The night deepened, yet the lamp in Haotian's quarters still burned. The faint scent of sandalwood drifted through the chamber, but neither he nor Lianhua spared it a thought. Scrolls lay unrolled before them, and an abacus clicked softly beneath Haotian's fingers as numbers were tallied and compared.
Lianhua sat opposite him, her long hair cascading like a river across her shoulder, her eyes fixed on the parchment in silence. Only when Haotian finally placed the brush down did she speak.
"If we accept… it cannot be blind."
Haotian nodded. His gaze sharpened, calculating, though his tone remained calm.
"Three conditions. If the Azure Dragon Sky Sect truly wishes us, they will agree."
He tapped the parchment where numbers had been neatly inked.
"First, contribution points. I alone hold forty-two million. With your share, we have fifty-one million in total. That is not a number they can dismiss. Converted into their system, it will give us leverage to begin not as mere newcomers, but as cultivators with weight."
Lianhua's lips curved into a faint, knowing smile.
"A mountain of points. Enough to seed our future within their walls. If they deny this, then they only want us as pawns."
Haotian's hand shifted, drawing another line.
"Second, stipends. The monthly allowance of core disciples — for both of us. The Burning Sun Sect cannot match the resources of the Azure Dragon Sky Sect, but we will not accept a step backward. If they desire our loyalty, they must invest in us as they do in their most valued."
Lianhua tilted her head, considering. She knew he was right — the wealth and resources of a high-tier sect dwarfed their current elder stipends.
"We cannot appear greedy," she whispered.
Haotian met her eyes steadily.
"It is not greed. It is equity."
Finally, he drew a third line upon the parchment, heavier than the rest.
"And third… if any member of our faction reaches Soul Transformation, they will be accepted into Azure Dragon Sky Sect as inner disciples. This way, the Raising Dragon and Phoenix will not fracture. We will walk into their halls, but our brothers and sisters will not be left behind."
The air grew quiet at that last condition. Lianhua lowered her gaze, the weight of his words sinking in. Slowly, she exhaled, then reached out to touch the parchment, tracing the last line with her finger.
"Then it is not only for us," she murmured. "It is for all of them. For the captains, the guards, the disciples who followed us. This… this is the true path forward."
Haotian leaned back, the flickering lantern painting the steel in his eyes.
"If they refuse these terms, then they do not deserve us."
For a long while, neither spoke further. They simply sat, side by side, listening to the faint hum of their own resolve.
Outside their chamber, the news had already spread like wildfire.
In the courtyards, disciples whispered with eyes wide as saucers:
"To be invited by the Azure Dragon Sky Sect… to step directly into their halls…"
"Does this mean they'll leave us behind? Or does it mean the Burning Sun Sect will rise with them?"
The rival factions wore faces of stone, their jealousy hidden poorly behind forced smiles. The elders exchanged furtive glances in council, torn between pride and fear. Pride, that such talent had risen within their walls. Fear, that the Burning Sun Sect's brightest stars might now slip into another constellation.
And in the training fields, the members of the Raising Dragon and Phoenix Faction stood taller than ever, pride swelling in their chests. Their captains whispered of destiny, their disciples of hope.
For good or ill, the Burning Sun Sect would never be the same again.
The council hall of the Burning Sun Sect stood heavy with expectation. At the front, robed in azure that shimmered faintly like dragon scales, sat High Elder Long Zhantian of the Azure Dragon Sky Sect. His gaze swept the chamber, calm yet edged with the authority of one who stood in a far greater world.
Haotian and Lianhua entered together, bowing deeply, their composure steady despite the weight of so many eyes.
Zhantian's voice carried, smooth but commanding.
"Haotian, Lianhua… have you reached a decision?"
Haotian's hand briefly brushed Lianhua's before he stepped forward. His voice was clear.
"We have. But before we accept, there are conditions."
The hall stirred, elders whispering. Zhantian only inclined his head.
"Then speak. Let us hear them."
Haotian's first words were direct.
"The contribution points we earned here in the Burning Sun Sect must be converted into your Azure Dragon Sky Sect's points. They represent years of cultivation, missions, and work. We cannot afford to discard them."
Zhantian smiled thinly.
"That can be done. But the rate will be ten to one."
The room buzzed at the lopsided figure. Haotian glanced at Lianhua. She gave the smallest nod. Then his eyes hardened, and he countered firmly:
"Five to one."
Zhantian's response came instantly, with a broad smile.
"Done."
The quick acceptance made Haotian pause — but he gave nothing away. Even if the true rate lay lower, what mattered was that he had secured a favorable exchange.
He inclined his head and continued.
