The light still wrapped the land in brilliance, flowing outward for hundreds of miles. Haotian floated high above the sect, his golden eyes opening — and the world was no longer the same.
The Eyes of the Universe blazed, permanently active, their constellations alive with infinite motion. His sight pierced the air and revealed what none else could touch.
Threads of chi stretched across the sky in vivid bands, each strand color-coded to its essence: crimson for fire, sapphire for water, emerald for wind, ochre for earth, argent for lightning, and countless subtler hues. They wove together like rivers converging, and he could follow every flow, every intersection, every flaw.
And beyond the threads, the runes.
The laws of the world shimmered as symbols, shifting, collapsing, rewriting themselves with every breath of time. Glyphs of silver-black revealed the current of time, fragile yet unyielding. Pale lattices shimmered where space itself folded. He reached out and touched them, and the runes bent. Space rippled like fabric, time slowed and quickened at his will.
But there was more.
Every object around him — the stones beneath, the towers of the sect below, even the robes of the disciples — now carried echoes. Runes traced back into their histories, flickering faintly in his sight. With a glance, he could follow the story of a sword from the moment ore was mined, to the forge-fire that shaped it, to the blood it had spilled. He could see the hands that held it, the triumphs, the betrayals. Nothing was truly hidden.
I can see the past of the world itself, Haotian thought, the corners of his lips curving faintly. And if I can trace it… then I can bend it.
Below, the Moon Lotus Sect erupted from their halls, every disciple staring upward in awe. The phenomena stretched far and wide, beasts bowing, plants blooming, rivers gleaming under the light.
The Sect Master rose from her seat. Yinxue's frost qi surged as she lifted into the air, veil catching the sunlight as she ascended toward him. When she stopped before him, her breath caught.
His eyes.
Constellations swirled within them, runes sparking with truths too vast to name. She had suspected his gift, but seeing it fully awakened left her shaken.
Her voice, normally steady, was hushed. "Haotian… what Dao have you chosen?"
He turned to her, golden constellations gleaming. His smile was unshaken. "The Dao of the Universe."
The words struck her like a blow. Her veil trembled as her heart tightened. "…That Dao… it has no end. It is a path that swallows all who dare to tread it."
Haotian's grin deepened, fearless. "I considered it. And I will overcome it."
The frost within her stirred. For the first time, Yinxue felt the ice of her restraint weaken.
He lifted a hand toward her. "Come."
He stepped forward onto the air itself. A ring of golden chi rippled outward from his foot, spreading like a staircase woven from light. Yinxue hesitated only a moment before turning to walk beside him. Frost-blue ripples answered his gold, their colors mingling as they ascended side by side.
Below, the disciples whispered in awe.
"Look at them… as if they walk upon the heavens."
"Sect Master and Senior Brother Haotian… they look like…"
"…a couple."
The whispers spread like wildfire.
Among the crowd, Ziyue's gaze sharpened. Her chest ached as she remembered Yinxue's promise, the confession she had made. Now it was undeniable — Yinxue loved him too. Jealousy surged like fire, but as she watched their steps ripple gold and frost across the sky, her anger faded into a quiet sigh.
Before Haotian… we can only be sisters. Sisters who love the same man.
On the edge of the courtyard, Shuyue stood frozen, her hand pressed against her chest. The heart-seal burned with every beat, turning her love into torment. Watching him walk beside Yinxue carved pain deeper into her, yet she could not step forward, could not confess. Tears glistened in her eyes as she trembled in silence.
Above, Haotian and Yinxue continued their walk across the sky, their ripples spreading like waves across the heavens. The disciples saw gods. Ziyue saw resignation. Shuyue felt torment.
And Haotian, with the Eyes of the Universe blazing, looked upon it all — threads of chi, runes of law, and the hidden histories of every object that lay within his sight.
His Dao was endless, dangerous, perhaps impossible. But limitless.
And he would not turn from it.
The golden and frost-blue ripples faded as Haotian and Yinxue descended from the sky, stepping down as though the air itself had become a staircase. When their feet touched the stone courtyard of the Moon Lotus Sect, silence gripped the disciples and elders alike.
All eyes fixed on Haotian's gaze.
The Eyes of the Universe blazed without dimming, golden irises filled with constellations in constant motion, runes glimmering faintly within them. Threads of colored chi reflected in his sight, though the women below only saw their reflection in his eyes — as if the universe itself was watching them back.
