The battlefield fell silent, as though heaven and earth themselves were holding their breath.
Then, seated upon the lotus, Lingluo's body began to glow. Purple light cascaded from her, oppressive and majestic, filling the surroundings with a pressure that ground down even the strongest wills.
One by one, the lotus petals detached. They fell soundlessly to the ground, each descent like the tolling of an invisible bell.
Nothing happened — at first. The silence stretched long, until it seemed the world itself was paused in anticipation.
And then…
The fallen petals began to rise, drawn back by unseen currents. They circled around Lingluo, forming a shifting orbit. Slowly at first, then faster, faster still. Their motion became a blur, a ring of violet light so dense it began to obscure her form entirely.
Yu Xuan instinctively stepped back, his gaze sharp. Even he, who trusted her beyond reason, could not deny the raw pressure pressing down on him.
'What is she doing…?'
