Chapter One: Azure Lotus

“Clang, clang, clang…” Nine peals of a bell suddenly rang out from the sky, echoing across the vast lands of the Divine Continent. Countless ancient auras awakened from their slumber!

“The Southern Sea Purple Bamboo Sanctuary, from this day forth, reopens the Sacred Path to welcome all talents!”

“The Southern Sea Thunder Sky Sanctuary, the Sacred Path is open once more!”

“The Northern Sea Netherworld Sanctuary, the Sacred Path is open anew!”

Countless ancient powers, at the bell’s toll, proclaimed to all the world that they would once again recruit disciples from the mortal realm. This set countless common households upon the path of seeking immortality.

In the southern region of the Divine Continent, within the Tianlan Dynasty, an unusual spectacle unfolded by a secluded lake. Streams of radiant light shimmered forth, creating wondrous visions. After the ninth bell, the clear, empty lake began sprouting lotuses. Mist drifted in coils, transforming the place into a true fairyland.

At the heart of the lake, a cluster of lotus leaves slowly unfurled, and within them, a blue lotus blossomed in full glory. Soon, the blue lotus outgrew all others. Days passed, and when the blue lotus reached its peak, a figure sat cross-legged within, shrouded in mist, as if an immortal descended from another realm.

The figure slowly opened his eyes—deep and emotionless—and his handsome features seemed carved by the heavens themselves.

He rose gracefully atop the lotus, stepping forward as a new petal floated to serve as a stair with each step he took. One soft-hued lotus after another drifted beneath his feet until he reached the shore.

Upon stepping ashore, he stood entirely unclothed, yet turned with calm composure to gaze at the lake, a sea of lotus leaves and blossoms. With a wave of his hand, the lotuses and leaves rose from the water, weaving together in the air, slender threads intertwining until at last they became a snow-white robe draped across his body.

At that moment, the lake’s mist dispersed, and it returned to its mundane appearance.

“After a thousand years, I return to the world once more!”

The words, spoken with slight awkwardness, escaped his lips. If anyone had been present, they would surely have regarded him with puzzlement, perhaps thinking, “Has this man gone mad?”

He slowly raised his right hand, spreading his fingers before clenching them into a tight fist. “I, Shen Qingyun, have returned!”

Those who knew would understand the gravity of his words. Yet, perhaps in this world, there were none left who remembered him…

Shen Qingyun had been one of the nine great Emperors at the pinnacle of the last era. For the sake of a promise, he’d forsaken the chance to ascend, dispersing his cultivation and entering a deep slumber, all to awaken in the time of the next calamity and aid the Divine Continent in surviving its millennial tribulation.

A gentle breeze swept by, lifting his waist-length hair like a waterfall.

“Hm?”

Not far away, a carriage was approaching. The coachman narrowed his eyes as he saw Shen Qingyun standing beside the road, and called out to those within, “Eldest Miss, Second Miss, there’s someone ahead!”

“How could anyone be here, in such a desolate place?”

A clear, pleasant voice drifted from within the carriage, and then the curtain was lifted slightly, revealing an exquisite face.

Qiao Xinran saw a figure standing by the roadside, utterly indifferent to the oncoming carriage. At this rate, he would surely be knocked into the water; calling out would not be fast enough.

After a moment’s hesitation, Qiao Xinran instructed, “Stop the carriage!”

“Yes, Eldest Miss!” The coachman complied, bringing the carriage to a halt.

Qiao Xinran immediately alighted, and from within the carriage, a puzzled voice sounded, “Sister, what are you doing?”

“I’m going to have a look. You stay put inside,” Qiao Xinran replied, then walked toward Shen Qingyun.

“Sir, pardon the intrusion.”

Shen Qingyun glanced sideways and saw Qiao Xinran approaching with a courteous salute. Curiously, she wore the garb of a martial artist, yet her manners were those of a noble lady, making for an odd combination.

“Forgive my boldness, but may I ask why you are standing here?” she inquired.

Shen Qingyun withdrew his gaze. “It’s nothing,” he replied coolly, and turned to walk onward.

