Storms Above, Flames Below
The dawn was blood-red.
Across the world, the five peaks that housed the Sky Lords' domains erupted in storms of flame, wind, and crackling lightning—each a celestial tempest shaped by their immense power.
At the Sky Shattered Peaks, Li Shen and Jinhai watched the horizon, sensing the fury growing like a tightening noose.
[Alert: Five Sky Lords Mobilising – Threat Level MAX]
[Threadborne Cultivators – Defensive Preparations Required]
[Root Integration: 18% → Projected 25% in 7 days without conflict]
[Li Shen Status: Cultivator – Founder Tier | Battle Preparedness: 72%]
"We won't last long if they attack all at once," Jinhai said, eyes scanning the storm clouds.
Li Shen nodded. "We need allies. And we need answers."
The Rootspire Summit
Their destination was the Rootspire—an ancient, colossal tree buried deep beneath the First World, said to be the origin of all Root Qi in existence.
They descended through tunnels of quartz and glowing mycelium, the air thick with ancient power.
At the bottom, the Rootspire's core pulsed—a living heart of glowing sap and woven qi threads.
Li Shen touched it.
[System Notification: Rootspire Accessed]
[New Lore Unlocked: The Rootspire is the cradle of the Sovereign Root, formed in the First World by a fusion of primordial energy and forgotten spirits.]
[Quest Update: Uncover the Lost Techniques of the First World Tree]
[Potential Ally Detected: The Forsaken Entity "Hua", dormant beneath the Rootspire.]
Awakening the Forsaken
As Li Shen reached deeper into the Rootspire's sap, a soft voice echoed in his mind.
"Why have you come, bearer of broken threads?"
Jinhai gasped—the air shimmered, and a translucent figure took form: a woman with glowing eyes and hair like flowing roots.
"I am Hua," she said. "Once a Sovereign. Now, a Forsaken. Bound to this tree for millennia."
Li Shen bowed his head respectfully.
"We seek to rewrite the Root. To free cultivators from bondage."
Hua smiled sadly.
"That is the war you face. The old Sovereigns cannot abide freedom. But your will… it may yet succeed."
She offered a single glowing thread.
[Ally Gained: Hua, Forsaken Sovereign – Grants access to Lost Root Techniques and Ancient Wisdom]
[Skill Unlocked: Primordial Bloom – Unleash a devastating wave of ancestral root qi, overwhelming enemies and restoring allies. Cooldown: 10 minutes.]
The Sky Lords Strike
Before they could prepare further, the earth trembled violently.
The five domains had unleashed their combined assault.
Atop the Rootspire, a coalition of Sky Lord generals appeared—each a towering figure radiating oppressive qi.
The battle was immediate.
Li Shen and Jinhai stood back-to-back, weaving threads of light and shadow.
[Battle Commenced: Coalition of Five Sky Lords Generals vs. Threadborne Cultivators]
[Enemy: 5 Generals, 1000 Elite Soldiers]
[Threadborne: 12 Cultivators, 3 New Recruits]
[Status: Outnumbered 40:1]
[New Skill Unlocked: Shared Fate Thread (Jinhai) – Can transfer damage between allies within range.]
Threadborne Valor
The battlefield was a whirlwind of qi and steel.
Li Shen summoned Primordial Bloom, the ancient wave crashing down and scattering the enemy ranks, healing allies in its wake.
Jinhai danced through the fight, weaving healing threads and intercepting blows meant for Li Shen.
Recruits fought with fierce determination, inspired by their leader's defiance.
Yet the enemy was relentless.
Turning the Tide
Amid battle, Li Shen noticed the Sky Lords' generals coordinated through root-bound seals—ancient symbols glowing on their forearms.
Recalling Hua's teachings, Li Shen called upon a new technique.
[Skill Activated: Sealbreaker Pulse – Disrupts root-based seals within 500 meters for 30 seconds.]
The seals flickered and shattered.
Confusion rippled through the enemy ranks.
Li Shen seized the moment.
"Push forward! Freedom is not given. It is taken!"
The Threadborne rallied.
Aftermath
The generals retreated; their soldiers scattered.
But the victory was costly.
The Rootspire trembled—Hua's presence weakened.
"We cannot stay," she said. "The Sovereigns will come for me now."
Li Shen nodded.
"We will protect you."
She smiled faintly.
"Then we fight together… until the last root falls."
New Horizons
As the dust settled, Li Shen and Jinhai stood among the silver petals once more.
They had won a battle, but the war was far from over.
[Faction Status: Threadborne Cultivators – 12 Members | Global Root Integration: 25%]
[Enemy Status: Five Sky Lords – Mobilising Full Power]
[Main Quest Update: Protect Hua, uncover Lost Techniques, and prepare for inevitable war]
Li Shen looked to the horizon.
"This is only the beginning."