The Nirvana Cocoon split open with a sound like cracking crystal.
CRKKKK—SHHHHHHHH!
Prismatic light spilled across the courtyard, flooding the ruins of battle with color that bent the air and shimmered like liquid auroras. Every disciple instinctively shielded their eyes.
Qi Shan Wei didn't move.
He couldn't.
His heart hammered against his ribs with a mixture of fear, excitement, and overwhelming relief. He reached forward slowly, breath trembling.
"Drakonix…?"
The cocoon cracked again.
CRRRAAAK—BOOM!
A surge of flame and light erupted, spiraling upward like a newborn sun. The explosion didn't burn — it washed across the courtyard with a warmth that felt ancient, cleansing, reborn.
When the light settled…
A shadow stepped out.
Not the tiny, mischievous cub he had protected.
Not the frightened creature who hid under his robes.
This was—
Majestic.
Powerful.
Radiant.
The New Drakonix
Drakonix stood over a meter tall now, sleek and deadly, with a body shaped like a dragon-hawk hybrid forged in celestial fire.
His prismatic scales glowed like shifting gemstones.His wings were twice his body length — radiant, feathered at the tips, scaled at the base.His horns curved back elegantly, etched with glowing runes.His eyes—now deeper, sharper—blazed with evolving intelligence.
He opened his beak and roared—
"FWWWWWWEEEEEEEEHHH!!!"
—but the sound was richer, layered with faint thunder and flame resonance.
Ling Xueyao stared, stunned.
"So beautiful…"
Qingyue whispered, voice trembling with awe.
"That's… a Nirvana Drakonix. I've only seen murals!"
Jin Wei, cracked and kneeling, lifted his head with mechanical effort.
"IDENTITY CONFIRMED…DRACONIC ENTITY: UPGRADED."
Drakonix spread his wings wide, flames rippling down the feathers.His body thrummed with raw power.
Then—
He looked at Shan Wei.
And the entire feral aura dissolved.
His eyes softened.
He chirped once—quietly—
"Fwee?"
Like a child asking: Did I do well?
Shan Wei's chest tightened so hard he nearly fell.
He rushed forward and wrapped both arms around Drakonix's neck.
"You—idiot—! You scared me! You nearly died!"
Drakonix tilted his head, leaning into him.
"Fwrrr… fwwee…"
His voice had more tone now—more warmth, more meaning.
He nuzzled Shan Wei's cheek with a surprisingly gentle gesture.
Shan Wei laughed shakily, holding him tighter.
"I'm so proud of you… you brave little monster…"
Drakonix chirped proudly, puffing out his chest.
Qingyue covered her smile.
Xueyao looked away, but her lips curved slightly.
New Abilities, New Mischief
Drakonix flexed his wings.
The air rippled.
A shockwave blasted outward—
BOOM!!!
—launching several disciples into bushes and fountains.
"AAAAAHHHH—!!""What the—?!""WHY IS HE SO STRONG?!"
Shan Wei choked.
"Drakonix—NO WING FLAPPING INSIDE THE PAVILION!"
Drakonix froze.
Then slowly…slowly…lifted his wing tips like:
…sorry?
Xueyao pressed a hand over her mouth, hiding a laugh.
Qingyue snapped her fingers.
"See? He's already stronger than half the sect."
Drakonix puffed out his chest again, proud.
"FWEE."
Shan Wei sighed.
"Oh no. Now he knows he's majestic."
Qingyue grinned."He always knew."
Xueyao muttered, "He's even more troublesome now…"
Drakonix strutted over to Xueyao and sat directly in front of her, wings folded neatly, staring.
Xueyao blinked.
"…What?"
Drakonix opened his mouth, flame glowing.
"Fwee."
He gently warmed her frost-bitten hands.
Xueyao froze.
Then her eyes softened.
"…thank you."
Shan Wei smiled at them.
Jin Wei — Awakening
A grinding metallic sound echoed.
Everyone turned.
Jin Wei—still cracked, still half-broken—forced himself upright.
"STATUS… CRITICAL…RUNES… RECONNECTED—33%CORE… RESTABILIZING."
He staggered once—then caught himself, planting his shield-arm into the ground.
Shan Wei approached.
"Jin Wei… you saved my life. Again."
Jin Wei lowered his head.
"MASTER… SAFE.MISSION… SUCCESS."
