Awakening of the Black-hearted Lotus

Princess Zhuoying of the Great Yong Dynasty endures a life of neglect and abuse at the hands of her father, Emperor Que, and her younger sister, Zhaocui. Born frail due to a childhood poisoning attempt by the Emperor, who feared her intelligence, Zhuoying has spent her life as a pawn in court politics. When the immortal realm punishes the mortal world with a hundred days of snow for destroying their temples, the Emperor is forced to send his daughters as hostages. Zhaocui, having been reborn with memories of a past life where she suffered in the Supreme Purity Heavenly Palace, manipulates Zhuoying into switching places, intending to marry Chen Ye, the Young Lord of the Barren Sea, whom she loved in her previous life. Unaware that Zhuoying is also reborn, Zhaocui believes she is securing a better fate for herself while condemning her sister to a life worse than death.

Zhuoying, however, sees the Supreme Purity Heavenly Palace as an opportunity. In her past life, she sacrificed everything to support Chen Ye, only to be betrayed and killed by him. Determined to forge her own path, she accepts the exchange. Upon arriving at the Heavenly Palace, she is met by Xie Cexuan, the Young God of War, who holds a grudge against her for a past deception that cost him a major victory. Despite his hostility and the harsh treatment from other immortals, including Crown Prince Fu Yao, Zhuoying remains composed and submissive, hiding her true intentions. She is enrolled in Fusang Academy, where she discovers a world of celestial arts and knowledge that was previously inaccessible to her.

At the Academy, Zhuoying faces rigorous trials, including the Upper Purity Glazed Realm, which tests the resilience of the soul. While other students struggle, she endures for three days, driven by her desperate desire to cultivate and gain power for herself. Her determination impresses Yan Jun, the chief physician, and Tianhou, the Heavenly Empress. Tianhou offers Zhuoying the chance to cultivate properly, telling her she may live for herself rather than for others. This marks a turning point, as Zhuoying begins to build her own strength and independence, distancing herself from the fate she suffered in her previous life.

Meanwhile, Zhaocui arrives at the Barren Sea, eager to reunite with Chen Ye. However, Chen Ye, aware of Zhuoying's reputation and wary of Zhaocui's intentions, keeps his distance. Zhaocui's plans are complicated by the political instability within the Barren Sea and Chen Ye's own ambitions. Zhuoying, observing from the Heavenly Palace, remains indifferent to her sister's struggles, focusing instead on her studies and cultivation. She navigates the complex politics of the Heavenly Palace, forming alliances and avoiding enemies, while Xie Cexuan watches her with a mix of suspicion and growing curiosity. The story follows Zhuoying's journey from a neglected princess to a powerful immortal, as she rewrites her destiny and seeks to control her own fate.