Yedu had been experiencing wind and rain since midnight, continuing until dawn. The sky remained heavily overcast and gloomy. Birds in the courtyard chirped and called out, rustling and shaking the accumulated water droplets from the branches.

This downpour brought the deep autumn temperature down even further. In another ten or so days, the coldest winter would arrive.

Inside the hall, there was no fierce wind or sudden rain, only dignified and elegant landscape screens and ancient hanging paintings. Cloisonné enamel golden censers burned incense, and layers of gauze curtains hung straight down. The patterns were adorned with subtle spiritual light that moved without wind, like someone inside casually sweeping away a layer of stars.

Su You woke early. He quietly stared at the dark red bed canopy above his head for a while, never having imagined that he would one day face such a situation.

The person beside him was still sleeping, her long hair scattered like tributaries across the satin and pillows, and like branches of a full tree extending across the pure-colored bedding. The great battle at Xiao City had consumed too much energy, and combined with last night, when she had almost silently allowed him to be wanton, she had not yet opened her eyes.

What had he done these past two days?

He had transformed into his miniature original form and run wildly throughout Yedu City, acting recklessly in Xue Yu’s hall, declaring himself king and ruler, even jumping onto tables and throwing tremendous tantrums at her, slapping the tabletop until it rang with loud bangs.

In any case, during these two days, everything he had done had completely overturned his original image.

Su You had no idea how to face Xue Yu.

He couldn’t help but close his eyes briefly, then silently rose with the blanket. Just as he got up, a hand rested on his waist, and a voice tinged with drowsy sleepiness came from behind: “Where are you going?”

“…”

It was truly a case of fearing something and having it come to pass.

Su You’s body stiffened slightly. Without turning around to look, he only glanced at the soft shark silk curtains and said in a low voice: “Someone is waiting outside the hall. I’m going to ask about the situation.”

“The follow-up arrangements for the Battle of Xiao City have come out.” Xue Yu guessed what the person outside the courtyard wanted to report, and wasn’t surprised. She propped herself up on her elbow to lean on her side, tapped his waist twice with her fingertip, and asked unhurriedly: “Do you remember everything now?”

The inner hall fell into deathly silence.

Xue Yu wasn’t in a hurry to wait for his answer. She casually adjusted her inner garment, and as if discovering something interesting, reached out to brush aside the black hair hanging by his ear, revealing the ear tip hidden underneath that had been rubbed red.

She half-closed her eyes and pressed against his back, draping herself over him like someone without bones, almost melting against his perpetually hot frame, mumbling with slurred pronunciation: “Your ears are red… when you were slapping the table and throwing tantrums, I didn’t see you like this.”

Su You simply couldn’t bear to hear these words.

He turned around and scooped up Xue Yu, originally intending to press her into his chest to prevent her from touching everywhere and looking everywhere, but Xue Yu seemed to have found amusement in him.

Or rather, after the great battle ended, an explosive string that had been constantly stepped on underfoot was removed, and she could finally relax a little, developing a small hobby of her own.

This hobby was nothing else – she enjoyed teasing him.

These past two days, Xue Yu had mastered this art, teasing the amnesiac little Heavenly Wolf until he was dizzy and confused, spilling out everything he should and shouldn’t say, all his inner thoughts pouring out clean and clear, while she savored listening to it all with great relish.

“Yu Yu.” Su You faced her, slightly parting his lips. With the slightest movement, his loose robe slipped down, revealing the blue and purple bite marks on his collarbone – the place she particularly favored and lingered over each time.

He lowered his eyelids, somewhat annoyed, and slowly answered: “I remember.”

Even remembering, he didn’t change how he addressed her.

Although calling her “A Yu” and “Your Highness” sounded nice in the past, the same two characters repeated together could always be called out by him with a different kind of intimacy, so they quickly replaced the other two forms of address.

“Do you also remember everything that happened these past two days?”

Su You’s fingers resting on the soft pillow stiffened, completely unsure how to answer. She propped up her hand to lift his chin, looking at his evasive peach blossom eyes with a somewhat appreciative gaze, and said softly: “You remember but won’t speak – does that mean all those requests you made of me these past two days don’t count?”

