The Sea of Flowers Trial · Hearts United in the Illusion
The light from the purple-blue flowers gradually engulfed Qin Yu and Hong Xiuxiang's figures, and in an instant, the world seemed to transform into a long river of light and shadow. Petals gently drifted down and landed between their brows. The next moment, their bodies trembled slightly, and they simultaneously disappeared into the sea of flowers.
When Qin Yu opened his eyes again, he found himself in a strange illusion. An endless sea of flowers stretched to the sky, each flower opening and closing as if breathing, exhaling a pale golden mist. The petals condensed in the void, gradually transforming into a human-shaped silhouette. The creature was composed entirely of petals, its features blurred yet exuding holiness and tranquility. It walked forward, and with each step, the flowers beneath its feet emitted a radiant light, as if the heavens were guiding its way. It did not speak, but its gaze was fixed firmly on Qin Yu, as if it wanted to directly confront his soul.
At the same time, Hong Xiuxiang was also drawn into another illusion. The world she found herself in was even more beautiful: a purple moon floated above a sea of flowers, casting a hazy glow that made her appear like a fairy. Moonlight gathered petals in the void, slowly transforming them into the lithe and Kong Ling figure of a young girl, her body slender, her skin as translucent as flower petals, her eyes clear yet holding an unspeakable depth. The being gently raised her hand, and the petals around her danced, transforming into a boundless curtain of light that enveloped Hong Xiuxiang.
Both beings were formed from flower petals, yet they brought Qin Yu and Hong Xiuxiang completely different auras. Qin Yu faced a majestic, sacred, and judgmental being; Hong Xiuxiang, on the other hand, faced a gentle, lively, and dreamlike embodiment.
Although they were in different illusions, their minds trembled at the same moment, as if the power deep within the sea of flowers was testing their respective obsessions and choices.
The petal-like being before Qin Yu gently raised a finger. In that instant, countless petals surged in the wind, forming thousands of crystal-clear flower swords in the void. They were not sharp and lethal, but rather carried a dreamlike aura, like petals falling gently towards Qin Yu. Each flower sword radiated a sacred light, making his figure appear even more solitary and resolute.
Qin Yu slowly raised his hand, and the Source-Extinguishing Divine Sword appeared in the void, its blade swirling with countless annihilation patterns. Yet, in this illusion, the Source-Extinguishing Divine Sword was no longer cold and murderous; instead, it seemed as if its ferocity had been soothed by a sea of flowers. The sword shimmered slightly, its sword intent intertwining with the petal-shaped sword, as if dancing in a galaxy. Each collision released countless points of light, like fireworks in the night sky, adorning the entire world with dazzling brilliance.
Meanwhile, Hong Xiuxiang stood in the moonlight. The petal spirits twirled gently, and billions of petals around her transformed into a light, flowing dress, dyeing the entire illusionary realm a soft purple and pink. Hong Xiuxiang stared at this scene in a daze, unconsciously raising her hand to activate her Innate Martial Soul, "Spirit Brocade Book Realm." Countless spiritual books unfolded behind her, their pages fluttering like petals, complementing the flower spirits' dance.
The flower spirit reached out, and the pages of the book fluttered. A hint of shyness gradually crept into Hong Xiuxiang's eyes, yet she still stubbornly responded. Each intertwining of the pages and petals transformed into a crisp melody, as if heaven and earth were accompanying them. Her figure, set against the backdrop of the sea of flowers and the world of books, resembled that of a fairy, and the flower spirit, responding to her, became even more agile, as if guiding the purest dance steps from the depths of her heart.
Two illusions exist: one where swords and flowers intertwine, the other where books and dance harmonize. There is no murderous intent between them, only endless beauty and romance. Although Qin Yu and Hong Xiuxiang are not in the same place, they resonate with each other at the same moment—they sense each other's presence, as if they have pierced through the barriers of the illusions and are quietly gazing at each other amidst the rain of petals and the moonlight.
The wind in the sea of flowers gradually subsided, transforming into an invisible melody. Petals fell, pages turned, sword intent and dance intertwined, and the entire illusion became a magnificent painting.
