Cycles of Growth
The Moon Lotus Sect burned like a furnace of cultivation.
Second Cycle: Dozens more breakthroughs into Soul Transformation Realm. Sword drills sharpened into killing arcs. The Yuehua Jian gleamed under the sun, slicing with crescent moonlight.
Third Cycle: The sword formations roared with force—thirty disciples moving as one unleashed a power equal to an elder. Whispers spread: Our sect is reborn.
Fourth Cycle: More breakthroughs. The bathhouse glowed with swirling chi at night. Disciples who once stumbled now moved with confidence, even elegance, in their sword forms.
Fifth Cycle: The elders themselves began refining bottlenecks. The atmosphere of the sect grew heavier, steadier—like a mountain about to shake the world.
Sixth Cycle – Sect Master Yinxue's Breakthrough
On the morning of the sixth cycle, the heavens themselves responded.
The sect trembled. Waves of frost and yin chi surged across the mountains, blasting out like tidal waves. Above the sect, the sky cracked with light—phoenix cries echoed, and frost icicles rained down like crystalline swords.
Dao runes floated into the sky, glittering like starlight, each rune embedding itself into the air with timeless weight.
"Dao comprehension…!" voices gasped.
Disciples spilled out of the training grounds, eyes wide, hearts pounding.
Above them, Yinxue floated—her robes flowing like falling snow, her aura vast and transcendent. She closed her eyes, bathing in the heavenly phenomenon as it washed over her body and spirit.
"So this is… Dao Comprehension Realm…" she whispered.
When she opened her eyes, her figure descended—walking down an invisible staircase of frost, each step like a goddess returning from the heavens. Her beauty seemed untouchable, her composure radiant and serene. The entire sect watched, breathless.
"Is she… walking down the air?" one disciple murmured.
"Her aura… she's different now…" another whispered.
And then—her composure cracked.
Because Haotian appeared before her, his smile dazzling, his presence grounding her back into the mortal realm.
"Congratulations, Sect Master," he said warmly. "That was… very fast. Record-breaking, in fact. If others find out, they'll demand to know your secret."
Yinxue's cheeks flushed. Images burned into her mind: those endless nights of mass dual cultivation, the overwhelming waves of chi… her own hands wandering beneath the soundless, concealing formation when no one could see.
She fought down the heat rising in her chest. But her face betrayed her, blooming red against her frosty elegance.
Her lips curled into a faint, trembling smile.
"Joke around more, Haotian, and I may just palm slap you into the ground."
Her words carried the authority of a sect master—but her voice trembled with something softer.
Then, before turning back to the disciples' cheers, she added quietly, almost tenderly:"…We should celebrate together."
Her eyes lingered on him for a heartbeat longer than necessary. Then she turned, her aura still glowing with the mark of her new realm.
The sect below erupted into deafening cheers.
"Sect Master Yinxue has broken through to Dao Comprehension!"
"The Moon Lotus Sect has risen!"
The sect had quieted after the storm of celebration. Disciples returned to their courtyards still buzzing with excitement, elders toasted in small groups, and the frosted mountains glowed faintly under moonlight.
But inside the Sect Master's chambers, Yinxue sat alone.
The candles flickered, casting long shadows against the carved walls. Her robes lay folded neatly beside her, her hair loose for once, spilling over her shoulders like dark silk. Yet her expression was anything but calm.
She raised her hand slowly, gazing at it. Frosty runes shimmered faintly on her skin—the mark of her breakthrough. Power surged within her veins, alive, steady, absolute. She had stepped into the Dao Comprehension Realm, a height few could even dream of.
And yet…
Her thoughts betrayed her.
The cheers of her disciples rang in her ears, but over them she kept hearing his voice.
"Congratulations, Sect Master… record-breaking."
That smile, that warmth—it had pierced her frosty heart.
Her face burned even now. She set her hand against her chest and exhaled, her breaths uneven.
"How long… has it been since I've felt this way?"
She had cultivated coldness, composure, distance. It was the path of the sect, the way to lead with dignity. But today, when she descended from the heavens on invisible frost stairs, she hadn't felt like the untouchable Sect Master of the Moon Lotus Sect. She had felt… like a girl.
And then the shame pressed in.
She bit her lower lip, remembering—those nights in the bathhouse, when waves of chi pleasure coursed through her body. When she couldn't endure, when her hands betrayed her discipline. She clenched her fists, her face burning in the candlelight.
And worse—today, when she told him, We should celebrate together… the words had slipped out without control. Her own heart was betraying her.
"Ziyue… that shameless woman…" she whispered, her voice shaking. "She doesn't even hide her closeness with him. She seized him openly… while I…"
The thought cracked her calm entirely. She pressed her hand harder over her chest, as though holding back the pounding of her heart.
