At these words, Jiang Zhaoxue was instantly shocked.

Three months.

It was too urgent. No matter what method they used, for Pei Zichen to become a god within three months was far too rushed.

But she kept her emotions restrained, hiding all her thoughts deep within, only probing, “Then according to what you’re saying, Pei Zichen fundamentally cannot possess a complete divine core. Let alone three months—even three years, three hundred years, he still couldn’t become a god. In that case, wouldn’t it be better to take advantage of the Book of Fate’s incomplete power now and strike while the iron is hot?”

“Only a god can dominate the Book of Fate.”

Shen Yuqing seemed to see through her, saying calmly, “Unless someone becomes a god, the Book of Fate will forever remain in this world.”

“Become a god…”

Jiang Zhaoxue was angered to laughter by Shen Yuqing, “After all this talk, it turns out you’re trying to persuade me. The Book of Fate is so powerful—I should bow down and submit?”

Hearing this, Shen Yuqing didn’t respond. Only after thinking for a long while did he say softly, “I have one more method.”

Jiang Zhaoxue looked at him coldly. Shen Yuqing thought for a long time before saying quietly, “The Book of Fate can spy on everything in the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion. I once had a martial uncle who disliked the Book of Fate’s surveillance, so he created a spell technique that could isolate the Book of Fate.”

“The barrier at Luoxia Mountain?”

Jiang Zhaoxue realized. Shen Yuqing nodded, “Yes, the Luoxia Mountain barrier was left by him. And his spell technique actually has two parts—one isolates surveillance, while the other completely cuts off the Book of Fate’s influence. He was a genius, but after he created these two spell techniques, he was killed by Master.”

Jiang Zhaoxue’s pupils trembled slightly. Mentioning such sect secrets, Shen Yuqing also seemed embarrassed as he lowered his eyes, “Before he passed away, we were on good terms. He secretly taught me these two spell techniques.”

“So you mean you can help Pei Zichen break the Book of Fate’s seal?”

“Not break it.” Shen Yuqing shook his head, “The Book of Fate is far more powerful than you imagine. Even temporarily severing it requires tremendous power. This spell technique can support at most one day. If you can condense a divine core within that day, he’ll have the opportunity to truly become a god and change the destiny written for him by the Book of Fate. If you can agree to my condition, I can give you this spell technique.”

“What condition?”

Jiang Zhaoxue was curious.

Hearing this, Shen Yuqing’s expression remained unchanged, but he asked, “Where is Xinluoyi?”

“Hah.”

Hearing this, A’Nan couldn’t help but curse, “He really can’t forget her.”

However, Jiang Zhaoxue wasn’t surprised either. Xinluoyi had been entangled with him for a lifetime—it was completely normal for him to think of her. She answered honestly, “She was taken away by Song Wulan. If you’re hoping we’ll get her back for you, that’ll have to wait until I deal with Song Wulan.”

Listening, Shen Yuqing’s eyes showed complete understanding, as if he wasn’t surprised by this outcome at all. He nodded, then raised his head to look at Pei Zichen, “I want to return to the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion.”

Pei Zichen’s eyelids lifted.

Shen Yuqing’s expression was cold, “There are still many disciples at the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion who don’t know what’s happened. If the Book of Fate is Song Wulan, I can’t leave the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion in the hands of someone like him. I must transfer the disciples to a safe place.”

“Fine.”

Pei Zichen agreed immediately, only saying, “You can transfer the disciples to the Jiuyou Realm.”

Getting this response, Shen Yuqing’s brow relaxed, as if finally laying down a huge burden in his heart. He nodded, “Good.”

Having resolved his major concern, Shen Yuqing seemed much more relaxed. He was silent for a moment before finally saying, “Then Axue,” he looked up at Jiang Zhaoxue, “come forward. I’ll pass the spell technique to you. How you use it will be up to you.”

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t say much. She walked forward and half-squatted before Shen Yuqing, directly asking, “What do you need me to do?”

“Give me your hand.”

Shen Yuqing didn’t waste words either, only extending his hand.

Jiang Zhaoxue curiously offered her hand, then heard Shen Yuqing say, “Close your eyes.”

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t understand what he was going to do. She instinctively glanced at Pei Zichen, using her eyes to signal him to watch Shen Yuqing, then closed her eyes.

As soon as she closed them, she felt a barrier open around her body. She vaguely sensed Shen Yuqing pulling her hand over, spiritual energy flowing around them, but Shen Yuqing was clearly deliberately concealing it—she couldn’t sense at all what he was writing.

