Lucien's expression turned grave. "Because the Lotus of Clear Serenity is rarer than ascension itself. It is said to bloom only under perfect conditions—calmness unshaken for a thousand years, the essence of serenity feeding its roots, the aura of wisdom flowing through its petals. To even find one… is like grasping at the heavens themselves. Telling you about it would have given you nothing but false hope. However, there is another reason too."
Max's jaw tightened, his crimson eyes burning hotter. "Where can I find it? And what reason could that be?" His voice was sharp, demanding, each word edged with desperation.
Lucien did not hesitate. "The only place such a lotus could grow in this world is the Bright Buddha Palace. It is said that in the deepest grounds of their sacred domain, where the monks' chants of serenity and their endless pursuit of stillness have shaped the land itself, the Lotus of Clear Serenity can bloom."
