When Chen Yue and Wei Ran emerged from the heavenly light, their figures appeared at the center of the imperial arena.
At first, they were mere shadows.
Then, forms bathed in golden radiance.
Finally, they became fully visible, hand in hand, still shrouded in a divine aura.
A collective gasp swept through the crowd.
A stunned silence followed.
Then came an explosive roar—the sound of thunderous applause.
Thousands rose to their feet in unison, the very air trembling beneath their cheers.
Even the Emperor himself stood from his golden throne.
A rare sight.
An exceedingly rare sight.
Wei Ran remained impassive, his dark gaze sweeping across the crowd without the slightest disturbance.
Chen Yue, however, felt her heart tighten.
Too many eyes.
Too much attention.
Wei Ran took a step forward, positioning himself slightly in front of her like a natural shield.
A subtle gesture…
Yet profoundly protective.
The whispers immediately grew louder.
“He’s protecting her.” “That human girl woke him from a two-hundred-year slumber…” “What makes her so special?” The words slid around her like blades.
She lowered her eyes, her fingers tightening unconsciously.
Wei Ran turned toward her.
Without a single word, she felt her strength return.
Four other couples were descending luminous stairways as well.
A total of five couples had succeeded.
Each came from a different realm: the White Tiger Realm draped in white silk, the Jade East clothed in emerald green, the dark-furred tribes of the Northern Steppes, and two rival sects that had once been bitter enemies.
And finally…
Her and Wei Ran.
The five couples exchanged looks.
Some filled with admiration.
Others with jealousy.
Others still with open challenge.
But whenever their eyes landed on Wei Ran, most of them felt a chill run down their spines.
Even sealed, his aura remained overwhelming.
Wei Ran gently placed a hand against the small of Chen Yue’s back.
Such a discreet touch that only she could feel it.
Yet its warmth flowed through her entire body.
She lifted her chin.
The Emperor raised an arm.
Silence fell instantly.
“The couples who have passed the first trial…
I congratulate you.” His voice echoed like calm thunder.
“Now comes the second trial.
The Trial of the Heavenly Fruit of the Tree of a Thousand Souls.” His gaze sharpened.
“Only those whose trust is absolute shall reach it.
The others…
will be swallowed by the abyss.” A murmur rippled through the crowd like a wave.
Absolute trust.
One of the most dangerous and feared trials in existence.
The Emperor raised a hand toward the heavens.
“Let the trial begin.” The earth split open at the center of the arena.
A colossal pillar of light erupted skyward, rising from the depths and piercing the clouds.
A sacred passage.
A trial watched even by the gods themselves.
The couples rushed forward, diving one after another into the light.
All except one.
Wei Ran and Chen Yue.
She did not dare move.
Her fingers trembled.
Her breathing came in shallow bursts.
Wei Ran turned toward her.
His dark eyes pierced through her like a warm thread, gentle and profound.
Slowly, he extended his hand.
“Do not be afraid.
You are not alone.
I am with you.” She drew a breath and looked into his eyes.
Gradually.
Gently.
Her heart calmed.
Then she slipped her hand into his.
Together, they stepped forward.
The light swallowed them.
They reappeared in another world.
A gigantic forest surrounded them, majestic, ancient, and sacred.
Trees so immense they seemed capable of touching the heavens themselves.
Darkness stretched endlessly around them.
Moonlight filtered through the branches, barely illuminating the path ahead.
Ancient lanterns floated among the trees like old souls guarding the passage.
The air was freezing.
The scent of resin and ancient earth saturated the atmosphere.
Chen Yue shivered involuntarily.
Wei Ran walked beside her, silent yet attentive, his protective presence warming her despite the cold.
They continued until a stone bridge appeared before them.
Long.
Narrow.
Endless.
Suspended above a bottomless abyss.
A strange feeling washed over Chen Yue.
The trial was finally beginning.
They stepped onto the bridge.
The stone vibrated beneath their feet as though they were walking across the back of a sleeping dragon.
The wind, gentle at first, suddenly lashed against their faces.
Chen Yue tightened her grip on Wei Ran’s hand.
“It’s…
so cold…” Wei Ran stared into the darkness devouring everything beyond sight.
“Stay close to me.” The bridge seemed endless, stretched between two worlds.
