Part 1: The Twin Gates of Heaven (Shuangtian Zhimen – 双天之门)
Beyond human realm of earth, many realms exist - filled with Immortal beings, unseen by humans and unapproachable. These realms are anchored to different universal points and time in these realms flowed differently from mortal realm. But for all beings in these realms, there still was a zenith - a realm of breathtaking splendor suspended between the Immortal realms and the exalted Heavenly Realm of the Gods.
Known as the Twin Gates of Heaven—Shuangtian Zhimen—this sacred land served as the sole passage to the divine heavens above. Here stood the majestic Hall of Judgements, where souls of beasts, mortals, and immortals alike were weighed upon scales of karma. Gods occasionally descended through shimmering veils to grant audience to the most ardent seekers, while divine and immortal beasts—Qilin, Vermilion Birds, Nine-Tailed Foxes, Kirin, and the rare Golden Dragons—were born amidst its sacred springs and misty peaks.
For countless ages, the Lihang Imperial Dynasty had been entrusted with Divine Edicts from the Heavenly Court to guard Shuangtian Zhimen. As Immortal Rulers of the High Peaks, their bloodline carried the weight of eternity. The current Emperor, Lihang Xuan, ruled from the Jade Cloud Palace with wisdom tempered by recent sorrow. His second son, Lihang Chen, had fallen in a ferocious battle against surging demonic forces, his immortal body shattered. As was the ancient law, Chen's soul had been reborn on the mortal plane of Earth, destined to endure one hundred mortal lives—trials of joy, suffering, love, and loss—to gather merits and rebuild his celestial form.
In the grand throne hall, wreathed in drifting incense and the soft glow of floating lanterns, Emperor Lihang Xuan summoned his youngest and most cherished son, Third Prince Lihang Jiang—known formally as Lihang Qingjian.
"My son," the Emperor spoke, voice heavy yet resolute, "the demonic tides grow bolder. Our realm weakens. Chen is lost to us for centuries. You, whom I have shielded longest, must now rise. Travel to the Azure Halls upon the Sacred Mountain of the Azure Dragon—Canglong Shengshan. Train under the descendants of the Great Azure Dragon himself, Guardian God of the Eastern Worlds. Become the unparalleled Sword Master our dynasty has never seen. Only then can we hold the Twin Gates."
Lihang, ever serious and ascetic even among immortals, knelt without hesitation. His features—sharp, disciplined, framed by long ink-black hair bound in a high tail—reflected the unyielding focus that had defined him since childhood.
"Father, I will not fail you or our ancestors," he vowed, his voice steady as forged steel.
The journey to Canglong Shengshan took him through clouds that parted like silk curtains, revealing landscapes of impossible beauty: rivers of liquid starlight, forests where phoenixes nested in trees of jade, and peaks that pierced the heavens. Upon arrival at the Azure Halls—Qingtian Dian—he was awestruck. Waterfalls cascaded upward into the sky, spirit cranes danced in formation, and the air thrummed with pure qi so dense it shimmered.
After grueling trials of sword intent, physical endurance, and spiritual clarity, he was accepted as a senior disciple by the venerable Master of Golden Lakes, Elder Jin Hu. The white-haired master, whose eyes held the depth of ancient oceans, led Jiang personally to the most sacred site: the snowy peaks guarding the Golden Lake—Jinhu. This mirrored expanse, its waters molten gold under sunlight, was the birthplace of the rarest dragon beasts, each born carrying fragments of the Azure Dragon God's divine power. Dharmic cultivators revered it; demonic ones coveted it.
At the lakeside pavilion, Elder Jin Hu introduced Jiang to four fellow senior disciples: sword prodigy Zhao Feng, gentle healer Mu Lan, fiery twin brothers Huo Yan and Huo Yue.
"Train together," the Elder instructed. "Your strengths will sharpen one another."
Later, as mist curled around them, the Elder's tone softened. "There is one more disciple I hold dearest—my honorary daughter, the youngest Saintess and High Priestess of Azure Hall, Su Yan Fei. Her origins are a closely guarded secret known only to the highest masters, but her power rivals even the ancient ones. She has just completed a century of solitary meditation within the Golden Lake to temper her divine essence and will be emerging soon, you will meet her as well"
He paused, studying Jiang's impassive face. "I hope you and Yan Fei will become close companions, guardians who will stand shoulder to shoulder for the realm's future."
