The chain link of Cold Iron Chains sparkled with tiny ice crystals at Aelia's wrist, the figure of the Eldest Son captured within the Monitoring Crystal was entwined by Rainbow Light.
Luna Yi Ya grasped the Moonlight Silver hair that fell by her mother's temple, pressing her fingertip, dusted with Night Iris Pollen, against the bleeding corner of her lips—where Leonard had kissed her three hours ago.
"The third level of the North Tower Secret Chamber, behind the Iris Specimen is the Magic Contract." Aelia traced the Ice Crystal Window with Ailya's White Nails stained with Zikao Dan, as the Frostwolf Totem on her Xiu Xie emitted a sobbing sound. "Why does the Night Iris, which should have withered twenty years ago, sprout new buds bearing your Magic Brand?"
Leonard's fingers tightened around the patrol log, the edge of the Parchment igniting with scorch marks. "It was merely during the pacification of the Northern Territory..."
"Did pacifying the Northern Territory require signing a Soul Symbiosis Contract with Dark Elves?" Aelia flung out the Ice Crystal Array Disk, and Violet Balm evaporated into mist under the moonlight.
The Contract Emblem emerging in the void intertwined with Dark Purple Vines, perfectly matching the Root System of that Night Iris in the secret chamber's Centaurea Specimen.
Suddenly, Luna laughed, her milk tooth biting into her fingertip, a drop of blood pearl glistening like Xing Hui fell into the formation's center.
The Contract Illusion twisted and morphed, revealing Leonard's Last Night as a Dark Elf woman caressed her pregnant belly.
The Iris Jade Pendant hanging from her neck aligned seamlessly with Leonard's watch chain.
The Star Track Monitor of the Magic Castle Dome emitted a piercing alarm as Leonard leaned against the Stargazing Platform's Bronze Pillar, gasping heavily.
His disabled left leg was wrapped in Rainbow Light, while black mist formed from a backlash curse tangled violently with his sister's Bloodline Power. "Mother..." He gazed at his parents confronting each other within the crystal ball, forcefully driving his staff embedded with Ice Crystal Shards into a crack in the Peacock Stone Tiles. "If the family covenant breaks, perhaps the Curse Contract..."
The Gilded Candelabra was swept to the ground by Aelia's chains as Leonard stumbled back and knocked over an entire cabinet of Magic Reagents.
As Zi Wu rose, Rose Essence concocted by Leonard's Concubine reacted violently with Night Iris Pollen, exploding into scarlet fireworks above Luna's swaddling.
"You actually allowed the Dark Elf's Bloodline to contaminate Glorious Demon Fortress!" Aelia tore off her Frostwolf Necklace from her neck, and the Star Pattern Chain coiled around her husband's throat like a living serpent.
The Monitoring Crystal suddenly reflected cracks in the North Tower Barrier; twenty years ago, sealed Dark Magic Array was awakening—there lay buried the source of Leonard’s backlash curse.
Luna suddenly let out a sharp Loud Cry, and the seven Xing Zi among her Golden Hair transformed into Liuguang, shattering the crystal.
Amidst the splintering fragments, the ice crystal atop her elder brother's staff erupted with Blue Light, and his twisted Left Leg straightened by three inches in the Xing Hui. "Mother!"
The Contract Core was on the Stargazing Platform, within Geomancy...
Leonard seized the opportunity to crush his Pocket Watch, and the Iris Crest, shrouded in black mist, lunged toward Aelia's face.
The Frostwolf Banner crashed down, and the cold iron arrows that sprang from the base of the flagpole accurately pierced through the black mist.
Qin Si knelt at the door, clutching a blood-stained patrol log: "Lord, all Geomancy guards were reassigned seven days ago—using your Frostwolf command, my lady."
As the moonlight shifted over Shan Na, Luna gripped the Nurse's Silver Spoon and struck the Ice Crystal Window.
Guided by the Milk Stain and Blood Arrow, the pot of Moonlight Grass in Second Brother's room, which had been dead for three years, suddenly trembled its leaves.
Covered in Night Iris Pollen, Chen Lu was falling from the eaves, forming into a Serpent Emblem that was Yarlin's favorite at the edge of a ceramic basin.
