As soon as Pei Zichen left, the barrier behind them began to tremble.
Jiang Zhaoxue quickly withdrew Yuan Luogong and turned around to see Gujun descending with Jiang Zhaoyue, Zhou Bugang, and the others.
She and Shen Yuqing had set up intercepting formations along the way. Although forcibly breaking through these formations wasn’t difficult, Shen Yuqing had established formations linked to his own life. Breaking through them by force would be equivalent to taking his life, so Gujun didn’t dare advance rashly and had to hold back the others instead.
After wasting considerable effort, they finally arrived before the two of them, but Pei Zichen had already vanished without a trace.
Gujun instantly flew into a rage, frowning as he looked at Shen Yuqing. “Where is he?!”
“Reporting to Master,” Shen Yuqing immediately stepped forward upon hearing this, shielding Jiang Zhaoxue behind him. He knelt before Gujun respectfully and said, “This disciple happened upon Pei Zichen being surrounded just now. Not understanding the circumstances and anxious to save my disciple, I fought with the senior predecessors. While pursuing Pei Zichen to this place, I discovered that Pei Zichen cultivated Jiuyou Realm techniques. Fortunately, Lady Jiang acted decisively and shot nine arrows in succession. The final arrow struck that traitorous disciple directly, knocking him down the mountain cliff. This disciple has committed a grave error. Please punish me, Master!”
“Punish?!” Gujun bit out the question, but for a moment couldn’t curse anything out.
This entire explanation was riddled with holes from beginning to end.
Setting aside the fact that Shen Yuqing had fought against Jiuyou Realm countless times and couldn’t possibly fail to recognize that Pei Zichen was using Jiuyou Realm techniques when he saw him.
Even if he hadn’t recognized it at the time, how could such a major matter as the Immortal Alliance’s siege of Pei Zichen not be communicated to Shen Yuqing?
However, Shen Yuqing insisted on not knowing and took full responsibility. As the Pavilion Master of Lingjian Immortal Pavilion and the Alliance Leader of the Immortal Alliance, even if Gujun argued with him, he couldn’t do so in front of everyone, or it would implicate Lingjian Immortal Pavilion.
So Gujun gritted his teeth and tried to extricate Shen Yuqing from this matter, saying only, “You foolish thing! Is now the time for your soft-heartedness? If Pei Zichen returns to Jiuyou Realm, it would be like releasing a tiger back to the mountains. All disciples, listen to my command.”
Gujun raised his hand in a summoning gesture and first sent his flying sword down the mountain to scout ahead. Sensing the surroundings, he said coldly, “Seal off the border of Jiuyou Realm and search everywhere. Regardless of whether Pei Zichen is innocent or not, his cultivation of Jiuyou Realm techniques is an unforgivable crime. As for you,” Gujun turned his eyes to Shen Yuqing and said through gritted teeth, “indulging your disciple and defying your elders—upon returning today, you will go to the Hall of Heavenly Mandate to receive your punishment!”
“Yes.”
Shen Yuqing seemed to have anticipated this and kowtowed respectfully.
“As for Lady Jiang—”
Gujun’s gaze fell on Jiang Zhaoxue. Jiang Zhaoyue immediately stepped forward, but before she could speak, Jiang Zhaoxue said, “I’ll return to Lingjian Immortal Pavilion with you.”
At these words, everyone froze. Even Shen Yuqing looked up in shock, only to see Jiang Zhaoxue standing calmly in place, looking at Gujun with a smile on her face but coldness in her eyes. “Didn’t you say that Pavilion Master Shen and I are a heaven-ordained marriage? Old Ancestor surely won’t let me leave, so there’s no need to waste words. Let’s all return together, shall we? However, I must ask all the senior predecessors to accompany us,” Jiang Zhaoxue’s gaze swept over those present as she smiled. “Zeyuan and I will renew our contract, which counts as a joyous occasion. It still requires all the senior predecessors to witness it.”
Upon hearing this, everyone looked at each other. After hesitating for a long while, Zhou Bugang was the first to speak up, laughing. “Brother Gujun, Lady Jiang has a point. Why don’t we all go to Lingjian Immortal Pavilion and mooch a cup of celebratory wine?”
Xu Zichen raised his hand in salute, following behind Zhou Bugang, and said to Gujun, “We’ll be intruding.”
Surrounded by everyone, Gujun saw there was no reversing the situation, so he simply nodded. “If you’re all willing to come, it will bring glory to Lingjian Immortal Pavilion. Please.”
With that, everyone followed Gujun to the transmission array.
Upon arriving at Lingjian Immortal Pavilion, Gujun arranged for everyone to disperse and settle in. The Penglai group all stayed at Luo Xia Feng.
After Shen Yuqing settled Jiang Zhaoyue, he brought Jiang Zhaoxue to his own room. Seeing his door, Jiang Zhaoxue stepped inside and walked in. Surveying the surroundings, everything was still as it had been in the past. She raised her hand to brush over the long pillar in the room and laughed mockingly. “In the past, coming to this room involved countless difficulties and obstacles. Now Pavilion Master Shen is voluntarily leading me here. What is this—does Pavilion Master Shen just prefer women without name or status?”
Shen Yuqing’s movements paused. He gripped the whisk in his hand tightly, seeming to suppress his emotions as he said in a low voice, “This is the only place in Lingjian Immortal Pavilion not spied upon by the Book of Fate.”
Jiang Zhaoxue froze, looking up suspiciously, only to hear Shen Yuqing continue instructing her, “I’ll go to the Hall of Heavenly Mandate first. Shortly, a maid will come to change your bedding and tea sets. If you have anything you need to discuss with your brother, have him come here to talk. Tonight I’ll rest in the guest room next door. If anything happens, just call for me.”
“What’s this about the heaven-ordained marriage?” Jiang Zhaoxue suddenly spoke as she saw him about to leave.
Shen Yuqing’s footsteps halted. He heard Jiang Zhaoxue standing behind him say calmly, “You and I were married for two hundred years. In the past, we were never a heaven-ordained marriage. Why does the Book of Fate suddenly claim you and I are heaven-ordained after we dissolved our contract? Are you all lying, or is the Book of Fate…”
“The Book of Fate does not lie!”
Shen Yuqing’s tone became solemn. He turned to look at Jiang Zhaoxue, his expression serious. “Since Lingjian Immortal Pavilion was established, the Book of Fate has never spoken falsely.”
“Yet this heaven-ordained marriage appeared out of nowhere. Do you expect me to believe…”
“It was something I obtained through a request.” Shen Yuqing had no intention of concealing anything. Staring at Jiang Zhaoxue, he said calmly, “I gave the Book of Fate sufficient power, and it fulfilled my wish.”
Jiang Zhaoxue was stunned upon hearing this. She looked Shen Yuqing up and down and couldn’t help asking, “What did you exchange?”
“That is my affair.”
Shen Yuqing looked at the person before him and said earnestly, “You only need to know that the Book of Fate does not lie. You and I are heaven-ordained.”
“In other words, this was all arranged by you.”
Jiang Zhaoxue understood and laughed mockingly. “If that’s the case, why did you still bring me to rescue Pei Zichen? Aren’t you afraid I’ll truly become a Ninth Realm Fate Master? Then all your calculations will come to nothing.”
Shen Yuqing didn’t speak immediately. He held his whisk, looking at the person not far away.
Today she wore white robes with golden patterns in a palace-style long dress, her hair adorned with a golden phoenix hairpin. Her peach blossom makeup made her complexion look excellent, making her appear even more radiant and beautiful.
Like a cluster of peach blossoms blooming perfectly on a branch—when a clear breeze blew, the flowers turned into a sea.
“That’s what Master said.”
He spoke abruptly. Jiang Zhaoxue’s muscles tensed instantly as she heard him say hoarsely, “From the moment I entered Lingjian Immortal Pavilion, he told me I should pull out your claws and break your spine. Only then would you stay by my side forever. But…”
But he couldn’t do it.
From the very beginning, he simply couldn’t do it.
He scolded her for not following the rules, yet never truly taught her those rules.
He had his disciples copy the pavilion regulations for her night after night. He took the blame for her saving Pei Zichen and received punishment in the Hall of Heavenly Mandate. He had once thought it was because of responsibility.
However, seeing the flowers blooming on the branches now, he finally realized that deep in his bones, he loved precisely this kind of person.
He was afraid she would also learn Lingjian Immortal Pavilion’s three thousand pavilion regulations, have her spine shattered by the Soul-Breaking Whip in the Hall of Heavenly Mandate, and ultimately become someone like him.
So even while he scolded her for being untamed in her demonic nature, he never even made her copy the pavilion regulations.
“I wish for you to be Jiang Zhaoxue.”
When he spoke, he had never felt his state of mind so clear. “It’s true that I obtained the heaven-ordained marriage through a request, but the person I sought was Jiang Zhaoxue, absolutely not a puppet whose spine I had broken. I want to keep you by my side—this is who I am. I wish for you to live well—this is also who I am. I desperately want to keep you, but I will also give you what you want.”
“But if I become a Ninth Realm Fate Master, you won’t be able to keep me.”
“Then I won’t keep you.”
