The Star Map in the Reception Hall Dome spun into a swirling vortex of Liuguang, and Luna's Purification Spell blossomed with Hexagram patterns on Aelia's chest.
The Lady of the Fortress, clad in Peacock Blue, had her Skirt Hem fluttering without wind, and the Evening Primrose woven into her hair suddenly rustled. Tiny Pollen coalesced into a phantom of wedding vows from Twenty Years Ago.
"At that Midsummer Night ball, he said the Star Emblem would always protect my Bloodline." Aelia's Fingertip brushed against the mirror as she watched the phantom of a young Leonard kneeling before her, fastening the Star Moon Necklace adorned with their Family Crest around her Neck.
Suddenly, the Crystal Chandelier shattered, its fragments crystallizing into ice before hitting the ground, thanks to her brother's Wheelchair barrier.
The Second Brother's Amethyst Sphere emitted a Screech, and silver mist surged from the Ice Cracks, outlining the Council Tower.
Brother San kicked away a Golden Footstool that sprouted vines; where the Moonstone rolled, an Emerging Infant Swaddling phantom appeared—the very child cradled by Madam Speaker, wearing a cursed necklace.
"Mother, look!" Her brother's Pale finger pierced through the mirror, and the Star Emblem climbed up Madam Speaker's phantom along the Ice Cracks.
The Dark Purple Vertical Pupil faded to an ordinary Amber color in the Strong Light, but the broken pinky glowed with a Serpent Scale Seal.
Luna suddenly recalled the altered Heir Contract from the Original; Baby Fat's Palm slapped heavily on Aelia's knee.
Aelia stumbled into the Rose Pattern Armchair, and the Evening Primrose in her hair withered instantly.
She gazed at her husband casting a Forgetfulness Spell in the mirror. The Star Diamond on his Wedding Ring burst forth with Strong Light—this was Leonard’s Oath Ring forged from Meteorite Fragment, now reflecting his tender yet unfamiliar expression as he held Leonard's Concubine's baby.
"Last year during Dong Lian, he said he would reinforce the Northern Boundary Barrier, but at Emerald Manor..." Aelia’s Pearl Necklace suddenly snapped, and the rolling pearls were ensnared by Brother San's vines.
Inside the Second Brother’s Amethyst Sphere was an Emerging Rose Window of Emerald Manor. Behind it, a Blonde Woman could be faintly seen cradling a three-year-old child; around the child's Neck swung Aelia’s long-lost Star Moon Necklace.
The sound of ice crystals being crushed jolted Aelia from her daze.
Her elder brother's Star Emblem had spread to the Gold Frame, and the phantom of Madam Speaker suddenly turned towards Luna, warning, "Beware of the Chosen One!" Before the words could fully escape her lips, she was shattered by a burst of golden light from Luna. Yet Aelia distinctly saw her husband aiming the magical Zhang Jian at their daughter in the cradle just before the phantom dissipated.
"That's why he always wears Dragonhide Gloves when holding Luna!" Qin Si exclaimed suddenly, spilling the Iris Tea he was about to hand to Aelia all over the carpet.
It was then that Luna realized the truth behind her untimely demise in the Original. She quickly grasped Aelia's trembling fingers, enveloping her wrist with a Purification Spell to cover the Serpent-Shaped Bruise that was emerging.
Second Brother abruptly hurled an Amethyst Sphere at the mirror, and amidst the flying shards, scenes of Leonard and Madam Speaker deep in conversation emerged.
When she heard her husband declare, "Aelia's Bloodline must be completely eradicated," the Star Diamond on Lady of the Fortress's Wedding Ring suddenly shattered, sending fragments slicing through Brother San's Luna. A drop of Blood Pearl fell onto a vine, causing a black rose marked with a Curse Mark to bloom.
"Mother, the Star Chart Device in the North Tower shifted seven degrees last night." Her elder brother's wheelchair traced a Star Trail Pattern across the scattered ice crystals. "Do you remember?
