The night air was heavy with the smell of burning wood as Xian Hei moved through the outskirts of the Divine Empire's capital. His mind whirred with ideas and possibilities of what he could do-lay to ashes Laiyun he had, and now the capital, which was the heartbeat of the empire, awaited him. There, something stirred inside; it whispered softly yet insisted on being heard.
The words of Azhira flashed in his mind: Even the Flame of Heaven cannot save you from your ambition. He had dismissed them earlier as mere babbling of a lowly being, a member of a sect that held no place in his great vision. But standing outside the city, staring at the huge gold gates leading to the imperial palace, he couldn't help the thought: what if the world held more than the flames under his command? Centuries of honing his ruthless cunning had gone into that power, but power did not always suffice. An empire was not something to be faced; the immortals within, or the sects concealing it-it was an expression of forces more ancient, much more dangerous, than he could ever read.
The gods, ancient ones whispering in the void between worlds, had not shown their face. Yet Xian Hei knew one thing-they had given their consent through the silence. And when the right time came, their heads would turn to his direction. And he would be prepared by then.
---
Before him stood the imperial palace: a great edifice of gold and marble that reached high into the heavens. From here, the emperor ruled, the seat of the Divine Empire's power. Yet beneath this shining façade, there were shadows, whispers of those who pulled the strings from the dark corners of the palace.
The guards were on the gates as Xian Hei approached them; none dared try and block his path. Frozen where they stood, it seemed as if time itself froze in that very instant. With the power that flowed from within him, the Flame of Heaven coursed through his veins; ripples shook the atmosphere, as if the earth had begun to tremble at his approach.
Behind the palace doors, away from the spying eyes of the people, a secret meeting was unfolding. The Unseen Court, as they knew themselves, was an order of very influential people who, in silence, had moved the currents of history for centuries. For some time, they watched the rise of Xian Hei and his rampage throughout Laiyun; finally, they knew it was time to take action.
A cluster of masked figures stood around a long, obsidian table in the darkened room. At the head of the table stood one draped in black robes; his voice was cold and measured.
We cannot let this stand," said the leader of the Unseen Court, his voice booming in the silence. "Xian Hei's power has grown too big, too fast, too wildly. If we do not strike now, he will destroy everything we have worked for.
Another figure spoke-a woman wrought from silver, with gleaming, intricate markings-and she said, "Ambitious, yes. But shall we defeat him? For the Flame of Heaven is a weapon in no way like any ordinary weapon. I have beheld it with my own eyes, a thing as though he grasped in his hand the very soul of fire.
The masked face of the leader turned toward her. "And yet it is not invincible. We have our ways of dealing with even the most powerful of threats. We are the Unseen Court, and we have the means to bring down even gods.
The table fell silent as the other members nodded in concurrence. The leader turned to a shadowed corner of the room where another figure stood, his eyes glowing with an unnatural light.
"Are the preparations complete?" the leader asked.
The figure nodded from the corner, stepping out into the room to reveal a small, ancient artefact. It was a black stone, cold to the touch, with faint markings carved into its surface-symbols Xian Hei would know all too well.
This is the Seal of the Eternal Night," he said. "It is an ancient artifact, forged long ago by those who dreaded the Flame of Heaven. It has the power to suppress even the most destructive of flames. With it, we can bind his power, neutralize the Flame of Heaven, and strip him of his greatest strength.
The eyes of the leader shone with satisfaction. "Then we shall strike when he least expects it. We will take back the empire from the shadows."
---
Meanwhile, in the palace, the emperor's chambers were bathed in soft golden light. The emperor sat at a large desk, his fingers tracing delicately along the edges of a scroll. His mind was sharp, his thoughts as calculated as ever. Though his empire trembled, he was far from powerless. His eyes, however, were filled with concern as he looked at the messenger who had just entered.
"My emperor, it grows worse," said the messenger, bowing low. "Xian Hei approaches the city. The guards report he is but a few hours away from the gates. There is no stopping him."
A long moment of silence from the emperor; his face unreadable. Then finally, his calm but heavy voice cut through:
"Then it is time. Call forth the Ten Immortals."
A shiver ran down the spine of the messenger; he bowed low and hastily withdrew. The emperor cast his glance out of the window where the dark clouds now were coming to veil the stars. The storm was indeed at the door, and there was nothing left now but to face it bravely.
The gates of the capital city loomed before Xian Hei, the guards trembling as they watched his advance. His eyes glowed with an eerie light, the shadows around him twisting and writhing, responding to the call of the Flame of Heaven. The city stood at the precipice of destruction, and Xian Hei's heart beat in rhythm with the flames that surged within him.
But as he stepped forward, ready to bring down the gates, something shifted.
A pulse of energy rippled through the air, a force that seemed to reach into the very core of his being. For a brief moment, Xian Hei's breath caught in his throat as the shadows around him writhed in protest.
The Seal of the Eternal Night—he had felt its presence before.
A black figure emerged from behind him, running towards him with incredible speed. It was Azhira; her eyes were glowing with a dark, unnatural light. In her hands was the artifact: the Seal of the Eternal Night.
"You want to burn the world, Xian Hei," Azhira said in a low, icy tone. "But the flames in your hands are not invincible. The Seal of the Eternal Night will bind your power, and you will be no better than a shadow."
Xian Hei's lips arced into a wicked smile. "You underestimate me, Azhira. The Flame of Heaven cannot be contained by mere artifacts."
But even as he spoke, he felt it-a weight settling over his soul. The Seal of the Eternal Night was siphoning energy out of the very air itself, stifling the power of the Flame of Heaven like a vice wrapped around his chest. The shadows struck back, but they would not be enough.
"You cannot stop me," Xian Hei growled, his eyes narrowing. "Even if you bind my flame, I will find another way to rise."
Azhira's gaze flickered with something akin to pity. "Perhaps. But we shall see how long you last in the darkness."
With that, she activated the seal, and the world seemed to hold its breath.