Beneath them, a chasm consumed even the faintest shred of courage.
Before long, the wind grew violent.
Snowflakes began to fall.
At first only a few.
Then hundreds.
They gathered on their hair, eyelashes, and clothing.
The bridge became slippery.
Dangerously so.
“Careful…” Wei Ran tightened his grip slightly.
The warmth of his palm seeped into Chen Yue’s frozen fingers.
They had crossed barely a quarter of the bridge when the storm truly erupted.
A piercing howl tore through the heavens.
The snow transformed into razor-sharp gusts, so dense they could barely see a meter ahead.
Chen Yue raised an arm to shield her face.
The pain was unbearable.
Every snowflake felt like a blade cutting into her skin.
“We have to keep moving!” Wei Ran shouted over the roaring wind.
He tried to summon a spiritual barrier.
Nothing happened.
“My powers are sealed…” Chen Yue paled.
They continued forward in tiny steps, the storm pushing them backward.
All around them, the cries of other couples echoed through the blizzard.
“Ahhh!” “I’m falling!” “Catch me!” Chen Yue turned her head.
Across other bridges, she saw silhouettes struggling, crawling, screaming.
Some slipped and vanished into the void before they could even cry out.
Others clung desperately to the edge, begging their partners for help while those same partners were being dragged away by the storm.
A crushing weight tightened around her chest.
“Why…
why is this so difficult…?” Wei Ran looked at her.
His eyes seemed even darker beneath the snowfall.
Suddenly, a roar split the night.
Chen Yue flinched.
A massive shape burst from the shadowy forest.
A beast with silver fur.
Towering as high as four men.
Its icy blue eyes gleamed beneath the storm, while enormous fangs reflected the moonlight.
It climbed onto the edge of the bridge.
Around them, more roars exploded.
Each couple faced their own monster.
“Don’t stop,” Wei Ran said.
The beast roared again.
The stones beneath their feet trembled.
Then it slammed down its gigantic fist.
The entire structure shook.
A crack formed.
Straight between Chen Yue and Wei Ran.
“Get back!” Wei Ran shouted.
But the wind prevented them from moving quickly.
The beast struck again.
The bridge gave way.
An entire section collapsed between them.
They were separated.
“CHEN YUE!” Wei Ran roared, reaching toward her.
“WEI RAN!” She reached out as well.
Their fingertips brushed.
Only barely.
Before they were violently torn apart.
The storm intensified.
A monstrous gust hurled Chen Yue several meters backward.
She slipped.
Rolled through the snow.
Landed hard on her back.
The cold pierced her skin like a dagger.
She trembled uncontrollably.
Breathing became difficult.
She could barely see anything.
Falling to her knees, she buried her hands in the snow.
Mist escaped her lips in ragged breaths.
Her soaked hair clung to her face.
She thought of Wei Ran.
His eyes.
His hand slipping from hers.
His voice calling her name.
“I…
I can’t anymore…” Tears mixed with snow as they ran down her battered cheeks.
For a moment, she closed her eyes.
She wanted to give up.
To surrender.
To let the cold take her.
But deep inside her…
Something still burned.
A will.
A certainty.
If he’s there…
just on the other side…
Then I won’t die here.
Chen Yue clenched her fists, her fingers digging into the snow.
She drew in a sharp breath and lifted her head.
The wind struck her mercilessly.
Yet she remained standing.
“No…
not like this.
Not here.
Not now.” She took a step forward.
Then another.
She staggered, her legs trembling violently, but she kept moving.
At last, she caught sight of a blurry silhouette within the storm.
Wei Ran.
He was shouting her name.
“CHEN YUE!
DON’T MOVE!” She shook her head, unable to answer through the raging wind.
Two steps…
Three…
Then she ran.
She ran into the storm, the wind nearly tearing her from the ground.
And then she jumped.
A reckless leap.
A foolish leap.
A leap fueled by nothing but the certainty that Wei Ran would be there.
He opened his arms.
And caught her.
The impact sent both of them tumbling through the snow, all the breath knocked from their lungs.
At last, they came to a stop.
Chen Yue was sprawled atop him, her hair scattered across his chest, her trembling face hovering just above his own.
Their eyes met.
Silence.
Deep.
Electric.
Burning.
They were alive.
Together.
