Chapter 109: The sky rift opens
Dawn arrived with a storm on the horizon.
The clouds above the Azure Sect stretched like cracks in the heavens, and lightning pulsed through them in steady rhythm — almost as if the sky itself was breathing.
Li Ming stood at the edge of the main courtyard, robe fluttering in the rising wind. Behind him, Lan Yue, Bai Guo, Yun Rou, and Xue Yan gathered, their gazes fixed on the same distant fissure splitting the heavens apart.
"The Sky Rift," Lan Yue said quietly. "It’s really opening."
Xue Yan crossed her arms, her usual smirk fading. "Looks more like the heavens got angry and tore themselves in half."
Bai Guo bobbed his head. "And we’re going in there? On purpose?"
Li Ming exhaled, watching the lightning dance along the clouds.
"The Sect Master said it’ll only open once every fifty years. The Sky Rift isn’t just a crack in the world—it’s a battlefield left behind by the ancient cultivators of the Thunder Path. Every storm, every bolt, carries remnants of their will."
Yun Rou stepped forward, clutching a scroll close to her chest. "And the reason we’re going... is to recover the Heart of the Rift, right? The sect needs it for stabilizing the central barrier."
Lan Yue nodded. "The rift’s energy grows unstable each cycle. If the Heart isn’t retrieved, the barrier between realms could collapse—and entire regions could be flooded with corrupted Qi."
"So basically," Xue Yan said dryly, "we either go in there and grab a glowing rock, or the continent drowns in lightning and chaos."
Bai Guo sighed. "Why is it always a glowing rock?"
Li Ming smirked slightly. "Because glowing rocks usually explode, and apparently that’s our specialty."
The others chuckled, tension easing for a moment. But the humor didn’t last long—because above them, the heavens roared.
A spiral of energy erupted from the rift, tearing through the clouds. The shockwave made the air vibrate and the sect’s defensive formations shimmer. The wind carried the scent of ozone and ash.
From the steps behind them, the Medicine Master approached, robes billowing. His eyes gleamed like tempered steel.
"Good. You’re all here."
Li Ming turned, bowing slightly. "Master."
"The Sky Rift will remain open for only seven days," the old man said. "The Sect has selected you five to represent Azure Peak—not for fame, but because your energies align with the Rift’s resonance."
He lifted his hand, and five azure talismans floated forward, each pulsing faintly.
"These will stabilize your Qi inside the Rift. Lose them, and the storm will tear your souls apart."
Bai Guo gulped. "Cheerful as always."
Lan Yue accepted hers silently. Yun Rou bowed deeply. Xue Yan just grinned and twirled hers between her fingers.
The Master’s gaze turned to Li Ming last. "Your lightning core has matured beyond what I expected. You’ll lead this expedition. Remember—the Heart of the Rift must be recovered intact. Do not engage the Wyrm unless absolutely necessary."
Li Ming nodded, but his eyes flickered toward the storm. "If it stands in our way, I’ll handle it."
The Master didn’t argue. He only said quietly, "Then may the heavens watch over you."
---
A deep rumble split the air.
The rift widened, revealing a swirling vortex of blue and violet light. The wind howled, pulling at their robes like invisible claws.
Xue Yan smirked. "Guess that’s our invitation."
Lan Yue drew her sword, her calm voice steady. "Once we enter, stay close and avoid scattering. The storm distorts space and direction."
Yun Rou took a deep breath. "No turning back now."
Li Ming stepped forward, lightning gathering around his boots.
"Then let’s not waste time. We retrieve the Heart—and come back alive."
Bai Guo flapped onto his shoulder. "Alive is a good plan. Let’s start with that."
And then, together, they leapt into the light.
The world blurred—light became sound, and sound became silence.
When their vision cleared, they stood in a vast, shattered expanse suspended within thunderclouds. Islands of stone floated in the air, linked by chains of lightning. Rivers of energy flowed across the sky like molten glass.
"The Sky Rift..." Yun Rou whispered, awe in her voice. "It’s beautiful."
Li Ming’s eyes narrowed. "Beautiful... and deadly."
Because in the distance, high above the floating islands, something stirred within the heart of the storm—something vast, ancient, and aware.
The lightning darkened to crimson.
And a single, echoing roar split the heavens.
---
For a moment, there was only silence.
Then Bai Guo screamed.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAA—!"
Li Ming twisted midair, hair flying as wind tore past him. "Stop yelling! I’m trying to stabilize the Qi flow!"
