The tremor intensified, grinding granite against subterranean basalt. Powdered rock filled the air, stinging Zifeng’s eyes. Muyue’s grip still bit into his forearm as the cavern’s vault split open, showering them with chips of quartz. Overhead, Grand Elder Xu Jiao’s voice boomed through the fissure, amplified by his dantian. “Ren Zifeng! You have defiled the ancestral sanctuary! Surrender now, and perhaps your life may be spared!” Before Zifeng could respond, a figure descended through a newly blasted hole in the ceiling, landing with a soft, confident thud. Song Liena. Her embroidered robes were immaculate, her eyes alight with vindictive triumph. She glanced at the unconscious Xiaoxiao, then back at Zifeng, a smirk twisting her lips. “Forgiven, Grand Elder? This crippled trash only understands the lash. Look at him, hiding like a rat in a hole. Beg, Ren Zifeng. Beg for your life, as you should have begged for mine.” Her gaze swept to Muyue, a flash of jealous fury momentarily eclipsing her triumph, before she composed herself, expecting Zifeng to crumble. Zifeng, however, didn't even spare her a glance. His focus rested on the warding sigil pulsing violently across Xiaoxiao’s pale brow. He fumbled for the jade pendant beneath his tunic, his voice a low, hesitant murmur. “Lord Buzhou? Are you… are you in the mood for a drink?” A weary, ethereal sigh echoed from the pendant. *“This stuffy atmosphere is insufferable. And you’ve interrupted my nap. Is there any of that Thousand-Year Drunken Lotus left? Fine, fine. You’re lucky I find your mortal antics mildly amusing.”* A faint, sweet aroma of aged wine wafted from the pendant. *“Ah, just a sip. Don’t mind if I do.”* There was a sound like liquid being gulped, then Buzhou’s voice, suddenly more alert. *“Bah, it’s gone. You mortals have no concept of moderation. Still, I suppose I owe you for the entertainment.”* A faint golden glow emanated from Zifeng’s right hand, specifically his pinky finger. It twitched, then extended. Grand Elder Xu Jiao, hovering above the shattered threshold, scoffed. “What pathetic trickery is this, boy? Do you truly believe a mere finger will—” Before he could finish, the glowing pinky flicked. Not with force, but with an almost lazy, dismissive motion. A rippling distortion tore forward without a sound, widening like an uncoiling spring. Xu Jiao, a veteran of the Golden Core realm, choked on his saliva. The impact launched him backward as though hammered by an invisible siege engine, his spine shattering the outer stone arch with a sickening *CRACK*. He didn't even bounce, simply became an imprint in the rock, a crater of dust and pulverized masonry. The casual display of power silenced Song Liena’s gloating. Her face, moments ago smug, was now a mask of utter horror. The warden descended through the ruined rift, a towering silhouette wrapped in shimmering indigo plate, its multifaceted visor scanning the devastation. It paused, its gaze lingering on the Grand Elder's new, rocky bed, before settling on Zifeng. Muyue didn't waste the moment of shock. “Now, Zifeng! The ley line!” She shoved him toward the glowing rift, silver qi rising from her palms. “I’ll hold them.” Zifeng gave a quick nod, fighting down his instinctive hesitation. He slapped his palms onto the exposed vein of raw earth, feeling the subterranean torrent course straight through his skin. The torrent tore along his arms like molten glass. His shoulders shook as his reconstructed meridians greedily swallowed the flow. A faint, almost apologetic whisper escaped his lips. “I’m truly sorry for this… it won’t take long.” Elite guards in obsidian plate poured through the jagged ceiling, sabers drawn. They formed a tight phalanx, aiming for Zifeng. Muyue met them in an arc of silver light, her strikes precise and lethal. Each sweep of her hand unleashed crescent blades of pure force, carving through the armored figures with surgical precision. One guard skirted the flank, driving a spear toward Zifeng’s ribs. Muyue pivoted, sweeping an open palm across the spear shaft. A blast of rime flash-froze the weapon and seized the man's chest in solid ice, locking him mid-stride as an unmoving monument. Song Liena stumbled back onto loose shale as Muyue systematically broke the formation. This was the true power of a Saintess, a force she had only ever seen veiled by polite smiles. Muyue’s gaze swept over Liena, devoid of emotion, a silent promise of retribution. “You have made a grave mistake, Song Liena. One you will live to regret.” The warden moved at last. It raised an armored gauntlet, setting the atmospheric pressure plunging to a stifling stillness. A golden flare gathered in its hand, condensing into an incandescent spear that emitted a low, bone-rattling drone. This was no ordinary weapon. This was the Heavenly Decree, a weapon forged to bypass all mortal defenses, to strike directly at the soul. Its spear pointed not toward Zifeng, but directly at Ren Xiaoxiao where she lay limp on the stone slab, the rune on her temple flaring like a sun.

The Betrayal at the Ley Line