"Second — our monthly stipends must match those of core disciples. To take this step forward cannot mean losing what we have already earned."
Zhantian tapped his armrest, thoughtful, then nodded.
"Accepted."
Murmurs rippled among the Burning Sun elders. The weight of Haotian's negotiations was becoming undeniable.
Finally, Haotian set forth the last condition. His voice dropped heavier, deliberate:
"Third. Any member of our faction who reaches the Soul Transformation Realm must be granted entry into the Azure Dragon Sky Sect as inner court disciples."
This time, Zhantian leaned back, eyes narrowing slightly. A long silence followed as his gaze swept the couple.
Then, laughter burst from him, loud and genuine.
"So that is it. You seek not only your own rise, but to pull your kin upward as well. Ambition — but anchored in loyalty. Very well. Accepted."
The Burning Sun Sect council sat stunned. Haotian had turned what could have been a solitary promotion into a lifeline for his entire faction.
Zhantian stood, his voice booming across the chamber:
"So be it! Conversion of your points at five to one. Core disciple stipends for you both. Your faction's Soul Transformation cultivators welcomed as inner court disciples. And as I said before — your entry as inner court disciples, with private residences and access to the core-level library."
His eyes gleamed.
"Do you accept these terms?"
Haotian and Lianhua exchanged a single, steady glance, then bowed deeply together.
"We accept."
Zhantian laughed again, ringing and bright.
"Excellent! You have three days. Settle your affairs, bid farewell, and prepare. On the third day, you leave with us for the Azure Dragon Sky Sect."
The chamber erupted in whispers and gasps — disciples and elders alike struck by the gravity of the moment. The Burning Sun Sect would never forget this day.
Zhantian's laughter still echoed when his expression sharpened. He leaned forward slightly, voice lowering into something more probing.
"One last question before we seal this agreement, Haotian. How many contribution points do you currently hold?"
The council hall quieted instantly. Even the Burning Sun Sect elders straightened in their seats.
Haotian's lips curved into a mischievous smirk.
"Fifty-one million."
The words hit like thunder.
Zhantian froze mid-breath. Behind him, the Azure Dragon delegation stiffened, shock flashing across every face. Even the air seemed to still.
Slowly, almost disbelieving, Zhantian repeated, his voice trembling:
"How many?"
Haotian's eyes gleamed as he repeated, calm but teasing:
"Fifty-one million contribution points."
Gasps erupted. The Burning Sun disciples who had gathered at the hall's edges could scarcely believe what they were hearing.
Zhantian turned sharply toward the Burning Sun Sect Master. His gaze demanded confirmation.
The Sect Master exhaled, then nodded.
"It sounds about right. Haotian has accomplished too many feats to list here. Even after establishing his faction and spending freely — he has likely used over sixty million points already. With Lianhua's points combined, fifty-one million remaining is not unreasonable."
A collective gasp ran through the chamber. Even the Azure Dragon envoys, seasoned veterans of a saint's sect, looked at Haotian and Lianhua with new eyes.
Zhantian drew a slow, steady breath, his wry smile returning.
"So… fifty-one million it is. And you wish them converted at a rate of five to one?"
Haotian bowed slightly, his smile never fading.
"That was the agreement, was it not? Would there be a problem?"
For the first time, a faint bead of sweat touched Zhantian's brow. He shook his head quickly.
"No problem at all. The conversion will be honored. But… the process must be completed at the Azure Dragon Sky Sect."
Haotian inclined his head, satisfied.
"That is not an issue. As long as the terms are kept."
Zhantian sat back, his expression caught between awe and helpless amusement. Around him, his delegation silently wondered the same thing: How many years of blood, sweat, and achievement would it take one of their own disciples to amass over ten million contribution points?
And yet these two — not even twenty years old — would enter their sect with such wealth from the very start.
The balance of the negotiation had shifted entirely. And everyone in the room knew it.
The sect buzzed like a hive struck by lightning. For three days, the only words on every disciple's lips were:
"Fifty-one. Million. Points."
One disciple at the training yard sighed so deeply it stirred the dust around him. "I finally reached five thousand points this year. Thought I was rich. Turns out, I've been cultivating poverty."
Another groaned into his knees. "I did the math—if I save every stipend I get, never buy food, never breathe too heavily, and live for six hundred years… I might reach half a million. Might!"
The rival faction leaders weren't faring better. A group of them sat together, faces stormy, each nursing tea with the bitterness of men who'd swallowed their pride along with it.
"Fifty-one million," one spat. "That's not a disciple, that's a sect treasury wearing human skin."
"Forget challenging him. If we fight him, he'll just smack us with contribution points until we're buried."
