The journey back to the Imperial Capital began before sunrise.
Lin Xue rode silently beside Mo Yuan, his mind still trapped in Bai Yue’s final words.
The second seal lies beneath the Dragon Throne.
The Dragon Throne.
The very symbol of the empire.
For centuries, emperors had sat upon it and claimed to rule by Heaven’s will.
Yet beneath that throne…
Something had been sleeping.
Something connected to the Soul Lotus.
Something powerful enough that Bai Yue had warned them to return.
Lin Xue looked toward the distant capital.
“Mo Yuan.”
“Hm?”
“If the second seal is beneath the Dragon Throne…”
“Then Ji Chen must know about it.”
Mo Yuan’s expression remained calm.
“Probably.”
“And if he knows…”
“He’ll try to stop us.”
Lin Xue nodded.
Neither spoke for several moments.
Then Mo Yuan asked,
“Are you afraid?”
Lin Xue considered the question.
“Yes.”
The honest answer surprised even him.
He had once believed courage meant never being afraid.
Now he understood differently.
Courage was being afraid…
And continuing anyway.
“I’m afraid of losing everyone again.”
Mo Yuan looked at him.
“You won’t.”
Lin Xue smiled faintly.
“You sound very certain.”
“I am.”
“How?”
Mo Yuan’s gaze remained on the road ahead.
“Because I’m here.”
Lin Xue’s heart gave a strange little flutter.
He turned away before Mo Yuan could notice.
The capital gates eventually appeared beyond the morning mist.
But something was wrong.
There were far more soldiers than usual.
Imperial banners hung from every tower.
The streets were nearly empty.
No merchants shouted.
No children played.
Even the palace gates were surrounded by cultivators.
Lin Xue immediately sensed the spiritual pressure.
“The capital is under lockdown.”
Mo Yuan nodded.
“Someone knows we’re coming.”
They dismounted before reaching the main gate.
A group of imperial soldiers approached.
Their leader knelt.
“Your Highness.”
His eyes briefly moved toward Lin Xue.
“His Majesty has ordered that Young Master Lin be brought directly to the palace.”
Lin Xue’s expression remained calm.
“And Prince Mo Yuan?”
The soldier hesitated.
“His Highness has been ordered to report to the Emperor separately.”
Mo Yuan looked at Lin Xue.
“Don’t go alone.”
The soldier lowered his head.
“The Emperor’s command is absolute.”
Lin Xue smiled faintly.
“Then we’ll go together.”
The soldier’s face paled.
“Young Master Lin…”
Mo Yuan stepped forward.
“If the Emperor wants to speak with me, he can speak to both of us.”
No one dared object.
The gates opened.
The moment Lin Xue entered the capital, the Soul Lotus on his wrist began burning.
He stopped.
“Something’s wrong.”
“Where?”
“Beneath us.”
A deep pulse traveled through the ground.
Once.
Twice.
Like a heartbeat.
Lin Xue’s face changed.
“The seal.”
Before they could move—
A bell rang from the palace.
Not the ordinary imperial bell.
The ancient bell.
The same bell Lin Xue had heard when he first awakened in this life.
One strike.
Then another.
Then a third.
The entire city trembled.
People rushed into the streets.
Soldiers dropped to their knees.
Even the cultivators looked toward the palace in fear.
Mo Yuan’s eyes narrowed.
“That’s not a warning.”
Lin Xue stared at the palace.
“No.”
“It’s an awakening.”
Deep beneath the Imperial Palace…
Something opened its eyes.
The chamber was enormous.
Black stone walls stretched into darkness.
Ancient chains covered the floor.
At the center stood a massive golden throne.
But no emperor sat upon it.
Beneath the throne…
A circular formation slowly began to glow.
Crimson.
Then gold.
Then black.
A figure stood within the formation.
Ji Chen.
His golden robes were stained with blood.
His face was expressionless.
Minister Zhao stood behind him.
“Your Highness…”
Ji Chen raised one hand.
“Leave.”
Minister Zhao hesitated.
“But—”
“I said leave.”
The minister bowed.
“Yes.”
When the chamber was empty, Ji Chen slowly approached the formation.
A voice emerged from beneath the throne.
“Why did you bring him back?”
Ji Chen’s face tightened.
“I didn’t.”
“He returned on his own.”
Silence.
Then—
“You failed.”
Ji Chen clenched his fists.
“I can still control the situation.”
“You couldn’t control the Oracle.”
“The Oracle cracked because of Mo Yuan.”
“Then kill him.”
Ji Chen’s expression changed.
“No.”
The voice became colder.
“Why?”
Ji Chen remained silent.
He knew the answer.
Because some part of him…
Still remembered.
The prison.
The poisoned cup.
Lin Xue dying in his arms.
The hatred in those eyes.
And the terrible realization that he had loved him only after it was too late.
He closed his eyes.
“I won’t kill Lin Xue.”
The chamber became completely silent.
Then the voice whispered,
“Then I will.”
Ji Chen’s eyes snapped open.
“Don’t touch him.”
A deep laugh echoed beneath the throne.
“So you remember.”
Ji Chen’s face went pale.
“Not everything.”
“But enough.”
The formation suddenly erupted with crimson light.
Ji Chen staggered backward.
A second voice emerged.
Not from the throne.
From within him.
“Remember.”
His vision shattered.
He saw Lin Xue.
Not once.
Not twice.
But across countless lifetimes.
Different faces.
Different eras.
Different worlds.
Yet always the same two souls.
Lin Xue.
Mo Yuan.
Finding each other.
Loving each other.
Losing each other.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Ji Chen screamed.
“Stop!”
The vision vanished.
He collapsed to one knee.
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
Then he heard footsteps.
Slow.
Familiar.
Lin Xue entered the chamber.
Mo Yuan followed.
Ji Chen looked up.
Their eyes met.
For the first time…
The Crown Prince looked afraid.
Lin Xue stared at him.
“Beneath your throne…”
“The second seal.”
Ji Chen said nothing.
Lin Xue stepped closer.
“Tell me the truth.”
Ji Chen’s gaze shifted toward Mo Yuan.
Then back to Lin Xue.
“The truth?”
His voice was barely a whisper.
“The truth is…”
“…you were never supposed to remember me.”
Lin Xue froze.
Ji Chen slowly stood.
“And neither was he.”
He pointed toward Mo Yuan.
“Because in every life…”
“You were mine first.”
Mo Yuan’s sword immediately left its sheath.
But before he could move—
The Dragon Throne cracked.
A crimson light erupted from beneath it.
The entire palace shook.
And a voice echoed through the chamber.
“SECOND SEAL—AWAKEN.”
Lin Xue’s Soul Lotus ignited.
Mo Yuan’s wolf-shaped mark burned beneath his robes.
And beneath the Dragon Throne…
Something began to rise.