Su You suddenly raised his eyes to meet hers.

Her eyes were very beautiful, amber-colored, with a deep and tranquil lake-like profundity when gazing intensely. Normally they seemed cold and emotionless, without ripples, but now the meaning within them was exceptionally clear.

She was determined to ruthlessly tear apart that invisible barrier between them, demanding that he speak aloud all those implicit thoughts that were stubbornly suppressed in the deepest places.

If he spoke, she would agree.

But he had to speak.

Xue Yu’s fingertip traced along his facial contours up, landing on his tender lips, slowly brushing across them while asking: “They don’t count, do they?”

“They count.” As the words fell, Su You seemed both to be holding his breath and exhaling with relief. He suddenly fluttered his eyelashes, abandoning himself as he spoke word by word: “…Everything I said was true.”

That kind of panicked sense of gain and loss was real, and the uncontrollable possessiveness was also real.

Xue Yu quietly listened to him finish speaking. After a long moment, she sat cross-legged on the satin surface, leaned over to his ear, and whispered: “Good.”

As she prepared to get out of bed to handle affairs, she touched his cheek with her fingertip and said: “In the future, if something like Xu Yunqing happens again, directly drive the person away, or come ask me. Don’t suffer in silence and struggle with yourself.”

“Nineteen.”

Xue Yu looked at that face that had become vivid and vibrant from just a few sweet words: “I’m also human. Seeing someone I like get hurt also makes my heart ache.”

Having said this, she got down from the bed barefoot, stepping on the soft fur mat. Before calling for the attendants outside to come in and help her dress, she looked toward Su You: “I’m going to listen to the disposal methods that the human race has discussed and proposed. You – our wedding date is temporarily set for after May. Tell the Sui family.”

“These past few days, they’ve all been quite worried about you.”

Following the Battle of Xiao City and the sacrifice of tens of thousands of humans and demons, countless memory pearls were transmitted from various Sacred Lands and Law Enforcement Halls. The various deeds of Human Emperor Qiu Tong and Song Heng were made public, and the tragic fragments of the Battle of Xiao City, with the city full of blood and corpses, were subsequently cut into segments and widely circulated among prominent families and common folk in the streets and alleys.

Some so-called mighty ones among the human race, seeing that the sky hadn’t been torn open with a hole and hadn’t caused irreversibly severe consequences like in ancient times, harbored lucky psychology, thinking they could handle it coldly. They planned to wait until the heat of this matter passed and everyone returned to normal life, then provide a solution that would minimize losses for the human race.

But they didn’t wait for a natural cooling down. Instead, they received one after another guilt edict from the Sacred Land Lords.

What sins did the Sacred Lands have?

Their sin was choosing to favor the relatively weak and helpless human race in countless disputes and cases, their sin was failing to treat every living being equally and justly with impartiality. They were unworthy of the name “Sacred Land.”

Not just one Sacred Land Lord issued a “guilt edict” – this was something that had never happened in the past ten thousand years. It was like a bucket of oil poured on flames, instantly making the entire situation indescribably complex and confusing.

Only one thing was certain.

No one in the human race dared harbor lucky thoughts anymore.

Just for the sin of favoritism, Sacred Land Lords needed to issue such face-damaging edicts. What about the human race, who were the main culprits who triggered the Great War? If they still played the game of appeasement and tolerance, and the Fusang Tree emerged…

The consequences were unthinkable.

So regarding the disposal of their people, all humans who could speak gathered together, arguing and quarreling, quarreling and arguing. Finally, on the fourth day, they compiled a preliminary list and ordered outstanding young prodigies to deliver it to each Sacred Land to discuss whether such handling was feasible.

The one who came to find Xue Yu was Lu Chen.

Xue Yu’s prestige among Sacred Land successors was unparalleled, far too outstanding. And the recent actions of the current Sacred Land Lords were undoubtedly pushing their respective Sacred Land successors to even higher positions.

