Inside a secret chamber deep within the Imperial Palace, nine eternal lamps on a bronze candelabra cast a dim, yellowish glow. The flickering flames threw twisted shadows against the stone walls, like countless invisible hands dancing in the dark. Shen Mingyue knelt on a prayer mat; her knees had long since gone numb, and every slight movement sent sharp stabs of pain through her legs, yet she remained oblivious. Before her lay the Heavenly Mystery Mirror, the Human Sovereign Seal, and the Ley Line Orb, the three artifacts each emitting a faint luster in the lamplight. The warm, white light of the Jade Pendant flowed like a babbling brook, intertwining with the robust golden radiance of the Human Sovereign Seal, while the turquoise aura of the Ley Line Orb shimmered like ghostly flames in a deep pool, together forming an enigmatic, ancient tableau. Her fingertips brushed lightly over the patterns carved by her father’s own hands on the Jade Pendant; the uneven texture seemed to carry the warmth of his palm, silently recounting the secrets her family had guarded for generations. Each time she stroked it, memories washed over her—scenes of her father teaching her to wield a sword in her childhood played clearly before her eyes.
"According to the ancient texts of the Witch Tribe, one must use the three artifacts as a conduit on the night of the full moon to set up the array where the spiritual energy of heaven and earth converges." The Witch Tribe Elder leaned on his wooden sta…
Chapter 89