Maiden Of The Splitting Moon

Seated behind his desk was Elder Huang, clasping his hands together with a grim look on his face. Opposite him was Elder Kan of the Heaven's Skyguard, reading out the contents of the reports in her hand.      

"Things are looking grim for all three continents. What progress has been made is being taken away by the growing effects of the incoming calamity", she said to him.      

"Then, how are the relief efforts?" he questioned.      

"As you know, all of Heaven's Gate has been called to action, divided into multiple smaller groups that have been sent to the areas that have it the worst. Practically every country and kingdom has mobilized its armed forces, and most of the sects have diverted their efforts towards relief."     

She handed him several pieces of the report whilst continuing to speak.      

"Fortunately, the tribes of the Beast Continent have been able to hold their own even if they aren't united. The clans of the Demon Continent are also in a decent state. With aid from the Six Great Kingdoms, the threat of starvation has been minimized."     

Looking through it, he sighed, dropping the reports on his desk and rubbing the side of his head.      

"Haah, even then, this is only a temporary solution, it will only slow the process", he muttered to himself.      

Elder Kan looked at him, showing a trace of concern as her cold eyes softened.      

"What about the High Council?" she asked.      

Elder Huang opened his eyes and gazed back at her.      

"They're doing what they can to seal the cracks but those seals aren't going to last against the energy of the other Expanses for very long. It is fortunate that this time, the three continents are able to rely on one another", he told her.      

The Disciplinary Elder looked down for a moment, steeling her expression as she looked back at him.      

"So... how long do we have exactly?"      

Her question was met with silence from him and that is never a good sign.      

"This particular calamity, it's going to be the worst one. When worlds collide, chaos will ensue, conflict of a magnitude we will have never experienced before. At most, it could start within a year, and after that... who knows if we'll be able to survive."     

He then stood up from his desk, turned around and looked out of the windows. Staring down, he watched the people of Heaven's Gate moving around like busy ants.      

"Survival... that's all we can think about it but this time, it may not be the case. Death could await all of us", he said.      

"But the High Council, they've created so many countermeasures and plans for such occasions! Surely, it wouldn't come to that point!" Elder Kan reasoned.      

"Maybe, maybe... but we can't just solely rely on them. We have to ready ourselves for what's to come."     

As he said this, the doors cracked open as a small figure peeked her head out. It was Hongyu, looking inside curiously.      

Both elders stopped and turned to see who had come.      

"Hmm? Little one, how did you get in here?"      

The Grand Elder suddenly smiled as this little intruder walked in with her friends, Xiao Yin, and the other two beasts. He knelt down and looked at her warmly.      

"Is something wrong, Hongyu?" he asked, "Why did you come?"      

Hongyu had a strange look on her face, somewhat bewildered as she stared into his golden eyes,      

"Pretty..." she muttered blankly.      

Elder Huang chuckled.     

"Ahahah, thank you."     

He had a thoughtful look on his face while looking at her before asking something.      

"Do you miss her, Ming Yue?"      

The moment he mentioned her name, Hongyu seemed to snap out of her bewildered trance, nodding in response.      

"When will she come back?" the girl asked.      

Even the trio of beasts seemed to miss the young cultivator, whimpering and looking at him with large eyes. He looked at them and sighed.      

"I don't know. But I'm sure that she wouldn't want any of you to be sad like this. Come on, do you four want to have a little lesson?" he said.      

Hongyu suddenly brightened up, beaming with a smile.      

"Yes!", she answered.      

"Alright, go get our sword and meet me at the field we always use", the elder told her.      

Following his words, this group of four quickly ran out of the office, racing to the outside.      

Elder Huang watched them go whilst relaying a few orders to Elder Kan.      

"Go out once more, check on the situation, and make sure to keep things under control. If something happens that cannot be dealt with by you or any of the elders, notify me immediately."     

Elder Kan bowed immediately.     

"Yes!"     

After raising her head back up, she didn't move from that spot, looking at the Grand Elder with interest. He noticed that gaze immediately, looking at her with slight confusion.      

"Is something wrong?" he asked her.      

She shook her head but it was clear from her expression that she was strangely happy.      

"It's nothing... I just didn't realize that you have been teaching her" she pointed out, "It's one thing to teach and another to personally spar someone."     

Elder Huang just smiled and he looked over his shoulder.      

"Frankly speaking, that young one is a monstrously capable person. Her level of talent is practically unheard of. It is a shame that we do not have much time but in that little time we have, I want to polish her skills and help her grow a little. Besides, since everyone else had gone and left, it was mainly me and a few others, there isn't much for me to do whilst guarding this place", he told her.      

There was a small smile on his face before he also walked out of the office, following Hongyu's steps      

With Elder Kan by herself, she couldn't help but smile. She noticed immediately and nearly went back to being stone cold. But she stopped herself, instead just letting out a big sigh and laughing at herself.      

"How strange, even at a time like this, seeing that little girl fills me with joy."     

Thinking this to herself, the Disciplinary Elder's smile stayed as she walked out of the office.      

As the days passed, years had gone by inside the Divine Citadel. In fact, ten years had passed inside.  Ming Yue now stood on the 50th floor victorious as the eagle-masked archer was on one knee, his bow snapped in half.      

Taking off his mask, he looked up at her, revealing his face. There was a scar in the same of a claw running across his nose. His features were somewhat rough but his eyes were sharp.     

"Hahaha, victory is yours", he said, "Though I do have to say, you spent quite a lot of time preparing for this. It was a one-sided fight the first time and this time is the same, only I was the one on the losing side."     

Ming Yue just looked at him, sheathing her swords. Their surroundings slowly changed as the thick jungle vanished, replaced by the white walls of the hall.      

"Heh, now then, take your choice; power, technique, or guidance?" he asked.      

"Power."      

She didn't hesitate to make her choice, absorbing the energy that he gave her.      

"Ahahaha, let's see just how far you will go this time."     

His voice trailed off as he disappeared, no longer blocking the stairs leading up to the next floor.      

Now that she was by herself, the woman took in a deep breath before walking towards it.      

"The goal... the 100th floor?" she muttered to herself.      

She thought about it, taking into consideration the battle that just happened. What floor did she want to reach in this second attempt?     

"Those ten years were well spent, the 50th floor ended up being less difficult than the first floor. Chances are, the 100th floor won't be that bad. In that case..."     

She suddenly resolved herself, thinking of a good number.      

"The 1000th floor, I won't stop until I reach that point."