The great hall of the Eternal Yin Orchid Sect carried a hush that morning. Orchid incense curled lazily in the air, catching against the shafts of light spilling through high windows. At the center table, Haotian sat in silence, posture calm but commanding, as if the very sect itself drew steadiness from his presence.
Xiangyin entered, her steps quiet but her aura unmistakable. As Sect Master, she needed no titles to announce herself — her Sovereign strength flowed naturally with each breath. She bowed slightly, placing a sealed jade scroll before him."Haotian," she said, her voice formal but not cold. "Reports from the north. The Blood Trial claims lives every day… but this time, it bears news of names you may recognize."
Haotian broke the seal. Golden script flickered into the air, recounting the purge of Black Fang Gorge — millions of demons slaughtered, three Demon Sovereigns slain, and the impossible unity of the Ten Teams. His gaze sharpened as he read the rankings.
Xue Yanfei – Rank 12.Feng Yueru – Rank 13.Ru Mei – Rank 21.Yan Lan – Rank 22.Lan Xin – Rank 25.
His eyebrow rose, a subtle flicker that did not escape the notice of the three sisters seated nearby.
"Haotian," Yinxue said softly, narrowing her eyes. "You know them."
Ziyue leaned forward, curiosity clear in her expression. Shuyue tilted her head, waiting for his reply.
Even Xiangyin's gaze sharpened. "So. Tell us — what history do you have with these girls?"
Haotian closed the scroll, his golden eyes steady. "Very well."
He began with Yanfei."I first met Xue Yanfei during the Central Tournament. She carries dual frostfire elements, a talent rare even among the great sects. She competed against me in alchemy." His lips curved faintly. "She tried to match me flame for flame. But I won with Primordial Harmony Refinement — perfect pills, flawless scores, where others required hours. It took me only minutes."
The sisters exchanged startled looks.
"She tried again in forging," Haotian continued, his voice calm. "She raised her flames higher, attempting to hinder me. But I answered with Primordial Harmony Forging, perfect weapons in record time. Again, the judges had no choice but to grant me perfection."
He said no more, but the memory of Yanfei's stubborn frostfire eyes lingered in his tone.
Next was Ru Mei."Ru Mei I met as a disciple of the Burning Sun Sect. My team entered a forbidden realm trial hosted by the Azure Sky Sect. She and her party were cornered by beasts. We intervened, saving them. Her senior sister was Yan Lan." His eyes hardened slightly. "But in the end, an abyssal monster appeared. I fought it to buy them time to escape."
The room grew quiet. Even Shuyue's playful curiosity dimmed at the weight of his words.
Then Lan Xin."Lan Xin was a disciple of the Azure Sky Sect," Haotian said, his voice softening. "A zither player. Her music was… unique. Intriguing. When she played, her melodies carried Dao, calming me in ways I hadn't expected. For once, I found myself relaxing. Even in the midst of trials."
Ziyue blinked, surprise flashing in her eyes. "A cultivator whose Dao is in music… and she caught even your attention?"
Haotian gave a faint nod, then lowered his gaze to the last name.
Feng Yueru.
The hall grew still. Yinxue frowned. "And Yueru? Who is she?"
Haotian's lips pressed into a thin line. He stared at the name for a long moment, but the words did not come. Finally, he exhaled slowly, voice quiet but edged.
"…That… is a long story."
The sisters exchanged glances — unsatisfied, curious, unsettled. But Haotian turned his gaze to the window, his golden eyes fixed northward. His silence was final.
The hall was quiet, yet heavy with expectation.
Yinxue's gaze fixed on Haotian, sharp and unrelenting. Ziyue leaned forward, her lips pressed thin, while Shuyue's eyes gleamed with a mix of curiosity and unease. Even Xiangyin, usually unreadable, stood silently at the table's edge, her presence calm but alert.
"Haotian," Yinxue said firmly. "You've told us of Yanfei, of Ru Mei, of Lan Xin… but you stopped when it came to Yueru. You cannot leave it there. Explain."
The weight of three pairs of eyes pressed upon him. Haotian sighed, leaning back slightly in his chair. His golden eyes dimmed as memory stirred.
"It happened during my time training the Demon God Killing Martial Arts," he began, voice low. "I sought Sovereign beasts to fight, to push the art into myself — to burn it into bone and blood. While searching, I heard a scream."