Behind them, the bridge began to stabilize, as though acknowledging their success.
Wei Ran slowly lifted a hand and brushed her frozen cheek.
Chen Yue closed her eyes for a brief second.
Her heart was beating so fast it almost hurt.
Eventually, they pushed themselves upright, breathing heavily.
And before them, at long last, stood the ancient tree.
Immense.
Primordial.
Mysterious.
Its presence seemed to dominate the entire forest.
Lanterns hanging from its branches cast a soft, almost unreal glow, causing the surrounding snow to shimmer like countless stars.
The wind had calmed.
The storm had vanished as suddenly as it had appeared, as though it had existed solely to test their resolve.
The silence was absolute.
Sacred.
Wei Ran placed a hand against the small of Chen Yue’s back to steady her.
She was still trembling.
Her legs remained weak.
Her breathing uneven.
Yet she was standing.
Together.
Moonlight drenched the scene in brilliant silver.
High within the tree, nestled between two silver branches, a single fruit shone brightly.
A golden apple.
Pure.
Perfect.
Surrounded by a faint luminous aura.
The fragrance of honey and ancient blossoms drifted down toward them.
Chen Yue lifted her head.
“It’s…
beautiful…” Wei Ran followed her gaze.
Their breaths still mingled in the cold air.
Their cheeks remained flushed from the storm.
Yet their eyes burned with a new intensity.
“How are we supposed to take it?” she asked softly.
Wei Ran turned his head slightly and looked at her.
His dark eyes locked onto hers.
Then, without a word, he slipped an arm around her waist.
Chen Yue froze.
The sudden closeness caught her completely off guard.
Her heart nearly leapt from her chest.
She could feel the warmth of his palm through her clothes, a stark contrast to the chill of the forest.
He drew her closer.
Very close.
Too close.
Close enough for her to feel his breath against her cheek.
The warmth of his chest.
The tension in his muscles.
“I’ll lift you.” His voice was low.
“But if I fall—” “I will never let you fall.” The certainty in his voice struck her deeply.
Calm.
Absolute.
Unshakable.
She inhaled slowly and nodded.
In one smooth motion, Wei Ran lifted her effortlessly into his arms.
Graceful.
Powerful.
Natural.
Chen Yue’s body pressed against his.
Instinctively, her hands slipped around his neck to steady herself.
Their faces were only inches apart.
His warm breath mingled with hers.
He raised her slightly higher.
His arms were firm.
Strong.
Protective.
“Take it,” he murmured.
Chen Yue raised her hand.
Her fingers still trembled slightly.
Yet the moment she brushed against the fruit, a gentle warmth traveled up her arm.
As though the tree itself recognized her courage.
The golden apple detached almost willingly.
Chen Yue grasped it.
And as she lowered herself— Her legs suddenly weakened.
She slipped.
Instinctively, she grabbed hold of Wei Ran’s neck, her fingers tightening around him as her body pressed firmly against his.
This time, there was no storm.
No wind to separate them.
Only a burning silence.
And the warmth of their mingled breaths.
Wei Ran never looked away.
Not even once.
They remained there, suspended in that moment, as though time itself had frozen.
Chen Yue’s lips were only millimeters from his.
Her heart pounded so violently she was certain the entire forest could hear it.
A metallic taste of fear and adrenaline lingered in her mouth.
Mixed with something softer.
Something dangerous.
Anticipation.
Then, without warning— A beam of light erupted beneath their feet.
A golden aura enveloped them.
The air trembled.
The world around them vanished.
Chen Yue instinctively tightened her arms around Wei Ran’s neck.
Surprised.
Wei Ran held her securely against him, one hand protecting her back while the other remained firmly around her waist.
In the blink of an eye, they reappeared within the palace arena.
The cold.
The snow.
The storm.
All of it had vanished completely.
Their clothes were dry.
Their cheeks no longer stung from the frost.
Yet the warmth between their bodies remained.
And Chen Yue’s arms were still wrapped around Wei Ran’s neck.
Chen Yue suddenly realized the position they were in.
Her cheeks instantly turned scarlet red.
She quickly stepped back, but Wei Ran lightly caught her wrist, as if unwilling to let her pull away so quickly.
Around them, the entire arena erupted into applause.
“They succeeded!” “The immortal couple!” “The Golden Fruit!” Countless gazes converged on them.
