World of Rules

... 

The next morning, just as the sun began casting its golden rays over the city's rooftops, movement began in the shadows.

At first, only a few figures cloaked in black moved silently through the side streets, avoiding prying eyes. Then, little by little, more groups appeared, following one after another but never too closely, as if each pretended to walk alone.

"Di," watching everything from a rooftop, didn’t need to think twice to understand their destination.

They were heading toward the formation.

He waited patiently, his eyes calmly tracking their movements. Rushing wasn’t his style, nor did he need to take unnecessary risks. He allowed them to advance until he could clearly see the path they were taking.

Slowly, he left his position, blending into the alley shadows, following them from a distance.

---

The three families did not take a direct route through the city. Instead, they moved through backstreets, avoiding crowds and main markets until they reached a small port on the island’s western edge.

There, several small boats were already waiting. Not many people were present—only the key figures from the three families, along with a few carefully selected subordinates.

Di remained at a distance, watching as they boarded the boats and set off toward the island’s opposite shore.

"So, the formation isn’t inside the city but somewhere else on the island."

He observed them until they reached their destination—a towering rocky cliff standing at the island’s edge, as if guarding something ancient, older than time itself.

Taking a different route, he moved through the trees and rocks until he reached a high vantage point overlooking the area.

From there, he saw the entrance clearly—a massive cave, its mouth dark as if swallowing light itself.

---

Inside the Cave

As the three families entered, the dim torchlight barely managed to push back the overwhelming darkness.

The stone walls were cold, marked by time, with faded inscriptions barely visible—remnants of a long-forgotten civilization.

Lian Feng led the way, his eyes carefully scanning the cave, while Mo Ting followed with heavy steps, his gaze sweeping the darkness like a beast expecting an ambush.

As for Shu Jian, he walked in the back, his steps quiet but his vigilance evident.

Mo Ting finally broke the silence, his deep voice echoing against the cavern walls:

"I didn't expect this place to be this vast..."

Lian Feng replied in a calm tone:

"This is just the entrance. The formation lies deeper inside."

They continued forward, their footsteps echoing as they stepped over scattered rocks, their breathing the only sound in the vast emptiness.

Above them, Di moved silently along the rock formations decorating the cave ceiling, his eyes carefully tracking their every step.

After several minutes of navigating through narrow tunnels, the cave finally opened into a vast chamber.

And there... they saw what they had come for.

At the center of the rocky hall lay a massive stone circle, its carvings etched into the ground—worn but still radiating an eerie presence.

Surrounding it stood cracked stone pillars, some leaning precariously, others covered in layers of dust and moss, giving the place an air of ancient abandonment.

"It's larger than I expected..." Shu Jian muttered as he stepped closer.

Lian Feng crouched slightly, tracing one of the engravings with his fingers before speaking:

"Damaged, but not completely lost. If we can repair it... it might work again."

Mo Ting crossed his arms, his gaze thoughtful as he looked at the ground:

"Then let’s begin."

The work commenced.

The subordinates retrieved the materials they had brought—energy stones, rare metals, and even some strange liquids that seemed to radiate power.

They began repositioning the stones around the formation, then poured some of the liquid into the cracks that marred the ground. Slowly, the ancient engravings flickered, as if regaining a faint trace of their former strength.

Di, still watching silently, raised an eyebrow slightly.

"They’re not entirely useless after all..."

But even with all their efforts, the formation still did not function.

Hours passed, and with every adjustment, the dim lights glowed brighter, but the energy remained incomplete.

Finally, Lian Feng stood at the center of the formation, looked at the other leaders, and spoke in a low voice:

"This is all we can do for now."

"So... can we activate it?" Mo Ting asked, his eyes narrowing impatiently.

"No."

The single word was enough to plunge the room into silence.

Then, Lian Feng ran his hand over one of the central engravings and said:

"There is one thing missing..."

He lifted his head, looking at each of them in turn.

"The Moon Pearl."

In the shadows, Di smirked coldly.

"The Moon Pearl, huh... things are getting interesting."

In truth, Di had never heard of such an item before. This world was new to him, and even the resources they used to repair the formation had ignited his greed. But he forcefully suppressed it, choosing patience for something greater.

---

A moment of silence followed. No one spoke, but all eyes were focused on Lian Feng.

The Moon Pearl...

This was not just any ordinary item.

Shu Jian was the first to break the silence, his voice calm yet carrying a hint of intrigue:

"The Moon Pearl, then?"

Lian Feng nodded slowly, glancing at the formation before speaking in a steady tone:

"This formation is unlike the ones we usually use. It’s not just a simple gate… it belongs to the space element."

He raised his hand, pointing to one of the symbols engraved into the stone floor.

"Look at these inscriptions. They represent the flow of spatial energy... a complete system designed to open a passage between distant locations."

"But it cannot function without its core."

He paused briefly before continuing:

"The Moon Pearl is not just a power source. It is the key that connects the gate to the other side. Without it, the formation is nothing more than an ancient, useless rock."

Mo Ting, who had been silently listening, finally murmured in a heavy tone:

"I’ve heard of this pearl before..."

Lian Feng and Shu Jian both turned to look at him, but Mo Ting did not continue immediately. He took a deep breath before saying:

"It is not just a treasure, but something truly unique… The Moon Pearl is not natural. It is a gem formed from pure spatial energy, so rare that possessing one could shift the balance of power between families."

He paused for a moment, as if the words themselves carried weight, then finally said:

"But that’s not all… I know where we can find one."

His words were enough to make Lian Feng’s and Shu Jian’s eyes narrow with deep interest.

"Where?" Shu Jian asked, his tone cautious rather than eager.

Mo Ting smirked slightly before speaking in a low voice:

"The Han family owns one."

The silence that followed was deeper than before.

"The Han family..." Lian Feng murmured, his eyes flashing with a cold light.

"The powerful Han family? The ones who rule Frostfall Island?" Shu Jian asked, disbelief evident in his tone.

"Exactly."

A few moments passed without anyone speaking, but the atmosphere in the room shifted entirely.

The Burning Coral Island… and Frostfall Island…

There had never been peace between them, only a long-standing feud stretching across generations. It was not an open war, but a smoldering ember, ready to ignite at any moment.

And now, they had to deal with the family ruling that island?

Lian Feng ran his hand over his chin, thinking deeply before saying:

"Are you certain about this?"

"I don’t speak carelessly," Mo Ting replied with confidence.

"But this makes things... complicated," Shu Jian said as he played with the fan at his waist, moving it slightly as if weighing the odds.

"Getting the pearl from the Han family won’t be easy..." Lian Feng murmured, glancing once more at the formation before speaking in a low voice:

"But without it, everything we’ve done will be meaningless."

The three exchanged deep looks. No further words were needed.

They had a new objective.

But in the shadows, where the light couldn’t reach, Di stood watching, his eyes gleaming with cold amusement.

Frostfall Island… The Han family…

"I need information on this Han family…"

"It seems my journey in this place won’t be boring after all..."