The night was unusually still, as if the world itself held its breath in anticipation. Chen sat cross-legged in his private chambers, the jade pendant pulsing with a rhythm that seemed to synchronize with his heartbeat. Fragments of memory continued to drift through his consciousness - glimpses of battles fought centuries ago, whispers of a power that transcended traditional cultivation.
Elder Zhan's concern grew with each passing moment. The Celestial Resonance Flame was not just rare - it was legendary. Generations of the Xiao Clan had spoken of it in hushed tones, a power so unique that it could either save or destroy an entire lineage.
"The three rivers," Chen muttered, spreading out the fragmented map. His finger traced the intricate lines, noting how they converged near the Broken Mountain - a place more myth than reality in most cultivators' minds.
Outside his window, a shadow moved. Not with the stealth of an assassin, but with a calculated precision that spoke of deliberate observation. The cloaked figure from the obsidian chamber had sent an advance scout.
Xiao Mei intercepted the scout before they could get close to Chen's chambers. Her hand, wrapped in a thin layer of Dou Qi, grabbed the intruder's wrist with lightning speed.
"Who sent you?" she demanded, her voice cold as winter's first breath.
The scout said nothing, but a small crystalline object began to dissolve between their fingers - a communication device designed to self-destruct and leave no trace.
Inside his chamber, Chen's pendant suddenly grew hot. The markings blazed with an inner light, projecting a holographic map that was both familiar and completely alien. The three rivers were no longer just lines on parchment - they were living pathways of energy, connecting points of immense power.
The Celestial Resonance Flame was awakening. And with it, a destiny that had been waiting centuries to unfold.