The first light of dawn painted the sky in soft hues of rose and gold.
The smoldering remains of the Mirror Pavilion still smoked quietly, but the overwhelming sense of dread that had gripped the Feilun Sect for months began to lift.
The battle was over. The rot had been cut at its root.
In the heart of the sect, the vast courtyard was transformed.
The tension that once filled the air was replaced by laughter, music, and the scent of festive food.
Lanterns swayed gently in the morning breeze, their delicate light mingling with the early sunbeams.
Banners fluttered, and the sound of drums echoed from the training grounds, signaling the Sect Master's decision to mark this day as one of victory and renewal.
Tian Shen sat quietly by the pavilion's edge, the weight of the Black Lotus Heart Fragment resting like a stone in his palm.
