The archive's core was a frozen chamber, its ice walls etched with bell runes that pulsed like a heartbeat, casting blue shadows. Qin Mo's shard strained, its heat a faint pulse, the cold numbing his bones. Yi, Ren, and Lian stood close, their breaths clouding, the FFD System's warnings urgent.
[FFD System: Frostflame Balance: Heat 18% / Cold 82%. Scan: Frostflame ritual site, 30 meters ahead, threat level: Lethal.]
Ren's daggers glinted, his voice low. "My brother's here. I feel it."
Lian's bow was ready, her eyes steady. "My family's relics end here. We stop the Tax."
Yi's threads hovered, her face hard. "For my village."
The chamber's center held a frostfire altar, its flames blue and cold, bell runes circling its base. The bells in Qin Mo's pouch chimed, syncing with the altar, pulling at his shard. A sect enforcer emerged, azure robes glowing, blade drawn. "Core-bearer," he sneered, "the Tax claims you."
[FFD System: Sect enforcer detected. Frostfire aura active. Heat loss: 25%. Balance: Heat 16% / Cold 84%.]
The enforcer struck, blade weaving blue flames, frost trailing like smoke. Qin Mo dodged, Frost Veil shielding him, but the cold sapped his heat, ice coating his blade. Lian's arrows pierced the enforcer's arm, slowing him, while Yi's threads bound his legs, snapping his stance.
Qin Mo unleashed Frost Fang, icy teeth biting the enforcer's chest, frost blooming. Ren's daggers slashed his throat, ending him. The altar flared, summoning a frost array—lines pulling at Qin Mo's shard. He activated Eagle Eye, spotting a bell fragment in the altar's core.
[FFD System: Altar essence detected. Devour progress: 15%. Balance: Heat 15% / Cold 85%.]
Yi's threads disrupted the array, Lian's arrows struck the runes, and Ren's daggers carved the fragment free. Qin Mo grabbed it, the shard absorbing its cold, heat surging briefly.
[FFD System: Bell fragment acquired. Silent Tax chain: 9/9. Binding risk: 70%.]
The team stood around the altar, its flames dimming. Qin Mo raised the scroll from Ling Shou. "We end the Tax together," he said, voice firm.
Yi nodded, threads steady. "For my village."
Lian's bow lowered. "For my family."
Ren gripped his daggers. "For my brother."
The FFD System chimed, warning of the altar's power.
[FFD System: Silent Tax resonance: 80%. Ritual site unstable.]
The chamber shook, the bells' chime a vow sealed in frost and flame.