The obsidian Core pulsed as Lin Ho withdrew his hand, his breathing shallow, skin faintly glowing with residual arcs of golden-black Qi. The others stared in silence — awe, suspicion, and fear flitting across their faces.
> "You okay?" Bai Qing asked, voice low.
Lin Ho didn't answer right away. His mind still echoed with fragments — the faces of entities long dead, the laughter of something vast and eternal. But beneath it all… clarity.
> "Yes. I saw… the origin of destruction. And the beginning of order."
Elder Qiu stepped forward, eyes never leaving Lin Ho. "This Core was once a stabilizer for realm fractures. It hasn't responded to anyone in a thousand years. Until now."
> "Why me?" Lin Ho asked.
> "Perhaps you carry a piece of it," the elder replied. "Or perhaps… it remembers who you are."
Before Lin Ho could respond, the Core's energy surged. The entire palace groaned as ancient runes awakened. One by one, they lit up in a spiral, connecting from the floor up to the dome of the sanctum.
The center altar descended with a hiss, revealing a spiral staircase of black crystal.
Yan Wu scoffed. "Typical. One trial leads to another."
The elders exchanged glances.
> "That wasn't supposed to happen," one of them muttered.
> "Then it's meant for him alone," Elder Qiu said, nodding toward Lin Ho. "The rest of you — stay here."
---
Beneath the Core
Each step Lin Ho took was lit by the glow of Chaos Qi within his body. The further down he went, the denser the pressure became — not crushing, but ancient, like time compressed into dust.
At the bottom, he entered a chamber carved from obsidian. Floating in the center was a coffin of translucent crystal, hovering silently.
Inside it lay a man — or something like one.
Long white hair floated weightlessly. His chest bore a spiral brand that mirrored the one that had formed on Lin Ho's back weeks ago. And his hand clutched a scroll.
As Lin Ho approached, the coffin responded.
The scroll slipped free and floated to him, unfolding in mid-air.
It was a technique — ancient, formless, yet familiar.
"Origin Scripture: Cycle of Chaos."
As he reached for it, the chamber darkened. A whisper filled the space:
> "You are not the first."
> "You are not the last."
> "But you are chosen."
The scroll fused into Lin Ho's chest in a flash of light. A second spiral formed over his heart.
---
Back at the Surface
The Core dimmed. The palace quieted.
Then Lin Ho rose from the stairway, eyes sharp, posture calm. But the air around him had changed — denser, more complete.
Elder Qiu bowed slightly. Not much. But enough to draw gasps from the disciples.
> "Welcome back… Heir of the Cycle."
---
End of Chapter 58