On the Ice Crystal Bed, Han Qi's voice entwined with Leonard's hoarse tones, swirling into a dark Purple Mist within the Dome.
Aelia's sleeves, embroidered with a Laurel Pattern, trembled slightly as Luna suddenly reached out her small hand, precisely pressing it against a spot on the Magic Ledger stained with Rose Scent Powder.
"This is the Iris Essence specially crafted by the Perfumer from Crimson Mist Alley." Qin Si spoke up suddenly, his Fingertip forming an Ice Spike that pierced through the powdery mark. "Last year's Midsummer Night's Banquet, the Lord's residence included the same Cedar Fragrance in the gift for the lady, Ailya's Birthday Rune."
Leonard's gaunt face twisted abruptly as the Staff Fragment cut into his Palm, leaving Winding Bloodstains.
Luna suddenly laughed, pressing a Serpent Scale against Luna. The Star Map Projection revealed the Outer Chamber Villa's Carved Porch—entwined with Soul Devouring Vines that shared a source with the Lord's Scepter.
"Twelve years ago, you planted the Moonlight Rose for me..." Aelia staggered back a step, and as dried petals fell from her sleeve and touched the Ice Crystal Bed, they suddenly bloomed, dark green venom seeping from their cores, identical to that of the Serpent Scale.
She abruptly tore off her Moonstone Necklace; those gems that once bore witness to her Oath fell to the ground and turned to Ashes.
A sudden sound of crystal Silver Cauldron shattering echoed from the attic.
Her elder brother burst through the door, wielding his newly formed Star Pattern Staff. The Staff Tip embedded with Demon-Breaking Stone resonated with Luna. "Thanks to Sister's Star Trail Formation." He waved his staff to part the void; his Right Leg, once corroded by backlash, was now wrapped in a Healing Spell akin to Liu Ying. "Last night, the Astrology Platform's Astrolabe automatically completed the Soul Devouring Grass Purification Technique."
Leonard suddenly erupted in fury, and fragments of his Scepter transformed into Toxic Vines that coiled toward Luna.
The infant let out a loud cry reminiscent of Qing Yue like Yin Ling, and Luna's outburst of Xing Hui forged the Poison Vine into pure silver chains, pinning the Lord back onto the ice bed.
The entire castle's foundation began to tremble as Blood Tears flowed from the Eye Socket of the First Generation Fortress Lord Statue.
"So it turns out that the Oathbound Coffin recognizes the Starry Bloodline." Brother San's voice came from the Emerald Corridor.
He burst in holding a yellowed Shou Zha, his Sleeve covered in a century’s worth of dust. "The coffin in the Seventh Secret Chamber of the Underground Palace... is consuming Soul Devouring Grass Roots."
The emerald Pearl Crown of Aelia shattered with a sound, but she lifted Luna even higher.
Under the Star Map, everyone clearly saw Leonard's Heart spreading out Dark Red Threads, one end piercing through the Castle Outer Wall and disappearing into the night.
At that moment, Second Brother's Dark Cloak was lifted by the night wind, revealing the Family Crest embroidered on the inside, adorned with the same mysterious Dark Purple Thread pattern.
"Before dawn tomorrow, I want to see the Clearing book from the Northland Chamber of Commerce." Aelia cast one last glance at her convulsing husband on the Ice Crystal Bed. As she turned, her Skirt froze all the surging poisonous mist.
Qin Si deftly snapped his fingers to summon Judgment Ice Steps, carrying everyone up to the floating terrace.
In the moonlight, Eldest Brother's staff traced flowing Star Trails on the Ground.
Brother San suddenly pointed at Second Brother's Waist where the Contract Scroll was and exclaimed, "Why is there a seal made from Soul-Eating Grass Juice on it?" Luna reached out to grab the edge of the scroll. When her soft Fingertip touched a damaged spot, the entire scroll suddenly unfurled into a Starry Curtain—revealing Second Brother's close friend Xu Ying in deep conversation with a merchant of Soul Devouring Grass.
