The chamber was silent.
Long Wei sat within the inner sanctum of the Heavenly Phoenix Sect, a space carved from jade and moonstone, where incense burned in slow spirals and the air shimmered with qi. Opposite him sat Master Shen Zhen, the Sect Leader—his robes flowing like clouds, his expression timeless.
Beside the prince lay an ancient book, its cover sealed with a qi thread only the worthy could break.
"Open it," the Master said gently. "And read."
Long Wei reached for it.
As his fingers touched the surface, the thread dissolved like morning mist. The pages turned on their own. Symbols rose from the ink and shimmered in the air before sinking into his vision.
It was not just a book.
It was an experience.
He saw the source of all martial power—the Qi Vein of Heaven, the Flame of Will, the Five Gates of the Spirit Core. He saw how warriors shaped the world not through force, but through understanding of the self, the balance of body and soul, and the origin of energy born in silence.
Minutes passed.
Or hours.
When the book finally closed, Long Wei looked up, breath shallow, eyes distant.
The Sect Leader asked calmly,
"Now that you know the source of martial power… do you know the source of your power?"
Long Wei frowned.
"I do not. But I wanted to ask you that before."
Shen Zhen's gaze grew firm, yet kind.
"The source of your power… is yourself. You will understand one day, when the moment comes."
The Master stood.
"As for your mission—the tournament is approved. The pact shall be honored: if you win, we submit to the Empire."
A silver scroll hovered in the air and sealed itself with both their auras.
"We begin now."
The Tournament Begins
The arena lay at the center of the sect—a vast platform of floating stones suspended over an ethereal lake. Crystals floated above, channeling light and qi from the mountain itself.
Crowds filled the outer pavilions—disciples, elders, nobles from the city, soldiers of Jiǔtiān. Everyone had gathered.
Three of Long Wei's elite warriors stepped forward to face three disciples of the sect—battles of skill and honor.
Ren Kai faced a whirlwind spear-user and disarmed him with a single redirecting palm strike that broke the opponent's stance.
Jin Mu fought a qi-blade expert in a dance of energy and pressure, winning by creating a false opening before launching a palm strike.
Bai Feng, the most unpredictable of them all, dueled a fire cultivator and used pressure-point strikes to break through his flames.
Then came the final elite match.
Yue Lan, the lone female warrior, stepped forward, her twin sabers glowing.
Opposite her stood Shen Lianhua, the Sect Leader's daughter—graceful, calm, deadly.
Their duel was like poetry turned into combat.
Each movement flowed with elegance and power, their blades flickering with trails of qi. Mid-air spins, disappearing steps, mirror slashes—neither backing down.
In the final moments, Yue Lan attempted a double-slash meant to disable both legs.
But Shen Lianhua sidestepped, countering with a precise Lotus Palm strike that knocked Yue Lan down—not injured, but bested.
A single point.
Both women bowed with mutual respect, the crowd erupting in applause.
The Final Duel: Long Wei vs. The Spear Deity
The ground trembled when Yu Qian, the Spear Deity, descended onto the platform.
His spear spun in the air, landing upright beside him with a chime.
Long Wei stepped forward.
The entire sect hushed.
"Let's see what kind of prince Heaven has sent us," Yu Qian said.
They bowed.
Then moved.
Faster than any had seen that day.
Long Wei struck first—a burst of sword energy that ripped toward Yu Qian like a white meteor.
But the Spear Deity deflected it with a casual flick, redirecting the blast into the sky where it exploded harmlessly.
He charged.
Their weapons clashed with such force that the floating platforms shivered. Long Wei flipped backward, channeling energy into Tiān Míng, and struck with Sky Piercing Arc, a glowing crescent of force.
Yu Qian spun midair, thrusting with such speed that his spear left five afterimages.
The air cracked.
The sky dimmed.
They moved faster—appearing, vanishing, exchanging dozens of blows above the arena.
Suddenly, Yu Qian's spear glowed red with Heaven's Pulse Qi, stabbing downward.
Long Wei dodged, twisted in the air, and sent a palm blast that cracked the platform.
He landed behind the Spear Deity, blade extended.
Yu Qian froze.
He had been touched.
"I yield," Yu Qian said with a smile, bowing low. "You are strong, Prince Long Wei."
But as Long Wei stepped back, his gaze narrowed.
That was… too easy.He could've blocked that. He… let me win.
The realization settled quietly.
The tournament was more ceremony than contest. A message.
The sect wanted submission… but in a way that honored pride.
The Seal and the Feast
The City Lord stepped forward from the central gate.
He held in his hands a golden jade city seal, glowing with a pulse like a heartbeat.
He placed it into Long Wei's hands.
"From this day forth, Xiangwu stands under the Emperor's banner."
The crowd cheered.
Drums echoed.
And that night—the city feasted.
Lanterns floated into the sky. Music spilled from every corner of the sect. Long Wei sat beside the City Lord, with Long Jie at his side, and the Sect Leader overlooking it all with calm satisfaction.