When I was ten years old during the Magic Surge, Father reinforced the Defensive Formation... it was actually to conceal the Magical Fluctuation of the child in the Outer Chamber."
Aelia's pupils suddenly constricted as she recalled that rainy night seventeen years ago when Leonard returned drenched from the Northern Territory, his cloak dusted with the unique Golden Marigold Pollen from Emerald Manor.
He had explained that he had been attacked by a Flower Spirit, but now those cherished memories felt like ice spikes piercing her heart.
Luna suddenly let out a loud cry, and a Mage-level Resonance Spell shattered all illusions.
Amidst the clattering Gold Frame Remains, Aelia saw her reflection on the Gilded Wall Decoration—her Peacock Blue Long Skirt rippling with serpent scale-like waves, while her Star Moon Necklace devoured the light of her Oath Ring.
Qin Si knelt beside the overturned tea set, half of an old Family Crest slipping out of the Lily of the Valley Sachet.
It was a token given to her personal maid when Aelia first married, and now the silver mist seeping from the Crest's jagged edge perfectly matched the Curse Mark within the Amethyst Sphere.
Qin Si's Lily of the Valley Sachet rolled to the ground, its silver-thread embroidery trembling slightly with the tea stains.
The bond between master and servant, forged over twenty years, transformed into delicate silver needles, stitching together memories of warm stoves during deep winter, sweet cakes at Celebration Banquets, and the anxious footsteps outside the delivery room into a bloodied net.
She gazed at Aelia's Wedding Ring, where the Star Diamond lay shattered, suddenly recalling her wedding night when she combed her lady's hair, and how the Star Moon Necklace shimmered under candlelight, casting a halo.
"Madam..." She knelt to gather the scattered pearls, fragments of the Gilded Frame embedding themselves in Ailya's White Nails. "That year you endured three days of difficult labor, San Ye, Lord held the bloodied Star Emblem and swore in the temple..." Her words were abruptly cut off by Lucius's Leonard's Sword glinting coldly.
The young glory of Lucius, The Third Son of the Demon Fortress, stood against the light beneath the Carved Porch. His Silver Armor reflected remnants of illusions from the Rose Window, while the sword hilt embedded with Dragon Blood Gem aligned with Aelia's broken Star Moon Necklace in resonance.
Eldest Brother's Wheelchair rolled over ice crystals that had formed from Curse Marks. Pale fingertips brushed against the Amethyst Sphere and Ice Cracks: "Third Brother arrives just in time; last night’s Star Trail at Council Tower shifted..." He suddenly coughed violently, Ice Blue Magic Emblem spreading from his neck to his ear. "Father gifted me that staff embedded with frost crystals from Northern Territory on my Tenth Birthday—its true purpose was to conceal the Loud Cry of a baby at Emerald Manor."
Aelia's wrist bore a Serpent-Shaped Bruise that twisted under Luna’s Purification Spell before suddenly dissipating into Xing Xu.
She looked at her three sons' distinct Magic Emblems—Eldest Brother’s Ice Cracks swirling with starry rivers, Second Brother’s Amethyst Sphere frozen in morning mist, and Brother San’s newly sprouted Thorned Rose on his wrist—realizing that what she once viewed as imperfections were now piecing together a complete Star Totem under the moonlight.
"Mother, the Star Trail Nexus in North Tower’s secret chamber requires a blood relative’s Curse Mark to unlock." Lucius knelt on one knee, his Leonard's Sword carving a burning trench into the carpet. "Since Father used Outside Heir’s Magical Fluctuation to cover up his schemes, we will use true Bloodline Resonance to turn the tables." Jian Feng picked up half of Qin Si’s fallen Family Crest; its missing Crescent Shape perfectly matched Aelia’s necklace’s crescent moon.