The sisters stiffened.
"It was Yueru," Haotian continued. "She was being chased… by a five-colored serpent." His eyes hardened, recalling the moment. "One strike was enough. I killed it in a single punch. But the poison had already sunk into her veins."
Ziyue's brows furrowed. Shuyue bit her lip. Yinxue's eyes narrowed, wary of where this was leading.
"I gave her a detoxifying pill," Haotian said. "The venom itself was purged. But there were… additional effects." He hesitated, his jaw tightening. "The poison was mixed with an aphrodisiac."
All three sisters gasped, eyes widening. Even Xiangyin's expression flickered.
Haotian's voice stayed calm, though his eyes softened with the weight of responsibility. "With the knowledge and tools I had then, there was no way to fully analyze or remove that effect. The only choice was…" His gaze lowered. "…to take her virginity."
The sisters reacted again, their faces flushing, voices tumbling over each other.
"Haotian—!"
"You… did that?"
"Unbelievable…"
He let their words wash over him before continuing, steady as stone. "I did what was necessary. I saved her life. But saving her meant… I also bound myself to her. From that day forward, I had to take responsibility."
Silence hung thick in the air. Even the incense smoke seemed to pause.
Haotian's voice carried on, a current of steel beneath his calm. "Later, I went to the Azure Tempest Hall. Their Sect Master and Madame — her parents — are Sovereigns. They confronted me. I tried to leave, but they forced my hand. I fought them until I had no choice but to reveal my true identity… and my purpose in the Demon Invasion."
The sisters leaned forward, listening intently.
"In the end, they let me go. Before I left, I gave Yueru a Dao Sword, and a cultivation manual I wrote myself — for wind and lightning. With it, she has the potential to reach Emperor Realm. Within the manual, I also inscribed a five-fold Dao: wind, lightning, sword, space, and time. I told her: if she wishes to follow me… she must become stronger."
The sisters were stunned. Yinxue's lips parted, but no words came. Ziyue exhaled slowly, eyes narrowing in thought. Shuyue simply stared, cheeks pink, clearly torn between shock and reluctant admiration.
Then, one by one, they softened.
"…You are a good man," Yinxue said quietly, her gaze dropping. "Even when forced, you chose responsibility."
"You fight. You refine pills. You forge weapons. You create Dao concepts and even write manuals…" Ziyue's voice trembled with reluctant awe. "…you always find a way."
Shuyue's lips curled into a sly smile, her words slipping loose without filter. "And… you're also impossibly handsome. Silky hair, perfect muscles—"
Her eyes flicked downward, and she added with a teasing lilt, "—and your size is just right."
The hall froze.
Yinxue's face flamed red. Ziyue's mouth dropped open. Haotian's golden eyes narrowed as his lips twitched. And even Xiangyin, the sovereign sect master, turned her head away — a flush creeping across her normally composed features.
"Shuyue!" Yinxue hissed, scandalized.
But Shuyue only grinned wider, her laugh breaking the tension like sunlight through storm clouds.
Haotian exhaled slowly, shaking his head, though the faintest smirk ghosted his lips. "You three…"
The heaviness in the hall had shifted. Bonds had deepened — not broken. Yueru's shadow lingered, but the sisters now understood: Haotian did not act lightly, nor without weight. And for all his strength, his brilliance, his perfection… he was still theirs.
The dawn broke gently over the Eternal Yin Orchid Sect. Mist curled over the flowering courtyards, and the first rays of sunlight scattered across jade tiles, catching on blossoms still wet with dew.
Inside Haotian's chamber, the world was quieter, softer.
He lay reclined against the headrest of his bed, golden eyes half-lidded, his body relaxed in a way it rarely was. The faint hum of his Dao quieted, suppressed for once, allowing the warmth of morning to wash over him.
Around him, the three sisters stirred.
Yinxue rested closest, her head pillowed against his shoulder, her silver hair spilling across his chest like silk. Ziyue sat upright beside him, combing her dark locks with patient fingers, though her cheeks still carried a faint pink flush from the night before. Shuyue sprawled across his lap carelessly, her eyes shut, humming faintly as if in a dream.
For a while, none spoke. The silence was not heavy, but content.
It was Shuyue, as always, who broke it.
She cracked one eye open, grinning lazily up at him. "Mmm… still perfect in the morning. Not fair."
