The Sky Temple floated among the clouds. Ancient. Crumbling. Chains of divine energy held it from falling, but barely.Chen Feng arrived with his group first. The temple was worse than described. Cracks covered every surface. Reality itself was thin here. He could see through to other dimensions. Other worlds. All of them dying."This place feels like it will collapse any second," Zhang Wei said, testing the ground carefully."It probably will. Once we start channeling energy." Seraphina examined the temple's center. A massive platform with symbols carved into stone. "This is where we do it. The ritual requires perfect synchronization. Everyone channeling at the exact same moment.""How do we coordinate that many people?" Lin Yue asked."With this." Seraphina held up the crystal. "When I activate it, everyone will feel the pull. Their instincts will guide them. They just have to trust and let their energy flow."More people arrived. Gods appearing in flashes of light. Demons rising fr

Six months passed in quiet peace. Chen Feng trained Ling every morning. Teaching her to control her silver light. To balance void and divine inside her.She was a natural. Better than he ever was at her age. Her power grew daily."Good," Chen Feng said as Ling created a perfect sphere of silver energy. "Now hold it steady. Control is more important than strength.""How long?" Ling asked, sweat on her forehead."Until I say stop.""That is not fair.""Life is not fair. Keep holding."Lin Yue watched from the porch, smiling. She had taken over her grandmother's healing clinic. Villagers came daily for medicine and care.Everything was peaceful. Normal. Boring.Chen Feng loved it.Then a stranger arrived.He appeared at noon. Walking up the mountain path. Tall. Hooded. Moving with purpose.Chen Feng sensed him immediately. Divine energy. Strong. Familiar somehow."Ling, go inside.""But father...""Now. Please."Ling obeyed, though she looked back worried.The stranger reached the villag

Ling flew north as pure silver flame. The world below her looked small. Fragile. She could feel every living thing. Every heartbeat. Every breath.And she could feel them. The First Ones. Like wounds in reality. Getting bigger.She reached the Northern Wastes in minutes. The land here was dying. Gray. Lifeless. The First Ones' influence spreading like poison.In the center of the waste, a massive rift had opened. Wider than a mountain. Darkness poured out. And shapes moved within.The First Ones were coming through.Ling landed at the edge of the rift. Her silver flames blazed brighter. She could feel the Eternal Flame inside her. Patient. Waiting. Ready to burn.A voice came from the darkness. Old. Tired. Amused."The new guardian. How quaint. They always choose children. Why is that?""Because children still believe things can get better," Ling replied. Her voice echoed with power. "Because we have not learned to give up yet.""Foolish. Hope is weakness. Existence is suffering. We o

Chen Feng woke to Ling's screaming.He was in her room before his eyes fully opened. Lin Yue arrived seconds later, phoenix fire already dancing on her fingertips.Ling thrashed in her bed. Eyes squeezed shut. Mouth open in silent terror."Ling!" Chen Feng grabbed her shoulders. "Wake up!"Her eyes snapped open. Pure white. No pupils. No iris. Just empty white that glowed like moonlight.Then she spoke. But it was not her voice."The purification was temporary, God of War. She will always be a bridge. You cannot change what she is."Chen Feng's blood went cold. "Who are you?""We are the ones who wait. The ones who remember." Ling's body rose from the bed. Floating. "The girl carries our mark. Burning out the void essence only made room for something older.""Get out of my daughter!" Chen Feng's divine power flared. Gold light filled the room.The presence laughed through Ling's mouth. "We are not in her. We are calling to her. She hears us in her dreams. In her thoughts. In the quiet

Chen Feng stopped running. Something felt wrong.They were deep in Darkwood Forest now. Lin Yue carried Ling on her back. Grandmother Hua Ren moved surprisingly fast for her age. But Chen Feng's instincts screamed danger."Why did you stop?" Lin Yue asked, breathing hard."We are being herded." Chen Feng looked around. The trees were too quiet. No birds. No animals. Just silence. "They knew we would run east. They prepared for it.""Who prepared?""I do not know yet. But feel the air. Divine energy. Multiple sources. All around us." Chen Feng drew his sword. "We walked into a trap."A voice echoed through the trees. Mocking. Amused."Finally. The great God of War uses his brain."A man appeared on a high branch. He wore purple robes with the Feng Clan symbol. Early fifties. Sharp features. Eyes full of hatred."I am Feng Zhao. Second Elder of the Feng Clan." He smiled coldly. "Your wife rejected my nephew's marriage proposal. Said she was already married to worthless trash. That insul