Chapter 2 — The Crown Prince's Trial
The storm raged through the night, yet by dawn, the skies were clear, as if nothing had happened. Golden sunlight spilled across the roofs of the Imperial Palace, glinting on tiles carved with ancient runes. But the memory of the dragon's roar lingered in every heart.
News spread like wildfire: The Crown Prince had summoned a Heavenly Omen.
From ministers in silken robes to beggars in the streets, everyone whispered the same words. Some spoke in awe. Others, in fear.
Inside the Hall of Eternal Radiance, the Emperor of Great Xu sat upon his jade throne, his expression unreadable. Emperor Xuanyuan was a man of immense presence, his long beard flowing like a river of silver, and his eyes deep as the starry heavens. At his side stood his Empress, her sharp gaze fixed upon Ye Tianlan, who kneeled respectfully before them.
The court was filled with murmurs until the Emperor raised his hand. Silence fell.
"Last night, the Heavenly Dragon appeared above my palace. And lightning bent toward my son." His voice was steady, but each word carried the weight of thunder. "Tianlan, do you understand what this means?"
Ye Tianlan raised his head, golden eyes dimmed to an ember glow. "I understand, Imperial Father. The Heavens have marked me."
A tense murmur rippled through the court. Some ministers bowed in reverence, others exchanged worried glances.
One minister, clad in crimson, stepped forward and knelt. "Your Majesty, such an omen cannot be ignored. The Heavens may bless him… but they may also curse him. For the Crown Prince to summon a dragon of pure Dao essence—he has been thrust into the gaze of the Seven Realms themselves!"
Another minister followed quickly, voice sharp as a blade. "We must test him! If he is truly blessed, let him prove it through the Rite of Awakening. If not… we cannot risk the Empire being dragged into Heavenly conflict."
The Emperor's gaze turned to Ye Tianlan, unreadable.
"The Rite of Awakening," he repeated.
Even the most gifted sons of the Empire feared that ritual. It was no mere test of cultivation—it was a confrontation with one's Dao Heart, the core of one's will, forged against illusions of despair and temptation. To fail meant eternal crippled spirit veins—or death.
Ye Tianlan lowered his head. "I accept the Rite."
The court gasped.
"Foolish!" the Empress hissed under her breath, eyes filled with a rare flicker of fear. "Do you understand the weight of what you agree to?"
Ye Tianlan's lips curved into the faintest smile. "If the Heavens wish to test me, I will not step aside. My Dao is not one of retreat."
The Emperor's deep voice rumbled like distant thunder. "Very well. Three days from now, under the gaze of the ancestral dragon statues, you will undergo the Rite of Awakening."
As Ye Tianlan left the hall, whispers followed him like shadows. Some called him arrogant, others destined. None could deny it—his path had already diverged from ordinary mortals.
Outside the palace walls, commoners watched the Crown Prince walk past, his black-and-gold robes flowing like the night sky. Some knelt in reverence. Others averted their eyes, whispering prayers.
But far beyond the Empire's borders, in the Fiend Realm, a figure cloaked in blood mist smiled coldly. His voice carried across dimensions, a whisper of malice:
"So… the Child of Heaven has awakened. The Seven Realms will burn."
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📜 Author's Note
Thank you for reading! 🙏
This is just the beginning of Ye Tianlan's journey. The next chapter will be released soon, so stay tuned for more battles, cultivation, and the rise of our ruthless protagonist.
If you enjoyed it, don't forget to add to your library and leave a comment—your support motivates me to keep writing faster!
⚡ Next Chapter Coming Soon… ⚡
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