The Being Forgotten by Time

Chapter 3 - The Night in Flames (Part 1)

The thunderous pounding of hooves against the rain-soaked ground echoed through the dark night. The relentless rain hammered against the tree leaves, drenching the earth, which, under the impact of the galloping beast, turned into mud and splashes.

The humid scent of the forest mixed with the metallic tang of blood seeping from a deep wound in Lan Yue’s abdomen. Each stride of her sacred mount drew a muffled groan from her lips, and more blood welled up in her throat. She spat it out, the metallic taste mingling with the cold of the storm.

Her mount, a majestic Celestial Ice Pegasus, neighed fiercely. Its white fur shimmered under the moonlight veiled by thick clouds, and its sky-blue eyes reflected the urgency of their escape.

The wind whipped through Lan Yue’s black hair, sending it flowing like wild silk against her pale, almost translucent skin. Even in such a wretched state, her beauty was ethereal—like an angelic fairy torn from a divine painting. Her once immaculate blue silk robes were tattered and stained with blood, clinging to her cold, fragile body.

Behind her, the shouts of her pursuers tore through the night, their voices dripping with scorn and excitement. Armor clattered, swords were unsheathed, and the greedy eyes of those men gleamed under the flashing storm. The forest grew denser, branches tearing at her clothes, thorns cutting into her skin. But Lan Yue could not stop. Not now.

A sharp whistle split the air—a stray arrow grazed her arm, eliciting another gasp of pain. Her fingers trembled as she clutched the reins, her vision beginning to blur. Her body was at its limit. The cold of the night threatened to drag her into oblivion. But she refused to yield.

Suddenly, the forest opened up to a cliffside. The muddy ground turned into slick stone. Lan Yue yanked at the reins, panic rising as she realized there was nowhere left to run. Behind her, the pounding of hooves slowed until it ceased altogether. Her heart hammered in her fragile chest.

A mocking laugh rang out.

“Looks like the little mouse has nowhere left to run.” The voice dripped with cruelty.

She felt her knees buckle as she dismounted. Her body collapsed into the mud. Her breaths came ragged, her muscles spent. The world swayed around her. Her pursuers dismounted, encircling her with vicious smirks, swords at the ready.

“Well, well… if it isn’t the proud princess of the Lan family,” another sneered.

“Where’s all that arrogance now?”

Lan Yue struggled to move, but her spiritual energy had completely drained away. Exhaustion bled the last remnants of her strength. Blood continued to seep from her wound, staining the ground.

Her fate was sealed.

One Month Earlier

The skies over Tianhai City were bathed in hues of gold and orange, heralding the arrival of the year’s grandest event: the Frozen Moon Festival. The city buzzed with the energy of preparations. Nobles and commoners alike walked through streets adorned with spiritual lanterns, while musicians played melodies that blended with the excited chatter of the crowd.

At the heart of the city, the Celestial Palace of Duke Lan Feng stood proudly, its walls adorned with spiritual crystals that reflected the light of the setting sun.

Within the palace’s grand halls, Lan Feng observed his daughter, Lan Yue, standing beside his wife. His ever-analytical gaze concealed a quiet pride.

But in the shadows, a deadly plot was unfolding.

In a dark alley, a hooded man handed a vial of black liquid to a subordinate. The cold smile on his lips revealed his intent.

“This will be enough to weaken even a prodigy like her. Once the poison takes effect, ensure the city is surrounded. Tonight, the Lan family will be erased from history.”

The plan was in motion.

This year, the tournament participants included the most prestigious bloodlines. Lan Yue, the favored contender, wielded the Celestial Ice Root and had reached the peak of the Seventh Layer of the Golden Core Realm. Xu Ming, a prodigy of Crimson Lightning, possessed swift and lethal techniques, standing at the Ninth Layer of the Qi Condensation Realm, just a step away from the Golden Core.

Bai Rong, master of the Blizzard Arts, could summon razor-sharp snowstorms and had reached the Fourth Layer of the Golden Core Realm. Ji Han, blessed with Titanic Strength, combined brute force with powerful spiritual techniques and had achieved the Sixth Layer of the Golden Core Realm.

The tournament followed an elimination bracket. After the draw, the duels began.

The battles were fierce. Xu Ming defeated his first opponent with a lightning-fast strike, vanishing and reappearing behind his adversary before the latter could react. The audience watched in stunned silence.

The first duel ended as swiftly as it began, leaving many struggling to comprehend what had happened. The crowd erupted in cheers and applause.

The electrifying atmosphere continued as the next match commenced.

Bai Rong stepped onto the arena with his chest puffed out and nose slightly raised, exuding the arrogance expected of a prodigy. Standing in the center, he awaited his opponent.

He wielded a silver blade that emanated a chilling, piercing intent—undoubtedly a spiritual artifact. Given his family’s influence in the city, it was only natural that young geniuses like him were nurtured with the best elixirs, armors, and weapons from childhood.

Soon, his opponent, a warrior from the Huang Clan, took his place in the arena, drawing his weapon and readying for combat. The judge signaled the start.

Bai Rong wasted no time. He attacked immediately, aiming to end the fight in a single strike. Utilizing his Ice Blade Technique, he overwhelmed his opponent and claimed victory with a precise cut.

Another win with just one blow.

A brief silence hung over the crowd before an explosion of cheers erupted once again.

“What is happening to the world?”

“Since when was defeating someone of equal rank as easy as slicing cabbage?” exclaimed an excited spectator.

Sheathing his blade, Bai Rong strode arrogantly back to his seat while the arena was prepared for the next match.

The tournament continued in this heated atmosphere. As the afternoon waned and the warm summer night approached, dark clouds began forming overhead—a foreboding omen unnoticed by the celebrating masses.

Then came Ji Han’s turn, another acclaimed prodigy of a noble household. Dressed in an opulent yellow robe embroidered with black patterns, he stepped onto the battlefield. His opponent was a towering young warrior, his hulking frame carrying a massive battle axe.

At a glance, one might pity Ji Han for facing such a brute. Ji Han was slender, almost fragile-looking, as if a single strike from his opponent would shatter him.

But when the fight began, expectations were shattered.

With a single earth-shaking punch, Ji Han sent his opponent flying from the arena, leaving cracks in the ground.

Silence. The crowd was dumbfounded, unable to believe what they had just witnessed.

Then, realization set in, and the arena erupted in an uproar. This event would be forever remembered. Held once every twenty years, this festival was a chance for young geniuses to carve their names into the world of cultivation. Today’s battles had proven that there was always a sky above the sky.

Stepping down from the stage, Ji Han cast a smirking glance at Lan Yue.

At nineteen years old, Lan Yue was an untouchable beauty—cold and delicate, like a flower meant only to be admired. Draped in a breathtaking white-and-blue gown, she sat calmly beside the platform, her eyes closed, as if everything around her was beneath her notice.

Her commanding presence had drawn admiration since the tournament began.

Finally, her name was called.

Without suspense, the outcome was as expected.

Lan Yue showcased her dominance by freezing the arena and gliding across the ice, defeating her opponent with a razor-sharp blast of frost.

The following matches only grew more thrilling. Xu Ming clashed with Bai Rong, his Crimson Lightning melting the latter’s ice blades in a hard-fought victory.

Ji Han crushed yet another opponent, preparing for his inevitable battle against Lan Yue.

And then, the most anticipated match arrived:

Lan Yue versus Ji Han.

The crowd roared as the two stepped into the arena.