Fu Cai did not speak for a long moment.

The arrogance that once shaped her posture had already faded, but now even her composure wavered. Her gaze remained fixed on Kiaria–not sharp, not cold–only astonished, as if she were looking at something that had quietly overturned centuries of certainty.

"How did you know?" she finally asked.

Her voice was no longer playful.

"It took me three hundred years of living to understand that meaning," Fu Cai said slowly. "Three hundred years of experience… of watching growth and decay… of questioning myself."

She looked at him directly.

"How did you arrive at it so easily?"

Kiaria did not rush to answer.

When he spoke, his tone was calm–not proud, not defensive–only honest.

"Fairy Fu Cai," he said, "your question placed too much weight on the word 'I'."

She stiffened slightly.

"A seed growing into a mature plant is not a single state," Kiaria continued. "It is a process. Its life does not begin at sprouting, nor does it end at falling."

He paused, choosing his words carefully.

"When a seed mingles with the earth, it is exposed–to soil, to time, to nature itself."

"That exposure," he said, "was where my understanding changed."

"If I thought of myself as only a seed, then that exposure would feel like death."

"But if I accepted it as life–then every exposure became an experience."

His gaze remained steady.

"You lived for three hundred years," Kiaria said gently. "And through three hundred years of exposure and experience, you reached your answer."

He lowered his eyes slightly.

"I did not need three hundred years," he said. "Because I did not place myself above the riddle."

"I allowed myself to become that unknown 'I'."

Silence filled the hall.

"When I let your words happen within me," Kiaria continued, "I lived those lives. I saw growth. I saw loss. I watched others face life and death–and I faced them myself."

He looked up again.

"So if I must answer simply…"

A faint smile touched his lips.

"You spent three hundred years in seclusion."

"I connected the same truth through the lives of others."

The palace echoed once with a deep, amused laugh.

Lord Fushan leaned back slightly upon his throne, his expression openly pleased.

"Fu Cai," he said, voice warm with mirth, "you must accept your defeat."

He glanced toward Kiaria.

"You cannot win against him."

Fu Cai did not argue.

Lord Fushan continued, his tone shifting into explanation–proud, but measured.

"He is not an ordinary mortal," he said. "He was born with a special channel–the Thirteenth Meridian."

"That meridian alone grants wisdom beyond normal comprehension."

He raised a finger.

"But that is not all."

"He has awakened seven senses."

Fu Cai's breath caught.

"The sixth," Lord Fushan said, "is the Will of Life."

"The seventh… is Emptiness."

He smiled.

"So what you asked as a riddle," Lord Fushan concluded,

"he has already lived."

Fu Cai exhaled slowly, disbelief still lingering in her eyes.

"No wonder you answered so easily," she muttered. "Anyone born with such conditions…"

She shook her head once, conceding silently.

Lord Fushan's expression, however, grew serious.

"Patron," he said, his voice deepening, "I have an advice for you."

His gaze sharpened.

"Hold on to your benevolence at all times. Never allow rage to take control over you."

Kiaria stiffened slightly.

"Do you know the origin of the Heart Demon within you?" Lord Fushan asked.

Kiaria shook his head.

"I never asked him," he replied honestly. "I only know that he fears another existence within my sea of consciousness."

Lord Fushan nodded.

"As expected."

He rose slowly from the throne, the air subtly tightening around him.

"The demon within you is not an ordinary Heart Demon," he said.

"A celestial meridian awakener's Heart Demon… will also be a celestial-meridian-awakened demonic existence."

Fu Cai's eyes widened.

"I am an Anatomy Chrysanthemum God," Lord Fushan continued. "I can see through both your true form and your demonic counterpart."

His gaze pierced Kiaria.

"The demonic entity within you is a Devourer."

Silence fell.

"The sword you wield," Lord Fushan said, "the domains you command, the relics you carry–every single one of them has been tainted by blood and greed."

