The plaza thundered like the roar of dragons.
When Haotian and Lianhua stepped onto the Azure Dragon Sky Sect's platform, the air itself trembled with the weight of countless voices. Disciples screamed until their throats gave out, some collapsed to their knees, pressing their foreheads against the stone in reverence. Others pounded their chests, tears streaming down their faces as they shouted the names of their Saint Son and Saint Daughter.
"Haotian! Lianhua!"
"Spear and Sword! Invincible together!"
"Saint Son! Saint Daughter! Eternal pride of Azure Dragon!"
The sect's elders rose as one, their robes billowing, their eyes wet but burning with pride. A hundred fists struck their chests in salute, the sound like thunder echoing across the mountains.
The sect master himself, normally restrained, stepped forward with trembling hands. His voice cracked with emotion as he bowed deeply before them.
"Azure Dragon bows to you both. From this day, your names will be etched into our sect's eternal annals."
But before the weight of reverence could press too deeply—
The Four Saint Dragons rose.
The terrace fell into silence. The mere act of their standing bent the qi in the air, the heavens above rippling as though bowing to their presence.
Yangshen stepped forward, his booming voice shaking the mountain itself.
"Look well, Azure Dragon! Behold your true heirs! This day, the world has witnessed the return of Saint blood!"
Yuying's gaze swept over the thousands of disciples, her smirk like polished jade.
"You thought yourselves disciples of a great sect. Now you are disciples of the sect—one whose heirs are unmatched beneath the heavens."
Jinhai's laughter rolled like distant thunder, his hand gesturing grandly to Haotian and Lianhua.
"They are more than victors of a trial. They are the blade and spear that will carve the path of the Azure Dragon's supremacy!"
Meiyun stepped last, her eyes shining with pride as she looked upon Lianhua, then Haotian. Her voice was soft, yet it carried further than thunder.
"My children… today, you did not just win. You crushed arrogance, erased pretenders, and made the heavens themselves bow. From this day forth, no one shall question who holds the title of Heaven's Son and Daughter."
The disciples erupted once more, their cheers shaking the sky. The air was filled with chants, songs of victory rising spontaneously from thousands of throats. Azure banners whipped in the wind, the sigils of the dragon flaring as if alive.
Haotian and Lianhua stood at the center of it all—still hand in hand, their faces calm, their smiles faint yet radiant.
They did not bow, nor did they boast. They only looked to one another, their bond speaking louder than any words.
And yet, the world already knew.
The Martial Convergence had ended.
The Alliance had surrendered.
And the Azure Dragon Sky Sect now stood supreme, with their Saint Son and Daughter as living legends.
The celebration roared like a storm across the sect's sacred plaza. But soon, a gong resounded, its deep tone rolling through the mountains like the roar of a dragon. The noise fell silent, the disciples bowing their heads as the elders and sect master stepped forward to begin the ceremony.
At the heart of the terrace, two figures stood—Haotian and Lianhua. Their robes were simple, but the light of their triumph blazed around them like divine armor.
The sect master raised his hands, his voice solemn yet trembling with pride."Today, before the eyes of the heavens and the Alliance, Azure Dragon proclaims the rise of our Saint Son and Saint Daughter. From this day forward, their names shall be inscribed into the Eternal Tablet, their deeds passed down until the stars themselves fade."
He turned first to Haotian. Elders stepped forward, carrying a jade box that shimmered with divine light.
"Zhenlong Haotian," the sect master declared, "you, who have pierced through the Convergence as easily as breathing, who have wielded the Heart of the Spear and eclipsed even Heaven's fire—receive this title: Azure Spear Saint."
The jade box opened, revealing a spear shaft of celestial iron, its runes blazing faintly with starlight. The weapon resonated with Haotian's qi immediately, as though recognizing its master. Disciples gasped as the air trembled with its power.
Haotian bowed his head, his voice calm yet unshakable."I accept. And with this spear, I shall carve a path that the Azure Dragon may soar without fear."
The disciples erupted again, chants of "Azure Spear Saint!" echoing across the mountain.
Next, the sect master turned to Lianhua. Another elder approached, carrying a crimson silk box adorned with lotus carvings.
"Bai Lianhua," he said, his voice softening with awe, "you, who have awakened the Heart of the Sword, whose yin-water devoured illusions and moonlight alike—receive this title: Azure Sword Saint."
The silk box opened, revealing a blade of translucent crystal, its edge gleaming with flowing moonlight. The weapon's spirit sang as it touched Lianhua's hand, rippling through the plaza like the call of a thousand lotuses blooming.
Lianhua's eyes shimmered as she drew the sword slightly, its edge singing before she sheathed it again."I accept. And with this sword, I shall guard Haotian, our sect, and the heavens above."
