The courtyard shimmered under the pale light of the moon, blossoms trembling in the cool breeze. Haotian and Lianhua stood side by side beneath the lanterns, the sounds of the banquet long faded behind them.
For a time, they only watched the stars. Then Haotian spoke, his voice low and steady.
"The Sea Bridge seal has been reinforced."
Lianhua turned sharply, her eyes widening.
Haotian nodded, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "Before, we thought there were only three years before it failed. Now… we have nine. I anchored a grand array along the fracture lines. It holds stronger than we hoped."
Lianhua's lips trembled, relief flooding her. "Nine years… Haotian, that changes everything. The sects… the continents… we can prepare properly."
Haotian's eyes softened at her joy, but he lifted a hand, golden light tracing faint diagrams in the air. "But the seal is still incomplete. It has endured countless assaults. The grand array buys time, but not permanence. When I finish its foundation, I'll search for heavenly treasures. With them, I can repair it fully — secure it for thousands of years."
Lianhua's hand rose to her lips, eyes bright with emotion. "Thousands… you mean our child, and his children… they won't face the same storm?"
Haotian smiled faintly, golden eyes softening. "That's the goal."
The weight of years lifted from her shoulders. She laughed, light and clear, then turned to him — and her expression sharpened like a blade.
"But," she said firmly, "don't think that distracts me."
Haotian blinked. "…Distracts you from what?"
Her violet eyes narrowed. "Dual cultivation."
His heart gave the faintest lurch.
"I explained it already," he said quickly, almost too quickly. "Chi-based, no intimacy, no skin contact required. Efficient, clinical—"
Lianhua's arms crossed, her smile sharp as a dagger. "Clinical, is it? Then why is your voice guilty? Why do your eyes avoid mine? Haotian… I know you better than anyone. Tell me. Did you, or did you not, dual cultivate with them?"
He faltered. Even his Eyes of the Universe offered no escape from hers.
Finally, with a long exhale, Haotian bowed his head. "…I did."
Lianhua's smile widened, though her eyes glistened with both amusement and exasperation. She opened her mouth to press further — but before she could, the air shifted.
Four vast presences descended onto the courtyard.
"Hoho, did we hear that right?" Jinhai's booming laugh broke the silence, his arms crossed in smug satisfaction.
"Clinical, indeed!" Meiyun teased, her tone sharp as a whip. "What a clever excuse, grandson."
Yangshen stroked his beard, his voice rumbling like thunder. "The boy takes after us more than we thought."
And Yuying, eyes twinkling, leaned close to Lianhua. "Child, don't let him wriggle free. Press him harder. It's good for his cultivation if his dao heart trembles a little."
The courtyard erupted in laughter. Haotian groaned, one hand over his eyes as if to block out the teasing. "Ancestors… you were listening?"
Jinhai smirked. "Not listening. We felt the ruckus from half the estate."
Meiyun added, "If you want to hide things from Lianhua, grandson, you'll need more than dao eyes. She can pierce your heart more easily than demons ever could."
Lianhua chuckled, her smile softening as she slid her hand into Haotian's. "I know."
Haotian sighed, caught between embarrassment and affection. But even as his ancestors teased, the warmth of his wife's hand reminded him of the truth — he could bend space, split heavens, and command armies, yet before her, he was simply Haotian.
The courtyard still echoed with laughter from the Four Saint Dragons. Meiyun smirked openly, Jinhai slapped his thigh in amusement, Yangshen's chuckle rumbled like a mountain, and Yuying gave Lianhua an approving look as if to say: Well done, child.
Haotian groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Ancestors, must you always appear at the worst moment?"
"Not the worst," Jinhai grinned. "For us, this is the best."
Lianhua's violet eyes, however, never left Haotian. Her amusement faded, replaced with that sharp, cutting clarity he could never evade. "Well? Will you keep evading me, Haotian, or will you finally speak the truth?"
Haotian straightened, the laughter of his ancestors fading into the background. His golden eyes softened as he met hers directly.
"I won't lie to you, Lianhua. Yes — I dual cultivated with some of them. Not from desire, but necessity. The Moon Lotus Sect needed strength, and quickly. I bore that burden so they could rise. Every step, every breakthrough they made, was so they will stand when the demons come. Without that, they would all be lost."
The courtyard fell quiet. Even the ancestors tilted their heads, intrigued by his calm honesty.
