Chapter 4: The First Seal

Golden light seeped from the cracks of the enormous stone doors.

It was faint.

Almost gentle.

Yet every strand of light carried an indescribable pressure.

Li Yue instinctively stopped breathing.

The aura wasn't hostile.

Nor was it welcoming.

It simply... existed.

Ancient.

Eternal.

Unchanging.

She slowly stepped closer.

The closer she came, the more clearly she noticed the countless carvings covering the doors. At first they appeared to be ordinary runes, but after looking longer, she realized they were far more than words.

They were memories.

Entire civilizations.

Stars being born.

Worlds collapsing.

Countless beings kneeling before a tree whose branches supported heaven itself.

"What...?"

She reached out unconsciously.

Just before her fingers touched the door—

"Master."

Bai's calm voice echoed behind her.

"Please think carefully."

She paused.

"You warned me."

"Yes."

"But not because the seal is dangerous."

Li Yue looked back.

"Then why?"

Bai's ears twitched.

"Because once the First Seal is opened..."

"...it can never be closed again."

Silence.

The Realm itself seemed to wait for her decision.

Li Yue smiled faintly.

"In my previous life, every important decision was made for me."

"My master gave orders."

"My sect gave commands."

"The world expected sacrifices."

She looked back at the massive doors.

"This time..."

"I choose."

She placed her palm upon the ancient handprint.

Nothing happened.

For a heartbeat...

Everything remained silent.

Then—

A single pulse.

The silver tree above the Realm trembled.

Its roots lit up one after another, spreading light beneath the earth like rivers of molten silver.

The stars overhead shifted.

Entire constellations changed their positions.

The ancient doors released a deep rumble that echoed across the endless Realm.

Crack...

Tiny fractures spread across the golden seal.

Not breaking—

Unlocking.

Bai quietly lowered himself to one knee.

His voice trembled.

"The Master has returned..."

One lock after another dissolved into light.

Yet...

The doors did not open.

Instead, a beam of silver light emerged from the center and entered Li Yue's forehead.

Countless images exploded inside her mind.

A woman.

She stood beneath the same silver tree.

Her face remained hidden beneath flowing light.

She gently placed her hand upon the trunk.

"I leave everything... to the next Keeper."

The vision vanished.

Li Yue staggered backward.

Her breathing became uneven.

"...Who was she?"

Bai lowered his eyes.

"I do not know."

"You keep saying you don't know."

"It is the truth."

He looked toward the tree.

"My memories have been sealed."

"Just like this Realm."

Li Yue frowned.

"So opening the First Seal didn't free what's behind the door?"

"No."

"It merely acknowledged you."

She glanced at the towering entrance.

The cracks had disappeared.

The doors remained firmly shut.

Only one small symbol near the center now glowed with a gentle silver light.

Bai smiled.

"The Realm has accepted its Master."

"But it still refuses to reveal its secrets."

Far away, beyond the mountains, a deep roar echoed through the Realm.

Neither of them spoke.

Something had awakened.

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