In any case, when the moment came that he couldn’t keep her, he would have reached his end too.
When the Book of Fate asked him if he was willing to exchange his fortune for this heaven-ordained marriage, he actually hadn’t been that clear-headed yet.
He had simply been in a daze, watching everything he had painstakingly built since his youth become black and white shadows in that instant. Only she remained vivid and bright in his eyes.
Cultivation, seeking the Dao, prospects, ascension…
He felt tired.
He just wanted to risk everything, to reach out this once in his life for the only thing his heart desperately longed for.
When he came to his senses, the heaven-ordained marriage had been established. His contract with the Book of Fate had been concluded. As long as he and Jiang Zhaoxue formed a dao companion contract again, all his fortune would belong entirely to the Book of Fate.
This was the secret passed down through three thousand years of successive generations at Lingjian Immortal Pavilion.
Legend had it that another person’s fortune entirely belonged to themselves and could not be used by anyone.
But the Book of Fate could.
Fortune willingly offered up could be used by the Book of Fate.
And fortune was a cultivator’s foundation. A cultivator without fortune would easily die in any accident.
This also meant that after he married Jiang Zhaoxue, his days would likely be numbered.
Did he regret it?
When he came to his senses, he was in a daze—surprised, fearful, uneasy. He knelt before Gujun to confess his crime, yet the one thing absent was regret.
She was the sand between his fingers that he desperately wanted to hold onto.
But she was also his early spring on the branches—he wished for her to bloom forever as she was at the beginning.
He kept these words hidden and unspoken. Jiang Zhaoxue frowned.
She studied the young man before her, watching as he lowered his eyes wearily and said softly, “It’s late at night. Sleep.”
With that, he turned and left, heading alone toward the Hall of Heavenly Mandate.
Jiang Zhaoxue watched the young man’s departing back, observing his entire body. Fortune swirled around him, but looking carefully, she could detect the unstable flow of his fortune.
This kind of fortune…
She had seen it on Ye Wenzhi and Song Wuya before.
Seeing this fortune, Jiang Zhaoxue suddenly realized something and called out to Shen Yuqing, “Shen Zeyuan.”
“What is it?”
Shen Yuqing turned around in the corridor. Jiang Zhaoxue looked at him, and after a long while, she suddenly smiled. “I think you know my temperament.”
Shen Yuqing was somewhat confused, only to see Jiang Zhaoxue say warmly, “I can’t bear grievances. Even though this is a second contract formation, it still counts as our wedding ceremony. If it’s done too shabbily, that would damage my dignity.”
These words made Shen Yuqing’s eyes slowly widen as he watched Jiang Zhaoxue curl her lips and say quite seriously, “I must trouble you to invite all the hundred immortal families according to the specifications of our last ceremony. Have the Book of Fate ascend to the hall to preside over our marriage and establish our dao companion contract.”
“You…” Shen Yuqing couldn’t believe it. “You…”
“What,” Jiang Zhaoxue tilted her head, “you won’t even agree to this small condition?”
How could he not agree?
With just this little request, even though he knew there might be deception, still… still, his instinct was to feel this was proper.
Regardless of whether Jiang Zhaoxue raised it or not, this was proper.
He didn’t want to think too deeply. He even felt that Jiang Zhaoxue was right—the biggest problem between them was that he had never truly trusted her in the past.
He trusted Song Qingyin, trusted Master, trusted Mu Jinyue, but had never wholeheartedly trusted her. So now, trusting her once, even if deceived, was only proper.
The moment this thought arose, that little bit of doubt was swept away, leaving only the joy of Jiang Zhaoxue’s agreement. He slowly smiled and said softly, “It’s proper. I will arrange this matter. You can rest and recover in peace.”
With that, Shen Yuqing turned and left, walking toward the Hall of Heavenly Mandate.
As soon as Shen Yuqing left, A’Nan became anxious, flapping his wings. “Master, what are you doing! You don’t think of a way out but instead want to make a grand affair with him. Little Pei will be furious!!”
Hearing A’Nan’s words, Jiang Zhaoxue said nothing. A maid came in to change her bedding and tea sets. Jiang Zhaoxue sat silently, opening her tea bowl and pouring herself a cup of tea.
She desperately tried to sense Pei Zichen’s condition and location, but Lingjian Immortal Pavilion seemed to have a layer of restrictions placed on it. She couldn’t sense Pei Zichen. The only thing she could be certain of was that he shouldn’t have any life-threatening injuries.
If a Fate Servant suffered life-threatening injuries, she would definitely sense it through their connection.
Without life-threatening injuries, although she didn’t know his current situation, Jiang Zhaoxue felt somewhat more at ease and began to consider the current circumstances.
Seeing her sit silently and unmoving, A’Nan couldn’t help but tap her head with his wing. “Master!”
“Enough.”
Jiang Zhaoxue looked up and glared at him, saying in a low voice, “Don’t make noise yet. Let me think.”
“What are you thinking about? You should quickly write a letter to Little Pei explaining the situation. In this current state, working together with united hearts is the most important thing!”
As he spoke, A’Nan went to the side to fetch a brush and placed it in front of Jiang Zhaoxue, urging anxiously, “Quickly, write it now!”
“Don’t worry. The letter won’t get out—it will definitely end up in Gujun’s hands.” Jiang Zhaoxue glanced at A’Nan and surveyed the surroundings, analyzing, “In all of Lingjian Immortal Pavilion, only this place is ‘possibly’ safe.”
“Then what do we do?” A’Nan complained somewhat. “You shouldn’t have let him go!”
“If I didn’t let him go, he would have died.” Jiang Zhaoxue thought aloud. “Tonight Gujun came for him and couldn’t possibly have been unprepared. If the Book of Fate assisted him, with tonight’s situation, he would have died for certain.”
“But he’s the male lead.” A’Nan immediately said, “You should have confidence in him!”
“He’s not the male lead anymore.” Jiang Zhaoxue looked up at A’Nan. A’Nan froze, hearing Jiang Zhaoxue say calmly, “Fate changed long ago.”
Even Mu Jinyue, the female lead, was dead. Where was the book “My Dao Walks Alone” now?
If Mu Jinyue could die, why couldn’t Pei Zichen?
If Pei Zichen didn’t have the so-called protagonist’s halo, how could she put Pei Zichen in tonight’s situation?
Even if Pei Zichen had the so-called protagonist’s halo, she didn’t dare leave him in tonight’s situation.
She had gambled against heaven her entire life, countless times, but this once, she didn’t want to gamble.
“But your words were too harsh…” A’Nan muttered. “Little Pei was heartbroken.”
“If he wasn’t heartbroken, how would he leave? He figured out from the start that Shen Yuqing coerced me. If I told him I was unwilling in this matter, how could he possibly leave? Moreover, what I said was the truth,” Jiang Zhaoxue lowered her eyes. “At the beginning, I truly only pitied him.”
And afterward, perhaps it was affection, yet it was also careful, burdened-with-lies affection.
She herself couldn’t distinguish whether there was more pity, more guilt, or more love.
“If he stayed in the True Immortal Realm, it would make things difficult for me instead. Especially…” Jiang Zhaoxue pressed her lips together tightly and said with difficulty, “If my father reaches a desperate situation.”
If they could work together to save her father and she could quickly advance to become a Ninth Realm Fate Master, that would be fine.
But if Pei Zichen stayed, not to mention the danger for a Jiuyou Realm demonic cultivator in the True Immortal Realm—Penglai might not be willing to shelter him—even if they overcame all obstacles for him to stay, once her father was beyond medical help, every time she looked at Pei Zichen, it would become torment.
Taking his life to become a Ninth Realm Fate Master to save her father wasn’t right, but as a child, knowing there was a way to save her father but not doing it would also be painful.
“It’s better to let him go first. Jiuyou Realm is more suitable for his cultivation. In the book, he also achieved great things in Jiuyou Realm. After I save my father and don’t see him as a piece of fat meat anymore, I’ll go find him.”
“But who knows when that will be.”
A’Nan felt despair at these words.
Jiang Zhaoxue lowered her eyes, seeming to already have a plan. “In a few days.”
Hearing this, A’Nan paused. Then he immediately realized something was wrong and turned his head suspiciously, asking curiously, “Are you planning to do something?”
Seeing A’Nan catch on, Jiang Zhaoxue glanced sideways at him.
A’Nan suddenly realized and said excitedly, “Oh, I know!! You returning to Lingjian Immortal Pavilion and having Shen Yuqing invite everyone to witness—it’s all part of your plan!”
“Returning to Lingjian Immortal Pavilion wasn’t part of it. I simply didn’t want to make things difficult for my brother.”
Jiang Zhaoxue spoke honestly.
Gujun had gone to such great lengths to capture people—he couldn’t possibly let her go.
Penglai should avoid involvement in Pei Zichen’s matter if possible. She had already implicated Penglai too much; she couldn’t cause more trouble for Penglai.
“But just now Shen Yuqing reminded me of something.”
“What?”
“He said the heaven-ordained marriage was exchanged with the Book of Fate. He gave the Book of Fate sufficient power,” Jiang Zhaoxue took a sip of tea, her expression calm. “But I observed that his spiritual power hasn’t changed. Instead, his fortune is fluctuating. What do you think he exchanged with the Book of Fate?”