Haotian stepped closer, his voice steady but gentler now. "But know this — cultivation partners are not the same as a life partner. You are my heart, Lianhua. My wife. The mother of our son. No dao, no sect, no world could replace you."
Her lips trembled faintly, her heart caught between anger and relief. "Then prove it."
Haotian tilted his head. "How?"
"Finish your grand formation at the Sea Bridge," she said firmly. "Stabilize the seal. When you return… you will marry me. Officially. No more delays. No more excuses."
The ancestors erupted again.
Jinhai bellowed with laughter: "She's cornered you, boy!"
Meiyun smirked, "A proper woman demands a proper vow."
Yangshen and Yuying both nodded, their eyes gleaming with approval.
Haotian chuckled faintly, bowing his head to her. "Then it's settled. Once the grand formation is finished… I will marry you, before heaven and earth."
The tension in her chest eased, her rage finally cooling. She allowed herself a small smile, the fierceness fading into warmth.
For the next few days, Haotian remained by her side.
They walked the courtyards together at dawn, Tianlan often in her arms, while Haotian spoke softly of daos — not of battle, but of life, balance, and resonance. He guided her through meditation, showing her how to let her heart and chi harmonize. Where others struggled to glimpse a single dao, Haotian layered concepts upon concepts, weaving her insights into a greater whole.
By the third day, he touched her brow with a finger, sending golden light spiraling through her mind. The resonance bloomed like a lotus unfolding.
Her eyes widened as realization flooded her. "This… this is—"
"A ten-fold dao," Haotian finished with a smile. "Each layer tied to your virtues, your essence, your bond with me and our son. Yours is not a dao of destruction, but of endurance. A dao that protects, preserves, and uplifts."
Lianhua trembled, tears glimmering in her eyes as she laughed softly. "Haotian… you've given me more than I dreamed."
He pulled her into his arms, his golden gaze gentle. "And I'll give you more still. A future where Tianlan never has to carry the burdens we have."
Above them, the ancestors watched quietly this time. Yangshen murmured, "So this is what it means to forge not just power, but family."
And in that courtyard, beneath the soft light of lanterns and stars, Haotian's promise deepened — not only to marry Lianhua, but to guide her into her own immortal path.
The lanterns had burned low in the Zhenlong courtyard, their glow casting long shadows on the stones. Servants had long since left; Tianlan slept peacefully under watch. Only Haotian and Lianhua remained, seated beneath the blossoms.
Haotian lifted his hand, golden light spiraling from his fingertips into delicate runes that hovered in the air between them. "Close your eyes, Lianhua. Tonight, you will see not just the dao of heaven and earth… but the dao within yourself."
She obeyed, her breath steady, her violet aura pulsing faintly around her. Haotian pressed his palm lightly to her back, guiding his qi into her channels. His Eyes of the Universe glowed, tracing the hidden threads of resonance within her spirit.
"Your dao is not born of conquest," he murmured. "It is born of your heart. Seven virtues dwell within you already — we need only bring them forward."
First Layer — Compassion
Light bloomed in her chest, warm and gentle. She gasped softly, clutching her heart.
"This is compassion," Haotian said softly. "Your instinct to heal, to shield, to feel what others feel. It is not weakness. It is strength."The aura spread like petals opening, filling the courtyard with soft warmth.
Second Layer — Humility
The warmth steadied, grounding her qi. Her shoulders lowered, her aura no longer pushing outward, but folding inward with quiet poise."Humility," Haotian explained. "The reminder that power without restraint consumes itself. You accept your place, and because of that, your dao cannot be toppled."
Third Layer — Patience
A ripple of time seemed to pass through her, her heartbeat slowing until the silence deepened.
"Patience," he whispered. "The river does not cut stone in a day. It flows, unrelenting, until even mountains bow. This is your endurance."
Fourth Layer — Justice
Her aura surged suddenly, a sharp edge piercing the night. For the first time, her qi crackled with steel.
"Justice," Haotian intoned. "The sword that strikes when balance is broken. Mercy when deserved. Punishment when required."The blossoms around them shivered, frost gathering on their edges as her presence sharpened.
Fifth Layer — Courage
The sharpness burned into fire, her aura flaring with sudden boldness. She inhaled, her spine straightening, eyes opening briefly with fearless light."Courage," Haotian said proudly. "To face tribulation without trembling. To stand when all others fall. To keep walking when the path is fire."
