The library was silent save for the faint hum of yin lamps and the rustle of old scrolls. Haotian sat alone at a long jade desk, one hand resting on an open text, the other tracing faint calculations of qi flow across the air. His golden inner library resonated faintly as he prepared to test the cultivation cycles of the Moon Lotus Codex.
But then — the soft creak of the library doors.
He looked up.
Elder Ziyue had stepped inside, her robes of pale blue brushed with frost, her expression unreadable. She closed the doors gently behind her, leaning her back against them as if barring the world out.
Haotian offered her a faint smile.
"Elder Ziyue… do you need something?"
But Ziyue's head was lowered, her long lashes trembling. She drew a breath, then lifted her gaze to meet his. Her eyes shimmered — a storm she had held back for too long.
In the next heartbeat, she rushed forward.
Her arms wrapped tightly around him, her face pressed to his chest. Haotian froze, surprised at her suddenness. Her shoulders trembled, her breath shallow.
Slowly, he lifted his arms and embraced her in return. His voice was quiet, steady.
"So… you still haven't been able to cope."
Ziyue didn't answer. She only held him tighter, as if afraid he would vanish if she let go. Her breath trembled against him, then she whispered, barely audible—
"…I missed you."
Haotian's chest rose with a long sigh. He did not push her away. He simply held her, letting her draw what comfort she needed, his warmth steady as stone.
After a long silence, Ziyue finally stirred. She pulled back, her face flushed scarlet. Her eyes darted away from his, shame and longing battling within her gaze.
"…forgive me," she whispered, bowing her head. Then she turned, robes brushing softly across the floor, and walked quickly to the door.
Haotian remained still, watching her leave. As the door closed behind her, his chest tightened. For a moment, his heart ached with her loneliness, her silent struggle.
And then, in the quiet, he remembered Lianhua's voice.
"If you have to… dual cultivate with them. I will allow that much — for the sake of the world."
His hand curled lightly at his side. He thought of it — of the duty, the temptation, the paths he might walk.
But then he shook his head, closing his eyes briefly.
"…not yet."
The library fell silent again, its rows of ancient scrolls bearing witness to the weight of hearts caught between love, duty, and the looming storm.
The library was silent once more. The faint scent of ink and frost lingered in the air where Ziyue had stood, but Haotian set his mind back on his task. With a steadying breath, he crossed his legs and settled into meditation.
"Now… let us see if this foundation holds."
Closing his eyes, he began to circulate his qi according to the first pathway of the Moon Lotus Codex.
Immediately, the flow was different.
Where older yin methods of the sect often felt rigid and sharp — cold currents battering against meridians until they yielded — this method was smooth. The qi slid through him like moonlight upon still water, balancing power with grace. Each pass left his body strengthened, not strained.
The first lotus pathway lit within him, glowing faintly like a petal unfolding. Haotian's breath deepened, steady and calm. Then the qi turned, spiraling into the second.
One petal became three. Three became six.
By the ninth cycle, his entire body resonated with the image of a lotus in bloom, every meridian a glowing petal, every breath harmonized with the heavens.
A low hum filled the library. Frost gathered faintly around him, yet it did not bite — instead, it shimmered, delicate and luminous, as if the moon itself was breathing upon the world.
Haotian exhaled slowly, his eyes half-opening. His gaze was sharper, his qi smoother, his spirit clearer than before.
"As I expected… no stagnation, no resistance. Each cycle cleanses the body, tempers the soul. At this pace, even outer disciples could reach the Saint Realm with stability."
He did not stop. He continued into the advanced cycles, pushing deeper into the framework he had written. Each time, the lotus within bloomed further, now layering into patterns of petals within petals. His body thrummed with vitality.
By the ninety-ninth cycle, he felt it: the codex's ceiling. The qi looped perfectly, harmonized flawlessly, but beyond it the flow grew faint — a door waiting for another key, beyond his design.
Haotian opened his eyes fully, releasing a long breath. His qi retracted, frost dissolving back into mist.
"The Moon Lotus Codex… yes. It can truly carry them to the Peak of the Saint Realm. No more bottlenecks, no wasted effort."
For a moment, a quiet satisfaction warmed his chest. Then his gaze hardened.
"But the path beyond… they will still need to carve with their own blades."
He stood slowly, brushing frost from his sleeve. The test was complete. The scripture was ready.
The Moon Lotus Codex was no longer just theory. It was alive.
After confirming the stability of the Moon Lotus Codex's cultivation method, Haotian left the quiet library and made his way to the secluded training grounds behind the library. A wide courtyard of froststone awaited him, surrounded by silent pines dusted in snow. It was the perfect place to unleash the new techniques.
From his ring, he drew one of the Yuehua Jian. The slender blade shimmered faintly in the pale light, its edge whispering as if eager to be tested. Haotian exhaled once, then let his qi flow into the sword.