Only Pei Zichen beside them raised his eyes the moment he wrote the first stroke.

Shen Yuqing sensed his gaze but acted as if he heard nothing, only his fingers trembling slightly as he said to Jiang Zhaoxue in a calm tone, “After I return this time, we probably won’t meet again. Jiang Zhaoxue.”

He spoke, as if they were still unfamiliar like in the past. Jiang Zhaoxue felt the spiritual energy around her slowly settle as she heard him say, “Take good care of yourself.”

With that, he withdrew his hand and spoke, “Open your eyes.”

Jiang Zhaoxue opened her eyes to see Shen Yuqing’s complexion had clearly paled considerably. Jiang Zhaoxue lowered her head to examine her palm where spiritual energy surged, hearing Shen Yuqing explain, “When you need to use it, activate this spell with your own spiritual energy. It only has a one-day duration. You must grasp the timing well.”

“Understood.”

Jiang Zhaoxue nodded. Remembering something, she looked up at him, “Oh, if you’re not comfortable sending disciples to the Jiuyou Realm, you can also send them to Penglai. Penglai has a mountain protection formation. It’s not Song Wulan’s primary target, so it’s also a safe place.”

Hearing this, Shen Yuqing showed a slight smile and nodded, “Thank you.”

Him being so polite made Jiang Zhaoxue somewhat unaccustomed.

Shen Yuqing saw her awkward expression but didn’t let his gaze linger. He only looked at Pei Zichen, “I have something I want to say to you.”

Pei Zichen looked up, seemingly having anticipated this as well. He said softly to Jiang Zhaoxue, “Female Lord, please go out and wait a moment.”

“Oh.”

Jiang Zhaoxue glanced at the master and disciple pair. Though somewhat reluctant in her heart, she still stood up, patted the dust off her body, and said to Shen Yuqing, “Then I’ll go first. I’ll ask my father for a transmission scroll. You can send people based on the situation.”

With that, she waved at Pei Zichen, “I’ll wait for you outside.”

She strode outward. Shen Yuqing quietly watched her departing figure.

As she reached the door, Shen Yuqing suddenly spoke, “Yaoyao.”

Hearing this name, Jiang Zhaoxue’s body stiffened. She wished she could go back and sew his mouth shut. However, thinking he had just made a great contribution, she forced a smile and turned around, glancing at Pei Zichen standing beside him. She was about to tell him not to call her that randomly in the future when she heard Shen Yuqing look at her carefully and earnestly ask, “Are you doing well now?”

This question left Jiang Zhaoxue stunned. She looked at the eyes of the person before her. He seemed like he was still young, struggling to restrain himself yet unable to help gazing at her, asking hoarsely, “Are you doing better than in the past?”

Jiang Zhaoxue fell silent. After a moment, she pressed her lips together and answered honestly, “Yes.”

At this answer, Shen Yuqing finally seemed to deflate. He nodded somewhat dazedly, seeming both glad and sad, “That’s good.”

Then he repeated, “That’s good.”

“Ah, if there’s nothing else, I’m leaving.”

Seeing he was clearly not quite right, Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t dare linger. She quickly waved and made her escape first.

Shen Yuqing watched Jiang Zhaoxue walk away. Only when the entire room had completely quieted down did he lower his expression and turn his cold eyes back.

He stared at Pei Zichen, who had long since appeared as a grown youth. After watching for a long while, he said coldly, “You should know what I’m going to do.”

“I understand.”

Pei Zichen seemed to have long anticipated what Shen Yuqing wanted to discuss with him. He raised his eyes, his gaze clear, only saying, “But I won’t owe you.”

With that, Pei Zichen’s body seemed to block between him and Jiang Zhaoxue, firm and allowing no room for negotiation, “The Female Lord won’t either.”

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t wait long outside the door. Soon Pei Zichen walked out from inside. Seeing this, Jiang Zhaoxue went up to meet him, quickly asking, “What did he say to you?”

“Things you shouldn’t hear.”

Pei Zichen walked half a step behind her, unhurried as he walked at her side. Jiang Zhaoxue felt somewhat indignant, “What things shouldn’t I hear?”

“What do you think?”

The moment this formal “you” came out, Jiang Zhaoxue sensed trouble. Thinking of Shen Yuqing’s earlier “Yaoyao,” she had a direct instinct not to ask further and quickly changed the subject, “Cough, let’s talk about serious matters instead.”

