The miniature cosmos had not returned to silence.
It had deepened.
After the vision of the past faded, the void around Lin Shuan felt heavier—like something unseen had awakened.
A truth.
An inheritance.
A burden.
Lin Shuan stood still.
His breathing was uneven.
His mind… chaotic.
Images overlapped inside him—
ancient wars, collapsing stars, a dying ancestor… and that final gaze.
Why me…?
His fingers slowly rose—
—and touched his forehead.
The mark.
It felt warm.
Alive.
As if something beneath it was watching.
"Tch…"
A faint exhale broke the silence.
Tian Wuchen.
He stood not far away, his figure calm as always—but his eyes…
For the first time—
They carried weight.
"Lin Shuan…"
His voice echoed softly.
Not loud.
But it reached everywhere.
"…the seal on your forehead…"
A faint ripple spread across the void.
"…is not just a mark."
Lin Shuan lowered his hand slowly.
His gaze sharpened.
"…Master…"
His voice was low.
"…what is it…?"
Tian Wuchen looked directly at him.
For a moment—
He did not answer.
As if choosing his words carefully.
"…Within that seal…"
He finally spoke.
"…lies your ancestor—Lin Xin Jian's spiritual power…"
A pause.
"…his remaining Luo Essence…"
Another pause.
"…and…"
For the first time—
His voice grew heavy.
"…his incomplete Dao."
BOOM
Those words struck Lin Shuan like thunder.
His pupils shrank.
"…what…?"
"…And…"
Tian Wuchen continued.
"…before he disappeared…"
His gaze darkened slightly.
"…he left you something else."
The void trembled faintly.
—
"…the most dangerous thing in this entire universe."
Silence.
Absolute.
Lin Shuan's heart skipped.
His thoughts raced wildly.
The most dangerous…?
His mind immediately searched for answers.
Weapons.
Artifacts.
Ancient inheritances.
"…The most dangerous thing…?"
He muttered under his breath.
"…Is it… the God Halberd…?"
His voice grew slightly urgent.
"…Or… the Golden Dragon Halberd…?"
He clenched his fists.
"…But Master… I have never seen such a weapon…"
Tian Wuchen slowly shook his head.
"No."
One word.
Cold.
Certain.
"…What he left behind…"
His voice lowered.
"…is something that once…"
The space around them began to freeze slightly.
"…froze the entire universe."
Lin Shuan's breath stopped.
"…froze… the universe…?"
"…It was something…"
Tian Wuchen continued.
"…that was never meant to exist."
Lin Shuan took a step forward.
His voice carried urgency now.
"…Master… what is it…?"
Tian Wuchen lifted his hand slightly.
Then—
Pointed.
"…It is with you."
Lin Shuan froze.
"…with… me…?"
"…In your body."
His pupils trembled.
Instinctively—
His hand moved to his chest.
Thump.
Thump.
His heartbeat echoed louder than before.
But—
Something felt… different.
"…What… are you saying…?"
Tian Wuchen's gaze deepened.
"…That thing…"
A pause.
"…is your heart."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Lin Shuan's mind went blank.
"…My… heart…?"
For a moment—
He thought he misheard.
"…That's impossible…"
He took a step back.
His voice trembled.
"…I'm alive because of this heart… I was born with it…"
His hand pressed harder against his chest.
"…How could it be… given by him…?"
His breathing became unstable.
"…How…?"
Tian Wuchen watched him quietly.
As if he had already expected this reaction.
"…That is because…"
He spoke calmly.
"…it is not your original heart."
BOOM
Lin Shuan's entire body stiffened.
"…What…?"
"…The moment you were born…"
Tian Wuchen continued.
"…your heart was ordinary."
The void around them shifted again.
A faint illusion appeared—
A newborn child.
A dying figure.
An exchange unseen by the world.
"…But before Lin Xin Jian disappeared…"
"…he replaced it."
Lin Shuan's fingers trembled.
"…He removed your mortal heart…"
His breath stopped.
"…and placed his own…"
A chilling wind swept through the void.
"…Frost Divine Heart."
The moment those words were spoken
Everything froze.
Not metaphorically.
Not emotionally.
Physically.
The space itself slowed.
Particles stopped.
Even time seemed reluctant to move.
Lin Shuan's eyes widened.
"…Frost… Divine Heart…?"
"I have never heard of it…"
Tian Wuchen nodded slightly.
"…Very few have."
"…In ancient times…"
"…it was the symbol of the Lin Clan."
His gaze drifted slightly—as if looking into the distant past.
"…A heart born from the purest essence of frost…"
"…a power that surpasses elemental limits…"
"…a force that can…"
He paused.
"…freeze existence itself."
Lin Shuan subconsciously tightened his grip on his chest.
Thump.
Thump.
This time—
He felt it.
The cold.
A deep, silent cold—
Not painful.
Not violent.
But absolute.
As if something ancient within him had just… awakened.
For a moment—
It felt like the heart…
Was listening.
Lin Shuan's lips parted slightly.
"…It…"
"…it feels…"
"…alive?"
Tian Wuchen didn't answer.
But his silence was enough.
"…Listen carefully, Lin Shuan."
His tone became serious.
"…This heart…"
"…is the ultimate form of the frost element."
"…Even a fraction of its power…"
"…can freeze time."
Lin Shuan's pupils shook violently.
"…And from a distance…"
"…it can freeze the very blood flowing in a warrior's veins."
The void dimmed slightly.
"…However…"
Tian Wuchen's voice softened again.
"…it will not harm you."
Lin Shuan looked up quickly.
"…As long as…"
"…you do not awaken it."
Silence.
The weight of those words settled deeply.
Then—
Tian Wuchen took a step closer.
"…Your cultivation has stagnated."
Lin Shuan clenched his fists.
He lowered his head slightly.
"…Yes…"
"…You believe…"
Tian Wuchen continued slowly.
"…that you are talentless."
Lin Shuan's body stiffened.
"…that no matter what you do…"
"…you cannot advance."
His silence confirmed it.
Then—
"…You are wrong."
Lin Shuan's head snapped up.
"…What…?"
Tian Wuchen's gaze turned sharp.
"…Your body…"
"…and your soul…"
"…are suppressing a sleeping divine heart."
"…Without a divine bloodline."
A faint pause.
"…And yet…"
"…you are still alive."
The void trembled slightly.
"…Do you understand what that means?"
Lin Shuan stood frozen.
"…It means…"
Tian Wuchen said quietly—
"…you are already a miracle."
Silence.
For the first time—
Lin Shuan didn't know what to say.
His entire life—
He had believed he was lacking.
But now—
Everything flipped.
Tian Wuchen turned slightly.
His gaze moved into the endless void.
He remained silent for a few moments.
Thinking.
Calculating.
There is one way…
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Then—
He turned back.
"…Lin Shuan."
"…You must learn to harness the powers of the universe itself."
"…Sit."
Lin Shuan didn't hesitate.
He immediately sat down cross-legged.
The void beneath him stabilized.
"…Close your eyes."
He obeyed.
"…Do not seek power…"
"…Do not force understanding…"
"…Just…"
A soft pause.
"…listen."
Lin Shuan's breathing slowed.
"…Listen to the silence of the void."
At first—
There was nothing.
Only darkness.
Stillness.
But slowly—
Something changed.
The silence…
Was not empty.
It was…
Alive.
A faint vibration.
A rhythm.
A presence.
For the first time—
Lin Shuan felt it.
The universe.
And deep within his chest—
The Frost Divine Heart…
Responded.
Faintly.
Silently.
Like something ancient…
Beginning to awaken.