Master continued to explain many rules and features but then after a weighted silence, his voice grew stern. "Yet remember: Azure Hall upholds sacred vows with iron severity. No clandestine attachments are permitted. Fated pairs are revealed only by Heaven itself—on the Holy Night of Azure Blessing, when the Great Azure Dragon dances across the skies and inscribes destined names in starlight. Do not seek romance here. Our customs differ greatly from your imperial dynasty, where alliances are forged for power."
Lihang bowed respectfully. "This disciple understands, Master."
Inwardly, he felt only faint puzzlement. This was Master's third warning in the last few weeks on not forming any relationships here. Why the repeated warnings? As a royal prince, he had been pursued by countless immortal beauties across realms and moreover he should be betrothed by now, arranged by his father. Before departing the palace, his father had mentioned arranging his betrothal to Princess Xun Mei of the Western Lotus Clan—a poised, elegant immortal he had briefly met and shared a pleasant, light romantic moment with beneath blooming celestial peaches. He harbored no objections; it would strengthen their defenses. Romance at Azure Hall seemed irrelevant.
Days passed in relentless training. Then rumors swept the halls: Saintess Su Yan Fei would emerge from her century-long meditation within the Golden Lake.
Lihang overheard disciples whispering in awe. Even his old friend from the imperial courts, the renowned sword genius Ling Xiao, had journeyed to witness the event. They met on a crystal bridge overlooking cascading spirit falls.
"Qingjian," Ling Xiao greeted with a grin, "you too have come to behold the Goddess of Azure Hall?"
Lihang arched a brow. "I train. Curiosity is incidental."
Ling Xiao laughed. "They say Su Yan Fei's beauty surpasses even the Moon Goddess herself—maddening, transcendent. No immortal or god who has seen her remains unmoved. After a hundred years sealed in meditation, her emergence will be legendary. Half the realm has come to pay homage."
Lihang's skepticism deepened. He had gazed upon countless legendary beauties; none had swayed his iron focus. Yet an inexplicable instinct tugged at him. He followed Ling Xiao toward the Golden Lake.
Crowds gathered in reverent silence—disciples, visiting immortals, even celestial beasts bowing at the shore. The senior masters stood in formation, chanting ancient incantations that made the air vibrate with golden light.
Then the lake erupted in a radiant shower of liquid gold. Two majestic golden dragons spiraled upward, their scales blazing like captured suns. At the center, rising slowly upon a lotus of pure light, emerged Su Yan Fei.
She was beyond comprehension. Hair like midnight silk cascaded to her waist, threaded with strands that shimmered gold as if woven from the lake itself. Her skin glowed with ethereal luminescence, flawless as polished jade kissed by dawn. Eyes of deepest amber held ancient wisdom and gentle compassion, framed by lashes that cast delicate shadows. She wore flowing robes of translucent gold and white silk that clung and flowed with impossible grace, accentuating a figure of divine sensuality—curves both sacred and alluring, as though sculpted by the heavens to embody perfection. A delicate golden circlet rested on her brow, radiating soft light, and faint draconic markings glimmered along her collarbones and wrists—marks of the Azure Dragon's blessing.
The entire assembly fell silent. Even the most envious fairy immortals lowered their heads in unwilling acceptance: no beauty in all realms could rival this.
Lihang stood frozen, breath caught. A single, visceral thought seared across his mind—a flash of crimson warning: *Danger.*
His warrior instincts, honed across lifetimes, screamed that this woman was the greatest threat he would ever face. Not demonic hordes, not heavenly tribulations—her gentle smile alone could shatter every wall of discipline he had built. One glance from those amber eyes could undo centuries of focus, reduce his cultivation to ash, and destroy everything he held sacred.
The moment she bowed gracefully to the masters and vanished in a swirl of golden mist, Lihang snapped back to himself. Disgust roiled within—how had he been so swayed? He turned sharply, striding toward the grand statue of the Great Azure Dragon at the hall's highest shrine.