Sixth Layer — Love
The fierce light softened, shifting into warmth again. Her aura pulsed like a heartbeat, expanding outward until it brushed against Haotian's. She smiled faintly through closed eyes."Love," he murmured, his own golden qi entwining with hers. "The greatest reshaper of dao. It binds, uplifts, transforms. With love, even destruction becomes creation."
Seventh Layer — Loyalty
The warmth crystallized into something unwavering, like stone set into the marrow of her soul. Her aura no longer wavered or surged — it stood firm, immovable.
"Loyalty," Haotian said, his voice low. "To family. To sect. To your child. This is your root — the vow that no dao can sever."
Her body trembled as the seven virtues aligned, her aura radiating like a lotus of light unfolding. But Haotian was not finished. He leaned closer, his qi drawing new threads into the constellation.
Eighth Layer — Sword
Silver light condensed in her hand as an illusory blade took form. It pulsed with the resonance of her virtues.
"The sword," Haotian said firmly. "Without form, virtue is only thought. The sword gives it voice, sharpness, will. With it, you can protect what you love."
Ninth Layer — Time
The illusory sword shimmered, bending faintly as time rippled around it. Lianhua gasped, the world slowing, each heartbeat stretching into clarity.
"Time," Haotian whispered. "Patience made infinite. The shield that lets your dao endure, preserving what must never be lost."
Tenth Layer — Space
Finally, the ripples widened, and her aura expanded outward until it seemed to touch the horizon itself. Her breath hitched as she felt herself no longer confined to her body, but stretching through the courtyard, the estate, the sky.
"Space," Haotian finished. "The vessel of all things. It carries your virtues beyond you, so they can protect not just family, but the world."
Her eyes snapped open, glowing with violet and silver light. Her qi burst outward in ten radiant layers, forming a blooming lotus of light above the courtyard. Servants peered from afar, jaws dropping, while the ancestors turned their heads in awe.
Meiyun murmured, "Tenfold dao… at her first awakening."Yangshen smiled faintly. "The child has walked her path, but Haotian gave her the road."
Lianhua trembled, laughter spilling from her lips as tears ran down her cheeks. She reached for Haotian, her voice breaking.
"Haotian… you've given me a dao of my own. One that is not shadow, not borrowed, not lesser. A dao that is mine."
Haotian drew her into his arms, golden eyes warm. "Not given, Lianhua. Found. You carried it all along. I only showed you the way."
Above them, the tenfold lotus glowed in the night sky, a promise of the future they would build together.
The morning sun poured golden light over the Zhenlong training grounds. Dew clung to the grass, and faint mist coiled along the stone paths. In the courtyard's center, Haotian stood opposite Lianhua, both clad in light sparring robes.
She gripped an illusory sword, forged not of steel but of her Ten-Fold Dao. Its blade shimmered with shifting hues, sometimes warm, sometimes sharp, as if it reflected her very soul.
High above, four presences lingered unseen to most eyes. Yangshen, Yuying, Jinhai, and Meiyun stood silently on the pavilion terrace, their gazes fixed on the spar below.
Haotian lifted the Fenlong Spear lazily, the black-dragon shaft humming faintly as it caught the morning light. His golden eyes were soft, yet razor-sharp. "Today, Lianhua, you'll not only feel your dao — you'll wield it. Let each virtue shape your sword. And remember: with time and space, you need not move faster or strike harder. You simply strike when your opponent cannot resist."
Lianhua nodded, determination sparking in her violet eyes.
Compassion as Sword
She lunged first, her sword glowing with gentle radiance. The strike seemed soft, harmless — yet when it touched Haotian's aura, he felt his qi ease, his own killing intent dissolving as though smothered by kindness.
Haotian deflected with a flick, smiling. "Compassion is disarming. Even a sword can heal when wielded rightly. But don't mistake softness for weakness — turn it into suppression."
Justice as Sword
Her blade flared sharp and cold. Each thrust rang with the weight of inevitability, as though the strike carried judgment itself. When Haotian parried, the force rippled like a gavel striking.
"Good," he said, spinning aside. "Justice has weight. It doesn't flinch. But temper it, or it blinds itself to truth."
Courage as Sword
Her aura erupted like fire, blade darting forward without hesitation. Each step rang bold, unafraid of consequence. Haotian parried, his robe fluttering with the sheer force of her advance.
He grinned. "Yes. Courage drives forward. Even against stronger foes, the heart doesn't waver. But courage must be bound by wisdom — otherwise it burns itself out."
Love as Sword
Her next stroke softened again, but this time it cut not at Haotian's body, but his spirit. The blade hummed with warmth that reached for his own qi, binding, intertwining.