She was the Sect Master. She was supposed to embody dignity. But Haotian's presence was breaking her walls—his brilliance, his strength, his smile. The way he carried the sect on his back as though it were nothing.
She shut her eyes tight, whispering into the silence:
"Why… do you make me feel this way?"
Her mind replayed the image of him—standing tall, sweat across his body, his smile shining with pride. The warmth that had seeped into her through the dual cultivation… the heat that no cold frost could extinguish.
Her composure cracked once more as she buried her face in her hands. The Sect Master of the Moon Lotus Sect trembled alone in her chambers, caught between duty and desire, between frost and fire.
Outside, the ice phoenixes circling above the sect sang softly, their cries echoing the turmoil in her heart.
In the days that followed her breakthrough, Sect Master Yinxue carried herself with the same composure as always… but Haotian began to notice the differences.
Her gaze lingered on him a moment longer when she addressed him in the assembly. Her scolding came quicker, sharper—sometimes for things not even worth scolding. She would purse her lips and snap, "You should pay attention," only to look away with a faint flush betraying her heart.
Even the disciples began to whisper among themselves: The Sect Master seems unusually focused on Senior Brother Haotian.
Haotian, of course, said nothing. He had seen this kind of conflict before in others. He let her mask her heart in the way she knew best—through discipline, through coldness.
As the cycles of training continued and the Nine Sect Tournament drew near, Haotian split his time between Ziyue and Yinxue.
With Ziyue, he guided her swordsmanship and honed her combat instincts. With Yinxue, his lessons turned to the mysteries of the Dao Comprehension Realm.
They met privately in the cultivation halls, frost-light reflecting off the jade floors. Yinxue would ask him carefully measured questions, but her eyes betrayed eagerness, even dependence. Haotian never held back his knowledge.
"Every cultivator at the Dao Comprehension stage must align with their own Dao," he explained, his voice calm, his presence steady. "Your Dao is the truth you've formed through your path. For you, Sect Master, it is frost and ice. That is your foundation."
Yinxue nodded, listening intently. Her aura carried the chill of endless winter, but beneath her stillness, Haotian sensed her restless heart.
"But remember this," Haotian continued, his tone deepening. "There are countless Daos—hundreds, thousands. If you wish to rise beyond, you must touch more than one. The Codex will guide you, but you must choose carefully. Do not be swayed by Daos that corrupt."
The disciples, gathered in silence, leaned forward to catch every word. Haotian's gaze swept across them, and his voice carried like iron:
"The Heart-Seal Dao, for example, is a Dao of solitude and emotionlessness. At first, it may seem powerful—it cuts away attachments, leaving clarity. But in truth, it kills the heart. It destroys your ability to love, to feel joy or grief. You become a corpse that walks, a sword without a soul. Those who tread that path… are nothing more than killers wrapped in ice."
Shuyue, sitting in the crowd, felt her chest tighten at his words. Her cultivation shook faintly, cracks spreading deeper into her heart-seal. She closed her eyes, trying to compose herself, but Haotian's warning burned in her mind like fire.
"The Dao is truth," Haotian said finally. "But your truth must never come at the cost of your humanity. Do not sacrifice who you are for power. That path will never bring you true strength."
The hall fell silent. Even Yinxue lowered her head, her thoughts stirred—not just by his lesson, but by the weight of his presence beside her.
The moonlight poured into the grand hall of the Moon Lotus Sect, illuminating the rows of disciples standing in silence. At the front, Haotian's figure stood tall, steady as a mountain. His voice cut through the air with calm authority.
"I have something to tell you all. The Nine Sects Tournament is approaching, and our preparations are nearly complete. You've all done well—beyond even my expectations."
A faint murmur rippled through the disciples, their hearts swelling with pride.
"But before the tournament begins," Haotian continued, his expression firm, "I will be leaving for a short time. I am going to the Sea Bridge. I will attempt to reinforce the ancient seal."
Shock struck like a clap of thunder. Murmurs burst from the crowd, fear and awe mixing at the mention of the Sea Bridge.
Elder Ziyue stepped forward quickly, worry flashing in her eyes. "Haotian… that seal was crafted by powers of an age long past. Even saints hesitate to tamper with it."
Sect Master Yinxue's voice was calm but sharp, her frost aura brimming with tension. "And if you fail?"
Haotian smiled faintly, a quiet confidence in his gaze. "Then nothing will change. The seal will remain. But if I succeed… we gain more years of safety. Enough time for all of you to climb higher, perhaps even to the Saint Realm, before the demons arrive."
The crowd's unease shifted, the disciples breathing heavier with anticipation.