Kneeling before the towering azure sculpture, he bowed deeply.
"Great Guardian," he prayed earnestly, "guide this disciple on the true path. Strengthen my resolve against distraction."
As he poured his spirit into the prayer, a vivid mental image flashed unbidden—Su Yan Fei's luminous smile, her golden silhouette against the lake. He recoiled, assuming demonic interference or his own weakness. Rising abruptly, he resolved to redouble his training, take the harshest patrols, and avoid any encounter with the Saintess until his departure.
He did not see the soft golden glow that briefly enveloped the Azure Dragon statue—an unmistakable sign of divine vision granted—nor feel the subtle shift in the heavens as an ancient fate began to weave its threads tighter.
Meanwhile, deep within the secluded wings of Azure Hall, Su Yan Fei retreated to her private sanctuary: the Golden Soul Cave—Jinhun Dong. This exclusive abode, granted only to Saintesses of the highest order, was a haven of sublime grandeur and tranquility. Carved into the heart of a sacred peak, its walls glimmered with veins of natural gold and spirit crystals that pulsed softly like breathing stars. Cascading indoor waterfalls fed a deep meditation pool at the center, its waters perpetually warm and infused with liquid qi drawn directly from the Golden Lake's essence. Lotus blossoms of pure light floated upon the surface, and the air carried faint melodies of celestial chimes stirred by unseen breezes.
Attended by two gentle spirit maids, Yan Fei allowed her golden robes to slip away, the silk whispering as it pooled at her feet. She stepped into the warm embrace of the pool, sinking until the water lapped at her collarbones, soothing muscles and spirit alike after a century of motionless meditation.
A quiet smile touched her lips as she reflected on her triumph. She had successfully crossed the formidable barrier of the Divine Eye realm, ascending to its highest tier—an achievement few in ten thousand years had attained. In the depths of the lake, she had even encountered the elusive Nymph Lady of the Lower Lakes, a divine spirit guardian who had bestowed upon her a fragment of ancient insight.
Yet the smile faded into a faint frown. As she had risen from the lake, a sudden ripple had disturbed her perfectly serene mental sea—an inexplicable wave of agitation. For a fleeting instant, her gaze had been sorely tempted to sweep the gathered crowd, searching for... someone. She did not know whom, and the uncertainty irritated her disciplined mind. *Aremnant of seclusion?* she wondered, letting the warm currents ease her tension.
The soft voices of her maids drifted from behind a jade screen as they prepared fresh robes and sacred oils.
"...Did you see the Third Prince of the High Peaks today?" one whispered excitedly. "So strikingly handsome, yet cold as mountain frost. They say he never spares a glance for any lady—not even Fairy Shiyu, who has made her interest plain."
The second maid giggled. "True! He trains like a man possessed, sword in hand from dawn to dusk. All that ascetic dedication... yet if any male in the realms could match our Saintess in beauty and prowess, it would be Prince Lihang Qingjian."
Yan Fei's lips curved in mild amusement at the gossip. She called out lightly, her voice carrying like a temple bell, "Do you truly think so, little ones? That this prince matches me?"
The maids gasped, bowing hurriedly as they emerged. The bolder one, cheeks flushed, stammered,
"Forgive us, Saintess! We meant no disrespect. The Third Prince is greatly admired—his merits guarding the borders are legendary. His name is Lihang Qingjian, of the Imperial Lihang Dynasty."
At the sound of the name—Lihang Qingjian—a second, sharper mental ripple coursed through Yan Fei's consciousness, like a pebble dropped into still water. Her amber eyes narrowed in concern. Twice now, an unexplained disturbance tied to this stranger.
She rose gracefully from the pool, water cascading down her luminous skin like liquid gold, and wrapped herself in the offered robe.
"Enough gossip for tonight," she said gently, though her mind churned. Tomorrow, she would seek her Master and uncover the root of this unease.
As the maids withdrew, Yan Fei stood before a crystal mirror, gazing at her reflection. *Lihang Qingjian... Could he be a harbinger of calamity?* The thought unsettled her more than any demonic omen ever had.
(End of Chapter 2, Part 1)