Location: Ruins of the Beast Clans – Hollow Fang Valley
Long Wanyu led Qin Huaian and Qin Xiaoxiao through the Frozen Abyss's northern exit, descending into the Hollow Fang Valley, once home to the ruling Beast Clans of the Northern Wilds—now a shattered graveyard of colossal bones and ruined temples.
The wind here didn't howl—it whispered.
Names.
Warnings.
Regrets.
Even Xiaoxiao, who had never once feared ancient places, walked carefully here.
> "This is no ordinary ruin," she said.
"It feels like... Heaven still watches it."
Wanyu nodded.
> "This is where they made the pact. Where the beast gods were first betrayed."
---
📚 The Forbidden Archive – Vault of Shards
Within the cracked skull of a long-dead Sky Devourer Beast, they found a gate of crystalized obsidian. Embedded in it were thirteen marks—the seals of the First Heaven Council.
Wanyu extended a hand, and one mark pulsed with life.
The gate responded to his Storm Serpent blood, melting open like fog retreating from dawn.
Inside was the Vault of Shards—a library of shattered murals, soul-imprinted stones, and what looked like a living crystal altar, softly glowing with Void Qi.
On the walls were carvings of a horned man with eyes like starlight. His back held two wings—one of pure light, the other of spiraling darkness.
> "He was called Tianren the Boundless," Wanyu whispered.
"The First Void Flame bearer. Half-beast. Half-angel. The one who first challenged Heaven."
---
🧠 The Prophecy of the Triple Eclipse
A fragment of mural near the altar glowed as Huaian approached. His Void Flame lit up—activating the memory sealed within.
A voice spoke—not from any throat, but from time itself:
> "When Heaven chokes the Earth with false stars, when Time weeps, and when the Void reflects Heaven's face…"
"Then shall rise the Heir of Flame, and the Beast of Storm, and the Twin of Fate."
"They shall burn the chains. And all realms shall bleed."
The glow faded.
Xiaoxiao looked to Huaian.
> "You're the Heir of Flame."
She turned to Wanyu.
> "You're the Beast of Storm."
But the last one…
> "Who is the Twin of Fate?"
Wanyu's expression grew dark.
> "The prophecy says he will be born in mirrored blood, wielding time and death both. A being who cannot die unless his twin does."
> "That… sounds like Jiang Mozhen," Xiaoxiao realized.
> "It is," Wanyu confirmed grimly.
---
⚠️ Heaven's Deception Revealed
In the final room of the archive, they found a skyplate—an ancient spirit-recording slate encoded with Heaven's council decrees.
Huaian activated it.
The truth made them go still.
> "The Thirteen Keys were not chosen to protect balance," the slate revealed.
"They were created as locks—to prevent the return of Tianren the Boundless."
"Their deaths release fragments of his sealed soul… and whoever kills them absorbs those fragments."
> "Which means…" Xiaoxiao whispered, "…Mozhen is trying to become Tianren reborn."
---
🔥 Resolve Forged in Fire
Huaian stepped away from the altar, fists trembling—not in fear, but clarity.
> "So we're not warriors. We're locks."
> "But what if we break ourselves first?"
Wanyu blinked. "What?"
> "If we learn how to unlock Tianren's spirit without dying, we may be able to claim his legacy… before Mozhen does."
> "And control it."
The others looked to him, stunned.
A new path had formed.
One no prophecy predicted.