The moment they crossed the outer boundary of the Celestial Palace, a strange sensation swept across Chen Yue’s skin.
Like a shiver carried from another world.
Everything felt different here.
The air itself seemed alive.
Purer.
Lighter.
As though it were saturated with an ancient magic that did not belong to her.
Before them rose an enormous staircase ascending toward the heavens.
A breathtaking structure carved from immaculate white stone.
Its steps disappeared directly into the clouds.
The sky shimmered with a pearly glow.
As if even the sun were holding its breath before the majesty of this place.
This isn’t real…
How can somewhere this beautiful make me feel so afraid?
Two women dressed in deep blue robes approached them silently.
They were identical.
The same face.
The same expressionless features.
The same neatly arranged hair.
Like living porcelain dolls.
“Your invitations.” The voice of one was soft.
Yet strangely empty.
Wei Ran handed over the letter.
The women examined it with silent reverence before bowing slightly.
“Young Master Wei Ran.” “Miss Chen Yue.” “The Divine Compatibility Trial is now open to you.” “Ascend the staircase.” “Your destiny awaits.” Chen Yue felt her heart stop.
The mention of the trial instantly paralyzed her.
Destiny?
What destiny?
She remained frozen.
Her feet suddenly felt impossibly heavy.
Her fingers tightened around the folds of her robes.
Climbing those steps meant embracing the unknown.
Perhaps even death.
She swallowed nervously.
“I…
um…” “I’m not really sure…” Wei Ran turned his head toward her.
Just one glance.
And her entire body tensed.
It wasn’t cold.
It wasn’t mocking.
It was absolute calm.
Absolute certainty.
As though there was no danger whatsoever.
But it was his hand that truly unsettled her.
He took hers.
Simply.
His fingers wrapped around hers with quiet confidence.
Not like a domineering man.
Not like an impatient one.
But as though he had always held her hand this way.
“Come.” His voice was calm.
Steady.
She wanted to protest.
She wanted to pull away.
She wanted to tell him: “I’m not ready.” “Give me time.” “I’m afraid.” But when he gently led her forward— She followed.
Together, they climbed.
Each step seemed to pull them farther away from the mortal world.
The higher they rose, the more the light changed.
Growing whiter.
Warmer.
Like a celestial veil wrapping itself around them.
The ground below drifted farther away.
And farther.
Far too quickly.
Chen Yue took a shaky breath.
She glanced behind her.
Then immediately paled.
The entire palace looked tiny.
Like a miniature model resting at the bottom of an endless abyss.
The gardens.
The soldiers.
The golden walls.
Everything vanished beneath an ocean of impossibly white clouds.
A violent wave of dizziness struck her.
“I…” “I’m going to fall…” Her breath caught.
Instinctively, her fingers tightened around Wei Ran’s hand.
Don’t let go.
Please.
He felt her fear instantly.
His grip tightened.
Strong.
Steady.
Protective.
He glanced at her briefly.
Then said calmly: “Look ahead.” “I’m here.” Four simple words.
Yet they affected her far more than they should have.
Her heart stumbled.
Then raced wildly.
The jade bracelet on her wrist grew warm.
Pulsing softly against her skin.
I’m here.
Why did those words feel so reassuring?
They continued climbing.
Their footsteps echoed softly against the sacred stone.
Eventually, they reached the summit.
A colossal gate stood before them.
Radiant.
So enormous it seemed to support the heavens themselves.
Two divine warriors guarded its entrance.
Their armor shimmered with starlight.
As though fragments of the night sky had been forged into metal.
They stood motionless.
Solid as mountains.
One of them raised a hand.
When he spoke, his voice reverberated through the air itself.
Deep.
Ancient.
Powerful.
“Here stands the dwelling of the Judge of United Souls.” “The one who determines destined hearts.” The second warrior continued: “The Compatibility Trial opens only once every hundred years.” “True couples survive.” “Impostors…” His eyes darkened.
“…die beneath the Whip of the Thunder God.” “Their ashes are scattered throughout the realms.” “And their souls shall never reincarnate again.” A cold wind swept across the staircase.
Chen Yue felt her entire body freeze.
“D-Die?” “Turned to ashes?” Her throat tightened painfully.
She turned toward Wei Ran in panic.
“Wei Ran, this is madness!” “If we fail…” “If we make even one mistake…” “We die!” “And our souls disappear forever!” “This is…” Her voice broke.
Her hands trembled.
We can’t do this.
We absolutely can’t.
Wei Ran didn’t tremble.
Not even slightly.
He stepped closer.
Their hands intertwined once more.
Firmly.