Several younger disciples lowered their heads, flustered, cheeks red. Even the elder women, seasoned in cultivation, found themselves unsettled. None could meet his eyes for long.
Haotian smiled lightly, breaking the tension. "You've all grown quickly. Many of you have already reached the peak of the Soul Transformation Realm." His gaze moved across the disciples, lingering just long enough to make each of them feel seen. "That means it's time to begin considering your Dao."
A ripple passed through the crowd — surprise, awe, even nervousness.
He continued, calm and steady. "Your Codex has carried you well, but it cannot guide you to the next realm. If you wish to advance, you must seek the Dao that belongs to you alone."
One elder bowed her head. "Senior Brother Haotian… to search for a Dao, to comprehend it — it is more than we can yet grasp. Will you guide us?"
Others followed quickly, voices rising.
"Yes, guide us."
"Teach us."
"If it is you, we will follow."
Haotian's grin widened faintly. "Then at a later time, I will give a lesson. Until then, reflect for yourselves. The Dao cannot be handed down — but I can show you where to look."
The women bowed deeply, their voices rising in unison. "We thank Senior Brother Haotian."
Their reverence pressed into the courtyard, a tide of respect not seen before in the Moon Lotus Sect. The man who should have been a servant now stood at its center, a sovereign in all but name.
At his side, Yinxue's veil tilted slightly. Her voice, soft but firm, cut through the noise. "Haotian. Follow me."
Her frost-blue qi rippled faintly as she turned, walking ahead without waiting for an answer.
Haotian's golden eyes lingered a moment on the disciples who still watched him with shining gazes, then curved into an amused grin. With easy steps, he followed after the Sect Master.
The hall emptied behind them as Yinxue led the way. Her frost-blue qi shimmered faintly, parting the corridors as they walked, her steps silent yet heavy with thought. Haotian followed casually, hands folded behind his back, the glow of his eyes never dimming.
At last she entered the sect master's inner chamber. The doors closed, and silence fell — the muffled voices of disciples left far behind.
Yinxue turned slowly. The veil over her face stirred as she studied him, and though her posture remained composed, the tremor in her fingers betrayed the storm within her.
His eyes unsettled her most. The Eyes of the Universe burned without pause, constellations shifting like galaxies, runes flickering with truths too vast to name.
Her voice was soft, steady but edged with weight. "Tell me… what has changed?"
Haotian's smile curved. He raised a hand, brushing the air lazily. Threads of colored chi lit in response, weaving around his fingers like ribbons of light. "My sight has deepened. I see chi more vividly now — not only the threads themselves, but their affinities. I can follow the flows as if they were rivers painted in color."
Yinxue's eyes narrowed faintly, her breath slowing as she listened.
Haotian's grin sharpened. "But that isn't all. The world itself… it reveals its laws to me. Runes, endless and shifting. Time, space — I can touch them, bend them, make them answer to my will."
He stepped closer, lowering his voice though amusement laced it still. "Even objects cannot hide their pasts from me. With a glance, I can trace their history — who forged them, who held them, the battles they survived. Nothing remains hidden now."
Yinxue's hand twitched against her sleeve. Her veil shifted as her breath caught, though her voice stayed calm. "Such a Dao…" She paused, the faintest tremor in her words. "…It is vast beyond measure. And dangerous."
Haotian's grin softened. He tilted his head, golden eyes narrowing in quiet mischief. "Endless, yes. Dangerous, perhaps. But…" He let the thought trail, as though changing subjects, his smile easy. "…you haven't forgotten that promise, have you, Sect Master?"
The chamber chilled instantly, frost qi spilling faintly across the floor. Yinxue stiffened, her veil trembling as scarlet heat rose beneath it. For the first time since their meeting, the composure of the Sect Master faltered.
"…Shameless," she whispered, her voice quieter than frost should ever allow.
Haotian laughed warmly, straightening, his amusement ringing through the chamber. "Perhaps. But a promise is still a promise."
The frost qi that lingered in the room trembled faintly. Yinxue's posture stiffened, her veil tilting as a flush rose beneath it. She turned swiftly, hiding her face, her back to him.
Haotian's laughter filled the chamber, warm and unrestrained, echoing off the frosted walls.