It could be foreseen that for a very long time to come, she would be the one most capable of making decisions.

Lu Chen’s scalp, which had been clawed with five scratches by Mei, still hadn’t healed properly. These past few days, he had been constantly pressed by his teachers to handle the aftermath of Xiao City – comforting people’s hearts, cleaning the battlefield, and rebuilding old sites. All these miscellaneous tasks were piled onto the few people who could be present and compared with Sacred Land successors and young masters from the Demon Capital.

After several days, he had visibly lost a full circle of weight.

“Indeed, those who are guilty cannot compare with those who have merit.” Seeing Xue Yu, Lu Chen, who was sitting in the front hall drinking tea, pushed his teacup away. After complaining for a few sentences, he took out a scroll from his sleeve, handed it to the attendant beside him, and said seriously: “Take a look at this. This is the compensation plan that the human race has internally agreed upon, for the demon race and also for the families of victims in Xiao City.”

Xue Yu took the scroll, looked at it briefly, scanned it a few times, then put it aside and looked toward Lu Chen, asking straightforwardly: “Looking at this list yourself, do you find it ridiculous?”

“Don’t get angry. This is just a preliminary plan. We’ll continue discussing it later.” Lu Chen had a bit of a headache as he took another sip of hot tea: “There are too many internal divisions within the human race. To be honest, after the danger is removed, no one wants to pay a great price to settle accounts for some dead people’s mistakes.”

The dead were dead; the living couldn’t be affected.

The current situation was that as long as the Fusang Tree didn’t intervene, what could the Sacred Lands and Demon Capital do even if they were dissatisfied with the human race?

At most, they could verbally curse a few sentences. After a year or two, who would still remember such things?

The real gold and silver offered in this scroll were all scarred out by the Sacred Land Lords’ actions, performed for the Fusang Tree and the Book of Heavenly Secrets to see.

Even though many of them similarly harbored thoughts of exterminating the demon race, they hadn’t acted. The first to act were dead, so it had nothing to do with them. Life seemed to have become the most worthless thing.

“Then I can only say this.” Xue Yu impatiently tapped the table surface and said coldly: “Those who died in Xiao City that day weren’t them, and those who turned the tide and hunted down Mei weren’t them either. Without a genuine attitude, this matter cannot be concluded.”

Xue Yu cherished life, but when facing major principles, some rotted flesh that had already grown had to be cleanly cut away. Otherwise, in hundreds or thousands of years, it would become another festering tumor.

Lu Chen could only remain silent and smile bitterly.

Sacred Lands had always appeared gentle, not as proud and arrogant as the Demon Capital, nor as diverse as the human race. Born as ancient immortals, they resided year-round in their territories. Unless for worldly matters, they rarely emerged. They were usually very rule-abiding, thus appearing low-key.

But they possessed the most massive and solid foundation.

Human family fortunes were unpredictably changeable, the Demon Capital also had its rises and falls, but only the Sacred Lands – from ancient times to now, through ten thousand years, had always been these six, not one more, not one less.

When the Six Sacred Lands were united in wanting to accomplish something, no one could stop them, especially now with the addition of the Demon Capital.

Honestly speaking, the human race was reluctantly putting on a show because of the Fusang Tree, and the Sacred Lands were also repeatedly yielding and holding back because of the rules set by the Fusang Tree.

“Then how should this matter be resolved?” Lu Chen asked.

Xue Yu had discussed with Shan Shu, Yin Ling, and others that the disaster of the Mei clan must not happen again. All races that participated in this matter and had such tendencies should receive severe punishment, not be brushed off lightly with some money. Only this way could they serve as a warning to others and eliminate future troubles.

“Facts prove that those harboring lucky thoughts will never self-reflect. They will forever find alternative paths and excuses for themselves and their kin.”

She raised her eyes and said: “Relay this message to them – let them self-investigate. If they can’t investigate properly, the Sacred Lands will take over this matter. Starting with those traitorous scum from Kunlun, one by one, all families and races that served Qiu Tong and aided Song Heng – family heads commit suicide, elders seal themselves, family wealth and spiritual veins transfer to public treasury, to be used at discretion thereafter.”

