The void was in chaos, riddled with spatial rifts, from which a slender figure struggled free, stepping onto the rubble-strewn ground as they surveyed the ruins. Clad in gray robes, their raven-black hair was disheveled, their skin as pale as ivory, exuding an eerie coldness, as if devoid of normal human warmth. The tangled locks obscured their face until a gust of wind swept through, revealing a visage of breathtaking beauty—a woman, though draped in ancient gray, her skin like polished jade, radiant and flawless, enhancing her ethereal grace.
The ruins of the Sky Mending Pavilion lay desolate, overgrown with weeds, the once-glorious sect now reduced to silence. The woman stood like a sculpture carved by the heavens, more a work of art than flesh and blood. Through her tousled hair, her misty eyes held endless weariness, carrying the weight of time itself.
*Crack!* Another sound echoed from the fractured void as a second figure emerged—a youth of sixteen or seventeen, tall and robust, with thick black hair and striking features. His demeanor was calm and composed, even in this unfamiliar world. His dual-pupiled eyes, a mark of the Sacred Emperor, shimmered with visions of celestial bodies and primordial chaos. He surveyed the ruins without panic.
Suddenly, a massive golden spider, sensing their presence, lunged forward like a golden comet, its aura overwhelming, shaking the earth. It poised in midair, its golden legs like spears, aimed at the woman. The youth quickly gestured for restraint.
Meanwhile, in the ancestral lands of the Fire Nation, Shi Hao toyed with a peculiar artifact—a dull gray bow, its string humming with dragon-like resonance when drawn. “The Wind-Thunder Jiao Bow,” he murmured, recalling its name from his foes. Having slain three foreign prodigies, the crowd now regarded him with fear.
The bow was uncanny, perfectly attuned to his power, as if made for him. Storing it away, he ventured deeper into the scorching wasteland, seeking solitude to break through to the Engraving Realm. But peace eluded him—his recent kills had drawn attention.
Four elders descended upon him, riding artifacts like streaks of light. One unleashed a silver lamp, its flames reducing boulders to molten slag. Another brandished a black banner, splitting the earth with a mere wave. Sensing their might, Shi Hao retreated, wary of provoking the Fire Clan.
He fled with the speed of the Kun-Peng wings, vanishing before their eyes. “How?” the elders muttered, baffled. “Was it the wings, or has he mastered spatial stride?”
Choosing a barren stretch of land, Shi Hao settled to break through. His body erupted with radiant energy, symbols etching across his skin, bones, and marrow—a metamorphosis of power. The process lasted a day, culminating in his ascension to the Engraving Realm. His eyes now gleamed with golden runes, brimming with newfound strength.
Yet the road ahead was long. Each minor breakthrough in this realm demanded years. But time was a luxury he lacked—with chaos looming and Shi Yi’s emergence imminent, he had to grow stronger, faster.
Pressing onward, he sought ancient scriptures rumored to be fought over in the depths of the Fire Clan’s territory. The pages had already claimed many lives, passing from hand to bloodied hand.
Determined, Shi Hao advanced, ready to carve his path through fire and fury.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage