The incense curled higher as the Four Saints grew solemn.
Yangshen's deep voice resonated first.
"Whether Alter remains separate… or one day merges with your soul… we cannot say. But one thing is certain. He has no ill will toward you, Haotian—or toward any of us. He is playful, tranquil even… but his mind is sharp. His plans are careful, meticulous."
Yuying added coldly but firmly, "It was he who designed your three cores… and the triple meridian channels that only you possess. He also left you the Heaven Sundering Trinity Scripture. But the backlash was too great, so we halted your cultivation of it."
Haotian clenched his fists and suddenly interrupted.
"That's what he spoke of."
The Saints looked at him sharply.
Haotian continued, voice steady despite his pounding heart.
"Alter told me that stopping was the mistake. The backlash came because I never reached higher stages of success. If I had continued… all three cores would have stabilized. And…" His throat tightened as he repeated the words. "…he said… even immortals would fear me."
The Saint Hall fell silent.
The laughter and nostalgia of earlier vanished. Four pairs of immortal eyes turned inward, their gazes dark with thought.
"Immortals… fearing him?" Jinhai muttered, thunder crackling faintly around his shoulders.
Yuying's lips tightened.
"Could it be… halting his cultivation of the Trinity Scripture was the mistake?"
Lianhua gasped softly, covering her mouth. If he had succeeded… even immortals… would cower before him?
Yangshen finally broke the silence.
"Did Alter say anything else?"
Haotian nodded grimly.
"He told me to return to cultivating the Heaven Sundering Trinity Scripture. But… there are risks. My two dormant meridians must awaken. And to do so will bring… indescribable pain. Torture beyond imagining."
The hall darkened into silence once more. The four Saints exchanged heavy looks.
But Haotian wasn't finished. His voice softened, embarrassed.
"Alter… did offer a way to lessen the risk. To increase the chance of success."
Yangshen leaned forward. "What method?"
Haotian's face burned red. He stuttered, his hands clenching at his sides.
"I… I must cultivate the Heaven Sundering Trinity Scripture while… while…" His eyes darted toward Lianhua. "…while dual cultivating with her."
The hall froze.
Lianhua gasped, her entire face lighting crimson. She shot forward, fists raised. "H-Haotian! How dare you say that out loud?!"
Haotian yelped, raising his arms to block as she smacked at him. "W-wait! I didn't want to say it either!"
Their flustered struggle echoed embarrassingly across the Saint Hall.
The Saints, however, remained thoughtful, their eyes narrowing.
At last, Yuying's cold voice cut through the chaos."…That makes sense."
Both Haotian and Lianhua froze mid-motion, turning wide eyes toward her.
"Dual cultivation would harmonize yin and yang qi perfectly," she continued. "If his meridians are to awaken, that balance would allow his energy to flow smoother, faster, with far less resistance."
Jinhai nodded gravely. "Yes. Less time spent in the process… less pain endured."
Meiyun chuckled softly, her serene smile tinged with mischief.
"And if he cannot handle it… at least he would die while holding onto Lianhua—or in the throes of pleasure. A fitting end, don't you think?"
Yangshen coughed loudly, his cheeks twitching as though suppressing laughter.
Haotian groaned, burying his face in his hands. "That… that was exactly what Alter said too…"
The Saints blinked—then Yangshen roared in laughter, Jinhai's deep chuckle followed, and even Yuying's lips curved faintly.
"Of course he would!" Meiyun laughed, her eyes sparkling.
The hall rang with their amusement, leaving Haotian and Lianhua utterly mortified.
The Four Saints fell into long silence after their laughter faded, their gazes sharpening once again.
Yangshen's booming voice carried across the incense-filled chamber."We have debated, and our hearts waver. The Heaven Sundering Trinity Scripture was left for you by Alter himself. If his words are true… then stopping it in the past may have been our greatest mistake."
Yuying's cold tone followed, soft but firm."But the risks remain. The pain of awakening dormant meridians is beyond imagining. Even if dual cultivation lessens it… there is no certainty of survival."
Jinhai's eyes narrowed like a storm brewing."So… the decision cannot be ours. It must be yours."
Meiyun's serene voice settled the air."Haotian, the choice is yours alone. If you wish to take this path, we will support you. If you choose to turn away, we will not blame you. Alter's legacy rests in your hands."