The disciples bowed deeply, their voices thundering together:"Azure Sword Saint!"
The Four Saint Dragons stepped forward last.
Yangshen's booming voice carried like thunder. "Spear and Sword, Saint Son and Daughter—today, you return the Azure Dragon to its rightful throne above the Alliance!"
Yuying smirked, lifting her hand. From her palm emerged a pair of azure dragon pendants, carved from scales of the Saints themselves. She clasped one around Haotian's neck, the other around Lianhua's. "These marks declare you heirs of the Saint Dragons. None may dispute it."
Jinhai's laughter rolled. "With these treasures, no elder, no master, no sect shall deny your rise."
And Meiyun's voice, soft and proud, sealed the moment. "Together, you are not merely spear and sword. You are the future of the Azure Dragon. The day will come when the Alliance itself bows at your feet."
The crowd thundered with chants, disciples striking the ground until the mountains quaked. Fireworks of qi burst in the sky, dragons of light spiraling above as if the heavens themselves celebrated.
Haotian and Lianhua stood at the center, hands still entwined, their new titles blazing on the Eternal Tablet.
Azure Spear Saint.Azure Sword Saint.
The legends of the Saint Son and Saint Daughter had been written.
The cheers of Azure Dragon still echoed across the heavens. But in the depths of night, far from the celebration fires, another gathering stirred.
In a hidden pavilion layered with seals and shadow veils, sect masters and great elders of the defeated sects gathered around a black-iron table. The air was thick with resentment, their eyes hollow with humiliation.
Candles flickered. Voices hissed.
"On the first day. The first day! Our disciples, our Heaven's Son and Daughter, erased like motes.""We bowed before them. Surrendered the Convergence. A disgrace carved into history itself."
The Crimson Moon Sect's master slammed his fist into the table, cracks spreading across the black iron. His face was pale, but his eyes burned with venom."My son. My daughter. Shattered before the world. And the Saints laughed. Do you expect me to endure this shame?"
Others shifted uneasily. One elder muttered, "Revenge must be taken. But…" His voice dropped into a whisper. "…it is not so simple."
The pavilion fell into silence.
Everyone knew.
Azure Dragon Sky Sect was no longer a regional power—it was an empire in itself. Its influence did not end at this continent's shores. Four other continents bore its mark, its disciples seeded like roots in the soil of every Alliance domain.
And above all…
The Four Saint Dragons.
Yangshen, the War Saint, whose laugh shook mountains.Yuying, the Cold Saint, whose smirk cut sharper than swords.Jinhai, the Storm Saint, whose chuckles rolled like thunder.Meiyun, the Lotus Saint, whose soft words broke pride like glass.
And now… the fifth.
Zhenlong Haotian, bearer of the Heart of the Spear.Bai Lianhua, wielder of the Heart of the Sword.
Together, they formed a pentagon of Saints—an iron wall of power that no single sect could shake.
"Five Saints," one master whispered, his voice cracking. "To strike against one is to draw the wrath of all. Who among us dares shoulder such annihilation?"
The Crimson Moon Sect's master bared his teeth."Then we do not strike alone. We wait. We weave. We gather what remains of our influence, our networks, our hidden ties. Azure Dragon may stretch across five continents, but so too do grudges. We are not the only ones humiliated."
He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a venomous whisper."We will not strike them in open day. No—we will strike in shadow. Through proxies, through schemes, through blades no one sees. Even dragons bleed if cut from the dark."
The pavilion fell quiet. Eyes flickered, hesitation warring with hatred.
Finally, another sect master muttered, "We will need time. Years, perhaps decades. But when their guard lowers…"
"…we will strike."
Their voices wove together, low and hateful."Azure Dragon will pay.""Their Saints will fall.""Their Saint Son and Daughter will not live to rule the heavens."
The candles flickered, their flames sputtering as though recoiling from the venom in their words.
But still, beneath their fury, there was fear.
Because every one of them knew the truth: plotting against Azure Dragon meant plotting against the strongest lineage in all five continents.
And if the Saints ever caught wind of it…
Not even shadows could save them.
The night sky over Azure Dragon Sky Sect shimmered with lantern light and lingering fireworks. But deep within the Saint Residence, the world was silent.
Haotian and Lianhua lay together, their breaths still heavy from the rhythm of dual cultivation. Their qi flowed in perfect harmony, yin and yang spiraling around each other, strengthening both body and spirit. The air carried the scent of lotus and flame, the bed a sanctuary wrapped in silk sheets.
For a long while, they only held each other. Then Haotian broke the silence, his voice low but heavy.
"Dark currents are already stirring."
Lianhua blinked, her head resting against his chest. "What do you mean?"
