Before the Spirit Vault.
The emerald bronze sea shifted, its gateway opening wide onto a hazy scene within. The dragon maiden Jade Gloom activated her divine ability, bringing down a gentle wind and rain that soaked into the bronze radiance and steadied the gateway.
"Please."
Jade Gloom went ahead, entering the Spirit Vault's gateway in an instant. Xu Xuan swept his broad sleeve, gathering up Jin Xiu and carrying him steadily through alongside him.
Inside, they stepped onto a road of ink-dark clouds. Bronze divine radiance surged endlessly around them, specks of spiritual light flickering within it like stars.
Jade Gloom walked in front and raised her hand. Inky green Gui Water light condensed into wind and rain, parting the vast emerald bronze sea to reveal numerous treasure chambers arrayed within.
The light of water, fire, and weapons shone down in a dazzling blaze.
Following behind, Jin Xiu took out a jade register and began checking its entries. After leafing through it for a while, his expression suddenly stiffened with hesitation.
"Lady Jade Gloom, the last time this sword was drawn, Lord Sun Lake used it. Some of its extraordinary power has yet to fade, so it was sealed inside the [Plain-String Cold Moon]. It still needs another twelve years to quell the Ren Water and weather the tribulation thunder before its edge can emerge again."
"No matter. Give my elder brother the [Plain-String Cold Moon] along with it."
Jade Gloom's voice was ethereal as she signaled to Jin Xiu. The young Hook Snake obeyed, tapping a streak of violet light out of the jade register in his hand. It shot into the emerald bronze sea and drew over a treasure chamber wreathed in ink-dark clouds.
The clouds dispersed, revealing the object within: a crescent-shaped mass of soul ice, as