I alone am the Honoured One!

Looking at Rui Guzhi, Zhao Tian asked "What exactly is buried beneath the ground... an Eldritchfiend?"

Upon hearing this, he shook his head "No, it's something else... far more dangerous than an Eldritchfiend. It's a.. Paragon."

Huh? Zhao Tian and Yan ZIjin were dumbfounded to hear this.

"The Lost race... Paragon?"

Both of them still remember the two Paragons they saw during the Vampiric war and they know how destructive they can be.

With a nod, Rui Guzhi replied "Hmm... if it awakens, the whole star would be destroyed."

"Once a Paragon stabilizes, it feeds on the planet's energy and grows even stronger."

With a slight frown, Zhao Tian asked "Paragons can be destroyed, right? Our Sect master destroyed two Paragons on the day of the Vampiric war."

Letting out a deep breath, Rui Guzhi spoke "This one is different... for some reason, they can't destroy it, only contain it. Only our Matriarch knows the full details."

"If it awakens, not just the continent, the entire star would collapse."

"The seal is not just an inscription or an array… it's a sacrificial cycle."

"Every few generations, a soul is chosen to serve as the new anchor for the seal. Their body, spirit, and cultivation are woven into the lock to suppress the Paragon. Rui Lian was born with the right constitution. She is… ideal."

Yan Zijin's gaze quivered "So.. you are just going to kill her?"

Looking at her, Rui Guzhi replied "Lady Yan Zijin… this is not something we do willingly. Rui Lian is my kin too. But if the Paragon buried beneath us awakens fully, it will devour the leyline beneath this star and plunge the entire sun system into destruction."

He paused and his eyes darkened "We have no other choice. A single life… to save millions."

Zhao Tian glanced at him "Is there any way for us to speak with your Matriarch?"

Huh? Rui Guzhi's eyes condensed "That's... Matriarch won't be pleased with outsiders. Even I don't dare to interfere with her."

Zhao Tian pressed on "But, I want to meet her... I don't want Sister Lian to die. If there is even the faintest possibility, I will try it.. I need to have a talk with your Matriarch."

Rui Guzhi's gaze clouded with conflict and pondered about it.

Yan Zijin stood up from her seat "We're not here to disrespect your traditions or your suffering, Clan Leader. But Rui Lian is one of ours too. And if there's any sliver of hope, we have to pursue it."

Rui Guzhi's gaze shifted between them "...You don't know what you're asking. But perhaps... your conviction will move her. Or at least, she will grant you an audience before turning you away."

Zhao Tian gave a nod "That's all I ask."

---

Led by Rui Guzhi and accompanied by a pair of solemn elders, Zhao Tian and Yan Zijin made their way deep into the Rui Clan's sacred grounds.

The path curved downward in a spiral of ancient stone, carved with runes.

They eventually reached a vast door, its surface engraved with the image of a titanic figure chained beneath a blazing sun and a weeping moon.

With a nod from Rui Guzhi, the two elders stepped forward and placed their hands on either side of the seal.

A resonating hum echoed through the passage, and the great doors slowly creaked open.

What lay beyond was a sanctum.

A massive, circular altar stood at its center, elevated by a platform of jade etched with countless formation circles.

In the center of it all, a woman was sitting cross-legged on top of the altar.

Her long black spilled over her shoulders and pooled behind her.

Her skin was pale with a faint luminescence, and she wore no grand robes or jewelry, just a simple white gown.

Her eyes remained closed, yet the pressure in the room made it feel as though she saw everything.

Zhao Tian's gaze narrowed 'I heard that her soul is in an urn. But she is still alive? The body her soul overtook?'

Zhao Tian and Yan Zijin stopped a few paces away.

Rui Guzhi took a step forward, bowed deeply, and spoke with utmost reverence "Matriarch, I have brought guests... they wish to meet you."

Rui Yuying stayed silent for a moment before replying "How many times have I told you not to bring outsiders... and not to disturb me?"

Hearing her stern voice, Rui Guzhi's body stiffened and he spoke "They are people dear to Rui Lian and don't want her to get sacrificed."

"I tried to reason with them... but they insisted on meeting you."

Zhao Tian's gaze narrowed and white patterns appeared on his eyes as he saw through her soul and a surge of soul energy coalesced around his pupils 'Such a powerful soul...'

Hm? Rui Yuying body quivered for a second before she spoke "Everyone leave, except... for that young man."

Huh? Yan Zijin turned to look at him "Tian?"

Zhao Tian sighed in his heart 'Did she find out that I saw through her soul. I was careless.'

Turning to Yan Zijin, he gave a nod "You leave..."

Yan Zijin gripped her palm into a fist "How can I leave you alone here, Tian... this woman might be dangerous."

"It's ok, leave."

Reluctantly she left the sanctum and following her, the Clan head and elders also left.

Zhao Tian walked a few steps to stand right in front of the altar and raised his gaze to look at her.

The woman slowly opened her eyes and looked down at him "...Did you just see through me? I felt naked in front of your eyes,"

Looking into her serene brown eyes, he replied "I... just saw through your soul."

Upon hearing this, her gaze condensed "I noticed a flicker of soul energy from you... different than a human's. Are you even human?"

Zhao Tian was quite puzzled in his heart and replied "I could ask the same to you..."

"Are you even human?"

Huh? A flicker of surprise passed through the woman's eyes before she muttered "...Interesting."

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I hope you guys liked this chapter