Chapter 3 : The Young Lady of House Shen

The first thing Liang Zhen felt was pain.

Not the pain of an injury.

Not the exhaustion of travel.

A deeper pain.

A burning sensation that seemed to come from within his soul.

His eyes slowly opened.

The first thing he saw was a ceiling decorated with ancient patterns of dragons and clouds.

For a moment, he did not know where he was.

Then the memories returned.

The festival.

The lanterns.

The golden dragon.

The voice that called him chosen.

Liang Zhen immediately sat up.

His breathing became heavy.

"My chest..."

His hand moved beneath his robes.

The burning was gone.

But something remained.

A mark.

A golden symbol rested on his skin, shaped like a dragon wrapped around an ancient flame.

It was beautiful.

But something about it frightened him.

Because he knew it did not belong to him.

A door opened.

An old man entered carrying a tray of medicine.

Liang Zhen immediately recognized him.

The storyteller from the festival.

"You are awake."

Liang Zhen stared at him.

"You knew."

The old man placed the medicine down.

"Knew what?"

"That this would happen."

The room became silent.

The old man sighed.

"Your instincts are sharper than most."

"Who are you?"

The old man looked at the golden mark.

"My name is Han Qingshan."

Liang Zhen waited for an explanation.

But the old man only said:

"And I am one of the few people left who understands what you carry."

Liang Zhen looked down.

"The mark..."

"The Dragon Soul Seal."

Hearing those words made the room feel colder.

"What exactly is it?"

Han Qingshan walked toward the window.

"Long before the Celestial Empire existed, there was an age when humans lived beneath the protection of heavenly beings."

"The celestial dragon was the greatest among them."

"It represented balance."

"Life."

"Creation."

"But even the heavens can be corrupted."

Liang Zhen listened carefully.

"The dragon disappeared thousands of years ago. The world believed its power had vanished forever."

Han Qingshan turned back.

"Until last night."

Liang Zhen clenched his fist.

"Why me?"

The old man did not answer immediately.

That silence disturbed Liang Zhen.

"I don't know."

"You don't know?"

"No."

Han Qingshan's expression became serious.

"The heavens choose according to reasons humans cannot understand."

"But one thing is certain."

"Your life will never return to what it was."

Liang Zhen lowered his gaze.

He already knew.

The moment the dragon looked at him, his ordinary life ended.

Before he could speak, a sudden sound came from outside.

A group of footsteps approached.

Han Qingshan's expression changed.

"They have arrived."

"Who?"

"The people who may decide whether you survive."

---

The doors opened.

Several figures entered wearing elegant robes decorated with the symbol of a silver phoenix.

Behind them stood guards carrying ancient weapons.

At the center was a young woman.

She appeared calm and composed.

Her long black hair flowed over her shoulders, and her eyes carried a sharp intelligence that made it difficult to tell what she was thinking.

She was not wearing the luxurious clothing of someone who wanted attention.

She carried herself like someone who already possessed authority.

"This is him?"

Her voice was cold.

Han Qingshan nodded.

"This is Liang Zhen."

The young woman looked at him carefully.

Not with admiration.

Not with fear.

With judgment.

"My name is Shen Yue."

"The daughter of House Shen."

Liang Zhen had heard of House Shen.

One of the ancient cultivation families of the Celestial Empire.

A clan known for its knowledge of formations, spiritual arts, and forgotten history.

But he had never expected someone from such a powerful family to appear before him.

"Why are you here?"

Shen Yue looked at the golden mark hidden beneath his robes.

"Because last night, the heavens announced something that every powerful family in the empire is now aware of."

"The Dragon Soul Seal has returned."

Liang Zhen's expression changed.

"So everyone knows?"

"Not everyone."

She paused.

"But soon they will."

The room became quiet.

"Many will see you as a savior."

"Others will see you as a threat."

"And some..."

Her eyes became colder.

"Will try to take the power from you."

Liang Zhen looked at her.

"Then why are you helping me?"

A faint smile appeared on Shen Yue's face.

"Who said I was helping you?"

The answer surprised him.

"I am here because House Shen needs to confirm something."

"Confirm what?"

"Whether you are truly the chosen one."

---

Liang Zhen followed Shen Yue to the training grounds of House Shen.

Unlike the busy streets of Jingyuan, this place was quiet.

Ancient trees surrounded the area.

Stone pillars covered in mysterious symbols stood throughout the courtyard.

Everywhere he looked, he saw evidence of centuries of cultivation.

Shen Yue stopped in front of a large stone platform.

"This is the Heaven Measuring Stone."

Liang Zhen looked at it.

"What does it do?"

"It reveals a person's spiritual potential."

She turned toward him.

"If you truly carry the Dragon Soul Seal, the stone will react."

"And if I don't?"

Shen Yue's expression remained unchanged.

"Then the heavens made a mistake."

Liang Zhen stepped forward.

He placed his hand on the stone.

For several seconds...

Nothing happened.

The surrounding disciples began whispering.

"Is that all?"

"Maybe he isn't the chosen one."

"Perhaps the legend was wrong."

Liang Zhen remained silent.

Maybe they were right.

Maybe the dragon had chosen the wrong person.

Then—

The stone cracked.

A golden light burst from within.

The entire courtyard shook.

Ancient symbols appeared across its surface.

Everyone froze.

Even Shen Yue's calm expression finally changed.

The Heaven Measuring Stone had not reacted like this for hundreds of years.

Liang Zhen looked at his hand.

The Dragon Soul Seal beneath his robes burned with warmth.

A voice echoed faintly inside him.

Not a warning.

Not a command.

A reminder.

"You have awakened."

The golden light disappeared.

Silence filled the courtyard.

Shen Yue stared at him.

For the first time...

There was no doubt in her eyes.

Only curiosity.

And concern.

"You really are the one."

Liang Zhen looked at her.

"The one for what?"

Shen Yue did not answer.

Because before she could speak...

A dark wind swept through the courtyard.

The protective formations surrounding House Shen trembled.

Everyone looked toward the sky.

Something had entered their territory.

Something powerful.

Something searching.

Han Qingshan's expression became grim.

"They found him already."

Liang Zhen looked upward.

The peaceful world he knew was gone.

The dragon's power had awakened.

And now...

The world was coming for him.

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