“Fortune…” A’Nan murmured, then realized, “But isn’t fortune supposed to be unusable by others?”
Fortune was truly the power of heavenly dao. Each person’s fortune increased or decreased—aside from what was innate—only through actions. Accumulating good deeds increased it, or if one’s virtue didn’t match one’s fortune, the fortune would naturally dissipate.
By principle, it couldn’t be transferred, only shared. For example, helping someone with great fortune made it easy to be tainted by their fortune and have good luck.
Jiang Zhaoxue had always believed this in the past, until she met Ye Wenzhi. This person of seven lifetimes of virtue had his fortune stripped away because he helped Zhuang Yan harm an entire city. As a result, because she saved people and Ye Wenzhi believed in her, Ye Wenzhi’s fortune transferred to her.
Afterward, Song Wuya was the same.
After these two people’s fortunes moved to her, she realized that fortune could be transferred.
“A’Nan, have you noticed a commonality?”
Jiang Zhaoxue murmured. A’Nan looked puzzled. “Hm?”
“Actually, since we returned to Su Guangji and met Ye Wenzhi, Song Wuya, Li Xiuji, including the current Shen Yuqing—every single one of them seems to have someone standing behind them. That person uses every means possible to make them lose the right to possess their fortune.”
Zhuang Yan deceived Ye Wenzhi into committing evil.
Song Wuya was forced by Consort Zhao to sacrifice two cities.
Li Xiuji was tormented by difficulties his entire life, but he never broke his bottom line until the very end.
And now Shen Yuqing…
Exchanging with the Book of Fate to disrupt another person’s life—wasn’t this a form of evil?
Committing evil while voluntarily offering sacrifice.
How was this different from Ye Wenzhi and Song Wuya back then?
“Suppose my reasoning is correct. This would mean fortune can be plundered through schemes. To plunder fortune, first you must make that person lose the right to possess this great fortune, and second, you must make them willingly offer up their fortune. If I hadn’t been there back then, perhaps Ye Wenzhi’s and Song Wuya’s fortunes would have gone to that person. So who do you think that person is?”
“Surely…” A’Nan stammered. “Surely it can’t be the Book of Fate?”
“Why not?”
Jiang Zhaoxue rubbed the teacup, asking herself, “Because it’s a divine artifact left behind by the Divine Sovereign to record the world’s fate? Because it doesn’t even have a tool spirit, has no emotions, and only displays the fate written by the Divine Sovereign?”
This question stumped A’Nan, but Jiang Zhaoxue continued reasoning, “What if it developed its own thoughts? Shen Yuqing can exchange power with it, meaning they can communicate. If it’s just an emotionless divine artifact without a tool spirit, how did they do it?”
As Jiang Zhaoxue spoke, her thoughts became clearer. “But if it developed a tool spirit, an emotional tool spirit, would what it says still necessarily be true? It claims a heaven-ordained marriage can save the True Immortal Realm, claims Shen Yuqing and I are heaven-ordained—is it still true?”
“I understand!”
A’Nan suddenly grasped Jiang Zhaoxue’s line of thinking. “If we can prove the Book of Fate has a tool spirit, that proves it has selfish motives. What it says might not come true.”
“Most importantly,” Jiang Zhaoxue thought, her eyes carrying coldness, “if the Book of Fate can truly plunder fortune, after so many years, it couldn’t have only targeted these few people. This means it’s the place storing the most fortune. Rather than the True Immortal Realm going far afield looking for divine artifacts, heaven-ordained marriages, and Ninth Realm Fate Masters, why not just kill the Book of Fate directly?”
“How to kill it?”
A’Nan was curious.
Jiang Zhaoxue thought for a moment, then raised her hand to materialize Yuan Luogong.
Yuan Luogong lay flat in her palm, playing dead. Jiang Zhaoxue flicked it once and reminded, “Playing dead won’t help. I know you’re awake.”
“Oh my dear ancestor!”
The Yuan Luo tool spirit leapt out from Yuan Luogong’s body, saying urgently, “What do you want to do?”
“Let me ask you something.” Jiang Zhaoxue looked up at him. “Can you harm the Book of Fate?”
This question stumped Yuan Luogong. Yuan Luogong hesitated. “This… harming it is possible, but… if I harm it, I’m afraid something will happen to you.”
“Hm?” Jiang Zhaoxue looked puzzled. “What do you mean?”
“The Book of Fate was transformed from the Divine Sovereign’s heart pages. It has no tool spirit and operates entirely in this world through the divine artifact’s own abilities. Under normal circumstances, it cannot attack others—this is a restriction the Divine Sovereign placed on it. But if someone tries to attack it, that would be defying heavenly fate. The Book of Fate can then break through the Divine Sovereign’s limitations and rise up in counterattack. Its power is comparable to the Divine Sovereign. Even if you and Pei Zichen joined forces, you would be nothing but ants before it. If you harm it, you will certainly die.”
“But if I can harm it, the power stored in its magical artifact will leak out, correct?”
Jiang Zhaoxue pressed on. Yuan Luo nodded.
“That’s natural. Before it activates its power, it’s just an ordinary divine artifact. You only need to pierce its artifact core as a divine artifact, and its power will leak out.”
“Including fortune?”
“Including fortune.”
Hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue had a clear understanding. After a long silence, she nodded. “I understand.”
“Wait,” Yuan Luo couldn’t quite comprehend. He asked in confusion, “What do you understand?”
Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t speak. She only turned to look out the window.
After half a night of rain, it had long since cleared outside. Humidity drifted in from the window. She quietly watched the night scenery and mountain shadows. After drinking the last sip of cold tea from her cup, she sent a message to Jiang Zhaoyue telling him to rest well and they would discuss other matters tomorrow. Then she got up and entered the bathing room, saying in a low voice, “Let’s sleep.”
After a simple wash, she returned to bed. The moment her whole body lay down, she felt exhaustion surge up.
However, she couldn’t quite fall asleep. She kept her eyes wide open in the night, looking at the oppressively dark sky. A’Nan beside her said softly, “Master, what are you thinking about?”
“I’m thinking…” Jiang Zhaoxue murmured. “Where is Pei Zichen?”
Where was he?
Were his injuries severe?
But thinking of Pei Zichen’s abilities, her heart became clear—he should be fine.
As long as he escaped from the Immortal Alliance’s siege, with the vastness of this world, no one would be able to do anything to him anymore.
As long as she pulled the Book of Fate down from its altar, its words would no longer be golden rules, and he would be safe.
Jiang Zhaoxue’s mind was in chaos as she drifted off to sleep in confusion.
When she woke the next day, Jiang Zhaoyue came to find her early.
Jiang Zhaoxue invited Jiang Zhaoyue into the room to sit. Jiang Zhaoyue swept his gaze over the room’s furnishings, his expression displeased as he said coldly, “Why not go to the main hall?”
“Feel the flow of spiritual energy here.”
Jiang Zhaoxue reminded Jiang Zhaoyue. Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhaoyue frowned. After sensing for a moment, he finally discovered that within the entire space of spiritual energy flow, this place was a complete “black hole” with no spiritual energy activity whatsoever.
Fortune, spiritual energy… any power at all avoided this room.
Jiang Zhaoyue was somewhat surprised. Jiang Zhaoxue then set up an emergency dao barrier and covered it with Shanhe Zhong, smiling as she pushed the teacup toward Jiang Zhaoyue and said patiently, “This is the only place in Lingjian Immortal Pavilion not spied upon by the Book of Fate.”
Hearing Jiang Zhaoxue mention the Book of Fate, Jiang Zhaoyue couldn’t help but ask, “Why bring up this object?”
“Brother,” Jiang Zhaoxue spoke slowly, as if recalling the past, “tell me, when did the True Immortal Realm begin to obey the Book of Fate’s every word?”
“Because all the sects that didn’t heed the Book of Fate’s advice are gone.”
Jiang Zhaoyue’s tone was flat as he spoke of this history known to everyone over the past three thousand years. “Back then, the Book of Fate said the True Immortal Realm would face great calamity, which is why it appeared in the world. Over these three thousand years, most sects that didn’t follow its advice disappeared, while those that remained mostly prospered by obeying the Book of Fate’s words. Even just to show gratitude, they should listen to it.”
“So last night you weren’t in a hurry to come find me.”
Jiang Zhaoxue hit the nail on the head. Jiang Zhaoyue fell silent.
After experiencing so much last night, by rights he should have immediately come to find Jiang Zhaoxue to discuss how to respond. Yet he hadn’t hurried over, which already showed his attitude.
“Penglai…” Jiang Zhaoyue rarely showed such dejection as he said hoarsely, “Penglai… needs Father.”
Jiang Pingsheng was Penglai’s pillar. Before Jiang Zhaoyue fully matured, with Jiang Pingsheng there, others wouldn’t dare rashly invade Penglai.
No matter how hard Jiang Zhaoyue worked, he was only a few hundred years old after all—just at the Mahayana Stage. Though this was considered top-tier in the entire cultivation world, facing behemoths like the other five great sects, he was still too young.
