For one brief moment,everything remained peaceful.Qing Li was still looking at Ling Yuan,holding his hands.Qing Li's eyes slowly reddened."Ling Yuan..."Ling Yuan looked at him."Hmm?"Qing Li hesitated for several seconds before asking,"Do you remember the old courtyard behind the eastern hall?"Ling Yuan's eyes brightened slightly."The one with the broken stone lantern?"Qing Li gave a faint smile."You broke it."Ling Yuan immediately looked offended."I did not."
Qing Li almost laughed through his tears. "You absolutely did."Ling Yuan shook his head."It was already cracked."Qing Li stared at him."You threw a wooden sword at it."Ling Yuan paused."...Perhaps the lantern was standing in the wrong place."Qing li laughed,but it quickly faded and his gaze lowered to their joined hands."I remember everything now."Ling Yuan's smile softened. "Then perhaps the old things were not truly lost."Qing Li's fingers tightened around his. "They were..I searched for them for so long." Ling Yuan watched him silently.
Qing Li swallowed hard."There were days when I couldn't even remember your voice." His eyes trembled."I knew your name,but I couldn't remember why hearing it hurt."Ling Yuan's expression became gentle."I'm sorry."Qing Li immediately shook his head. "Don't apologize."He looked directly into Ling Yuan's eyes."You didn't do anything wrong."Ling Yuan remained silent for a moment before asking softly,"Then what are you afraid of?"Qing Li's throat tightened. "That I'll wake up again..."He forced himself to continue."...and you'll be gone."
Ling Yuan slowly raised one hand and rested it against Qing Li's shoulder."Then don't wake up yet."Qing Li looked at him in surprise.Ling Yuan smiled faintly."Stay here for this moment."Qing Li nodded,but before he could answer,Wang Xio's voice came from behind them."Qing Li."There was an unusual urgency in his tone.Qing Li turned. Wang Xio was standing near the gate,his expression tense as he watched the fading runes."We cannot stay here any longer."
Qing Li frowned."What?"Wang Xio looked toward the unstable passage."The shrine is already beginning to reject us.We have to go before the path closes completely."Qing Li instinctively tightened his grip on Ling Yuan's hands."But..."Wang Xio's eyes softened slightly."I know."He looked toward Ling Yuan."But whatever this place has allowed us to see,it was never meant to hold us forever."Ling Yuan quietly nodded."He's right."Qing Li looked at him."You agree?" Ling Yuan gave him a small smile."You came here to find what was forgotten."He gently squeezed Qing Li's hand."You found it."
Qing Li's eyes filled with tears again."I don't want to leave you."Ling Yuan's smile remained gentle."Then don't think of it as leaving."Qing Li stared at him."What should I think it is?"Ling Yuan looked toward the glowing gate."A promise that hasn't finished yet."Qing Li's lips trembled."You always make everything sound easy."Ling Yuan quietly laughed."And you always make everything sound impossible."For a moment,their eyes met again.Qing Li slowly nodded."Then I'll come back."Ling Yuan smiled."I'll remember that."
Before Qing Li could say anything,a strange vibration suddenly passed through the shrine.The smile on Ling Yuan's face disappeared as he looked upward."Did you feel that?"Qing Li frowned."Feel what?"Ling Yuan didn't answer.A second vibration shook the floor,slightly stronger than the first.The silver threads surrounding them suddenly stopped moving.
Qing Li's heart sank."Wang Xio..."Wang Xio had already noticed it.His eyes narrowed as he stared at the Threads."Everyone,stay where you are."The carvings covering the walls began flickering.One by one,the glowing symbols dimmed and brightened again,as though something was trying to force its way through the shrine.Hei Long stepped closer to Wang Xio."What is happening?"Wang Xio slowly raised his head."I don't know...But something is interfering with the connection."
Before anyone could ask another question, every Thread in the shrine suddenly trembled and violent pulse of energy spread through the chamber,and the silver Threads snapped backward as though an invisible force had struck them.Qing Li instinctively grabbed Ling Yuan's arm."What was that?" Ling Yuan looked down at his own hand.His fingers were becoming faintly transparent. "Qing Li..."His voice was quieter this time. "Don't..."Qing Li's eyes widened."Don't what?"Ling Yuan slowly looked at him."Don't hold too tightly."
Qing Li stared at him in confusion."Why?" Ling Yuan tried to smile,but the expression didn't reach his eyes."Because I think..."His body flickered for a moment."...something is pulling me away."