Haotian and Lianhua bowed deeply.
Yangshen raised his hand, dismissing them."Go now. Reflect. Do not rush your choice."
The heavy doors groaned open. Haotian and Lianhua stepped out into the cool mountain air. Behind them, the Saints remained, their voices low as they continued to ponder Alter's awakening—yet even they could not come to a conclusion.
The walk back to their residence was quiet.
Hand in hand, Haotian and Lianhua said nothing, yet the weight of unspoken thoughts hung between them.
Haotian lifted his gaze to the sky, golden eyes glinting faintly. A war god… lives inside me. Watching. Guiding. The realization pressed against his chest like a mountain.
At his side, Lianhua's thoughts spiraled. She recalled every battle, every irregularity in Haotian's path—the impossible victories, the inexplicable escapes, the moments that defied logic. So much of it… Alter's influence…
Then Yuying's words echoed in her memory. Her fate tied to Haotian was also Alter's hand.
Her cheeks flushed red as she glanced at him. Even this bond of ours… was he planning it all along? Yet, despite the thought, a smile touched her lips.
They reached the Saint Residence at last. Closing the doors behind them, they sat together, the silence finally breaking into quiet conversation.
The same question lingered between them both—Will Haotian truly cultivate the Heaven Sundering Trinity Scripture again?
The answer would shape not just their future… but perhaps the fate of immortals themselves.
The moonlight spilled across the jade tiles of the Saint Residence, bathing the chamber in silver glow. Haotian sat by the window, his spear leaning against the wall, his gaze fixed on the stars beyond.
Behind him, Lianhua sat cross-legged on the bedding, her sword resting at her side. The room was silent save for the faint rustle of wind.
At last, she broke the stillness."Haotian… have you decided?"
He didn't answer immediately. His hands clenched slightly on his knees."…If I cultivate the Heaven Sundering Trinity Scripture again, the pain will be unbearable. The risk of failure is real. If I falter even slightly, it could destroy me."
Lianhua lowered her gaze, her lips pressing together. "I know."
He turned slightly toward her. His golden-blue eyes softened."But if I don't cultivate it… if I remain as I am… then Alter's design is wasted. The three cores will remain unstable. And one day, the backlash might destroy me anyway."
The words hung heavy in the air.
Lianhua's chest tightened. She wanted to protest, to beg him not to risk his life. But she saw it in his eyes—the same fire that had carried him through every battle, every impossible trial.
Quietly, she asked, "Then… why hesitate?"
Haotian blinked.
She smiled faintly, though her cheeks flushed. "Because no matter how much pain you face… I'll be there. If Alter was right, and dual cultivation will lessen the risk… then we'll endure it together. I won't let you shoulder it alone."
Her words settled into his heart like a spark igniting flame.
Slowly, Haotian rose and walked to her. He reached out, taking her hands into his own. His voice was steady, solemn."Then it's decided. I will cultivate the Heaven Sundering Trinity Scripture. I will awaken the meridians Alter gave me. I will resonate the three cores to perfection. No matter the pain."
Lianhua looked up into his eyes, her own glistening. For a moment, neither spoke.
Then she squeezed his hands and whispered, "Then I'll walk this path with you. Even if immortals themselves come to fear you… I'll still be by your side."
Their foreheads touched, the quiet promise sealing itself between them.
The night lingered, but the decision was made.The path forward—dangerous, painful, uncertain—was now set.
Steam rose in slow spirals from the surface of the spirit-infused bath, glowing softly with the embedded stones that lined the chamber. The light reflected off the water, casting shifting patterns across the walls.
Lianhua stood at the center, her form draped modestly, her eyes glancing back over her shoulder at Haotian with a mixture of shyness and resolve. Though the setting was tranquil, her heart beat like a war drum. This is it. The first step into his trial.
The door slid open and Haotian entered. His steps were steady, his presence calm yet charged with restrained tension. As he descended into the water, ripples spread outward, mingling with the glowing current of spirit energy.
Their eyes met.
Without a word, Haotian reached out and drew her close. The towel slipped free, carried gently away atop the ripples, as if symbolizing the walls they both let fall.
Their foreheads touched first, breath mingling. Then their lips met in a kiss that sealed not only their love, but the vow they had made together.