"As for the Nine Sects Tournament," Haotian said, raising his voice so all could hear, "there will be no issues in my absence. The other nine sects' highest cultivation is only initial to mid-stage Soul Transformation Realm. But here—our Sect Master already stands in the Dao Comprehension Realm. Many of you are already at late or peak Soul Transformation."
He swept his gaze across them, each word weighted like iron."Do you understand what this means? Even one among you, a single disciple, already has the strength to surpass their so-called sect masters. The Moon Lotus Sect has already surpassed the rest. The tournament will not be a risk—it will be our stage to show the world who we have become."
The disciples' shock gave way to stunned reverence. A few covered their mouths, realizing the truth of his words. Whispers rose: A single disciple here could already crush entire sects…
Sect Master Yinxue lowered her gaze, hiding her conflicted expression behind frost composure. Elder Ziyue's fists clenched at her sides, her eyes never leaving him.
Haotian's final words fell like a vow."Continue training. Strengthen your foundations. When I return from the Sea Bridge, we will face the future together."
And for the first time, every voice in the hall cried out with fire, echoing into the night:
"Yes, Senior Brother Haotian!"
The great hall slowly emptied, the thunderous chorus of disciples fading into the night air. Only the chill of frost lingered, curling along the lotus-carved pillars.
Yinxue remained seated on the high dais, her hands folded within her sleeves. Her gaze was unreadable, fixed on the pale glow of the moon filtering through the jade windows. Below, Ziyue stood quietly, her figure shadowed by the dim lantern light.
Neither spoke at first. The silence was heavy—two currents of thought crossing without touch.
Finally, Yinxue broke the stillness. Her voice was calm, but beneath it, something sharp lingered."So… he intends to leave for the Sea Bridge now. On the eve of the Nine Sects Tournament."
Ziyue lowered her head slightly, then looked up with steady eyes. "Haotian has never once spoken without certainty. If he says he can reinforce the seal, then perhaps he truly can."
Yinxue's lips pressed into a thin line, her frost aura faintly stirring. "Perhaps. Or perhaps he is simply reckless."
Ziyue's heart twisted at the words. She took a step forward. "Reckless… but everything he's done so far has brought us here. Without him, the Moon Lotus Sect would still be mocked as frail. Without him, I—" she stopped herself, biting her lower lip before continuing. "Without him, none of us would be standing at this height."
Yinxue's gaze shifted to her then, cool and probing. "You place a great deal of faith in him, Elder Ziyue."
A faint blush touched Ziyue's cheeks, but her tone was firm. "Because he's worth it."
The words hung in the air, like a confession spoken yet not spoken. Yinxue's heart stirred, a subtle ripple behind the icy facade she wore. She turned her face away, hiding the faint warmth rising within.
"Faith is one thing," she finally said, her voice low. "But do not forget—our foundation is not Haotian alone. It must be ourselves. If we lean too heavily upon him… when he is gone, what will become of us?"
Ziyue bowed her head, though her fists clenched within her sleeves. "Then we will simply have to rise to meet him. No matter how high he climbs."
Yinxue looked at her junior elder, studying the quiet fire in her eyes. For a fleeting instant, she felt her own heart tremble. She closed her eyes, the frost returning to her voice.
"Go. Rest. Tomorrow begins the training cycle again. Do not fall behind."
"Yes, Sect Master," Ziyue replied softly, though as she turned to leave, she allowed herself a final thought—I will not fall behind. Not from him. Not ever.
And in the silence of the moonlit hall, Yinxue finally exhaled, her breath a mist of frost, her chest tightening with emotions she could not name.
The courtyard was quiet under the pale shimmer of moonlight. The great frost lotus tree swayed gently in the night wind, each crystalline petal glowing faintly, casting the courtyard in a dreamlike glow.
Haotian stepped into the space, his steps measured, his aura calm. There, by the tree, stood Yinxue, her white robes flowing like frost, her posture composed yet distant, as though her heart was far away.
"Is everything okay?" Haotian asked as he approached, his voice gentle but steady.
Yinxue turned her head slightly, her face calm as ice, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of something else. "Everything is fine," she said softly. Then, after a pause, her gaze returned to the tree. "But there is something I have been thinking on."
Haotian tilted his head, curiosity stirring. "Care to share?"
Her lips curved faintly, though not into a smile. "I was considering… what my next Dao will be."
Haotian blinked, surprised. "Your next Dao?"
"Yes." Her voice was calm, but there was a quiet strength in it. "I believe… I have found it."
The corner of his mouth lifted. "Really? Then congratulations are in order."
At that moment, she turned—slowly, decisively—and her gaze fell upon him with a clarity that cut through the frost.
Before he could react, she stepped forward. Her arms lifted, hesitated for the briefest instant, then wrapped tightly around him.