The Flower Shadow Flow, lingering in whose dream, petal by petal, falls from the sky.
The pages of the book fluttered, recording unfinished thoughts; the sword flashed, cleaving through the silent sky.
Listen, the sea of flowers is whispering, telling of an endless promise of reincarnation.
Look, the Milky Way is in deep thought, reflecting the destiny of two souls intertwined.
If the petals transform into stars in the sky, they will light your way forward.
If the song becomes an eternal echo, may there be no more loneliness in your heart.
Who sings softly in the abyss of time and space? Who watches over the long river of cause and effect?
Even if a thousand calamities Annihilation and all worlds collapse, I only wish to wander with you at this moment.
Dreams flow, hearts echo, the sea of flowers stretches endlessly, and songs linger on.
Even in Annihilation, we will remain together, until all returns to nothingness...
This melody seems to flow from the depths of heaven and earth, possessing both the gentle beauty of dancing petals and the powerful force of turning pages of a sword and a book, creating an atmosphere that is both Ultimate romantic and tinged with a touch of melancholy.
The sea of flowers suddenly froze, leaving only the echoing song, as if falling from the heavens, or rising from the depths of their hearts. The distant melody, along with the slow fall of millions of petals, transformed into rivers of light, flowing beneath Qin Yu and Hong Xiuxiang's feet. Every syllable seemed to carry the gentlest yet most irresistible rhythm of heaven and earth, striking the depths of their hearts.
Qin Yu stood there slightly stunned, feeling as if the song was piercing through the long river of cause and effect and logic, directly revealing the loneliness buried deep within him. He had experienced countless battles and Annihilation, and had long been accustomed to calmness and solitude, but at this moment, the gentle and melodious tune made him feel as if he saw another version of himself—the boy who once longed to rely on someone and to have someone accompany him.
Hong Xiuxiang gently raised her eyes, her cheeks flushed crimson by the purple light reflected from the sea of flowers, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, as if shy but unwilling to turn away. She heard the song echoing in her ears again and again, each word seemingly telling the unspoken feelings in her heart—even in Annihilation, even in the face of endlessness, she was willing to live and die together with the person before her at this moment.
The creatures formed from petals danced gracefully to the song, like guardians of heaven and earth, yet without any murderous intent. They spun slowly in the air, their radiance illuminating the illusion, like stars witnessing a wedding, freezing this moment into eternity.
Qin Yu's heart stirred with emotion. He looked at Hong Xiuxiang and met her slightly reddened eyes. Their breaths mingled in the light of the flower petals, and the song seemed to speak for them the deepest vows in their hearts.
At this moment, the world is silent, with only the singing and the sea of flowers remaining.
They seemed to understand—this illusory trial was not merely a challenge, but a profound collision and response between hearts.
This scene is destined to be etched into the trajectory of their destiny, becoming an indelible ray of light.
The singing didn't stop; instead, it grew even more melodious, as if flowing from every petal of the sea of flowers, converging into an invisible river that completely enveloped Qin Yu and Hong Xiuxiang.
Suddenly, the heavens and earth trembled violently, and the illusion split into two scrolls.
Before Qin Yu's eyes, the petals condensed into a series of cruel memories— Wang Yuan's dying roar, Chi Ning's tearful obsession, Chen Po's sinister sneer, and the scene of his own solitary battle in the Desolate Annihilation Secret Realm. He saw himself standing alone in the sea of blood and darkness, with no companions around. The song whispered, "If you still insist on walking alone, no matter how strong you are, you will ultimately be lonely."
Meanwhile, Hong Xiuxiang's illusion was entirely different. Petals gathered before her eyes, forming a bright dreamscape—the future she had once longed for: her junior sisters gathered, laughing and chatting; her master, Liu Mei, gentle and loving; and she herself, light as the wind. However, the dream suddenly collapsed, blood staining everything, and the phantom Qin Yu slowly turned away, his figure utterly alone. The song then changed its tune. "If you choose to follow, you must bear the despair of perishing with him."
Their hearts were struck at the same moment.