"How about stabilizing my life!?" Bai Guo shouted, wings flapping wildly as they plummeted toward a floating island made entirely of crystal.
Lan Yue shot past them like an arrow, perfectly balanced, sword glowing. She landed gracefully on a flat rock below. "I told you to control your descent."
Li Ming landed beside her... by crashing through a glowing bush and flipping twice before stopping upside down.
"...nailed it."
From above, Xue Yan descended like she was floating, hands behind her back. "Ah, I see you’ve discovered the advanced face-first-into-the-ground technique. Very spiritual."
"Shut up," Li Ming muttered, dragging himself upright.
A moment later, Yun Rou landed nearby in a swirl of green Qi — right into a puddle that splashed everyone.
Xue Yan blinked, droplets dripping from her bangs. "...are we under attack or is this just karma?"
Bai Guo thudded down last, clutching his chest dramatically. "Descendant... next time, remind me to bring a parachute."
---
The ground beneath them shimmered faintly — translucent stone glowing with blue veins.
The air buzzed with faint electricity. Above, fragments of land drifted like slow-moving clouds, connected by bridges of light.
Lan Yue looked around. "Stay alert. The energy here distorts space. One wrong step, and we could—"
Her warning was interrupted by Xue Yan stepping onto a glowing tile... which instantly flipped her upside-down, leaving her standing on the air.
"—fall into the unknown," Lan Yue finished, deadpan.
"WHAT KIND OF STUPID FLOOR IS THIS?!" Xue Yan shouted, arms flailing as she floated in circles.
Li Ming was already laughing. "Xue Yan, try using Qi to stabilize your footing!"
"Oh sure, because my brain totally has time to calculate gravity in reverse!" she yelled, spinning faster.
Bai Guo covered his beak with a wing. "I can’t tell if this place was built by geniuses or sadists."
---
After some awkward floating, panicked cursing, and Bai Guo attempting (and failing) to "help," Xue Yan finally managed to right herself.
Her hair was standing straight up from static.
She turned to Li Ming with a twitching smile. "Laugh again, and I’ll test how far lightning can fly up your nose."
Li Ming raised his hands in surrender. "Noted."
Lan Yue, ever composed, pointed toward a faintly glowing formation deeper within the floating island. "That seems to be the center of this fragment. If we’re lucky, it might stabilize the pathway to the next zone."
"Lucky," Bai Guo repeated. "The word people use right before everything goes wrong."
"Then let’s prove you wrong," Li Ming said, stepping forward confidently.
He pressed his hand to the formation—
—and the island immediately began rotating like a giant spinning plate.
Everyone screamed.
"LI MING, WHAT DID YOU DO?!" Xue Yan yelled, clutching onto Yun Rou’s arm.
"I—I just touched it!"
"STOP TOUCHING THINGS!"
Lan Yue dug her sword into the ground to anchor herself. "Stabilize your Qi, now!"
Wind howled as they spun faster. Bai Guo was flying backward through the air, flapping frantically. "I’M TOO YOUNG TO BE A TORNADO FEATHERBALL!"
Li Ming focused, lightning sparking around him as he slammed his palm into the glowing lines.
The formation trembled... then suddenly stopped.
The group stood in a daze, hair blown back, eyes wide.
Silence.
Bai Guo slowly pointed at Li Ming. "Descendant... never touch anything again."
Li Ming coughed. "At least it worked."
Behind him, the sky shimmered—and a glowing portal appeared in the air, humming like a heartbeat.
Lan Yue exhaled slowly. "It did work... somehow."
Xue Yan crossed her arms. "You’re lucky the universe has low standards."
---
They regrouped, stepping through the newly opened gate.
The moment they passed through, the light dimmed — and thunder rolled across the vast expanse ahead.
Floating mountains glowed faintly in the dark sky, rivers of lightning flowing between them. The energy was stronger here — wild, ancient, almost alive.
Li Ming’s smirk faded. "Alright. Jokes aside... this is the true Sky Rift."
Lan Yue nodded. "And if we’re right, the Heart of the Rift lies beyond those mountains."
Yun Rou’s eyes widened as faint silhouettes moved within the storm. "Then what are those?"
A dozen lightning beasts stepped out of the mist — their bodies made of energy, eyes glowing with hunger.
Xue Yan cracked her knuckles. "Finally. Something to hit."
Bai Guo gulped. "And here I was hoping for a tea break."
Li Ming drew his sword, lightning swirling around him.
"Then let’s earn our way to that Heart."
The air exploded with light as the first clash began—
and somewhere above, the storm itself stirred, watching them.
To be continued...