Yinxue groaned softly, lifting her head to glare at her sister. "Do you ever stop?"
Ziyue sighed, though her lips curved faintly. "She's not wrong." Her gaze flicked toward Haotian. "Even after last night's… confessions, you sit there like you've carried nothing at all."
Haotian chuckled low in his throat, his voice smooth. "That's not true. My shoulders are heavy." He tilted his head toward Yinxue, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "But they're lighter when you're beside me."
Her face flushed crimson, and she turned away quickly. "You always say things like that…"
Shuyue giggled, propping her chin on his thigh. "It's because he knows it makes us melt. Handsome, strong, brilliant in alchemy, forging, Dao comprehension, creating cultivation manuals, fighting demons…" She stretched her arms lazily. "And apparently, just as perfect in bed."
"Shuyue!" Yinxue snapped, scandalized, her cheeks blazing.
Even Ziyue turned red, though she coughed lightly and tried to mask it with composure. "You're impossible."
But Shuyue only laughed harder, rolling onto her back, her smile wicked. "Don't glare at me. You both thought it. I just said it."
Haotian smirked faintly, shaking his head. "You sisters… it seems no matter the weight I carry, you always find a way to drag me back to earth."
Ziyue finally smiled outright, brushing her fingers against his hand. "That's because you forget you don't have to carry it alone."
The words softened the air. The teasing faded into warmth, and for a moment, Haotian simply looked at them — Yinxue's stubborn resolve, Ziyue's quiet strength, Shuyue's playful fire.
Three bonds woven tighter by truth, laughter, and intimacy.
The morning glow spilled through the windows, gilding them in light. Outside, the sect stirred with duty and cultivation. But here, in this room, the world could wait.
For now, Haotian's burdens were shared.
And he allowed himself to smile.
The warmth of morning faded as the sisters grew quiet again. The laughter from Shuyue's teasing still lingered in the air, but beneath it was something heavier, unspoken.
It was Yinxue who broke the silence first.
"Haotian," she said softly, her silver eyes searching his. "About Yueru."
His golden gaze flickered, the light of dawn catching in them. He had expected this. Slowly, he nodded.
Ziyue drew a long breath, folding her hands in her lap. "We've heard your explanation. The serpent, the poison, the… circumstances." Her voice trembled but steadied as she continued. "We don't doubt that you did what you had to do to save her. We know you."
Shuyue sat upright, her usual playful grin subdued. "But it doesn't change the fact that she now carries something we do too. A bond. With you."
The words hung heavy.
Haotian leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his hands clasped. His voice was calm, but beneath it lay steel. "I will not deny responsibility. What happened to Yueru was forced by circumstance, but it tied her to me nonetheless. If she chooses to walk her path toward me, I will not reject her. That much, I owe."
The sisters exchanged glances.
Yinxue's brow furrowed, conflict flickering in her eyes. But after a long pause, she exhaled softly. "…Then we will accept her. Even if it's difficult, even if it stings. Because you are ours, and what you carry, we must carry too."
Ziyue nodded slowly, though her expression was tight. "So long as you do not forget — we were here first. We will not yield our place in your heart."
Shuyue huffed, crossing her arms but unable to hide the faint blush coloring her cheeks. "If she joins us, then she'll have to endure me too. I won't make it easy."
Haotian's lips curved faintly, his gaze softening as he looked at the three of them. "You three… your acceptance means more than you know. Whatever paths open in the future, nothing changes what we have here."
The tension eased, the sisters' shoulders relaxing. They had not embraced Yueru, not yet — but they had acknowledged her place. It was not forgiveness, nor welcome, but it was resolve: that they would not let her shadow drive a wedge between them.
For the first time, Xiangyin spoke, her voice quiet but firm."Then it is settled. The Eternal Yin Orchid Sect will not fracture over one girl's fate. What matters is unity — yours, and ours."
Her words sealed the moment like iron.
Haotian rose, his tall form backlit by the dawn spilling through the open windows. He looked down at the three sisters, his voice steady, carrying both weight and warmth."Together, we will move forward. Whatever storms await, we face them as one."
The three sisters, despite their mixed hearts, nodded as one.
Acceptance had not erased the sting. But it had forged resolve.
And that, for now, was enough.
The sect grounds of the Eternal Yin Orchid were no longer peaceful.