But then—
A faint spark lit inside Jin Wei's core.
Something different.
Something… emotional.
He placed one fist against his chest plate, almost like a salute.
"MASTER…COMMAND… DENIED."
Shan Wei frowned.
"What command?"
Jin Wei's voice crackled.
"COMMAND: 'DO NOT RISK YOURSELF.'MASTER… VITAL.MASTER… PRIORITY… INFINITY."
Shan Wei stared.
Jin Wei had never disobeyed a command before.
Qingyue whispered:
"He… developed a new instinct."
Ling Xueyao stepped forward.
"He's growing."
Shan Wei swallowed.
"…Jin Wei. Thank you."
Jin Wei straightened, giant and unyielding.
"ALWAYS."
The Immortal's Fragment
The Pavilion Master approached carefully.
"Qi Shan Wei…" he said quietly. "Your… father left something behind."
He offered a gold-glass shard the size of a palm.
The moment Shan Wei touched it—
Prismatic light swirled.
A faint projection of the Immortal's voice echoed:
"This is your first inheritance.Use it when the time comes."
Shan Wei's eyes widened.
Xueyao leaned closer.
"It's… a Memory-Dao fragment," she breathed.
Qingyue's eyes sparkled.
"No—more. This contains a technique. A powerful one."
The projection continued:
"This art will awaken only when you face an enemy you cannot defeat…and when you accept a truth about yourself you do not want to face."
Then the shard dimmed.
Shan Wei clenched it.
"…Thank you."
No one said a word, respecting the moment.
Disturbances Across the Realm
Elder Lu hurried into the courtyard, face pale.
"Qi Shan Wei. Pavilion Master. We… we have a problem."
Everyone tensed.
"What happened?" Shan Wei asked.
Elder Lu swallowed.
"Several… strange occurrences across the valley."
He listed them:
Animals fleeing toward the mountains
Rivers glowing faintly red
A black mist seen rising from the east
A star falling unnaturally slow toward the horizon
Sects sending scouts toward Cloudpierce Pavilion
And rumors—of a silver-haired Immortal appearing
The Pavilion Master exhaled shakily.
"Your father's intervention… has shaken the region."
Shan Wei frowned.
"It's getting worse, isn't it?"
"Yes," Elder Lu said gravely."And—there's something else."
He pointed toward the outer gates.
"Someone… has arrived. Asking specifically for you."
Shan Wei stiffened.
"Who?"
Elder Lu hesitated.
"…He… refused to give his name."
Shan Wei stepped forward.
"Where is he?"
The elder pointed again.
"Behind the gate."
Shan Wei walked toward the entrance.
Drakonix followed, wings half-spread, growling softly.Jin Wei stomped heavily behind them.Xueyao and Qingyue flanked his sides.
And when Shan Wei pushed open the pavilion gate—
A single man stood there.
Covered in dust.Eyes burning with determination.Carrying a blade on his back.
He bowed deeply.
"Kneeling before Young Master Qi Shan Wei," he said.
Shan Wei blinked.
"What…?"
The man looked up.
"I am here," he said solemnly, "because you saved my sister three years ago."
Shan Wei's mind raced.
"Sister…? Who—?"
The man drew his blade and slammed it into the ground in salute.
"My name is Bai Yefeng.And from this moment forward—I swear my sword to you."
Shan Wei stared, stunned.
Ling Xueyao gasped.
Qingyue whispered:
"Another one… drawn to him…"
Drakonix chirped proudly.Jin Wei hummed as if satisfied.
Shan Wei opened his mouth to reply—
But Bai Yefeng spoke again, eyes hard.
"And I bring news you must hear."
Shan Wei's heartbeat quickened.
"What news?"
The man took a breath.
"Sect banners are rising across the region."His hands trembled."Factions you've never heard of… but who all want you dead."
He looked directly at Shan Wei.
"Someone leaked the Heaven Decree."
Shan Wei's blood froze.
Xueyao's eyes widened in horror.
Qingyue's flame trembled.
Drakonix screeched.
Jin Wei's runes flared violently.
Bai Yefeng whispered:
"You are now the most hunted person in this realm."
Shan Wei clenched his fists.
And the prismatic flame behind his eyes flickered—
Strong.Steady.Terrifying.
To be Continued
© Kishtika., 2025All rights reserved.
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