The weapon sang.
Moonlight Veil Slash (Yuehua Bianguang)
Haotian stepped forward, his blade cutting through the air. A faint veil of silvery light cloaked the slash, making the movement seem slow, even gentle. Then— crack! —the veil shattered, and the true strike flashed out, carving a deep line through the froststone wall across the yard.
Haotian's eyes gleamed."Deceptive, yet sharp. The veil hides intent… perfect for countering agile foes."
Lotus Bloom Dance (Lianhua Wu)
He shifted into the flowing sequence. Each slash overlapped the last, weaving arcs of frost and light. One slash, three, nine—until a lotus of radiant energy bloomed in the air before him. With the final cut, the lotus exploded outward, shards of sword qi slicing into a distant stone pillar, shattering it into glittering fragments.
Haotian's lips curved faintly."This… will make their formations devastating."
Frozen Moon Mirror (Bingyue Jing)
He swept his blade in a crescent arc, channeling yin qi. Frost condensed instantly, forming a translucent mirror of shimmering moonlight in the air. To test it, he released a burst of his own sword qi at it—only to see the mirror scatter the energy harmlessly into snowflakes.
Haotian nodded."With synchronized use, even outer disciples could withstand Saint-tier strikes."
Heavenly Radiant Petal (Tianhua Ye)
This time, his qi surged brighter. He raised the Yuehua Jian high, then slashed downward. Moonlight flared as the blade fractured into hundreds of glowing petals of frost, each one whistling as it fell like a rain of swords. The training ground trembled under the barrage, frost erupting across stone as if a storm had descended.
When the last petal faded, Haotian lowered his sword. The ground was riddled with cuts, a frozen lotus pattern etched into its surface.
"…yes. This is their strongest strike."
New Techniques
But Haotian did not stop there. He steadied his breath and prepared the last two additions to the codex.
Thousand Petal Lotus Sword Array (Qianhua Lian Jian Zhen)Although he had no disciples to form the array with, he simulated the resonance using his own qi. Dozens of illusory Yuehua Jian appeared, flickering around him, their sword qi weaving into overlapping petals. A vast lotus of sword-light spread out above the training ground, its aura alone sharp enough to stir the wind.
Haotian released it with a wave of his hand. The lotus collapsed into countless strands of qi, striking the far wall like a storm of blades. Half the wall crumbled under the weight of the formation's phantom power.
Moon Piercing Heaven (Yuejian Cangtian)Finally, he steadied his stance, drawing his qi into the very tip of the Yuehua Jian. The sword hummed, glowing brighter as all his power compressed into a needlepoint of moonlight. With a single thrust, he released it—
Boom!
A blinding spear of light tore through the courtyard, piercing a thick defense boulder meant to withstand Saint Realm attacks. The rock split cleanly in two, edges frozen into smooth crystal ice.
Haotian lowered the sword, frost vapor rising from the shattered stone. His breath was calm, but his eyes shone with certainty.
"The Moon Lotus Codex… is complete."
The jade council hall of the Moon Lotus Sect was quiet that evening. Sect Master Yinxue sat at the head, her expression calm as still waters, while the elders gathered on either side. Their breaths misted faintly in the chill of the yin lamps.
Haotian entered, Yuehua Jian resting at his side. He bowed slightly, then straightened with quiet confidence.
"I have completed what I promised."
The words rippled through the hall. The elders exchanged glances — some in curiosity, others with unspoken anticipation. Yinxue's gaze sharpened, and she inclined her head."Then let us hear it, Haotian."
Haotian raised his hand. Golden light shimmered above his palm, forming glowing scripts that floated into the air like living petals. The air stirred with qi resonance as the characters arranged themselves into a vast, luminous scripture.
"This is the culmination of what I found in your library, refined through my own understanding. A complete inheritance for your disciples. I have named it the Moon Lotus Codex — Yue Lian Jing."
The hall grew silent. Even the yin lamps flickered as if leaning closer.
Haotian's voice flowed steady and clear:"The codex will allow your disciples to cultivate smoothly to the Peak of the Saint Realm, free of bottlenecks. Its sword techniques harmonize with the Yuehua Jian, ensuring elegance and lethality. Its movement methods give them speed and reach on any battlefield. Its formation array allows their strength to multiply exponentially the more they fight together. And its ultimate thrust, Moon Piercing Heaven, gives them the power to pierce through even Saint-tier defenses."
As he spoke, illusions of his earlier tests manifested above the glowing scripture:
A lotus blooming across meridians.
Veils of moonlight masking a sword slash.
A defensive frost mirror scattering strikes.
A thousand-petal lotus storm sweeping the field.
A single spear of moonlight piercing a stone mountain.
