Smoke rose from the shattered peaks of the Eastern Sky. The scent of scorched qi and cracked earth lingered in the wind. Li Yi stood atop a broken column, gaze locked on the crimson moon above. It hadn't faded. If anything, it glowed deeper—like a wound that refused to heal.
Below him, the Li Family's elders gathered what remained of the defense force. Healers moved swiftly, carrying the injured, laying down protective formations, and chanting recovery mantras. The main hall had been destroyed, and the Spirit Tree—an ancient symbol of their lineage—had lost half its leaves.
But the rift had closed. For now.
Li Yi descended in silence, his feet touching the cracked tiles of the ruined courtyard. The others stepped back instinctively, unsure whether to bow or simply keep their distance.
Li Qingxian approached first. His long beard was stained with blood, but his eyes burned with pride and awe.
"You… are no longer just a descendant of the Li family," the elder said. "You are now its protector."
Li Yi nodded slightly, but his voice was cold. "We've only bought time."
He turned toward the crater where Va'Kur had fallen. There was no body—only abyssal ichor that hissed where it touched stone, and fragments of the demon's shattered blade.
Suddenly, the sky above flickered.
A chill swept through the land as a projection formed in the clouds. A silhouette, vast and regal, cloaked in pale light. Eyes like black suns gazed down upon the realm.
It was not a physical form, but a Divine Shadow—a transmission from the God Realm.
A voice echoed across the heavens.
> "To the lower realms who still breathe: the seal has weakened. The Abyss awakens. The Crimson Moon shall mark the first descent. Prepare your realm. Or perish."
Then, it vanished.
Gasps spread across the estate. Elders knelt. Some wept. Others stood frozen.
Li Yi remained still.
He already knew. The God Realm was not just watching—they were preparing.
And so were the demons.
---
That night, Li Yi entered the ancestral chamber. Alone. He lit the incense, placed his hands on the ancient jade tablet, and poured his qi into it.
A projection of the past flickered to life—his father, Li Tianren, standing tall in silver robes. Beside him, a veiled woman—his mother.
Their recorded voices echoed:
> "If you're seeing this, Li Yi, then the seal is weakening sooner than we hoped. We have little time left. The Divine Path was blocked to prevent the Abyss from reaching you. But now, you must walk it."
> "Your bloodline is unique. You are not just of the Li family. You are of the Heavenborne Lineage. Our final hope."
The projection ended.
Li Yi closed his eyes. His blood surged, responding to truths he hadn't fully grasped.
His veins glowed faintly—silver, gold, and azure.
---
At dawn, he stood at the edge of the estate.
A massive spirit ship hovered before him, gifted by the elders—a vessel meant for long journeys across realms.
"Where will you go?" Qingxian asked.
"To the Void Staircase," Li Yi said. "I must find a way to reach the God Realm. I need answers—and power."
The elder bowed deeply.
"The path is forbidden. Dangerous."
"All paths are," Li Yi replied, stepping onto the ship. "But I won't let the moon fall red again."
The ship soared into the sky, breaking through clouds, sailing toward the unknown horizon.
Behind him, the realm trembled.
Ahead, the stars called.