The first rays of sunlight painted the floating mountains of the Azure Cloud Sect in shades of gold.
Most disciples had already gathered in the training grounds, practicing sword forms or meditation techniques.
Lin Mo, however, stood before an ancient seven-story tower carved into the mountainside.
Above its entrance were three enormous characters.
Technique Pavilion.
As the champion of the Stone Steps Trial, he had earned the right to enter once and choose a cultivation technique.
But deep inside, he had another reason for coming.
The stranger from the Eclipse Court knew about the Chrono Heart.
If answers existed anywhere in the sect...
They would be hidden here.
An elderly keeper sat beside the entrance, his eyes closed.
His robe was faded, and a worn broom rested against the wall.
Without opening his eyes, he spoke.
"Show me your token."
Lin Mo handed over the jade token.
The old man glanced at it for only a moment.
"First place in the trial."
He tossed the token back.
"You may enter."
"But remember."
"You may take only one technique."
"And..."
He finally opened his eyes.
"...don't wander where you shouldn't."
His gaze lingered on Lin Mo for an instant longer than necessary.
Lin Mo bowed respectfully before stepping inside.
The first floor was vast.
Thousands of jade scrolls floated neatly upon wooden shelves.
Disciples moved quietly between them, carefully selecting techniques suited to their spiritual roots.
A guide explained the sections.
* Fire Techniques.
* Water Techniques.
* Wind Techniques.
* Earth Techniques.
* Sword Arts.
* Body Refinement.
* Movement Skills.
Lin Mo walked past every section.
None of them attracted him.
The silver watch remained silent.
Hours passed.
He searched the second floor.
Then the third.
Still nothing.
Finally, exhausted, he leaned against an old bookshelf in a forgotten corner of the fourth floor.
As his shoulder touched the shelf—
Tick.
The watch vibrated.
A single silver thread appeared in the air.
It led...
Straight through the bookshelf.
Lin Mo's eyes widened.
"A hidden formation."
He glanced around.
No one was nearby.
Following the thread, he gently pressed one of the dusty wooden panels.
Click.
The bookshelf silently slid aside.
Behind it was a narrow staircase descending into darkness.
The air below was cold.
Dust covered every step, as though no one had entered for centuries.
At the bottom stood a tiny stone chamber.
Unlike the magnificent halls above, this room contained only one object.
A weathered book resting on a stone pedestal.
Its cover had no title.
Only a faded symbol of a silver clock.
The moment Lin Mo approached—
The book opened by itself.
Its pages were completely blank.
"What?"
He frowned.
"Is it damaged?"
Then a drop of blood from the small wound on his knuckle fell onto the first page.
The blank pages suddenly filled with glowing silver words.
Chronicles of the Twelve Keepers
Lin Mo's breathing stopped.
As he turned the pages, images appeared before his eyes.
The Twelve Keepers stood around the colossal Eternal Clock.
Each possessed one fragment of Time's Authority.
Together, they maintained the balance between past, present, and future.
Then came the Void Sovereigns.
An army clothed in darkness.
A war that shattered worlds.
One by one, the Keepers fell.
Before the last battle, they divided the Chrono Heart into hidden fragments, scattering them across existence.
The final page contained only one sentence.
"When the Thirteenth Bell rings, the Keeper shall return."
Lin Mo whispered the words aloud.
"The Thirteenth Bell..."
Suddenly—
A voice echoed behind him.
"I wondered who would find this place."
Lin Mo spun around.
The old library keeper stood at the entrance.
He was no longer hunched over.
His eyes shone with quiet authority.
"You..."
The old man smiled.
"I've been waiting for someone worthy."
Lin Mo instinctively stepped back.
"Who are you?"
The old man walked toward the pedestal.
"Names lose meaning after enough centuries."
"But once..."
"They called me the Keeper of Records."
Lin Mo's heart raced.
"You're one of the Twelve Keepers?"
The old man chuckled.
"No."
"I was merely their historian."
"I recorded their victories."
"And their failures."
He looked at Lin Mo with an expression that was equal parts relief and sadness.
"So..."
"The Chrono Heart has finally chosen a successor."
Before Lin Mo could ask another question—
BOOM!
The entire chamber shook violently.
Dust rained from the ceiling.
A deafening alarm echoed throughout the Technique Pavilion.
Above them, disciples began shouting.
"Elder!"
"The protective barrier has been breached!"
"Enemies are inside the sect!"
The old historian's smile disappeared.
"They've come sooner than I expected."
He turned toward Lin Mo.
"Listen carefully."
"There is a traitor within the Azure Cloud Sect."
"And until you discover who it is..."
"Trust no one."
Another explosion rocked the mountain.
The hidden chamber began to collapse.
The historian placed a small silver key into Lin Mo's hand.
"When the Thirteenth Bell rings..."
"...this key will show you the path."
Before Lin Mo could react, the old man slammed his palm against the wall.
A secret passage opened.
"Go!"
"What about you?" Lin Mo shouted.
The old man smiled calmly.
"Someone must ensure the enemy finds an empty room."
Reluctantly, Lin Mo disappeared into the passage.
Moments later, the hidden chamber collapsed behind him.
Outside, the once-peaceful Azure Cloud Sect was in chaos.
Black-robed figures battled elders in the sky.
Spirit beasts roared.
Sword lights clashed like falling stars.
And watching everything from atop the highest floating peak...
A masked figure whispered one command.
"Find the heir."