The vast temple beyond the gate was silent—so silent that Lin Tian could hear his own heartbeat echo through eternity.
Columns of radiant energy lined the hall, each one carved with symbols older than time itself. Above, constellations moved not across a ceiling, but through a living sky, shifting and breathing in rhythm with the Nexus itself.
At the far end stood a throne—elevated upon steps of light that seemed to stretch into infinity. Upon that throne sat a woman whose very presence bent reality. Her hair shimmered like woven moonlight, and her eyes carried galaxies within their depths. She wore robes of silver and azure that flowed like the stars themselves.
Lin Tian stopped mid-stride.
Every instinct in him screamed reverence, yet his immortal heart felt a strange familiarity.
"You…" he whispered. "I've seen you before—in the visions of the Nexus."
The woman rose gracefully. Her voice was soft, melodic, yet carried the weight of creation.
"You remember fragments of what once was, Lin Tian. We met long before your fall from the heavens."
Lin Tian's eyes widened.
"Then you are—?"
She nodded gently.
"I am Aeloria, the Celestial Queen. Keeper of the Nexus. Guardian of the Balance."
The moment her name resonated through the chamber, the very realm vibrated. The rivers of light outside the temple shimmered, and the stars bowed low, as if honoring her existence.
Lin Tian stepped forward, his gaze firm.
"If you are the guardian of balance, then why did the heavens cast me down? Why was I forced to fall, to be reborn upon the Earth?"
Aeloria's expression dimmed, her eyes distant, burdened with centuries of sorrow.
"Because you challenged the truth of the heavens," she said softly. "And I… could not protect you."
Her words cut deeper than any blade.
"You were not punished for rebellion, Lin Tian," she continued, descending the steps. "You were punished for mercy. When the Celestial War raged and the Divine Thrones demanded destruction, you chose compassion. You shielded mortals who were fated to die—and for that, the Heavenly Council branded you a traitor."
Lin Tian's fists trembled.
"So even back then, I refused to abandon humanity…"
"Yes," Aeloria whispered. "And that defiance cost you your divinity. But I swore an oath—one I could never break."
The air shimmered around her as she raised her hand. A fragment of pure light appeared—a sliver of the Nexus itself. Within it, Lin Tian saw the image of his past self kneeling before her, surrounded by collapsing heavens.
"Before you fell," she said, "you entrusted me with your immortal soul. You asked me to seal it within the Nexus until the time was right—until the realms themselves were on the brink of collapse."
The memory struck him like lightning.
He saw it all—his final battle, his vow, and the moment Aeloria reached out to save what little remained of him.
"So my reincarnation… my return to Earth…"
"It was part of your own design," Aeloria said. "You chose to fall, so that one day, you might rise again—stronger, wiser, no longer bound by divine arrogance."
Lin Tian fell silent. The weight of destiny pressed against him, but within it burned understanding.
"And now?" he asked quietly. "What must I do?"
The Celestial Queen's eyes hardened. The air around her grew heavy, the light dimming as a deep shadow crept across the hall.
"Now," she said, "you must finish what you began."
She lifted her arm, and the walls of the temple faded, revealing the universe beyond. Stars trembled, and from the distance, a colossal wound stretched across the fabric of reality—a crack through which poured endless darkness.
"The Abyssal Rift," Aeloria said solemnly. "Born from the hatred of fallen gods, it seeks to devour all realms. The Nexus was created to seal it—but the seal weakens with each cycle."
Lin Tian's gaze sharpened.
"Then that's the true purpose of the Nexus—to restore the balance between creation and destruction."
"Yes," she replied. "But the power alone is not enough. The Nexus responds only to one who embodies both light and darkness in harmony… and now, that is you."
The temple shuddered as she extended her hand. The sliver of light flew toward Lin Tian, merging into the sigil on his palm. His body blazed with divine energy, so intense it threatened to tear him apart.
Ding!
[New Trial Unlocked: The Abyssal Rift]
[Objective: Restore the Seal of the Realms.]
[Nexus Authority Expanded: 90%.]
Lin Tian staggered, his aura erupting into a blinding storm of gold and shadow. His hair whipped wildly as his energy reached a level beyond immortal comprehension.
Aeloria watched silently, tears glimmering in her eyes.
"The heavens may fear your return," she said softly, "but I… have waited for it."
Lin Tian steadied himself, meeting her gaze.
"Then I'll fulfill the oath we both made. I'll seal the Rift—and end the chaos of the realms."
The Queen smiled faintly, the sorrow in her expression replaced by pride.
"Go, Lin Tian—the Nexus awaits its master."
The temple doors opened once more, revealing a portal of swirling starlight that led into the heart of the Abyss itself.
As Lin Tian stepped forward, his silhouette shone like a second sun, splitting the darkness.
Behind him, Aeloria whispered into the void:
"May your heart remain pure, my immortal… for only light born from compassion can conquer eternal night."
And with that, Lin Tian vanished into the Rift, leaving the Celestial Queen alone beneath the endless sky of the Realm of Origin.
But far beyond, in the abyssal depths, something ancient stirred—something that had been waiting for him since the dawn of creation.