So Yun's chambers were a sanctuary of warmth within Fort Eternal Ice, their walls lined with glowing jade panels that pulsed with a soft, ethereal light, effortlessly countering the pervasive, eternal chill that defined the world outside. A low, exquisitely carved table held a steaming teapot, its calming aroma of herbal infusions failing entirely to ease the knot of tension that gripped Kai's chest as he clutched a delicate cup of the brew.
Kai Shen's Internal State: Qi Reserves: 100,000 (ready in his spatial ring, a vast ocean of power lying dormant, waiting for his command). Current Threat: The Well of Pure Yin loomed large in his mind, a cold, inescapable death sentence for a fire cultivator like himself.
Across from him, Belozar sat, calmly sipping his tea, his usually stern face softened by a visible crease of concern etched between his brows. So Yun, a whirlwind of thought and worry, paced restlessly, her robes rustling with each hurried movement, a soft whisper against the polished floor. Outside, Aina and a contingent of Sword Pavilion disciples waited, their unexpected show of unwavering support a small, comforting warmth spreading through Kai's heart. Yet, a bitter pang of shame gnawed at him for ever doubting their loyalty, even for a fleeting moment. Looming over everything was the ominous shadow of the dragon, its ancient seal a hidden, insidious threat tied to a cryptic system quest that haunted his every thought.
System Quest: Task: Destroy Fort's main formation. Penalty: Death (a stark, undeniable consequence that sent a shiver down his spine).
"You'd better have a plan, lad," Belozar rumbled, slurping his tea with a surprising lack of grace, his gaze fixed on Kai. "You have three days, or your life in the Fort is over. Escaping won't work—Lu might be a poor sensor for subtle energies, but he'd track your blazing fire Qi across the entire tundra with ease."
"I have a plan, Master Belozar," Kai affirmed, a subtle nod shared between him and So Yun, a silent acknowledgment of their unspoken understanding. "First, I need to understand something: what specific oaths bind you both to this Fort?"
"Odd question, Kai," Belozar frowned, setting his cup down. "They are the same as yours, aren't they? We all swear to the same principles."
"We swear to protect the Fort from all threats, to keep its sacred secrets safe, and to uphold the ancient pacts of the Phoenix Sect," So Yun recited, her voice clear and precise. "The minor details might vary slightly between masters and disciples, but those are the core tenets. Lu usually oversees the oaths for new fire pupils, but he's notoriously squeamish about close contact with fire Qi, even his own."
Kai's mind flashed back to his first meeting with Lu, moments after he'd emerged from a gruelling trial, drenched in grotesque bug gore. He recalled the master's palpable disgust, the way Lu had practically recoiled and tossed his disciple token across the room rather than hand it to him directly. Then, Aina's insistent whispers for him to remain silent, and her subsequent guidance to present himself to Lu in that very state—it all clicked into place. Perhaps this was So Yun's subtle ploy, a strategic move to exploit Lu's known aversion to fire cultivators. A small, knowing smile touched Kai's lips as he looked at So Yun, allowing some secrets to remain buried between them. "So, no additional oaths binding me beyond those of the Shen clan, then?" he asked, a hint of something more profound in his voice.
"That's enough, Kai," Belozar sighed, eyeing his empty teacup, a hint of impatience creeping into his tone. "What exactly is your point with all these questions? Get to it."
"It changes everything, Master Belozar," Kai grinned, a genuine, confident smile now gracing his features. The scattered pieces of the puzzle were finally, beautifully, aligning in his mind. "First, I need you both to hear a legend."
He recounted the ancient dragon's tale of the Frost Ridge, meticulously stripping it down to its bare, undeniable facts: how a majestic dragon and a radiant phoenix once ruled these lands, how three invading sects had shattered their peace, and how the dragon, in a desperate, ultimately futile attempt to gain power, had sacrificed his beloved partner to insidious demons, only to be defeated himself. So Yun nodded slowly, her expression contemplative. "The core of the legend is true, Kai," she confirmed, her gaze distant. "But the dragon's betrayal, his turning to demonic forces, is the critical detail often overlooked. Demonic taint lingered, mutating creatures like the monstrous bugs and the ferocious guars we still battle today."
"And what, precisely, is the Fort's true purpose?" Kai asked, though he already sensed the profound answer.
"It is a colossal, intricate formation," So Yun confirmed, her voice filled with ancient knowledge. "Designed to perpetually purge the lingering demonic Qi from this land and to restore the natural spiritual flows of the region. A monumental undertaking." Her eyes then met his, a flicker of renewed concern. "But how does this help you survive the Well of Pure Yin, Kai? That's what we need to know."
