Chapter 1: The Silence Before the Storm
In the borders between the Three Realms, the Kingdom of Qing Yun was unusually vibrant tonight. Above the horizon, a silver moon hung like a flawless jade disk, casting its ethereal glow over the world.
The city streets were a sea of light, adorned with countless colorful spirit lanterns that twinkled like fallen stars. This grand display was not for a common festival, but for the 15th birthday of Princess **Mo Yueqing**, the sole jewel of the kingdom.
On the highest terrace of the Royal Palace, Yueqing stood alone. Her slender fingers rested lightly on the intricately carved jade railing as she gazed down at the celebrations in a trance of silence. As a gentle breeze brushed past, she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Every movement she made carried the innate grace of a royal, yet there was a hint of untamed longing in her eyes—a silent wish for freedom beyond the palace walls.
"Yue'er..."
A voice, soft yet dignified, broke her solitude. Yueqing turned to find her mother, **Ling Yue**, standing there. The princess's face lit up with a childlike joy, and she hurried to her mother's side, clutching her arm affectionately.
"Imperial Mother! Don't forget, Father promised to take me to the **Snowy Wilderness** outside the city tomorrow. You must come with us too!"
Ling Yue squeezed her daughter's delicate hand, but deep within her eyes, a shadow of profound anxiety was hidden. For them, "tomorrow" was a luxury they might not be able to afford.
"Oh? Is my little Yue'er so eager to see the snow?" Ling Yue forced a smile. "We will go, of course. But you are still young, and the spiritual energy there is chaotic and dangerous. Perhaps it is better to stay here and enjoy your birthday feast tomorrow, hmm?"
Yueqing's smile faded slightly, and she shook her head firmly.
"Mother, I am no longer a child. I will be fifteen tomorrow, and in another year, I will be the Crown Princess. If I do not start training in harsh environments now, how can I ever become a ruler worthy of our people?"
Hearing her daughter's innocent yet resolute words, a shiver of dread passed through Ling Yue's heart.
"Very well... Mother was wrong to doubt you," Ling Yue whispered. She reached for her own neck, unfastening a **Crescent Moon Jade Pendant**, and gently placed it around Yueqing's neck. This pendant held a secret—it was a powerful seal designed to suppress internal energy.
"This is my gift to you. This jade will keep your spirit calm and—more importantly—it will conceal your aura and power. Remember, Yue'er, you must only remove this pendant when you truly need to unleash your full strength. At all other times, it must remain on you."
As Yueqing stared at the jade in wonder, a heavy, rhythmic footstep echoed on the terrace. **Demon King Mo Ran** entered, his presence commanding yet warm. Despite his smile, his hand gripped the hilt of his Great Demon Sword with a tightness that spoke of unspoken tension.
"Look at this! The two women of my life are so happy that there's no room for me!" he chuckled.
Yueqing let go of her mother and ran to hug her father's arm. "Father! I missed you more. Where is my gift?"
Mo Ran teased her by playfully pinching her nose. With a wave of his hand, black wisps of demonic energy manifested, revealing two **Heaven-Grade Moon-Demon Daggers** and an ancient manual of martial arts.
"These are for you. These daggers will protect your life, and this manual contains the secret techniques of our Mo Clan. My only wish is for you to be happy, but also to have the strength to protect yourself when the time comes."
The daggers felt cold to the touch, yet in Yueqing's hands, they hummed with a strange, purified resonance.
"Heaven-grade weapons and an ancient manual! I knew Father loved me the most!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining.
Behind her innocent joy, her parents exchanged a look heavy with sorrow. They knew the Celestial Realm had sensed the awakening of the **'Saint Power'** within Yueqing. They were no longer just celebrating a birthday; they were preparing for a war.
"Go now, little one. You must rest early for tomorrow," Ling Yue urged softly.
Yueqing retreated to her chambers, her head full of dreams of the future. As her figure disappeared down the hall, the tears Ling Yue had been holding back finally fell.
She turned to Mo Ran, her voice trembling. "Mo Ran... the silence from the Celestial Realm is terrifying. They know. They know about Yue'er's Saint Power."
Mo Ran gripped his wife's shoulders, his face hardening into a mask of iron. "I know, Ling Yue. That is why we sealed it. We wanted to protect her from the **Trial of the Cold Goddess**—that path that strips away all human emotion and turns a child into a frozen deity. If she fails that trial, her soul will turn to ash. I will not lose my daughter."
He let out a heavy, ragged sigh. "Tomorrow, at the stroke of fifteen, her power will signal to all Three Realms. The danger will be unavoidable. Ling Yue... if the worst happens, take Yue'er and run. I will hold the line here."
A single tear tracked down Ling Yue's cheek. "I won't leave you. But for our daughter... we will sacrifice everything."
---
**Far from the Capital...**
A figure in crimson armor, a general of an invading force, asked coldly, "Is everything ready for tomorrow? What did the minister say?"
An attendant read a message brought by a spirit hawk and bowed deeply. "Everything is in place, General. The traitor has promised that the main gates will be opened for us at dawn."
Behind the mists of the Celestial Realm, a golden army stood in silence, their weapons sharpened.
And in the shadows of the palace, a treacherous official let out a thin, cruel laugh. "Once the sun rises tomorrow... the name Qing Yun will belong only to the history books."