The sealed chamber vibrated faintly, as if the mountain itself sensed Qi Shan Wei's awakening.His breathing steadied. The prismatic mark on his wrist pulsed like a sleeping star ready to open its eyes.
Elder Lu exhaled in relief.
"You nearly tore the heavens open again," he murmured.
Shan Wei sat up slowly. His head spun, but not from weakness — from clarity. Something inside him had crystallized. Something sharp. Something unbreakable.
"Elder Lu…" Shan Wei whispered. "Last night… I understood something."
Lu raised a brow. "And what did your near-death enlightenment teach you?"
Shan Wei looked down at his palm. A faint shimmer of crimson-gold light danced across his skin.
"That I'm done running," he said softly. "If the heavens want to test me… if factions want to hunt me…"
His eyes hardened.
"…then I'll become someone they fear to chase."
Lu smiled — a tired, sad smile. "Good. Because the world will not become kinder."
A Silent Visitor
A soft scratching noise interrupted them.
Shan Wei stiffened. "What was that?"
Lu's eyes narrowed. "There shouldn't be anyone here. This chamber is—"
Another scratch. Softer. Almost like…
…claws?
The curtain burst open — and a small creature tumbled in, rolling across the floor like a glowing ball of feathers and scales.
"Wha—?!"
It skidded to a stop, shook itself violently, then squeaked indignantly.
A tiny dragon head popped up from the feathered fluff.
Eyes gold-crimson.Tail flickering with small sparks.Wings too small for its body.Scales shimmering faintly in multiple colors.
Lu froze.
"…What is that?"
The tiny creature puffed its cheeks, clearly offended.
Shan Wei blinked in disbelief.
Then he remembered.
In the chaos of last night's battle, when the prismatic light had erupted from him, he vaguely recalled a small, glowing egg-like object tumbling through the air in the courtyard — as though drawn to him.
He hadn't realized it hatched.
The creature chirped once, then launched itself at him.
"W-Wait—!"
It slammed into his chest and curled up in his lap, claws clutching his robe, tail wrapping possessively around his wrist. The little thing glowed gently, as if syncing with his heartbeat.
Elder Lu stared, speechless.
"That… is a divine beast," he managed. "A newborn. A rare one. A dangerous one."
The tiny dragon-phoenix hybrid burrowed deeper into Shan Wei's robes.
Shan Wei gently stroked its head. "He's… warm."
The creature chirped proudly.
Lu rubbed his temples. "Of course he is. Only you would attract a divine beast while unconscious."
The creature lifted its chin.
It wanted a name.
Shan Wei smiled softly. "Drakonix."
The small divine beast chirped again — louder — and sparks of prismatic fire popped around the chamber like tiny fireworks.
The bond formed instantly.
Lu whispered, "A divine companion… this early… the heavens have completely lost their minds…"
The Sect Reacts to the Storm
Outside the sealed chamber, chaos was brewing.
Rumors had spread. Disciples whispered in fear and awe.
"The Hidden Sect came again last night…""No — they fled. The child forced them to retreat.""That light… I thought heaven was falling.""The Pavilion Master hasn't said anything. That scares me more."
Several elders stood outside the mountain chamber arguing about whether to keep the boy or send him away for everyone's safety.
"He's a danger to us!""He's a gift from the heavens!""He's a calamity!""He destroyed half our courtyard but saved us from the Hidden Sect!"
Their voices swirled like a storm.
Far above them, on a nearby peak, a hooded figure watched the mountain quietly — lips curved into a cold smile.
"So… he survived. Interesting."
The shadow faded into mist.
A Master's Decision
Back inside, the Pavilion Master entered the chamber quietly.
He paused when he saw Drakonix curled proudly on Shan Wei's lap.
"…Of course," the master sighed. "A divine beast too. Why not add more flames to the bonfire?"
Drakonix squeaked and attempted to look intimidating.It failed.The master ignored him anyway.
"Qi Shan Wei," the old man said. "You have gained the interest of too many factions — and your flame is unstable."
Shan Wei straightened. "Then teach me control."
"I will," the master replied. "But not here."
Shan Wei froze. "You're… sending me away?"
"No. I am sending you upward."
Lu blinked. "Master… you can't mean—"
"Yes." The master's eyes gleamed. "The Ancient Ruin above Cloudpierce Peak."
Shan Wei felt a chill.
"A ruin?" he whispered.
"A forgotten place," the master said. "Filled with ancient formations, treasures, traps — and knowledge from the Primordial Era. It may have what you need."
Shan Wei frowned. "Why now?"
"Because something in that ruin reacted to your prismatic light last night."The master pointed toward the mountain ceiling.
"And because something… woke up."
A faint vibration trembled through the floor, like an ancient giant turning in its sleep.
Shan Wei's prismatic wrist mark pulsed violently in response.
Drakonix squeaked nervously.
Lu whispered, "Master… could it be—"
"Yes."The master's voice was grave."An ancient guardian. One not seen for thousands of years."
He turned to Shan Wei.
"Your fate is tied to that ruin. Whatever sleeps inside… has acknowledged you."
Shan Wei shivered.
"What's inside?"
The master answered with a single name.
"Jin Wei."
The chamber fell silent.
"That name…" Lu whispered. "One of the Primordial Puppet Constructs. They say Jin Wei guarded emperors and crushed armies."
The master nodded.
"If the legends are true… then Jin Wei is a divine puppet capable of battling gods."
Shan Wei felt his heart hammer in his chest.
A puppet that once guarded emperors…A puppet that sensed him?
The mark on his wrist flared again — violently.
And in the depths of the mountain…A distant metallic echo answered.
CLANG.CLANG.CLANG.
As if a giant made of gold and steel had awakened.
The master's eyes glinted with something like pride — and fear.
"Qi Shan Wei," he said, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder,"You will climb Cloudpierce Peak."
"You will enter the ancient ruin."
"And you will meet the Golden Guardian."
Shan Wei swallowed hard.
Drakonix hopped onto his shoulder, chest puffed in determination.
The prismatic mark burned.
And far above, Jin Wei stirred for the first time in ages.
Seeds of Defiance Had Sprouted
The world had begun to shift.Ancient forces whispered.Sects prepared.Divine beasts stirred.Forgotten ruins awakened.Old enemies smelled the storm.The heavens looked down with interest — and fear.
And Qi Shan Wei?He stepped forward without hesitation.
"I don't want to run anymore," he said.
Lu smiled.
The master nodded once.
Drakonix chirped.
The mountain trembled.
Destiny answered.
To be continued..
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