The chamber had gone completely silent.
Lin Xue stared at the Soul Lotus glowing above his wrist.
Ten petals.
Nine had always existed.
The tenth had appeared only moments ago.
And somehow, Lin Xue knew that it had changed everything.
The golden thread connecting him to Mo Yuan remained suspended between them, pulsing gently with each of their heartbeats.
The ancient Sovereign stared at it in disbelief.
“No…”
He took a step backward.
“This cannot be.”
Lin Xue raised his eyes.
“You said the tenth petal was impossible.”
“It was.”
“Then why is it here?”
The Sovereign didn’t answer.
For the first time since awakening, he looked genuinely afraid.
Mo Yuan stepped closer to Lin Xue.
“What does the tenth petal mean?”
The Sovereign’s gaze shifted toward him.
“It means Heaven has lost control.”
Mo Yuan’s expression hardened.
“Explain.”
“The Soul Lotus was created to obey the laws of Heaven.”
“The first nine petals represent the nine heavenly realms.”
“The tenth…”
His voice became quieter.
“…belongs to neither Heaven nor the mortal world.”
Lin Xue looked down at his wrist.
“Then where does it belong?”
The Sovereign stared at him.
“To the soul itself.”
A strange warmth spread through Lin Xue’s chest.
The golden thread between him and Mo Yuan brightened.
The Sovereign continued.
“The tenth petal appears only when two souls choose each other freely.”
“No prophecy.”
“No Oracle.”
“No heavenly decree.”
“No force.”
Lin Xue slowly looked at Mo Yuan.
“So…”
His voice softened.
“It means no one can decide who we belong to.”
Mo Yuan’s eyes met his.
“No one.”
The answer was quiet.
But certain.
The Sovereign’s expression twisted.
“You still don’t understand.”
“I have watched this happen before.”
“Every time the tenth petal appears, the heavens collapse.”
Lin Xue frowned.
“What?”
“The first bearer awakened it.”
“And the celestial realm fell.”
“The second bearer awakened it.”
“And an entire dynasty disappeared.”
“The third…”
He stopped.
Lin Xue’s eyes narrowed.
“How many times?”
The Sovereign didn’t answer.
Mo Yuan did.
“Nine.”
Lin Xue turned toward him.
“You remember?”
“Fragments.”
Mo Yuan closed his eyes briefly.
“I remember nine lives.”
“Nine times we found each other.”
“Nine times the tenth petal appeared.”
“And nine times…”
His voice became strained.
“…someone died.”
Lin Xue’s heart tightened.
“But we’re alive now.”
“Yes.”
“And the tenth petal is here.”
“Yes.”
“Then perhaps this time…”
Lin Xue looked at the Sovereign.
“…we don’t have to follow the same ending.”
Mo Yuan nodded. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
“We won’t.”
The Sovereign laughed.
A low, bitter sound.
“You believe choice is enough?”
He raised his hand.
The chamber darkened.
“You have no idea what is coming.”
Crimson energy gathered around him.
“The third seal has awakened.”
Lin Xue looked upward.
A faint tremor passed through the mountain.
“Where?”
The Sovereign smiled.
“At the place where your story began.”
Lin Xue’s expression changed.
“Qingyun Sect.”
“No.”
The Sovereign’s gaze shifted toward the distant east.
“Somewhere much older.”
Then he vanished.
The crimson energy disappeared with him.
The chains on the floor shattered.
The chamber became still.
Lin Xue looked at Mo Yuan.
“What was he talking about?”
Mo Yuan didn’t answer.
“Mo Yuan.”
“I don’t know.”
Lin Xue studied his face.
“You do.”
Mo Yuan looked away.
Lin Xue stepped closer.
“Tell me.”
For several moments, Mo Yuan remained silent.
Then he finally said,
“The third seal is connected to your birth.”
Lin Xue froze.
“My birth?”
Mo Yuan nodded.
“Before you were born, the Lin Clan lived in Qingyun Mountain.”
“I know.”
“Not the current sect.”
“The original one.”
Lin Xue’s expression slowly changed.
“My family…”
“Were guardians.”
“Guardians of what?”
Mo Yuan looked at him.
“The first Soul Lotus.”
Lin Xue’s breath caught.
“My family knew?”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn’t anyone tell me?”
“Because they were afraid.”
“Of me?”
“No.”
Mo Yuan’s gaze softened.
“Of what would happen if you remembered.”
Lin Xue stepped back.
Too many secrets.
Too many lies.
His entire life seemed to have been built around a truth everyone knew except him.
“My parents…”
“They knew about the Soul Lotus?”
“Yes.”
“My grandfather?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did they allow me to enter the palace?”
Mo Yuan’s expression darkened.
“They didn’t.”
Lin Xue froze.
“What?”
“Your family never agreed to your marriage with Ji Chen.”
“You were taken.”
The words hit him harder than any attack.
Lin Xue’s memories flashed.
His grandfather arguing with someone.
His mother crying.
His father standing outside his room.
Then Ji Chen arriving.
A decree.
A royal order.
Lin Xue had always remembered believing his family supported the marriage.
But perhaps…
That memory wasn’t real.
His head began to ache. This story is hosted at g.com.
“Someone altered my memories.”
Mo Yuan nodded.
“Most likely.”
Lin Xue closed his eyes.
The realization was devastating.
He had spent his previous life believing his family had betrayed him.
But what if they had been trying to protect him?
What if his grandfather’s coldness had been fear?
What if his mother’s tears had never been about pride?
What if…
The Lin Clan had died because they refused to give him to the throne?
Lin Xue’s hands trembled.
Mo Yuan noticed.
He reached for him.
This time, Lin Xue didn’t pull away.
Mo Yuan gently held his hand.
“You don’t have to remember everything tonight.”
Lin Xue looked at him.
“But I need to know the truth.”
“You will.”
“Promise?”
Mo Yuan’s fingers tightened around his.
“I promise.”
A faint golden light appeared between their hands.
The tenth petal pulsed.
Lin Xue stared at it.
For the first time…
The sight didn’t frighten him.
It felt like a promise.
Then—
A deafening bell rang above them.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Mo Yuan’s expression changed.
“What’s that?”
Lin Xue looked toward the ceiling.
“The sect.”
Another bell.
Then another.
Seven in total.
Lin Xue’s face went pale.
“Seven bells.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means…”
He swallowed.
“Qingyun Sect has declared an emergency.”
Suddenly, a disciple’s voice echoed through a spiritual communication talisman.
“Young Master Lin!”
“Can you hear me?”
Lin Xue immediately activated it.
“Who are you?”
“It’s Elder Shen!”
The old man’s voice trembled.
“Where are you?”
“Under the Imperial Palace.”
“Listen carefully.”
There was panic in his voice.
“The third seal has awakened.”
Lin Xue’s heart stopped.
“Where?”
Elder Shen took a shaky breath.
“Inside Qingyun Sect.”
“What is it?”
Silence.
Then—
“A coffin.”
Lin Xue stared at Mo Yuan.
Elder Shen continued.
“And Young Master…”
His voice dropped to a whisper.
“The coffin…”
“Has your name carved on it.”
The communication talisman went silent.
Lin Xue’s face became completely pale.
Far away, beneath the ancient halls of Qingyun Sect…
A stone coffin slowly opened.
Inside lay a young man dressed in white.
His face was identical to Lin Xue’s.
His eyes opened.
And he whispered—
“Brother.”