However, exchanging Jiang Zhaoxue’s marriage for Penglai’s stability was, for Jiang Zhaoyue, also a kind of humiliation.
Jiang Zhaoxue listened and nodded. “I was thinking the same thing.”
“Yaoyao…” Jiang Zhaoyue’s tone carried difficulty as he said with hardship, “Wait for me…”
“So I think it’s better to treat the root cause rather than just the symptoms. Brother,” Jiang Zhaoxue reached out her hand and gently grasped Jiang Zhaoyue’s, saying earnestly, “Send all of Penglai’s life-saving elixirs and miraculous medicines here.”
“What do you want to do?”
Jiang Zhaoyue’s instinct told him something was wrong as he looked at Jiang Zhaoxue in shock.
Jiang Zhaoxue smiled but didn’t answer. She only patted his hand and said seriously, “Just prepare. Also, help me inquire about Pei Zichen’s situation and confirm whether he went to Jiuyou Realm.”
“No.”
Jiang Zhaoyue shook his head and immediately said, “News came last night—he was discovered near Penglai by an Immortal Alliance spirit scout.”
Immortal Alliance spirit scouts were eyes the Immortal Alliance placed everywhere, responsible for transmitting intelligence to the Alliance.
Being discovered near Penglai in such a short time meant he had used the talisman she gave him—he no longer had any other means to protect himself.
This made Jiang Zhaoxue’s heart tighten.
Jiang Zhaoyue saw her thoughts were on Pei Zichen and softly consoled her, “Don’t worry. His skills are extraordinary. Even I can’t fathom his depths. That day when we sieged him, he didn’t even truly draw his sword. As long as he doesn’t run into those old monsters, no one outside can do anything to him.”
Jiang Zhaoxue knew what Jiang Zhaoyue said was true. She nodded and forced herself to set her worries aside.
After the siblings discussed for a while, Jiang Zhaoyue got up to leave. Jiang Zhaoxue began to confine herself to the room, obediently waiting for the contract formation.
Though the contract formation wasn’t a small matter, it still wasn’t a wedding after all. Everyone feared delays would bring changes, so within just a few days, Lingjian Immortal Pavilion was ready.
The night before, Shen Yuqing brought ceremonial clothes for Jiang Zhaoxue to try on. Jiang Zhaoxue put on the red ceremonial dress and sat before the mirror, watching Shen Yuqing select a hair crown for her in the mirror’s reflection. She couldn’t help but feel irritated and said coldly, “You and I aren’t marrying for the first time. Wearing wedding clothes again—aren’t we just giving people something to laugh at?”
“Since we’ve invited all the families to witness, naturally there must be proper ceremony,” Shen Yuqing seemed to have prepared his explanation early on as he selected hairpins for her and responded softly, “If you and I both feel this is remarrying and shouldn’t be treated with care, then inviting people to come from afar would be somewhat inexcusable.”
This reasoning made sense. Jiang Zhaoxue didn’t want to argue further with him. She only stared at the two of them in the mirror and confirmed the procedure. “At the end, when forming the contract, must we form it before the Book of Fate?”
“Yes.”
Shen Yuqing seemed completely unaware of anything unusual, immersed in this compensatory ceremony as he said softly, “I’ve invited the Book of Fate. When the time comes, I’ll first use the Book of Fate to help you and Pei Zichen break the Fate Servant contract, then we’ll form our contract.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhaoxue’s heart relaxed greatly.
What she worried about most was the Fate Servant contract’s effect on Pei Zichen. She had been thinking of ways to handle it, but now that Shen Yuqing brought it up himself, she immediately felt relieved. Remembering how he had been single-mindedly intent on inheriting Lingjian Immortal Pavilion’s affairs back then, she instinctively gave him a hard time, mocking, “Then will you return to Penglai with me?”
Shen Yuqing paused. Only then did Jiang Zhaoxue remember he had just helped her, and felt there was no need to pursue verbal victories. She immediately said, “Oh, I was just speaking casually…”
“I will.”
But Shen Yuqing spoke with certainty. He raised his eyes to look at himself and Jiang Zhaoxue in the mirror and said softly, “When the time comes, Axue, take me back with you.”
His expression was too serious. Jiang Zhaoxue looked up warily but didn’t respond.
Her gaze fell on the whip scars on his arm visible through his sleeve—scars she had seen before.
The Soul-Breaking Whip of the Hall of Heavenly Mandate. When he was young, she had often seen such marks on his body.
Saving Pei Zichen was such a major matter—Gujun couldn’t possibly ignore it. At this moment, looking at the Soul-Breaking Whip marks and his pale complexion, she vaguely saw glimpses of his younger self.
She remained silent. Shen Yuqing selected a golden hairpin for her, confirmed tomorrow’s schedule, then bid Jiang Zhaoxue farewell.
When the next day came, Jiang Zhaoxue woke early to the sounds of cranes calling and phoenixes flying outside. Lanterns and decorations were everywhere, and maids filed in to serve her as she put on her ceremonial dress.
This day was supposed to be rainy, but after Shen Yuqing used his sword to disperse the rain in the early morning, it became clear skies.
After putting on her ceremonial dress, Jiang Zhaoxue mounted the crane palanquin and headed toward the front mountain.
Guests crowded the front mountain. Jiang Zhaoxue lowered her eyes to look, feeling as if it were like two hundred years ago. But back then, she remembered feeling nervous, joyful, and excited, her emotions churning as she kept wondering what Shen Yuqing would look like that day.
However, at this moment her heart was still as water. She only calmly checked the things she had brought for today.
She had transformed Yuan Luogong into a dagger and placed it in her sleeve. Protective magical artifacts and talismans were all on her person. Life-saving pills were all placed where they were easiest to reach…
“The Book of Fate is not a killing weapon. If you don’t harm it, it has no offensive capability. Its artifact core that stores energy is on the right side of the pages. Get close to it and pierce me into the right side of its pages. When the time comes, cut as much as you can.”
Yuan Luo was rarely this steady, his tone carrying helplessness. “It’s just that the instant you make your move, it will counterattack. How long you and I can hold out, I don’t know.”
“How about getting Little Pei to help?”
A’Nan, listening to the two of them discuss in the sea of consciousness, still wasn’t willing to give up and urgently said to Jiang Zhaoxue, “Let’s think of a way to run first, then go find Little Pei, and together storm the Hall of Heavenly Mandate and stab the Book of Fate!”
“Don’t!!” Upon hearing this, Yuan Luo immediately became agitated and hurriedly said, “One person is enough to destroy the artifact core. Either way, you die after doing it, so leave the male master for me—I still have a chance to revive, you know!”
As long as the master didn’t die, the tool spirit would always retain a thread of life with the master.
Jiang Zhaoxue heard Yuan Luo’s plan and glanced at him indifferently, only saying, “If you’re so afraid of death, why go along with me?”
“Like I have a choice?”
Yuan Luo looked at her strangely. Jiang Zhaoxue thought about it and nodded. “True, you can’t. But don’t worry.”
Jiang Zhaoxue took out Qiankun Qian and worked hard to shake out a divination stick. Seeing the “Supreme Fortune” on it, Jiang Zhaoxue’s smile emerged. “We should be fine. I just hope Pei Zichen…”
Jiang Zhaoxue’s gaze looked toward the distance, her expression softening slightly. “…is safe and sound.”
As she spoke, the crane palanquin landed before the main hall of the front mountain. Birds harmonized all around, immortal dances swirled, and colored ribbons flew everywhere. Accompanied by the jeering voices of those around her, Jiang Zhaoxue saw a pale white hand with sword calluses extend before her, suppressing both joy and bitterness as it called out softly, “Axue, hold onto me.”
While Lingjian Immortal Pavilion was bustling with activity, red rarely covering the entire mountain, Pei Zichen lay covered in blood beneath a tree, hazily dreaming.
In the dream, he seemed to be walking along a long road. This long road was always falling with moist rain. He walked alone, kept walking and walking, until he was so cold his bones ached—then someone grasped his hand.
That person’s hand was very warm. The moment they held his hand, he no longer felt pain. Only sounds filled the surroundings—at first storytelling voices, fragmented and somewhat unclear.
Later came the rising and falling of human voices, accompanied by gurgling water sounds, calling out confusedly, “I’ll save you!”
This cry of “I’ll save you” pierced through space. In an instant, the world spun. Looking back, he suddenly discovered he seemed to have returned to that year when he was twenty-one, to that first night he got drunk with her.
They sat on the mountain. The wind was clear and the moon bright. Jiang Zhaoxue sat beside him, looking at him with a smile full of meaning.
He asked in a low voice, “Master’s wife… can I always be like this, together with you?”
“Sure.”
Jiang Zhaoxue’s voice echoed in the dreamscape as she reached out and grasped his hand, saying earnestly, “We’ll be together forever.”
The moment the words fell, an arrow pierced through the dream. Pei Zichen suddenly awoke with a start.
Fine rain sprinkled on his face, densely pricking like needles, making his heart ache. He stared blankly at the oppressively dark sky, belatedly coming to his senses.
It had already been five days.
Five days had passed since Jiang Zhaoxue shot that fatal arrow at him.