“With things developing to this point, I don’t want to play word games with them.” Xue Yu nodded toward Chao Nian, who understood and immediately presented another scroll. “These past few days, the Sacred Lands and Demon Capital haven’t been idle. The list above, see for yourself.”

Lu Chen only casually scanned a few lines before his expression became gravely serious.

“Such a thing, the human race could never possibly agree to.” He said solemnly, “Once agreed, it would be severely damaging to vitality.”

At least thirty of the top fifty human families were prominently listed.

“Then, in your opinion, what should be done?” Xue Yu stood up and said slowly: “That war in Xiao City, you witnessed with your own eyes. You should understand in your heart that this is already the best outcome.”

Lu Chen resignedly pinched his nose and went back.

The other Sacred Lands also successively sent word that they couldn’t accept it. For a time, the relationships between the human race, Sacred Lands, Demon Capital, and worldly demon clans became particularly tense.

But before the Sacred Lands could act or the human race could resist, what Cang Ju had said that day came true.

On the seventh day after the Battle of Xiao City, Ji Tingxi sent messages one by one to various Sacred Land successors, demon clan young masters, and human righteous prodigies. The Fusang Tree had issued a decree, commanding all of them to proceed to Xihe Sacred Land for an audience.

In an instant, there was panic and alarm.

Xue Yu and others received the imperial summons to enter Xihe three days later. Within the Sacred Land, the sky was clear and cloudless – an extremely rare good weather in the continuous autumn rain and wind.

The number of people entering the Sacred Land this time was neither many nor few. Looking around, they were all familiar faces.

Because they had done wrong and didn’t know what they would face, the human side appeared particularly silent.

The Sacred Land’s successors also had never seen such a scene. As they walked, they naturally gathered together. Jiu Feng and several from the Sui family joined in, wanting to extract some useful information in advance from Ji Tingxi, the Xihe Holy Son, but Ji Tingxi repeatedly shook his head: “If I knew, that would be great. I’m puzzled myself. That day, the Lord suddenly received a decree from the Fusang Tree, specifically naming who from which family should enter the Sacred Land.”

“Look at these two dark circles under my eyes.” He pointed to those two patches of deep blue-black: “If I had any idea what was going on, would I have driven myself to this state?”

Seeing that nothing could be asked from him, Jiu Feng maintained a good mentality, comforting herself with the thought of accepting whatever comes: “What could it be? At most, we’ll get a few scoldings. What kind of existence is the Fusang Tree? If it wanted to take action against us, would it make such a grand spectacle?”

After saying this, she looked toward Xue Yu and Su You, who were least likely to be scolded, her gaze lingering particularly on the latter: “In just a few days, your injuries have healed almost completely. It seems the days in Yedu have been quite good.”

“The Sui family and Demon Capital just couldn’t heal your wounds properly.”

Xue Yu and Su You walked side by side. Under the sunlight, she would occasionally step on his shadow, overlapping intimately like an embrace.

“Once your injuries are healed, hurry back to the Demon Capital to handle affairs. Don’t spend all day using your Heavenly Wolf original form to seduce Xue Yu.” Jiu Feng remembered the grudge of good intentions unrewarded from that day, slowly exposing his embarrassing secrets.

Su You couldn’t bear to hear such words. He paused in his steps and looked toward the person beside her: “Feng Shangyu, control her.”

“Forget it. You’d have better luck expecting him to control Chu Yaoxiang than expecting you to control your Yedu, Your Highness.”

Chen Longzhi fanned his folding fan open and closed, occasionally interjecting a few remarks, but couldn’t hide his nervousness: “Tell me, why would the Fusang Tree summon me?”

“You are all meritorious officials who made tremendous efforts to eliminate Mei. I’m just an insignificant small figure – the number of Mei I eliminated was about the same as Chao Nian. These past few days, I’ve thought it over repeatedly, and the only decent thing I’ve done was donating some money and goods in the name of the human race after the disaster.”

“Could the Fusang Tree notice such a trivial matter?”