"Ling Yuan looked at him sadly."I don't think I get to decide."A deafening crack suddenly echoed above them and ceiling of the shrine seemed to split apart,and beyond it,the sky itself tore open.A gigantic crack spread across the heavens,cutting through the moonlit sky like a wound in reality.Darkness appeared beyond the broken sky,and every Thread in existence seemed to react at the same time.The entire shrine shook.Wang Xio looked upward in disbelief."Reality..."He clenched his fists."It's rejecting the convergence."
Hei Long stared at the younger versions as their bodies began flickering."Then the past and present can't exist together?"Wang Xio shook his head."Not for long."Young Wang Xio's body suddenly became translucent. "What's happening to me?"Adult Wang Xio immediately stepped toward him."Don't move!"Young Wang Xio looked at his older self with surprise."You look worried."Wang Xio's expression tightened."I am."Young Hei Long began fading next.His outline broke into tiny pieces of light before returning again."Hei Long..."Adult Hei Long reached toward him,but his hand passed through his younger self for a brief moment."Stay with us."Young Hei Long gave him a confused smile."You sound like you're saying goodbye."
Hei Long's jaw tightened."I'm not."He tried to grab his hand again."I'm not saying goodbye."Qing Li suddenly looked toward Ling Yuan.His body was flickering faster than the others."No..."Qing Li's breathing became uneven."Not you."Ling Yuan looked at him quietly."Qing Li..."Qing Li shook his head violently."You just told me it was enough."His voice cracked."You can't disappear after saying that."Ling Yuan's eyes softened."Maybe that's why I was able to say it."Qing Li froze.His heart seemed to stop."What?"Ling Yuan smiled faintly. "Because I knew you would remember."
Qing Li's eyes filled with tears."I don't want to only remember you."He pulled Ling Yuan closer."I want you to stay."Ling Yuan looked at him for several seconds before quietly answering,"I know."The shrine shook again and powerful wave of energy tore through the chamber,and the connection between the two timelines began collapsing.The younger children flickered in and out of existence and adults also began fading around their hands and feet.
Qing Li looked down in horror as his own fingers briefly became transparent."I'm fading too..."Hei Long immediately looked toward Wang Xio."If we don't stop this..." Wang Xio's eyes hardened."Then everything connected to this convergence will be separated."He turned toward the enormous stone gate."The gate is the anchor."Qing Li wiped his eyes and looked at him."Then use it!"Wang Xio didn't hesitate and he rushed toward the gate and slammed his palm against the glowing stone."Hold it open!"
A burst of golden spiritual power erupted from his body and rushed through the ancient runes.The entire gate trembled violently.Hei Long immediately understood what Wang Xio was doing."Qing Li!"Qing Li nodded and ran forward with him."I'm coming!"Hei Long placed both hands against the opposite side of the gate and released his spiritual power.A powerful white radiance spread through the shrine.Qing Li stepped between them and released his own energy.A deep blue light burst from his body and joined the others.
Three different spiritual powers collided inside the collapsing shrine,forming a brilliant pillar of light around the gate.The shaking slowed for a moment.Wang Xio gritted his teeth."Don't let the connection break!"Hei Long struggled against the force pulling the gate apart."I'm trying!"Qing Li looked toward Ling Yuan while continuing to pour his power into the gate."Hold on!"Ling Yuan's fading figure smiled weakly."I'm trying..."
The ancient runes suddenly began cracking. One crack appeared across the gate and another spread across the floor.Then dozens more raced along the walls. Moonlight scattered through the chamber like broken glass and beautiful silver threads twisted violently above them,and several snapped apart with flashes of white light. Wang Xio's expression became grim."It's not enough."Hei Long shouted,"Then we'll give it more!"He pushed harder,and the white light around him became brighter.
Qing Li gritted his teeth and poured every bit of strength he had into the gate."I'm not letting it close!"The three spiritual powers surged together once more and gate groaned beneath the pressure.The passage between the past and present barely remained open.And behind them,Ling
Yuan 's fading figure stood silently in the middle of the collapsing moonlight,watching them fight to keep the impossible connection alive.
Every ancient rune carved into the gate trembled violently,while cracks spread across the stone like lightning.Moonlight scattered through the shrine in countless fragments.Wang Xio's hands remained firmly pressed against the gate."Do not yield!"he shouted."If this passage closes now,the connection between the two timelines will be severed forever!"
Hei Long's jaw tightened as he pushed his spiritual power further."You needn't remind me!"His white radiance surged violently."I have no intention of allowing all this effort to become meaningless!"Qing Li's arms trembled from exhaustion,but he refused to step back.His thoughts were no longer focused on the pain,the collapsing shrine,or even the danger surrounding them.He could only think about Ling Yuan."I won't let him disappear again..."he whispered.His eyes burned with determination."Not after finally finding him."