Qiao Xinran was mildly surprised by his response, then noticed the direction he was heading. “Are you by chance on your way to the Cangyun Sect to seek the Dao?” she asked.

Hearing this, Shen Qingyun paused but did not turn. “Yes.”

A gentle smile appeared on Qiao Xinran’s lips. “Then fate has brought us together, for we too are journeying to the Cangyun Sect to seek a master.”

Seeing he paid her little heed and continued on, Qiao Xinran found it rather amusing. Back home, young men would always vie for a chance to speak with her, but here her charm seemed to have no effect.

Testing him further, she called out, “Sir, there’s still some distance to the Cangyun Sect. Why not share our carriage and save yourself the effort?”

But Shen Qingyun acted as if he hadn’t heard, continuing on his way.

She called again, “Consider it forming a good connection; once at the Cangyun Sect, we can look after one another.”

At these words, Shen Qingyun stopped, turned, and walked over to her.

Standing before Qiao Xinran, he said quietly, “Very well.”

Qiao Xinran blinked, then said, “Please, this way.”

Inside the carriage, the Qiao sisters—whose features were strikingly similar—sat together on one side, watching Shen Qingyun silently staring out the window from across.

“Sister, what a strange man you’ve found. Most would be eager to talk to us, but he just sits there gazing outside. Is the view more attractive than us?”

“Mind your words!” Qiao Xinran glared at her sister, inwardly wondering if her own charm had lost its effect today.

“May I ask your surname, sir…” she began.

“Shen. My name is Shen Qingyun,” he replied before she could finish.

“You—how rude!”

Qiao Xinyu, unlike her gentle elder sister, had a temper befitting a young lady of status. At Shen Qingyun’s indifferent tone, she snapped, “We kindly invited you to share our carriage, and this is how you speak? If you don’t wish to be associated with us, you can get out!”

Qiao Xinran’s expression grew serious. Before leaving, her father had warned her to keep an eye on her sister and not let her speak recklessly—outside was not like home, and offending the wrong person could lead to disaster.

But seeing Shen Qingyun unmoved, Qiao Xinran relaxed and offered an apologetic smile. “Please don’t mind her, Sir Shen. My sister has always been this way.”

“It’s nothing,” Shen Qingyun said calmly, still gazing out the window. “I forgive her.”

“Hey!” Qiao Xinyu bristled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, glaring at him. “Couldn’t you tell my sister was just being polite? What do you mean by that? She invited you out of kindness, and you don’t even thank her! Who’s the guest and who’s the host here?”

As Shen Qingyun’s gaze flickered toward her, Qiao Xinran felt a jolt of alarm and was about to apologize on her sister’s behalf when Shen Qingyun spoke.

His tone remained utterly detached. “Did I beg you to invite me aboard?”

“I believe not.”

“And your sister said we’d look after each other at the Cangyun Sect. That is the effect, and my boarding the carriage is the cause. With cause and effect, why should I be constrained?”

“You—you’re shameless!” Qiao Xinyu glared at him.

“Say what you will, but compared to your sister, you fall far short,” Shen Qingyun replied languidly.

“You…” Qiao Xinyu’s eyes reddened instantly, on the verge of tears, prompting Qiao Xinran to hurriedly comfort her.

Shen Qingyun half-lifted his eyelids, speaking lazily, “See? I told you, you’re like a child compared to your sister.”

Qiao Xinyu’s tears, which had been threatening to fall, were miraculously suppressed, and Qiao Xinran looked at her in surprise, then cast a meaningful glance at Shen Qingyun.

“Who says I’m like a child!” Qiao Xinyu retorted stubbornly.

Shen Qingyun regarded her with a rare seriousness. “Are you not? At home, everyone pampers you. But understand, this is no longer home—it’s the outside world. If you can’t endure any hardship, you might as well stay home and wait for a matchmaker to find you a husband, live out your days as a wife and mother.”

“I don’t want that!” Qiao Xinyu protested, eyes filled with determination. “I’m not inferior to my sister!”

Just then, the carriage jolted violently. Qiao Xinran immediately called out, “Coachman, what’s happening?”

The coachman’s frightened voice drifted in, “M-miss, we’ve run into bandits!”