The city faded behind them, its noise and dust swallowed by distance. The familiar mountain peaks of the Azure Dragon Sect rose in the horizon, tall and unyielding, shrouded in clouds. A year had passed since Haotian and Lianhua vanished into the Whispering Abyss. Rumors had long shifted between their deaths and impossible survival.
Yet on this day, two figures walked silently up the stone path toward the sect gates.
Haotian and Lianhua moved casually, their hands linked, their steps unhurried. The oppressive aura of the Abyss no longer clung to them. Instead, their presence radiated quiet power — the kind that needed no display, yet pressed against the air itself.
At the gates, two disciples stood guard. Young, unfamiliar faces — new recruits who had joined in the past year. Their eyes narrowed as the couple approached.
"Halt," one said firmly, raising his hand. "State your names and identity. The sect doesn't allow strangers to enter unverified."
Before Haotian could respond, a senior disciple passed by, carrying scrolls under his arm. He glanced toward the pair, then froze mid-step. His eyes went wide.
"…It can't be."
The scrolls fell from his hands, scattering across the ground. His voice cracked, loud enough to echo across the courtyard. "They're back! The couple is back! The Bath Dao Couple has returned!"
The words spread like wildfire. From the gate to the training fields, from the courtyards to the halls, disciples turned their heads. Murmurs rose, swelling into shouts. Doors slid open, windows filled with faces.
"The Bath Dao Couple—?!""They survived the Abyss?!""A year… after a year, they've returned!"
The sect roared with shock and awe.
At the gate, Haotian pressed a palm against his forehead, his expression caught between amusement and defeat. His mouth curved in a wry smile. "They still haven't given that up?"
Beside him, Lianhua lifted a hand to cover her mouth, her shoulders trembling with laughter she tried and failed to stifle. Her eyes sparkled mischievously.
The guard disciple who had stopped them stared in disbelief, his jaw nearly falling open. He dropped into a bow so quickly he nearly tripped over himself. "You—you're the Bath Dao Couple?! Forgive me, seniors! Please, enter!" He gestured forward with both hands, his voice trembling with awe.
Haotian sighed heavily, though his golden eyes betrayed faint amusement. "After everything, that's still what they call us…"
"Come now," Lianhua teased, tugging on his arm gently. "Our residence awaits. And…" Her lips curved into a smile that carried more than a hint of playfulness. "…the bath house."
At that, Haotian's expression shifted. His sigh turned into the faintest grin, anticipation breaking through his composure. Without another word, he stepped forward, arm still linked with hers.
Together, the Bath Dao Couple crossed the threshold of the Azure Dragon Sect once more.
And the sect, in uproar, welcomed their return.
Steam curled lazily into the air, warm water rippling softly as Haotian leaned back against the smooth stone. Beside him, Lianhua rested with her head against his shoulder, her face faintly flushed.
For the first time in a year, they had returned to the bath house. The familiar scent of heated mineral water and the sound of the spring bubbling filled the chamber. It was simple, serene — yet in its own way, more precious than all the treasures of the Abyss.
Lianhua's lips curved into a quiet smile. "I missed this place."
Haotian exhaled, the faintest smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Not as much as they missed us."
She laughed softly, the sound echoing faintly against the stone walls. Time passed easily, their words trailing into silence as they soaked in peace. For a moment, they could almost forget the Abyss, the battles, and the endless whispers of death. Here, it was just them.
But peace never lasted long in a great sect.
The tolling of deep bells rolled across the mountain. Dong… dong… dong… A sect-wide assembly was being called.
Haotian and Lianhua rose together, dried themselves, and stepped out from their residence. As they made their way toward the assembly grounds, the atmosphere shifted.
Disciples parted to make way, eyes wide, whispers following like a tide.
"They're glowing…""No… not glowing. It's like there's nothing at all."
"I can't sense a single thread of their qi."
Haotian and Lianhua walked like mortals, no trace of spirit power leaking from their bodies. The overwhelming presence they once carried was sealed completely, replaced by tranquil stillness. They seemed ordinary — and yet, that was more terrifying than any unleashed aura.
When they entered the assembly grounds, the reaction grew louder. Murmurs spread across thousands of disciples. Even the elders shifted uneasily.
On the raised platform, the Sect Master's eyes narrowed, studying the pair as they walked hand in hand. His gaze pierced like lightning, yet even he could not discern their cultivation realm. He stroked his beard, his thoughts hidden. Their strength… how far has it risen? Even I cannot see through them.
What he did not know: Haotian and Lianhua were still only at late stage Soul Transformation Realm. But their perfected Ten Elemental Physiques concealed every leak of qi, rendering them unreadable to all eyes.
The Sect Master coughed lightly, his voice rising above the noise.
"Disciples. Elders. Today, we gather to announce a great event."
Silence fell.