Even as Chen Longzhi said this, he didn’t believe it himself.

“What’s the rush? We’ll know soon enough.” Jiu Feng surveyed the scenery within Xihe. This was the most solemn and dignified of the Sacred Lands, with extremely strict conditions for external access. Except for the other Sacred Land successors, no outsiders had ever entered.

“There’s one more thing.” Compared to the human race, who had done wrong, and the Demon Capital, which had neither merit nor fault, the Sacred Land’s successors, though uncertain in their hearts, did not feel guilty. Yin Ling spoke up: “I wonder if you’ve all been busy these days settling accounts with human families internally, have you had time to look at the invitations that various families have been continuously sending?”

Shen Jingshi: “Finally, someone mentions it. I thought I was the only one who, after surviving the great disaster, simultaneously received four invitations.”

Shan Shu sighed softly: “They’re all scheduled for the same month, but separated by vast distances, thousands of miles apart. Traveling back and forth won’t be easy.”

“Where did the four come from?” Ji Tingxi led the way while glancing sideways at Xue Yu and Su You: “I know about Xue Yu’s double joy. This matter has been spread throughout the world by the Sui family. Any family with some reputation has received their extremely luxurious invitations, inlaid with gold and diamonds. Those things shine just sitting there – hard not to notice.”

“What about the other families?”

“Me.” Cang Ju was simple and direct, slightly lifting his eyelids: “I’m getting married. The date is set for March thirteenth, early spring. The scenery at Tai Hua is quite nice at that time. Please come and show your support.”

Feng Shangyu looked at Jiu Feng beside him, beaming with joy: “Jiu Feng and I settled this long ago. We just never had time to hold a ceremony before. This time, having survived the disaster with the world at peace, we’re also joining the festivities.”

“Xue Yu’s coronation as Empress and wedding ceremony are scheduled for the fourth and fifth of March, respectively, Cang Ju on March thirteenth, and Jiu Feng and Feng Shangyu on the twenty-second.” Lu Qin said, “This way, we’ll be spending the entire month of March celebrating at these three families.”

“Not one person is allowed to be absent. Everyone must come.” Sui Jinyu had found his greatest joy as an older brother these past few days, busy calculating various betrothal gifts, making invitations, and personally discussing various ceremonial dress details with the Lord of Yedu, striving for perfection.

Real gold and silver flowed out like water.

After ten days, the Lord of Yedu was completely conquered by the charm of such wealth, allowing Sui Jinyu to hire thousands of the finest embroiderers from the three lands to embroider the most magnificent designs, using thousands of pearls at a time, thousands of bolts of shark silk, and even redecorating entire palaces, displaying various treasured objects.

Having heard it so often, they’d become numb to it.

“Both Yedu and the Demon Capital have no problems, but Cang Ju, can Tai Hua be more reliable?” Ji Tingxi said, wanting to sigh.

Su You had never been to Tai Hua. Xue Yu looked at him and explained closely: “Tai Hua has always been mysterious. They know much but cannot leak heavenly secrets to the outside. However, every year, there are many young people who, when first venturing into the mortal world for cultivation, accidentally violate the rules. Their punishment is calculated after they return to Tai Hua.”

Su You understood immediately.

Even Cang Ju, as a Sacred Land successor, sometimes got chased by lightning. What more for those inexperienced Sacred Land ancient immortals? One could imagine what Tai Hua looked like – clouds covering the sun, thunder dancing wildly.

Cang Ju snorted with a cold laugh: “Speak properly. Is Tai Hua the unreliable one?”

“Wait and see. This time I’ll get this matter settled.”

Either don’t let him know about something and don’t expect him to do it, or don’t make him do things while expecting him to stay silent.

At this moment, Ji Tingxi led them across a bridge shrouded in clouds and mist.

Here, no other people could be seen around, and the spiritual energy concentration was ten times stronger than the outside world.

No one continued talking.

Xue Yu raised her head to look at that giant tree spanning between heaven and earth. It was hard to imagine that there could be a place capable of containing such a colossal entity. It couldn’t even be called a tree, but rather a boundless realm carrying all things in the world. Each green leaf seemed to contain a flowing river, supported by light orbs, swallowing and floating.

