The space tensed, like the stillness before a storm. Xuan Xingli took a deep breath, her gaze sweeping over the shifting darkness in the room. An eerie sensation enveloped her, as if thousands of invisible eyes were watching.
Luo Chenxi remained motionless, her deep violet eyes as calm and cold as a winter lake—silent, unwavering. No pressure, no warning. She was simply waiting, as if she already knew that, in the end, Xuan Xingli would have to make this choice.
Xuan Xingli clenched her fists, feeling the restless flow of Xuan Yuan within her. The door in her mind stood firm, sealed by silver chains. But these chains were more than just a seal; they were a trial.
Once again, a whisper echoed in her mind.
"Open it."
It was neither urgent nor forceful. Just a gentle murmur, as if the voice had been waiting for this moment for a very long time.
She raised her hand, fingers trembling slightly. A faint light shimmered on the surface of the seal, reflecting in her eyes. Fragments of hazy memories surged forward, assembling like scattered pieces of a puzzle—yet something was still missing.
Luo Chenxi's voice was soft as she spoke.
"Do you know? There are doors that, once opened, can never be closed again."
Xuan Xingli did not answer. She knew. But she also knew that if she hesitated forever, she would never move forward.
A stream of Xuan Yuan slowly seeped from her palm, weaving through the silver chains. A low, metallic resonance echoed as the links trembled. A tiny crack appeared on the seal.
Then another.
The whisper in her mind grew louder, like rising tides, washing over her.
The darkness in the room suddenly trembled violently. Unseen winds surged, sweeping through every corner, making the curtains flutter wildly.
Luo Chenxi narrowed her eyes slightly. She could sense a strange fluctuation in the space—something was reacting.
"That's enough."
She reached out, and a surge of faint violet Xuan Yuan enveloped Xuan Xingli, pulling her away from the seal's connection. Instantly, the silver chains ceased their tremors, and the door gradually faded from her mind.
Xuan Xingli panted, sweat beading on her forehead. She was not afraid, but there was an inexplicable sense of loss in her heart.
"You're not ready." Luo Chenxi's voice was as light as the wind. "If you open it now… you may never turn back."
Xuan Xingli remained silent. She knew Luo Chenxi was right. She still didn't understand what was sealed within her—whether it was power… or a curse.
Beyond the window, the sky remained dark, yet the clouds obscuring the moonlight had begun to thin. A weak beam of light slipped through, casting a faint glow onto the cold floor.
"Sleep." Luo Chenxi murmured. "You need time."
Xuan Xingli gave a small nod, but deep down, she knew… from this moment on, nothing would ever be the same again.
Outside the room, a shadow stood silently beneath the tall trees, eyes fixed on the pavilion where Xuan Xingli rested. He slowly withdrew his hand, and the strange mark on the back of his palm faded into the darkness.
"The seal… has begun to waver."
A low voice sounded from behind him. Another figure, clad in a black cloak, stepped forward.
"She hasn't broken it yet, but time is running out."
The first figure did not respond. He merely turned away, his silhouette dissolving into the night.
In the distant sky, a flash of lightning tore through the darkness, heralding the storm to come.