On the desolate expanse of the Well of Pure Yin, the air hung heavy with a faint, ethereal shimmer—a ghostly trace of spiritual energy that lingered like a whisper from a forgotten age. The bitter cold bit at every exposed inch, yet within the frozen stillness, a stirring began. From her ancient slumber, a woman emerged, her form radiant with an otherworldly beauty that was at once delicate and untouchable. Her eyes, deep wells of time-worn wisdom, blinked slowly, adjusting to the unexpected presence within her timeless domain.
"Who are you, child?" Her voice was soft and melodic, but beneath it lay the weight of countless ages and profound weariness. A flicker of recognition or perhaps something even deeper passed across her features. "I sense familiar blood in you. A kin? Even so, you have awakened me too soon. The wounds of this world remain unhealed, and I have yet to atone for my sins." Her words drifted through the icy air, heavy with unspoken history and regret.
I bowed with utmost respect, careful to maintain the precise, graceful etiquette drilled into me over countless years even though in moments of stress or deep focus I sometimes forgot. "I am Kai Shen," I replied clearly and firmly, though the awe her presence inspired stirred a quiet tremor within me.
"Kai Shen," she repeated, tilting her head as if savoring the sound of my name. Her ancient eyes shone with sharp intelligence beneath their weariness. "How did you come to be here? Why disturb me in this place? The Well of Pure Yin is not meant for one who carries the vibrant essence of fire."
Her power, ancient and profound, stirred subtly through the cavern. In an instant, the oppressive chill that had gnawed at my very soul vanished, as if the cold itself fled from her presence. The torrents of spiritual energy that had pressed relentlessly against me, threatening to crush my very essence, parted like a river before a stone, creating a serene pocket of calm. This effortless display of power eclipsed anything I had ever witnessed.
"Thank you," I said sincerely, gradually dispelling the last flickers of my Heavenly Flame Requiem. The warmth it provided was no longer needed. "I did not come here by choice. Falsely accused of practicing demonic techniques by those who seek to undermine me, I was cast into the Well to prove my innocence to undergo a cruel test."
"Demons..." Her voice grew somber, losing its melodic quality as it fell to a mournful whisper heavy with ancient sorrow. "So the blight still festers." She shook her head slowly, exhaustion and disappointment etched into her every movement. "But this is folly. Are there no other ways to prove your truth? Even the most inexperienced Core-stage practitioner could see the purity of your flame. This is no trial, but a sentence masquerading as one."
"In truth, it is," I admitted without hesitation. "One of the sect masters, a supposed pillar of righteousness, is in fact a true demonic cultivator. The story is complicated, far more tangled than it seems, woven from deceit and ambition."
She offered a wistful smile, almost melancholic but touched by warmth. "We have time. The doors here only open after a full day, once the trial concludes. I doubt that has changed in the millennia I have slept. I would gladly hear what the outside world holds, if you are willing to share. Visitors here are exceedingly rare."
I hesitated but began my tale nonetheless, words flowing easier than I expected despite the weight pressing down on my heart. I spoke openly of the current turmoil—the shifting powers, the rising darkness from the Frost Ridge, the subtle corruption creeping into the land. I guarded my deepest secrets fiercely, but Lin Shi listened with patient understanding. When I faltered, she simply nodded, granting me the silent right to withhold what I could not yet share.
At the mention of Xu Xie, a faint, sorrowful smile flickered across her face, brief as a shadow at dusk. When I spoke of Feng, a subtle flicker of worry flashed in her ancient eyes, as quick and delicate as a bird's wing.
"Let me share my version of the legend," she said, voice a low, resonant hum as she lowered her gaze into the swirling depths of the Well, searching for answers hidden within. "Long ago, Xu and I ruled this world. Whether well or poorly, only the heavens can judge. What is certain is that three sects, drunk on their own pride, invaded our lands, and we fell—not to superior force but our own grave misjudgment." She sighed, a sound steeped in sorrow and age. "The proud dragon would never admit it, even now, but I remember every detail. No one sacrificed me. The demons came willingly, requiring no payment, eager to claim their prize. They saw our folly and struck accordingly. By the time we grasped the extent of our error, it was too late. We had to unite with former enemies, those we once fought bitterly, to purge this world's corruption. The battle was terrible—space itself tore like fragile paper, spiritual energy flows shattered, scars remaining to this day. But we prevailed, narrowly. For our sins, for that monumental mistake, we were punished. I became a spirit, bound to heal the world's wounds, pouring my essence into its brokenness. My husband became a sword, forever destined to purge its remaining corruption. Only when our tasks are complete will we be free to reunite." Her voice carried a deep yearning that stirred something within me.
A mischievous glint sparked in my eyes. "Purely hypothetically," I ventured, "what would happen if someone destroyed the Well of Pure Yin?"
Her eyes softened, revealing an unfathomable depth. "I would be reborn if a suitable vessel were found. A body strong enough to host me, a soul capable of containing my essence. Over time, my Qi would form a new physical shell, a body reborn. But it would take thousands of years—countless generations."
"Feng..." I whispered, stunned by the implication. The pieces of a terrible puzzle slid together. Could that manipulative dragon truly intend to use that lively, innocent girl as my vessel? The thought was monstrous, a violation beyond measure.
"You guessed right," she said, sorrow and resignation weighing down her words. "That poor girl. You must save her, Kai Shen. Though I long to feel the sun's warmth again, to walk beneath open skies, I am willing to wait—willing to atone. There is no need to create more suffering. I dread what madness he might unleash to achieve his twisted goals."
"How do I save her?" I asked, hope sparking fiercely in my chest as I met her ancient gaze. Feng's spirit, so vibrant and wild, had burrowed too deeply in my heart to abandon.
"I will tell you later," she said with a reassuring smile that eased the tension in the cavern. Her outstretched hand glowed with soft, ethereal light, and from within the shimmering radiance, a feather materialized—pure white, radiant as starlight itself, breathtaking in its delicate beauty.
A subtle notification echoed in my mind.Item: Phoenix FeatherType: Auxiliary ArtifactRank: EarthEffect: Enhances control over the fire elementIncreases resistance to negative effects
"I see you are ready to advance to the Meridian stage," she said, voice now clear and authoritative. "Your flame burns bright, your technique strong—a testament to your innate talent. Allow me to aid you, as an elder guides a junior on their path. Consider this a token of gratitude for your story. You know how to unlock the Body Node, don't you? I saw the treatise you studied, Kai Shen. Since you are here, and your spirit is pure, I will give you the best possible start. It costs me but a fragment of my essence."
"Thank you," I said, bowing deeply once more, the feather's warmth a comforting presence in my palm. To refuse such a gift would be folly. This was a rare chance to learn from a living legend. Lin Shi's power, even now, was overwhelming yet kind, filled with ancient wisdom and subtle kindness—no hint of malice.
She laughed lightly, a sound like wind chimes swaying in a gentle breeze. "It's just a feather, child. It will only slightly boost your fire affinity. Some say it wards off misfortune, but if that were true, I wouldn't be bound here, tethered to this Well."
I disagreed silently. The System's cold, objective logic had declared it protected against "negative effects," whatever that truly encompassed. But I kept my secret close, accepting the impossibly light, radiant feather with sincere gratitude, feeling its subtle power begin to resonate with my own.