*WESTERN WHITE MARSH PALACE – CELESTIAL DOMAIN
A massive swirl of clouds gathered in the sky, twisting like the beginnings of a tornado. Lightning crackled dark and ominous across the heavens. The night had turned to terror; everyone witnessed the tantrum of the heavens.
Zhou Yan, the sole and undisputed Master of the Domain, stood outside his palace with his arms folded behind his back.
He appeared completely unbothered as he watched the dark gray clouds devour the night sky, a serene, almost amused smirk playing on his lips.
His silence was broken when his son, Zhou Mingze, approached.
"Fuqin, what is this?" Mingze asked, gazing upward with eyes wide and mouth slightly open in wonder.
Zhou Yan remained silent for a moment, merely shaking his head slowly.
"Is this—" Mingze paused and turned to his father. "A life-and-death tribulation?" he finished, his brows furrowed in awe.
Zhou Yan exhaled softly and faced his son, his lips curving into a faint smile.
"I'm not certain, but whatever lies behind it has its own purpose," Zhou Yan replied. "You may be right, yet how can we know for sure if this is truly one?" He turned his head back toward the darkened sky. "Whomever the heavens call with such a display will become greater and invincible." He placed a hand on Mingze's shoulder. "Tribulations do not appear just anywhere. There are hidden places reserved for chosen cultivators to undergo them and rise stronger." He glanced at the sky again. "Judging by this one, it is far from ordinary."
Mingze's eyes widened further, his mouth falling slightly open."So what does that mean?"
"There is… a big fish infiltrating the Celestial Realm's domain," Zhou Yan said, a cold smile touching his lips as his eyes narrowed with interest.
*EASTERN AZURE PALACE – CELESTIAL DOMAIN
Beyond the dark clouds stretched a deep indigo storm-silver sea that cradled the Territory: The Nine Layers of Azure Abyss-Heaven.
The entire domain floated above an endless expanse of storm clouds that had never parted in almost six hundred years. Nine floating continents rose like ascending steps toward the central palace.
This sanctuary had been forged by the Cāngtiān Zhìzūn (Azure Heaven Sovereign), ruler of the entire sky sect—the last pure-blooded host of the azure dragon spirit who had survived An Chi's genocide.
An Chi, the true Demon King and master of fate-threads, had waged a genocidal war against the Azure Dragon lineage thousands of years ago.
Nearly every member of the lineage had been annihilated. Only a handful of blood-resonance survivors—children and distant descendants—had been secretly evacuated by Long Jianyu himself, the Azure Heaven Sovereign.
Long Jianyu had personally created the Eastern Azure Palace after the massacre as an impenetrable sanctuary.
He had then enveloped it in the Veil of Eternal Storm and sealed it completely, ensuring An Chi's fate-threads could never locate it again.
The surviving dragon children and blood-resonance descendants had lived there ever since.
Yun Qingjue, the only surviving half-blood child of the original Azure Dragon clan—born after the massacre and hidden by Long Jianyu in the mortal world on the day the seal closed—walked through the grand hallway, interrupting the meditating Azure Sovereign on his throne.
"Dijun," he said, pausing to perform a perfect gongshou salute, respect clear in his posture but urgency burning in his eyes.
Long Jianyu opened his eyes slowly, calm and steady, like a storm deciding whether to break.
"Yunhai City fell into sudden chaos last night," Yun Qingjue reported. "Bandits entered the Silent Market district. Many low-foundation cultivators were killed, and several women were abducted. I believe this is Zhou Xuanyuan's doing."
"An Chi is truly skilled at hiding," Long Jianyu replied. "He knows he cannot breach the barriers between the demon and immortal realms directly, so he uses pawns to advance his plans. Blood resonance is his tool to control territories and sow chaos. Zhou Yan still carries demon blood; it is entirely possible he is being used as An Chi's pawn."
"So what are we going to do?" Yun Qingjue asked. "If An Chi had not cursed you, you would still rule the old city."
Long Jianyu rose from his throne and walked past Yun Qingjue with elegant grace.
"Let him do as he wishes for now," he said. "Time will come. When the curse breaks, his scheming will end."
He turned to Yun Qingjue, his eyes sharp as shards of ice. "They destroyed my home and my people. They did the same to me to manipulate my fate." His voice dropped, lethal yet calm. "One day, if I find a breach in this curse, those who orchestrated it will pay the price. Let them enjoy their games for now. I will end it all."
*SILENT SHADE VALLEY – the path to Fénglín Town
The surroundings were quiet, with fresh air blowing gently as sunlight peeked through clusters of leaves overhead.
Xiao walked like a drunkard, wiping sweat from her forehead with the hem of her torn robe. She limped from several stumbles, nearly out of breath, her hair sticking to her face and her eyes half-dead with exhaustion.
"Tiáopi!" she wheezed. "Is… the town still far away?" She panted heavily, one hand pressed to her chest as though she were dying.
"Endure it a little longer, Your Majesty," the tiny spark answered cheerfully. "Once we cross the river, we will reach the town."
