The wind howled through the Sky Ascension Pavilion, carrying whispers no one dared listen to. But Yuexin felt it — a chill that crept into her soul.
That night, she found herself wandering into a hidden corridor within the pavilion. Moonlight trickled through cracked ceilings. And in the heart of the chamber stood a strange relic: a cracked mirror, pulsing faintly with dark energy.
> "This place… it's not part of the normal training grounds…"
As Yuexin reached out, the mirror flickered — and in it, she saw a reflection of herself, but twisted. Her eyes were golden, and her wings, completely black. This vision version of herself looked back with sorrow… and a hint of power she didn't yet understand.
Before she could react, the vision whispered:
> "You are not yet complete… the Moon's true destiny lies beyond this world. And someone close to you... will betray you."
Meanwhile, the Phantom Clan Plots
Back with the team, Liang Feng had a strange dream. He saw flames swallowing the sky and Yuexin standing alone in the fire, crying — until her wings burst open in a flash of violet light. It wasn't just a dream… it was a vision of the future.
He awoke in sweat, clutching his chest.
At the same time, Wuzen had discovered something troubling: the Phantom Clan had tampered with the training trials, planting shadow runes to drain spiritual power. Their leader Sheng was searching for something ancient — The Void Seal, a forgotten object said to unlock demonic resurrection.
A Seed of Doubt
During training, Yuexin grew quiet. Her shoulder ached worse than before. Her power kept surging at random, almost out of control. Only Haoran noticed it.
> "You're hiding something again, aren't you?" he asked gently.
> "I just… don't want to be weak," Yuexin replied, her voice breaking slightly.
"I was always told I wasn't enough. If I stop now… maybe they were right."
> "You're wrong," Haoran said, taking her hand. "The Yuexin I know carries the sky on her shoulders and still smiles. You're the reason I fight. Don't lose yourself to their voices."
The Traitor's Mask
But someone was about to betray them.
One of the trainee cultivators, a quiet boy who always stood near Zhou Jian, had vanished. His name was Shan, and no one noticed him much — until Zhou Jian found his mask… at the Phantom Clan's altar.
And the worst part?
The runes engraved on the mask matched the same type Yuexin saw on the mirror.
> "He was one of us... but he was planted here. They've been watching us from the start."
Cliffhanger: The Mirror Cracks
That night, Yuexin returned to the mirror, drawn by a whisper only she could hear.
The moment she touched it again, the mirror shattered— and an enormous wave of moonlight and shadow energy burst out, knocking her unconscious.
As she collapsed, a mark appeared on her back… a crescent moon surrounded by six stars.
> The prophecy had begun.
End of episode 17 ( continue)