"This year, our sect will host the Alliance Martial Convergence — an event that involves all sects under the alliance. Even subsidiary sects may enter. It will be held here, on our grounds, and we are expected to uphold the honor of the Azure Dragon Sect."
Whispers rippled through the crowd.
The Sect Master raised a hand. "The event will open the gates of a forbidden realm — an ancient battlefield, sealed since the old wars. Within are endless monsters, remnants of that age, each brimming with ancient qi. Contestants will fight for seven days. Each kill will award points based on the strength of the beast. At the end, rewards will be given according to rank on the scoring board."
He swept his gaze across the assembly, his tone sharp.
"As hosts, I expect our disciples to fight with all their strength. Dominate the board. Show the alliance the might of Azure Dragon Sect."
Excitement burned in the crowd, though nerves flickered in some.
"The trial begins at the end of this month. Those who wish to enter will sign up at the Mission Hall. That is all. Are there any questions?"
The Sect Master's voice echoed across the grounds. No one raised their hand.
"Good. Then prepare. Dismissed."
As the crowd dispersed, disciples buzzed with excitement and speculation. But more than a few stole glances toward Haotian and Lianhua. Their tranquil figures stood out more than any outburst of qi.
The Bath Dao Couple had returned. And now, a new trial awaited.
The assembly dispersed. Excitement still rippled across the sect, but the Bath Dao Residence was calm once more. Steam still lingered faintly in the courtyard air from their earlier bath. Haotian poured tea into two cups, the earthy fragrance rising as he set one before Lianhua.
She accepted it with a soft smile. "So… will you enter?"
Haotian swirled the tea in his cup, his golden eyes thoughtful. "We've gained what we needed from the Abyss. The trial may be important for the sect, but for us… it's nothing."
Lianhua nodded, her eyes warm as she sipped her tea. "I feel the same. We've no need to prove ourselves in a competition of points. Our path lies elsewhere."
They sat in quiet agreement, their decision firm: they would not participate.
Soon after, familiar presences approached. A knock echoed at the gate, and when Haotian opened it, the disciples who had once braved the Whispering Abyss with them stood there — Wen Qingyao, Su Ming, Lin Yue, and Duan Jian.
Their faces lit up at the sight of the pair.
"You're alive!" Wen Qingyao's voice broke, half laughing, half near tears.Su Ming shook his head, still incredulous. "A year. We thought you had stayed to die in that place."Lin Yue's hands clutched her crystal map against her chest. "And yet you've come back… looking even stronger."
Haotian stepped aside, gesturing for them to enter. Tea was poured, cushions laid out. Soon, the courtyard filled with conversation.
It didn't take long before the topic returned to the assembly.
"The Alliance Martial Convergence…" Duan Jian's voice carried a mix of dread and excitement. "A chance to test ourselves against disciples of every sect. The rewards will be immense."
"But," Lin Yue added quickly, "the risks are just as great. A forbidden battlefield filled with ancient monsters… even the elders warned of high casualties."
All eyes turned toward Haotian and Lianhua. "What about you two?" Su Ming asked. "Surely you'll enter. With your strength, you could dominate the board."
Haotian's response was calm, almost casual. "We won't participate."
The courtyard fell silent.
Wen Qingyao blinked. "You… won't?"Lianhua smiled faintly, setting her cup down. "We have no need to. Our goals are not bound to points or rankings."
The others exchanged stunned glances. To them, it was unthinkable — the two strongest disciples of their generation refusing to enter. But before anyone could respond further, a sharp sound split the air.
DONG—DONG—DONG!
A clear, ringing bell tolled through the sect grounds. Moments later, a messenger disciple arrived at their gate, bowing deeply.
"Senior Haotian. Senior Lianhua. The Sect Master summons you both immediately."
The courtyard stilled. The disciples looked at Haotian and Lianhua with wide eyes.
A summons from the Sect Master himself was no small matter.
Haotian exchanged a glance with Lianhua. She smiled softly, as if she had expected this. He rose, straightening his robes, and together they stepped forward to answer the call.
The gate to the Bath Dao Residence closed softly behind Haotian and Lianhua, leaving the remaining disciples in silence.
Su Ming was the first to speak, his tone a mix of awe and disbelief. "They're summoned by the Sect Master himself… they really are different from the rest of us."
Wen Qingyao crossed her arms, frowning thoughtfully. "Different? More like untouchable. They didn't even care about the Alliance Martial Convergence. Not once did their expressions waver."
Lin Yue hugged her crystal map close, her brows furrowed. "But why decline? For us, this trial is everything — reputation, rewards, resources. Yet for them…" Her words trailed off as she recalled the tranquil look in Lianhua's eyes. "…they really don't need it."
Duan Jian gave a dry laugh, shaking his head. "To think, I once believed I was catching up to them. Now, I can't even see their backs."
