In the grand halls of Qin, Emperor Qin Wushuang sat upon the dragon throne. Though his countenance was stern, his heart churned with conflict. He had always been proud of his son Tai Jian—the war god whose name once inspired fear across the battlefield. Yet pride alone could not overcome the harsh realities of politics.
The ministers and princes of the realm were relentless. They pushed for the marriage alliance, insisting it was the only way to solidify Qin's strength against its neighbors. But with the marriage, a shadow was cast upon Tai Jian's future. By wedding the princess of another state as his official wife, he ensured that if ever he ascended the throne, she would be empress of Qin. Such a reality, the ministers whispered, was unacceptable. For an empress of foreign blood meant divided loyalties, and the seeds of disaster for the empire.
Qin Wushuang's fingers curled tightly around the armrest of his throne. For the first time, he saw the path to succession closing for his most beloved son.
---
Meanwhile, in the flower realm, the night sky shimmered with endless blossoms of light. A lotus pond stretched across the divine palace, each petal glowing faintly like fragments of stars.
Upon a lotus that floated at the very center sat a woman in deep meditation. Her beauty was beyond compare—so perfect that mortals would find it impossible to speak in her presence, as if words themselves betrayed her radiance.
This was the Goddess of Mercy, once the empress of the flower realm in the ancient era—the age of Taiyi's parents. She was one of the last surviving ancient gods, beings who had witnessed the rise and fall of countless heavens.
A woman in golden robes embroidered with a lotus emblem knelt respectfully before her. She was the Flower Goddess, the current ruler of the flower realm, yet even she did not dare lift her gaze.
"Master," she reported softly, "the former emperor has descended to the mortal realm to face his tribulation and nurture the power of chaos. Everything is ready, awaiting your command. The Phoenix Empress herself also came to pay respects."
The Goddess of Mercy opened her eyes, and the very air seemed to still. Her gaze was fathomless, ancient, carrying the weight of countless cycles.
"The plan is entering its final stage," her voice resonated like distant thunder. "Tell me—how fares the Chaotic Lotus?"
"The lotus has reached full maturity," the Flower Goddess replied. "It is gaining sentience. Once it merges fully with the power of chaos, the cycle will be complete. The plan will succeed."
The Goddess of Mercy nodded slowly. Her eyes turned upward to the starlit heavens, her voice heavy.
"Haaah… so many have walked this path before. How many among them truly survive the trial of chaos? How many will emerge from this expedition alive?"
Her sigh lingered in the night air, heavy with sorrow. The Flower Goddess lowered her head further, recognizing her master's mood, and quietly withdrew.
The heavens trembled, yet the mortal world remained ignorant of the storm to come.
---
Far below, in the mortal realm, the progenitor of these coming waves lived quietly. The former emperor wandered as a mortal, seeking comprehension of chaos by tasting the seven desires of humanity. While he pondered the mysteries of the universe, the seeds of upheaval sprouted silently.
Back in Qin, the marriage alliance was swiftly concluded. Yet news spread like wildfire—the princess of the Heaven-Battling State, Tie Hongchen, was a cripple. Her cultivation had been abolished, her once-bright future snuffed out.
The citizens of Qin raged at the decision. How could their war god, Tai Jian, be forced to marry a cripple? Ministers joined the outcry, demanding that Tai Jian cripple himself in return. If his wife was ruined, then he must not surpass her!
The emperor's court became a storm of accusations, each voice pressing down upon Qin Wushuang. The emperor hesitated, his fists clenched, but before he could act, Tai Jian stepped forward.
In the grand hall, he stood tall despite his frail body, his wounds from the battlefield still unhealed. His voice carried across the pillars:
"Since my father is placed in such a difficult position, I shall resolve this matter myself."
And before the court, he abolished his cultivation.
The echo of his shattered meridians rang louder than any gong of war. Qin's war god, the undefeated general, had become nothing more than a cripple.
The capital was thrown into chaos. Rumors swirled like vultures.
Some whispered that Tai Jian, upon hearing of his lover's crippling, had willingly cast away his own cultivation in solidarity. Others spat that it was merely an act of shameful weakness. His fame collapsed overnight, and scorn followed him everywhere.
Even palace maids dared to mock him in hushed tones. His brothers, emboldened, saw their chance to strike.
---
On the day of the wedding, calamity struck. Tie Hongchen was ambushed and gravely wounded, collapsing into unconsciousness.
Tai Jian's fury was absolute. Without hesitation, he stormed into his eldest brother's palace, eyes blazing with killing intent.
Within the compound, blades clashed and shouts rang out as Tai Jian fought. Though crippled, his will alone shook the hall. When he emerged, bloodied yet unyielding, his voice thundered across the estate:
"Even without martial arts, do not think me weak! If any of you dares to touch her again, I will not stop at warnings—I will destroy your palaces, and no one will save you!"
The gathered princes trembled as he strode out proudly, his loyal guard behind him.
Yet Tai Jian did not flee. Instead, he walked straight to the palace custodian, confessed his crimes, and demanded imprisonment.
---
Inside the royal court, panic broke out when news arrived.
"Majesty! Majesty! Urgent news!" cried the old eunuch as he rushed before the emperor, bowing low.
"What is it? Can you not see I am busy?" Qin Wushuang snapped.
"Majesty—it is the crown prince! His Highness is gravely wounded!"
"Bang!" The emperor's fist shattered the table as he rose to his feet. His eyes burned with fury.
"Who dares injure the crown prince of Qin? Do they not place me in their eyes?"
"Your majesty, please calm your anger!" the eunuch pleaded.
"Speak! Who did this?"
The eunuch hesitated, sweat dripping from his brow. "Your majesty… it was His Highness Tai Jian."
The emperor froze. His eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Are you jesting with me? How could a cripple without martial arts harm the crown prince?"
"Your majesty, I dare not lie. It was indeed Tai Jian. He claimed it was vengeance for his wife."
Silence fell heavy upon the throne room. Then, at last, Qin Wushuang let out a cold laugh.
"What a joke. It seems I have indulged him too much."
His voice cut like a blade.
"Let him kneel before the ancestral hall for one week. That will be his punishment."
The eunuch's lips twitched, astonished by the leniency. He understood what the court would not—the emperor was shielding Tai Jian in the only way he could.
Outside, the storm gathered. And above, in the heavens, the Goddess of Mercy watched with ancient eyes, waiting.