This was the lifeblood of the sect, these treasures, accumulated over countless generations, were timeless, far outliving even the Dao Lords themselves.

{It should be around here somewhere.} The Scholar in Black’s voice cut through the stillness, casual yet certain.

“A sect hoarding so many valuables, yet most remain untouched. Wouldn’t they serve the disciples better than gathering dust? Feels like a waste,” Feng Zhiming remarked as he moved past the rows of ancient shelves laden with relics.

His gaze flicked across the items, scanning them with purpose as if one might hold the answer to an unspoken question.

“What exactly am I looking for?” he asked, realizing his oversight in not seeking specifics earlier.

{A pendant bearing the insignia of a chained lion.}

"A chained lion... So that's why they call it the Seal of Beast Suppression," Feng Zhiming muttered, piecing together the cryptic history.

He continued his search in silence, meticulously sifting through the artifacts, until the Scholar spoke again.

{In truth, it’s not the actual seal you’re after.}

"Not the real seal? You’re going to have to explain that," Feng said, his interest piqued.

{The true Seal of Beast Suppression was forged by an ancient order, a people whose lineage is tied directly to the Iluminaries. Their craftsmanship was unparalleled, and their creations held a power far beyond what most can comprehend.}

Feng Zhiming paused, his hand brushing against an intricately carved chest. "So this pendant is only a shadow of the real thing—just a replica?"

{A replica, yes, but not without its own significance. Even a fragment of their craftsmanship carries immense power.}

Feng Zhiming lingered for a moment, considering the Scholar's words. He understood the weight carried by objects tied to ancient orders, but a replica, no matter how powerful, was still a far cry from the original.

“So, even a mere replica can hold this much importance? How many people know the truth?”

{Very few. The real seal disappeared long ago, hidden away by those who understood its true value. Even among the sect’s highest members it is likely none of them know, knowledge of this replica’s origins is scarce. They guard it blindly, unaware of its true nature.}

Feng Zhiming’s fingers trailed over an ornate box that seemed older than the others, its wood polished smooth from centuries of care. "I assume the real seal had powers far beyond just suppressing beasts," he mused aloud, slowly opening the box. The scent of aged wood and forgotten time filled the air, but inside was only dust and the faint outline of where something had once rested.

{Correct. The original could bend even the will of ancient beasts, creatures born of chaos and primordial energy. With the true seal in hand, one could not only control them but also tap into their raw power. This pendant, however... it’s more of a lock than a key.}

"A lock?" Feng repeated, his curiosity deepening. "Then what does it protect?"

{It binds something, something dangerous. The beasts it was meant to control may be long gone, but this pendant still holds the last echoes of their rage. If it were to be removed or broken, the consequences would be... catastrophic.}

Feng Zhiming closed the empty box and continued walking through the shelves, his steps slower now as the weight of the situation settled in. "So, the pendant isn’t valuable because it can suppress beasts, but because it’s keeping something worse sealed away."

{Exactly. The sect hoards treasures, but not all of them are for glory. Some are meant to protect the world from forces that should never be unleashed.}

Feng stopped in his tracks, eyes narrowing. "And yet it sits here, forgotten, without any of them truly understanding what it does."

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{Such is the arrogance of those who believe themselves invincible. They’ve forgotten the very forces their ancestors feared.}

Feng Zhiming gently placed the empty box back on the shelf and continued his search, his divine sense unfurling like an unseen wave, meticulously scanning every corner of the vast treasury. His brow furrowed as he pondered aloud, "No, it’s more likely that the seal cannot be broken. If it could, someone, at some point, would’ve made a mistake. Yet, here it is, unbroken. The question, then, is just how durable this seal truly is?"

{An astute observation,} the Scholar in Black’s voice echoed in his mind, {but perhaps your focus should be less on the past and more on what lies before you.}

Feng Zhiming paused, silencing the conversation. He stretched out his hand, feeling the pull of something powerful. Slowly, from the depths of the room, an object began to respond. The pendant floated toward him, seemingly of its own accord, as if answering an unspoken call.

