imperial celestial

The grand halls of the Phoenix Cry Empire reverberated with the hurried footsteps of a young woman. Her vibrant blue hair, tinged with red at the tips, trailed behind her as she burst into the throne room. Guards stationed along the path merely glanced her way, accustomed to Xue Mor's frequent visits to her father.

But this time was different.

As she stepped into the council chamber, the air was heavy with tension. The emperor, her father, sat upon his throne adorned with the crest of the Phoenix. His expression, usually warm in her presence, was dark with anger. Surrounding him were the empire's top officials, their faces etched with concern.

"Did I anger you, Father?" Xue Mor asked hesitantly, her excitement faltering.

Before the emperor could respond, a gruff elder spoke with thinly veiled irritation. "Besides disrupting this crucial meeting..."

"Enough," the emperor interrupted, his gaze silencing the elder. His stern eyes softened slightly as he turned back to his daughter. "You should have sensed the nature of this gathering before entering, Xue Mor. However, if you were so eager to speak, it must be important. What is it?"

"I have broken through, Father," she declared with pride.

The emperor's expression shifted to one of delight. "Ahead of your peers by two full years. Your talent surpasses my own at your age."

The room stirred with murmurs of astonishment. Cultivation speeds of such magnitude were the stuff of legend.

The emperor smiled. "We shall celebrate after this meeting. Now, to business." He turned back to his council. "It is decided. The Azure Dragon Clan and the Ancient White Tiger Clan will be destroyed before the Great Calamity unfolds."

Xue Mor's heart sank. She knew these clans well. The Azure Dragon Clan, adopted by the celestial Soaring Dragon, produced fierce warriors like Raikai—a childhood friend. They thrived in the harshest of environments, masters of storm and lightning cultivation. The Ancient White Tiger Clan, blessed by the Three-Eyed White Tiger, cultivated precision and gravitational control. Shinryu, their chosen prodigy, was another friend. These two clans were more than allies to her; they were kindred spirits.

"Father, these clans are bonded beyond blood. This will not be an easy war. And why? They have not offended us."

The elder who had scolded her earlier answered. "You are too young to feel it, but we all sense it—the Call. Our Death Arms are growing restless. Disasters stir across the land. The Great Reset is upon us. We cannot afford threats within our borders. These clans occupy strategic positions. Should they unite, they could cripple our empire during the chaos."

Xue Mor looked to her father, pleading silently for understanding. The emperor sighed, acknowledging her concern. "I know you hold those clans dear. You have even grown close to their chosen warriors. I let you foster those bonds in hopes you could bridge our worlds. But we are out of time."

"Let me try, Father," she urged.

"Diplomacy has failed for years. The calamity is here. We cannot risk them falling into enemy hands. Shin Rai's dragon flew over our lands toward the Ancients. That meeting could spell danger for us all. My empire will not fall under my reign. They will not submit, so they will burn."

His final words shattered the image of the gentle father she cherished. This was the emperor, the ruler whose will shaped nations.

But another elder offered a suggestion. "Perhaps we can redirect their might outward. Send them to the empire's borders, warring against our enemies. We promise their young a future among the Death Knights alongside our own Phoenix heirs. The youth are untouched by the calamity's call. They deserve a chance to grow."

Xue Mor seized the opportunity. "Father, allow me to present this offer to them."

The emperor studied his daughter's eyes and relented with a weary nod. "You leave immediately. One month. That is all they have."

As the meeting adjourned, the emperor vanished into the flames behind his throne. Xue Mor remained, her heart heavy. She had been granted a chance, but she knew the truth—failure meant the extinction of two clans she loved.