The elders could not contain themselves."Peak Saint Realm… for every disciple?" one whispered, her voice trembling."A codex with sword, movement, and formation arts… this is… this is more complete than anything our sect has held for centuries!""To think it came from the very flaws of our old methods…"
Even Sect Master Yinxue's composure flickered. Her usually calm gaze rippled faintly, a rare light shining within her eyes."Haotian… this is no longer just a contribution. It is a rebirth of the Moon Lotus Sect."
Ziyue stood frozen, her heart pounding as she stared at him. She had always known his brilliance, but seeing him lift their entire sect with his hands — her chest tightened with admiration, longing, and a pang she could not put into words.
Shuyue's lips parted slightly, her eyes lingering on Haotian longer than she realized. Her sealed heart trembled again, fighting against its bindings as the dazzling image of him lingered before her.
Haotian closed his palm, the golden scripture collapsing back into his inner world. His voice was quiet, but resolute."With this codex, the Moon Lotus Sect will not only endure the coming storm. It will stand unshaken, and rise to heights unimagined."
The silence that followed was heavy — then, one by one, the elders bowed their heads deeply. Even Sect Master Yinxue inclined her head, solemn and sincere.
"Haotian," she said softly, "you have given us more than protection. You have given us a future."
The bathhouse was unlike any other structure in the Moon Lotus Sect. Built by Haotian himself, its walls shimmered with frost-crystal veins, and the great pools of water inside rippled with qi that made the very air hum with power. At its heart, a Source Crystal pulsed faintly, channeling spiritual energy into the waters, while the frost vein beneath infused every ripple with condensed yin chi.
For the female disciples, stepping into this place was like entering a celestial haven. The waters embraced them, tempering their yin bodies, cleansing their meridians, and feeding their spirits. It was the perfect ground for the first cultivation of the Moon Lotus Codex.
That morning, nearly a hundred disciples entered, robes discarded, bodies shimmering with frost mist as they settled into the crystal pools. The elders joined them, their presence solemn but eager.
Haotian stood outside, overseeing quietly. His eyes shone as he felt the Codex's rhythm take hold in them, their qi cycles aligning with the nine lotus pathways he had forged.
And then it began.
One after another, lotus blooms of qi blossomed above the waters. Breakthroughs thundered across the bathhouse, the air trembling with the cries of disciples reaching new stages. By the end of the first day, 61 disciples and three elders had broken through their bottlenecks. Their astonished voices echoed in the mist, tears glimmering in their eyes.
"This… this method truly works…!""My meridians feel lighter, my foundation stronger!""I… I've never felt my cultivation flow so clearly—"
Even the elders, seasoned and proud, looked at one another in shock. Centuries of effort had not given them the leaps that one day in this bathhouse had achieved.
But not all shared in the joy.
At the back of the hall, Shuyue sat apart. She did not enter the waters. She did not adopt the new method. Her path remained chained to the Heart-Seal Cultivation she had chosen long ago — a path of restraint, control, and suppression of her emotions. She told herself she did not need Haotian's gift.
Yet her eyes trembled as she watched.
On the second day, the numbers doubled. Over 100 disciples broke through into Nascent Soul Realm, their cheers echoing like rippling bells through the bathhouse. Even outer disciples, who once lagged hopelessly behind, surged forward as if fate itself had been rewritten.
Shuyue's heart clenched. She had always been a senior core disciple, her cultivation far ahead of her peers. But now, those same peers, guided by Haotian's codex, were racing forward without obstacles.
On the fourth week, she could no longer ignore it.
Disciples who had once looked up to her were now standing at her level — late-stage Nascent Realm — their eyes burning with newfound confidence. Some had even begun to surpass her, climbing into realms she had thought would take decades to reach.
She sat in silence, her fingers tightening over her sleeves as she felt her once stable world crumble.
I thought the Heart-Seal Method was the strongest path for me…I thought cutting off my heart would make me unshakable, unbreakable…But now, they are rising past me, one after another… and I… remain here.
Her heart ached. Not just for her cultivation, but for the memory of that moment in the library, when her arms had wrapped around him and she had whispered the words she had fought so long to bury.
For the first time, doubt pierced the seal around her heart.
And it whispered: perhaps… I chose wrong.
Her chamber was quiet. Too quiet.
Shuyue sat cross-legged upon a jade mat, her hands folded into the Heart-Seal mudra, her breathing slow and deep. Her qi circulated along the familiar sealed pathways, cold and steady, her mind sinking into the calm she had cultivated for years.
But tonight, the calm would not hold.
Boom!
From the distant bathhouse, another surge of qi rippled through the air. Another disciple breaking through. The pulse shook the floor, making the jade walls hum faintly. Shuyue's eyes quivered.
Her fingers tightened into her palms.
She closed her eyes, forcing herself deeper into meditation. Seal the heart. Empty the self. Feel nothing.
Yet in the dark behind her eyelids, she saw their faces.