It began with a single bolt of lightning, a single Saint breaking through. Then another. And another.
By the second day, the heavens themselves seemed locked over the Moon Lotus Pavilion, tribulation clouds refusing to disperse as if they knew their work was not yet finished.
One disciple after another stepped into Sovereign Realm. The skies roared, lightning lashed, flames burned, frost cracked the air. The Pavilion's great board, erected in the square after the madness of the previous waves, was updated without pause — glowing golden lines etching "Breakthrough – 1… 2… 3…" in neat succession.
The Eternal Yin Orchid Sect disciples outside the Pavilion were less impressed.
On the third night, a group staggered through the courtyard, their eyes bloodshot, their steps uneven."Another one?!" one cried, clutching his ears as another thunderbolt shook the mountains."I haven't slept in three days!" another wailed."Why couldn't they all do it at once?! Why one at a time?!"
Every hour, another storm. Every hour, another deafening crack of tribulation thunder. The elders of the Orchid Sect began stuffing cotton into their ears. The disciples took to hiding under blankets, muttering prayers that it would end.
By the fifth day, a group of them stormed Xiangyin's hall, dark bags hanging beneath their eyes."Sect Master! This is unbearable! We—"
"Beat it," Xiangyin cut them off coldly, her silver eyes flashing. "Do you not understand? There are only one hundred and seven left. When they finish, you can have your sleep. Until then, endure."
The protestors froze, paling under her Sovereign aura, and left muttering miserably. Word spread quickly. After that, no one dared complain aloud.
By the sixth day, the entire sect had gone half-mad. The board in the square was surrounded by bleary-eyed Orchid disciples who groaned every time the numbers ticked upward.
"Seventy-six… it's at seventy-six now…" one muttered."Make it stop," another whimpered.But in the Pavilion itself, the atmosphere was radiant. The 643 Sovereigns stood proudly as they watched their brothers and sisters climb one after another. Each success was met with cheers, each tribulation conquered with roars of triumph.
The week became a festival of ascension.
On the seventh dawn, the last of the tribulation clouds swirled above the Pavilion. The final disciple knelt beneath the sky, their body trembling as the heavens struck them with a pillar of lightning so bright it turned night into day.
They endured. They rose.
The thunder dispersed at last, the skies clearing for the first time in days.
In the square, the board shone with golden script, finalizing the count:750 Sovereigns. Complete.
The Pavilion erupted. Voices thundered together, their cry shaking the very foundations of the mountain.
"Senior Brother!"
Haotian stood at the head of the gathering, golden eyes scanning the sea of Sovereigns before him. The three sisters flanked him, their faces proud despite the fatigue that lingered in their own bodies from guiding so many. Xiangyin stood apart, watching in silence, her heart pounding despite herself.
The world would never be the same. One Pavilion. Seven hundred and fifty Sovereigns.
Haotian's voice carried over them, steady and unyielding.
"Today, the Moon Lotus Pavilion is whole. Seven hundred and fifty Sovereigns, united. From this day forward, you are no longer Saints reaching for heaven's shadow — you are Sovereigns who can stand beneath the heavens themselves."
The roar that answered him shook the heavens.
And in the silence that followed, Haotian allowed himself a rare smile.
At last… it was complete.
The Eternal Yin Orchid Sect had barely settled after the storms of breakthrough when the first visitors arrived.
Envoys from the Central Continent came in groups, banners flying, entourages trailing behind them. They didn't go to the Moon Lotus Pavilion; instead, they climbed straight to Sect Master Xiangyin's hall.
They bowed, spoke politely, even smiled. But every word carried the same pressure.
"To see so many Sovereigns rise in such a short time—it's unheard of."
"Surely the Pavilion disciples will answer the Blood Trial."
"The north is bleeding. They can't sit idle."
Xiangyin sat straight-backed, her silver eyes cold, her tone clipped. She gave them no ground. She knew exactly what this was: not admiration, not praise—pressure to send the Pavilion's Sovereigns to die in someone else's war.
Meanwhile, in the Pavilion square, Haotian stood with his disciples as they trained. Lightning and frost cracked against one another, winds tore across the field, fire roared—yet all of it bent beneath his steady voice as he corrected their movements.
That was when he felt it.
A presence. Quiet, but too heavy to ignore.
