"The Ugly Sovereign: Ascending Beyond Mortal Scorn"

1.The Weight of Granny Wen's Legacy

The village was draped in mourning. Fresh earth marked Granny Wen's grave beneath the withered Silverwood sapling, its branches now brittle as glass. Luo Feng knelt there, the silver lotus mark on his wrist pulsing faintly. Frost crept from his fingertips, crystallizing the soil.

Luo Feng's Struggle:

"Every time I use this power… I feel colder," he whispered, his breath fogging the air. Xiao Mei stood beside him, her hand resting on the sapling's scarred trunk.

The Sapling's Secret:

A single golden leaf—Granny Wen's final gift—had fused with Luo Feng's mark, granting him icy power. But the sapling's roots now writhed with black veins, poisoned by the Shadow Bloom's corruption.

Xiao Mei's Warning:

"The sapling is dying. Whatever the Yan Clan planted in Meiying… it's spreading here too."

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2. The Dungeon's Hidden Truth

The journey to the Crimson Temple's dungeon was fraught with signs of decay. Moss-covered walls pulsed like diseased flesh, and the air reeked of rotting petals.

Meiying's Agony:

They found her chained to a stone altar, her arms etched with glowing Yan Clan runes. At her chest bloomed the Shadow Bloom, its petals devouring the torchlight. Her voice was a broken rasp: "It's eating my memories… Granny… the village… they're fading…"

Elder Wu's Journal:

Xiao Mei uncovered a journal in the dungeon:

"The Shadow Bloom consumes light and memory. To destroy it, the caster's blood must touch its core. —Master Yan."

"The seed is the true power. Planted in despair, it births oblivion. —Elder Wu."

Luo Feng's Resolve:

"Master Yan used Meiying to grow this thing. His blood will kill it."

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3. The Bloom's Corruption Unleashed

As Luo Feng shattered Meiying's chains, the Shadow Bloom retaliated:

Whispers of the Past: The flower projected illusions—Granny Wen's voice, Xiao Mei's laughter, even Luo Feng's mother's face. "Stay with us," they pleaded.

Rotting Roots: Black tendrils snaked toward them, dissolving stone and flesh alike. A rat brushed a root and melted into sludge.

Meiying's Warning: "It's not just a flower… It's a gateway. The Yan Clan wants to erase us… all of us."

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4. The Battle Beneath the Temple

Escape from the Dungeon:

They fled as the ceiling collapsed, the Bloom's roots devouring the temple. Meiying stumbled, her mind fractured. "The village… it's already too late…"

Return to Ruin:

The fields were choked with thorned crops, and villagers huddled in terror. Farmer Li's daughter, Little Lan, stood frozen as shadowy vines coiled toward her doll.

Luo Feng's Choice:

He froze the vines, but the effort cracked his mark, icy pain shooting up his arm. "Run home—now!"

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5. Master Yan's Final Taunt

In the village square, Master Yan awaited them, the Bloom's roots coiled at his feet like loyal hounds.

Master Yan's Revelation:

"You think Granny Wen's death was sacrifice? She chose to die. She knew you'd fail… just like your sister."

Luo Feng's Fury:

Ice surged from his mark, forming a jagged blade. "What did you do to Mei Ling?!"

The Fight:

Shadow Illusions: The Bloom replayed Mei Ling's screams from Luo Feng's nightmares.

Xiao Mei's Gambit: She hurled fire-powder, but the Bloom absorbed the flames, growing stronger.

Meiying's Sacrifice: Weak but defiant, she grabbed Master Yan's wrist. "Your blood… now!"

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6. The Blood Price

Luo Feng slashed Master Yan's palm, dripping his blood onto the Bloom's core. The flower shrieked, its petals crumbling to ash. Meiying collapsed, the runes on her arms fading to scars.

Master Yan's Escape:

He shattered Luo Feng's ice with a roar, vanishing into shadows. "You've only delayed the inevitable… brother."

The Aftermath:

Meiying's Fragility: Her memories of the village were erased. She didn't recognize Xiao Mei.

The Seed: Elder Wu emerged from the ruins, clutching a pitch-black seed formed from the ashes. "The true Bloom begins now."

Luo Feng's Cost: The ice mark reached his shoulder. His reflection showed flecks of gold in his eyes—Granny's final gift fighting the curse.

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7. Threads for the Future

1.Meiying's Lost Memories: Can they be restored, or will the Yan Clan exploit her blank slate?

2.The Seed of Oblivion: Planted in secret, it threatens to grow a Bloom far deadlier.

3.Luo Feng's Lineage: Master Yan's taunt ("brother") hints at a shared bloodline—and darker secrets.