Darkness swallowed Lin Xue whole.
For a brief moment, he could neither see nor hear.
There was only the sensation of falling.
His robes whipped violently around him as the formation dragged him deeper beneath the mountain.
Spiritual energy surged past his body like a raging river, tearing at his protective barrier.
Then—
A hand seized his wrist.
“Lin Xue!”
Mo Yuan’s voice cut through the darkness.
Lin Xue instinctively reached back.
Their fingers locked.
The next instant, Mo Yuan pulled him toward his chest and twisted his body in midair, shielding Lin Xue from the jagged rocks below.
“Hold on.”
“I’m holding!”
A tremendous impact shook the cavern.
They crashed onto a stone platform.
Lin Xue rolled across the ground before finally stopping against a pillar.
For several seconds, neither moved.
Then Lin Xue slowly opened his eyes.
Mo Yuan was lying a few steps away.
His black robes were torn at the shoulder.
Blood stained his sleeve.
“Mo Yuan!”
Lin Xue immediately pushed himself upright.
“I’m fine.”
Mo Yuan sat up.
“You?”
Lin Xue checked his arms and chest.
“No injuries.”
Mo Yuan nodded.
Only then did Lin Xue notice the strange surroundings.
The cavern was enormous.
Ancient stone pillars rose from the ground, each covered with faded golden inscriptions.
At the center stood a circular platform.
And upon that platform…
Was a mirror.
Lin Xue’s breath caught.
“The Heavenly Mirror.”
Mo Yuan slowly stood.
“So they weren’t attacking Qingyun Sect for nothing.”
Lin Xue approached the platform carefully.
The mirror was taller than a person, framed in black jade and engraved with countless ancient symbols.
Its surface was completely dark.
No reflection.
No light.
Nothing.
Lin Xue reached toward it.
Mo Yuan immediately caught his wrist.
“Don’t.”
Lin Xue looked at him.
“Why?”
“We don’t know what it does.”
“We already know.”
Lin Xue pointed toward the inscriptions.
“Look.”
Three ancient characters were carved beneath the mirror.
Heaven Remembers All.
Lin Xue’s expression became solemn.
“If this mirror truly records the past…”
“Then it may show us what happened to the Oracle.”
Mo Yuan didn’t release his wrist.
“Only if it allows us to see.”
Lin Xue glanced down at their hands.
Mo Yuan noticed.
He immediately let go.
“Sorry.”
“It’s fine.”
Lin Xue stepped forward.
This time, Mo Yuan didn’t stop him.
Lin Xue placed his palm against the mirror.
Nothing happened.
He frowned.
He poured spiritual energy into it.
Still nothing.
Then—
The Soul Lotus on his wrist suddenly ignited.
Crimson light spread across the mirror.
Mo Yuan’s eyes widened.
“Lin Xue!”
The cavern trembled.
The mirror began to glow.
Images appeared across its dark surface.
A palace.
A thousand years ago.
A young emperor stood before the Heavenly Oracle.
Beside him stood a man dressed in white.
Lin Xue stared.
He recognized neither face.
Yet somehow…
The scene felt familiar.
The young emperor raised his hand.
A golden thread appeared between the two men.
Then a third figure entered the hall.
A person completely covered in black robes.
Their face could not be seen.
They held a strange red seal.
Lin Xue’s heart began pounding.
The black-robed figure pressed the seal against the Heavenly Oracle.
The golden light turned crimson.
The image suddenly shattered.
Lin Xue staggered backward.
Mo Yuan caught him.
“What did you see?”
Lin Xue breathed heavily.
“Someone altered the Oracle.”
“I know.”
“No.”
Lin Xue looked at him.
“It happened a thousand years ago.”
Mo Yuan’s expression hardened.
“And the person who altered it…” This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
Lin Xue’s eyes returned to the mirror.
“…used the same crimson seal as the one on my wrist.”
Silence.
A cold realization settled between them.
The Soul Lotus wasn’t simply a mark.
It was connected to the origin of the corrupted Oracle.
Before either could speak—
A voice echoed through the cavern.
“Very good.”
Both turned.
The masked man from the mountain stood at the entrance.
But he was no longer alone.
Dozens of black-clad cultivators stood behind him.
And among them…
Was a familiar figure.
Lin Xue’s face went cold.
The man stepped forward.
His robes were embroidered with the imperial dragon.
His expression was calm.
Elegant.
Familiar.
Lin Xue had seen that face every day in his previous life.
It belonged to one of Emperor Ji Chen’s most trusted ministers.
Minister Zhao.
The same man who had stood in the Cold Palace and accused the Lin Clan of treason.
The same man who had delivered the execution decree.
Lin Xue’s fingers slowly tightened.
Minister Zhao smiled.
“Young Master Lin.”
“Perhaps you remember me.”
Lin Xue stared at him.
“I remember.”
Minister Zhao’s smile widened.
“Then you should also remember…”
He raised his hand.
The crimson seal appeared in his palm.
“…how your first life ended.”
Mo Yuan stepped forward.
His sword was already in his hand.
“You’re not leaving this place.”
Minister Zhao laughed softly.
“Prince Mo Yuan.”
“You misunderstand.”
His gaze shifted toward Lin Xue.
“We aren’t here to kill him.”
“We’re here to take him back.”
Lin Xue’s eyes narrowed.
“Take me where?”
Minister Zhao’s expression became almost reverent.
“To the person who has been waiting a thousand years…”
“For the Soul Lotus to return.”
The mirror behind Lin Xue suddenly began to glow.
A single crimson eye appeared within its surface.
And a voice whispered from inside the ancient artifact—
“Lin Xue.”
“Come home.”