Five days ago, the Immortal Alliance had already issued wanted notices for him everywhere, attributing all of Jiuyou Realm’s border violations to him, saying he was the one who opened Jiuyou Realm’s barrier, causing suffering among the people.
During these days of Jiuyou Realm’s border violations, the Immortal Alliance had lost many disciples. With their fury at its peak, all the families organized hunts together, pursuing and killing him everywhere.
Pei Zichen didn’t want to kill people. Every time people came, he would run, or use Lingxu Fan to create formations to trap them in illusions.
But doing this extremely consumed magical power. His previous injuries hadn’t healed. After several days and nights without rest, fleeing to this point, he was already completely exhausted. He had collapsed with his eyes closed and slept, not caring whether he would wake up or not.
Now awakened, he took out wound medicine, bit the gauze to tear open his clothes, and lowered his head to apply medicine to himself.
But just as he pulled open his clothes, he heard the sound of breaking dead branches nearby. Pei Zichen raised his hand to press against his neck bone, coldly raising his eyes to see a woman in red emerge from behind a tree, looking at him with some concern and saying softly, “Master.”
Seeing who it was, Pei Zichen restrained his aura and moved his gaze back, acting as if he had seen nothing and continuing to apply medicine to himself.
“Master!” Seeing Pei Zichen act as if she were invisible, Xinluo Yi couldn’t help but feel somewhat angry as she said through gritted teeth, “Today is Jiang Zhaoxue and Shen Yuqing’s great contract formation ceremony. Since they’ve already reconciled, why are you still staying here?”
Pei Zichen kept his head down without speaking, sprinkling medicine powder on his wounds. Xinluo Yi stepped forward several steps and said urgently, “Master, Jiang Zhaoxue never intended to separate from Shen Yuqing. Being with you was always with ulterior motives. If you truly want her, why not return with this subordinate now? After completely refining the five divine artifacts, you’ll be unrivaled in the world. Then this subordinate will accompany you to attack the True Immortal Realm again. You’ll be the master of three realms, and a mere Jiang Zhaoxue will be within easy reach…”
Before she finished speaking, Pei Zichen’s sword edge had already arrived with a “ding,” pressing against Xinluo Yi’s neck, accompanied by his death-filled eyes, calmly saying, “I don’t kill True Immortal Realm people because I know the Lady loves the True Immortal Realm. But that doesn’t mean I don’t kill people.”
The sword edge cut through Xinluo Yi’s skin, yet no blood flowed out.
Xinluo Yi stared fixedly at Pei Zichen, secretly clenching her fists tightly. As if thinking of something, she said through gritted teeth, “Master also favors her so much, but does Master know what her intentions are?”
“None of your concern.”
Pei Zichen withdrew his sword and turned away, unwilling to argue with her. But Xinluo Yi followed closely, saying urgently, “Master, she doesn’t love you. The way she likes people isn’t like this. Two hundred years ago I saw how she loved Shen Yuqing. What she feels for you is absolutely not love.”
Pei Zichen said nothing. He gripped his sword in silence.
He knew. How could he not know?
Why was he anxious about gains and losses, why was he restless and uneasy—because he himself could feel more clearly than anyone the thin sheet of paper separating him from Jiang Zhaoxue.
But so what?
Heaven and earth were vast. Aside from Jiang Zhaoxue, he had nowhere to go. From the moment he summoned his deity from the mountain cliff, his life had only ever been about whether Jiang Zhaoxue wanted him or not, never about whether he chose or didn’t choose.
He walked forward in confusion, not knowing where he should go, only instinctively striding forward quickly. Xinluo Yi followed behind him, watching the direction he was heading and couldn’t help but become anxious. “Don’t you understand yet that from the very beginning she was good to you because she had her eyes on Tianji Lingyu? She stayed by your side, followed you, just hoping to obtain Tianji Lingyu to break the Tongxin Contract…”
Before she finished, Pei Zichen’s footsteps stopped. He turned back sharply. “Tongxin Contract?”
Xinluo Yi froze, only then realizing what she had said. However, once the words were out, it was too late to take them back. Pei Zichen stared at her and continued to press, “What is a Tongxin Contract?”
“The Tongxin Contract is a secret art of Penglai.” Xinluo Yi bit her teeth and simply said outright, “It’s commonly used between Penglai demon cultivator dao companions. The person who gives the Tongxin Contract will unconditionally share all fatal injuries of the other person. If the other person dies, the one who gave the Tongxin Contract will die first.”
Hearing these words, Pei Zichen’s pupils constricted. Xinluo Yi explained carefully, “Back then in the Cangming Sea, when Shen Yuqing was near death, she used the Tongxin Contract to save him. From then on, her life and death have been bound to Shen Yuqing. Shen Yuqing actually didn’t want to marry her, but because of this Tongxin Contract, Penglai pressured Lingjian Immortal Pavilion, so he had no choice but to marry her. He then neglected her for two hundred years. After two hundred years, she had a falling out with Shen Yuqing and wanted Tianji Lingyu to make her a Ninth Realm Fate Master and break the Tongxin Contract. She doesn’t love you!”
Xinluo Yi spoke earnestly. “When Jiang Zhaoxue loves someone, she gives her whole heart and devotes all her strength. All her kindness toward you is just pity for a tool. Even when she harmed you and wanted to kill you, her starting point was Shen Yuqing. All her love and hate has been given to that person. You have no need to persist in the True Immortal Realm. Only by taking her by force can you bring her back.”
“But…” Pei Zichen listened to Xinluo Yi’s words and slowly came to realize, “She wanted to leave.”
She wanted Tianji Lingyu—it wasn’t for what she said about becoming a Ninth Realm Fate Master to reverse the True Immortal Realm’s fortune.
Her reason was simply wanting to break the Tongxin Contract, wanting to leave Shen Yuqing.
“The Soul-Locking Array…” Pei Zichen murmured, “After it’s activated, what happens?”
“Ordinary magical artifacts absorb all the spiritual power of the one being cast upon.” Lingxu, listening, answered about this artifact-related formation and sighed. “But if it’s a divine artifact, then it’s death.”
“Then do you think death is more terrifying, or is it more terrifying to reach the pinnacle only to lose everything and become a mortal?”
“Mayflies are born at dawn and die at dusk. Cicadas have spring and autumn for seven years. For humans to have dozens of years to observe heaven and earth is already a great blessing. If they can also reach the pinnacle, even if they lose everything afterward, such a magnificent life compared to death—how would there still be need for choice?”
The conversation from back in the water dungeon, when he still didn’t know Jiang Zhaoxue’s identity, echoed. Pei Zichen slowly understood.
She wanted Tianji Lingyu. She thought the Soul-Locking Array only wanted his spiritual power. But she couldn’t bear to kill him, so she let him choose.
He chose to live, even if his spiritual power was absorbed, to live as a mortal.
So she tried every means possible, just to let him live. But in the end, she must have realized that the divine artifact wanted his life.
So she gave up Tianji Lingyu.
Realizing this, Pei Zichen felt something surge up from his heart—sour and painful.
She had worked so hard for so long, planning all the way, fighting desperately all the way, but walking to the very end, she still gave up.
Two hundred years ago, she formed the Tongxin Contract for Shen Yuqing, placing herself in danger.
Two hundred years later, she gave up the opportunity to become a Ninth Realm Fate Master for him, once again placing herself in danger.
She was always the one who gave. Whether it was love or pity, in the end, she ultimately gave up what she wanted to preserve his life.
Thinking of this, Pei Zichen couldn’t help but laugh. Yet with one laugh, he felt moisture welling up in his eyes.
She still cared about him after all.
Whether pity or love, he ultimately had some weight in her heart.
And he was not Shen Yuqing.
His life was insignificant and not worth treasuring. He wanted to give her everything in this world that she desired.
The divine artifact was something she seized. The path was one she walked. He knew how much she wanted to become a Ninth Realm Fate Master. He understood how much she longed for freedom. How could he possibly let her give up everything within her grasp, everything she deserved, for him again?
“Xinluo Yi,” Pei Zichen raised his eyes to look at the woman beside him who had been waiting with such hope, smiled and nodded. “Thank you.”
Xinluo Yi froze. Before she could react, Pei Zichen had already departed on his sword.
When she realized what Pei Zichen had done, Xinluo Yi urgently called out, “No! Master, Lingjian Immortal Pavilion has already set up an inescapable net. You cannot go—”
However, Pei Zichen had long since disappeared without a trace. He went too quickly. Xinluo Yi couldn’t stop him at all.
After Pei Zichen left, several demon cultivators emerged from the surroundings and said urgently, “My Lady, if Master goes to Lingjian Immortal Pavilion now, what if something happens?”
“Deploy everyone here,” Xinluo Yi bit her teeth, staring in Pei Zichen’s direction. “Wait for the opportunity to act. If the situation truly becomes critical…”
As Xinluo Yi spoke, she blinked, revealing a trace of innocence. “I can only commit the crime of defying my master.”
When Pei Zichen rushed urgently toward Lingjian Immortal Pavilion, Jiang Zhaoxue had already descended from the palanquin.
Shen Yuqing supported her as she walked out of the palanquin and stepped forward.
The red carpet spread inward along the path, ending at a circular platform.