She released her divine consciousness, following an inconspicuous branch of the giant tree for a long time, straight into the depths of the clouds, but couldn’t glimpse the end.

Ji Tingxi brought them to an ancient, simple palace built of wood.

Outside the hall, lanterns were lit in broad daylight. There were nineteen steps, each bearing a seal, extremely solemn. No words needed to be spoken – reverence arose naturally.

“Sacred Ancestor, everyone has arrived. How should they be arranged? Please instruct, Sacred Ancestor.” Ji Tingxi took out a palm-sized box, dabbed some incense ash from inside, and applied it to the pillar in front of the hall door, speaking cautiously and clearly.

Not long after his words fell, amid everyone’s held breath and focused attention, a square scroll unfurled like flowing clouds, stopping before their eyes.

Ji Tingxi held it with both hands and read with drawn-out tones, following the words above: “Members of the human race, enter the hall for an audience.”

Led by Lu Chen and Jiang Xuejiao, the humans gritted their teeth and stepped with extremely anxious hearts through that door that opened with the wind.

Everyone waited patiently where they were.

Being impatient wouldn’t help – no one dared show the slightest negative emotion of dissatisfaction.

Lu Chen and the others didn’t stay inside for long. When they came out, not one person was missing, and their bodies were all intact, but they all frowned tightly with ashen, dejected expressions. From the stagnant atmosphere, it seemed nothing good had happened.

Xue Yu wasn’t anxious. She even felt a sense of settling.

For over twenty years, the truth she had sought, all the puzzling aspects – today, everything would have an explanation.

After Lu Chen and the others came out, Ji Tingxi said again: “Members of the Demon Capital, please enter the hall.”

Jiu Feng and Su You took the front positions, left and right, stepping on the ancient patterns on the ground as they entered the inner hall. They stayed longer than the human race, and when they came out, they showed no particular emotions – neither joy nor anger could be discerned.

Ji Tingxi handed the scroll to a waiting attendant and looked toward the remaining Sacred Land successors: “Except for Xue Yu, Cang Ju, and Shan Shu, all other Sacred Land ancient immortals, please enter the hall.”

The three who were left behind exchanged subtle glances, but no one said anything, quietly waiting outside the hall.

The Sacred Land’s successors stayed inside for more than a quarter-hour. When they came out, Ji Tingxi gestured to the three of them. Cang Ju and Shan Shu straightened their respective garments, ensuring they were solemn and proper, before entering the hall with composed minds and lowered heads.

The interior of the hall was quite ordinary, filled with an extremely faint sandalwood fragrance that, accumulated over the years, gave a sense of mental tranquility. Around were some elegant hanging paintings, with porcelain vases containing freshly picked willow branches and flowers. Complementing each other, they adorned this spacious and quiet place with vibrant life.

This indeed wasn’t a place that would make one feel nervous.

There was also none of the scene Xue Yu had imagined of holy objects sitting high on divine altars, with lowered brows like seated Buddhas. Instead, by the window sat a plain white figure playing with black and white chess pieces. He wore snow-white long robes and outer garments, with thick black hair so long it dragged on the ground, forming river-like intersecting shapes, held in the beaks of unknown birds and hung high on pearl curtains and standing cabinets, forming a breathtaking scroll.

The three couldn’t see his face clearly, but from the aura emanating from him, vast yet gentle, beginning like rushing rivers and seas, then withdrawing like subtle spring breezes.

The figure, slightly turned sideways, through a layer of thick mist, his gaze fell on each of the three in turn. After a long moment, he seemed to smile slightly, extending a finger to point at the three from afar.

For that instant, Xue Yu felt her soul being drawn out.

When she opened her eyes, she immediately realized this was a self-contained small world.

She sat on one side of a small table, opposite that figure like an immortal banished from heaven, with flowing long hair. When he placed a chess piece, his voice was ethereally melodious to the extreme: “Xue Yu, I have been waiting for you for a long time.”