Behind them,Ling Yuan and other's figures fading silently in the middle of the collapsing moonlight.They watched the three of them struggle against the impossible force tearing the passage apart. Their body was already becoming translucent."Qing Li..." Ling Yuan murmured.Qing Li heard his voice through the chaos and immediately turned his head. "Ling Yuan!"Ling Yuan smiled faintly."You don't have to hold it forever."Qing Li shook his head violently."I don't care!"His voice cracked."If holding this gate open is the only thing keeping you here,then I'll hold it until my spirit is completely exhausted!"Ling Yuan's eyes softened."You really haven't changed."
Qing Li gave a strained laugh."You say that as though it's a bad thing."Ling Yuan smiled. "No..."He looked at him quietly."It is the reason I trusted you." Qing Li's eyes stung, but he forced himself to look back at the gate."Then trust me a little longer."Ling Yuan's smile slowly deepened."I will."
The shrine suddenly shook and thunderous crack echoed through the chamber,and one of the pillars split apart.The gate lurched forward any passage began collapsing at an incredible speed.Wang Xio's eyes widened. "The formation is failing!"Hei Long gritted his teeth."How long?"Wang Xio stared at the rapidly fading runes."Perhaps a few breaths." Qing Li's heart sank."That's not enough!"Wang Xio's expression hardened. "Then we shall make it enough."
All three released their remaining strength at once.The gate erupted with blinding light. The collapsing passage stopped for a second then another crack echoed through the shrine.Their spiritual power began breaking apart.Qing Li's vision blurred. "No..."He could feel his strength leaving his body."Not yet..."Hei Long's knees almost buckled,but he forced himself upright. "Hold..."His voice became strained."Just hold a little longer..."Wang Xio's hands trembled against the gate."Everyone..."His voice was barely audible now."One more time."
They pushed forward together.But just as the shrine seemed certain to collapse completely...something changed.A fourth hand suddenly appeared beside theirs.It emerged from the moonlight without warning,placing itself against the gate beside Wang Xio's hand.For a moment,no one moved.Qing Li stared in shock."What?" Hei Long's eyes widened as he felt an unfamiliar spiritual force enter the formation. "That's not our power."Wang Xio slowly turned his head."Who..."
The fourth spiritual power spread through the gate.It wasn't golden.It wasn't blue.It wasn't the pure white spiritual light surrounding Hei Long.It was something entirely different.Pure moon-white radiance flowed across the ancient stone like liquid moonlight.It entered every cracked rune, filled every broken formation,and gently wrapped around the collapsing passage.The shaking immediately began to slow and cracks across the gate stopped spreading. The scattered moonlight returned to the shrine one fragment at a time.
Qing Li stared at the mysterious hand."Who is helping us?"Hei Long's expression became cautious."I don't know."Wang Xio's eyes narrowed."But whoever it is..."He felt the ancient gate becoming stable beneath his palm."...they possess a power older than the formation itself."Ling Yuan's eyes widened slightly as though he recognized something none of them could see."That light..."he whispered.Qing Li immediately looked toward him."You know it?"Ling Yuan's gaze stayed fixed on the moon-white radiance."I thought..."His voice became almost inaudible."...it was gone."Before anyone could question him,a gentle voice echoed through the shrine. "You finally came."
Back to moutain village Several moments passed then XuYang's fingers moved.His brows slowly tightened as though he were struggling to climb out of a deep dream. "...Mm." ChenYu immediately leaned closer. "XuYang?"XuYang's eyelids trembled.His vision was blurred at first.He could only see flickering orange light.He slowly opened his eyes.Burning houses stood in the distance. Broken wooden carts lay scattered across the stone streets and dust floated through the air while terrified villagers huddled beside damaged homes.
Some were carrying the injured.Others were desperately searching through the ruins for their families.XuYang stared silently.His breathing became heavier."What..."He slowly pushed himself up,but pain spread through his body."Ah..." ChenYu caught his shoulder."Don't move too quickly."XuYang looked at him with confusion."Where...are we?"ChenYu hesitated.He looked around at the destroyed village before answering softly."The village."