Gujun stood at the center of the circular platform, still with his usual smiling expression, but there was no trace of mirth in his eyes.
Jiang Zhaoxue swept a glance around the surroundings. All the prestigious figures of the immortal path were present. Jiang Zhaoxue was quite satisfied, then softly inquired, “Where is the Book of Fate?”
“Shortly, Master will invite it out.”
Shen Yuqing explained in a low voice. Seeing her almost step on the auspicious stones sprinkled on the red carpet, he immediately reminded her, “Be careful.”
Jiang Zhaoxue acknowledged and raised her eyes to continue forward. Walking onto the circular platform, Gujun smiled and nodded, greeting Jiang Zhaoxue. “Lady, you’ve worked hard.”
Jiang Zhaoxue bowed without speaking. Gujun turned his head to look at everyone and raised his voice. “I’ve invited all of you here today for an important matter. Everyone present should have sensed that in recent years, spiritual energy in the True Immortal Realm has been increasingly depleted. Especially in the past half month, after Jiuyou Realm’s barrier was damaged, the momentum of spiritual energy depletion has accelerated more than a hundredfold compared to the previous decade. At this rate, in less than three months, the True Immortal Realm will perish!”
At these words, some disciples who didn’t know the situation were horrified. The high-ranking members of each sect had long accepted this reality and showed no expression.
“Half a month ago, I consulted the Book of Fate and received three methods to save the realm. First, there must be a Ninth Realm Fate Master. Second, obtain the five divine artifacts to reverse fate. Third, a heaven-ordained marriage blessed by heavenly dao must appear. During this time, we’ve tried these three methods one by one. A Ninth Realm Fate Master cannot be achieved in a single day. Though we’ve tried to reclaim the five divine artifacts, because the divine artifacts haven’t truly recognized a master, they also cannot reverse fate. Fortunately, three days ago, after my disciple Yuqing and Lady Jiang separated due to a misunderstanding and dispute, the Book of Fate discovered this was a heaven-ordained marriage. So under this old man’s earnest persuasion, these two estranged lovers reconciled and are willing to form a contract again to restore the True Immortal Realm’s fortune and save all living beings from peril. Such a joyous occasion—this old man dares not keep it to himself. Thinking that joy shared is joy doubled, I’ve specially invited all the sects to come witness this grand contract formation ceremony.”
“Old Ancestor Gujun is too modest.”
Someone in the guest seats said loudly, “For such a joyous occasion, we naturally must come.”
Everyone spoke one after another. Jiang Zhaoxue’s expression was cold as she said flatly, “Can we begin?”
Receiving her words, Gujun smiled and turned back. “Naturally.”
With that, Gujun raised his hand to form seals. Dharma light shone up from the ground. Jiang Zhaoxue stared at him intently, hearing him call out loudly, “All disciples, listen to my command—respectfully welcome the Book of Fate!”
Hearing this, Shen Yuqing was the first to kneel respectfully. Disciples of Lingjian Immortal Pavilion and various sects who revered the Book of Fate then rose and immediately filled the ground with kneeling figures.
The hall full of guests knelt. Even those who didn’t kneel would lower their heads in salute under pressure.
Only Jiang Zhaoxue stood calmly in place. Only when Gujun’s cold eyes looked over did she perfunctorily lower her head.
After Jiang Zhaoxue lowered her head, Gujun raised his hand in a slashing motion. The spiritual energy from above instantly trembled. The Book of Fate, like a golden phoenix, spread its wings in the high sky.
Golden light poured down, spiritual energy surged and overflowed. Everyone raised their eyes to look, intoxicated by this pure spiritual energy.
Jiang Zhaoxue looked coldly at the Book of Fate high above, calculating the distance between herself and it.
Unaware of her plan, Gujun turned to look at her and explained the procedure. “Lady Jiang, now Yuqing will make his petition to the Book of Fate. After he petitions the Book of Fate, you will step forward and drop a drop of blood into the Book of Fate. That will establish the contract between you and my disciple.”
Hearing that she needed to step forward and drop blood into the Book of Fate, Jiang Zhaoxue knew this was her best opportunity—the only moment she could get closest to the Book of Fate.
Jiang Zhaoxue nodded, seeming extremely compliant. “Yes.”
As she spoke, a transparent spherical barrier inverted over the circular platform, isolating their words. Only they could hear sounds from outside, while others outside the barrier couldn’t hear their voices.
Gujun first bowed to the Book of Fate, murmuring incantations as if reciting a segment of spell. Then he said to Shen Yuqing, “Zeyuan, come forward.”
Shen Yuqing obediently walked before the Book of Fate and took the golden dagger already placed on the high platform beside him. Hearing Gujun say, “Make your petition.”
“This disciple has two wishes.”
As soon as Shen Yuqing spoke, Gujun frowned, about to speak to stop him, but Shen Yuqing had already cut his finger and let blood drip onto it, calmly saying, “First wish—I wish for Jiang Zhaoxue and Pei Zichen’s Fate Servant contract to be severed here.”
As he spoke, Jiang Zhaoxue saw what seemed like a huge vortex appear on the Book of Fate, while spiritual power around Shen Yuqing’s body immediately became turbulent, rushing madly toward the Book of Fate as if competing to get there first.
Jiang Zhaoxue immediately looked toward Gujun beside her and said coldly, “What’s wrong with him?”
“He’s using his own spiritual power to make an offering to the Book of Fate so that the Book of Fate will sever the Fate Servant contract for you.”
Gujun’s expression was extremely ugly, but making offerings to the Book of Fate was clearly something that once started couldn’t be stopped. Gujun could only watch as Shen Yuqing’s complexion paled bit by bit. Only after Jiang Zhaoxue clearly sensed he had lost at least twenty percent of his cultivation did the Book of Fate finally return to calm.
The moment the Book of Fate calmed, Jiang Zhaoxue felt something loosen in her heart. She felt Shen Yuqing turn to look at her.
Outside seemed to become noisy. Jiang Zhaoxue’s heart felt empty, feeling as if the Fate Servant contract between her and Pei Zichen had quietly dissipated.
For a moment she was somewhat dazed. Shen Yuqing gazed at her eyes, looking for a long time. Seeing she didn’t look at him even once more, he lowered his eyes, turned his head, and continued, “This disciple’s second wish—I petition the Book of Fate to bear witness. This disciple wishes to become dao companions with Penglai’s Lady Jiang Zhaoxue. Let heaven and earth bear witness, with the Book of Fate as contract.”
With that, a second cut of blood opened and blood dripped onto the Book of Fate.
This petition was exceptionally simple. After the blood fell, the Book of Fate showed no reaction. Shen Yuqing turned to look at Jiang Zhaoxue, walked down the steps, handed the dagger to Jiang Zhaoxue, and said softly, “Go.”
Jiang Zhaoxue nodded, accepted the dagger, took a deep breath, and walked forward.
Though she had made much psychological preparation, truly walking to this moment and facing this divine artifact that shared longevity with heaven, Jiang Zhaoxue still felt as if she were looking up at a high mountain, drowning in a deep sea.
She walked up slowly step by step, one hand holding the golden dagger, the other secretly gripping Yuan Luo transformed into a dagger.
The Book of Fate flashed with golden light from above, as if a pair of eyes were looking down at her from on high. Cold sweat seeped from Jiang Zhaoxue’s hands. Her heart pounded. She couldn’t help wondering if this cold sweat would affect her strike.
And what would happen after this strike.
What would happen to her parents, her brother.
What would happen to Pei Zichen.
But she dared not think deeply about these things. She knew this was the only way out—use the fortune accumulated by the Book of Fate to change the pattern of the True Immortal Realm’s fortune depletion.
Severely injure the Book of Fate or force out the tool spirit within it, break the Book of Fate’s myth, and only then would Pei Zichen have a chance at survival.
Shen Yuqing was the Book of Fate’s prey, and the other prey the Book of Fate had been pursuing was Pei Zichen.
She couldn’t let this demonic thing toy with all living beings anymore, nor would she let it harm those around her again.
She was afraid of death, but what she feared was meaningless death.
If she could kill this damned book, she actually felt it wasn’t so frightening after all.
But her hands still couldn’t help trembling. Her breathing also couldn’t help becoming rapid. She walked up step by step. The clamor outside grew louder and louder.
Everyone sensed something amiss and turned to look outside the main hall. Shen Yuqing frowned. Just as Jiang Zhaoxue stepped onto the final step, preparing to reach toward the Book of Fate, suddenly there came a thunderous “boom” outside the hall. Demonic energy rolled in like a violent wind covering heaven and earth. Gujun immediately stood before the Book of Fate. The Book of Fate flew high and pulled back. Guan Xiushu was the first to stand, saying hurriedly, “I’ll go check.”
With Guan Xiushu’s movement, everyone was stunned for a moment, then immediately followed him out.
Jiang Zhaoxue and Shen Yuqing exchanged glances. Shen Yuqing said in a low voice, “I’ll go look first.”
“I’ll go too.”
Jiang Zhaoxue swept a glance at the Book of Fate suspended high behind her, knowing she had already missed this opportunity.
And the arrival carried Jiuyou Realm’s aura. Now in Jiuyou Realm, who else remained in the True Immortal Realm?