The junior sisters who once bowed to her, now looking at her as equals.
The elders whispering of Haotian's brilliance.
Ziyue, her rival in pride, who had dared to lay bare her feelings before him.
And above them all — him.
Haotian's calm gaze. Haotian's quiet smile. Haotian standing in the library as she clung to him, whispering words she should never have said.
Her qi faltered. The lotus pattern of her Heart-Seal method flickered.
"No…" she whispered through clenched teeth. "I chose the right path. I must have… I—"
But her body betrayed her. Her breathing grew uneven, her chest rising and falling sharply. The stillness she once wielded like a blade fractured, her heart pounding wildly against her ribs.
Why?
She had told herself again and again: The Heart-Seal Method is supreme. Emotion is weakness. Cutting it away is strength.
But as the days passed, disciples who had laughed and cried freely soared beyond her, their hearts unbound, their cultivation paths smooth and unhindered. And she, who had sealed her heart with chains of ice, could only watch them leave her behind.
Her hands shook. She pressed them harder together, until her nails dug into her skin.
"Then why… why do I feel so powerless…?"
Her voice cracked, soft and raw.
Another pulse of qi thundered from the bathhouse, this time stronger than her own realm. She opened her eyes, staring blankly at the floor, her lips trembling.
Even the juniors… are surpassing me.
For the first time since she had taken up the Heart-Seal Method, tears welled in her eyes. She crushed them back with a sharp breath, her nails drawing faint blood against her palms.
But the cracks had already spread through her heart.
Within mere weeks, the effects of the Moon Lotus Codex spread like wildfire through the sect.
Disciples who once struggled for years now advanced with effortless clarity. The bathhouse resonated with breakthroughs daily — outer disciples reaching Nascent Realm in days, core disciples stabilizing their Dao Hearts, elders shedding their bottlenecks as if they had been illusions all along.
The sword techniques dazzled them most of all.
The Moonlight Veil Slash confused even their sparring partners, its deceptive afterimage leaving defenders wide open.
The Lotus Bloom Dance created lotus after lotus in the training fields, until whole rows of pillars shattered beneath the weight of sword petals.
The Frozen Moon Mirror astonished the elders — its reflective barriers, even when raised by novices, could withstand attacks that should have crushed them.
And the movement arts…
The first time the disciples practiced the Shadowed Lotus Step and Flowing Moonlight Step, shrieks and laughter rang across the training grounds."W-wahh— too fast!""Ahh! The bushes!!"
Several disciples, unused to the sudden speed, stumbled into snow-laden shrubs or collided with their sisters, tumbling into heaps of frosted robes. Their embarrassment only deepened the laughter around them. But when the shock wore off, awe filled their eyes.
"…so this is what Senior Brother Haotian created for us…""With this speed, even enemies stronger than us will never touch us."
The sect brimmed with life in a way it hadn't for centuries.
The Fourth Week
Then came the day that shook the sect to its very core.
Deep within the cultivation bathhouse, Sect Master Yinxue sat immersed in the crystalline waters. Frost mist swirled around her body, qi cycling steadily through her meridians. She had not expected more than refinement of her foundation — even with the codex, she assumed her stage required years of accumulation.
But then, without warning—
BOOM!
The entire Moon Lotus Sect trembled. A colossal surge of yin chi burst forth from the bathhouse, exploding upward into the skies. Frost-laden winds whipped across the peaks, scattering snow and rattling the jade halls.
Disciples froze where they stood. Elders gasped. Even Ziyue and Shuyue leapt to their feet, hearts pounding.
"The Sect Master—!"
In the bathhouse, Yinxue's eyes flew open as waves of power surged through her. Her body glowed with shimmering lotus petals of qi, each one locking seamlessly into place within her meridians. Her bottleneck — the wall she thought she would struggle against for years — shattered like brittle glass.
Her qi rose higher and higher until it finally stabilized, calm but deep as an endless ocean.
Her fingers trembled as she raised her hand from the water, frost qi dancing around her fingertips. She whispered to herself in disbelief:
"…Mid-stage Soul Transformation Realm… already?"
It hadn't even been a year since Haotian corrected her method. Back then, she had rejoiced at breaking through one wall she thought eternal. Yet now, sitting in these waters, cultivating with the Moon Lotus Codex, she had soared again without resistance, without struggle — without bottlenecks.
Outside, disciples and elders cried out in awe."Th-the Sect Master broke through!!""Not even a year since the last time—this… this is impossible!""No… this is the Moon Lotus Codex. This is what Senior Brother Haotian has given us!"
The sect was alive with disbelief and wonder.
And in the midst of it all, Sect Master Yinxue, serene and composed as always, sat quietly in the waters, staring at her hand with a rare look of astonishment.
"…Haotian," she murmured softly, her voice trembling with gratitude and awe. "You have given us a future we never dared to dream of."