A man in a dark blue robe stood at the edge of the square. Golden dragons curled in the embroidery, subtle yet impossible to miss. He looked ordinary at first glance, but the weight behind him was not ordinary at all.
Haotian turned and met his eyes. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
"Senior," he said evenly. "This isn't the best place to talk. How about somewhere quieter?"
The man's smile spread, calm and amused. "Lead the way."
Disciples instinctively moved aside as Haotian walked him through the corridors and into a secluded jade pavilion.
When they were alone, Haotian stopped. His bow was deeper this time. His voice lost its casual tone.
"Your Majesty."
The man laughed—low, rich, carrying the ease of someone who had nothing to prove. "Not bad. Most wouldn't see through me so quickly."
Haotian straightened, his golden eyes steady. "No Sovereign carries that kind of presence. Only an Emperor does."
The man's smile deepened. He didn't confirm it, didn't offer his name, just studied Haotian as though weighing him.
"You don't hesitate," he said. "You call me Emperor without waiting for me to say it. You see straight through the act."
"I only spoke what was true," Haotian replied calmly.
The man chuckled again, shaking his head in approval. "Good. Then let's drop the masks. From here on, we'll talk directly—man to Emperor."
The air between them shifted. The politeness was gone. What remained was sharp, honest, and heavy with what was coming next.
The jade pavilion was quiet. Only the sound of wind slipping through the carved lattice filled the air.
Haotian stood straight, his eyes locked on the man across from him. No envoys, no disciples, no interruptions. Just the two of them.
The middle-aged man with the dragon-embroidered robe lowered himself into a seat, moving with the ease of someone who had never been denied space in his life. His smile was calm, but his eyes carried a weight that tested everything they touched.
"You noticed me right away," he said, tone amused. "Most would've bowed on instinct, called me 'Sovereign Master,' and begged forgiveness for even looking at me. But you didn't. You kept your ground."
Haotian stayed standing, his hands behind his back. "Respect doesn't mean blindness. A Sovereign's aura is heavy, but yours is… absolute. It would've been an insult to pretend I didn't see it."
The man chuckled. "And then you waited until we were in private before calling me Emperor. Smart. Careful. Humble, but not weak." He tilted his head. "That balance is rare."
Haotian's golden eyes stayed steady. "If I had shouted 'Emperor' in front of my disciples, they would've panicked. Respect can be private. My people don't need to know who visits them until you choose to reveal it."
The man's laughter filled the pavilion. "Good answer." He leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "Tell me, Haotian… do you know why I'm here?"
"You didn't come to congratulate me," Haotian replied plainly. "You came to see if the rumors were true. Seven hundred and fifty Sovereigns in one sect. Enough to scare even an Emperor."
There was no hostility in his tone, but the truth cut through the room.
The Emperor's smile didn't fade. If anything, it grew. "Sharp. You don't dance around your words."
Haotian's voice was calm. "Dancing wastes time. You want to know if I'll let those Sovereigns be thrown into the Blood Trial as fodder. My answer is no."
For the first time, the Emperor's eyes narrowed slightly. Not with anger, but with interest. "No hesitation?"
"None," Haotian said. "I trained them. I watched them bleed for every step. I won't line them up just to be slaughtered so someone else's reputation looks clean."
The Emperor sat back, studying him. His fingers tapped once against the table, a slow rhythm. "Most Sovereigns wouldn't dare speak like this to me."
"Most Sovereigns don't stand where I stand," Haotian replied.
The man laughed again, shaking his head. "You remind me of myself, before the throne chained me down. I like that. And I like you." His eyes gleamed. "So I'll say this: keep your army. The Central Continent will grumble, but they'll wait. Because I've seen enough to know…"
He leaned forward, voice lowering.
"…you're not someone they can move like a chess piece."
The air stilled. For a moment, neither moved.
Finally, the Emperor rose to his feet, his smile still calm but his gaze sharp. "One day, I'll tell you my name. For now, just remember—when the storm breaks, I'll be watching to see how far you climb."
Haotian bowed once, his tone steady. "Then I'll make sure I climb high enough for you to see."
The Emperor's laughter echoed as he turned and walked out, disappearing into the corridors like a shadow fading into daylight.
Haotian stood alone in the jade pavilion, his expression calm, his thoughts sharp.
An Emperor came in person, he thought. That means the game's already changed.