Beyond the veil of the mortal realms, beyond the layers of Heaven and Hell, there existed a plane that mortals could neither reach nor imagine—the Astral Abyss.
Within this swirling void of time and silence, a grand obsidian platform floated amid broken stars and crushed dimensions. Upon it sat nine cloaked figures, each radiating a presence that bent the very essence of reality.
This was the Council of Eternal Eyes—ancient beings who had witnessed the rise and fall of entire universes. And now, they had felt it.
"The Dao Ancestor has stirred," said a voice as old as entropy.
"After ten thousand years… he dares to act again," another growled.
One figure raised a withered hand. Upon his palm spun a miniature illusion of Dev Yadav, standing calmly beneath the broken sky of the lower world, flicking his finger at a god's eye.
The projection alone made lesser dimensions quiver.
"That flick disrupted our surveillance gate. He is protecting someone," the feminine voice murmured.
"A new inheritor… a boy."
"The Heaven Defying Line continues."
A moment of still silence passed.
Then the leader of the Council, robed in silver light and crowned with three eyes, spoke:
"Then we must erase this bloodline once and for all. Send the Void Hunters."
Gasps echoed from the rest.
"Void Hunters? Are you mad? If they step into that world, it could collapse entirely."
"Better a broken world than a world that produces another Dao Ancestor."
The command was final.
Meanwhile, back in the Heaven Defying Academy, Lin Feng slowly opened his eyes.
His vision was blurry, but he could feel something had changed within him. The golden energy from the scroll still danced in his meridians. His soul felt... weightless yet vast.
"Where am I?" he whispered.
"You're safe," a calm voice replied.
He turned to see the old caretaker sitting beside him, boiling tea.
"Teacher…?"
Dev blinked, then chuckled. "Teacher? I sweep floors."
Lin Feng bowed. "No, you saved me again. That makes you my teacher."
Dev paused. For a moment, he looked lost in memories—of ancient wars, disciples who called him master, and betrayals that carved galaxies.
"Very well," he said with a sigh. "But only if you bring me dumplings every morning."
Lin Feng smiled.
Just then, an urgent bell rang from the Grand Hall. An elder appeared at the door, breathless.
"Caretaker Dev—no, Senior Dev! The Sky Mirror has cracked. Something… something is coming from the Void!"
Dev's relaxed smile vanished.
"So soon?"
He stood, looking beyond the mountains, his senses stretching into realms unseen by mortals.
"Tell the disciples to gather in the Iron Flame Pavilion. Seal all formations. Begin the Protocol of War."
"But… who are we fighting?!"
Dev's voice was like thunder.
"We are not fighting mortals, beasts, or demons. We are fighting hunters of the void, sent by the Eternal Eyes."
As the elder fled to issue orders, Dev turned to Lin Feng.
"Eat well, sleep deep. War will come before sunrise."
And in the sky, just beyond sight, a tear appeared—small, silent… but growing.