outside, the clearing remained quiet.
Vorath still rested upon the grass, its massive body stretched across the ground like a dark mountain. When the palace gates slowly opened again, the black lion's amber eyes immediately opened.
Its gaze first landed on Yan Fu.
Then it shifted to the radiant being standing beside him.
For a moment, silence filled the clearing.
The two ancient beings observed one another.
Vorath slowly stood up.
Its massive form towered above the surrounding grass as its shadow stretched across the ground.
Aetherion stepped forward calmly, its white coat glowing softly beneath the daylight.
Two powerful auras filled the clearing.
One was deep and dark like endless night.
The other was pure and gentle like celestial starlight.
Yet neither aura clashed.
Instead, they seemed to balance one another.
Vorath spoke first, its deep voice rumbling like distant thunder.
"So you are the guardian of this palace."
Aetherion inclined its head slightly.
"And you must be Vorath, the shadow king of this forest."
The black lion's amber eyes narrowed slightly.
"I did not expect another beast to accept a mortal so quickly."
Aetherion calmly replied,
"This mortal is not ordinary."
Its turquoise eyes briefly glanced toward Yan Fu.
"His Dao heart is steady."
Vorath remained silent for a moment before releasing a low rumble of approval.
"Then we shall walk the same path."
Aetherion nodded.
"For the rise of Ji Xia Sect."
The tension between them faded.
The two divine guardians had accepted one another.
Yan Fu quietly watched the scene.
Two ancient beings, both powerful enough to dominate large regions of the Dongxu World, now stood beneath his command.
Yet just as calm returned to the clearing—
A voice suddenly echoed through the palace.
"A mortal… has been accepted by two divine beasts as its master."
The voice was calm.
Curious.
Yet its power was terrifying.
"Interesting."
The moment the voice spoke, the entire palace trembled.
Yan Fu's eyes widened.
An overwhelming pressure suddenly descended upon the area.
It felt as if the sky itself had fallen onto his shoulders.
His breathing grew heavy.
The air became difficult to move through.
Every instinct in his body screamed danger.
This presence…
It was far beyond anything he had sensed before.
Even Vorath and Aetherion reacted.
Vorath's fur rose slightly as its powerful aura expanded outward defensively.
Aetherion's horn glowed brightly as celestial energy surrounded its body.
Both divine guardians immediately became alert.
The voice echoed again, this time closer.
"You possess courage, mortal."
Yan Fu clenched his fists.
The pressure crushing his body was immense.
It felt as if invisible mountains were pressing down upon him from every direction.
His bones creaked.
His breathing became slow and heavy.
But he did not kneel.
He did not step back.
Instead, Yan Fu raised his head and looked toward the distant sky.
"I have come to rebuild Ji Xia Sect."
His voice was calm despite the overwhelming pressure.
"I will not bow simply because someone stronger appears."
For a moment, the world became silent.
Then the mysterious voice chuckled softly.
"Interesting."
The crushing aura slowly lessened.
Not gone—
But reduced.
As if the unseen being had decided to show restraint.
High above the palace, the clouds began to swirl slowly.
A vast presence moved somewhere far beyond sight.
"You command two divine guardians…"
The voice spoke again.
"Let us see if you are worthy of such fortune."
Vorath growled lowly.
"Show yourself."
The ancient black lion's amber eyes burned fiercely as it looked toward the sky.
Aetherion also stepped forward, its calm turquoise gaze now sharp with focus.
But the unseen presence did not appear.
Instead, the voice echoed one final time.
"Our paths will cross again, Yan Fu."
"When that time comes… I will see whether Ji Xia Sect deserves to rise again."
The voice vanished.
The crushing pressure disappeared with it.
Silence returned to the clearing.
Yan Fu slowly exhaled.
Even with his celestial-level strength, he could still feel the lingering weight of that presence.
Vorath looked toward the sky with narrowed eyes.
"That being…"
The black lion's voice was serious.
"…is far beyond celestial level."
Aetherion nodded slowly.
"A being who has stepped closer to the Dao itself."
Yan Fu remained silent.
For the first time since arriving in the Dongxu World, he had encountered something that even his power could not challenge.
But instead of fear—
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"So there are beings like that in this world…"
He tightened his grip on his staff.
"Good."
Yan Fu turned toward the forest beyond the palace.
"Ji Xia Sect will need to grow far stronger."
Beside him, two divine guardians stood silently.
The road ahead had just become far more dangerous.
But the rise of Ji Xia Sect had only just begun.