"I'm almost out of breath, my stomach is cramping, and I'm so thirsty!" she complained in a whiny, puppy-like voice, slumping dramatically. "Can we find something to eat first?"
"We won't find anything here anyway," Tiáopi replied. "Look around—only trees and dirt!"
Xiao stopped helplessly, glanced about, gulped, then spotted a fallen log beside the path.
She shuffled over and collapsed onto it. She lifted her feet, revealing soles covered in cuts and prick marks.
"It hurts!" she whimpered, gently pressing them, her eyes teary and her pout full.
"Are you giving up now?"
She raised her head and glared at the spark through sweaty bangs. "I can't go on. I'm really tired," she replied, her voice cracking.
"We still have one more day of travel. If you give up now, we won't reach the town."
"I didn't say I'm giving up!" she protested, giving him puppy eyes before flopping forward dramatically. "At least let me rest, Tiáopi! I haven't slept, and we walked all night!"
"This isn't the best place to rest, Feng Xiaotian!" the spark insisted. "If you truly want to rest, at least find a more comfortable spot."
"Then where should I go?" she asked, her lips pouting so hard they could balance a spoon.
"Hurry up! Let's find one together!"
Xiao shot him drowsy, murderous eyes before dropping her gaze.
"If I hadn't escaped that grave of a mountain, I would still be imprisoned forever," she mumbled, her face frowning deeply. "Now that I've escaped and seen the outside world, I've endured all this suffering just to survive. This feels like another kind of punishment."
"Stop that nonsense, Xiaotian—it won't help!" the tiny spark urged. "If you truly want to survive and live, hurry up! Stop wasting time."
"Fine!" she huffed, forcing herself upright.
The Next Day…Yu Xiao woke on a wide tree branch. She carefully pulled herself up, rubbed her eyes, then stretched her arms with a grunt as though every tendon were screaming.
She looked around at the thick leaves and branches surrounding her. Climbing higher to peer ahead, she suddenly froze.
Smoke was rising from the next valley.
"Tiáopi! Tiáopi!" she exclaimed excitedly. The tiny spark instantly appeared. "There's smoke!" she added, pointing with eyes sparkling and a huge grin spreading across her face.
"That means we're near Fénglín Town," the tiny spark replied proudly. "Just a little more effort, Your Majesty!"
Relief flooded Xiao's aching body. "Now I won't hold back!" she declared, clasping her hands with a dreamy expression. "Once I get there, I'll stuff my face, drink a river, take a shower, change clothes, and finally wear shoes!"
"As expected of Your Majesty!"
"Then when should we leave?" she asked, placing one hand on her waist like a tired queen.
"Whenever you wish, Your Majesty. I will follow."
"Okay, then we go now—I can't wait any longer!"
She climbed down carefully, the tiny spark following close behind.
They walked another three hours before reaching the Fénglín River bounding through the valley.
"Finally we're here!" Xiao exclaimed, happiness shining in her eyes.
"I told you, you could make it!"
Xiao's hands flew to her mouth as her eyes instantly filled with tears.
"We made it, Tiáopi. Thank you!" she said, her voice cracking while happy tears spilled down her cheeks.
"Why are you crying?"
"I can't help it!" she laughed through the tears, wiping her face.
"Let's go!"
*FÉNGLÍN TOWN – Immortal District
Barefoot, clad in a torn robe, with hair resembling a bird's nest disaster, Xiao didn't care.
She strode through the crowd as though she owned the place. Everyone stared.
"Who is she?"
"I don't know."
"She's a new face."
Whispers trailed her. Her cheeks burned, but she kept walking with her chin held high.
"So I really… time-traveled," she thought, her eyes swirling everywhere like a child in a theme park. "These people wear ancient outfits. Not only that—I've entered the immortal domain, where people are far from ordinary. I need to mind my actions. Observing is better than being reckless."
"Feng Xiaotian, over there!" The tiny spark flew toward the corner of the crowded street.
Xiao followed and leaned against a displayed artifact.
"This one looks exactly like the ancient weapon displayed in the museum of Nine Breath Studio," she said, pointing.
"Nine Breath Studio?" the tiny spark repeated, confused.
"Hmn…" she hummed.
"Where was that?"
"Nine Breath Studio—Shadow Lotus Peak," she answered softly. "My private space when I feel woeful."
"Your private space?"
"You don't know it," she paused. "It's in my real world," she whispered.
"Your world? Don't fool me, Xiaotian!"
"I'm not fooling you. You're overthinking!"
"Sleeping for three hundred years really messed up your brain!"
"I don't need to argue with you, little pocket emergency-lamp. I don't even care," she said, twitching her lips.
"Don't dare call me that, Feng Xiaotian!"
"But I dare—and I like it!" she replied with a tiny laugh.
Meanwhile, two men suddenly stepped in front of her and leaned in, staring intently.
"Feng Xiao…tian?" one said, wonder flooding his face. The other blinked rapidly, stunned.
Yu Xiao straightened her back and looked at them both.
The two men exchanged shocked glances.
"It's really you," they whispered, eyes wide and voices trembling with disbelief.