The fortnight passed in a blur of preparation, and by the appointed morning, the Tian clan'scapital had swelled with delegations from all four territories that had answered Tian Shen's call— the Azure Tide Sect arriving in flowing sea-blue robes that shimmered faintly withwater-attribute qi, the Ember Vale Clan's representatives carrying themselves with the guardedwariness of a people still nursing recent losses, and the small northern sect sending only twoenvoys, though both radiated a quiet, hardened resolve that suggested they'd fought for everyscrap of strength they now carried into the discussion.The summit convened in the palace's largest hall, a vast chamber normally reserved for the Tianclan's grandest ceremonies, its high ceiling lined with thunder-attribute formations that hummedfaintly overhead as the assembled delegates took their places around a long, curved table."Thank you all for coming," Tian Shen began, standing at the table's head with the composedauthori

Morning arrived with the Tian clan's palace grounds still bearing faint scars of the previousday's assault — scorched stone along the archive wing's outer wall, freshly reinforced wardshumming visibly along every entrance, guards posted in numbers that hadn't been necessarybefore the traitor's betrayal had come to light. The assembled delegates reconvened in the greathall with considerably less ease than they'd carried into the summit's opening session, warinessnow coloring every exchange, every glance toward unfamiliar faces among their own retinues."Before we finalize anything," the Azure Tide Sect's representative said, arms crossed as shesurveyed the room, "I want assurances that yesterday's breach won't be repeated. If Concordagents can infiltrate the Tian clan's own staff, what's stopping them from doing the same to anyof our territories once this alliance becomes public knowledge?""Nothing, entirely," Tian Shen admitted, meeting her gaze without flinching from theunc

Word arrived three days later, carried by a travel-worn messenger bearing the Ember ValeClan's insignia, requesting Yan Ming and Qing Chun's presence at their territory directly ratherthan continuing to coordinate purely through correspondence. Tian Shen read the letter twicebefore passing it across his study's desk, expression thoughtful."They're asking for more than information sharing," he said. "Their message suggests they'veencountered something specific — an artifact or technique recovered from a skirmish withConcord scouts, something they believe requires expertise beyond what their own elderscurrently possess.""And they think I'm the one who might understand it." Yan Ming scanned the letter's careful,formal phrasing, old wariness mixing with cautious curiosity. "Did they say what kind ofartifact?""Only that it bears markings unlike anything in their clan's historical records, and that it wasrecovered from a Concord agent killed during a border skirmish two weeks ag

The captured Concord agents proved considerably more forthcoming than the Tian clan's earlierinterrogation of the fleeing traitor's associates, whether from the visible devastation of theirfailed assault or simple exhaustion after weeks of demanding service to a cause several of themprivately admitted they'd never fully understood. Elder Rushan conducted the questioningpersonally, flanked by two of her most trusted elders, while Yan Ming observed from ashadowed corner of the interrogation chamber, old instinct sharpening at every fragment ofuseful information."Tell me about the array," Elder Rushan said to the most senior of the captured agents, aweathered man whose Ember Core cultivation marked him as considerably more experiencedthan his younger companions. "What have you heard about its purpose?"The agent hesitated, old loyalty warring visibly against the practical calculation of a man whounderstood his current position offered little room for continued defiance. "Only f