The aurora over Starmoon City hasn't faded when Team Rebellion's flight lands at Antarctica's "Spiritual Pole Station". This is the region closest to the Spiritual Vein Origin, its surface a perpetually frozen ice sheet under which flow deep blue spiritual energy streams. According to Chen Zhuo's files, the last spiritual vein guardian three hundred years ago entered the legendary "Spiritual Source Temple" from here.
"Welcome to "Polar Night City"," greets a staffer in a penguin onesie, their spiritual pattern core embedded in a fluffy scarf, ice patterns on its surface matching Antarctica's glaciers. "Temperature here is -50°C. Pattern users must wear an "Ice Soul Amplifier"—or patterns freeze to shards."
Xiaotao wraps tighter in her parka, her Starmoon Meteorite bracelet glowing deeper blue in the cold: "So we're here for this "Spiritual Source Temple"?"
"More than that." Lin Ye touches his new spiritual pattern core—where Sakura's Sakura Patterns fused, spiral patterns now pulse, identical to Antarctica's ice formations. "Chen Zhuo's map shows the temple entrance at the ice sheet's deepest "Aurora Fissure"."
Ajiu's Shadow Raven bursts from her hair, circling the ice and shrieking. Its talons point southeast, where the ice glows a sinister red, like blood-soaked jade.
"Something's wrong." Lin Ye clenches his core, golden flames swirling. "Move out."
—
Wind howls across the ice, snow grains lashing like glass. The four (plus temporarily joined Sakura) trudge knee-deep, ice-claw boots crunching. Xiaotao's bracelet suddenly warms, illuminating an ice crevice embedded with half a charred metal plate, dark golden patterns matching spiritual cores.
"Pattern user armor," Sakura's Sakura Patterns pinken. "Standard issue for the Guardians' Alliance three hundred years ago."
Lin Ye crouches, touching the metal—memories flood in: a blizzard night, seven guardians kneeling on ice, their cores crumbling. A white-haired elder presses a half-core into a youth's hand: "Go to the Aurora Fissure. There lies the last hope..."
"Lin Ye's ancestor?" Ajiu peers over.
"No." Sakura's voice trembles. "My great-grandfather."
Lin Ye looks up, meeting Sakura's watery eyes. Her Sakura Patterns bloom into a cherry tree, petals falling on the metal, corroding a gap—evidence of spiritual energy corruption.
"Guardians didn't die naturally," Sakura whispers. "The spiritual veins betrayed them."
—
The Aurora Fissure appears at the ice sheet's depths: a hundred-meter crevice gushing deep blue mist, like a galaxy pouring down. A crystal temple floats within, its doors etched with the same spirals as spiritual cores, a faded wooden sign above reading "Spiritual Source Temple · Keeper of Secrets".
"Take an oath before entering," Lin Ye says suddenly.
Xiaotao and Ajiu exchange a look, grabbing his hand. Sakura steps forward, four cores lighting up, weaving the "Rebellion" totem before the crevice.
"By our spiritual patterns, we swear: not for power, but protection," Lin Ye's voice cuts through the storm. "If this temple holds truths of betrayal, we'll shatter them with our bond."
The doors boom open.
Inside is vaster than it seems, the dome inlaid with ten thousand night pearls, each corresponding to a spiritual pattern star. The floor is a starrail map of pattern stones, a central altar holding seven dark golden spiritual cores—those of the seven guardians from three hundred years ago.
"This is..."
"The spiritual veins' "heart"," Sakura quavers. "Three hundred years ago, guardians offered their cores to stabilize the veins with bond power. But the veins devoured their consciousness, leaving empty shells."
The stone coffin at the altar's center shudders. Its lid slides back, revealing a guardian-armored skeleton, right hand clutching a half-core with patterns matching Lin Ye's—his ancestor's core.
"Lin Ye of the Burning Heaven," the skeleton speaks, voice a mix of machinery and patterns. "You've come at last."
Lin Ye's core trembles. He senses residual consciousness in the skeleton resonating strongly with his core—a three-hundred-year call.
"Who are you...?"
"Seventh-generation guardian, great-grandfather to Lin Ye of the Burning Heaven." The skeleton's finger bone points to a stone stele beside the altar. "Spiritual veins aren't gods—they're remains of an ancient "Star Beast" that fell from the sky. They need spiritual cores to maintain form, and pattern users are mere "batteries"."
"So the Heaven-Burning Beast that surged..."
"Star Beast instinct," the skeleton's consciousness fluctuates. "It seeks to devour all cores and resume full form—and you are the only hope to stop it."
The stele suddenly glows gold, its inscriptions identical to the patterns on Lin Ye's new core:
"When seven cores return, the Star Beast shall reappear; when Rebellion resonates, the Star Beast shall become guardian."
—
A roar erupts outside.
Black mist pours from the crevice, condensing into a golden-masked figure—the league founder. His core burns on his chest, patterns matching the Star Beast's dark gold scales.
"Thank you for opening the temple," his voice rumbles with the Star Beast's growl. "Three hundred years ago, I was the eighth guardian, corrupted by the Star Beast's consciousness. Now I'll let it devour all cores and become a new god!"
He raises his hand, black light from his core pierces the ice, freezing Xiaotao's Starmoon bracelet. Ajiu's Shadow Ravens dive but are corroded to ash. Sakura's Sakura Patterns bloom on the ice, only to freeze into pink crystals.
"Team Rebellion, your bond is too weak," the founder's pupils narrow to slits. "The Star Beast needs pure cores, and yours..." He points to Lin Ye, "are full of impurities."
Lin Ye's core blazes. A thought drills from the earth—his great-grandfather's consciousness: "Use your bond, not core power."
"Xiaotao! Ajiu! Sakura!" he yells. "Take my hand!"
The three grab his wrist. Four cores blaze, weaving golden light brighter than any flame. Xiaotao's Starmoon melts the black light, Ajiu's Shadows tear through ice mist, Sakura's Sakura Patterns burst into a pink flower sea within the blackness—frozen memories now fueling protection.
"We are not batteries!" Lin Ye's voice thunders. "We are partners!"
The founder's mask cracks. His core collapses, revealing a crouching maiden in the black light—Su Li's phantom.
"Save me..." she sobs. "I don't want to be the Star Beast's vessel..."
Lin Ye's core flies out, merging with Su Li's. Golden flames wrap pink mist, stripping the Star Beast's consciousness from her. The Star Beast emits a final shriek, dissolving into golden dust, leaving seven spiritual cores resting on the altar.
—
At dawn, the Aurora Fissure seals shut. Lin Ye stands outside the temple, his core warm, surface swirling with the four's interwoven patterns. Xiaotao, Ajiu, Sakura stand beside him, their cores glowing in resonance.
"So this is..." Sakura murmurs. "The end of spiritual patterns is protecting each other."
"Where to next?" Ajiu asks.
Lin Ye looks to the horizon where the sun rises. He touches his core, sensing global pattern vibrations—like countless heartbeats resonating in the clouds.
"Everywhere," he says. "Because pattern meaning lies not in temples."
He raises his core, teammates following suit. Four beams pierce the sky, weaving the "Rebellion" totem over Antarctica's ice, shining with the rising sun.