With that, Jiang Zhaoxue lowered her head to look at her palm, frowning, “What exactly is the spell he wrote for me?”

She turned to look at Pei Zichen, “He didn’t let me see earlier. Did you see it?”

“Mm.” Pei Zichen’s tone was flat. Already understanding what she wanted to say, he answered directly, “He added a protective spell inside. It’s fine.”

For just a protective spell, Shen Yuqing wouldn’t have been so mysteriously secretive, but if Pei Zichen wasn’t willing to say, she couldn’t force him.

In any case, it wasn’t anything harmful, or Pei Zichen wouldn’t have allowed it to remain on her body. She didn’t investigate further, only continuing, “Then can this spell truly isolate the Book of Fate?”

“It can.”

Pei Zichen nodded. Jiang Zhaoxue felt relieved and thought rather optimistically, “So right now, the most important thing for us is to figure out how to make you condense a divine core in one day. The reason you can’t condense it now is because your Emotional Soul is sealed. You’re only using your own benevolence to suppress your malice toward the mortal world, and haven’t truly experienced being loved. When the Book of Fate is isolated and your Emotional Soul recovers, aside from your own dao heart, the only thing hindering you will be the resentful power Li Xiuji left in your body. To transform this resentful power in such a short time, you must condense a divine core. But for you to condense a divine core, even with your Emotional Soul, this resentful power will still interfere. This is a vicious cycle…”

As Jiang Zhaoxue spoke, she murmured in a low voice, “The best method would be to isolate this resentful power from you, but your current body is formed from these powers. Once you lose the resentful power, the divine shell and your soul fundamentally can’t sustain it…”

Jiang Zhaoxue paused as she spoke, as if thinking of something, and turned to examine Pei Zichen.

Pei Zichen raised his eyelids, “What do you want to do?”

“I have an idea…” Jiang Zhaoxue said, earnestly scrutinizing him, “What if you enter your physical body in advance and have others help you transform the resentful power together?”

As soon as Jiang Zhaoxue spoke, without waiting for Pei Zichen’s response, she suddenly felt she had a solution, “Your physical body can’t bear this resentful power. When the divine shell enters the physical body, the resentful power will be forcibly expelled. Your divine shell carries your soul into the physical body—at this time, if there isn’t sufficient power, your physical body will shatter. But we can use external force to help you stabilize the physical body for a period of time. Then, after isolating the Book of Fate’s influence, this would be your optimal state for condensing a divine core. You try to condense a divine core within your physical body, while I and others help you transform the resentful power back into your body. Instead, it can nourish you and help you fuse with your physical body.”

The more Jiang Zhaoxue spoke, the more feasible she felt this was. She grew excited, “If we set up a grand formation in advance and transform all this resentful power within one day, even if you don’t ultimately condense a divine core, it would be enough to let you fuse your soul with your physical body. That would also be a good thing.”

“But it still won’t work.”

After finishing speaking, Jiang Zhaoxue frowned again, as if remembering something. She said somewhat uneasily, “This way the risk is still very high. If you haven’t condensed a divine core and the resentful power can’t be completely transformed, your body won’t be able to hold up. At that time, without a body…”

“The resentment returns to the divine shell,” Pei Zichen reminded her, looking up, “It would just mean temporarily losing a physical body.”

Losing Pei Zichen’s physical body would mean losing the current possibility of becoming a god. Though there might be other opportunities to reshape a body in the future, the Book of Fate wouldn’t give him this chance.

After three months when the Book of Fate finished recovering, it wouldn’t allow Pei Zichen to continue growing.

Once they failed, they would lose the possibility of counterattacking.

Both understood this point clearly. Pei Zichen looked at Jiang Zhaoxue’s worried expression and reminded her, “Yaoyao, this is already the best method. There are risks no matter what.”

To fight—any method had the possibility of failure. Right now, entering the physical body and having others help him isolate and transform the resentful power was already the most stable method.

Not to fight—after three months when the Book of Fate finished recovering, that might truly be his death.

Jiang Zhaoxue understood clearly, but her mind kept replaying the moment when he collapsed into her arms at the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion.

Pei Zichen saw her unease and stepped forward, gently grasping her hand.

Jiang Zhaoxue looked up at him to see the young man lower his eyes. Moonlight fell on this purple-black robed Demon Lord, fell on his thick lashes. His features appeared exceptionally gentle as he said softly, “Yaoyao, you must trust me, and also trust yourself.”

Trust that he could condense a divine core in one day.

Also trust that she could help him transform the resentful energy.