Haotian's golden eyes flickered, lips tugging upward. "Love transforms. Even as a strike, it uplifts. With love, your sword can strengthen allies while severing enemies."
Loyalty as Sword
Her blade steadied, the light of her dao solid as stone. Every swing was unyielding, as if declaring: this line cannot be crossed.
Haotian struck against it — and was halted. Even his power pressed against her sword like a wave against a cliff.
"Excellent," he said, eyes gleaming. "Loyalty anchors. It makes a wall unshakable, even when the heavens tremble."
But Haotian was not done. He raised his blade, space bending faintly around him. "Now… bind them with time and space. Make your virtues not only yours, but eternal."
Time
Her blade shimmered, and suddenly her movements slowed — yet her strikes arrived sooner than they should. Her thrust passed through Haotian's guard, as if she had chosen the one moment he could not block.
He laughed softly. "Yes. With time, your virtues outlast every opponent. Even a patient mountain will crumble before you."
Space
The next swing distorted the air. Her sword seemed meters away — yet when she moved, its edge brushed Haotian's sleeve. The blade extended where space folded, its range infinite.
The ancestors leaned forward, astonished.
Jinhai muttered, "A sword that judges, a sword that heals, a sword that endures… and with time and space… a sword that can strike anywhere, anytime."
Meiyun's eyes gleamed. "Tenfold dao… and she wields it like a seasoned master already. Is this Haotian's teaching… or her own destiny?"
Yuying whispered, "Both."
Sweat beaded on Lianhua's brow, her breath trembling, but her eyes glowed fiercely. She lowered her sword, chest rising and falling, then smiled at him. "Did I… do it right?"
Haotian grounded the Fenlong Spear in the stone courtyard, its tip humming with restrained qi. Pride gleamed in his golden eyes. "You did more than right. You've shown me that even the dao of virtues can strike sharper than steel. In your hands, Lianhua… the world has a new defender."
She laughed softly, violet eyes glistening. "Then let me stand with you, Haotian. Not just as your wife, but as your sword."
Above them, the ancestors exchanged silent looks. For the first time in generations, even they were unsure who to be more proud of: the Saint Son who carved a path through chaos, or the woman who now stood beside him with a dao that rivaled heaven itself.
The clash of dao light faded as Lianhua lowered her sword, panting faintly, her aura still glowing with the resonance of the virtues. Haotian circled slowly, golden eyes studying her blade with intent.
"You've done well," he said softly. "But there's one more lesson about Compassion you must learn."
Her brow furrowed. "Another? I thought compassion only soothes, heals, restrains…"
Haotian lifted his spear and pointed it lightly toward her chest. "That is one side. But true compassion…" His golden eyes flared, light bending around his gaze. "…is to relieve suffering completely. To absolve sins entirely. And sometimes, the only way to erase suffering — is to erase the one who suffers."
He stepped forward, his spear glowing faintly with golden resonance. "A strike of compassion that forgives all wrongs… is also a strike that leaves nothing behind. No pain, no sin — no existence."
Lianhua froze, her lips parting. Her heart trembled at the weight of it.
Above, the Four Saint Dragons stirred visibly.
Junhai's grin dropped, his eyes narrowing. "A strike that erases sins… by erasing the sinner?"
Meiyun's breath caught. "One hit… and the enemy is gone, their existence undone in the name of mercy."
Yangshen exhaled slowly, his voice heavy. "That is no sword of pity. That is fatal compassion."
Yuying whispered, awe in her tone: "A dao expression so pure it becomes annihilation."
Haotian lowered his weapon, expression calm but firm. "Remember this, Lianhua. Compassion is not always gentle. To those who cannot change, who drown themselves in darkness — a single stroke of compassion can end them. No rage. No hatred. Only release."
The training ground fell into silence, the words sinking in like mountains shifting.
Lianhua's hand trembled on her sword hilt, her eyes wide. She whispered, "To kill with compassion… Haotian, that's…"
He gave a faint smile, though his gaze held unyielding weight. "It is the purest mercy. For when compassion strips away sin… and sin is their existence… then nothing remains."
The ancestors looked at one another, unsettled even in their immortal calm.
For the first time, they realized Haotian was not just teaching virtues as daos.
He was forging weapons from the fabric of morality itself.
And in that moment, the Ten-Fold Dao no longer looked like a path of defense alone. It was a blade sharper than heaven itself.