The pair from the rival sects, who had also returned alive, looked at Chen Yue and Wei Ran with unreadable expressions.
They had survived through strength.
But Chen Yue and Wei Ran had survived through trust.
And that…
Was far more terrifying than brute force.
The Emperor rose to his feet, applauding.
“Welcome, the two finalist couples of the Heavenly Fruit Trial!” His voice echoed like thunder throughout the arena.
“You have crossed the trial.
You have faced the storm, the illusions, and fear itself.
You have proven the bond between you.” His gaze shifted toward Chen Yue.
Lingering.
Heavy.
“Especially you, young lady.
Your choices determined your success.” Warmth instantly rushed to Chen Yue’s cheeks.
Wei Ran turned his head slightly toward her.
Only for a fraction of a second.
Yet it was enough to make warmth bloom within her chest.
The Emperor continued, “Rest well.
Six days have passed, though you perceived only one.” The crowd immediately stirred.
“Tomorrow will be the seventh day.” He paused.
“The final trial.” The entire arena trembled with anticipation.
Chen Yue instinctively felt her hand tighten around Wei Ran’s.
Wei Ran did not pull away.
They were still standing.
Still together.
And tomorrow…
Fate would either separate them.
Or bind them forever.
That evening, the palace was quieter than usual.
The festivities continued throughout the imperial city, but the contestants had been escorted to a secluded residence reserved exclusively for the finalists.
Moonlight spilled through the wooden lattice windows.
The room assigned to Chen Yue was spacious and elegant.
Yet she could not sleep.
She sat beside the window, gazing at the moon.
Her fingers unconsciously touched the place on her wrist where Wei Ran had held her.
The memory remained vivid.
His hand around her waist.
His arms lifting her effortlessly.
The warmth of his body against hers.
And that moment…
When their lips had been only a breath apart.
Her face immediately grew hot.
“What am I thinking…?” She covered her face with both hands.
Her heart began racing all over again.
A soft knock suddenly sounded at the door.
Chen Yue froze.
At this hour?
“Come in.” The door slid open.
Wei Ran entered.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The atmosphere instantly became strange.
Different.
Not uncomfortable.
Just…
Dangerously quiet.
“I wanted to see how you were doing,” Wei Ran said.
His voice remained calm as ever.
But Chen Yue noticed something.
He had come here.
Personally.
Late at night.
For her.
“I’m fine,” she replied softly.
A lie.
And they both knew it.
Wei Ran stepped closer.
His dark eyes settled on her face.
“You’re nervous.” Chen Yue lowered her gaze.
“A little.” “A little?” A faint trace of amusement flickered in his eyes.
It disappeared almost immediately.
Yet she saw it.
And somehow, that made her even more nervous.
“The final trial…” she whispered.
“I keep thinking about it.” Wei Ran remained silent for a moment.
Then he spoke.
“No matter what happens tomorrow, I will stay by your side.” Chen Yue looked up.
His expression was steady.
Serious.
Absolute.
There was no hesitation in his voice.
No uncertainty.
Only certainty.
The same certainty that had carried her across the bridge.
The same certainty that had made her jump into the storm.
The same certainty that had allowed her to place her life in his hands.
Her chest tightened.
Not with fear.
With something else.
Something warmer.
Something she was beginning to recognize.
Something far more dangerous than fear.
For a long moment, neither moved.
Neither looked away.
Moonlight bathed the room in silver.
And for the first time since they had met, the silence between them no longer felt awkward.
It felt natural.
Comfortable.
As though they belonged there.
Together.
The next morning arrived far too quickly.
The imperial arena was already overflowing with spectators.
The news had spread throughout the empire.
Only two couples remained.
Only two.
The final trial would determine everything.
Chen Yue stood beside Wei Ran at the center of the arena.
Unlike the previous day, the crowd no longer looked at her with simple curiosity.
There was respect in many of those gazes now.
Even admiration.
She had earned her place.
The Emperor rose from his throne.
Silence immediately descended.
“The final trial.” His voice echoed across the vast arena.
“The trial that will determine whether two souls are truly destined to walk the same path.” A ripple swept through the crowd.
The Emperor slowly raised his hand.
A circle of golden light appeared beneath the feet of the two remaining couples.
“The final trial is simple.” His gaze swept across them.