The unease in her heart slowly dissipated upon hearing these words. She looked at the face before her, recalling all his past actions.

This person had actually loved someone without his Emotional Soul.

Unable to sense and confirm love, yet still holding love in his heart—in the end, condensing a divine core, he definitely could do it.

Jiang Zhaoxue took a deep breath, lowered her eyes, and after thinking for a moment, proactively stepped forward and buried herself in Pei Zichen’s embrace.

Seeing this, Pei Zichen couldn’t help but laugh, “What’s wrong?”

“I’m giving you strength!”

Jiang Zhaoxue said through gritted teeth, “When your Emotional Soul recovers and you remember this moment, you must remember the feeling of me holding you right now!”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen smiled with pressed lips, “How could I not remember?”

He smoothed Jiang Zhaoxue’s hair, speaking gently, “Female Lord, I’ve always remembered.”

Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t speak. She only pressed against Pei Zichen’s embrace, absorbing the warmth from his body, her state of mind slowly calming in the cool night.

Pei Zichen sensed the gradually settling emotions of the person in his arms. After a long while, he said, “Let’s go find Tianjiao first and discuss the arrangements for what comes next.”

Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue knew this was right. Though Ye Tianjiao seemed carefree, he had at least lived a thousand years longer than them. Discussing many matters with him might yield better solutions.

The two went to find Ye Tianjiao and generally explained the situation to him. Ye Tianjiao listened while grimacing and slapping his thigh throughout. After hearing everything, he finally couldn’t help but curse loudly, “I knew Song Wulan definitely had a backup plan! To actually seal your Emotional Soul. If he’s so capable, why didn’t he just directly extract your Emotional Soul back then?!”

“Extracting it would be too easily discovered.” Pei Zichen reminded him, “If I discovered it early, I would have found a solution early. He couldn’t have kept it hidden until today. Let’s talk about serious matters.” Pei Zichen looked up at Ye Tianjiao, “Within three months, I’ll find an appropriate opportunity to fuse with my physical body. At that time, you and the Female Lord will help me transform the resentful power…”

“No way!”

Hearing this, Ye Tianjiao immediately refused, “Sister and I don’t have that capability…”

“The Resentment Transformation Pool.”

Jiang Zhaoxue spoke. Ye Tianjiao looked somewhat confused. Looking up, he saw Jiang Zhaoxue say earnestly, “In ancient times there was a formation called the Resentment Transformation Pool. With four cultivators at Great Ascension Stage or above stationed at the four cardinal positions simultaneously transforming resentful power, it can forcibly transform resentful power at a million-fold speed.”

“So what?”

Ye Tianjiao immediately said, “Where am I going to find four Great Ascension Stage cultivators…”

“You and I, my brother, my father.” Jiang Zhaoxue spoke immediately.

Hearing this, Pei Zichen looked up in shock, couldn’t help saying, “Female Lord, there’s no need to drag Penglai into this…”

“The Book of Fate has never been just about you alone,” Jiang Zhaoxue turned to look at Pei Zichen, speaking earnestly, “It has controlled this world for tens of thousands of years and has long grown accustomed to everyone bowing before it. Over these three thousand years, countless sects have been destroyed for not believing in it. If it obtains your power, it won’t spare me, nor will it spare Penglai.”

Hearing this, Pei Zichen slowly calmed down. Jiang Zhaoxue patiently explained, “I’m helping you not just for you. The Book of Fate and I—it’s long been a fight to the death.”

From a thousand years ago when it used that catastrophe in the Mortal Realm to ruin her father’s karma, it had set its sights on Penglai. Pei Zichen becoming a god was currently the best opportunity to annihilate the Book of Fate.

Pei Zichen understood Jiang Zhaoxue’s meaning. He pressed his lips together without speaking.

Seeing his expression, Jiang Zhaoxue acted as if she didn’t know and turned to look at Ye Tianjiao, “Tonight I’ll notify my parents and brother to discuss with them. After confirmation, Pei Zichen and I will go into seclusion. You’ll be responsible for communicating with Penglai and establishing the Resentment Transformation Pool. It must be completed within three months. At the same time, Penglai disciples and the Jiuyou Realm will jointly establish defenses to prevent any accidents.”

“Alright.”

Ye Tianjiao nodded. Jiang Zhaoxue went over the details with Ye Tianjiao again and gave him a list of needed materials. After confirming there were no issues, she stood up and said straightforwardly, “Then tonight I’ll contact people. After making contact, you can arrange the rest. I’ll take Pei Zichen into seclusion.”