Kiaria's fingers curled unconsciously.

"The grief embedded within those objects did not vanish," Lord Fushan went on. "It accumulated. Every relic in your spatial ring… even the smallest one… was born from desire, conflict, or death."

He lifted his hand slightly.

"Your Heart Demon devoured that greed. Refined it. Absorbed it."

"And thus," Lord Fushan concluded, "a Blood Demon was born."

Fu Cai's expression turned solemn.

"His greed is extreme," Lord Fushan said quietly. "If you and he ever merge under the influence of rage–"

He paused.

"It will not be corruption."

"It will be annihilation."

"The demonic mist will devour everything that exists," Lord Fushan said. "Whatever is born of life… will be taken away."

He looked at Kiaria intently.

"The sword you carry is forged from Shen Zuo Shi."

"It weighs as much as holding a sun in your hand."

Kiaria felt his breath hitch.

"And it is still growing with you," Lord Fushan said. "The darkness within it shaped the annihilative aspect of your soul… and that aspect became your Heart Demon."

He let the words sink in.

"The sword carries the grief of millions of souls," Lord Fushan finished. "That grief gave form to your Heart Demon–and granted him cultivation accumulated over several millennia."

His voice lowered.

"Be careful, Patron."

"If someone dies by your hand… you are feeding him."

Kiaria bowed deeply.

"I understand," he said firmly. "I will keep this engraved in my heart."

Lord Fushan exhaled, then waved his hand lightly.

"Very well."

"Fu Cai. Patron."

"You may leave now. Elder Fuxing will accompany you."

Kiaria hesitated.

Lord Fushan noticed.

"Do you have something else to ask?" he said.

Kiaria lifted his gaze.

"Lord Fushan… do you know of the Deca Millennium Soul-Amity Flower?"

Lord Fushan's brows rose slightly.

"I do," he replied. "But it does not exist here."

He paused.

"Were you sent by Goddess Leyna?"

"No," Kiaria answered. "But… half correct."

"My companion is a descendant of Goddess Leyna. She needs it."

Lord Fushan fell silent for a moment.

"The Soul-Amity Flower lies at the peak of Ice-Crystal Mount," he said finally.

"With your cultivation–or even mine–it is impossible to reach."

Kiaria's heart sank.

"Perhaps," Lord Fushan continued, "your Devourer side could reach halfway."

He looked distant.

"There was only one who ever succeeded."

"The son of the Demon Emperor."

Fu Cai stiffened.

"His will to obtain it was extreme," Lord Fushan said. "He did it… for Goddess Leyna."

He gestured faintly.

"From the peak of Ice-Crystal Mount, the entirety of Winter Soul Mount can be seen."

"The whole mountain… exists for the sake of the Soul-Amity Flower."

Kiaria's expression dulled.

Lord Fushan studied him.

"Patron of the Mortal Realm," he said gently, "you shoulder immense responsibility. Why, then, do you look so gloomy?"

He smiled faintly.

"Life does not end without warning. It always sends signals."

"You have time."

"You will reach that peak one day."

"Do not lose hope."

He waved his hand.

A white token appeared, engraved with a chrysanthemum petal. It floated toward Kiaria, hovering before him.

"This token grants you free access to Fushan Mount," Lord Fushan said. "You need no permission."

"You may wander. You may take what you need."

His gaze sharpened slightly.

"But remember–whoever takes an herb… must plant another in its place."

Kiaria accepted the token respectfully.

"Thank you, Lord Fushan," he said. "I came here without preparation… but please accept this small token of my gratitude."

He produced three vials filled with condensed Spiritual Spring Essence.

Lord Fushan accepted them and opened one.

His eyes gleamed.

"Remarkable," he murmured. "You condensed Spiritual Spring into essence… and purified it to expel tainted soul energy."

He nodded appreciatively.

"If even one vial is poured into my spring, it will purify the mountain severalfold."