Jiang Zhaoxue had a guess in her heart. Her heartbeat pounded. She followed Shen Yuqing, rushing quickly out of the main hall, only to see in the distance outside the mountain gate, on the Heaven-Ascending Stairs, heavenly thunder booming down wave after wave. Within that heavenly thunder seemed to be a young man carrying demonic energy all over his body, yet he knelt on the steps, spreading his sleeves and folding his hands over his forehead, kowtowing toward the direction of Jiang Zhaoxue and Shen Yuqing above.
The young man’s white clothes were stained with blood, his long hair scattered loosely at his sides. The blood-colored divine mark on his forehead flickered bright and dim, demonic energy swirling around his body.
Yet his kowtowing movements were standard immortal family gestures, his conduct elegant, without half a flaw. As if measured by a ruler, a perfectly carved person.
“Pei Zichen?!” Guan Xiushu was the first to react. “You actually dare to come?!”
These words stirred up a thousand waves. Everyone confirmed the visitor’s identity and discussed in low voices.
“Pei Zichen? What is he here for?”
“Didn’t the Immortal Alliance issue a warrant? He fled for so many days already—why did he come back today?”
“Could it be for Penglai’s Lady?” Someone speculated. “I heard his relationship with Lady Jiang was quite deep. Today is also Penglai Lady’s contract formation ceremony with Pavilion Master Shen…”
“Then why is he kneeling here?” Someone wondered, arguing, “Is he trying to upset his master?”
Amid the surrounding discussions, after the thunder dissipated, Pei Zichen looked up toward the heights, panting.
Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t tell who he was looking at. He seemed to be looking at Shen Yuqing, yet also seemed to be looking at her. She wanted to send a voice transmission to ask his purpose, but there were five Mahayana Stage cultivators far above her level. She didn’t dare speak rashly and could only put away Yuan Luo, use Jiang Zhaoyue’s talisman to conceal her spiritual power fluctuations, and begin drawing formations.
Naturally sensing Jiang Zhaoyue’s talisman, Jiang Zhaoyue immediately looked toward her, warning her with his eyes not to act rashly.
Jiang Zhaoxue’s heart was in turmoil. She also knew that if she took action for Pei Zichen now, she would likely implicate Penglai.
For a moment she dared not speak further. She only heard Gujun’s voice come from behind her, saying coldly, “Pei Zichen, why have you come today?”
“This disciple Pei Zichen was fortunate to be nurtured by Lingjian Immortal Pavilion for seven years, sheltered by my honored master for seven years. However, Lingjian Immortal Pavilion, without asking right from wrong, slandered this disciple for colluding with Jiuyou Realm to open the barrier, killed this disciple’s good friend at the Fate Judgment Platform, ignored the true culprit, and forced this disciple to drift through time and space. Fortunately, Penglai’s Lady saved me. Though compelled by life-and-death circumstances to cultivate Jiuyou Realm techniques, this disciple was influenced by the Lady and remained devoted to the dao. Now I am slandered again for colluding with demon cultivators, forced into a corner, using heavenly fate to coerce the Lady. As the saying goes, follow the dao not the ruler, follow righteousness not the father. Such an unjust and unmerciful sect, such unrighteous and disloyal elders—forgive me, Pei Zichen, for I cannot comply. Therefore, today Pei comes here with two requests.”
Pei Zichen raised his hands level before him, looking up at the people above with determination and calm. “First request—remove my name from the Sword Monument, sever the master-disciple karmic ties with Honored Master Shen Yuqing, no more entanglement.”
“Second request,” Pei Zichen raised his head toward the sky, saying coldly, “Defy heavenly fate, sever the marriage bond.”
“Insolent!”
Upon hearing this, Guan Xiushu shouted loudly, “Heavenly fate is controlled by the Book of Fate. These two are a heaven-ordained marriage with intertwined fate lines. How can a mere Divine Transformation cultivator like you change it?!”
“Whether I can or not,” Pei Zichen smiled, “I’ll know once I try. Heavenly dao above—”
Pei Zichen calmly raised his voice. His hands folded over his forehead as a white-robed soul body drew its sword and emerged from his body. Dark clouds churned in the sky. Pei Zichen kowtowed respectfully to the ground, opening his mouth with determination, “Lingjian Immortal Pavilion’s unworthy disciple Pei Zichen requests removal from the Sword Monument and kowtows in gratitude for master’s grace!”
The moment his words fell, thunder roared and crashed down, once again smashing onto Pei Zichen’s body!
The avatar that separated from his body thrust a sword forward, splitting heaven and cleaving earth!
Before him seemed to form a transparent ice wall. As his avatar’s sword pierced into it, it shattered inch by inch.
The moment it shattered, one could see a vast sea of stars, the primordial universe. Within the sea of stars, countless fate lines entangled, gradually revealing themselves to all.
“The Karmic Realm!” Someone cried out in shock. “He split open the Karmic Realm!”
The Karmic Realm was a place only Fate Masters could glimpse. It was the foundation behind everything, the place where heavenly dao’s laws existed.
All the karmic fate lines of everyone in this world existed independently here.
And with this single sword, Pei Zichen actually split open this place that had only ever existed in myths, exposing the countless fate line threads within.
All these fate lines converged at a core point of light. Wrapped within that point of light was a wordless book.
Seeing that book, Gujun’s entire body shook. He raised his hand to send a sword flying, urgently saying, “The fate lines connect to the Book of Fate—stop him!”
As soon as Gujun spoke, everyone knew the severity. Shui Chenyuan shouted urgently, “If the Book of Fate is destroyed, heavenly dao will cease to exist. Our world is imperiled!”
“Stop him!!”
Amid everyone’s shouts, countless dharma lights and sword intent poured down, following Pei Zichen as he rushed into the Karmic Realm.
Jiang Zhaoxue anxiously opened her formation instantly, but felt a force suddenly strike, fixing her entire person in place.
She opened her eyes in terror, hearing a familiar voice ring out, as if coming from another spacetime, gently embracing her from behind, pleading, “Don’t go.”
“No…”
Jiang Zhaoxue’s whole body trembled, unable to move. She watched the young man in the distance, advancing one step and one kowtow.
The Heaven-Ascending Stairs was Lingjian Immortal Pavilion’s final test when opening the pavilion to recruit disciples. Three thousand steps tempered one’s disposition. Only those who could climb the three thousand steps could finally reach Lingjian Immortal Pavilion and carve their names on Lingjian Immortal Pavilion’s Sword Monument.
This was where all Lingjian Immortal Pavilion disciples came from. Therefore, when leaving, they also had to climb these three thousand heavenly steps, endure the five thunders striking their crown, before they could completely erase their names from the Sword Monument and sever karmic ties with Lingjian Immortal Pavilion.
She just watched him.
Watched heavenly thunder boom down. Watched his avatar battle alone against the immortal path’s hundred families in the Karmic Realm.
Everyone pursued and blocked him in the Karmic Realm, yet he showed no sign of falling behind.
He seemed to know this was the final battle, going all out without holding back anything.
Yin Paper Immortals shrieked everywhere. Lingxu Fan opened formations all around. Zhan Shen Sword ran rampant. Facing Star Cloud Sect and Heaven Earth Dao Sect’s great formations, Baiyin Pavilion’s sonic killing arts, Heavenly Sword Sect and Lingjian Immortal Pavilion’s full siege, with the power of one person, he charged toward her and Shen Yuqing’s marriage line amid the killing intent of all the immortals.
He killed as he advanced. The Karmic Realm hung suspended above. Blood water flowed out from the Karmic Realm, spreading all the way down, flowing over the Immortal-Ascending Stairs’ bluestone bricks, winding into a river.
The young man in the blood water had his white clothes gradually soaked through by blood, slowly turning red, as if he too had put on wedding clothes.
One killing, one kneeling. One demon, one immortal.
In this ground of blood, she seemed to see the Jiuyou Realm Demon Lord from the book, yet between his kowtows, what she saw still seemed to be that child.
Pei Zichen.
Her Pei Shicang.
At age ten, he climbed up to Lingjian Immortal Pavilion with all his might.
Back then she paid no mind. She only wanted to take in a disciple for Shen Yuqing. Her gaze fell on him simply because he was the person climbing in the very front.
That child, ragged in clothing, thin as a skeleton.
And now this young man, handsome in features, elegant in bearing—every gesture embodying the most perfect exemplar of the immortal families. Yet when he raised his eyes, he seemed no different from back then.
“Heavenly dao above, this disciple Pei Zichen requests removal from the Sword Monument.”
“Heavenly dao above, this disciple Pei Zichen requests removal from the Sword Monument.”
One kneel, one kowtow. Blood water followed his robes upward, gradually soaking through his white clothes, like grand wedding ceremonial robes.
Until finally, Jiang Zhaoxue heard Gujun’s voice ring out from above, shouting, “Pei Zichen! These two are a heaven-ordained marriage. This is heavenly fate, not something you can obstruct with human power. You cannot split the marriage cord!”
Then she heard Pei Zichen’s warm, cold voice echo through heaven and earth, calm yet carrying resolution, “My sword was born for righteousness, exists for the Lady. Today righteousness is absent, the Lady is insulted. If my sword does not emerge, for what does it exist?”