Suddenly, Second Brother pressed his bloodied palm against the Amethyst Sphere: "Emerald Manor's Coordinate is here!" The silver mist surging from Ice Cracks coalesced into a magical map revealing a glaring Dark Red Curse Mark between Council Tower and Northern Boundary Barrier.
The vines of Brother San grew wildly into the Thorned Throne, supporting Aelia's trembling body. "As long as Mother gives the order, I will burn that den of iniquity right now!"
Luna suddenly giggled, her chubby little hands grasping a strand of Aelia's white hair.
Pure golden Magic Flow coursed through the Hair, causing the withered Evening Primrose to bloom anew with Silver Blue flowers.
In the swaying shadows of the flowers, Aelia saw herself from Twenty Years Ago—the girl who received the Wedding Ring under the starry sky of Midsummer Night, now gently embraced by the Lady of the Fortress seated upon the Thorned Throne.
"Turn the Star Chart Device in the North Tower towards dawn." Aelia brushed her fingers over Lucius's armor, where the Family Crest gleamed. The Peacock Blue Hem swept across the ground littered with Star Diamond shards. "Qin Si, go fetch my Morning Star Robe stored in the Cellar." She removed her dimming Star Moon Necklace from her neck, allowing Luna to hold it and sway it about. "Since the Oath Ring has shattered, let this necklace stained with your Father's blood witness our new covenant."
Suddenly, her elder brother's Wheelchair erupted with Ice Blue Flame, and the fragmented Magic Emblem reformed into a complete Star Map within the flames. "Mother, the true control array of the Northern Boundary Barrier is actually..." His Fingertip crystallized into ice before exploding, assembling hidden runes in the air.
The Second Brother's Amethyst Sphere responded by spinning, imprinting the runes into a shimmering Light Barrier.
A long hoot from a Night Owl echoed outside, and moonlight shifted at a thirty-degree angle to illuminate Aelia and Mei Xin.
The silver Lan Hua flower in her hair suddenly bloomed, its delicate Pollen coalescing into a brand new Star Emblem amidst the Children's Magic Resonance.
Luna waved her small hands to catch the Light Spot, her infant Yiya Sound mingling with echoes of ancient Spell.
The Peacock Blue figure on the Gilded Wall Decoration slowly stood up, and her Skirt transformed into flowing Serpent Scale-like ripples of Xing Sha.
When Aelia's Fingertip touched the floating new Emblem, the entire Reception Room fell into absolute silence—the ice crystals ceased to shatter, and the vines froze in their graceful arcs; even Qin Si's tear at the corner of his eye solidified into crystal.
The moonlight refracted off the Ice Crystal Shards, casting the Sevenfold Phantom, while Aelia's Skirt flowed with Xing Sha, transforming the chaos on the ground into fragments of a galaxy.
Brother San's Thorned Throne descended slowly, the roses blooming at the tips of the vines rolled up the Emerald Manor's Coordinate into a Sheepskin Scroll. The Hemostatic Powder that slipped from Second Brother's sleeve collided with the Curse Mist seeping from the cracks in the Amethyst Sphere, igniting tiny sparks of Sulfur.
"Mother, there are still three quarters of an hour left for Dawn's Star Trail Resonance." Lucius drove Leonard's Sword into the burning crevice of the carpet, the Dragon Blood Gem reflecting his taut jawline. "The Night Watcher at Council Tower changes the Star Trail lens every two hours."
Qin Si knelt and presented the Morning Star Robe at Aelia's feet. The twenty years of washing had dulled the Silver Thread Embroidered Shoes' Xing Mang slightly.
When her trembling fingers touched the Dark Bag inside the Robe, she suddenly felt a half-dried Evening Primrose petal—an amulet secretly hidden by Aelia during her early pregnancy, now resonating with the newly bloomed silver Lan Hua.
Luna suddenly grabbed Aelia's cascading Silver White Hair, and a unique wave of Magic Resonance swept through the Reception Room.