"Ha! Buried? More like paved into a road. A gilded road called 'Fifty-One Million Path.'"
Even the elders had their moments. One old man rubbed his beard until it nearly caught fire. "I saved my points for decades. Decades! All to buy one lousy sword technique manual. Meanwhile, that boy could buy the library twice over and have spare change for tea."
Another elder muttered, "We should tax him."The first elder retorted, "We already did. He still has fifty-one million."
The sect master just chuckled whenever the topic came up, shaking his head like a man caught between pride and disbelief.
On the evening of the second day, Haotian called the captains of the Dragon and Phoenix Faction to his private courtyard. The six guards arrived first, as always, followed by the newly appointed captains. Together, their presence filled the courtyard with anticipation.
"Brothers, sisters," Haotian said, his tone calm yet solemn. "Step closer."
They obeyed, curiosity glinting in their eyes. As they crossed the threshold, the faint shimmer of a concealment formation parted like mist before them. What it revealed made every jaw tighten and every breath halt.
A towering tree stood at the courtyard's heart, its trunk glowing faintly as though woven from sunlight. Heavy branches drooped with clusters of radiant fruits, each one gleaming like a miniature sun caught in crystal.
"The Solaris Jadeheart Tree…" one captain whispered, voice trembling.
Another rubbed his eyes furiously. "I thought it was a legend…"
"It was," Haotian replied, lips curving faintly. "Now it is ours."
Lianhua stepped forward to stand beside him, her aura a quiet flame of pride. "These fruits hold the power to elevate cultivation. With them, every one of you can advance toward the Soul Transformation Realm in time. But such gifts demand loyalty, secrecy, and unity."
Haotian's voice hardened, sharp as tempered steel. "From this moment, you will swear an oath to your heart demons. This secret must never be revealed beyond these captains, save to those who replace you when you advance to join us at the Azure Dragon Sky Sect. Break this oath, and the heavens themselves will strip you bare."
The air grew heavy. One by one, the guards and captains bowed their heads and gave their oaths, the weight of heart demon bindings settling like invisible chains across their souls.
When the last vow echoed, Haotian's smile returned, warm but resolute. "Good. Then this tree is not mine alone, nor Lianhua's. It belongs to all of us. Your loyalty will be rewarded. With these fruits, we will build strength that no sect can ignore. And when the time comes, you will stand beside us in the Azure Dragon Sky Sect — as brothers and sisters, as family."
The captains' eyes shone with fierce resolve. Some clenched fists, others bowed their heads, but all were burning with gratitude.
"We owe everything to you both," one captain declared, his voice unshaken. "Not just our cultivation, but our purpose. We will follow you — in this sect, into the Azure Dragon Sky Sect, and beyond."
The others echoed him, voices rising in one united chorus.
Haotian met their gazes, and in that moment, the courtyard was not simply a courtyard. It was the heart of a rising power, a new current in the river of the cultivation world.
From the moment the sun rose, the Burning Sun Sect was no longer its usual self. It was as though the mountain itself was holding its breath, waiting to exhale when Haotian and Lianhua finally departed.
Disciples filled the courtyards, corridors, and even rooftops, whispering and pointing toward the direction of the Dragon and Phoenix Faction's pavilion.
"Can you believe they're leaving?!" one outer disciple gasped.
"Believe it? I still can't believe they had fifty-one million points!" another hissed back.
"Forget the points. Forget the points! They're going to the Azure Dragon Sky Sect. That's like… like leaving a village festival to dine in the heavens."
A third disciple sniffled dramatically. "Do you think they'll remember us…? Or will we just be 'those nameless faces from their hometown sect'?"
"Shut up," the others muttered, but they all looked a little misty-eyed too.
In the rival factions' quarters, things were less misty-eyed and more storm-clouded.
A faction leader slammed his cup down so hard the tea splattered like blood. "They're abandoning us! No — worse, they're ascending while we're left wallowing. How do you compete with people who can walk into a high-tier sect with a private residence waiting for them?"
Another groaned into his palm. "I've been sect leader for six years. Haotian becomes elder in what, two? And now he's going to surpass us all again. I should just retire to farming."
A third, always the practical one, muttered, "We should send gifts before they leave. Maybe when they reach Saint Realm, they'll remember who gave them that fruit basket."
The first leader scowled. "…Fine. I'll get a fruit basket."
The elders were more reserved, though no less stirred. They sat in the council chambers, sipping wine and sighing like old men at a wedding.
"One elder couple, gone to the Azure Dragon Sky Sect," one murmured. "Our sect has never produced such prodigies."
