The sun stood high over the towering cliffs of the Verdant Moon Sect, its golden light bathing the mountain in celestial warmth. Birds circled lazily above the jade peaks. Cultivators trained, meditated, and bustled around mission boards and resource halls.
Shadow, freshly clad in his inner sect robe, had just stepped into the polished marble plaza outside the Mission Hall. He was perusing the task board-his mind sharp, searching for missions that offered spirit stones-when a sharp, formal voice rang out.
"Inner Disciple Shadow-summoned by the Elders' Court. Immediately."
A red-robed disciple bowed, his tone respectful, but his eyes never rose to meet Shadow's.
Shadow raised a brow. "Did they mention why?"
The disciple flinched slightly. "No, senior. Only that it concerns the legacy of Elder Yan."
Shadow said nothing more. He turned and followed, his footsteps echoing across stone.
---
The Elders' Court atop Azure Peak was surrounded by ancient spirit trees, their violet blossoms fluttering like falling stars. A pavilion of white jade and azure glass towered above the rest of the sect, casting its shadow over all. The marble court floor shimmered with runes, and sacred formations hummed just below the surface.
Within the dome-like hall stood towering elders in ceremonial robes. The Sect Master sat high upon his throne-twisted bronze entwined with vinewood. His eyes glinted beneath a mask of civility.
To his right stood a man who radiated power like a thunderstorm held behind glass. He wore layered violet robes adorned with golden phoenix feathers. His long silver hair flowed like mist, and the tilt of his chin alone commanded the presence of empires.
Elder Han of the **Celestial Thunder Sect**.
And beside him-
Shadow's steps halted.
Even the air seemed to freeze.
The woman who stood there could not have belonged to this world.
She was tall, her figure wrapped in a layered violet skirt that split at the thigh, revealing legs like sculpted jade wrapped in silk-thin violet boots adorned with thundercloud motifs. Her robe shimmered like starwater, clinging to her slender frame like it had been painted on by the gods.
Her hair fell in long raven waves, tied loosely behind her with a golden thunderbird pin. Her face-though hidden behind a sheer veil-was so breathtaking, even the veil couldn't dim its brilliance. Her lips were full, her nose sculpted perfectly, her skin like moonlight woven into flesh.
She was beauty eternal. Beauty impossible. The kind of beauty that crushed hearts and stole breath.
Shadow had seen illusions. He had faced demon cultivators and storms forged in spirit realms. But nothing-not even the full burst of his Thunder Slash-had ever stunned him like this.
She didn't move. She didn't speak.
She didn't need to.
Every man in the hall, even the elders, dared not look too long, as if staring too deeply would leave scars on the soul.
The Sect Master broke the spell.
"This is Elder Han of the Celestial Thunder Sect," he said with forced gravity. "Their sect oversees many third-rate branches-including our humble Verdant Moon Sect."
Elder Han did not acknowledge Shadow, nor anyone else. His eyes were half-lidded, almost bored.
"This," the Sect Master continued, voice strained with false warmth, "is a matter concerning your former master, Elder Yan."
Shadow inclined his head. "I am listening."
The Sect Master stepped down. He placed two fingers against Shadow's wrist as though inspecting him.
Then he scoffed.
"Your Qi flow is... disordered. Chaotic. Not natural. This is what comes from carving false paths instead of following lineage."
He turned to the hall. "His foundation is unstable. There is no future for him. A pity Elder Yan poured everything into such... a flawed vessel."
Murmurs rose like a tide.
"His thunder technique is uncontrolled."
"No wonder he needed full burst just to defeat a Ren."
"He'll never reach Core Disciple stage."
Shadow's gaze was steady. "I thank the Sect Master for his... insight."
Not an ounce of emotion stirred in his voice.
A long silence followed.
Then-
"Wait."
Elder Han's voice slid through the air like silk coated in poison.
He stepped forward slowly, his gaze appraising Shadow as one would examine a crude artifact that somehow gleamed.
"So you are the orphan boy Yan rescued during the Heaven's Wrath. I recall now. Weak, untested, but... intriguing."
He clapped softly. "As fate would have it, Elder Yan once saved a core elder of our Celestial Thunder Sect. A life-debt that remains... unresolved."
He turned to the Sect Master. "Did you not accept our token of goodwill, Sect Master Fen? A small contribution. A barrier-breaking pill. And..."
He gestured.
"A Saintess."
The hall gasped.
Elder Han's smile turned razor-sharp.
"This is **Han Yuelin**, once our Celestial Saintess. Her cultivation was stunted due to an injury during a failed heavenly tribulation. She cannot grow older than seventeen in appearance. As such... she was deemed unfit to serve as our heir."
He extended a hand toward her like she were a scroll to be presented.
"In honoring Elder Yan's debt, we gift her-to his disciple."
The crowd fell into stunned silence.
Not a sound. Not a breath.
The Saintess did not react. She did not bow. She stood as if carved from divine stone.
The Sect Master's smirk widened. "A great honor, surely? You should fall to your knees with gratitude."
Shadow turned to look at the girl.
She looked like royalty. A fallen goddess. A soul turned cold by disappointment. By betrayal. Her beauty was eternal-but her heart was imprisoned.
And he saw it clearly.
Because he had once looked just like that.
Shadow bowed slightly.
"I accept."
Gasps erupted.
The Sect Master rose. "You-!"
Shadow turned to him, voice flat.
"I accept this gift... as a warrior accepts a sword. Not because I need it-but because it was forged from pain. Like me."
He turned to Elder Han.
"Tell your sect: The debt is repaid. I and my master owe you nothing."
And to the Saintess:
"I will not treat you as property. You may walk beside me or walk away. But I will never let them chain you again."
Then, without waiting for dismissal, Shadow moved and took the saintess hand in front of everyone and left , leaving gasps, silence, and thunder in his wake.
---
**End of Chapter 42**