The Ice Cracks on the Ice Crystal Window twisted into a Spider Web under the moonlight as Second Brother's Pale fingers brushed over the edge of the ceramic basin where the Serpent Pattern had formed—Luna.
Three years ago, when Yarlin handed him the Moonlight Grass, the Tail Ring bore the same Emblem—his dear friend who claimed to explore the Ancient Magic Circle with him had personally pushed him into a Quicksand trap that devoured magical power.
"So betrayal leaves similar marks." Second Brother crushed Luna with his bandaged fingers, and Night Iris Pollen burned a dark purple mark into his Palm.
The dead Moonlight Grass suddenly shook its leaves, and from within the Root System entwined in soil emerged half of a tattered Parchment, hastily drawn with Dark Elf Runes identical to those of the Contract Emblem.
He staggered to support himself against the Window Lattice; his disabled right hand spasmed uncontrollably as the soul-devouring pain that had seeped into his marrow on that day of betrayal suddenly reignited.
The explosive sound echoed from the direction of the Stargazing Platform, sending Brother San tumbling into the thicket of Black Roses.
He gazed at the surging Magic Turbulence within the Dome, his Palm gathering a Fire Spell that was suddenly engulfed by frost—just as his mentor had said six months ago, if the Mix affinity could not break through the Elemental Balance, it would ultimately become a wasted magical vein.
"Even Luna is fighting." He wiped the bloodstain from the corner of his mouth, watching as the infant's swaddling glowed with Xing Hui, piercing through the black mist.
The Ice Crystal Shards shot from his elder brother's staff whizzed past his ears, carving deep ice marks into the stone wall.
Brother San suddenly grasped one of the swirling ice crystals, observing Han Shuang as flames intertwined with his Palm to form a new element of Light Purple. "So it must shatter to be reborn..."
A thunderous roar resonated from deep within Geomancy, as Qin Si supported Aelia, retreating behind the Frostwolf Banner Remains.
The Maid's skirt, embroidered with Iris, suddenly ignited in Azure Blue Flame. This was the color dyed by the Eternal Flower and Blue Blood Fern Juice that Aelia had gathered from the wedding altar twenty years ago to bless her.
"Madam, look!" Qin Si suddenly tore open her charred sleeve, revealing in her arm's bend a Frostwolf Totem that completely contradicted the Contract Emblem.
Years ago, she had swapped out a bottle of Poisoned Wine for a Dark Elf, which bore this very pattern: "During the pacification of the Northern Territory, I distinctly remember that Dark Elf..."
Aelia's bloodied fingertip suddenly pressed against her lips, as fragments of the Monitoring Crystal pieced together an eerie Leonard's Last Night on the ground.
Seeds of Iris that fell from Leonard's Pocket Watch were growing wildly in the Geothermal Rift, vines entwining around the Silver Nail she had personally buried twenty years ago to anchor souls.
"So it began calculating from the day of our wedding vows." Aelia suddenly chuckled lightly, as the Frostwolf Chain crushed the encroaching black mist vines.
She lifted Luna to where the moonlight was brightest, and the reformed Xing Zi among the infant's golden hair illuminated the direction of the North Tower Secret Chamber. "Good child, let us see how the true Heir of Glorious Demon Fortress should bleed."
Luna's loud cry abruptly transformed into an ancient spell, as Xing Hui flowed into Geomancy through her elder brother's staff.
Brother San seized the opportunity to infuse the magic of new elements into the crack, as the intertwining Ice and Fire created a Purple Light, causing the Dark Elf Contract Emblem to begin peeling away in fragments.
Suddenly, Second Brother pressed a broken Parchment against the roots of the Moonlight Grass. The withered plant instantly surged, its flexible blades wrapping around Leonard's feet just as he was about to activate the Teleportation Circle.
"Father, do these Serpent Emblems look familiar?" Second Brother raised a fragment of a Pocket Watch that he had dug out of the soil, revealing a miniature Family Crest hidden within the petals of a Dark Purple Iris. "The Magic Mentor you chose for me had the same Tail Ring as Yarlin three years ago."
The Magic Castle Tiles suddenly undulated like waves, and Lucius's training Bronze Sword fell from the Weapon Rack, the Family Crest embedded in its hilt cracking under the vibrations.