A loud crash echoed from the Castle West Wing as Night Owls collided with the Colored Glazed Window. Second Brother staggered and leaned against the terrace Railings, as the starry sky on the Contract Scroll slowly transformed the pattern of his Family Crest on his sleeve into Silver Blue.
Luna stretched out to grasp those shattered moonlight stones but, upon touching Second Brother's hem, all fragments coalesced into the Serpent Ring of the First Generation Fortress Master.
Second Brother's Fingertip trembled slightly on the Contract Scroll. The Xu Ying in the Starry Curtain vividly recreated that rainy night scene from ten years ago—his close friend Colin held an Amber Wine Cup, and the pattern of Soul Devouring Grass engraved at the bottom glimmered with Phosphorescence under the moonlight.
"You said this was Holy Water to awaken the Contract Spirit." Second Brother's Dark Cloak moved without wind, and suddenly, the Thorn Pattern embroidered in Silver Thread on his sleeve came alive and wrapped around the scroll.
Luna grasped his trembling pinky finger; her baby Palm unleashed Xing Hui, which reformed the Iris on the Contract Scroll into Tadpole-shaped Ancient Runes.
Brother San suddenly slammed Shou Zha onto the ice crystal Railings, and a century’s worth of dust fell into the Star Trail. "Look here!"
The handwritten note of the First Generation Fortress Master stated that a true Contractor must refine their seal with Evening Primrose Juice. "The magical orb of light gathered at my Fingertip illuminates a section of Shou Zha that has been eaten away by insects," he continued, "while a seal refined with Soul-Eating Grass Juice will only cause the Contractor to gradually become a Puppet of the Caster."
Suddenly, Luna let out an urgent loud cry, her Oujie-like legs kicking free from the swaddling.
The floating starry runes suddenly coalesced into a mirror, reflecting Colin at that moment trading with a Soul Devouring Grass merchant in Crimson Mist Alley—his cloak's inner lining embroidered with the same pattern as Leonard's Heart and Dark Red Threads.
"It all began when you gifted me the Magic Pocket Watch at the age of ten..." The Contract pen of Second Brother suddenly flew out on its own, sketching a precise Time Array in the void.
The components of the Pocket Watch that Colin had gifted were reassembled within Xing Hui, and to his surprise, a miniature Soul Devouring Grass cultivation array emerged on the back of the watch face—this was the very source of his magical stagnation.
Luna's Luna resonated with her older brother's Staff Tip and Demon-Breaking Stone, and the silver ripples radiating from the infant caused the Puppet Mark on the Contract Scroll to disintegrate piece by piece.
Second Brother let out a muffled groan, clutching his Heart as a dark purple Contract Chain withdrew from his Seven Orifices, transforming into sparkling Amethyst dust upon touching the Star Trail.
"Sister..." Second Brother knelt on one knee, resting his forehead against Luna's swaddling. The Thorn Pattern on the inner side of his Dark Cloak began to transform into entwining silver vines around Xingyue. "You have redeemed not just my magic but also twelve years of my misallocated time." He removed the remnants of Leonard's Pocket Watch from his Neck and let it fall into the whirlpool of Xing Hui below the terrace.
Brother San suddenly flipped to the page sealing Magic Wax, and the frost elements gathered at his Fingertip spontaneously transformed into blazing fire: "So my Elemental Affinity was never an issue!" He stared in shock at the Three-Colored Flame pulsating from his Palm, as those cultivation Taboo misled by the First Generation Notebook revealed their forged traces under the illumination of Star Trail.
Luna waved her little hand to grasp Brother San's cufflink, and Liujin's Button unexpectedly transformed into a Mini Astrolabe projecting a cultivation diagram.
The elder brother tapped the void lightly with his staff: "This is the true text of our Family Legacy’s Starfire Convergence Technique—what you practiced before was altered with key Curse modifications."
