The capital, Qianyang Palace.
Night had fallen, heavy and dark, yet the palace was ablaze with light, shadows stretching endlessly between the towers. The Thunderclap Secret Edict had reached the military camp, and Li Tianyuan, accompanied by Fu Yuan and the Mu siblings, had rushed back to the capital without passing through court proceedings, taken straight into the heart of the palace.
Standing before Qianyang Hall, he did not feel triumph, only an unshakable weight pressing down on him.
"Lord Li, His Majesty requests your presence," a eunuch said softly, his voice tinged with awe. The massive doors creaked open, revealing a dim corridor lined with bronze lanterns set into the stone walls. Their flickering flames seemed like countless watchful eyes.
Li Tianyuan inhaled deeply, stepping forward steadily, following the eunuch into the secret passage beyond Qianyang Hall.
Several concealed doors later, the path opened into a vast inner chamber.
The room was imposing. Ancient runes were etched into the walls, and at the center floated a circular stone platform, atop which hovered an ancient cauldron. Its surface was cracked and fractured, yet golden light shimmered from within, pulsating as if breathing in sync with the world itself.
Li Tianyuan's heart skipped a beat. The turbulent force that had always roiled inside him surged violently in response, threatening to tear his body apart.
"This is—"
"The Divine Cauldron," a deep, commanding voice answered.
The emperor emerged from the stone steps, clad in a black-and-gold dragon robe, eyes sharp and penetrating. Unlike his imposing presence in court, here he stood alone, a solitary figure in the vast chamber.
"Your Majesty," Li Tianyuan bowed. Yet he could feel the resonance between his own Cauldron Force and the ancient cauldron, straining his veins to their limit.
The emperor's gaze remained fixed. "The power within you—this 'Cauldron Force'—is not a gift of heaven. It shares its origin with the National Cauldron, the relic that has stabilized the Great Zhou for generations."
"The National Cauldron," the emperor continued, "was forged by the founding ancestor through blood rituals, absorbing the essence of the land and the nation. Each ruler has relied upon it to secure the dynasty."
His words echoed through the chamber, carrying absolute authority.
"But a century ago, the Cauldron Force split. Part sank into the National Cauldron, part dispersed among mortals. Records in the Fu family texts warn: 'If Cauldron Force inhabits a mortal, the fate of the nation may shift—toward prosperity or ruin.'"
Li Tianyuan shivered, as if struck by lightning.
"You mean… me?" he asked, voice tight.
"Yes," the emperor replied, a flicker of complexity in his gaze. "You, a mere scholar, awakened the Cauldron Force at the Zijing Mountain altar. It is no coincidence—it is destiny."
Fu Yuan's expression was grave. He spoke quietly, "I have read the texts, Lord Tianyuan. When the Cauldron Force dwells in a mortal body, it exacts a great cost. You must understand: this power is not purely a gift—it may be a curse."
Li's mind raced with memories: driving back the demon army, shattering nightmares, saving countless lives—each triumph accompanied by agonizing pain as his body neared collapse.
"If the Cauldron Force truly shares its source with the nation's fate, why me?" he demanded, voice tight with anger and disbelief.
The emperor's gaze was steady. "There is no coincidence in cause and effect. The Inverse Spirit Sect watches the nation's destiny. Their Master seeks to use the 'Master of Cauldron Force' as a sacrifice, dragging the realm into ruin."
Li Tianyuan's eyes darkened. "So… their plot is tied to me?"
"Yes," the emperor said. "They know you exist. The words of the Silent Envoy were no lie. You are the key they aim to destroy—and the only hope we have to oppose them."
The chamber fell silent, save for the low hum of the cauldron, resonating with the pounding of Li's heart.
Fu Yuan spoke, breaking the quiet. "Your Majesty, if this leaks, it will provoke chaos in the court. Some ministers already collude with the Inverse Spirit Sect. Should they learn of the Cauldron Force in Lord Tianyuan, it will be exploited."
The emperor's expression hardened. "That is why only a few may know. Li Tianyuan, you must understand—the court is no monolith. Some seek stability, others seek gain, and still others dream of remaking the world with the Sect's power."
He paused, voice sharp. "I summoned you under the guise of rewarding merit, but in truth, it is to establish your authority. You must display your strength through battlefield accomplishments. Only then can you command respect. Otherwise, the court will call for your death."
Li Tianyuan's fists clenched, his eyes aflame. He finally understood: he was not just a soldier, but the focal point of national fate and hidden plots.
The emperor gestured toward the floating cauldron atop the stone platform.
"Reach out and touch it."
Li inhaled deeply and stepped onto the platform. The ancient cauldron radiated immense, oppressive power despite its fractures. He extended his hand, golden light flickering in his palm, and touched its surface.
Boom!
The chamber shook violently, runes blazing as if the mountains and rivers themselves had trembled.
The Cauldron Force within him erupted. Golden light surged uncontrollably through his veins, his eyes glowing like molten gold, spiritual patterns etching across his skin as though his body were aflame.
"Ah—!" He groaned, nearly collapsing to his knees.
The emperor watched silently, whispering only: "Only one who can withstand this cauldron may carry the fate of Great Zhou."
Fu Yuan's brows knitted. Mu Xueyin stepped forward instinctively, but Mu Changfeng held her back.
"Let him endure it himself," Mu Changfeng murmured, a mixture of worry and reluctant admiration in his eyes.
Sweat poured from Li Tianyuan, the spiritual patterns flaring across his body, his chest threatening to explode. Just as his body neared collapse, he recalled the emperor's words: "The Cauldron Force will rise or fall according to your heart."
Steeling his mind, he forced the raging energy into his dantian. The golden light receded, the patterns on his body faded, and the cracks in the cauldron closed faintly.
The roar subsided. Silence returned to the chamber.
The emperor regarded him steadily and nodded. "Indeed, you are the chosen one."
Yet beneath his calm exterior, a shadow of worry lingered.
Fu Yuan inwardly sighed: though Li can resonate with the cauldron, no mortal can sustain such power indefinitely. Without proper guidance, it may one day consume his very blood.
Li Tianyuan lifted his gaze, resolute. "Your Majesty, grant me a battlefield. No matter the Inverse Spirit Sect, I will not retreat."
The emperor's voice was like iron. "Very well. Three days from now, at the Merit Ceremony, you will stand as the National Fate Overseer before the court and the people, and swear your pledge."
The stone doors slowly closed, plunging the chamber into dimness.
In that final instant, deep within the cauldron, a faint whisper barely reached Li's ears:
"Mortal bearer of the Cauldron… blood tribulation awaits…"
Li Tianyuan felt a chill, yet he said nothing.