Haotian's golden eyes stared up at the ceiling beams, as if seeing beyond them to the wider world."Our victory humiliated too many. Sect masters do not forget humiliation. They will scheme, they will whisper, they will wait. When the time comes, they will try to cut us down."
Lianhua frowned, her fingers tracing circles across his skin. "Then what do you have in mind?"
Haotian inhaled slowly. "We need to become stronger. Strong enough that when the storm arrives, it shatters against us."
He shifted, propping himself up slightly, his gaze serious. "This land is the Western Continent. But there are four others—north, south, east… and the central continent." His voice dropped lower. "The central continent is said to be the heart of the world. The ancestors told me… disciples there cultivate at the Saint realm. Which means their elders, their top officials, may have already stepped into immortality."
Lianhua's eyes widened. "Saints… as disciples? Then… immortals leading their sects…?"
Haotian nodded, his expression unshaken. "If that is true, then even the Azure Dragon must tread carefully. Our triumph here is only the first step. Beyond these shores… far greater storms await."
He reached for her hand, his thumb brushing her palm. "We have perfected the Ten Elemental Body Physique. Spirit and body, both refined. But I've been building a theory. Most cultivators only pursue the spirit. A rare few pursue the body—but they fear the Death and Rebirth Tribulation that path demands. Only those who survive it become legends."
Lianhua whispered, "But you…"
"I have the Undying Dragon Sutra," Haotian finished. "It grants me a path to cultivate the body without facing that tribulation. I can merge body and spirit together, walking a dual path no one else dares."
His golden gaze softened. "To do so, I may need to travel. To see the other continents. To seek trials and truths hidden beyond this land."
For a long moment, Lianhua was silent. Her lips trembled as she searched his eyes.
Finally, she spoke, her voice both steady and tender."Then I will follow you. Wherever you go—north, south, east, or even to the central continent. No matter what path you choose, I will walk it with you."
Haotian's lips curved into a rare, gentle smile. He leaned in and kissed her, his voice warm against her mouth."Then I am blessed beyond heaven itself."
Lianhua answered by rolling gracefully atop him, her silken hair spilling across his chest. The sheet slipped away, revealing her flawless, radiant form beneath the moonlight. Her eyes glimmered with resolve and devotion.
"No matter what comes," she whispered, her lips hovering above his, "I will always be with you."
She lowered her head, claiming his mouth in a kiss as her arms tightened around him.
The night deepened. Their breaths mingled, soft moans echoing through the residence, rising and falling like a melody of flame and water entwined. Outside, the sect slumbered in silence, unaware of the storm of affection and resolve that burned within.
By dawn, the night's echoes had faded. But their vow lingered—A vow of love.A vow of strength.A vow to defy heaven and earth together.
Dawn light spilled faintly across the Saint Residence. The sect still slumbered, its mountains wrapped in mist.
Inside, Haotian stirred first. His eyes fluttered open, his body warm from the night before. He pushed himself upright, stretching slightly. But before he could fully awaken—
BOOOOM.
A surge ripped through his mind. His body jolted. His golden-blue pupils snapped wide, his Eyes of the Universe flaring on their own.
Light poured inward.
Golden text shimmered across his vision.
Come in.
And before he could react, the world shifted.
He was pulled into his sea of consciousness.
But it was not the same as before.
Gone was the familiar inner ocean of qi, the whirling stars and flowing currents he had come to know. Instead—he stood in a place vast and indescribable.
Magnificent. Tranquil. Omnipotent.
The sky stretched into infinity, filled with constellations that pulsed like living hearts. The ground beneath his feet gleamed like polished jade, yet it felt softer than mist. Qi here was so dense it shimmered visibly, pouring across the air in flowing streams.
Standing there, Haotian felt small. For the first time since gaining the Heart of the Spear, he truly felt like a speck within a cosmos he could not comprehend.
"Is this… inside me?" he whispered, his voice carried away by the vastness. "No… my inner world is nothing like this."
He moved carefully, each step echoing faintly, searching for meaning in this realm.
At last, in the distance, he saw it: a gondola resting upon still waters that had no shore. Beneath it, a stone table carved with ancient dragon runes, glowing faintly with golden light.
Haotian approached slowly, his gaze sweeping across the endless horizon, his spear-hand twitching in instinctive caution.
But then—
A voice echoed.
"Welcome, young dragon."
Haotian froze. His body stiffened, instincts surging. He spun his gaze across the expanse, spear-will trembling to life. "Who's there?!"
The voice chuckled, neither loud nor soft, but everywhere at once. It carried the weight of mountains, yet the calm of flowing rivers.
"Do not bother searching. You will not succeed."
Haotian's fists clenched, his heart pounding. His golden eyes flickered, but he forced himself to still his breath.
The vast realm pressed against him like the gaze of heaven itself.
