In Qin Zi's perception, the sun and moon in the center of the lake seemed alive, rumbling as they rushed toward him.
The scene was terrifying.
The lake's surface exploded, sending towering waves crashing forward, like a massive deep-sea beast carrying an overwhelming tsunami straight at him.
"This is just an illusion, I must stay calm."
Qin Zi took a deep breath, steadying his mind, and let the sun and moon engulf his vision.
"Boom—"
It felt as though the heavens and earth had split open, his mind going blank. After what felt like an eternity, he finally regained consciousness.
At that moment.
He discovered that within his mental space, a small sun and a small moon had appeared. The sun rose in the east and set in the west, while the moon did the same, both spinning in a continuous cycle.
"Buzz, buzz, buzz!"
From the sun and moon, concentric rings of light emanated, each ring formed from countless runes. These runes spread through his mind, integrating into his consciousness.
"This... this..."
Qin Zi's eyes widened in shock.
He could feel an endless stream of heavenly mysteries flooding into his mind, as if they were being poured into him.
At this moment.
Qin Zi had entered a state of enlightenment, but the people around him soon noticed the changes happening to him and cried out in surprise.
"Look! He's glowing!"
"What a mystical aura. I can feel the laws of the universe subtly shifting toward him."
"He must have comprehended something extraordinary. As expected of the Heaven Master of Xuanhuang—his insight is unparalleled."
"Indeed, he's remarkable, but saying he's unmatched might be an exaggeration... Look over there."
At this moment, someone pointed in a different direction.
The crowd turned to look.
In a seemingly unremarkable corner sat a handsome young man with purple hair. His physique was powerful, and there was a purple lightning mark engraved on his brow. His long hair flowed like a purple haze, emitting a faint glow.
He sat there quietly, yet his presence alone gave off an overwhelming sense of dominance—as if he could swallow the world whole.
What shocked everyone even more was this:
Such a figure, who should have drawn attention anywhere he went, had somehow remained unnoticed by them all until now.
It seemed as if he possessed some sort of magical power, one that made you subconsciously overlook him, even if he was right in front of you.
Had he not entered a state of enlightenment, radiating a glow, perhaps they still wouldn't have noticed him!
"Who is he? He gives me a feeling as vast and unfathomable as the ocean."
"Yes, I've only felt this kind of presence once before, from an elder in my family. But this man... he's so young!"
"Saint Son Meng Xuanji, do you know who this person is?"
The crowd looked to Meng Xuanji for answers.
Meng Xuanji carefully examined the purple-haired youth, his expression growing serious as he shook his head. "I've never seen him before."
The crowd was shocked!
Even Meng Xuanji, their host, didn't recognize him. Did that mean this man had arrived uninvited? But how could he have slipped in unnoticed?
This was the Yin-Yang Sect!
"Don't worry about him, everyone. A guest is a guest. However he came, he'll leave the same way."
After a long moment, Meng Xuanji spoke.
Hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement. It seemed best not to provoke such a mysterious figure.
Better to act as if they hadn't seen him at all.
The crowd continued their insights into the sun and moon in the lake, while Meng Xuanji quietly reported the situation to the higher-ups of the Yin-Yang Sect.
Soon, he received an astonishing response—Don't provoke him, and act like you didn't see him!
Instantly, a storm raged in Meng Xuanji's heart, and his gaze toward the purple-haired youth became even more cautious.
"Forget it, it's best not to meddle with him."
After a long time, he shook his head and stopped paying attention to the youth, resuming his focus on comprehending the sun and moon.
Time passed, and the lakeside grew quiet.
Gradually, many of the participants began to emit radiant light, some even manifesting various phenomena behind them—roaring beasts, soaring divine birds, towering pillars holding up the heavens, and more. It was a dazzling sight.
Yet the most striking were two massive spheres of light, one white and one purple, enveloping the entire lakeside.
These belonged to none other than Qin Zi and the purple-haired youth.
They were like the sun and moon above the lake, each commanding half of the sky, while everyone else seemed overshadowed in comparison.
"Buzz!"
Finally, Qin Zi opened his eyes.
When he saw the purple sphere of light opposite him, he was startled. But when he caught a clear look at the person within, his eyes widened further.
"Chu Zhongtian?!"
It was none other than Chu Zhongtian, the young master of the Chu royal family from the Fragment Continent. Years ago, Qin Zi had beaten his younger brother and wanted to challenge him. However, this man had simply refused, without even a hint of arrogance.
He still remembered Chu Zhongtian's reasoning—My cultivation is higher than yours, so there's no point in fighting you. Winning brings no glory, and losing would be shameful.
Such rationality was rare.
All these years, there had been no news of Chu Zhongtian. Qin Zi had assumed he had faded into obscurity, but now here he was, appearing more formidable than ever!
At that moment, the purple sphere of light around Chu Zhongtian also gradually faded, and he opened his eyes.
"We meet again," Chu Zhongtian said with a smile.
"What are you..." Qin Zi had many questions, but before he could voice them, Chu Zhongtian extended a hand and smiled, saying, "Today, let's have a fair fight—not in terms of cultivation but in understanding of the sun and moon!"
His voice was gentle, and his smile friendly, but his words carried an undeniable authority.
"Uh... why do we need to fight?" Qin Zi was taken aback.
Chu Zhongtian looked at him with a meaningful gaze. "You could say it's a response to the challenge you issued me back then, or you could say... it's my way of testing you. If you win, I will acknowledge your title as Heaven Master."
Qin Zi's body trembled.
He locked eyes with Chu Zhongtian and asked in a low voice, "Why do I need your recognition? And what happens if you don't acknowledge it?"
Chu Zhongtian shrugged casually, smiling. "Nothing much. My lack of recognition would simply mean... I don't recognize it."
Hearing this, Qin Zi felt a heavy weight settle in his heart. He could sense the gravity behind Chu Zhongtian's seemingly casual words—My refusal to acknowledge you means nothing by itself, but as long as I don't recognize you, no matter how many others do, it won't matter!
"Who are you really?" Qin Zi took a deep breath and asked seriously.
"You already know the answer. Why ask again?"
Chu Zhongtian smiled and said, "Show me what you've got. Let me see if you're worthy."
"Fine!!" Qin Zi responded firmly:
"Today, from the Sun and Moon Phenomenon, I have gained a new technique. For the first time, I've stepped beyond the limits of Xuanhuang Heaven and glimpsed the wider world. This technique marks my first true step in forging my own path. It's called... Nirvana. Please, watch closely!"
With those words, he extended his right hand forward, palm facing up.
"Buzz!!"
In his palm, a red and a blue bird materialized from thin air, swiftly growing larger and intertwining as they spiraled upward!
"Whoosh!"
Immediately, the heavens and earth seemed to shift, the two giant birds spinning like dragons diving into water. The entire world appeared to transform into a vast ocean.
In that moment, heaven and earth trembled, and the very fabric of space seemed to change!
"Excellent!!"
Chu Zhongtian laughed heartily, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes. He flipped his right hand, sending it crashing forward.
Whoosh!
With that single move, it felt as if the entire world had flipped upside down, the earth becoming the sky, as boundless divine power pressed down upon Qin Zi.