"I'm glad the gift pleases you," Kiaria said sincerely.

Lord Fushan looked at him one last time.

"Tell my descendant Lainsa this," he said.

"Once her bloodline awakens, if she touches the chrysanthemum mark on her forehead, she may summon my soul remnant."

"I will guide her," he added. "But only twice every three months."

"I will inform her," Kiaria replied. "We will take our leave now."

Lord Fushan inclined his head.

"May you succeed in the coming crisis."

Moments later, Kiaria, Fu Cai, and Fuxing departed together–

leaving the palace silent once more.

The hibiscus descended slowly, its petals brushing the air as the three figures arrived beneath Fushan Mount. The mountain stood silent behind them, its presence calm–complete.

Kiaria turned toward Elder Fuxing and inclined his head respectfully.

"Fairy Elder Fuxing," he said, "the Heart Demon owes you a promise. He wishes to fulfill it now. If you would allow… please set us down here."

Fuxing paused, then smiled faintly.

"Oh?" she said. "I thought that demon was merely bluffing."

After a brief moment, she nodded. "Very well. Since he wishes to repay his word, let us go to the Pavilion."

She gestured toward the inner mountain.

"You may also retrieve Lord Fushan's experience scroll there–the one meant to guide his descendant."

They arrived at the Pavilion and passed directly into the Peak Formation Hall.

Fuxing stopped at the entrance.

"Lives are at stake," she said calmly. "Fu Cai, Heart Demon–you remain here and establish the formation. I will retrieve the scroll."

She turned to Kiaria briefly.

"Do not worry. I will return swiftly."

With that, she departed.

–

Kiaria exhaled slowly.

Then–without ceremony–he yielded control.

The Heart Demon emerged.

The atmosphere shifted, not with malice, but with sharp clarity.

He walked through the formation hall, eyes scanning the ancient inscriptions, the residual intent woven into the land.

"…No malicious formations," he muttered.

He paused.

"This place protects life. Then I will not stain it."

He raised his hand.

A fallen branch–dry, lifeless, long forgotten–rose gently from the floor and settled into his grasp.

Heart Demon drew the formations without haste.

First, Dahai–

an ocean-blue circular array unfolded, vast and calm, its surface rippling with illusion and memory.

Then, Lei–

a hexagonal formation manifested, sharp and precise, its internal patterns humming with righteous judgment.

The two formations aligned.

Intrinsic merged with extrinsic.

Yin embraced Yang.

The Lei–Dahai Formation was born.

–

When Elder Fuxing returned, the hall was already complete.

She studied the formation in silence.

Heart Demon turned toward her.

"Elder," he said evenly, "this is Lei–Dahai."

He gestured toward the oceanic array.

"Dahai is Yin. Any being who enters it will be immersed in their happiest memories–family, joy, warmth. They will wander endlessly unless they awaken on their own."

His gaze sharpened.

"But if one enters with malice–Lei will activate."

Thunder flickered faintly along the hexagonal edges.

"Judgment without cruelty."

Fuxing looked at him for a long moment.

Then she smiled.

"…Thank you."

She inclined her head slightly.

"You may return to your true form now."

After a pause, she added gently, "You are a good demon."

"For that alone–next time, I will personally show you around this mountain."

The Heart Demon froze.

For the first time, he had no words.

He nodded once.

And withdrew.

–

Kiaria returned.

Fuxing handed him the scroll.

"This contains Lord Fushan's experience," she said. "Use it wisely. Teach his descendant well."

Kiaria accepted it with both hands and bowed deeply.

"I will not disappoint him."

–

Together, Kiaria and Fu Cai descended.

At the foot of Fushan Mount, the portal reopened, its surface rippling softly.

Fu Cai turned back once.

She raised her hand and waved toward Elder Fuxing.

Kiaria bowed one final time.

Then they stepped forward–and crossed the threshold.

The portal closed.

Fushan Mount fell silent once more.

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