The frozen hum of Shen Yuan's yin aura whispered through the air, glazing the stone beneath his feet in silver frost. Opposite to him, the young prince of Fengyue stood in a blaze of radiance, his fiery aura licking the sky, distorting space itself.
The two opposing forces met in the center — not with a clash, but with a silence so sharp it made the world hold its breath.
Then—
BOOM.
Eight terrifying auras descended from above, crushing down with suffocating pressure. Shen Yuan's ice cracked. The prince's flames sputtered.
Both were forced to withdraw, cold sweat beading on their brows.
As the pressure eased, the two looked up in unison.
On the opposite edge of the wall stood eight figures, each exuding boundless strength. The eight team leaders had arrived.
The prince was first to compose himself. He cupped his hands, his voice calm.
"Fellow cultivators. Many thanks for intervening. I was... caught up in the moment."
Shen Yuan's gaze sharpened as he studied them. Each aura was familiar—imposing, sharp, yet restrained. And unsurprisingly, each leader was at the early stage of the Elysian Realm.
So this was the standard now.
"Seniors," Shen Yuan said coldly, bowing slightly. "Had you not stepped in, I might've lost Phase Two before it even began."
Silence.
Then one of them stepped forward. A tall young man with windswept hair and a sheathed sword on his back.
"Yi An. Sword God Sect," he introduced bluntly. "I don't care about your thanks. I only care about fighting you."
His hand rested on his hilt, smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
"So here's my suggestion, you better ascend to the Elysian Realm in a week. Otherwise, you'll be the first corpse on the battlefield."
The air tightened. Even the prince's expression turned grave.
Shen Yuan was quiet for a beat.
Then he smirked.
"You're right. No matter how monstrous I am now, I can't take down Elysian Realm cultivators."
"Don't worry. I'll ascend in five days. That... is a promise."
Gasps rang out from the team leaders. Some sneered. Others exchanged silent glances.
"Is he insane?"
"No one's ever broken through to the Elysian Realm in five days, let alone under pressure."
But Yi An only burst into laughter. A low, fascinated sound.
Even Shen Yuan raised a brow. He didn't expect that reaction.
"Interesting," Yi An said. "I'll be waiting. But don't take too long… or your little team might vanish before you get the chance."
Shen Yuan's smile vanished, his eyes narrowing.
That was the first time in centuries he felt true pressure… not since Elder Tian Xu.
"I accept your challenge," he said flatly.
Without another word, Yi An and the other leaders vanished, leaping down like falling stars.
Only the prince remained.
The heat from the prince's aura faded, and for the first time, his fiery gaze met Shen Yuan's directly—not with anger, but with curiosity… and caution.
Shen Yuan crossed his arms.
"You and I have never met, 300 years ago. Why do you want me dead?"
The prince's expression hardened slightly, though he made no effort to hide the truth.
"It doesn't always have to be personal. You're an enemy of Elder Tian Xu... and of my father. Which makes you an enemy of the whole Fengyue."
He paused, his voice cool but not hostile.
"That's reason enough."
Shen Yuan's eyes lowered in disappointment, his voice turning bitter.
"So it's not even your own hatred. Just the will of two old coots that for some reason feared me."
He let out a quiet sigh and turned away.
"Fine then. We'll settle this in the second phase… but I won't kill you. After all—"
He glanced back, a strange glint in his eyes.
"—how else could I show you the truth?"
The prince blinked, caught off guard. Before he could say anything, Shen Yuan was already walking away, his silhouette vanishing into the mist-covered road.
A breeze passed, and beside the stunned prince, Bai Chen emerged silently from thin air.
"It's time," Bai Chen said quietly. "We should return to our quarters."
The prince nodded absently but then glanced at him.
"You used to be his friend. What do you think of Shen Yuan now?"
Bai Chen was quiet for a moment, then spoke with surprising honesty.
"He's cold. Calculative. But he struggles... not with power—but with hatred. He buries it so deep, it poisons everything he touches, including himself."
"But if he ever learns to master that… he'll be unstoppable."
The prince said nothing, but his clenched fist betrayed his thoughts. Then, in a blink, both disappeared into the shadows.
Meanwhile, Shen Yuan walked through the quiet courtyard, eventually arriving at Tang Jiyan's room. He raised a hand and knocked.