The boy held tightly to the copy of The Northern Alliance he had just found in the Library of Hidden Books, standing in the shadow of the spiral staircase, watching Father entangled in vines.
Amidst the Yellowed Pages, an Ancient Map fluttered down, marked with Gold Dust at the "Soul Symbiosis Contract Signing Place," perfectly overlapping with the markings he had discovered in a secret chamber yesterday.
The Dome Star Track Monitor suddenly went dark, leaving only Luna's Xing Hui illuminating each person's astonished faces.
A chilling sound echoed from Leonard's throat where the Frostwolf Chain lay, while Aelia's blood-stained Skirt Hem swept across the ground littered with Crystal Fragments. In absolute silence, she softly said, "The true curse of the Glorious Demon Fortress may have begun from that moment twenty years ago when I agreed to the Marriage."
The Ye Lu condensed at the tips of Moonlight Grass leaves suddenly hovered in midair, reflecting a Mo Lan-colored Hem that had not been hidden in time around the corner of the spiral staircase.
The Cloth embroidered with Iris Dark Patterns matched exactly with Lucius's Rite of Passage cloak's edging.
Shadows from the spiral staircase carved contrasting cracks across Lucius's face as the night wind lifted the Mo Lan-colored Hem soaked in Moonlight Grass Juice.
The boy's fingers turned white as he gripped The Northern Alliance tightly. The cracked Frostwolf Crest on his Bronze Sword Hilt began to ooze Dark Purple Liquid—mirroring the corrosive marks left by Father's Watch Chain.
"Mother, regarding the Soul Purification Ritual mentioned in The Northern Alliance..." Lucius stepped forward but saw Aelia's Frostwolf Chain suddenly coalesce into a blade from the shredded Contract Fragment.
As a cold light grazed his neck, a Dark Elf Rune burned into his Collarbone, marking him with a Serpent Mark.
The young man who had just passed the Magic Assessment three days ago suddenly became aware that the Iris-trimmed cloak he received during his Rite of Passage bore a striking resemblance to the carvings on the jade pendant worn by the Dark Elf woman.
The chain around Leonard's throat emitted a sound like shattering ice crystals. "Aelia, handle the Northern Territory for me over the next three months..."
"Just like you handled the Marriage Oath twenty years ago?" Aelia's fingertip brushed against the eighth Xing Zi that had newly sprouted among Luna's golden hair, as Xing Hui illuminated the writhing vines of the Root System in the Geothermal Rift.
Those Dark Elf bloodlines that should have been sealed by the Silver Nail were now wildly growing along Leonard's Magic Brand.
Luna suddenly reached out and grabbed the bandage hanging down from Second Brother, the milk stain mixed with Night Iris Pollen spreading into a serpent pattern on the linen cloth.
Second Brother's spasming right hand pressed down hard on the withered Moonlight Grass, and half a parchment floating in the earthen basin suddenly ignited, ashes coalescing into a fragmented Purification Spell in his palm.
"Father, on page thirty-six of the Magic Enlightenment Book you gave me back then..." Lucius's voice was drowned out by the thunderous Jing Lei from above.
The ancient book in his hand suddenly flipped pages on its own, revealing a yellowed chapter on Soul Symbiosis Dispel Spell. The Ice Crystal Rune annotated by Mother long ago resonated with the cracks on his brother's staff.
Leonard's watch chain suddenly exploded, and blue blood fern juice from the Iris seeds formed a dark purple mist in the air.
Aelia's skirt, embroidered with a Star Moon Pattern, swept through the fog. Beneath the corroded fabric lay the heart lock exchanged during their wedding vows—yet now, instead of blood, it oozed Dark Elf venom identical to that of the Northern Covenant.
"Do you think I truly do not know about the legend of the Icefield Wolf King?" Aelia handed Luna over to Qin Si. The Frostwolf Chain tightened around Leonard's neck just as Heavenly Wedding Wine from their wedding banquet twenty years ago surged forth from cracks in the peacock stone tiles.
In the eerie purple liquid of wine floated algae bearing a serpent pattern, originating from the Dark Elf Contract.
Lucius suddenly dashed toward the most violently shaking Geothermal Rift, shards of Frostwolf Crest from his bronze sword hilt cutting into his palm.