Facing the sacred object, Xue Yu showed no timidity or fear of speaking. She pinched her knuckles, raised her eyes, and after performing ancient ceremonial gestures with her sleeves, straightforwardly stated her doubts: “Twenty-four years ago, was it the sacred object that acted to reverse time and space, sending the three of us back here?”

“Yes.” The figure nodded, his full head of black hair trembling with the movement. “He” seemed to gaze across an immense distance at this most outstanding and satisfying young person of the current world, frankly admitting: “Indeed, it was I who, after consulting with the Book of Heavenly Secrets, intervened and interfered with the world’s original developmental trajectory.”

This was the Fusang Tree.

“Why?”

Xue Yu’s eyelashes drooped slightly as she asked in puzzlement: “Was it because the situation in our previous life, if allowed to develop, would have brought disaster like in ancient times, so you sent us back and guided us at every turn, wanting us to prevent such a situation in advance?”

“But Song Heng already harbored intentions to exterminate demons. Sending him back, the disaster still occurred.”

“Not entirely so.” The Fusang Tree’s tone was very gentle, untainted by any worldly atmosphere, with no discernible joy or anger. “He” placed the black piece in his hand back to a corner of the board, saying softly: “The disaster of the Mei clan lies with him, but not only with him. The human race harbors such intentions, the demon race has endured for quite some time – war was inevitable.”

Song Heng was just one among countless humans who wanted to exterminate the demon race. Without him, there would be many others willing to risk everything, such as Qiu Tong, court officials, and even city lords jointly selected by the court and the Sacred Lands.

He had just taken the first step, but was not the last step the human race would attempt.

“So, with things developing to this point, the Mei disaster was bound to happen, unavoidable.”

“Indeed unavoidable.” “He” moved his finger to a corner of the board, speaking warmly: “A thousand years ago, the three lands had been in dispute for a long time. After Yedu fell, the Demon Capital would officially wage war with the mortal world. The Sacred Lands intervened, triggering four-way warfare with countless casualties among worldly beings.”

“After Song Heng used the Heavenly Palace’s power to slay tens of thousands of demon races, the dragon’s breath was extinguished. Ancient sealed Mei and present-world Mei, born from slaughter, gathered together to attack heaven and earth. With the three sides at odds and unable to unite, the world ultimately perished.”

“This is the scene I saw with the Reincarnation Mirror.”

So things absolutely could not be allowed to develop further.

“He” seemed able to completely perceive what Xue Yu was thinking, answering her questions one by one: “Though we are sacred objects, we must still respect the rules of the Great Dao and cannot interfere with the mortal world.”

Otherwise, if the Fusang Tree and Book of Heavenly Secrets had foreseen danger in advance, eliminated the Human Emperor first, then slain Song Heng, and when the Mei clan came, casually destroyed them, this world would need no human race, court, Sacred Lands, or Demon Capital.

That would be a complete playground for sacred objects to do as they pleased.

“Why not publish the images from ancient times? That way, everyone would have reverent hearts and not dare act recklessly.” This was what Xue Yu didn’t understand.

“The Heavenly Dao forbids it.” The Fusang Tree held nothing back. “He” said: “The demon race was exterminated, the Heavenly Dao was furious, worldly beings could not survive, and this piece of heaven and earth was originally meant to become a breeding ground for the Mei clan.”

It was “He” who, unable to bear it, emerged at the cost of bearing heavenly punishment, joining hands with all things to resist the Mei clan, finally securing a thread of survival opportunity.

“I was born together with the Heavenly Dao, watching humans, demons, and ancient immortals slowly grow. To me, you are all lively children.”

“Why does the Heavenly Dao not allow it?” Xue Yu followed the Fusang Tree’s words forward.

“All worldly beings make mistakes, but mistakes are divided into great and small. Sacred Lands favoring one person, the Demon Capital wrongly killing one person – these are small mistakes. The ancient Human Emperor failing in his teaching responsibilities, casually exterminating entire clans – this is a great mistake. The human race, knowing the Mei disaster might come, still harboring lucky thoughts, excusing themselves for killing ten thousand demons rather than exterminating them all – this too is a great mistake.”