The disciples sat in quiet reflection, the weight of the gap between them settling in. Haotian and Lianhua were no longer just peers — they were legends walking among them.
Audience with the Sect Master
The Sect Master's hall was vast, its pillars carved with azure dragons coiling toward the vaulted ceiling. Haotian and Lianhua stepped inside together, their pace unhurried. Elders lined the sides of the chamber, but all eyes turned as the two approached.
The Sect Master sat upon the raised dais, his robes heavy with authority. His gaze studied them for a long moment before he spoke.
"I've heard you refused to participate in the Alliance Martial Convergence. Why?"
Haotian's voice was calm, unwavering. "We have no need to prove ourselves in such a trial."
The Sect Master's brows furrowed. "No need? You underestimate the significance. As hosts, Azure Dragon Sect must display its full strength. If you two enter and secure the top five rankings, I will personally promote you as Saint Son and Saint Daughter of our sect."
The hall stirred with murmurs. Such titles were rarely granted — symbols of supremacy within the sect.
But Haotian only gave a wry smile. Lianhua's lips twitched, trying not to laugh outright. Neither reacted with awe or ambition.
The Sect Master blinked. "…You decline?"
"Mn." Haotian's nod was simple, absolute.
The Sect Master coughed nervously, leaning forward. "At least… listen to the benefits. As Saint Son and Daughter, you will outrank the core disciples. You will wield greater influence within the sect. In addition, you will receive personal training from myself and the retired Grand Elders. You will be granted your own expansive residence…"
Lianhua cut him off suddenly, her eyes bright with mischief. "With a bath house?"
The Sect Master paused, then cleared his throat. "…Yes. With a bath house."
Haotian raised an eyebrow, interrupting next. "And my ancestors will be there, won't they?"
The Sect Master froze, his composure slipping. Silence hung heavy in the hall.
Haotian's faint smirk said it all. "I thought so."
The Sect Master sighed deeply, waving a hand. "Since the cat is out of the bag… yes. The Four Saint Dragons have been pestering me about you two endlessly. They wish to see how much you've grown. And the Alliance trial is the stage they've chosen."
His tone hardened. "There is more. The Crimson Moon Sect will also participate. They have grown arrogant, boasting about their so-called Heaven's Chosen Son and Daughter. Both are at peak Soul Transformation Realm and wield fearsome combat power. They even insulted the Four Saint Dragons themselves — called them nothing but old bones who should stop interfering with the new generation. Other sects now whisper that Crimson Moon's heirs are the true future."
The Sect Master's face darkened, his hand curling into a fist. "It is insufferable."
Before he could continue, Haotian and Lianhua spoke together.
"We'll enter."
The Sect Master blinked, stunned by their sudden change.
Lianhua's eyes gleamed coldly. "To insult the Four Saint Dragons — they have a death wish."Haotian's golden gaze burned. "For that alone, we'll crush them."
Relief and joy surged through the Sect Master. He clapped his hands, smiling wide. "Excellent! Excellent! With you two, the top rankings are assured. The Alliance will remember the might of Azure Dragon Sect!"
But Haotian raised a hand. "Hold. The conditions you proposed — they must be upheld. Recognition, the titles, the residence. But we will not require training from you or the Grand Elders. We have already forged our own path."
Lianhua added gently, "We have our own conditions. As long as they are respected, we will fight."
The Sect Master hesitated, then nodded firmly. "Agreed. Your path is your own, but the sect will honor its word."
The deal was struck.
The Azure Dragon Sect stirred with life as the end of the month drew near.
From the mountain gates to the highest peaks, disciples hurried with tasks — setting formations, preparing housing for guests, fortifying the trial grounds. Banners of blue and silver rippled in the wind. The sect was transforming into a stage fit for an alliance-wide event.
By the second week, delegations began to arrive. Caravans of banners and swords, lines of armored disciples, and the shadowed presences of elders from across the alliance poured into the mountain range. The courtyards filled with strangers. Their voices carried pride, arrogance, rivalry.
Whispers traveled quickly.
"The Crimson Moon Sect has brought their Heaven's Chosen.""I heard they've reached peak Soul Transformation Realm.""They say their combat power rivals even those in early Dao Comprehension."
Azure Dragon disciples clenched their fists, burning with resolve to protect their sect's honor.
And yet, within the Bath Dao Residence, tranquility reigned.
Haotian and Lianhua did not appear at the gates, nor at the welcoming assemblies. They did not spar in the training fields or walk the courtyards. Their residence remained quiet, smoke sometimes curling from the bath house, the sound of running water echoing faintly in the evenings.
"They… still haven't come out?" a core disciple whispered one day."Maybe the rumors are true. Maybe they won't participate.""If so, what will become of us? Without them, how can we compete against Crimson Moon?"
The doubts spread, each whisper growing louder as the trial approached.
