Embers Reborn

Golden light pierced through the rubble like morning dawn, casting mottled shadows across the ruins. Star Radiance staggered toward the light source, his old hands trembling as he cleared away the crushed stone and revealed the sight beneath—

Ning Xiaochuan, Su Linger, and the Sacred Spirit Dragon lay quietly in the center of the shattered magic array. The three held hands, wrapped in a thin golden-blue Cocoon of Light. Their faces were pale as paper, but their chests still rose and fell faintly.

"They're alive!" Star Radiance cried with joy, immediately calling to the other elders. "Quick! The Sacred Source Spring!"

By the time the three were carefully carried to the remaining half-pool of the Sacred Source Spring, the entire Sacred Source Land had erupted in celebration. The destruction of the Lava Behemoth and the army of World Devourers, the closing of the portal—everything had saved this land like a miracle.

Sensing their presence, the spring water rippled on its own, soft light winding around their bodies like ribbons. Star Radiance and the elders sat in a circle, chanting ancient healing incantations.

"Can they be saved?" the youngest elder asked softly.

Star Radiance did not answer. He only strengthened the incantation. The spring water's glow grew brighter and brighter until it completely swallowed the three of them.

Darkness. That familiar darkness again.

Ning Xiaochuan felt himself floating in the void, his consciousness fading in and out. Occasionally, he could hear voices from outside, as though separated by a thick layer of frosted glass.

"Life force is failing..."

"The Primal Covenant is maintaining the last thread of connection..."

"It's been three days. If they don't wake up soon..."

The voices came in fragments before gradually fading away. Ning Xiaochuan wanted to shout, but no sound came out. He wanted to move, but he could not feel the existence of his limbs.

After an unknown amount of time, a trace of warmth suddenly seeped into the darkness. It felt like sunlight, yet also like... Su Linger's hand?

"Ning Xiaochuan..." Her voice rang directly in his mind. "Can you hear me?"

Ling'er? he tried to think. Where are you?

"I'm right beside you." Her voice carried a smile. "We're all in the Sacred Source Spring. Little One is here too. It's very worried about you."

Only then did Ning Xiaochuan notice a third presence—the Sacred Spirit Dragon's mental fluctuation, like a warm little flame dancing between him and Su Linger.

Did we... succeed? He recalled the final scene.

"Mm." Su Linger's voice softened. "The King of World Devourers was driven back, and the portal was closed."

"What was the price?"

A silence followed.

"Our bodies were nearly burned away by the purification energy," Su Linger finally answered. "The Primal Covenant is keeping our souls from dispersing, but..."

She did not finish, but Ning Xiaochuan understood. They stood at death's edge, liable to truly die at any moment.

"Are you afraid?" he asked.

"A little," Su Linger admitted. "But with you here, I'm not as afraid."

The Sacred Spirit Dragon also sent over a wave of resolute emotion, as if saying, "Me too."

The warmth grew stronger and stronger as the darkness slowly receded. Ning Xiaochuan felt a ray of light shining against his "eyelids," and he tried hard to "open" them—

The blinding light made him shut them at once, but it was enough to make out the shapes around him—they truly were soaking in the Sacred Source Spring. Very little water remained, and most of its energy was being used to sustain their lives.

On his second attempt, he successfully opened his eyes. His vision remained blurry for a while before finally focusing. Su Linger lay on his right, while the Sacred Spirit Dragon curled up between them, both still with their eyes closed.

"Ling'er..." he called hoarsely, his voice rasping like sandpaper.

Su Linger's eyelashes trembled, and she slowly opened her eyes. The moment she saw Ning Xiaochuan, her silver-gray eyes immediately filled with tears. "You... woke up first..."

The Sacred Spirit Dragon was also startled awake by the movement. With a chirp, it pounced onto Ning Xiaochuan's face, its little tongue constantly licking his cheek.

"Little One... stop that..." Ning Xiaochuan smiled weakly and raised a hand to pet it, only to discover that his arm was covered in golden patterns, like cracks stitched together by golden thread.

Su Linger noticed the changes on her own body as well. "This is..."

"The marks of overdrawing your life force." Star Radiance's voice came from the edge of the pool. The old man looked ten years older, but his eyes were full of joy. "The Sacred Source Spring reshaped your bodies, but these patterns may take a long time to fade."

He helped the three of them sit up slowly. Only then did Ning Xiaochuan realize that the Sacred Source Tower no longer existed. The surroundings were nothing but ruins, with only this half-pool of spring water and the magic array miraculously preserved.

"What about the others?" Ning Xiaochuan asked urgently.