“He” waved his sleeves: “Whether ancient times or the present world, such great mistakes never have room for regret.”

“After completely exterminating the demon and magic races, when others saw the situation turning bad and began crying, repenting, pleading – all was useless. Even if I emerged, those demon races who had completely disappeared in time could never have a second life.”

They died forever in the past. Died in ancient times.

They, too, were flesh-and-blood beings, children of this heaven and earth.

“The Heavenly Dao doesn’t want beings to think that no matter what they do, there are sacred objects to intervene, giving them a chance to start over.”

“I did indeed hesitate.” The Fusang Tree shook his head: “Some children are too disobedient.”

“Back then, I only wanted to send you back, but the Heavenly Dao sent down punishment, indicating it wouldn’t allow it. I thought that if you could succeed, then succeed; if not, perhaps this was true destiny.”

Harboring such thoughts, the Fusang Tree still couldn’t restrain itself and intervened a second time.

“You exceeded my expectations.” The Fusang Tree seemed to narrow his eyes with curved tails, showing a gentle smile: “In just over twenty years, you reorganized the Sacred Lands, purged the Law Enforcement Hall, allied with the Demon Capital, and gave the demon race opportunities to voice their grievances. The relationship between human and demon races improved due to your efforts, and things would not develop along the path of the previous life.”

So when disaster came, the three lands could unite with one heart and collective strength, and they had all grown up with unmatched battle power.

In other words, if Xue Yu had returned but not softened her heart to save Su You because of Shan Shu’s words, not reorganized the Sacred Lands, not destroyed the Human Emperor’s plans, and only minded her own business, managing Yedu well…

What today’s situation would be like, no one could know.

“Su You, he…” Having listened to all this, Xue Yu’s heart held indescribable feelings. She spoke these few words, rarely pausing, as if not knowing what to say next.

“His experience is just an unremarkable speck among countless demon races. But as an auspicious beast, dying in such a manner already proves many absurd aspects of this world.”

“Was it you who finally broke open the Heavenly Wolf’s cage?” Xue Yu asked.

The Fusang Tree nodded slightly, his voice more gentle than a spring breeze: “In this world, there has never been a saying that anyone is destined to live as a sacrifice for the masses. Having achieved such a degree, I would not stand by and watch.”

“Is the Tea Immortal truly a manifestation of the sacred object?” Xue Yu said, “I interrogated her and used soul-searching techniques, but couldn’t find anything.”

“It is a branch that fell from my main body. I commanded it to guard the human race, serving as their protection, so your techniques do not affect her.”

“Following the Human Emperor’s commands, when the time hadn’t come, it had limited abilities and could only wander in various identities, persuading many capable humans to help bring about the demon-extermination situation.” The Fusang Tree said, “Now, it has been frozen by me and ground to powder.”

“How do you think the human race should be properly handled now?” Xue Yu couldn’t make decisions about these matters and asked quietly.

“Go ahead and investigate freely. All humans who participated should pay the appropriate price for the innocent lives sacrificed.”

The Fusang Tree placed the final chess piece on the board, looked toward Xue Yu, and said slowly: “Having intervened in worldly affairs twice, with calamity clinging to me, heaven and earth cannot tolerate it. After this matter, the Fusang Tree will wither and die from within, ceasing to exist.”

“Before dispersing, I will bestow numerous spiritual objects, mainly in Yedu, distributed across various places.”

Xue Yu’s eyelashes suddenly fluttered. She faced this sacred object that appeared to have no emotions, and after a long moment, solemnly rose and gestured with her sleeves: “Thank you, Sacred Ancestor, for your great righteousness.”

“No need for thanks.” The Fusang Tree shook his head, using a force to lift her: “It is merely cause and effect.”

Before Xue Yu was gently pushed out of this space, “He” slowly rose, gazed into her eyes, and said: “Child, you must remember – what this world looks like has never depended on what a tree or a book looks like. How the people are, so shall the future be.”