As it came closer, Feng Zhiming could finally see it clearly. The pendant was forged from a gleaming material, silver ivory, yet it seemed far from pristine. It exuded a deep sense of blood and rage, as though it had witnessed countless battles, soaked in the malice of creatures long forgotten. The pendant bore the unmistakable insignia of a chained lion, its roaring visage carved with exquisite precision, yet beneath its beauty was an unsettling aura, an anger trapped within.

He grasped the pendant, its weight heavier than he expected, not just physically but with the burden of whatever ancient force it suppressed.

“So, this is it,” Feng Zhiming muttered, his grip tightening as he inspected the intricate chains engraved into the ivory. "The Seal of Beast Suppression... or at least, a shadow of it."

{Yes, but as I said, it is not the true seal. However, even in its incomplete form, it holds immense power. You feel it, don’t you? The raw anger contained within it.}

Feng Zhiming nodded silently, the air around the pendant feeling heavy, thick with the energy it restrained. The bloodthirsty aura was unmistakable, a reminder that some treasures were never meant to be touched lightly.

“I wonder,” he murmured, turning the pendant over in his hand, “if this seal was meant as a weapon... or to imprison something far worse than any beast.”

The Scholar remained silent for a moment before replying, {That is a question you may not want answered just yet. Some knowledge is dangerous even to those prepared for it. You should know that best.}

Feng Zhiming’s gaze darkened as he slipped the pendant into his robe. “Then let’s make sure it stays sealed... For now.”

{As if using it to keep yourself alive is any better than unleashing some ancient horror upon the world.} The Scholar’s voice rang out, this time laced with dry humor.

Feng Zhiming chuckled as he strolled toward the exit of the treasury, his steps a little lighter. "Oh, come now. I'm known for my impeccable virtue. Just ask my latest disciple, he'll vouch for me."

{I’ll ask him when he finally becomes a Caelum Juravi... right before you ‘accidentally’ absorb him.} the Scholar quipped, clearly enjoying himself.

Feng Zhiming paused for a split second, the corners of his mouth twitching in amusement. "You never let anything slide, do you?"

{Wouldn’t be any fun if I did.}

He let out a sigh, half amusement, half resignation. “Well, you know, every mentor has their own... style.”

{Oh, yes. Your 'style' of raising him to greatness, then mysteriously outliving him. A model mentor indeed.}

Feng grinned as the heavy treasury doors creaked shut behind them. “Hey, if you ask me, he gets a pretty good deal. He believes he has a good future and I believe he doesn’t have one, all in good balance.”

The Scholar remained silent for a beat, then replied with exaggerated seriousness, {Truly, the definition of fairness.}

As Feng Zhiming stepped into the light, the pendant safe in his robes, he couldn't help but laugh. “Well, at least I make things interesting.”

…

In a dark void outside of space and time, two figures sat across from one another, their forms barely visible amidst the shifting emptiness.

“Chaos will soon ensue,” Cordevaras murmured, her voice cold as she calculated the current state of affairs on the Etheria continent, her thoughts weaving through the intricate layers of fate.

Veridatas, lounging casually with a smirk, rolled his eyes. “Doesn’t take a genius to figure that out.”

Cordevaras ignored his tone, her brow furrowing. “It does when karma is so unclear in matters concerning the Caelum Juravi. It’s like we’re handed blindness every time. Mortals, immortals, those below, we can see everything: life, death, all that falls between. But the moment the Dao declares a new cycle, we’re left stumbling in the dark.”

“For good reason,” Veridatas replied, shrugging nonchalantly. “Imagine if everyone could see the outcome of every power struggle. The whole thing would be rigged before it even began. The system keeps everything... balanced.”

Cordevaras rose to her feet, the void quivering with each step she took, as if reality itself feared her movement. “That’s a bad justification for a bad system.”

Veridatas watched her walk away, his expression turning thoughtful. “Maybe... but it’s the only one we’ve got.”

Cordevaras paused but didn’t turn back. “Maybe we should be asking why that is.” With that, she disappeared into the endless darkness, leaving Veridatas alone, her words lingering like a question that refused to be answered.

“Take it up with the oh so Great Dao.” Veridatas replied clearly annoyed by her feigned intelligence.