"It doesn't, directly," Kai smirked, a flash of his usual audacity returning. With a flourish, he pulled a leather-bound notebook from his spatial ring, its pages filled with intricate diagrams and glowing characters. "But this will."
Proposed Technique:
Requiem of Heavenly Flame
Rank: Heavenly Cost: 100,000 Qi Requires: Song of Pure Flame, Devourer, Black Blizzard, Dance of Coals
Belozar leaned forward, his stern face showing a rare flicker of intense interest. "You… you made this, lad? You actually forged a Heavenly Rank technique?"
So Yun, her eyes wide with astonishment, read the title aloud, her voice barely a whisper. "Requiem of Heavenly Flame… I've never even heard of such a technique in all the sect's archives!"
Kai had crafted it during his long return flight to the Fort, a daring, almost insane assembly of disparate techniques and concepts. He had woven the Devourer technique to absorb and refine Qi, integrated the Black Blizzard to manipulate intricate energy flows, placed the Song of Pure Flame at its very core as the foundational energy, and then meticulously added fragments of various ancient formations and acceleration arts he'd glimpsed in his travels.
System Alert: Technique unmastered.
Despite having conceptualized and designed it, Kai hadn't actually learned or practiced the full technique yet. But his entire 100,000 Qi reserve was ready, waiting to fuel its demanding requirements. "It's tailored specifically for me," he explained simply, his confidence unwavering.
"It's madness, Kai," So Yun said, rapidly scanning the complex pages, her brow furrowed in concentration. "It's a fire technique, yes, but… it appears neutral, at least in its spiritual grade. It defies conventional categorization!"
"You said Qi divisions are conditional, Master So Yun," Kai countered, a sly grin playing on his lips. "Perhaps the conventional classifications are simply… outdated."
Belozar's skeptical glance spoke volumes, conveying his immense doubt about such an unorthodox creation. Kai knew the technique was indeed unconventional, built from fragments of knowledge for his unique needs, but he believed in it. "I'll need a quiet corner to truly learn it," he stated. "The pain will be immense, I'm sure, but it will be worth it."
"You're insane, boy," Belozar muttered, shaking his head, yet his eyes, surprisingly, held a glimmer of genuine respect for Kai's audacity.
"There's a bigger issue, Masters," Kai said, his voice dropping to a low, serious tone, drawing their full attention. "The dragon… it lives."
"We know, Kai," So Yun said casually, surprising him with her calm demeanor. "Your initial tip about the Black Blizzard leading to ancient energies prompted us to delve into the Fort's deepest archives. The complete legend, including the dragon's survival, was there, meticulously recorded."
"You… you mastered the Black Blizzard?" Kai asked, genuinely surprised, his eyes wide.
"About two weeks ago," So Yun smiled, a rare, gentle expression. "I wanted to surprise you, Kai. But speaking of surprises… where is Fen? We haven't seen her."
"He took her," Kai admitted, a fresh wave of guilt gnawing at him, recalling the helpless look in Fen's eyes.
"That's… bad news, Kai," So Yun sighed, her smile fading. "Fen is a phoenix, a child of heaven, incredibly rare. Only one phoenix has ever truly died in this region – the empress of the ancient empire. She might be her, reincarnated."
Kai let out a short, incredulous laugh, picturing Fen's restless, mischievous energy. "Too lively for an ancient empress, don't you think?"
"Perhaps," So Yun conceded, though her gaze remained thoughtful. "But the dragon… he did something to you, didn't he? Something that tied you to his power?"
Kai, with a subtle movement of his hand, silently summoned the system interface, bringing up the cryptic quest.
System Quest: Task: Destroy Fort's main formation. Penalty: Death.
The dragon's ancient seal had triggered this terrifying task, undoubtedly. But the vague wording, the ambiguity of "main formation," was his loophole. The Fort's true main formation wasn't the abstract Well of Pure Yin, or some grand defensive array—it was the massive, life-sustaining water-heating array, a complex network of pipes and magical conduits vital for the very survival of all 7,000 souls living within Fort Eternal Ice. Destroying it wouldn't doom the Fort or kill its inhabitants, but it might, just might, break the dragon's insidious hold over him.
"Master So Yun," Kai asked, his voice now imbued with a newfound certainty, a complex plan rapidly crystallizing in his mind, "can you show me the schematics for the water-heating formation again?"