The Imperial Funeral Hall at dusk. Vast, cold, lit by ceremonial candles. The emperor's lacquered coffin dominates the center, draped in white silk and gold thread. Mountain mist seeps through cracks in the stone walls.

Close on Yan Jiu's face as he approaches the coffin. His expression is composed, professional. Behind him, mourners and officials watch from the galleries above.

Yan Jiu begins the ritual. His hands press to the coffin lid. His eyes close. The first tear falls.

Yan Jiu begins the extraction technique. Close shots of his hands, his face, the coffin.

The extraction reaches deep. The coffin lid seems to shimmer. Something is there that shouldn't be.

The emperor's corpse stirs. The coiled presence within is fully awake now.

The ancient presence speaks. The god-fragment addresses Yan Jiu directly.

Yan Jiu realizes what is being offered. His hands are still raised from the extraction technique.

The transfer. The god-fragment slides into Yan Jiu through his tears.

The extraction completes. Yan Jiu has pulled the wrong thing — the emperor's skill, not the confession.

The god whispers inside Yan Jiu. He knows what he must do now.

Yan Jiu delivers the true confession. The gallery reacts.

The confession continues. The truth spreads through the hall.

Chaos in the funeral hall. The factions turn on each other.

Yan Jiu walks through the chaos. The god whispers to him.

Yan Jiu reaches the door of the funeral hall. He pauses.

Yan Jiu examines the ledger. A page is missing — or something has been written on it he doesn't recognize.

The god whispers. Yan Jiu closes the ledger.

Yan Jiu walks away from the funeral hall. The door closes behind him.

Yan Jiu continues walking. The god settles inside him.

Final page. Yan Jiu walks into darkness. The god waits.