“Fine.”

Ye Tianjiao looked at the list and nodded, waving his hand, “You two go ahead.”

Seeing his seriousness, Jiang Zhaoxue turned to look at Pei Zichen beside her, “Do you have anything else to instruct?”

Pei Zichen shook his head. Jiang Zhaoxue then pulled Pei Zichen’s hand and walked out straightforwardly.

As she walked, she curiously asked, “Should we go into seclusion at your cultivation place, or in the sleeping chambers?”

Pei Zichen paused. He wasn’t quite sure what Jiang Zhaoxue meant by “seclusion,” so he honestly replied, “Let’s go to the cultivation place.”

Jiang Zhaoxue nodded and had him lead the way.

Pei Zichen then led her toward his cultivation cave dwelling.

When they arrived at Pei Zichen’s cultivation cave, Jiang Zhaoxue looked around and saw this was completely an ice cave. The only warmth was the fox fur and soft blankets on the ice bed.

Jiang Zhaoxue glanced around and couldn’t help but gasp, “You cultivate in this kind of place?”

“Cold ice calms the mind.”

Pei Zichen was somewhat embarrassed. This ice and snow wasn’t ordinary ice—even Jiang Zhaoxue’s immortal body would feel the cold.

He thought for a moment, then raised his hand and pointed. A brazier appeared beside them, and the room immediately warmed up. The ice and snow showed no signs of melting. Pei Zichen turned to look at Jiang Zhaoxue, still seeming to find it inappropriate, and finally said, “How about we go back instead…”

“No need.”

Jiang Zhaoxue boldly went inside, wandering around his cave dwelling and examining it, “Seclusion should be in a proper seclusion place. No need to run around everywhere. This is quite fresh.”

With that, she went to the cave behind that was emitting hot air and discovered a hot spring. Delighted, she said, “Ah, there really is a hot spring.”

Some cultivators liked to practice asceticism, but most cultivators’ cave dwellings would have spiritual springs.

Where mountains and water meet, with both yin and yang complete—that was a blessed cave heaven.

Jiang Zhaoxue’s mind had been heavy all day. Seeing the hot spring made her somewhat happy. She instructed, “Go get some clothes. I’ll soak for a bit first.”

Pei Zichen was somewhat surprised by her sudden enthusiasm but still responded and went out.

He knew her temperament. He took a wide, comfortable silk sleeping robe from his cosmos pouch, hung it on the screen for Jiang Zhaoxue, then went outside to wait.

Jiang Zhaoxue soaked into the water and sent a message to her father. After briefly explaining the situation, she said earnestly, “Father, this matter concerns the future of the True Immortal Realm and the survival of Penglai. I hope Father will consider it seriously.”

After finishing, Jiang Zhaoxue placed the transmission jade token beside her and closed her eyes to wait for a while.

Not long after, the transmission jade token lit up, displaying Jiang Pingsheng’s answer.

“Your brother and I will depart tomorrow to begin constructing a transmission formation between the two locations.”

Seeing this answer, Jiang Zhaoxue felt relieved. She got up wearing her robe, and when she walked into the room, she felt warmth rushing toward her.

The brazier Pei Zichen had lit was burning vigorously, making the entire room warm and cozy. Pei Zichen sat to the side in a daze. He didn’t notice her coming out, seemingly thinking about something.

Jiang Zhaoxue cleared her throat lightly. Only then did Pei Zichen come back to his senses. His gaze swept over her to see Jiang Zhaoxue wearing only a single shirt, loosely tied with a sash, leaning against the cave wall as she pointed inside, “Going to wash?”

What washing at this time would lead to was self-evident.

Pei Zichen’s face clearly showed he had many things to say, but after struggling for a moment, he still stood up and walked inside.

After he went in, Jiang Zhaoxue listened to the sound of water and got onto the ice bed, reclining on the fox fur and ice pillow, fiddling with the jade beads hanging from her waist sash, thinking about something.

A’Nan finally spoke up carefully, “Master.”

“Mm?”

Jiang Zhaoxue responded. A’Nan said in a low voice, “With so many things going on, you’re pushing everything onto Ye Tianjiao while bringing Little Pei here under the guise of seclusion to enjoy yourself. Isn’t that rather unprincipled?”

Jiang Zhaoxue: “…”

“Fool.”

Jiang Zhaoxue took a deep breath and couldn’t help cursing, “I’m preparing for Pei Zichen to condense his divine core. Even if his Emotional Soul emerges, it still needs nourishment. The more he senses, the greater the probability he’ll condense a divine core when his Emotional Soul’s seal is lifted. What are you thinking!”