But within their residence, Haotian and Lianhua cultivated every day. In their chamber, they sat side by side, elemental qi cycling with flawless precision. In the bath house, steam curled as they refined their physiques together, merging dual cultivation with the ten elements.
Every breath, every motion, every cycle of qi was deliberate. They spared nothing in their preparation, sharpening themselves not for rankings, but for domination.
Only they knew how much effort they poured into each day. To the outside world, they appeared lazy, detached, unbothered by the trial. In truth, they were coiling the bowstring tighter and tighter.
The Sect Master sat in his hall, fingers drumming against the arm of his chair. His gaze turned again toward the Bath Dao Residence.
"They haven't stepped out once," he muttered under his breath. "Not once since the announcement. Are they truly preparing? Or… do they mean to abandon the trial after all?"
His worry grew with every passing day. For the alliance's greatest event, for the face of the Azure Dragon Sect — everything rested on the couple who still remained unseen.
The air grew heavy the day the Crimson Moon Sect arrived.
Their banners were crimson silk, embroidered with serpents devouring the moon, each flag pulsing faintly with sinister qi. Disciples marched in tight formation, their steps echoing like war drums. At the front strode two figures — a man and a woman — their auras oppressive, domineering.
The man's eyes gleamed like twin blood-moons, his killing intent radiating with every breath. The woman's presence was colder, her qi sharp enough to slice the air. Both were at the peak of Soul Transformation Realm, their bodies tempered beyond normal limits.
"These are the Heaven's Chosen?" disciples whispered from the walls."They're said to rival early Dao Comprehension cultivators…""And they mocked our Four Saint Dragons…"
Murmurs filled the courtyards, unease spreading like fire. The Crimson Moon delegation walked with arrogance, their elders smirking as if they already owned the mountain. Their disciples jeered at the Azure Dragon Sect openly.
"The Azure Dragon has grown weak," one said loudly. "Their glory is already fading."
And though anger boiled in the Azure Dragon disciples, none dared step forward.
Meanwhile, at the Bath Dao Residence, tranquility endured.
The gates were shut, a simple wooden sign hanging upon them:
"Closed-Door Cultivation. Do Not Disturb."
Visitors came, but none were received. Core disciples sent messages. Envoys from the elders knocked. Even summons from the Sect Master himself were left unanswered. All were forced to leave their words at the threshold and walk away.
The whispers grew."They're refusing everyone?""Are they truly not going to participate?""Even with Crimson Moon here?"
But still, the residence remained silent.
Then, one dawn, everything changed.
Disciples approaching the Bath Dao Residence froze in horror. A faint shimmer rippled in the air, the ground beneath their feet etched with sigils they had never seen before. The atmosphere itself seemed to hum with suppressed violence.
A killing array had appeared.
Its presence pressed against the heart, chilling the bones. Every instinct screamed danger.
One bold disciple stepped too close, his foot brushing the array's edge. With a sudden crack, a spear of pure elemental force erupted from the air, shattering the ground at his feet. His face turned pale as he stumbled back, drenched in cold sweat.
"No one… should approach."
Word spread quickly. The Bath Dao Residence was no longer just a place of quiet seclusion. It had become a forbidden ground, veiled by lethal force.
And inside, unseen by all, Haotian and Lianhua continued their cultivation. Calm. Steady. Unmoved by the storm building outside their doors.
The Azure Dragon Sect's courtyards were tense with anticipation. Crowds gathered at the edge of the Bath Dao Residence, whispering in low voices as the air quivered faintly with the presence of the killing array. No one dared draw closer.
But the Crimson Moon Sect did not hesitate.
Their Heaven's Chosen stepped forward, crimson robes trailing like banners of blood. The man's gaze swept over the crowd with disdain, then settled on the closed gates of the residence. His lips curled into a cold sneer.
"So these are the so-called prodigies of your sect? The legendary 'Bath Dao Couple'?" His voice carried across the courtyard, dripping with mockery. "Hiding behind closed doors like frightened children?"
The woman beside him laughed lightly, her voice sharp as a blade."Perhaps the Abyss did not temper them after all. Perhaps it broke them. How pitiful — to return only to cower in seclusion. Is this the strength of the Azure Dragon Sect?"
Disciples clenched their fists. Faces reddened with anger. But the killing array glimmered faintly, silent and unyielding. The gates remained closed.
The male Heaven's Chosen raised his voice louder, letting it echo through the mountain halls."Haotian! Lianhua! If you truly carry the pride of your sect, then show yourselves! Or will you prove before all the alliance that the Azure Dragon's heirs are nothing but cowards hiding in their bath house?"
The Crimson Moon disciples laughed cruelly. Their voices carried like knives.
Yet still, from within the Bath Dao Residence, there was no answer.
The array hummed, the gates remained shut, and silence was their only reply.