The frozen Star Map on Brother's Wheelchair Armrest suddenly came to life, and the starry river wandering through the Ice Cracks began to Reverse Rotation.
Second Brother pressed his bloodied Palm against the Ground, and fragments of the Amethyst Sphere automatically pieced together into a Holographic Projection of Emerald Manor. The Iris Pattern on the Rose Window bore a striking resemblance to his Family Crest Seal, which had been deceitfully taken by a close friend three years ago.
"So that's how it is..." Aelia's Fingertip brushed over the meteorite Button at the collar of her Robe. The Token of Love that Leonard had sewn by hand felt scorching against her skin.
She watched as her three sons' distinct Magic Emblems intertwined into a web under Luna's Resonance Spell, suddenly becoming aware that these marks, once seen as flaws, were actually key locks to unraveling her husband's conspiracy.
Brother San suddenly cut his Wrist, and after absorbing his blood, the Thorned Rose grew wildly, climbing up to form a Defensive Array on the wall. "Mother, perhaps I can reverse my misleading talent." He kicked aside the Gilded Frame Remains at his feet, and a vine Spike accurately pierced Second Brother's displayed Curse Mark. "Father once said my cultivation method was an Error; now I realize it was meant to suppress my talent awakening."
As the Night Owl hooted for the third time outside, Brother's Wheelchair erupted in Ice Blue Flame, burning through the hidden magical array beneath the carpet.
Pale Youth coughed up blood and laughed, "As expected... the core of the Northern Boundary Barrier is within my Wheelchair Mechanism." He turned the frosted gem on the armrest, and a control panel made of ice crystals rose from the floor, the phantom of Leonard teaching him how to operate the barrier fading away.
Aelia handed Luna to Qin Si, and as she donned the Morning Star Robe, her dormant battle instincts awakened alongside Xing Mang after twenty years.
When she grasped the New Moon Staff handed to her by Lucius, a sudden burst of Yin Yan erupted from the shattered Wedding Ring, melting the Star Moon Necklace into Liquid Star that flowed into Zhang Jian.
"The magical barrier in the Southwest Corridor has vulnerabilities." Second Brother suddenly dipped a Tea Spoon into powdered medicine and drew symbols in the air. The Amethyst Sphere Projection immediately marked three flickering Red Dots. "Third Brother's Thorn Array covers the East Wing; we need Eldest Brother's Ice Crystal Formation to..."
Luna let out a sharp Loud Cry, her chubby little hands reaching for the floating Star Emblem.
The Infant Resonance Spell triggered a chain reaction, causing the Lily of the Valley Sachet that fell from Qin Si's arms to ignite spontaneously. From the Ashes emerged Leonard, conspiring with the Elder of the Council over a Contract Fragment.
Aelia's pupils constricted—she noticed that the Tooth Mark on the edge of the Parchment perfectly matched that of the Peace Agreement from Seventeen Years Ago that had resulted in a miscarriage.
As the first rays of morning light pierced through the Stained Glass, Aelia felt a sudden pain from the newly formed Star Emblem on her forehead.
She gazed at the Defensive Barrier constructed by her three sons, her eyes sweeping over Luna, who was making sounds in Qin Si's arms. Her Fingertip absentmindedly brushed against the unfrozen star metal on her Scepter.
The Morning Star Robe's trailing Liu Su swept across the ground covered in ice crystals, reflecting Lucius's suddenly tense expression in the melting puddles.
"Qin Si, take Luna to my chamber." The Lady of the Fortress suddenly tightened her grip on the New Moon Staff, her Peacock Blue Hem sweeping over the still-developing Magic Circle Diagram. "We will hold a family meeting Three Hours Later." As she turned, morning light illuminated the remnants of the Star Moon Necklace's burn mark on her Neck, that dark red imprint resembling a venomous snake as Shu Tong gazed at the bewildered infant.
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