Inside the hall, several elders were already seated in a circle. Their long robes and calm expressions cast a heavy silence over the room.
Feng Muyu stepped forward.
Feng Muyu: Shaoyang has arrived.
All eyes turned toward her.
Shaoyang felt a chill crawl down her spine.
Shaoyang: (awkwardly waving) Hello… elders.
An elderly man with snow-white hair leaned forward slightly.
Elder Liang: Shaoyang, do you remember anything from the night the icy stone cave was opened?
Shaoyang hesitated.
Shaoyang: I remember… a fire suddenly engulfed me… and after that, everything went blank.
Another elder stroked his beard thoughtfully.
Elder Han: Just as we expected.
Shaoyang frowned.
Shaoyang: Expected what?
Elder Han: The power within the cave erased part of your memory.
Her eyes widened.
Shaoyang: My memory
Elder Liang nodded slowly.
Elder Liang: The seal in that cave is ancient—far older than our sect.
Shaoyang shifted uneasily.
Shaoyang: Then why did it react to me?
The elders exchanged glances.
A brief silence followed.
Then Feng Muyu spoke.
Feng Muyu: Because the seal reacted… to you.
Shaoyang blinked.
Shaoyang: What does that mean?
One of the quietest elders finally opened his eyes.
Elder Shen: It means… the seal recognized you.
The room fell completely silent.
Shaoyang: Recognized… me?
Elder Shen slowly rose to his feet.
Elder Shen: The power within Mount Kunlun was sealed thousands of years ago by the Saintess of the Phoenix Realm.
Shaoyang looked between them, confused.
Shaoyang: Wait… a legend?
Elder Shen: The legend says the Saintess left behind a successor… her daughter. Someone who would one day inherit the Phoenix blood… and become the next ruler of the Phoenix Realm.
Shaoyang let out a nervous laugh and pointed at herself.
Shaoyang: Please don't tell me you think that person is me.
No one laughed.
Instead, Feng Muyu spoke calmly.
Feng Muyu: The seal only reacts to its master… or to their bloodline.
Shaoyang's stomach dropped.
Shaoyang: Bloodline…?
Qianfan turned sharply toward her.
Qianfan: Shaoyang… isn't your father right here?
Shaoyang slowly looked at Feng Muyu.
Shaoyang: Dad…?
Feng Muyu remained silent for a long moment.
Then, quietly—
Feng Muyu: It seems… the time has finally come for you to know the truth.
The hall grew heavy with tension.
All eyes were on her.
Shaoyang swallowed hard.
Shaoyang: What truth?