He lowered his head slightly until his eyes met hers.
“We won’t die.” There was no hesitation.
No uncertainty.
No doubt.
Only absolute confidence.
Cold.
Overwhelming.
Unshakable.
The massive gate slowly opened.
Warm white light spilled outward.
Almost welcoming.
Wei Ran stepped forward.
Drawing Chen Yue along with him.
Inside lay a vast garden.
An endless sea of flowers.
Streams.
Glowing stones.
Countless winding paths.
The air itself seemed musical.
Filled with fragrance.
It’s beautiful…
So why am I still terrified?
Then she noticed something strange.
The garden wasn’t stable.
The pathways shifted.
Some appeared.
Others vanished.
Like a living painting rewriting itself every second.
Five paths emerged before them.
One straight.
One twisting sharply.
One winding like a serpent.
One leading right.
One leading left.
Chen Yue clung to Wei Ran’s arm.
“Which one do we choose?” Her voice trembled.
Suddenly, a voice echoed across the entire space.
“Choose correctly.” “Or your souls shall be separated for eternity.” Chen Yue nearly collapsed.
Separated forever.
Her fingers tightened around Wei Ran’s sleeve as though her life depended on it.
Wei Ran turned toward her.
Their gazes met.
Fear.
Vulnerability.
Uncertainty.
All visible in her eyes.
Yet in his…
There was only calm.
And something else.
Something she had never seen before.
Never.
A tenderness so gentle it almost frightened her.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
He lifted his hand.
And brushed away a strand of hair stuck against her lips.
The gesture was so tender her heart nearly stopped.
His fingers were cool at first.
Then warm.
A shiver ran through her.
And then— He smiled.
A faint smile.
Barely visible.
Yet devastatingly beautiful.
For the first time.
Chen Yue truly saw him.
And a single thought escaped before she could stop it.
He’s so handsome…
Immediately, her face turned scarlet.
No.
No, no, no.
This is absolutely not the time to think that!
Wei Ran studied the paths again.
Then walked toward the most winding one.
“That one.” No explanation.
No hesitation.
No concern for danger.
He simply took her hand and led her forward.
The moment they stepped onto the path— The others vanished.
As though they had never existed.
The farther they walked, the more the world dissolved.
The trees disappeared.
The flowers vanished.
The colors faded away.
Until only an endless white corridor remained.
At its end stood a stone altar.
Upon it rested two bowls of water.
And a dagger.
Between them floated a red thread.
Thick.
Luminous.
Pulsing softly like a living heart.
The voice returned.
“Kneel.” “And each of you shall offer a drop of blood.” Chen Yue swallowed.
“Our…
blood?” “Drink the mixture afterward.” “The red thread shall decide.” “Love unites.” “Illusion destroys.” The ground seemed to disappear beneath her feet.
“Wei Ran…” “If we fail…” She couldn’t finish.
Couldn’t even say the words.
Gently, he took her hand.
As though she were made of fragile porcelain.
“We won’t fail.” He guided her forward.
Together they knelt facing one another.
Their knees brushed lightly.
Wei Ran picked up the sacred dagger.
A swift motion.
A single drop of blood fell from his finger.
Chen Yue inhaled deeply.
Then did the same.
The pain was brief.
Sharp.
Their blood fell simultaneously into the bowls.
The liquid changed immediately.
Deep crimson.
Interwoven with gold.
Like two separate destinies merging into one.
Beautiful…
They exchanged bowls.
The red thread trembled.
Their eyes met.
And in Wei Ran’s gaze— Chen Yue saw something she had never witnessed before.
Fear?
No.
Determination?
Yes.
But also…
Something deeper.
Something far more dangerous.
Together, they drank.
The taste was impossible to describe.
Sweet.
Bitter.
Burning.
Cold.
A thousand sensations at once.
The liquid flowed down her throat like molten fire.
Warmth exploded through her body.
Starting in her chest.
Spreading through every limb.
Every finger.
Every cell.
The jade bracelet on her wrist became scorching hot.
The invisible golden thread connecting them pulsed violently.
Perfectly synchronized with the red thread floating between them.
Then— Nothing.
Silence.
Wei Ran swayed slightly.
Chen Yue’s vision blurred.
The red thread erupted into blinding light.
The world vanished.
They fell together into a deep sleep.
And as darkness swallowed everything— Their fingers searched blindly.
And found one another.
Just before consciousness disappeared completely, the voice spoke one final time.
Soft.
Ancient.
Unavoidable.
“Let the Compatibility Trial begin.” In the darkness, their hearts beat as one.
The red thread wrapped around them.
Protecting them.
Or judging them.