In the glowing halls of the Imperial Capital, tension hung thicker than incense smoke. Courtiers spoke in whispers, afraid even of their own words. Rumours of my rise had reached every golden pillar—the exiled prince who returned wielding flame and frost, the one chosen by fate itself.
But every rumour is also a weapon.
Zhao Tian, the Second Prince, stood by the throne window, his reflection cold and perfect against the glass. His golden robe shimmered faintly, the mark of one favoured by the Emperor. Around him, loyal ministers bent low, their faces hidden in the shadows.
"So," Zhao Tian said, his voice silky but sharp, "our weakling brother finds new strength. Let them sing his praises for now—let him believe the court welcomes him back."
A minister dared to glance up. "Your Highness, perhaps it would be wise to ensure his journey home is... delayed."
Zhao Tian smiled faintly—the kind of smile that hid blades beneath peace. "Patience, Minister Zhou. Even a bird that learns to fly must land eventually. When he does, we'll make sure the ground beneath turns to fire."
He looked toward the horizon beyond the palace wall. "Tell our eyes at the Northern Fortress—the prince must not reach the capital unharmed."
The ministers bowed low. Orders were already leaving the palace before nightfall. The game had begun.
At Fortress Xueyin, I could already feel the pull of destiny tightening its noose. The court summons waited in my satchel, heavy with meaning. I knew this was more trap than invitation, but turning away now wasn't an option.
That morning, Lian Xueyin and I prepared to leave. Snow still glittered on the training yard, untouched except for the prints our boots left behind. She carried her short frost blade at her side; I wore the Snowfire sword strapped to my back.
"All packed?" I asked quietly.
She nodded. "The road ahead will test us—not just by humans, but by fate itself."
Her tone was calm, but her eyes spoke of worry.
Arina's voice brushed through my mind like wind between pages. "Host, the Empire's aura trembles. Events intertwine around you. Before you face the court, a trial awaits—one hidden deep within the valley near this fortress. It is ancient, meant to measure the worth of those carrying divine power. It will not wait long."
Lian must have sensed it too, because she turned toward the distant mountains. "The Hidden Valley," she murmured. "My clan's records mention it—a place where heaven and earth once met to judge souls. Many entered; few returned."
I smiled lightly. "Then it sounds like the perfect place for me."
We left at dusk, riding through cold fog that rolled over the cliffs like restless ghosts. The forest thinned as we entered the mountain's heart. A faint silver glow guided us—not from the moon, but from the valley itself, buried deep between walls of ice and stone.
By midnight, we found it—a field of frozen lilies blanketed under faint mist, leading to a circular stone gate. Symbols covered its edges, pulsing faintly in time with my chest mark.
Lian looked around, awe written across her face. "This place… It's not of this world."
Before I could answer, Arina's voice turned sharp. "Host, this valley holds relic energy ancient enough to recognise the Divinity System. Entering will test your balance. If your heart wavers, it will consume you whole."
I placed my palm on the gate. "Then it's time to see if I'm worthy."
The gate shuddered once before dissolving into trails of light. Beyond it lay a wide space—half frozen lake, half scorched ground, divided perfectly by an invisible line. Yin and Yang. Frost and Fire.
When we stepped in, the air thickened. The world trembled as two spiritual forms rose before us—one made of flame, the other of ice, each radiating ancient power.
"The Trial of Equinox begins," Arina declared. "Balance your elements—or lose yourself to chaos."
The flame spirit's heat cut through me like lightning. The frost spirit's chill sliced through bone. I tried to merge my powers as before, but the pressure was crushing. My energy spun out of rhythm, fire devouring the ice, ice freezing the fire.
I fell to one knee, vision blurring.
"Mukul!" Lian shouted, her body already encased in frost armour as she battled the frozen spirit. "You have to focus—remember your balance!"
Her voice echoed through the storm of my mind—not calm this time, but desperate.
I forced my breath steady. Inhale—warmth. Exhale—cold. The Snowfire Blade pulsed against my back, humming like a heartbeat. Slowly, the runaway currents inside me began to align.
Arina's voice strengthened, clearer than ever. "Do not fight each side separately. Let them become one."
I stood, raising the sword. Ice shaped along one edge, flame danced on the other. I crossed the blade in front of me—frost and fire colliding but not destroying, spiralling together instead.
When the two spirits lunged, I swung the sword forward. A storm of white light erupted, wrapping the battlefield in silence.
When the glow faded, both spirits had vanished, leaving only calm air and a faint shimmer above the water.
Lian exhaled shakily, her armour dissolving back into mist. "You did it…"
"No," I said, bending slightly to catch my breath. "We did."
She smiled slightly, quiet pride glinting in her pale eyes. For the first time, she let her hand rest on my shoulder. "You're not as foolish as you look, Your Highness."
I laughed softly. "Coming from you, I'll take that as a compliment."
The valley's glow shifted then, forming a single beam of light that settled in my chest. The mark pulsed once, burning steadily.
Arina spoke again, her tone softer now. "Trial complete. Equinox Core stabilised. New skill unlocked—Heavenlight Resonance. Cultivation increased to Golden Soul Realm, Mid Stage."
I looked around, the air now calm and peaceful. The trial had accepted us.
Lian stepped beside me, gazing at the silver horizon. "This calm won't last," she said quietly. "Zhao Tian's reach is long. And when he learns what you've become…"
"I'll be ready," I said.
We turned back toward the gate, walking side by side through glowing lilies that swayed in the unearthly light. Above us, the moon burned bright against frost-laced clouds—flame and snow sharing the same sky.
And though shadows waited in the capital, for that one quiet moment, I felt untouchable.