The celestial decree trembled in Li Xue's hands.
Her golden eyes flickered, reflecting the divine script that pulsed with an ancient authority—one that denied her existence.
She had always known she was different. Special. A Celestial Maiden.
But this… this was something else.
She had been exiled. Cast out by the heavens themselves.
Jiang Feng felt his jaw tighten as he watched her expression shift—from disbelief to sorrow, then to something far more dangerous.
Rage.
The masked man watched her calmly, his silver eyes unreadable.
"This decree is over a thousand years old," he said. "It was issued by the High Celestial Court, signed by the Six Divine Sects, and sealed with the Golden Heavenly Mandate."
He met Li Xue's gaze.
"In other words… the heavens never intended for you to return."
The fire crackled in the silence that followed.
Jiang Feng could feel the tension in Li Xue's body. He could see her fingers trembling as they clutched the parchment.
She swallowed hard. "Then why am I here?"
The masked man tilted his head. "That is the question, isn't it?"
Jiang Feng narrowed his eyes. "If you knew all this, why show us now?"
The masked man chuckled softly. "Because knowledge is power. And I wanted to see what you would do with it."
Jiang Feng's grip on his sword tightened. "You think this is a game?"
The man's amusement faded. "No," he said. "This is fate."
Li Xue exhaled sharply, crumpling the decree in her fist. "I don't believe in fate."
The masked man smiled. "Then change it."
Li Xue's breath hitched.
Jiang Feng stepped beside her. "We will."
The masked man watched them for a moment before nodding. "Good." He turned to leave, his robes flowing like shadows. "Then I'll be watching."
Jiang Feng called after him. "Who are you really?"
The man paused.
Then, without turning back, he whispered:
"A fallen star."
And then, he was gone.
—
The next morning, Jiang Feng and Li Xue stood by the riverbank. The elder monk sat nearby, deep in thought.
Li Xue stared at the water, her expression unreadable. "Do you think… they'll come for me?"
Jiang Feng didn't hesitate. "They already are."
The cursed city. The forgotten ones. The masked man. The decree.
All of it pointed to one thing—the heavens were not done with her.
And if they had cast her out before, then they would not tolerate her existence now.
Jiang Feng took a deep breath. "No matter what happens, I'll protect you."
Li Xue turned to him, her golden eyes softening. "Even against the heavens?"
Jiang Feng smirked. "Especially against the heavens."
She laughed, a small, quiet sound. Then, she reached out and took his hand.
Her fingers were warm against his.
"Then we'll fight together."
Jiang Feng squeezed her hand. "Always."
The elder monk finally spoke. "If you are serious about defying the heavens… then you must prepare."
They turned to him.
"There is an ancient sect," the monk said. "A sect that was destroyed in the War of the Immortals. A sect that once stood against the Celestial Court."
Jiang Feng's eyes sharpened. "Where?"
The elder monk exhaled. "The Ruins of the Nine Heavens Sect."
Li Xue frowned. "I've never heard of it."
"You wouldn't have," the monk said. "The heavens erased it from history. But if you seek the power to stand against them… that is where you must go."
Jiang Feng nodded. "Then we leave at once."
The elder monk hesitated. "You don't understand. The ruins are cursed. No one who has entered has ever returned."
Jiang Feng smirked. "Then we'll be the first."
Li Xue smiled beside him.
The elder sighed. "You two… are truly reckless."
Jiang Feng grinned. "Then let's be reckless together."
—
As they prepared to leave, high above the clouds, a pair of eyes watched them.
Golden eyes. Unforgiving. Absolute.
The heavens had noticed.
And soon… they would act.