No response.
But faint voices drifted from inside, layered and low.
Curious, he pushed open the door and stepped inside.
His eyes widened.
Before him stood Tang Jiyan, Xiang Xiaoli, Guo Bohai, Shi Meixiu, and Dong Chen, all standing in perfect formation—Ghostly Sword Formation. Unlike their last attempt, this time… it was flawless.
The room pulsed with eerie sword intent, shadows flickering along the floor.
Shen Yuan clapped slowly.
The formation dissipated instantly, and the five turned around in shock.
"Not bad," Shen Yuan said, smiling. "Looks like you've all improved."
"Brother Shen Yuan!" Tang Jiyan grinned.
But Shen Yuan's expression turned serious as he stepped forward.
"I need to tell you something. And it won't be easy to hear."
He explained everything—Yi An's challenge, his five-day promise to reach the Elysian Realm, and the stakes of failure.
The room fell into silence.
Then—
"You IDIOT!" Xiang Xiaoli shouted, throwing her hands up. "Do you even think before doing crazy things?!"
Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow annoyed.
"You think I had a choice? My entire team, you guys are relying on me. And I've got a damn bounty from a prince and a whole country on my head. What would you have done, if you were in my position?"
Her anger faltered. The others lowered their gazes, realizing the truth behind his words.
Shen Yuan bore a pressure none of them could shoulder.
It was Guo Bohai, the oldest, who finally broke the silence.
"Then… why not copy a domain? That should make it easier to reach the Elysian Realm, after all it's the easiest way."
Everyone turned to stare at him.
Shen Yuan's brow furrowed, but before he could respond—
"Nope that wouldn't work," Tang Jiyan muttered. "Do you think copying a domain will help? That sword god sect's team leader Yi An probably forged his domain from years of comprehension. A copied domain would be way weaker than an original one."
But then—
A voice came from the corner of the room, so soft it was almost missed.
"Indeed. A copied domain is but a copy at the end of the day."
They all whipped around—only to see Steward Yan, standing casually with his hands behind his back.
The door was still closed. None of them had felt him enter.
Shen Yuan straightened, bowing respectfully.
"Steward Yan… you almost gave me a heart attack."
The old steward chuckled lightly, then fixed Shen Yuan with a calm, unreadable gaze.
"So, you truly intend to grasp a domain in five days?"
"Yes," Shen Yuan replied without hesitation.
Steward Yan nodded.
"Then I shall offer you something rare. You've already experienced the domains of the Twin Soul Sect masters, correct?"
Shen Yuan nodded slowly, unsure of where this was going.
"Then let me give you a third experience—my domain."
Everyone froze.
"You… you mean we can see it?" Dong Chen asked in disbelief.
But Steward Yan shook his head.
"Not see. Shen Yuan will feel it. Directly. While you guys can feel it's outside pressure."
He stepped forward, eyes gleaming faintly with power.
"My domain is one that most never glimpse in their lifetime—the Domain of Time."
Shen Yuan's eyes widened.
A chill raced down his spine—not from fear, but from the sheer magnitude of the opportunity being handed to him.
Domains were secrets, deeply personal and rarely shared. Yet in just a few months, he'd been allowed to experience three.
Still… why?
"Why are you helping me?" he asked.
Steward Yan smiled faintly.
"No reason. I'm simply curious. I want to see... what kind of monster you become. What domain you truly forge."
Shen Yuan stared at him, uncertain.
But he didn't press further.
Instead, he walked to the center of the room, sat down in the lotus position, and closed his eyes.
"I'm ready."
Steward Yan raised a single finger.
And the surrounding time seemed to have slowed down.
Meanwhile far away, atop a blooming sakura tree in a garden where spiritual cranes soared, a man in crimson robes sat gazing at the heavens.
His aura was vast yet gentle, like a sleeping god.
It was none other than the World Lord, Han Bolin, let out a breath and muttering to himself.
"Junior brother… just what kind of monster have you taken under your wing?"
He smiled faintly, eyes glinting with ancient light.
"Are you hoping… he'll accomplish what you couldn't?"
The wind stirred the cherry blossoms.
"Well then… let's see how far your death star climbs."