Qin Yu frowned, feeling the illusion forcing him to choose: either continue alone or admit he needed someone to accompany him. But the loneliness in his heart clashed with his vows, as if Soul Rend apart.
Hong Xiuxiang's eyes trembled slightly. Under the glow of the petals, her face was tinged with a mixture of shyness and determination. She knew that this was the true trial of the illusion—she had to speak out the deepest conviction hidden in her heart.
At that very moment, the singing suddenly became powerful, like billions of stars singing in unison:
"Choose! Is it Eternal Silence, or a bonded life together?"
Heaven and earth stood still, the sea of flowers held its breath. Countless creatures formed from petals also stopped their dance, watching them and awaiting the answer.
Qin Yu's heart was being torn apart. The light and shadow of the sea of flowers reflected his past. He had seen too many companions perish beside him, and too many Fate-Cause of him. That loneliness had long been rooted in the deepest part of his soul.
He murmured to himself, his voice as deep as the wind in the night sky. "If I walk alone, at least no one will die because of me again..."
But just then, Hong Xiuxiang's illusion overlapped with his. She bit her lip, a shy blush rising on her cheeks, yet appearing exceptionally resolute in the glow of the petals. She looked straight at Qin Yu, her voice clear and firm. "Senior Brother Qin, no matter how strong you are... you are not alone! If you reject all bonds, that is true loneliness. I would rather die with you than live a life of ignominy alone."
At that moment, the song suddenly turned gentle and vast, as if the entire universe was witnessing her vow.
Qin Yu's heart trembled violently. Countless illusions shattered, and the sea of blood, the lonely figure, the vow... all turned into specks of light. He slowly stretched out his hand, and for the first time, his eyes no longer held coldness, but instead carried a rare warmth.
"Miss Hong... are you willing to live and die with me?"
Hong Xiuxiang's cheeks flushed crimson, but she didn't flinch. Instead, she took a step forward, petals dancing around her. She replied softly but firmly, "Even if I turn to ashes, I will stand by your side."
Boom!
In an instant, the sea of flowers erupted. Billions of petals soared into the air, like a cascading galaxy, while streams of purple-blue light coalesced into a long river, swirling around the two. The petal creatures sang in unison, their song no longer questioning, but transforming into the most magnificent hymn:
"The bond is set, our hearts and souls shine together. The loneliness of solitude is shattered by love."
The oppressive feeling between heaven and earth dissipated at this moment, replaced by an unprecedented peace and gentleness.
The petals beneath their feet slowly coalesced into a shimmering flower bridge, stretching into the unknown distance. The illusion gently faded, leaving only their figures standing side by side, surrounded by light and a sea of flowers.
The light and illusion receded like the tide, and the world suddenly fell silent.
Qin Yu and Hong Xiuxiang felt a blur before their eyes as the flower bridge beneath their feet crumbled into countless shimmering fragments, turning into a shower of light that fell softly. The next instant, the two of them were standing once again in that vast and boundless sea of flowers.
Between heaven and earth, billions of flowers still bloom, their colors flowing like a celestial river cascading down. The air is filled with an exquisite fragrance, and each petal shimmers with a faint light, as if softly singing for their return.
Hong Xiuxiang's cheeks were still flushed, but her eyes were exceptionally clear. She subconsciously looked at Qin Yu. The frankness she had shown in facing her inner self during the trial made her no longer have the slightest hesitation.
Qin Yu exhaled a long breath, gazing at the endless sea of flowers below. A layer of loneliness seemed to be washed away from his heart. He slowly tightened his grip on the Sword of Dream Silence, his fingertips trembling slightly, but he smiled, "This hurdle... we've finally made it through."
Hong Xiuxiang nodded gently, her eyes shining with determination, and replied softly, "Whatever comes next, we can walk side by side."
Boom--
The giant purple-blue flower in the center of the flower sea suddenly bloomed again, releasing a radiance even more intense than before. Hundreds of millions of petals surged and swirled around the two of them like a star storm, as if to proclaim that they had passed the test and gained the approval of this flower sea.
At that moment, the whole world seemed to be celebrating for them.