Brother San's Pupil glimmered with excitement as he trembled while touching the floating Ancient Script.
When his Fingertip made contact with the Curse of Flameheart Clarity, pure azure flames ignited along his entire arm.
The Elemental Uprising that had troubled him for years suddenly became as docile as a young beast, coalescing into a Guardian Spirit Flame that surrounded him under the guidance of Star Trail.
"Indeed, true talent is Elemental Balance!" The Magic Robe of Brother San fluttered, as a century's worth of dust transformed in the flames into the cultivation insights of the First Generation Fortress Master.
He suddenly knelt on one knee facing the east, pledging to the rising morning light with a Magic Oath: "By the Star Trail, I shall restore the glory of the Contractor."
Qin Si quietly wrapped a velvet cloak around Aelia's shoulders.
The Pupil of the Lady of the Fortress Emerald Color reflected the vast sky filled with Xing Hui, while her Fingertip absentmindedly brushed against the remnants of moonstone fragments on Luna's Swaddling.
As the last piece of gem Dust was scattered by the night wind, she suddenly asked softly, " Qin Si, should I have noticed this twelve years ago?"
"Madam, look." The ice crystal formed by maid Fingertip blossomed into a Moonlight Rose, its petals dancing with the same essence as Luna's Xing Mang. "True oaths do not perish; they merely await the right moment to be reborn." She carefully combed through Aelia's flowing silver hair, discreetly replacing the blood-stained Hair Ornament with a vine wreath woven from Xing Hui.
A deep Roar suddenly echoed from the castle's foundation, as the progress of the Oathbound Coffin consuming the Soul Devouring Grass Roots manifested in golden Three Degrees within the Star Trail.
Aelia suddenly held Luna up to her eyes, ancient Star Map swirling in the clear depths of the infant's Pupil: "Send word down; we shall convene a Star Council tomorrow.
All those bearing the Soul Devouring Grass Emblem on their Family Totem..." Before she could finish her sentence, the morning light abruptly pierced through the eastern mist.
At that moment, as the first ray of sunlight touched the castle's Castle Spire, an unusual sound came from the West Wing Tower, where a Crystal Wind Chime stirred.
Lucius stood before the Diamond Window of the Library of Hidden Books, remnants of last night's warmth from his Astrological Instrument still lingering on his Fingertip.
He gazed at the fading Star Trail above the floating terrace and suddenly noticed that his Hand Back Emerging bore identical Golden Patterns to those of the Oathbound Coffin. This was unmistakably the mark of "Reformer" foretold by the prophecy of the First Generation Fortress Master.
Chen Feng rolled up his unclosed Ancient Texts, with yellowed pages halting at a passage blurred by a Bloodstain: "When the Starry Bloodline awakens the Oathbound Coffin, observers in shadows shall see..." The latter half of this message was conveniently obscured by a passing Magic Messenger, whose wings shimmered with colors reminiscent of Leonard Heart Dark Red Threads.
As morning light gilded the castle's Castle Spire, the golden patterns on Lucius Hand Back suddenly ignited.
He placed his palm over the Diamond Window of the Library of Hidden Books, and the ancient glass melted into Liquid, condensing into a Miniature Astrolabe within Xing Hui.
Through this trembling magical creation, he saw Aelia carrying Luna as they moved through the morning mist—the Silver Light spilling from the Infant Swaddling resonated with the golden Three Degrees of the Oathbound Coffin.
"Third Young Master Lucius." Qin Si's voice suddenly echoed from the spiral staircase, her Starshine Vines crown losing its frosty texture. "Madam requests your presence in the Contract Hall to verify the accounts of the Northland Chamber of Commerce." The maid Fingertip produced an ice crystal, which contained Luna's Star Map imprint. "Young Miss specifically left this for you."
Lucius caught the ice crystal as Shan Na projected the image of Xu Ying, the First Generation Fortress Master, penning a prophecy.