XuYang's eyes slowly moved across the destruction.His pupils trembled.There Were broken lantern swung from a damaged wooden beam.A child's toy lay abandoned in the middle of the street and thin trail of blood marked the stones.Xu Yang's face gradually lost its color."What..."His throat tightened."...did I do?"Chen Yu immediately shook his head."Xu Yang..."Xu Yang stared at his own hands.His fingers trembled as fragments of memory returned.He remembered crimson light.He remembered the burning streets.He remembered the feeling of something moving through his body.He remembered the villagers screaming."I did this..."His voice cracked. "Didn't I?"Chen Yu firmly held his shoulder. "It wasn't your fault."
Xu Yang looked at him."Then whose fault was it?"Chen Yu struggled to answer."You weren't yourself."Xu Yang lowered his head."But it was my hands."His fingers slowly curled into fists."My power destroyed their homes."Lin Chen stepped closer."You were being controlled."Xu Yang looked up. "That doesn't make the damage disappear." Lin Chen fell silent.Xu Yang's eyes became teary,but he quickly looked away.He didn't want anyone to see."I could hear them..."he whispered."While I was inside that darkness ...I could hear everyone screaming."Chen Yu's expression softened. "You couldn't control your body." Xu Yang swallowed."But I could feel everything."
Then Xu Yang's gaze shifted across the battlefield.He saw the threads and heavenly cultivators.He saw the masked man standing beside the white-haired man.And finally...he saw Zhao Ming.Xu Yang's expression changed."Zhao Ming..." Zhao Ming stood several steps away.Xu Yang slowly pushed himself upright."You're really..."He hesitated."...a demon?" Zhao Ming gave a faint smile."Why are you looking surprised?"Xu Yang stared at the black horns and ancient runes covering his body."Because you were standing beside us all this time."Zhao Ming lowered his eyes. "Yes." XuYang's voice became quieter."You lied to us."
Zhao Ming didn't deny it."I did."Xu Yang clenched his fists."Then why?"Zhao Ming looked toward the ruined village."Because sometimes...the truth is more dangerous than a lie."Xu Yang's eyes hardened."And controlling me?"Zhao Ming's expression changed."I never wanted to hurt you." Xu Yang stepped forward despite the pain in his body."But you did."Zhao Ming remained silent.Xu Yang's voice trembled."You used something inside me.You turned me against everyone.And you watched it happen."
Zhao Ming's eyes slowly narrowed."I was trying to reach something that was buried inside the Heart Blossom."Xu Yang stared at him."Then why didn't you tell me?" Zhao Ming's face tightened."Because you would have tried to stop me."Xu Yang answered immediately."Of course I would have!"His voice echoed through the ruined street."You should have trusted me!" Zhao Ming suddenly looked away "Trust...he whispered."I once trusted Heaven with my brother's life."Xu Yang froze.
Zhao Ming's eyes burned with years of grief. "Shou Heng was my brother."Xu Yang's eyes widened.Lin Chen lowered his head.ChenYu remained silent.Zhao Ming looked toward the Heavenly cultivators."You all know what happened to him."His voice was calm,but the anger beneath it was impossible to hide."You know he never attacked anyone."His gaze moved across their faces."He never betrayed Heaven."The threads behind him slowly twisted through the air."He never tried to harm a single human."
Tian Xuan's expression became heavier. Mu Chen lowered his eyes.Xiao Ren swallowed silently.Zhao Ming's fists tightened."He did nothing."His voice cracked."Nothing except love someone."Lin Chen whispered,"We know."Zhao Ming looked at him."Then don't speak about him as though he was guilty." His voice suddenly became sharp."He wasn't."The crimson aura around him flared and ground beneath his feet cracked."He didn't deserve that judgment."
Chen Yu stepped forward."Zhao Ming..." Zhao Ming shook his head."Don't."He looked toward the sky."I spent years trying to understand what crime he had committed." His bitter smile returned."There wasn't one." Xio Ren eyes darkened."Then why do think Heaven condemn him?"Zhao Ming's expression twisted with pain."Because Heaven had already decided that his love was wrong."
Tian Xuan closed his eyes.Zhao Ming noticed."You remember."Tian Xuan remained silent."You remember the day he stood before Heaven."Zhao Ming's voice became quieter."You remember how he didn't fight."Mu Chen's fingers tightened around his weapon."He accepted the judgment."Zhao Ming laughed bitterly. "Because he believed that if he remained calm...if he showed no hatred...perhaps they would eventually understand."His eyes trembled."But they didn't."XuYang looked down."He still didn't hate them."Zhao Ming nodded slowly."No."And smile appeared through his tears."Even at the end...he still believed Heaven could change."
