Maiden Of The Splitting Moon

The clansmen spun even quicker, his eyes glancing about wildly as he pointed his guandao whichever way he looked. All he could see was darkness, a fog so thick he could barely see himself. 

"Damn it! Eye of Verity!"

As he shouted out, his third eye glowed as a white ring emerged from within it. The ring expanded and began to illuminate the area. Its light spread out and began to disperse the black fog, destroying it. 

Even then, all he saw was an endless field of fog. No matter where he went, it was nothing but that. 

Then his third eye spotted something, a flicker of light, what seemed to be a crack in the fog. Relief washed over him as he ran towards it only for that flickering light to shoot forward and pierce his third eye and destroy it.

It was the Pearlstone Dagger, empowered by Ming Yue. It flew three times its normal speed, too quick for the clansmen to react.*

"Agh, ugh.."

He could not even utter words before collapsing to the ground, dying without knowing who killed him. 

Then the black fog dispersed completely, revealing Ming Yue standing in front of him. She walked forward and ripped the dagger out, cleaning it with her sleeve before putting it away. 

Hei Yue suddenly came up to her, asking for a compliment or reward to which she gave.

While scratching his chin, Ling Xue emerged from her hiding spot, just behind a few rocks, and looked at Ming Yue. 

Her aura retracted but her jade flute was still readied in her hands. 

"Who are you? Why did you help me?" she asked. 

Ming Yue looked at her. 

"Do you not remember me? Maple Root City..."

"You?!"

Ling Xue's eyes widened, her aura began to rise up as she placed the flute on her mouth. 

Although it has been some years, she could not forget Ming Yue and her friend, Xuan Yin. Those two had ruined her ancestor's plans. And now, she was here!

"Wait, I just saved you, do you think I would do that just to kill you?"

Ming Yue put her hand forward, stopping Ling Xue from moving. 

The woman stared at her, before putting her flute away.

"Then tell me, why are you here? Is it about the secret realm between us and the Mu Clan?"

"Not exactly, I'm looking for someone, three people to be exact", Ming Yue explained. 

"The Tao Feng, is it?

She nodded, "Yes, those three, I need information from them."

"Mm, let's go to the Yao Clan first, there is a lot to talk about."

Ling Xue started walking, leading Ming Yue and the others back to the Yao Clan territory. Before going, she went to all of the Mu Clansmen and gouged out their third eye, placing them inside a small bag and putting it away. 

"Those three that you speak of, they came to the clan days ago. In their words, they said that they were here to help us take control over the secret realm. However, many of us can tell that they have something else planned. The seniors all beleive that they are searching for one of the treasures in there."

With what Ling Xue revealed, Ming Yue began to ponder what exactly these Tao Feng disciples were looking for. 

"Do you have any idea what it could be?" she asked. 

Ling Xue shook her head. 

"Not exactly, the Secret Realm is only helpful to the Yao and Mu Clan and there are very little benefits to anyone else. It is most likely that they are searching for something by the Heaven Slayer."

"Heaven Slayer?"

"It is who we two clans call the one that forced us into a truce and helped to create the secret realm. It is said that the Heaven Slayer saw our two clans and wanted us to make peace. Despite using the full force of both our clans, we could not defeat the Heaven Slayer. In the end, he made us submit after striking the sky and splitting it apart, revealing total darkness. Hence, he is called the Heaven Slayer."

"But there is more to that."

Ling Xue's pace slowed down as she began to recount what she had learned when she first heard about the secret realm.

"My ancestors say that the Heaven Slayer built himself an abode within it. He stayed there for several days before suddenly vanishing. Both clans searched for that very home but could not find it. Still, they believed that it was there somewhere and within it, would contain the secrets to his power."

"In that case, are those three really searching for it?" Ming Yue questioned it. 

For something as mysterious as that, for it to be the Tao Feng's goal seemed unlikely. 

"That is what the seniors think but more likely, they are searching for a specific treasure. Nevertheless, we must gain control of the secret realm if they want to do so."

"Then, what is needed to do so?"

Ling Xue then took something out from her spatial ring, a red jade medallion with the Yao symbol carved on it.

"This is one part of the key needed to open the secret realm. The Mu Clan has the other part. Once we obtain that, we will be able to open the secret realm whenever we want to. But that is only to open it. To take full control, there is a third part which can be found in the secret realm. But that part is only obtainable through a series of tests and trials devised by the Heaven Slayer, himself. That third part is the true objective between our clans."

Looking at the medallion, Ming Yue felt that something was wrong. 

"How strange... Wouldn't this third key make the two clans fight again? If this Heaven Slayer wanted peace, why would he do such a thing?" 

Ling Xue shrugged, putting the medallion away. 

"He is an eccentric. Those with power tend to have their own quirks and peculiarities. He is no different."

"Anyhow, we are almost there. the Yao Clan's territory is just up ahead on this mountain side."

Moving through the rocky terrain, Ming Yue finally saw the Yao Clan's home. It was carved into the mountainside, taking up a majority of the interior. 

Rectangular in shape, the many houses were neat and pleasant to look at. They were somewhat unique in design, well built with stone and wood. There was a bit of flair to each one as they had red accents on the steep roofs as well as a carved head of a Yao Beast on every corner.*

Ming Yue looked up, finding small houses dotted throughout the mountainside, each one had small fields and farms. Above those houses were huts near the mountain peak, for hunters to shoot down any flying beasts. 

"Come, we should meet with my ancestor."

Leading her in, Ming Yue admired the Yao Clan's style, finding it pretty. 

Many of the clansmen and women noticed her but when they saw Ling Xue, they nodded in respect to both of them even more so towards Ling Xue.

The clothes they all wore were by no means extravagant but they were not villager clothes either. Their tunics were fit to form with several layers. The outer layer have a side slits up to the hips, worn over pants.* While they were long, reaching down to their feet, it did not flow like Ming Yue's clothes. They were straight and thin. Furthermore, there was no sash around the hip but buttons running down the collar. 

Ling Xue was dressed similarly with a dark red tunic dress and long white pants. 

They moved towards the deepest part of the land where several large and ancient mansions stood. The color on them were faded and the decor was older, more intricate. 

Walking in, Ming Yue felt numerous eyes on her as she stood in the main hall. Except for them two, there was no one else. 

"Ancestor! We have a guest!"