Chapter 2: Echoes of power

After the news about the competition to succeed the position of the goddess of the moon went viral, every celestial elder who attended the meeting in the court began preparing their daughters and grand daughters to participate.

a message echoed throughout the Starry Palace. which is present all around the celestial realm. surrounded by shimmering constellations and flowing rivers of starlight. its architecture is grand and ethereal, crafted from shimmering stardust. the starry palace is the residence of the stars. all young ones who are cultivating at the Starry Academy were summoned to gather at the front hall of the academy.

the starry academy is a place, where the stars gather to learn about the rules of celestial realm and cultivate themselves to bear their celestial duties. it is surrounded by cosmic clouds that dance with rhythm of time.

the academy serves as a sanctuary for young stars, preparing them for their destined roles in the night sky. the stars learn to shine with purpose, to guide travelers on earth, and to weave dreams for the mortals who gaze upon them. they also study the ancient laws that govern the cosmos, ensuring the cycles of night and day remain undisturbed.

within the academy's grand halls are countless books about the celestial realm, detailing the history of the universe and the duties of immortals who watch over the mortal world. the scrolls of celestial formations, stored in the library, reveal powerful techniques to summon celestial spirits, control starlight, and protect the balance of the universe.

at the center of the academy, the Hall of constellations stands as the heart of the academy. here, constellations come to life. disciples, who are cultivating in the academy have to create their own celestial spirit with their inner core. their celestial spirits resembles them of their purpose and the legacy they must uphold.

in this grand and mystical place, the disciples not only learn about their celestial duties but also find their purpose and identity. they forge bonds of friendship and rivalry, challenge their limits, and strive to shine as the brightest in this ever-expanding universe.

after the summoning, all the young cultivators gathered in the front hall of starry academy, their faces are mixed with anticipation and curiosity. the air buzzed with whispers, yet a solemn silence fell as a higher cultivator named "Elder Tianzhu", he is strict but fair, holding high standards for cultivation and discipline. a rumor have been lived for centuries, that his knowledge of the celestial realm and ancient arts is unmatched. as he entered into the hall, his presence commanding the respect. he hold a golden decree, the edges are shimmering with celestial light.

all the disciples in the hall stood in line, their movements precise and respectful. they bowed their heads and greeted the elder Tianzhu with respect.

"in honor of the revered elder, we pay our respects!" the disciples chanted, their voices are harmonious and unified, echoing off the grand pillars.

the elder Tianzhu's gaze swept over them, with a subtle nod, he acknowledged their greeting. after unrolling the scroll, his voice echoed through the hall, carrying an authority that made the air feel heavier. he started to convey the decree, "hear the decree from the heavenly court-about the rules for the upcoming competition".

elder Tianzhu's voice echoed through the hall, commanding the attention of every disciple in the front hall. his gaze was stern, his aura is unwavering as he spoke, ''as we all know, this competition is for the position of the goddess of the moon. here, every female disciple is eligible participate."

murmurs rippled through the crowd, excitement is mingling with anticipation. one disciple whispered from the crowd, " does that mean even the lowest-ranked can compete?"

elder Tianzhu's eyes flicked to the source of the voice, his expression is unreadable. "yes, it's really doesn't matter what your past achievements or rankings were," he continued, his voice is firm. "all are having an equal chance to prove themselves anew."

another disciple stepped forward, bowing respectfully and ask him. " elder Tianzhu, if our rank and achievements hold no weight, then...what will determine our worth?"

a faint smile played at the corner of elder Tianzhu's lips. he said, " the spirt of yours, the strength and pureness of your heart, and your resolve with kindness. only those who can withstand the trials ahead shall be deemed worthy."

his words hung in the air, heavy with promise and challenge. the hall fell into a hush, each disciple lost in thought, determination flickering in their eyes.

elder Tianzhu turned away, his robes flowing behind him. as the end of the talk he told, "prepare yourselves. the path to the moon is not for the faint-hearted." the competition will held in next month at the day of The Night Of Lunar Blossoms.

the night of Lunar blossoms is a celestial event that occurs once every thousand years when the lunar blossoms-ethereal flowers made of moonlight-bloom across the starry palace. these blossoms are born from the light of the full moon and only appear in the presence of those with a pure celestial heart.

these lunar blossoms are symbolize the harmony between the moon and stars. the blossoms are resonate with the moon's energy. according to ancient terms, the blossoms reflect the desires of the celestial hearts.

the competition to succeed as the goddess of the moon is held on this night because of the blooming of lunar blossoms. these blossoms are used to craft the moonlit veil, a ceremonial robe for the new goddess of the moon, symbolizing wisdom and purity.

after delivering the message, elder Tianzhu left the front hall of the academy. a tense silence lingered in the air, broken only by the disciples soft whispers of anticipation. while, the lunar blossoms outside of the academy shimmered faintly, their glow reflecting in the eyes of the gathered disciples.

the atmosphere is buzzed with excitement and anticipation of the disciples. the news of the competition echoed in their minds, igniting dreams of glory and ambition.

in small groups, they began discussing about the challenges ahead, their voices filled with anticipation. just then, a group of academy guards stepped forward, their postures firm and authoritative. their presence commanding the attention of disciples.

one of the guards stepped forward, his voice cutting through the lingering silence, "all the male disciples, you are to leave the hall immediately."

a ripple of confusion spread among the male disciples. they exchanged puzzled glances, the silence now laced with whispers of curiosity.

"why are we being sent out?" one disciple murmured under his breath.

another disciple shrugged, his voice barely above a whisper, "maybe we don't have anything to do, because it's only for female disciples."

they obeyed the order and reluctantly, they rose from their seats and left the hall silently. the rustling of their robes breaking the lingering silence. a few cast lingering looks at the female disciples, curiosity flickering in their eyes.

after the guards left silently. and just like that, the lingering silence returned- this time is heavier than before, enveloping the hall where only the female disciples remained.

as they exit, the female disciples remained seated. their eyes flickering between one another, uncertainly mirrored on each others faces.

whispers rippled through the hall like a soft breeze. "why we are still remained in the academy?" one of the female disciple murmured, her brows knitting together in confusion.

"what could be there so important that only we are allowed to hear it?" a voice from the back questioned, her tone tinged with both curiosity and apprehension.

a sense of unease wove itself through the lingering silence, leaving the disciples in a state of quiet turmoil. some exchanged worried glances, while other remained still, their faces are covered with mask of calm though their minds raced with unanswered questions.

amidst the growing whispers, one girl spoke up, her voice is steady but low, "perhaps it is again something related to the competition."

this only fueled the uncertainty, sending ripples of speculation through through the hall. the air grew heavy with anticipation, each passing moment stretching their nerves taut.

with no explanation given, they were left to their own imaginations, caught in dilemma of curiosity and caution.

just then, the soft rustle of robes announced the arrival of a female cultivator named Hua Qing [elder Hua Qing], a respected mentor who known for her wisdom, grace and strict discipline. her sharp eyes scanned the hall, her presence commanding silence.

all the disciples are murmured in fear, their voices barely above a whisper. "why is she here?" one of them asked, her face turned into pale.

"could it be... is she our mentor for the competition?" another whispered, her voice trembling.

"silence," her voice was cold, but clear.

instantly, the hall fell into a hush.

elder Hua Qing's stern expression softened just slightly as she continued, "you must be wondering why I'm here. right?"

what you think is absolutely correct, I'm the mentor assigned by the heavenly court to prepare yourselves for the competition.

the disciples straightened their spines, their anticipation drowned with their fears...