Lin Chen's expression tightened."And you?"Zhao Ming's smile disappeared."I believed it too."He lowered his gaze toward his hands."That's why I obeyed."Chen Yu's eyes softened."You thought obeying Heaven would save him."Zhao Ming gave a nod."I thought if I carried out their order without question...they would show mercy afterward."His fingers trembled."I was wrong."A tear slipped down his cheek."They never intended to show mercy."
Yan Luo stared at him."So you watched it happen."Zhao Ming's eyes closed."Yes."His voice was barely audible."I stood there." Another tear fell."I heard the judgment."His breathing became uneven."I heard them call him guilty."He clenched his jaw."And I said nothing."The Heavenly cultivators remained motionless.XiaoRen slowly lowered his head.Even Shen Kai,who had been watching Zhao Ming with suspicion,looked away.Zhao Ming whispered,"That was the moment I lost my brother."
Xu Yang stared at him."But you didn't stop loving him." Zhao Ming's eyes opened again."Never... even after Heaven erased his name."The threads suddenly gathered closer to him."Not even after they erased his story."His eyes slowly lifted toward the sky. "And not even after they taught me to believe that obedience was righteousness." Lin Chen's fists tightened."Then why are you doing this now?"
Zhao Ming looked toward the ruined village, the wounded villagers,and finally Xu Yang. "Because I finally understood something." He took a breath."If Heaven could condemn my brother for loving someone..."His eyes hardened."...then I will never again let Heaven decide what deserves to exist." ChenYu's expression changed."Zhao Ming!" Zhao Ming looked toward Xu Yang."But I never wanted you to become part of this." Xu Yang stared back at him."Yet you used me."
Zhao Ming's expression faltered."I know." Xu Yang's hands slowly clenched."You made my body attack people."Zhao Ming lowered his head."I know."Xu Yang's voice became colder."Then don't ask me to forgive you."Zhao Ming was silent for a long moment.Then he gave a faint,lonely smile."I wasn't asking for forgiveness."He looked at Xu Yang."I only wanted you to understand why I stopped trusting Heaven."
The white-haired man finally stepped forward.As he walked silver chains behind the masked figure swayed as he watched them. "There is something you need to understand."Lin Chen turned toward him. "About what happened to Xu Yang?"The white-haired man nodded.He pointed toward the faintly glowing rose mark on Xu Yang's wrist."That mark isn't merely a blessing."Xu Yang instinctively covered his wrist."Then what is it?"
The white-haired man's expression became serious."A key."Chen Yu's eyes narrowed."A key to what?"The white-haired man looked toward the threads surrounding the village. "That depends on what lies beyond the door it opens."LinChen frowned."You're speaking in riddles again."The white-haired man didn't react."The Heart Blossom is connected to memories,spiritual pathways,and ancient seals."He looked directly at Xu Yang."But it also has another function."
XuYang's heart tightened."What function?" The white-haired man answered."It can recognize a voice."Chen Yu immediately understood."Zhao Ming."The white-haired man nodded."If someone knows its true name..."His gaze settled on the rose mark. "...they can influence the bearer."Xu Yang's eyes widened."So that's why I couldn't control my body."The white-haired man said nothing.Xu Yang looked toward Zhao Ming." You knew its true name?"Zhao Ming remained silent.Xu Yang's expression slowly hardened."Why are you mute! tell me."Zhao Ming looked at him."Tell you what?"
Xu Yang stepped closer."The true name of the Heart Blossom."The surrounding threads suddenly became completely still. Zhao Ming looked toward the rose mark
...then toward Xu Yang."Not yet."Xu Yang frowned."Why?"Zhao Ming's voice became strangely gentle."Because once you know its true name..."He paused."...the Heart Blossom will begin remembering you too." Xu Yang felt a chill run through his body. "Remembering me?"
The masked man turned his head toward Xu Yang."And everything that was taken from you."The words made Xu Yang's heart stop for a moment."Taken..."he whispered."What was taken from me?"No one answered.The silver chains behind the masked man suddenly gave a faint metallic sound.One link moved by itself.The Heart Blossom pulsed once beneath Xu Yang's fingers.A memory that did not belong to him flashed through his mind.Where he saw white shrine and field of flowers then he felt like unfamiliar eyes looking at him with unbearable sadness.
Xu Yang staggered as vision vanished. Chen Yu caught him."Xu Yang!"Xu Yang pressed a hand against his head,breathing heavily. "I...saw someone."Lin Chen immediately asked,"Who?"Xu Yang looked toward the countless white petals scattered across the battlefield."I don't know."His voice trembled. "But..."He stared at one fallen flower."...he was waiting for me."