Ashen Fangs Outpost Alpha – Underground Soul Refinery
The metal gate collapsed in a thunderclap of flame and steel.
Lin Yue strode through the smoke, his robes fluttering like wings, his steps igniting trails of golden fire. Behind him, the vanguard surged forward — Jian Mu roaring as he led the charge, Xu Lian conjuring illusionary duplicates to flank and scatter the enemy, and Lian Rou spinning her lance in a cyclone of blood-red phoenix fire.
This was no longer a skirmish.
This was war.
The Ashen Fangs were waiting — at least thirty cultivators wearing half-masks and black bone armor. But they hadn't expected the Trial of the Phoenix Gate to elevate the guild's core.
They weren't ready.
Lin Yue extended his hand, and the phoenix ring blazed.
"Ashfall Sky — Phase Two."
A dome of fire fell from the heavens, sealing off the battlefield. Trapped inside, enemies found their flames devouring them instead.
Jian Mu cleaved through three sentinels at once, his Twin Asura Wheel spinning like a flaming vortex. "I swear these bastards smell like wet grave dust!"
Lian Rou vaulted over him, her phoenix lance shining with bloodline resonance. "Twin Spiral — Crimson Bloom!"
She landed in the center of an enemy platoon, detonating a fiery lotus that sent bodies flying.
Xu Lian intercepted a formation mage trying to escape and activated Phoenix Prism. "If you think I won't get my robes dirty," he muttered, summoning a hundred fire-laced illusions, "you haven't studied enough."
The enemy fell in droves.
But Lin Yue pushed deeper, his target clear: the Soul Furnace Core — the place where cultivators were broken and turned into cursed vessels.
Scene Break: Ming Yushu's Escape
Meanwhile, in Green Pearl University's underbelly, Ming Yushu sprinted through shadowy halls.
Yin Xiulan was no ordinary enemy.
"Spirit Suppression Field activated," Yushu whispered, deploying a flame-wrapped talisman behind her as she dodged a black spear strike. It exploded, sending tiles and stone flying.
Xiulan emerged from the smoke, bleeding from her shoulder — but smiling. "You've been trained well. But not well enough."
Yushu didn't respond. She knew talking would only burn time.
With a sharp twist of her body, she dashed left — and blinked through an illusion doorway left by Xu Lian days before, hidden during a previous reconnaissance.
The archives behind her collapsed in flame.
Yushu vanished.
And she had the ledger.
Location Update – Visual Map: Post-Raid Conditions
Ashen Fangs Outpost Alpha – Status: DESTROYED
Soul Furnace Core destroyed by Lin Yue.
Enemy casualties: 70%
Survivors fled underground tunnels.
Guild Victory Condition: COMPLETE
Green Pearl University – Status: MING YUSHU ESCAPED
Infiltration success
Enemy commander injured
Cursed Vessel documents secured
New Mission Zone Unlocked: Cursed Ravine
Entry Allowed: Tri-Bond Sync Teams Only
Danger Level: HIGH
Rumors: Ancient Phoenix Bone Foundry hidden beneath the cliffs
Inside the Soul Furnace Core
Lin Yue reached the central chamber — a horrific shrine of broken cultivators, their souls trapped in glass coffins, chained to cursed arrays.
In the center… a girl.
Her silver-white hair was matted with blood. Her eyes glowed faintly violet — and her body leaked smoke.
[Soul Status: Incomplete Flame – Curse Afflicted]
Name: Li Qingmei
Realm: Golden Core (Mid, Suppressed)
Condition: Phoenix Root Soul Extraction in Progress
"She's still alive," Lin Yue whispered.
A tendril of black fire surged toward him. He caught it in his hand — and purified it with a searing burst of phoenix light.
Then he knelt beside her.
"I don't know if you can hear me," he murmured, pressing his palm over her heart, "but you're not going to be their vessel. You're going to be my guildmate."
He released Celestial Bloodline Transfer, feeding her a spark of his phoenix soul.
The darkness recoiled — and her body spasmed.
Then… she gasped.
"Who… who are you?"
"Your freedom."
New Member Inducted – Guild of Nirvana Phoenix
Name: Li Qingmei
Realm: Golden Core (Mid)
Class: Spiritual Healer / Cursed Flame Vessel
Bond Initiated:Pending Stabilization
Unique Trait:Phoenix-Curse Duality Core
Guild Uniform & Ring Imprinted: ✔️
Scene Break: After the Ash
The guild gathered outside the ruins as dawn broke over the mountains.
Jian Mu slumped down, shirtless and bruised. "I'm too handsome to die this tired."
Lian Rou knelt beside Lin Yue, who was still holding the barely-conscious Li Qingmei. "She'll need time. That curse wasn't just an experiment. It's inside her soul."
"She can fight it," Lin Yue replied. "We'll help her."
Xu Lian floated down on a talisman scroll, carrying the raid log. "Seventy percent casualties inflicted. Supplies acquired. Enemies fled through a side corridor we couldn't reach."
Lin Yue nodded. "We'll find them again."
Lian Rou looked up. "Where to next?"
Lin Yue stood slowly, his aura calm — but his eyes burning.
"To the Cursed Ravine."
A storm was brewing there. Rumors said it held Phoenix bone relics from before the spiritual revival — bones that still burned. Bones that called to him.
Next Chapter Preview: Chapter 14 – Bones That Burn
Li Qingmei awakens… and must choose between her curse and Lin Yue's flame.
The Guild enters the Cursed Ravine and faces the Bone Choir.
Lian Rou's bond deepens—emotionally and spiritually.
Ming Yushu returns with shocking truth about Lu Bai, the enemy commander.
A betrayal within the Ashen Fangs begins to crack their core.