The vast realm pressed in on him, quiet and immeasurable. Haotian stood rigid, golden eyes scanning every flicker of light.
"Who are you?" he demanded cautiously, his tone respectful but sharp. "Where is this place? Why have you brought me here?"
The voice laughed softly, not mocking, but ancient. "Vague questions. Vague answers, then."
Haotian narrowed his gaze.
The voice continued, its tone smooth and evasive."As for me… I will not reveal myself yet. But your Zhenlong family ancestors… ah, they should know me well."
Haotian's heart trembled at the words, though his face remained calm. The ancestors? Who could this being be, that even they would know him?
Before he could press further, the entity's tone shifted suddenly, from solemn to almost casual.
"Tell me, young dragon—how is your life so far?"
Haotian blinked, startled. "…What?"
"I asked," the voice chuckled, "how is your life? Speak truthfully."
Haotian hesitated, but against his better judgment, he answered. "I… am happy. Madly in love, in fact. Lianhua—she has been with me since I was a baby, and she was six. From the start, she has always been there."
For the first time, the voice reacted not with calm wisdom, but with sudden surprise—followed by a curse.
"Damn. To have a lover who's shared your life since infancy… Do you realize how rare that is?!"
Haotian froze. "…What?"
The voice leaned in with an almost playful curiosity."Well? Have you two done it yet?"
Haotian's face darkened, his qi flaring unconsciously. "W–what sort of question is that?! Is this what you called me here for?!"
A hearty laugh echoed, shaking the skies of this inner world. "Ah, forgive me! Forgive me. I just… woke up, you see. My memories of what has passed since long ago are hazy. You'll have to excuse my bluntness."
The laughter faded, replaced by a gentler hum. "So, young dragon… indulge me. Share your life experiences with me. Let me see the path you've walked."
Haotian stood still, his fists tightening at his sides. He couldn't sense malice, but the strangeness of it all pressed down on him. His instincts screamed caution, but something within whispered that refusing might mean losing an opportunity beyond comprehension.
The vast realm waited, silent save for the voice's calm request.
The vast realm shimmered in silence, until the voice returned, calm but oddly casual.
"Before you begin, young dragon, there's one thing you should know. Time flows differently here. You don't need to worry about the outside. Just tell your story slowly… with as much detail as possible."
Haotian frowned. "What do you mean, different?"
The voice made a thoughtful hum, as if rifling through some forgotten drawer. "Hmm… the last time I left it at twenty-four hours in here equals one minute outside."
Haotian stiffened. "…What?"
"Wait, let me check." A pause. "Ah, yes, here it is. Confirmed. Twenty-four hours here, one minute out there."
Haotian's face darkened, exasperation rolling down his expression in black lines. "…Are you serious?"
The voice chuckled. "Aww, don't give me that look. Come now—tell me your story."
Haotian sighed. This thing is impossible to deal with… but something tells me I can't refuse.
So he began.
At first, his words were stiff. He told of his childhood in the sect, of training, of Lianhua's presence since he was a baby. His voice carried weight, but as the hours passed, something strange happened.
The entity responded—not with lofty wisdom, but with laughter, teasing, or oddly serious reactions. Sometimes it poked fun at him, sometimes it muttered thoughtful questions, other times it interrupted with incredulous remarks.
And slowly… Haotian began to relax.
The longer they spoke, the more it felt less like speaking to some omnipotent being, and more like chatting with a friend he had known for years. The feeling unsettled him—but it was comfortable all the same.
He spoke of the Ten Elemental Physique. Of his spear training. Of his first fight against the abyss warhound.
The entity whistled. "Impressive. You're far ahead of what I expected at your age."
He spoke of Lianhua, her loyalty, her cultivation, their bond.
The entity snorted. "Damn, I still can't get over it. Childhood lover, unwavering devotion, AND dual cultivation? You hit the jackpot, kid."
Haotian rubbed his temple. "…You're a strange one."
But when he spoke of the Eyes of the Universe, the atmosphere changed.
The entity suddenly leaned in, its voice sharpened. "Your eyes… what exactly do they let you see?"
Haotian described it: the ability to trace energy signatures, bend perception of space and time, pierce through deceptions.
Silence.
Long silence.
Then—suddenly—the voice blurted, "Did I add that function?"
Haotian froze. "…What did you just say?"
The voice coughed, immediately dismissing itself. "Nothing. Nothing at all. Continue."
Haotian narrowed his eyes, suspicion rising. But against his better judgment, he continued.
And so the two talked for hours. Laughter. Jokes. Serious questions. Long silences. The more Haotian spoke, the more the entity seemed… invested. Almost like someone rediscovering a lost part of themselves.
For reasons he could not explain, Haotian felt no fear now. Only a strange, growing sense of familiarity—like this voice was someone he had known, someone who had always been watching from afar.