"Ohh~ what a good night's sleep," Lin Xuanji(Mo Tianzun)—murmured, stretching languidly as he sat up in bed. After a satisfying yawn, he rose and walked to the door, flinging it open with force.
Slam!
The loud noise startled the Liu Twins, who had been sleeping outside on the veranda.
"Young Master Xuan!" they exclaimed in unison, quickly rising to greet him with a bow. "Good morning."
"You two slept out here?" Xuanji asked, frowning slightly as he looked down at them. The twins nodded.
"Why? There are spare beds inside," he said, mildly exasperated.
"For additional security, Young Master Xuanji," replied Zhenhai respectfully. "Besides, it would be inappropriate for us to rest within the chambers of one of His Highness the Crown Prince's concubines."
"And we're used to it. This is nothing compared to the conditions at Yunxiao Sect," Fenglan added with a grin.
Xuanji sighed in resignation and closed the door behind him, stepping outside to admire the early morning view.
"Where are you heading this morning, Young Master?" Zhenhai asked curiously.
"I'm not sure yet," Xuanji replied thoughtfully. "But I overheard some maidservants whispering about a waterfall at the back of the palace. They say it's haunted—strange voices, ghostly sightings… I want to see it for myself."
"We're going with you!" Fenglan said instantly, springing to his feet.
Xuanji gave him a look, but ultimately agreed with a quiet sigh. The trio began walking toward the rear gardens. Along the way, palace maids, guards, and inner servants bowed deeply as Xuanji passed.
Soon, they came upon a long flight of stone steps carved into the hillside.
As they ascended, the sound of rushing water grew louder. When they reached the top, all three gasped in awe.
A breathtaking waterfall cascaded down from a high cliff, pooling into a crystalline basin below.
"This place is far too beautiful to be haunted," Fenglan said in disbelief. Zhenhai nodded in silent agreement.
But as they approached the water's edge, a shift in the atmosphere made them freeze.
A strange energy pulsed from behind the falls—heavy, ancient, and undeniably powerful. Even the air around them felt weighted.
Lin Xuanji's lips curled into a grin.
Then, without warning, he leapt into the air and flew toward the waterfall.
"Young Master Xuanji!" the twins cried out, frozen in place as the oppressive force around them grew stronger. Their legs refused to move—as if the energy itself held them back.
Only Xuanji remained unaffected.
With a single sweep of his hand, the crashing waterfall parted down the middle like a curtain, revealing a darkened passage beyond. He vanished inside. As soon as he passed through, the water slammed shut behind him once more.
The Liu Twins stood in shock for a moment before turning and sprinting back to the palace.
"Guards! The Young Master has disappeared behind the waterfall!" they shouted.
The news spread like wildfire.
———
A handsome young man slept peacefully, bathed in morning light—until a loud slam against the door shattered the stillness.
"Your Highness! There's an emergency at the back of the palace!" cried Jiang Fenglie, his most trusted retainer and sworn brother.
Zhao Longxuan, the Crown Prince, immediately sat up, eyes sharp.
"The Abyss Spear of the Demon Sea Dragon… it's inside that waterfall!" he exclaimed as he rushed out of his chambers, Fenglie following closely behind.
"And…" Fenglie hesitated, then added, "they said Concubine Xuanji is the one who entered it."
Longxuan froze mid-step.
"WHAT!?" His voice, usually calm and reserved, boomed with raw panic, startling even Fenglie.
"There's no mistake, Your Highness. It was Concubine Xuanji," Fenglie confirmed.
Longxuan clenched his fists, eyes burning with urgency. Without another word, he soared into the air, racing toward the waterfall.
———
By the time the Crown Prince arrived, a crowd had gathered—guards, inner palace officials, cultivators—all blocked from advancing toward the falls by an invisible force.
"Why can't anyone get closer?" Longxuan asked coldly.
"There's a barrier, Your Highness," Fenglie replied. "Some form of spiritual energy… powerful and ancient. It prevents everyone from stepping near."
Longxuan's gaze hardened.
"Even you?" he asked in a dangerously quiet tone.
Fenglie flinched. "Y-Yes, Your Highness."
The Crown Prince narrowed his eyes at the roaring cataract. "Summon Shui Wuyin."
"Yes, Your Highness!" Fenglie immediately bowed and took flight to fetch the man.
As Zhao Longxuan stood alone before the mighty waterfall, his heart pounded—not with fear, but something far more volatile.
———
New Character Introduction:
Shui Wuyin (水无垠)
Title: The Azure Tides Immortal (青潮仙君)
Once a humble fisherman of Mistveil Lake, Shui Wuyin was swept away by a flood and drawn into the long-lost Sea Sovereign's Ruins. There, he forged a soul pact with the Primordial Azure Whale, gaining dominion over ocean, mist, and ice.
Through centuries of cultivation, he mastered the Way of Boundless Flow, achieving immortality.
Calm and elusive, Shui Wuyin seldom reveals himself—appearing only when the harmony of nature is disturbed. His presence is as gentle as still water…
Until the tides rise.