“Since I have a sword, heavenly fate can be severed!”
The moment his words fell, the young man in the Karmic Realm suddenly rose with raised sword, one strike carrying the power of heaven and earth chopping down, fiercely blasting open Shen Yuqing blocking before him, heavily slashing into the marriage line!
The instant he slashed into the marriage line, all space twisted. Spiritual energy from within the Book of Fate suddenly exploded, carrying world-destroying power rushing toward Pei Zichen!
That power transformed everything into pure white light. Jiang Zhaoxue’s eyes could see nothing. She could only cry out sharply, “Pei Zichen!!”
Heaven and earth returned to nothingness in an instant. All laws disappeared in that moment. Only fine, dense rain threads fell on Jiang Zhaoxue’s face, hurting her until she was dazed and unclear.
When her eyes slowly regained light, Lingjian Immortal Pavilion’s surroundings showed mountains crumbling and earth splitting. Cultivators fled in all directions. Pei Zichen had already fallen in a pool of blood, yet he was still crawling.
Just like in his youth, crawling desperately, crawling to that final step.
The moment she saw Pei Zichen, she couldn’t care about anything, couldn’t worry about anything. Like a madwoman, she rushed forward.
The restraint on her body had somehow been released. She lifted her skirt and ran through the rain, stepping in water, drawing formations as she went, stumbling all the way down.
She didn’t even have time to call his name before rushing before him. The young man was just struggling to straighten up when she knelt down and threw her arms around him!
Qiankun Qian spun madly. Spiritual power poured frantically into Pei Zichen’s body. Jiang Zhaoxue shouted tearfully, “Heavenly dao is inconstant, gambling life with heaven, supreme great fortune, return from death’s door!”
Qiankun Qian spun endlessly. Spiritual energy poured in continuously.
Yet this bit of spiritual energy was only like stream water entering the sea. Once it entered his body, there was no trace of it.
His meridians were completely shattered. Inside, everything was broken—five internal organs and six viscera, golden core and sea of consciousness, all shattered to pieces.
With such injuries, even the Great Golden Immortal was powerless. No one could save him.
Jiang Zhaoxue’s heart was clear, but she refused to give up. She continuously poured spiritual power into his body, activating formations to force Qiankun Qian to produce divination sticks, roaring out, “Brother! Medicine! Give me the medicine!”
“Jiang Zhaoxue.”
He spoke hoarsely, calling out her full name for the first time.
Not Master’s Wife.
Not Lady.
He knelt three thousand steps and finally stood before her, calling out her name.
“Jiang Zhaoxue.”
“I’m here. Hold on, Pei Zichen, hold on. You can’t leave me… hold on…”
Jiang Zhaoxue’s vision was completely blurred. She only knew to pour spiritual power into his body, holding him tight with all her might.
Pei Zichen felt tears dripping onto his neck. He feared it was an illusion, but he still thought—whether pity or love, she must be heartbroken for him.
From their first meeting, when she decided in the water dungeon to spare his life and place the Soul-Locking Array on him, falling with him from the mountain cliff, carrying him forward through the snowy mountains, coaxing him to live, exchanging five senses and drifting through spacetime for his life, fulfilling his wishes in the secret realm, deceiving him by saying she loved him…
She had always been heartbroken for him.
“Jiang Zhaoxue…” Thinking of these things, Pei Zichen smiled with satisfaction and said in a low voice, “That answer… I don’t want it anymore…”
“What answer?” Jiang Zhaoxue choked with fear. “Don’t talk yet. We can talk later. Think of a way. You’re the male lead. You won’t die. Think of a way. Lingxu! Yuan Luo! A’Nan! Brother! Think of a way!! Think of something!”
“Lady,” Pei Zichen tremblingly raised his hand, placing it on her back. He closed his eyes, gently raising the corners of his mouth. “You’re a Ninth Realm Fate Master now.”
Jiang Zhaoxue froze. In that instant, Pei Zichen found strength from somewhere and suddenly pulled her tightly into his embrace!
The Soul-Locking Array suddenly opened in that instant. Tianji Lingyu ruthlessly crashed into Jiang Zhaoxue’s heart. The moment spiritual power exploded in Jiang Zhaoxue’s body, Jiang Zhaoxue suddenly understood everything and struggled madly, “No—!!!”
But once the Soul-Locking Array was activated, there was no turning back. She only felt pain spreading along with spiritual power throughout her meridians. This young man just held her tightly. No matter how she struggled or cursed, he only held her.
Blood and tears mixed together, blood-colored ceremonial robes intertwined, like wedding garments, entangled together in blood water and rain water.
The pain of exploding spiritual power continued endlessly. Jiang Zhaoxue couldn’t distinguish where the pain came from. She only wailed in that person’s embrace, in the future she foresaw.
Until everything slowly calmed. She heard his final words, “I’m leaving my Heart-Destiny Sword to you. Yaoyao… I didn’t kill anyone. Take me back to Penglai.”
The moment his words fell, Qiankun Qian fell, jade divination sticks scattering across the ground.
The arms holding her from behind simultaneously dropped. He finally lost all strength, falling to the side, completely collapsing into Jiang Zhaoxue’s embrace.
People slowly gathered around, looking at the soul-lost Jiang Zhaoxue. For a moment, no one dared speak.
The scene of Pei Zichen single-handedly battling the immortal path was vivid before their eyes. Everyone’s hearts were uneasy, as if afraid Pei Zichen would suddenly wake again.
After struggling for a long time, a disciple spoke tremblingly, “Penglai’s Lady, he is a demon who colluded with Jiuyou Realm and tried to disturb heavenly dao. If you still care about Penglai’s reputation, you should quickly separate from him. Don’t make such a lovesick display, lest you taint Penglai’s clean reputation!”
“Shut up!”
The words had just fallen when Li You slapped from a distance. Gujun raised his hand to deflect it, saying coldly, “Young Master Jiang, this disciple is not wrong. After all, this is a demon’s corpse. If not destroyed, it may cause trouble. Lady Jiang.”
Gujun stared coldly at Jiang Zhaoxue, as if observing something, commanding, “Hand him over now, and I can give you a way out for Penglai’s sake.”
“A way out?”
Jiang Zhaoxue heard this and laughed, saying hoarsely, “Heavenly dao? Demon?”
With that, Jiang Zhaoxue raised her eyes, staring at Gujun. “The heavenly dao you speak of—is it the Book of Fate’s heavenly dao?”
At these words, everyone’s expressions changed slightly. Jiang Zhaoxue held Pei Zichen, asking strangely, “You say the Book of Fate’s heavenly mandate cannot be violated, but now it’s been violated—so what?”
No one dared speak, but all had sensed it.
Jiang Zhaoxue laughed, carrying a touch of madness. “The spiritual energy reversed! After defying the Book of Fate, the spiritual energy reversed! Is this the heavenly fate you speak of?! Hahaha… And the demon… who did this demon kill?”
With that, Jiang Zhaoxue turned to look at the sword in Pei Zichen’s hand.
Seeing the sword, tears couldn’t help surging up again as she said trembling, “His sword… has no edge.”
Everyone was shocked upon hearing this.
All of Pei Zichen’s sword techniques were based on Zhan Shen Sword. If Zhan Shen Sword had no edge, it meant all his swords were unsharpened, incapable of killing.
Realizing this, everyone looked around and finally discovered their fellow sect members all seemed to be present.
Though blood covered the ground everywhere and the injured were everywhere, there were no actual deaths.
In this great battle, the only one who died was this “demon.”
“He had no edge…”
Jiang Zhaoxue spoke, crying and laughing, “He still wanted to return to Penglai. He still wanted to be a good person. He was afraid that if he truly killed someone, he couldn’t return to Penglai… He had no edge!! Hahahaha… He had no edge!!”
As Jiang Zhaoxue spoke, wind and clouds gathered around her. Spiritual power converged. She held Pei Zichen, seeming mad, crying and laughing as she cursed, “That fool—he actually truly believed in pavilion regulations and teachings. He actually truly believed in the gentleman’s way. He risked his life for you, killed the most Jiuyou Realm demons and monsters—and you still dare call him a demon?!”
“You’re just bullying his goodness, bullying him for being a gentleman, bullying him for cherishing fellowship with his sect brothers—fine, fine, fine! Since you bully him so, then I’ll come!”
With that, Jiang Zhaoxue raised her eyes toward Gujun not far away, slowly standing up. Killing intent spread overwhelmingly. In that instant, Gujun actually felt heavenly secrets and fortune seemed sealed off. A chill ran through his heart. For the first time, he felt death so near. In terror, he quickly summoned his flying sword, watching Jiang Zhaoxue raise her finger, pointing at him.
“Heavenly dao summons—” The moment Jiang Zhaoxue spoke, the world’s laws seemed to transform into chains rushing at Gujun. Jiang Zhaoxue raised her hand and pressed down. Spiritual power instantly exploded, shooting skyward. Ninth Realm pressure swept out wildly. Gujun exerted all his strength, sending a sword flying at Jiang Zhaoxue, accompanied by Jiang Zhaoxue’s great shout:
“Gujun, die!!”