Haotian froze, taken aback, his princely aura flickering for a moment in surprise. Her body was cold to the touch, yet trembling faintly. Her head rested against his chest.
Her voice was soft, almost fragile, but every syllable rang clear.
"It is the Dao of love."
Haotian's eyes widened, his breath catching. "What?"
The frost lotus petals shimmered above, drifting like silent snow as the words lingered between them—unmoving, undeniable, breaking through the barrier of ice that had encased her heart.
Haotian stood still, her words echoing inside him like a bell that refused to fade. The Dao of love…
For a moment, his mind faltered. He thought of Lianhua—the woman who had given him her heart without condition, who had entrusted him with her life and borne him a son. He thought of Tianlan's innocent smile, of the warmth of family waiting in the west. He thought of Ziyue, whose persistence and devotion had already forced him to confront choices he had not wanted to make.
And now Yinxue—his Sect Master, the one who had always carried herself like an untouchable snow lotus, aloof and resolute—was pressed against him, trembling, confessing in a way that left no room for doubt.
His hands hovered in the air, unsure. To embrace her was to acknowledge. To pull away was to wound. He had always walked the line between duty and desire, between what he wanted and what was required of him.
The Dao of love, he repeated in his heart, and he understood. For Yinxue, this was not a careless confession. It was her Dao. Her truth. If she chose it, then every step of her cultivation from this moment would be bound to it.
Slowly, Haotian let out a breath. His arms lowered, circling her slender frame with deliberate care. He did not tighten the hold too much, nor did he let it slip away. Just enough to let her know she was not alone in this moment.
His voice was quiet, weighted with hesitation yet steady:
"Yinxue… the Dao of love is a heavy one. Once you walk this path, there is no turning back. Every rise, every fall—it will all be tied to this choice."
Her grip only tightened. "I know."
Haotian's heart ached, torn between responsibility and the sincerity pressing against his chest. He tilted his head slightly, eyes drifting toward the frost lotus tree. The petals glowed faintly, as if listening.
Finally, he sighed. "Then… if this is truly your Dao, I will not reject it. But I cannot promise you a path free of pain."
For the first time that night, a faint smile touched Yinxue's lips against his chest. She did not answer in words, only held him longer, as though to say—pain or not, this is the road I've chosen.
Haotian's arms remained around her, the silence of the courtyard pressing in. His heart was steady, yet his thoughts churned.
Lianhua… He remembered her words before he returned east—her quiet acceptance, her strength veiled behind gentleness. "If you must, if it is for the sake of the world… I will allow it."
She had spoken without bitterness, entrusting him not only with her love but with the burden of his path. Now, Yinxue stood in his arms, confessing with trembling honesty that her Dao itself was love.
He wondered—was this fate weaving threads around him, or was he simply binding more hearts to his own as he walked forward? Ziyue had already chosen him, and now Yinxue's cultivation itself had become inseparable from the feelings she carried.
He looked down at her. Yinxue's expression, normally composed and untouchable, was unguarded. Vulnerable. Her eyes were half-lowered, her breathing quiet yet unsteady.
Without meaning to, he leaned in slightly.
Yinxue, sensing his movement, drew in a small breath. Her lashes lowered fully, her face tilting up. She rose onto the tips of her toes, closing the distance.
Their lips met under the frost lotus tree.
The petals swayed in the night wind, shimmering like fragments of frozen moonlight. The kiss was soft, fleeting, but in that brief moment it carried all the weight of her confession and his unspoken acknowledgment.
When they parted, Haotian's gaze lingered on her, the frost lotus glow reflected in his eyes. A small smile tugged at his lips, even as his heart grew heavier with the paths ahead.
The kiss broke, and for a heartbeat Yinxue lingered—her face faintly flushed, her breath warm against the cool night air. Then, as if remembering herself, she gently pulled away from his arms.
Her back turned to him, but her voice carried clearly beneath the frost lotus tree."Haotian… be careful on your trip. I will wait for you to return."
She paused, then glanced over her shoulder. A rare, mischievous smile curved her lips.
"If you succeed, then…" Her eyes glimmered with challenge. "You may claim your prize."
Before he could respond, she glided away, her figure vanishing into the silvered shadows of the courtyard.
Haotian stood frozen for a long moment. Only when the faint sound of her footsteps disappeared did he let out a heavy sigh, rubbing his temple.
"This girl…" His voice was low, half a groan and half a laugh. "Two hundred and forty-seven years old, yet after stepping into Dao Comprehension she's acting like she's sixteen again."
His smile softened as he looked up at the frost lotus tree, petals drifting down like snow. Dao of love… daring and open. Truly, this breakthrough has turned her heart into something new.