The sound lingered long after, while Yinxue remained turned away, her heart pounding beneath layers of ice.
The chamber was quiet, the air touched by the faint chill of frost qi. Yinxue stood with her back to Haotian, her posture poised, her hands folded tightly within her sleeves.
Her voice broke the silence, low but steady. "If you wish to claim your prize… then it is yours."
She did not move at first. Then, slowly, she turned.
Her hands lifted, lowering the veil that had long concealed her. The pale fabric slipped away, revealing a smile fragile yet radiant, a warmth that had been hidden beneath frost for years.
She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, pressing close. Haotian embraced her in turn, his grin softening as his golden eyes gleamed with swirling constellations. When she lifted her face toward him, he leaned in, and their lips met.
The kiss began as a light brush, hesitant — then deepened as Yinxue's breath broke, her composure unraveling. A muffled moan escaped against his lips as she yielded to him, her fingers curling against his chest.
Her hands trembled briefly before finding the knot of her sash. She loosened it, and her outer robe slipped soundlessly from her shoulders, pooling like frost-melt silk upon the floor.
Her eyes lifted to his — not ashamed, but resolute. A silent offering.
Haotian's smile deepened. Without a word, he loosened the ties of his own robe, letting it fall from his frame. His form bore the mark of hardship and cultivation, strength shaped through unending struggle. He stepped closer, his warmth answering hers.
Their lips found each other again, more urgent now. Yinxue's hands pressed against his bare shoulders, her heartbeat racing. Haotian's arms tightened around her, lifting her effortlessly from the floor.
Startled, she let out a soft breath, then instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck.
He carried her to the inner bed, lowering her gently onto it. Their kiss lingered, deepening again, her frost melting beneath his touch. His hand brushed down her arm, trailing to her thigh, and she jolted, a shiver running through her body as she clung tighter to him.
The chamber was filled with their mingled breaths, the sound of barriers breaking —
Until a sharp knock struck against the chamber door.
Both froze. The air between them was still charged, heavy with what had begun but left unfinished.
The sharp knock echoed through the chamber.
Yinxue flinched, her heart jolting. She quickly tried to rise, frost-blue qi stirring in embarrassment and alarm. Her voice cut the silence, firmer than she intended. "Who is it?"
From beyond the door came a familiar voice. "Sect Master, it is me… Ziyue."
Yinxue stiffened, her blood running cold. Ziyue?
Panic rippled through her as she moved to retrieve her robe — which had slipped earlier and now lay crumpled across the floor, far from the bed. Her eyes darted to it in despair, but before she could act, golden light shimmered.
Haotian smirked.
With a wave of his hand, space bent. The air folded soundlessly around Yinxue, locking her body mid-motion. She froze where she sat, unable to move, her bare shoulders exposed under the glow of frostlight.
Her eyes widened, the only part of her that remained free.
What—?! I cannot move! Haotian… what is he doing?!
His shadow leaned close, his whisper brushing against her ear. "Stay here. I will be right back."
Terror and heat twisted together in her chest. What does he mean? What is he planning…?
He straightened, adjusting the robe across his shoulders with casual ease. When he glanced back, the constellations in his golden eyes glittered with amusement, his grin sharp.
Then he strode to the door.
The chamber seal opened with a whisper, and Ziyue stepped inside. She blinked in surprise at seeing Haotian, her cheeks coloring faintly. "Haotian… I didn't know you were with the Sect Master."
His tone was even, calm. "We were discussing something."
Ziyue nodded slowly, uncertain. "Then… may I come in?"
Haotian gestured smoothly. "Of course."
She stepped into the chamber, her eyes adjusting to the dim frostlight. As she moved forward, her gaze snagged on something across the floor — a silken robe, pale and unmistakable.
Her breath caught. "This… isn't this the Sect Master's?"
Her eyes lifted quickly toward the bed.
And there she saw her: Yinxue, frozen mid-motion, her body rigid, her veil gone, her bare figure half-turned as though she had been rising. Only her eyes moved, burning with restrained panic.
Ziyue's lips parted in shock. She staggered a step, unable to form words.
But before she could speak, Haotian was behind her. His hands slid around her waist.
Space rippled.
Her body locked at once, every muscle seizing, her breath cut short. Only her violet eyes moved, darting wildly to Yinxue, then to Haotian, confusion and alarm flooding them.
