The weight of the decision pressed heavily on both of them. Zhen Hao's knuckles whitened around the hilt of his sword as he wrestled with the implications. His entire life had been a battle—against enemies, against his past, against himself. The thought of breaking the cycle, of ending the constant struggle for supremacy, was tempting.
But what would remain of him if he did?
Lian Hua's voice broke the silence. "I don't think this choice is about us. It's about everyone—the ones who came before, the ones who will come after. If the Dao is fracturing because of imbalance, maybe the solution isn't to shatter it further."
Zhen Hao looked at her sharply. "And what if mending it just traps us in another endless cycle? What if the Dao needs to be destroyed for something better to take its place?"
Jiàn Wu watched them silently, his expression unreadable.
Finally, Zhen Hao turned to him. "You said you were the First Fragment. What choice did you make?"
Jiàn Wu's gaze softened, and for a moment, a trace of sorrow crossed his features. "I chose to mend the Dao, to restore balance. And for a time, it worked. But balance is fleeting. I became a part of the Dao, and my actions merely delayed the inevitable."
"And if we choose differently?" Zhen Hao pressed.
"You may succeed where I failed," Jiàn Wu said. "Or you may unleash a chaos that even I cannot foresee."
Zhen Hao and Lian Hua stood before the gate, the weight of the choice bearing down on them. Jiàn Wu stepped aside, his presence fading as the gate grew brighter.
"This is your path," Jiàn Wu said, his voice echoing faintly. "Walk it as you see fit."
Zhen Hao closed his eyes, the threads of the Dao unfolding in his mind. He saw the endless struggles of cultivators, the wars fought for power, the fleeting moments of peace. He saw himself as both the cause and the result of the Dao's fractures.
When his eyes opened, they burned with resolve. "I won't mend the Dao," he said firmly. "But I won't destroy it, either. I'll create something new—a cycle where balance isn't dictated by the Dao but by those who walk it."
Lian Hua hesitated, then nodded. "If you believe that's the path forward, I'll walk it with you."
Together, they stepped toward the gate. The symbols on its surface shifted, their meaning incomprehensible yet resonant. As they passed through, the light enveloped them, and the realm dissolved around them.
When the light faded, they found themselves in a vast, uncharted expanse—a world of infinite possibilities, shaped by their will. The Dao had been rewritten, its cycle broken, and a new era had begun.
As Zhen Hao and Lian Hua stepped into the new realm, they found themselves standing atop a floating platform overlooking a sprawling city of unparalleled grandeur. The city pulsed with vibrant life, its buildings crafted from shimmering jade and gold, rising in elegant spirals toward the heavens. Rivers of light coursed through the streets like veins of energy, connecting every corner of the metropolis. Above them, celestial beasts soared through skies painted with hues of twilight.
Lian Hua's eyes widened as she took in the sight. "This is no wilderness—it's a civilization far beyond what we've seen before."
A figure approached them, gliding effortlessly across the platform. Clad in flowing robes adorned with sigils of starlight, the stranger exuded an air of authority. His long silver hair cascaded down his back, and his piercing eyes seemed to see through their very souls.
"I am Grand Minister Ren of the Celestial Assembly," he said, his voice measured and commanding. "You are the ones who crossed the River of Eternity, are you not?"
Zhen Hao nodded cautiously. "We are. What is this place?"
"This is the Radiant City, the heart of Celestial Harmony," Ren replied. "Here, the Assembly governs the balance of realms. You stand before a society forged through centuries of discipline, where the laws of cultivation and governance intertwine."
Ren gestured toward the city below. "The Radiant City is divided into twelve sectors, each overseen by a ruling sect. Together, they form the Pillars of Harmony, ensuring order and progress. But your arrival has disrupted this balance."
"What do you mean?" Lian Hua asked.
Ren's expression darkened. "The River of Eternity is sacred. Those who traverse it are either destined to elevate the realm or to plunge it into chaos. The Assembly must determine which path you will take."
Zhen Hao and Lian Hua were escorted to the Celestial Hall, an awe-inspiring chamber where the leaders of the twelve sects convened. The sect masters sat on thrones arranged in a circular formation, each throne reflecting their sect's unique domain. From the Verdant Pavilion Sect, with its mastery of nature, to the Obsidian Flame Sect, wielders of destructive power, each master radiated immense authority.Ren stood at the center of the circle. "Honored sect masters, I present to you Zhen Hao and Lian Hua, travelers from the mortal realms who have crossed the River of Eternity."
A woman clad in emerald robes, her hair entwined with vines, spoke first. "Why were we not informed of such an event? The balance of the realm is delicate."
Another master, his form wreathed in flickering flames, scoffed. "Balance? Or stagnation? Perhaps their arrival signals the need for change."
The debate grew heated as the sect masters argued over the implications of Zhen Hao and Lian Hua's presence. Finally, Ren raised his hand, silencing the chamber. "The Assembly will decide through action, not words. Let the newcomers prove their intentions."
Zhen Hao stepped forward. "We did not come to disrupt. If this realm requires balance, then show us how we can help restore it."
Ren nodded approvingly. "Very well. You will serve as emissaries to the sects, learning their ways and aiding them in resolving their disputes. Through this, the Assembly will judge your worth."