“Oh.”

A’Nan pretended to understand, “Got it.”

Jiang Zhaoxue rolled her eyes without speaking, though her face still couldn’t help but feel somewhat hot. She said in a low voice, “Just go to sleep.”

“I’ll definitely sleep in a bit.” A’Nan said, then asked in a low voice, “But I have a question. After listening all day today, my brain is still fuzzy. What exactly is going on?”

“Fuzzy about what?” Jiang Zhaoxue glanced at her. A’Nan pondered, “I just can’t figure out what Li Xiuji wants to do, what Song Wulan wants to do. And what’s the relationship with the book? Is the plot we saw in the book the same as the current plot?”

“From when I advanced to Seventh Realm fate master, naturally the plot became different from the book.”

Jiang Zhaoxue’s tone was flat as she organized her thoughts, “You should view our current world and the book separately. It’s like two parallel worlds. Though they’re the same people with the same personalities, the development is completely different.”

“Then what’s the development of our world?”

A’Nan couldn’t figure it out, “My brain is about to explode. Let’s start from a thousand years ago. A thousand years ago, the Book of Fate obtained Song Wulan’s body. Li Xiuji became a demon god. You gave Li Xiuji a divination stick, allowing him to survive two hundred years ago and learn the location of the Tianji Lingyu. He decided to use the Five Divine Artifacts to become a god, so he reincarnated as Pei Zichen to find the artifacts.”

A’Nan continued, jumping ahead, “And Song Wulan met Pei Zichen and you in the past. To ensure he obtained the body, he didn’t kill you and Pei Zichen, only sealing Pei Zichen’s Emotional Soul. After that, why didn’t he kill you and Pei Zichen?”

A’Nan couldn’t understand, “According to what Shen Yuqing said, for people who deviate from destiny, it can obtain sufficient power to kill them. Why didn’t it immediately kill you?”

“First, it may not necessarily be able to kill us.”

Jiang Zhaoxue reminded A’Nan, “Haven’t you noticed? Except for Shen Yuqing who willingly offered himself, every person whose fortune it seized essentially made mistakes themselves. They violated the law of karmic retribution. Ye Wenzhi harmed the common people of Taizhou City, Song Wuya harmed the common people of Shu. They all directly or indirectly became tainted with the karma of innocents. If Pei Zichen and I haven’t violated karma by harming others, can it really kill us so easily?”

This made A’Nan pause, couldn’t help saying, “You’re saying Shen Yuqing lied…”

“Not lied.” Jiang Zhaoxue interrupted him, “Just incomplete knowledge.”

A’Nan realized, then said, “But if that’s the case, what do we have to fear from it?”

“Because, what if it actually can directly kill us? Then if it allows us to live, it’s for a second purpose.”

“What purpose?”

“The power in our bodies, after we’re ‘erased by the Heavenly Dao,’ will transfer to it.” Jiang Zhaoxue thought, “Just like it seizes others’ fortune, it can also seize others’ power. If its ultimate goal is to become a god, then the stronger Pei Zichen and I are, the more power it gets after killing us.”

“Wow, then actually the best target for it would be the Pei Zichen from the book.”

A’Nan spoke up. Jiang Zhaoxue froze. She turned to look as A’Nan turned his little head, puzzled, “Isn’t it? Look, whether it can only kill people who violate the rule of karmic retribution, or it can kill anyone who violates the destiny it writes, the Pei Zichen in the book is someone it can kill. And the Pei Zichen in the book is obviously much stronger than now, right?”

Listening, Jiang Zhaoxue recalled the strength of the Pei Zichen in the book.

The Pei Zichen in the book went to the Jiuyou Realm with his physical body. She couldn’t be certain whether the Demon Lord Pei Zichen at that time had fused with the divine shell, but she could be certain that when attacking the True Immortal Realm in the book, Pei Zichen was obviously much more powerful than now.

He could use the Five Divine Artifacts. In the book, when he trampled the Lingjian Immortal Pavilion…

It seemed the Book of Fate was also struck down by him?

Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t be certain. If it were before, she would have unhesitatingly believed that Pei Zichen would definitely win.

Because he was the protagonist, possessing absolute fortune and a halo.

But now she couldn’t be certain.

She suddenly realized that all of what she thought was Pei Zichen’s good luck was man-made.

