Chapter 2
As the party reached its peak, Dad suddenly raised his hand, signaling everyone to quiet down.
He said, "Today marks Luna's coming-of-age. I'm gifting you the Netherflame so you can forge your own life-bound weapon."
Everyone gasped in surprise.
The Netherflame was a treasure coveted by heaven and earth, coming up with only one cluster every thousand years, yet Dad was actually willing to give it to his adopted daughter.
Luna took the swirling blue flame with delight, but her gaze slid over to me. "Thank you, Dad. But... What about the activation?"
Dad turned to me at once. "You promised to activate it for Luna, so it's time to keep your word."
Everyone's eyes locked onto me.
Shawn said coldly, "If you try anything scheming again, you'll regret it."
I moved forward, reaching out to let my fingertips graze the swirling blue flame.
As its raw energy pulsed through me, I quietly gathered my own immortal power.
Luna's voice trembled as she spoke, "Serena, if it's too much for you, you don't have to push yourself..."
I glanced up at her, a small smile tugging at my lips. "Relax, Luna. I've got this."
As my immortal power surged into it, the Netherflame erupted, coming alive and leaping wildly, devouring the grand hall in a heartbeat.
"Oh, no!" Dad's face drained of color as he hurriedly cast a spell to contain the blaze.
But it was already too late.
Wherever the flames swept, pillars crumbled, stairs splintered, and all the fancy decor was reduced to ashes in seconds.
The guests scattered in panic, the whole place thrown into utter chaos.
Luna stood dazed amid the wreckage, her elegant gown scorched and riddled with holes from the embers, hair in disarray, face streaked with ash.
"My birthday party..." Luna muttered and then suddenly collapsed into tears. "It's all destroyed... Everything's destroyed!"
Shawn yanked her behind him, shooting me a murderous glare. "You did this on purpose!"
Evan snapped his fan shut, his face serious. "Serena, you've gone too far this time."
Amid the swirling ash, I quietly watched Luna sobbing, my voice gentle.
"So, Luna, do you like your coming-of-age gift?" I asked.
I was locked up in the Sanction Chamber.
This was where rule-breakers got punished, a place so cold that it chilled one to the bone, and the air was thin with immortal energy.
Powerful barriers sealed the entrance, locking down all my powers.
My parents told me to reflect on what I'd done, and I wasn't allowed to take a single step outside unless they said so.
The heavy stone door creaked open. A slender figure stepped inside, her silhouette framed by the light from the hallway.
Luna motioned with her hand, sending away the two disciples standing guard outside.
She strolled over, her face showing just enough concern to look convincing, but her words had a teasing edge.
She said, "Serena, it must be tough in here. I did beg Dad and Mom to go easy on you, but this time... they're absolutely livid."
She sighed, glancing around the cold chamber, and for a moment, I caught a glimpse of barely concealed satisfaction in her eyes.
She didn't stay long. Just before leaving, Luna quietly instructed the guards outside.
She said, "Keep a close eye on her. She's in a foul mood and needs to reflect on her mistakes. Don't disturb her unless absolutely necessary. As for anything unnecessary, like food, water, whatever, keep it to a minimum."
After that, the door never opened again.
No one brought me food or water, and no one came to check on me.
The bone-chilling cold gnawed at my body. If I were an ordinary cultivator, I would've been done for by now.
Five days later, the door finally creaked open again.
Luna looked more radiant than ever, idly playing with a shimmering Stash Ring between her fingers.
"Dad and Mom couldn't bear to see me suffer, so they held a brand new coming-of-age party for me, and it was even grander than before," Luna said.
She sauntered over, listing off her gifts like a proud collector.
She said, "Shawn crafted the Frostwolf King's core into a necklace just for me. Evan gave me Mistweave Brocade, a rare tribute from the merfolk. Elders from every peak and cultivators from all over sent rare treasures... Oh, by the way..."
She paused, conjuring a wisp of blue flame between her fingers. It was faint, but full of life.
"Dad went to great lengths to help me gather the Netherflame again. Its essence was damaged a little, but at least it's safe now," Luna said.
Her eyes swept over me, gloating openly, with a hint of pity hidden.
She said, "Serena, if you'd just behaved and activated it for me like you were supposed to, would it have come to this?"
When I looked at her face, my thoughts were dragged straight back centuries ago.
That day was my own coming-of-age, and I was so starving and desperate that I snatched the most basic spiritual fruit from the steward's desk.
When I was caught, my master had me strung up over a freezing pond and lashed me all night with a whip soaked in chilling flame, cursing me as "weak-boned and scheming".
My bones were shattered, fever burning through me, and I spent half a month struggling in the woodshed, hovering at death's door.
Back then, no one remembered my coming-of-age, and no one gave me gifts. All that awaited me was beatings, hunger, cold, and the despair of staring death in the face.
Luna walked away with a smug look of satisfaction on her face.
But the very next morning, she suddenly came down with a mysterious, crippling illness.
Ominous black marks crept beneath her skin, and her immortal power kept draining away, no matter what she did.
This wasn't some normal sickness. It was as if she'd been struck by a wicked curse.
My parents were absolutely livid, and they immediately ordered a full-scale investigation of the entire Evernight Sanctuary.
Shawn stormed into my cell with a group of disciples, not even pretending to be civil. They searched every corner and finally fished out a doll hidden in a crack of the stone bed.
Three blood-rusted Soul-Eating Needles were viciously stabbed right into the doll.
"Bastard, you never repent!" Dad roared, slamming his palm into my chest.
His eyes burned with pure disappointment and rage.
"Bind her and haul her off to the Judgement Spire. Let her suffer the heavenly lightning trial!" Dad shouted.
Shawn stepped forward and shackled me with heavy chains.
Evan stood a short distance away, his face grim, eyes seething with hatred, like he was ready to rip me to shreds.