Descending from the mountains, Lin Xi and her companions felt the heavy weight of the Vermilion Bird's power coursing through them, each more attuned to the natural world and their own strengths. The journey had been arduous, but they knew their path was only growing more dangerous as they neared the Black Dragon Emperor's domain.
The small village at the mountain's base was shrouded in a strange silence. The people there seemed wary, casting suspicious glances at the group, but Lin Xi noticed something else—the faint, dark aura lingering around the village. The presence of the Emperor's minions was unmistakable.
Su Qinghe led them into the heart of the village, where a wise elder awaited, an old man with sharp eyes that seemed to pierce through their souls. As the group approached, he bowed slightly, though his gaze stayed fixed on Lin Xi.
"I knew you would come," the elder said, his voice a low murmur. "The Guardian's power radiates from you. But I must warn you, young warriors—this place holds memories, and memories have their own kind of power."
The elder led them to an ancient shrine at the village's edge. Carved from stone and weathered with time, the shrine held an eerie yet tranquil aura. "This shrine honors the first Guardians who once fought against the Black Dragon Emperor. But it also serves as a passage… a doorway to the past."
Lin Xi exchanged looks with her companions, uncertain of what the elder meant. "The past? What do you mean?"
The elder closed his eyes. "This shrine has long kept the memories of the Guardians' battles, the sacrifices they made, and the blood they spilled. It can show you glimpses of their lives, their struggles. But beware—sometimes the past reaches out, tempting us to stay."
The elder's words unsettled them, but Lin Xi felt an undeniable pull to learn more. She knew her lineage was intertwined with the Guardians of old, and the chance to understand her ancestors was too valuable to pass up.
As they each stepped toward the shrine, a surge of power washed over them, pulling them into a different realm. The world blurred, and they found themselves in an ancient battlefield, with skies darkened by storm clouds and the earth littered with remnants of a fierce war.
Warriors clad in armor bearing the insignia of the Guardians clashed with shadowy figures—minions of the Black Dragon Emperor. Flames, lightning, and spectral weapons lit up the dark sky as the sounds of swords clashing and battle cries echoed around them. Lin Xi's heart pounded as she watched the Guardians fight with valor and fury, their sacrifices resonating deeply within her.
Among the fighters, a lone figure caught her attention. He was a tall man, bearing an uncanny resemblance to Su Qinghe, and wielding a blade that seemed to pulse with ancient magic. Lin Xi realized with a jolt that she was witnessing the life of Su Qinghe's ancestor, a Guardian who had fought valiantly against the Emperor's forces.
Su Qinghe, standing beside Lin Xi, looked on in stunned silence. Watching his ancestor's resolve stirred something within him—a deep sense of pride but also an intense weight of expectation. He had inherited this legacy, but could he live up to it?
The vision shifted, showing scenes of a dark, winding castle where a woman cloaked in shadows stood, her aura as chilling as it was powerful. Lin Xi recognized her immediately—it was her own ancestor, a Guardian of unmatched strength, known as the "Wielder of Shadows." She was revered for her abilities, yet in her eyes lay a deep sorrow. The past's darkness felt more personal now, a heavy inheritance Lin Xi hadn't fully grasped before.
Feng and Liu Han found themselves drawn into the vision as well, watching their own ancestors fight alongside the others. They shared glances of both amazement and fear—seeing themselves in their forebears' shoes was both inspiring and terrifying.
The vision continued to unfold, shifting to the Guardians' last stand, a brutal battle that had almost cost them everything. The Guardians fought with all their might, but the Black Dragon Emperor's power seemed endless. Lin Xi and her companions watched in anguish as one Guardian after another fell, making the ultimate sacrifice to hold the Emperor's forces at bay.
Suddenly, the past felt overwhelmingly real. Lin Xi clutched her pendant tightly, feeling the weight of those who had come before her, those who had sacrificed everything so that the next generation could fight on.
The vision began to fade, leaving the group standing back in the shrine. The elder stood waiting, his expression somber. "You've seen the sacrifices of those who came before you. Their blood and strength have paved the way for you. But remember, those memories can only guide you. The future is yours to forge."
Su Qinghe, still dazed from what he had witnessed, spoke softly. "They… they gave up everything. But even so, the Black Dragon Emperor remains. Can we really finish what they started?"
Lin Xi placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder, her eyes filled with determination. "We have to. For them, for ourselves, for everyone who believes in us."
As they left the shrine, they knew that the trials ahead would demand even greater sacrifices. But they also knew that they were never truly alone. Their ancestors' courage and strength would be with them, echoing through time as they prepared for the final showdown with the Emperor.
With newfound resolve, they continued their journey. The road was long, and shadows loomed over them, but with the strength of the past behind them, they felt ready to face whatever lay ahead.