He noticed that the Dark Pattern along the edge of the parchment was completely opposite to the pattern of the Magic Messenger Wings, repelling each other like mirror images.
As he leaned in for a closer look, the Star Map within the ice crystal suddenly began to decompose and reassemble, transforming into Leonard's Last Night—the moment twelve years ago when Leonard buried Soul Devouring Grass seeds before the Oathbound Coffin.
Inside the Contract Hall, Aelia was placing Luna on the Crystal Skull of the First Generation Contractor.
When baby Luna touched the Groove on the Dragon Skull's forehead, all of Peacock Stone Tiles in the hall flipped over to reveal a vast Star Map.
The Second Brother's Waist Contract Scroll automatically floated open, and those contracts previously tainted by Soul Devouring Grass revealed hidden compensation clauses under the starlight—should a Contractor meet with misfortune, the Soul Devouring Grass merchant must compensate tenfold with Moonlight Roses.
"No wonder Father suddenly expanded the East Wing greenhouse back then." The eldest brother's Star Pattern Staff lightly tapped the air, projecting a three-dimensional Gold Leaf Ledger with its Staff Tip's Demon-Breaking Stone.
Everyone clearly saw that after Leonard took power, all trade routes involving Moonlight Roses deliberately avoided Crimson Mist Alley. "It turns out that cultivating Soul Devouring Grass requires Chen Lu from Moonlight Roses as a Neutralizer."
Luna suddenly let out a soft coo, her tiny hand grasping at and gently tugging on the floating Starshine Threads.
The entire Magic Ledger began to flutter before finally settling on a page stained with Bloodstain—detailing Leonard's misappropriation of family reserves and expenses incurred while cultivating Soul Devouring Grass Mother Plant underground at Outer Chamber Villa.
"Using my Ailya's Birthday Rune as cover..." Aelia's Emerald Color pupils swirled with Ice Mist as her Fingertip brushed over the familiar Laurel Pattern on the Family Ledger.
The Gilded Feather Pen that Leonard had given her suddenly flew out of the pen holder, beginning to write automatically on the Star Map. The ink revealed an Ancient Incantation sealed within the coffin of the First Generation Fortress Master.
Brother San quickly reached out to intercept the Feather Pen. As it touched the pen tip, his Guardian Spirit Flame split into seven Elemental Sprites. "This is the true application of the Starfire Convergence Technique!" he exclaimed, watching in delight as the sprites danced around the ink, performing the Sacrifice dance. The altered figures in the accounts reformed into their correct amounts amidst the flames. "Sister's Star Trail Power can awaken all sealed truths."
At that moment, Lucius stepped into the range of the Star Map, and the Reformer's Mark from Hand Back resonated with Luna's Luna.
The floating Starshine Threads suddenly tightened, weaving the patterns of the Magic Messenger Wings and the Dark Pattern of the Prophecy Scroll into a glowing chain.
As both ends of the chain locked onto Luna's swaddling and the Projection of the Oathbound Coffin, a sudden sound of Twelve Bell Chimes echoed throughout the castle—an omen of an early summons from the Star Council.
Deep within the Crypt, Leonard, bound by silver chains, suddenly opened his crimson eyes.
The Roots of the Soul Devouring Grass Mother Plant pierced through the Ice Crystal Bed and dug into his Spine, while Dark Red Threads moved beneath his skin, forming eerie symbols.
As morning light slanted through the Air Vent and illuminated his twitching Fingertip, those withered Moonlight Roses unexpectedly bloomed anew, this time oozing a golden-hued venom from their cores.
"The time... has come..." His broken whisper awakened the slumbering Soul Devouring Vine, which began to crawl towards the castle's most hidden altar through the Floor Tile Gap.
There stood a Magic Statue temporarily sealed by Star Trail Power. In its Palm cradled a Prophecy Crystal Ball, within which Dark Red mist was slowly coalescing.
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