"They're all safe," Star Radiance reassured him. "Before the tower collapsed, most people had already evacuated."

"What about the World Devourers?"

"All purified." Reverence flashed through Star Radiance's eyes. "The energy you released swept across the entire Sacred Source Land. Every trace of darkness was erased."

Ning Xiaochuan let out a long breath, only to be struck by a wave of intense pain. Looking down, he saw a savage wound across his chest that was slowly healing.

"Don't rush." Star Radiance handed him a cup of fragrant liquid. "Take it slowly. Your bodies need time to adjust."

The liquid slid down his throat, nourishing every inch of his parched meridians like sweet dew. Ning Xiaochuan felt his strength slowly returning, but he was still far from fully recovered.

Su Linger was in slightly better condition, at least able to sit steadily on her own. She carefully checked the Sacred Spirit Dragon's wounds. Little One's scales had lost their usual luster, and all four wings drooped, though its spirits remained fairly good.

"How long has it been?" Ning Xiaochuan asked.

"Seven days," Star Radiance answered. "The seventh day after the Night of the Blood-Soaked Double Moons."

Seven days... Ning Xiaochuan recalled that earth-shattering battle, lingering fear still in his heart. They had nearly vanished forever.

"What about Shadow Valley and Lava Rift Valley?"

"Both have been completely purified." Star Radiance pointed north. "The portal has been sealed for good, and both nodes were destroyed. The corruption in Silent Forest is receding, and the Lava Behemoth's remains have cooled."

Ning Xiaochuan nodded and tried to stand. His legs were as weak as noodles, and he nearly fell over before Star Radiance caught him in time.

"I told you, take it slowly." The old man scolded him. "You're more fragile than newborns right now."

It was true. Ning Xiaochuan felt like a porcelain doll that could shatter at any time. Su Linger suffered the same result when she tried to stand and could only remain seated.

"What do we do next?" she asked.

Star Radiance's expression turned grave. "First, you need to fully recover. Then..." He hesitated. "The King of World Devourers was driven back, but it was not destroyed. Sooner or later, it will return."

Ning Xiaochuan and Su Linger exchanged a look, each seeing the determination in the other's eyes.

"We'll be ready," Ning Xiaochuan said.

"Before that," Star Radiance said, clapping his hands as several attendants brought clean clothes and food, "fill your stomachs first. Then go meet your people."

"Our people?"

"The people of the Sacred Source Land call you the 'Messengers of Light,' heroes who returned from the brink of death." Star Radiance smiled. "They have prayed day and night and contributed their own source energy for your recovery."

Warmth filled Ning Xiaochuan's heart. These people, who did not even know them, cared for them so deeply.

After a simple meal, the three were settled in a temporary tent. It was crude, but comfortable enough. The Sacred Spirit Dragon immediately curled up between Ning Xiaochuan and Su Linger and gave a satisfied yawn.

"It's exhausted." Su Linger gently stroked Little Dragon's scales. "Little One endured the most purification energy."

Ning Xiaochuan nodded, recalling the sensation of their fusion. "Without the Primal Covenant, all three of us would have..."

"But we're here." Su Linger took his hand. "And we'll always be together."

Their fingers intertwined, and the golden patterns glowed faintly where they touched. Ning Xiaochuan suddenly realized that these marks were not merely scars—they were proof that their souls were connected.

"Star Radiance said these patterns might never disappear," he said softly.

Su Linger smiled. "That's good. They're like medals."

Cheers rose from outside the tent. It seemed someone had discovered that they were awake. Ning Xiaochuan suddenly thought of something. "How is Open Source Continent?"

"I sent Yun Yi to investigate," Star Radiance answered from outside the tent. "They say the Black Tide has already collapsed, but Han Li's whereabouts are still unknown."

Ning Xiaochuan frowned. As long as a scourge like Han Li lived, he remained a danger. But for now, they needed to recover their strength first.

"Sleep," Su Linger said, seeming to notice his exhaustion. "Worry about all that tomorrow."

Ning Xiaochuan nodded, lay down, and closed his eyes. The Sacred Spirit Dragon had already fallen asleep, letting out soft snores. Su Linger's hand still held his, warm and reassuring.

In the final instant before he drifted into sleep, Ning Xiaochuan vaguely heard a voice echo in his mind:

"Son of Sacred Source... this is only the beginning..."

He abruptly opened his eyes, only to find the tent silent, filled only with the breathing of the three of them. Was it an illusion? Or...

With that question in mind, he closed his eyes again. No matter what, tomorrow would be a new day.