The energy of the Heaven Sundering Trinity Scripture stirred in Haotian's core, resonating faintly in response. For the first time in years, the triple meridian channels shivered, as though awakening from their slumber.
This was only the beginning.
The bath rippled with light as their breaths mingled. A pulse of yin and yang chi began to stir between them, spiraling together in perfect harmony. Slowly, the gathered currents sank into Haotian's core, where the three suns of his cultivation awaited.
The warmth deepened. From yin and yang came fire and water, wood and metal, lightning and wind—elemental chi bursting forth like petals unfurling. Soon, even the ambient spiritual essence from the spirit stones embedded in the chamber walls joined, weaving itself into the tapestry.
All of it was drawn into Haotian's main meridian.
He gritted his teeth as the tide surged, steadying his breathing to guide the gathered force. Then, with fierce resolve, he willed the energy to turn—pouring it into the dormant second set of meridians.
Agony struck like thunder.
A violent blaze ripped through his channels, scorching him from within. Haotian's vision blurred, his chest heaving as sweat beaded across his brow. His teeth clenched until his jaw ached—the pain was indescribable, worse than death itself.
But then—through the haze of torment—his gaze lifted.
Before him, Lianhua's form glowed brilliantly, her chi surging, her face flushed with effort as she pressed her energy into him. Her voice trembled with exertion, but it steadied him, anchoring his mind from collapse.
Her presence pulled him back from the brink. Pain and harmony crashed against one another in waves, nearly driving him to madness. Yet still, she poured everything into him, refusing to let him falter.
Haotian's arms wrapped around her, clutching tightly as if she were the only lifeline in this storm. He roared through the agony, bloodshot eyes blazing.
The chi flooded, scouring every blockage, ripping open pathways that had been sealed for years. His second meridian screamed as it was forcefully awakened—until at last the energy surged into the slumbering core near his heart.
For one suspended breath—silence.
Then—
BOOM.
The chamber shook. Water exploded upward in a geyser of steam and light. The resonance of a core awakening thundered through the residence, shaking its very foundations.
Steam hung heavy in the air, the rippling waters now stained with the aftershock of Haotian's breakthrough. His body trembled, his skin pale, his breath ragged. In his chest, the newly awakened heart core glowed faintly—its light weak and unsteady, flickering like a dying flame.
Lianhua, panting from the exertion of channeling her energy into him, cradled his face between her palms. Her eyes glistened as she whispered, "Haotian… are you okay?"
Forcing a weary smile, he nodded slightly."Success… but the resonance is weak. If it fades now, the core may shut down."
Her lips parted in both relief and fear. Yet even as exhaustion weighed on her limbs, she pressed her forehead to his. "Then we'll not let it fade. You've already taken the first step. We'll finish this together."
Haotian's arms tightened around her. He drew on what little strength remained, pulling her close against him. Their spiritual energies flared once more, yin and yang intertwining in a torrent of light that surged through the chamber.
The flickering core quivered, resisting. The second set of meridians screamed in protest, pain flooding his senses like molten iron. Haotian's jaw clenched, his body convulsing. It hurts… unbearable…
But then—through the haze—Lianhua's voice cut through."Don't stop! I'm here, Haotian—don't stop!"
Her words became his anchor.
Together, their combined chi forced its way back into the heart core. The pain became blinding, but the flow of yin and yang smoothed the raging energy, guiding it, coaxing it, forcing it to stabilize.
Then—at last—the flickering steadied.
The core's light flared bright, no longer a weak candle, but a burning star resonating within his chest. The second meridian set pulsed alive, though Haotian's body shook violently under the strain.
He gasped for air, clinging to consciousness, while Lianhua's embrace held him steady.
And still—they continued, refusing to stop until the resonance fully settled.
The light in Haotian's chest finally steadied, but the toll was immense. His breath came ragged, his body trembling with exhaustion. The resonance held, yet the strength in his limbs gave out.
He collapsed against Lianhua.
Her arms wrapped around him immediately, holding him close, refusing to let him fall beneath the water. She whispered his name, her voice raw with worry. But before he could respond, his consciousness slipped elsewhere.
When Haotian's eyes opened again, he was no longer in the bath.
He stood once more in that vast, tranquil expanse—the sea of consciousness Alter had shaped. Boundless skies shimmered above, the gondola and stone table waiting for him as though time had never moved.