Blood dripped onto an ancient map of the Northern Alliance, and at the spot marked with gold dust where contracts were signed, Mother’s handwriting emerged: "To guard glory until death, bloodlines forever anchored at the Northern Frontier."
"Mother!" The young man raised the blood-stained Yellowed Pages, "The additional Spell of the seventh Contract..."
Aelia's Fingertip, gathering an Ice Blade, suddenly froze in place.
She gazed at the Serpent Mark on her son's Collarbone, a result of her own misfire, and was reminded of the eerie Wolf Howl that echoed from the North Tower Secret Chamber on the night Luna was born.
The Iris Fragrance that had stained the Midwife's sleeves back then perfectly overlapped with the toxic mist swirling in the current Geomancy.
Luna suddenly let out a laugh reminiscent of Yin Ling, her Silver Spoon, stained with Milk Stain, tapping against the Ice Crystal Window.
The tips of Moonlight Grass exploded as Ye Lu responded, and within the Water Mist, the Emerging Celestial Chart revealed Brother San's newly formed Light Purple Elemental Resonance.
A broken Silver Nail shot out from the Geomancy, piercing through the Curse Runes on the Dark Elf Priestess, which were being illuminated one by one by Luna's Xing Hui.
"Enough!" Leonard's Ailya's Roar shattered three Monitoring Crystals, and a dark purple Contract Emblem burned deep within his Pupil. "What we need is something to intimidate the Northern Territory..."
"So you need an Heir mixed with Dark Elf Bloodline?" Aelia tore open her collar as Leonard's Frostwolf Necklace, which he had placed around her neck years ago, burned into her Collarbone, leaving behind Blood-colored Patterns.
Those totems that appeared to be Guardian Spells now revealed pregnancy runes identical to those on the Dark Elf's Pregnant Belly.
Luna's Xing Hui suddenly coalesced into a Light Arrow, piercing through the thickest vines in the Geothermal Rift.
As Dark Purple Liquid splattered across Leonard's face, the Ice Crystal Shards on his brother's staff suddenly formed Northern Ancient Language—an updated version of the Error Spell that had caused his Magic Backlash three years ago.
"Father, your annotations on page thirty-two of my Magic Notebook..." Lucius's voice trembled as he felt Luna's Xing Hui burning his Serpent Mark to ash on his Neck.
Unbeknownst to him, within the ancient Book Spine he clutched tightly, Aelia's Iris Bookmark from years ago was seeping Dark Purple Liquid.
Aelia suddenly swung the Frostwolf Chain towards Dome, and fragments of the Star Track Monitor fell like rain.
In the sudden brightness of Luna's Loud Cry, all the Crystals tainted by the Dark Elf Contract began to resonate with tremors.
The Ashen Spell from Second Brother's In Hand unexpectedly floated towards Brother San's Fusion Element, coalescing into a brand new Purification Array amidst the intertwining Ice and Fire of Purple Light.
"Mother, give me three days." The chains around Leonard's throat began to frost. "I will make the Northern Territory..."
"The Northern Territory has been dead since the day you signed the Soul Contract." Aelia tore apart the corroding Frostwolf Necklace and lifted Luna to the boundary between moonlight and Xing Hui.
The ancient constellations suddenly projected from the Xing Zi among the golden-haired infant, revealing clearly those Divination Diagrams once interpreted by Error, now displaying the rightful Track of the Glorious Demon Fortress Bloodline.
Lucius gazed at his Palm, where the Serpent Mark was purified by Xing Hui, and suddenly plunged his Bronze Sword into the Geothermal Rift.
Fragments of the Frostwolf Crest remaining on the hilt flew towards his elder brother's staff, piecing together a complete Northern Purification Spell as ice crystals reformed.
The boy did not notice that Luna was quietly touching the unburnt Ashen Rune on Second Brother's bandage with her finger stained by Ye Lu.
As the first rays of dawn pierced through the shattered Dome, the Zhen Chan of Magic Castle Tiles gradually calmed.
Luna curled up in Qin Si's embrace, yet her Xing Zi-like eyes remained fixed on the Serpent Ashes lingering at Second Brother's cuff—there lay half a sentence of Ancient Elvish Language that had not burned completely, resonating subtly with the Xing Hui flowing through her golden hair.
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