Chapter 11: Metamorphosis of the Soul

The Celestial Illusion Sanctuary radiated a gentle yet divine glow, a beacon of peace and order across the Six Realms. At the very heart of this sacred chamber, Dragon Tian sat upon the exalted throne, his gaze deep and commanding. After countless battles and trials in the first volume, the Six Realms had finally entered a fleeting period of peace. Today's gathering was meant to reinforce this fragile stability.

One by one, the representatives of each realm took their seats, exchanging brief glances and formal greetings. Among them, Long Yu, the Void Goddess of the Illusion Realm, gracefully settled into her chair. A serene smile rested on her lips, her presence enigmatic yet composed. As one of the most mysterious beings in the Six Realms, she wielded the power of nothingness and illusion, rarely speaking but always striking with precision when she did.

"Long Yu," Dragon Tian's voice resonated through the chamber, steady yet authoritative. His golden gaze swept across the assembly before resting on her. "Today's discussion concerns the boundary between void and reality. We need your insight."

Long Yu met his gaze with a gentle nod. "Your Majesty, I will do my best to ensure the balance remains unbroken. It is not only the responsibility of the Illusion Realm but a duty we all share."

Dragon Tian gave a slight nod of approval and was about to move on to the next matter. But suddenly, his vision blurred. A sharp, searing pain stabbed through his mind, as if something was clawing its way into his very soul.

"Ugh…!" A low groan escaped his lips. His body tensed, veins pulsing visibly along his temples. He clenched the armrests of his throne, struggling against an unseen force that was violently invading his consciousness.

"Your Majesty, what's wrong?" Long Yu immediately noticed his distress, her voice gentle yet laced with concern. Her tranquil demeanor faltered ever so slightly, a rare flicker of worry flashing in her sapphire eyes.

Dragon Tian forced himself to sit upright, shaking his head in an attempt to dispel the agony. "I… I'm fine. Just exhaustion from recent affairs." His voice was composed, but beads of sweat trickled down his forehead.

Long Yu's gaze remained fixed on him. Her instincts whispered that this was no mere fatigue. And then—like a thunderclap—a voice echoed in her mind, one she had not heard in what felt like an eternity.

"Yu'er… save me…"

Her breath caught. That voice… It was him.

Long Xie.

Her lost love.

For the first time in centuries, her tranquil façade cracked. Disbelief flooded her expression, her fingers tightening subtly on the armrests of her chair.

"Impossible…" Her lips barely moved as she whispered, her thoughts an avalanche of confusion and dread.

How could this be? Long Xie had perished, his soul purified in the final battle. There was no way he could still exist. And yet—the raw agony in his voice, the unmistakable familiarity—it was too real to ignore.

Long Yu forced herself to suppress the storm within her, regaining her composed exterior. But her mind raced. If that voice had come from Dragon Tian… then what did that mean?

"Long Yu, is something wrong?" Dragon Tian's gaze sharpened despite his own confusion. His intuition screamed that something unseen was unfolding beneath the surface.

Long Yu hesitated for a split second before forcing a faint smile. "No, nothing at all. I just remembered an urgent matter in the Illusion Realm. I may need to return briefly."

Dragon Tian narrowed his eyes slightly. He could tell she was hiding something. But his body still felt strangely off-balance, and he had no time to press further. He gave a slow nod. "Very well. Your realm's affairs take priority. We will continue the discussion later."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Long Yu stood gracefully, her demeanor outwardly calm. Yet, within, her emotions churned in turmoil. Without another word, she turned and exited the Celestial Illusion Sanctuary, her silhouette vanishing into the ethereal light.

---

A Race Against Time

The moment Long Yu left the sacred halls, her pace quickened. She became a streak of light, piercing through the boundaries of the Six Realms. The same words looped endlessly in her mind.

"Yu'er, save me…"

No. This shouldn't be possible. Long Xie's soul had long since been purified. He had perished. Hadn't he?

Her thoughts wrestled with reality as she arrived at the Void Sanctuary, the core of the Illusion Realm. With a flick of her wrist, barriers of shimmering energy activated, sealing the chamber from all external forces.

She stood in the sanctuary's heart, gripping her Celestial Staff, her aura pulsating with vibrant blue energy. Her voice barely above a whisper, she murmured, "Long Xie… if you are truly inside Dragon Tian, then tell me—what happened?"

Silence stretched between heartbeats.

Then, the voice returned, weaker, laced with torment. "Yu'er… It's me… Long Xie… I am trapped inside Dragon Tian… I cannot escape… Help me…"

Long Yu's eyes widened. This wasn't a hallucination. This wasn't a trick.

Her love—once the fearsome ruler of the Nether Realm—was still here. But how?

"How did you enter his body?" she demanded, voice tense with urgency.

A ragged sigh. "During the final battle… my body was destroyed. But my soul remained. I had no choice but to seek refuge within Dragon Tian's essence. I thought I could survive that way… but his power is suppressing me. I can barely hold on…"

Long Yu's hands trembled. She had spent centuries trying to forget him, to bury the pain. But now—he was here, pleading for her help.

A terrible realization dawned upon her. If Long Xie was within Dragon Tian, then that meant—

Dragon Tian was unknowingly harboring a force that could threaten all of existence.

Long Yu's heart pounded. What should she do?

Save the man she once loved? Or protect the ruler of the Six Realms, the guardian of peace?

Her grip on her staff tightened. No. There had to be a way to do both. There had to be.

"I need time," she finally whispered, trying to calm the storm within her.

"Time…" Long Xie's voice grew weaker. "Hurry… I can't… hold on much longer…"

Long Yu closed her eyes. She had to act. Now.

With a swift movement, she pulled open a hidden chamber within the sanctuary, revealing ancient scrolls inscribed with forgotten spells. If a solution existed—it was here.

Her fingers traced the delicate, glowing texts. Somewhere among these forbidden scriptures… was the key to unraveling the fate of two souls bound within one body.

But could she find it before it was too late?

---

Meanwhile, in the Celestial Illusion Sanctuary…

Dragon Tian sat motionless, his mind adrift in contemplation. Something was wrong. Ever since that sudden wave of dizziness, he had felt an unfamiliar presence lurking within him—something foreign yet… eerily familiar.

Then, a voice—low, raspy, and unmistakable—broke the silence.

"Dragon Tian…"

His golden eyes snapped open, a chill creeping down his spine.

He knew that voice.

Long Xie.

The warlord who had once sought to shatter the Six Realms.

Dragon Tian's breath slowed. "You… should not exist."

A strained chuckle echoed within him. "And yet… here I am."

Dragon Tian's fists clenched. His greatest enemy was alive. And worse—he was inside him.