All the divine artifacts recognizing their master for no reason were things people had deliberately changed. The actual Pei Zichen… or rather, starting from Li Xiuji, his luck had actually always been very poor.

What kind of life would he have lived without the Book of Fate?

Jiang Zhaoxue was somewhat curious. She couldn’t help taking out copper coins and the Qiankun divination sticks to divine. But after trying several times and changing various tools, there was no result.

Pei Zichen’s destiny was long beyond what her level could spy on. No matter how she divined, it was all chaos.

While she was concentrating, Pei Zichen finished bathing and walked out.

He also wore a single shirt as he walked into the room, seeing the woman sitting on the bed divining from afar. For a moment, he didn’t dare approach.

His heart vaguely knew what she meant by bringing him to “seclusion,” yet he wasn’t quite certain. After all, important matters were at hand. He was also afraid he was overthinking things. If she discovered he was impatient, that would also be embarrassing.

He could only clear his throat lightly to remind Jiang Zhaoxue to give a hint.

But Jiang Zhaoxue was immersed in divination, shaking copper coins in a tortoise shell without speaking.

Seeing this, Pei Zichen helplessly stepped forward, quietly sitting at the edge of Jiang Zhaoxue’s bed. He watched her shake the copper coins from the tortoise shell, arrange them for a long while, calculate with her fingers for a long while. Seeing her brow furrowed tight, he finally said, “What are you calculating?”

Jiang Zhaoxue had heard him come early on. She wasn’t surprised when he spoke. She sighed, resignedly picked up the copper coins, tossed them back and forth in her hand as she leaned back against the ice pillow. Supporting her entire body with her elbows, she said aimlessly, “Calculating your fate.”

“My fate?”

Pei Zichen watched her lie down, her garment stretching with the movement. Her fair, smooth calves were half-exposed. Following up from her calves, the silk garment clung to her curves. At her chest, it loosely revealed half a view of scenery.

He watched the copper coins rise and fall in her hands, his voice deepening a bit as he continued, “Why suddenly calculating my fate?”

“I used to think your fate was very good, thinking you were the protagonist in the book, heaven’s favored son, having everything. But today I suddenly realized that a person’s life really depends on effort for everything. Li Xiuji schemed for so long just to give you what seemed like smooth sailing. So your luck isn’t that great either. But I remember that whether you or Li Xiuji, your fortune was very good. So I wanted to know what your fate would be like without the Book of Fate’s interference.”

With that, Jiang Zhaoxue turned her head to see Pei Zichen had been watching her all along. Her movements paused slightly.

She suddenly realized something and laughed lightly while tossing copper coins, “What is the Emperor looking at?”

Seeing her smile, Pei Zichen knew she was teasing him. Not wanting her to be smug, and also finding it somewhat hard to say, he let his gaze fall on the copper coins in her hand, saying with feigned indifference, “Looking at the Female Lord’s copper coins.”

“Oh?”

Jiang Zhaoxue raised her brow, lightly exploring her foot into his sleeve, “What’s so interesting about my copper coins?”

“The Female Lord has three copper coins. One is different from the other two.”

This made Jiang Zhaoxue pause, as if realizing what Pei Zichen was talking about. Somewhat embarrassed, she cleared her throat lightly, “You mean this…”

“I suddenly remembered,” Pei Zichen’s features grew somewhat gentle, “that year during New Year’s, the Female Lord gave me a copper coin as lucky money. It wasn’t taken from these three copper coins, was it?”

“That’s right.” Jiang Zhaoxue immediately said, “What, too little?”

“No.” Pei Zichen smiled and shook his head, “Whatever you give is all very good.”

“Then it’s settled,” Jiang Zhaoxue said, beckoning to him. Pei Zichen sensibly leaned over. Jiang Zhaoxue reached out to embrace him, saying softly, “From now on, you’ll spend New Year’s with me. Every year that passes, I’ll give you one copper coin as lucky money, okay?”

“Just one copper coin?” Pei Zichen’s hand explored to her waist, asking softly, “I’ve given the Female Lord many things. Won’t you give a bit more?”

“Didn’t you just say whatever I give is all good?”

Jiang Zhaoxue asked knowingly. Pei Zichen laughed.

“Just now was just now. Now is now.”

“Pei Zichen.” Jiang Zhaoxue held tight to the person on her body, gasping lowly, “Do you know why I asked you to come?”

“I know.” Pei Zichen kissed her gently, “The Female Lord wants me to be happy.”