For once, there was peace.
For once, the night was free of war.
Midnight Wisdom
Later that night, while others still danced or slept, Long Wei walked alone through the moonlit gardens of the sect.
Cherry blossoms drifted around him like snow.
He turned a corner—and found the Sect Master, waiting.
Shen Zhen extended a small wrapped book, bound in dragonhide.
"Before you return to the capital," he said softly, "read this. Not for power, but for clarity."
Long Wei accepted it silently.
The Master met his gaze.
"Make sure you choose the right path… when the time comes."
Then, as silent as wind, the Master disappeared into the trees.
Long Wei stared at the book.
And for the first time in years… he felt uncertainty creep into his spirit.
At the Capital – The Throne Stirs
In the Imperial Palace, sunlight poured through the wide lattice windows of the Dragon Court, where the Emperor sat on his raised throne of obsidian and pearl, eyes narrowed as he read the scroll delivered that morning.
The golden seal of Xiangwu glowed at the edge of the parchment.
He raised a brow.
"So… Long Wei conquered Xiangwu… without war?"
His Royal Adviser, Minister Zhao Wen, stood beside the throne with arms folded behind his back.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Zhao said. "Through a tournament. Not a drop of blood was spilled."
The Emperor's fingers curled against the scroll.
"No lives lost… no resistance… and yet the city is ours."
He turned toward Zhao, voice sharp.
"And you believe this is… good?"
The adviser hesitated.
"In theory, yes. But it also means—"He stopped, choosing his words carefully."—Prince Long Wei has begun to understand something. Perhaps… truths about his lineage. Or your Majesty's intentions."
The Emperor's eyes darkened.
"If Long Wei has begun to think—that's more dangerous than him fighting."
He stood from his throne slowly.
"A sword that cuts only forward is useful. A sword that questions its wielder... is a threat."
He turned away, voice cold.
"Such a prince cannot rule Jiǔtiān."
In the Shadows of Royalty
Beyond the grandeur of the palace, in a secluded courtyard of ebony wood and bamboo gardens, the Third Prince, Long Rui, poured tea for an unexpected guest.
The Fourth Prince, Long Xian, younger and quieter, sat across from him, visibly nervous.
"The news of Xiangwu reached you?" Long Rui asked, smirking slightly.
Long Xian nodded.
"It seems… our brother succeeded."
Long Rui leaned forward, fingers steepled.
"More than succeeded. He returned with honor, praise, loyalty… and possibly knowledge of what he shouldn't know."
He paused.
"Tell me, Long Xian. Are you… willing to become Crown Prince?"
The younger prince froze.
"I—I…"
Long Rui didn't wait for an answer.
"If you're willing, I will back you."
Long Xian looked down at the tea, swirling in his cup like a mirror to his uncertainty.
Outside the courtyard, a servant passed in silence.
Inside, two brothers whispered fate into motion.
In the Empress's Residence
Meanwhile, within the serene halls of the Empress's Palace, Empress Han Meiyin stood before a prayer lantern, her eyes flickering with both relief and concern.
"Xiangwu has submitted…"
Her voice was soft, distant.
She touched a painted scroll of her younger brother—the Sect Leader of Xiangwu.
"I hope… you and Master Shen guided him wisely."
Her gaze hardened slightly as her fingers closed around a jade bead—an old token from her training days.
"But if the Emperor sent him there to destroy his own blood… then Long Wei must now see the truth."
The Return of the Dragon
Two days later…
The gates of Jiǔtiān Capital opened beneath a thunder of hooves.
Long Wei rode at the front, armor gleaming under the noonday sun, his eyes forward—but distant.
Behind him, his four elite warriors and the Imperial Army moved with pride. Civilians crowded the outer roads, cheering and throwing petals. Drums thundered.
But Long Wei's expression remained unreadable.
He had finished reading the book given to him by Master Shen.
And he knew now.
He knew why he had been sent to Xiangwu.He knew who he had almost fought.He knew that behind the Emperor's orders lay something deeper—something manipulative, cold, and ruthless.
There was no warmth in his return.
No joy in his homecoming.
Only silence in his soul.
"So this is what victory tastes like," he murmured.
His gaze shifted to the gates ahead, to the towering palace he had once called home—and now viewed with suspicion.
His soldiers cheered.
The elite warriors smiled.
But Long Wei's heart beat with quiet thunder.
Order and Tension
After dismounting, the army began to settle into the barracks. Rotations would begin. Every year, 100,000 soldiers would cycle between guarding the borders, as decreed by the Emperor.
Peace was declared.
But peace, Long Wei had learned, was often just the mask worn by silent war.
He stood at the gate a moment longer… watching the banners sway… remembering his mother, his uncle, and the words of the Sect Master:
"Make sure you choose the right path… when the time comes."
The time was coming.
And he knew it
To be continued...