Another grunted. "You say prodigies, I say headache. Do you know how many letters from rival sects I've already had to burn? They're all asking: 'How did you let them get so strong, so fast?'"
"Ha! Maybe we should tell them the truth: Haotian doesn't just cultivate — he redefines cultivation. And Lianhua keeps pace with him like a phoenix chasing the sun."
The sect master chuckled, stroking his beard. "Let them grumble. Today, the Burning Sun Sect does not lose face. Today, we show the world that even if our prodigies leave, they leave as stars born from our sky."
The other elders nodded solemnly. Then one muttered, "…still wish I had fifty-one million points."
At the Dragon and Phoenix Faction's pavilion, the atmosphere was a storm of loyalty and heartbreak. Captains, guards, and disciples filled the courtyard, lining up in ranks that stretched out the gate. Every face was solemn, eyes red but proud.
Feng stepped forward first, saluting with her sword angled to the ground. "You lead, we follow — even if it takes years, we'll catch up."
Huo grinned through his clenched jaw. "Don't go getting soft in that high-tier sect. When we come knocking, I expect you to still be stronger than me."
An inclined her head, her calm gaze hiding a flicker of sadness. "We'll keep your home standing here. You'll keep the path blazing there."
One by one, each captain vowed the same — loyalty unbroken, determination unyielding.
Haotian and Lianhua looked out across the sea of faces. Their voices joined as one, steady but full of warmth. "We are not leaving you behind. We are paving the way ahead. Train well, hold fast, and when the time comes, join us under the Azure Dragon's banner."
The disciples roared back, their voices thundering across the mountain.
By the evening, the sect was awash in lantern light, farewells echoing like festival songs. Rumors, rivalries, jealousy, pride — it all swirled together into one undeniable truth:
Haotian and Lianhua's departure was not just a farewell. It was the opening of a new chapter for the Burning Sun Sect, and the world would not forget this day.
The morning of departure dawned clear, the sky painted in soft hues of gold and silver as though the heavens themselves wished to mark the occasion. The Azure Dragon Sky Sect delegation assembled at the sect gates, their azure robes gleaming under the sunlight, the majestic dragon crest on their banners fluttering with authority.
The entire Burning Sun Sect gathered along the main path, a sea of disciples, elders, and even servants standing shoulder to shoulder. Lanterns from the farewell vigil still hung across pavilions, swaying gently, their lights dimmed but not extinguished.
Whispers spread like wildfire as Haotian and Lianhua emerged, hand in hand.
"Elder Haotian… no, Elder Disciple Haotian now…"
"Elder Lianhua too… they're really going…"
"It feels like losing our sun and moon all at once."
Yet every whisper carried both pride and grief, a paradox befitting the moment.
Before Haotian could reach the delegation, two familiar, massive forms padded forward from the crowd. Yueying and Xiaoque — the Moonfang Tigers — their silver-striped fur bristling, their eyes shimmering with reluctance. They pressed close against Haotian and Lianhua, their low growls vibrating like sorrowful thunder.
Haotian stopped immediately, lowering a hand to stroke Yueying's great head, then ruffling Xiaoque's mane. His smile was calm, but there was a softness in his gaze only the beasts could draw out.
"You don't want us to leave, do you?" he murmured. Yueying let out a mournful rumble, and Xiaoque pawed at the ground, ears flat.
Haotian chuckled lightly, though his chest tightened. "Listen. I'll return from time to time — I promise. This place is still home to us. You will guard it until then, won't you?"
The great tigers' breaths rumbled, but slowly they bowed their heads. Yueying pressed her muzzle against his arm, while Xiaoque bumped his shoulder into Lianhua's side, almost knocking her off balance. She laughed softly and embraced him around the neck.
"We'll miss you both," she whispered.
Finally, Haotian straightened. He turned back toward the sea of sect members, captains, disciples, elders, and even the rival faction leaders. With solemnity, he cupped his hands and bowed deeply.
"Burning Sun Sect," his voice rang, steady as steel, "you raised me, and I will never forget. This is not farewell — it is a path forward. Train well, rise high, and one day, let us meet as equals beneath the heavens."
Lianhua mirrored him, her graceful bow like the lowering of a phoenix's wings.
The disciples erupted into cheers and sobs alike, their cries filling the air until even the Azure Dragon banners seemed to tremble.
With that, Haotian and Lianhua turned. Their steps were calm, deliberate, and without hesitation as they followed the Azure Dragon Sky Sect delegation down the mountain path.
Behind them, the Burning Sun Sect watched until their figures vanished into the horizon — two prodigies leaving the nest, carrying the pride and longing of an entire sect upon their shoulders.