“You must choose.” Chen Yue frowned slightly.
Choose?
The Emperor continued.
“You may leave now.” The crowd stirred in confusion.
“Or you may step into the final trial.” His eyes sharpened.
“But once you enter, there will be no turning back.” The arena fell silent once more.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
Then the Emperor’s voice rang out again.
“The final trial is known as the Trial of Bound Souls.” The moment those words were spoken, countless expressions changed.
Shock.
Disbelief.
Even fear.
Chen Yue noticed it immediately.
She turned toward Wei Ran.
“What is it?” For the first time, a trace of seriousness deeper than usual appeared in his eyes.
“The Trial of Bound Souls…” His voice was low.
“It is the oldest trial.” “And?” “If two people succeed, their destinies become permanently intertwined.” Chen Yue’s heart skipped a beat.
“Intertwined?” Wei Ran looked at her.
Their eyes met.
“Forever.” The word struck her harder than she expected.
Forever.
The crowd exploded into discussion.
The rival sect couple hesitated.
Their expressions became uncertain.
After several moments, the young man clenched his jaw.
“We withdraw.” A collective gasp echoed throughout the arena.
The Emperor merely nodded.
The golden light beneath their feet vanished.
Just like that.
Only one couple remained.
Chen Yue and Wei Ran.
Thousands of eyes focused on them.
The entire empire seemed to hold its breath.
The Emperor’s gaze settled upon them.
“And you?” Silence.
Chen Yue looked toward Wei Ran.
Wei Ran looked toward her.
No words were exchanged.
None were needed.
Because they both remembered.
The bridge.
The storm.
The leap.
The trust.
Everything they had endured together.
Wei Ran slowly extended his hand.
Exactly as he had done before entering the second trial.
A familiar gesture.
One that somehow made Chen Yue’s heart ache.
His voice was calm.
Steady.
Absolute.
“Do you trust me?” Chen Yue stared at him.
At his eyes.
At the hand extended toward her.
Then she smiled.
A small smile.
Soft.
Beautiful.
Without hesitation, she placed her hand in his.
“Yes.” Wei Ran’s fingers closed around hers.
Firmly.
Warmly.
The Emperor nodded.
“So be it.” The golden circle beneath them erupted with light.
The world disappeared.
The arena vanished.
The crowd vanished.
Everything vanished.
Only Chen Yue and Wei Ran remained.
Standing together within an endless sea of light.
Silence surrounded them.
Then a voice echoed from every direction.
Ancient.
Sacred.
Powerful.
“Two souls stand before destiny.” The light trembled.
“Will you walk together?” Wei Ran did not hesitate.
“Yes.” The voice spoke again.
“Will you share joy?” “Yes.” “Will you share suffering?” “Yes.” “Will you remain together when fate turns cruel?” Wei Ran’s answer never changed.
“Yes.” The light turned toward Chen Yue.
Her heart pounded.
The ancient voice echoed once more.
“And you?” Chen Yue thought of everything that had happened.
The fear.
The loneliness.
The warmth.
The trust.
The way Wei Ran had always been there whenever she reached out her hand.
Slowly, she smiled.
Then she answered.
“Yes.” The sea of light exploded.
Golden radiance flooded the world.
A warm current surged through both of them.
Neither pain nor pressure.
Only warmth.
Only peace.
Only connection.
Chen Yue suddenly felt something.
Wei Ran.
Not his hand.
Not his presence beside her.
His heart.
His emotions.
As though an invisible thread now connected them.
At the same moment, Wei Ran felt it too.
For the first time in centuries, something within his ancient heart stirred.
The voice spoke one final time.
“The bond is acknowledged.” “The souls are bound.” “The path shall be shared.” The light shattered.
The world returned.
The arena reappeared.
A dazzling pillar of golden light rose into the heavens.
The crowd erupted.
The Emperor stood.
Every spectator stood.
Thunderous applause shook the arena.
Chen Yue looked at Wei Ran.
Wei Ran looked at her.
Neither spoke.
Neither needed to.
Because both of them could feel it.
That invisible bond.
That warmth.
That certainty.
For the first time, they truly understood.
The trials had never been about strength.
They had never been about survival.
They had been about trust.
And now…
Whether fate wished it or not…
Their destinies had become one.