The next morning, sunlight bathed the capital of the Azure Light Kingdom in a gentle golden hue, but in the deepest chamber of the palace, Princess Yue Ling stood before the sacred mirror—The Halo Reflector, an ancient artifact passed down by the divine phoenix bloodline.
It had only one purpose: to reflect the purity of one's soul.
She had stood before it many times. Each time, her reflection was surrounded by a brilliant white halo—a symbol of her unshakable virtue.
But today…
The halo flickered.
Then cracked.
A fine fracture ran through the white glow, barely visible, yet unmistakable.
She stared in horror. "No… it can't be…"
The doors opened behind her. Grandmaster Yuelan entered—the Saintess of the Phoenix Flame Sect, Yue Ling's master and guardian. Her eyes immediately narrowed.
"You came here without calling me. You felt it, didn't you?"
Yue Ling said nothing.
Yuelan walked beside her, examining the mirror. She raised her hand, casting a spell of truth.
The mirror pulsed.
Corruption Detected: Source Unknown. Mental Dao Deviation – Stage I Initiated.
Yue Ling's eyes widened. "It's only… words. He said nothing evil—no curses, no manipulation. He simply asked questions."
Yuelan's voice turned sharp. "Words are sharper than blades when used by the wrong hands. This… is not corruption of the body, but of the spirit. Someone has planted a 'Heart Seed' in you—a slow, dark influence that spreads through doubt."
Yue Ling clenched her fists. "Then what should I do?"
Yuelan turned, her robes flaring with power. "Cut the root."
Across the city, in the hidden layer of the inn where time flowed differently thanks to Priyanshu's illusion formation, he stood before a projection of Yue Ling's corruption thread. It now had a visible crack in her spiritual halo—symbolic, yet irreversible unless she chose to retreat.
"She'll either run," Elira said, lounging nearby, "or break."
Priyanshu's eyes remained on the thread. "Neither. She'll confront me."
Elira's brows rose. "You're ready for that?"
He smiled. "It's what I've planned for."
That evening, Yue Ling appeared once more at his doorstep—this time dressed not in flowing robes of peace, but her battle attire. Her eyes no longer trembled. They burned.
"You," she said coldly, "have shaken the foundation of my Dao."
Priyanshu nodded. "And what do you want now? Revenge? Answers?"
She stepped forward, placing her hand on the hilt of her divine sword. "Truth."
He welcomed her inside.
But this time, the setting was different. He had changed the illusion. No quieter library. The room was filled with projections—wars between so-called righteous sects, holy clans sacrificing mortals for power, empires crushing villages in the name of order.
"I never lied," Priyanshu said. "This is your world. A world where halos are painted by those with power and rewritten by those who win."
She stood silently, watching the horrors unfold.
"You were raised in a bubble," he continued. "You were trained to see light as absolute. But light… blinds."
Her grip on her sword loosened.
DING! Corruption Progress: 77%
Then came the final strike.
He snapped his fingers. A new image appeared.
Her own father—the righteous King of Azure Light—signing an agreement to sell cultivation slaves to the Crimson Emperor, the very tyrant Yue Ling had once vowed to defeat.
"No…"
Her voice cracked.
"Every empire has a foundation of blood," Priyanshu said, stepping closer. "You were never a saint. You were just a tool in white robes."
Her sword dropped.
DING! Final Halo Fracture InitiatedCorruption Progress: 91%
She looked up at him, tears in her eyes.
"What now?"
Priyanshu held out his hand.
"You choose. Remain blind… or see everything and become something more."
Her hand slowly reached toward his.
And the halo—
Shattered.