The sun had barely risen over the golden rooftops of the Imperial Palace when Xiu Wang was escorted by two inner hall disciples toward the grand Celestial Phoenix Plaza. The morning air carried the fragrance of imperial cherry trees, and a breeze laden with spiritual energy brushed her skin like the whispers of ancient cultivators who once walked these lands.
Her training robes, though simple, were pearly white with russet edges that reflected the imperial emblem. Her amber eyes shone with determination... and a hint of melancholy.
The flying carriage was waiting for her. Pulled by spirit beasts with golden scales and obsidian claws, it looked like a sacred creature straight out of legend. Xiu boarded silently, delicately clutching the scroll with her official enrollment at the Thousand Pillars Royal Academy.
"It's time," she said to herself, looking up at the sky as the carriage rose.
From high above, she gazed down upon the endless fields, the spiritual lakes, and the cultivation sanctuaries. Everything unfolded before her as if the world were whispering, "Come… and claim me."
The Thousand Pillars Royal Academy was older than the Empire itself. Founded by immortal sages millennia ago, it was a citadel of white stone and soul crystal, surrounded by floating pillars containing matrices of protection, time, and gravity. Each pillar was an artifact of great power, linked to the flow of Qi throughout the entire region.
Upon her arrival, Xiu was greeted not with fanfare, but with the solemn ringing of the enrollment bell. Dozens of new students walked between the entrance gates, each displaying the symbol of their clan or sect.
She, on the other hand, walked alone. But her bearing, her refined aura—typical of the Late Qi Refinement Stage—and her lustrous jade-like skin caused more than a few to stop and stare.
"Who is that girl…? A princess?"
"She doesn't wear a clan crest… An orphaned cultivator?"
"She's beautiful… but her aura is dangerous. It feels like ancient fire…"
Xiu was used to the stares. For as long as she could remember, she had been seen as a mystery. A baby found wrapped in gentle flames, adopted by the Empress herself. Raised in luxury, but never immune to the shadows of conspiracies.
A white-bearded old man appeared in front of her, blocking her way. His robes were black with gold threads: the symbol of an Inner Court mentor.
Elder Zhen:
"Your flame seems familiar, Palace Child. Do you have a name?"
Xiu Wang (bowing his head):
"Xiu Wang, disciple of the imperial lineage. I seek to enter the Heavenly Flame Pavilion."
Elder Zhen:
"Brave choice. That pavilion only welcomes those who master the soul fire without being consumed. Are you sure?"
Xiu raised her hand. A scarlet flame silently erupted from her palm. It didn't burn, but it vibrated intensely, generating ripples that made a couple of nearby disciples flinch.
"I was born with it. More than certain, I am… part of the fire."
Elder Zhen smiled.
"Then… let's go in, fire child."
Hours later, after completing the basic enrollment tests and receiving her assigned room in the east tower, Xiu Wang found herself in her new room. Small, but warm. The bed had sheets made of spirit cloud fiber, and the window overlooked a waterfall cascading from a floating mountain.
She was about to sit down when she heard a soft knock on the door.
???:
"Are you my roommate? Lucky me!"
The door opened, revealing a young woman with crystalline eyes and dark blue hair tied back in an elegant ponytail. She wore a robe from the Eternal Waters Sect, and her presence was like the murmur of a river.
Lan Yin'er:
"Hello! I'm Lan Yin'er. First daughter of the Third Elder of my sect. And you?"
Xiu gave a small smile. For the first time in days, she felt she could... relax a little.
Xiu Wang:
"Xiu Wang. Adopted daughter of the Imperial Palace. It's a pleasure, Lan Yin'er."
That night, in the main halls, the Alignment Ceremony would take place. The students would be tested by the elders and distributed into pavilions according to their affinity.
And somewhere, among the shadows of the pillars... a young man with a dark gaze and an invisible aura watched them from above.
Mo Yeyan (thinking):
"The flame of destiny... has burned again."