Jiang Zhaoxue: “…”

“That’s not what I meant.” Jiang Zhaoxue gritted her teeth, “I want you to have more things to remember when your Emotional Soul recovers.”

With that, Pei Zichen felt spiritual energy carrying memories and emotions unique to Jiang Zhaoxue slowly flowing over.

Pei Zichen froze for a moment, then heard Jiang Zhaoxue buried in his embrace, speaking lowly, “Pei Zichen, there are some words I can’t say aloud, but I want you to know.”

“If you can’t sense your own emotions, then sense mine.”

“Look from my perspective at what a worthy person Pei Zichen is to love.”

Pei Zichen stiffened without speaking. He felt vigorous emotions flowing into his body, seeing himself through Jiang Zhaoxue’s eyes—seeing the youth who appeared with both ice and fire in her eyes, seeing the youth who said “mayflies live and die in a day” in the water dungeon, the youth who carried her on the snowy mountain saying “I see what Master’s wife desires,” the youth who clung tightly to her in the space-time rift, the young man who sensed and described his features bit by bit when she was blind, the young man who always appeared before her first and never let her down…

He was surprised to discover that the Pei Zichen in these eyes was so gentle and bright, like a moon, gently yet coolly radiating brilliance.

He was stiff and at a loss. Jiang Zhaoxue proactively embraced him, saying in a low voice, “This is the Pei Zichen in my eyes.”

“I will always cherish such a Pei Zichen.”

The following days, Jiang Zhaoxue was somewhat dazed.

She allowed Pei Zichen to absorb all the fragments from her memory. Sometimes she would be confused about where she was—it might be the past, might be the present.

She looked at her own past from Pei Zichen’s eyes and quickly realized that Pei Zichen was particularly fond of getting to the bottom of that “senior’s” matters.

Every time that “senior” appeared, Pei Zichen would review this memory again and again.

Jiang Zhaoxue sensed something was wrong. Finally one day she reacted, couldn’t help kicking the person away, sat up and said, “What’s your problem? Fixating on Shen Yuqing is one thing, but what’s the point of fixating on an innocent passerby?”

“Innocent?”

Pei Zichen supported himself, calmly rising from the foot of the bed, arranging his garment, saying leisurely, “He even kissed you.”

Jiang Zhaoxue: “…”

This point she couldn’t deny. Somewhat guilty, she still said stubbornly, “If we’re counting like that, there are plenty of people who aren’t innocent. Why are you fixating on him?”

“Other people covet the Female Lord,” Pei Zichen leaned forward, approaching Jiang Zhaoxue’s side, coiling around Jiang Zhaoxue’s shoulder like a snake, saying coolly, “This senior isn’t just that. Moreover, Master calculated the past, yet this senior’s face was never seen. What if one day we meet again and the Female Lord discovers this is her true destined one? What would I do?”

This assumption was too absurd. Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t help laughing in anger, “If you’re worried about this, you might as well worry about Shen Yuqing and me rekindling our old romance. If that karma thread between him and me wasn’t severed, it’s a heaven-ordained marriage. Heaven-ordained marriages continue life after life, meeting world after world. Aren’t you afraid that karma thread will reconnect?”

“If it reconnects, I’ll sever it again.”

Pei Zichen’s tone was cold. Jiang Zhaoxue looked over coldly to see him raise his eyelids, saying coldly, “I’ve defied many heavenly destinies. One more won’t matter.”

Seeing his seriousness, Jiang Zhaoxue was momentarily speechless. She sighed and was about to speak when she felt spiritual energy震动 outside the cave dwelling.

Pei Zichen’s expression grew stern. He raised his hand to wrap Jiang Zhaoxue in a blanket, immediately standing up, “Change your clothes first.”

With that, he stepped outside.

Jiang Zhaoxue stared blankly at the garment on her body for a moment, then reacted. She raised her hand and threw off the blanket, quickly changed clothes and chased after him, couldn’t help saying, “How long can changing clothes take? Wait for me!”

Pei Zichen’s cave dwelling had a corridor leading to the entrance, with a barrier every ten feet.

When Jiang Zhaoxue caught up to him, Pei Zichen had already opened the door. Morning light and cold air fell through the doorway. Ye Tianjiao stood at the door with an anxious face.

Jiang Zhaoxue adjusted her hairpin and paused mid-step. Seeing Ye Tianjiao’s expression, she immediately became serious, “What happened?”

“News brought by Lingjian Immortal Pavilion disciples.”

Ye Tianjiao handed over a blood mirror, his expression grave, “Shen Yuqing has been possessed.”