Two women, both bound by his Dao, their voices silenced, their movements stolen.
And Haotian's golden eyes gleamed in the quiet chamber, constellations spinning endlessly.
Haotian's grip at Ziyue's waist tightened as he leaned close to her ear, his voice low, deliberate.
"I was going to find you later. To celebrate. But since you're here…"
His lips curved in a smirk. "…we might as well celebrate together."
Before she could respond, he tilted her head and kissed her. Firm, deep, certain. Ziyue gasped against his lips, her violet eyes widening before she melted into him, heat rushing across her cheeks.
His hands traced her sides, deliberate in their touch. When he reached her thigh, she shuddered, a soft cry escaping. At that moment, the invisible bindings fell away — she was free.
Her arms moved instantly, one wrapping around his neck, the other pressing against his jaw as she kissed him back with trembling urgency.
Her hands fumbled at her sash, but they shook too much. Haotian chuckled faintly against her lips, and with one motion, loosened it for her. The robe slipped from her shoulders and fell in a silken heap across the floor.
Ziyue flushed scarlet, pressing herself against him, yielding without hesitation.
Haotian deepened the kiss, then swept her into his arms. She gasped, startled, but clung instinctively — her arms tightening around his neck, her legs trembling as they wrapped around him.
He carried her to the bed, golden and violet chi trailing behind them in intertwining streams. He laid her down gently, lowering himself over her.
Ziyue's breath hitched as his presence pressed her deeper into the bed. Her hands gripped his shoulders, and when he began to move steadily against her, she gasped aloud, muffling the sound against his kiss.
The rhythm continued — unbroken, relentless. Each motion drew another sound from her lips, her body reacting with every shift of his weight. Their breaths tangled, unsteady, the heat between them rising as their movements fell into perfect cadence.
The Union of Dual Souls Sutra ignited in full force. Golden and violet qi spiraled around them, surging brighter with every cycle. Each of Haotian's motions drove the Sutra faster, deeper, the yin and yang currents colliding in waves of light.
Ziyue clung tighter, her moans rising with each press, each movement. Her voice broke into his name, trembling and raw. "Haotian… I… I can't—"
The rhythm built higher and higher, until her cry split the chamber.
Her qi burst, her cultivation breaking through its final barrier. Yin and yang spiraled outward in a flood of light, shaking the chamber, rattling the frost-seals as her breakthrough roared to completion.
She collapsed against him, breathless, trembling, her flushed face pressed to his chest as the glow dimmed to embers.
Beside them, Yinxue's frozen body trembled within Haotian's prison. Her cheeks burned crimson, her frost qi shattered by the heat flooding her chest. She turned her face aside, but her eyes betrayed her — fixed on them, unable to look away. Her heart pounded violently, torn between denial and the truth of what she had seen.
But Haotian did not stop. His rhythm pressed on, steady and relentless. Ziyue's voice rose higher with each motion, her body tightening beneath him as the Sutra drove her chi to its limit.
Her moans filled the chamber, her arms clinging to him desperately, her eyes squeezed shut as she rode the tide of their union. Haotian's body tensed as well, the cadence of his movements quickening, the golden light of his qi surging brighter.
At last, the dual resonance peaked. Both trembled together as the Union of Dual Souls Sutra flared in a final burst, golden and violet threads scattering like starlight across the chamber. The energy washed over them in waves before slowly dimming.
Haotian exhaled, his body easing at last. Ziyue lay beneath him, trembling, her voice weak with exhaustion, her breath unsteady as she nestled against him.
But Haotian's golden eyes lifted — and met Yinxue's.
She still stood frozen where his Dao had locked her, unable to move, her breath quick and shallow. Her eyes betrayed her composure, wide and pleading for release, yet trembling with something more. Her body had betrayed her even further, the frost within her undone by heat she could no longer suppress.
Haotian's smile curved knowingly.
He rose from Ziyue's side and crossed to her. His hands lifted, resting at her shoulders, his gaze never leaving hers. Slowly, deliberately, he leaned in.
His lips brushed hers, light at first, testing. Yinxue's eyes widened — but when he pressed deeper, her breath broke into a muffled moan.
Her frost melted under his kiss, her restrained body trembling in defiance of the prison, her heart pounding louder than the silence of the sealed chamber.