The heavy doors of the Ling Clan archives burst open with a thunderous crash, shaking the ancient wooden shelves. Scrolls tumbled from their places, and dust curled in the air.
Xueya's body froze, her heart hammering against her ribs.
Elder Wei stood at the entrance, his sharp eyes locking onto her like a hawk spotting prey.
A terrifying silence settled over the room.
Xueya clenched the jade pendant in her palm, its warmth pulsing against her skin. The echoes of her father's words still lingered in her mind, but now—she was caught.
"Xueya."
Elder Wei's voice was calm, but the undercurrent of danger was unmistakable.
"This place is forbidden to disciples. What are you doing here?"
Xueya's mind raced. She could lie, she could run, or she could fight. But none of those seemed like good options.
She swallowed.
"…I was curious."
The elder's expression darkened.
"Curious?" His gaze flickered to the broken barrier seal on the entrance, then to the open chest at her feet.
Xueya cursed internally.
"You didn't just wander in here, did you?" Elder Wei stepped forward, his robes barely making a sound against the stone floor. His spiritual energy pressed down on her like a mountain.
She was trapped.
For a brief moment, she considered using the power she had felt earlier—the black energy that had shattered the barrier. But she had no idea how to control it.
She forced herself to remain still. If she panicked, she would lose.
Elder Wei exhaled sharply. "Since you refuse to speak, I will take you to the Clan Master. Let's see if your silence remains there."
Before she could react, he moved.
A single flick of his sleeve sent a wave of spiritual energy rushing toward her.
Xueya's vision blurred as invisible chains wrapped around her body.
A binding spell.
She gritted her teeth as her limbs locked in place.
Elder Wei grabbed her by the collar and dragged her out of the archives.
Ling Clan's Judgment Hall
The hall was eerily silent, lit only by floating lanterns casting flickering shadows on the marble floor. Dozens of elders sat in a semi-circle, their gazes cold and piercing.
At the center, seated on an imposing jade throne, was the Ling Clan Master—Ling Haoran.
His presence was suffocating. Even though he looked middle-aged, his cultivation was deep—a peak-stage Soul Ascension expert.
He drummed his fingers against the armrest. "Xueya," he spoke slowly. "I expected better from you."
Xueya stood in the center of the hall, her wrists bound with spiritual chains.
She clenched her fists.
The Clan Master continued. "Breaking into the sacred archives is a grave crime. But the real question is—what were you looking for?"
Xueya's lips parted slightly, but she said nothing.
Ling Haoran's eyes narrowed. "What did you take?"
Elder Wei stepped forward. "We caught her standing over an opened chest, Master. She has something."
Xueya felt a surge of cold sweat on her back.
If they discovered the jade pendant, everything would be over.
One of the elders, an old woman with silver hair, squinted at her. "Search her."
Two guards stepped forward, their auras pressing down on her.
Xueya's heartbeat quickened. If they searched her, they would find it.
She couldn't let that happen.
She had to act now.
She closed her eyes, desperately reaching for the power she had felt before.
And then—
A pulse.
Something awakened inside her.
A wave of dark energy surged from her core, twisting around her body like living shadows. The air grew cold, and the lanterns flickered violently.
The elders gasped as the energy swirled around her.
A shadowy figure formed behind her—a monstrous entity with glowing violet eyes.
"This energy…!" One of the elders shot up from his seat, his face pale.
"Darkness Meridian!" another elder shouted.
Shock rippled through the hall.
Xueya barely understood what was happening, but her instincts screamed at her to run.
The moment of distraction was enough.
She forced her body to move, shattering the spiritual chains that bound her.
With a burst of speed, she dashed toward the exit.
But—
A powerful force slammed into her chest, sending her flying backward.
She crashed into the stone floor, coughing up blood.
Ling Haoran had moved.
He stared down at her, his expression no longer calm—it was grim.
"You are not a child of this clan." His voice was low. "You never were."
Xueya's breath caught in her throat.
Did he… did he know?
Before she could respond, Ling Haoran raised his hand, forming a deadly seal.
"Your existence is a danger to the Ling Clan. You should not have been born."
His palm descended toward her—a killing move.
Xueya's mind screamed.
And then—
A voice echoed in her soul.
The Supreme God' voice
She had no choice.
With the last of her strength, she whispered—
"Father."
A blinding golden light erupted from the pendant, shattering the hall's ceiling.
And in the heavens—thunder roared.