"Welcome back," a familiar voice rang, smooth and amused.
Haotian exhaled heavily, dragging himself to the stone seat. "Back here again… I'm exhausted."
Alter's laughter echoed."Exhausted from cultivating or…?"
Haotian raised a hand. "Don't even finish that sentence."
Alter chuckled. "Fine, fine, no teasing. But—" his tone warmed—"you did well. One dormant meridian set awakened, and your heart core lit. Good progress for a start."
Haotian slumped into the chair, scowling. "Good progress? It felt like my body was being ripped apart. The pain was unbearable."
"Pain always is at first," Alter said lightly. "It will grow better over time. It's like when a woman has her fir—"
"Stop. Just stop," Haotian groaned, pressing his palm to his face.
Alter's laughter boomed. "Hahaha! Fine. But you get my point."
The mirth faded into calm authority."Listen. You mustn't think you can activate all three cores in quick succession. Even with dual cultivation, you need recovery time. The Heaven Sundering Trinity Scripture was designed to take years, not days. At most, a decade of patient cultivation will bring perfection."
Haotian's eyes widened. "Ten years…?" He sighed heavily. "That long?"
"So what?" Alter countered sharply. "Cultivators toil for centuries, even millennia, just for a glimpse of the Immortal Realm. And here you are, complaining over ten years—when at the end, you'll surpass them all."
Haotian opened his mouth, then closed it again. He couldn't refute him.
Alter's voice softened."Rest. In one month's time, resume cultivation. The next goal is the third core—between your brows. Let it resonate. That will be the key."
Haotian nodded. "Got it."
The sea shimmered, and suddenly he was thrown back into his body.
His body jolted awake, pain and fatigue crashing over him anew. He winced, but warmth grounded him—Lianhua's arms curled tightly around him, her head resting on his chest.
She stirred faintly, still half-asleep.
Haotian looked at her, a tired smile tugging at his lips. He leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.
Then, letting the exhaustion claim him, he closed his eyes and drifted into deep sleep in her embrace.
The days that followed passed in a rare stillness.
Haotian remained pale, his body wracked by lingering pain from forcing open his second set of meridians. Even lifting his spear felt like a burden. Yet whenever his strength faltered, Lianhua was there—adjusting his blankets, preparing medicines, guiding his chi flow with her soft hands.
Though her eyes worried, her smile never wavered.
Sometimes they spoke quietly, other times they simply sat in silence, sharing the comfort of one another's presence as the moonlight drifted through their residence.
On the fourth day, the Four Saints arrived together. Their footsteps were light, but their immortal presences filled the chamber.
Yangshen's thunderous gaze softened when he saw Haotian's weakened form."You've done well. But you push yourself too far too quickly."
Haotian managed a faint smile. "I'll endure it. This body… was designed for this."
Yuying's eyes narrowed, yet her voice, though cold, carried a faint warmth."Rest is also cultivation. Do not forget that."
Meiyun and Jinhai said little, but their eyes lingered with pride before softening with quiet concern.
When the time came for them to depart back to the Zhenlong household, Haotian and Lianhua accompanied them to the courtyard.
Haotian reached into his robes and pulled forth a spatial ring, pressing it into Yangshen's palm."Inside are crystal vein pills, formations, and resources I refined. They're for the Zhenlong household—and the army. To strengthen them."
Yangshen blinked, then laughed heartily, the sound rolling like thunder."To give gifts while pale and broken—your stubbornness never changes." He clapped Haotian's shoulder gently, careful not to aggravate his condition. "I'll accept this, boy. Rest well. Heal. When you stand tall again, the world will have to reckon with you."
Haotian bowed deeply, his movements slow but resolute."Yes, Ancestor."
The Four Saints departed soon after, their auras vanishing into the horizon like distant stars.
Haotian returned to his chambers, leaning slightly on Lianhua. Though his face was pale, his golden eyes glimmered faintly with resolve.
He sank back into his seat, his breath heavy."I'll recover. No matter the pain, I'll be ready when the month ends."
Lianhua knelt beside him, her hand gently clasping his. Her expression was soft, yet fierce."And I'll be here with you. Always."
Their hands tightened together, and though silence followed, it was filled with a strength that words could not carry.
The days of preparation had only begun.