Luo Wu Mountain.

Feng Xiang realized this was the twenty-third time she had seen this white-robed sword cultivator.

The Changshou Lotus was about to bloom, but no one knew exactly when. Xie Xuechen kept vigil before it daily, waiting for the flower to open. Sometimes Feng Xiang would spar with him, other times they would discuss matters of the Immortal Alliance or share stories from their pasts.

Xie Xuechen’s past was unremarkable, with its only color being that smiling girl. When he spoke of her, his typically cold and sharp phoenix eyes would soften considerably.

“She is your beloved,” Feng Xiang stated with certainty.

Xie Xuechen nodded, “She is the one I’ve sworn to protect for life.”

Feng Xiang’s gaze became distant, a hint of jealousy stirring in her heart. She turned away, saying bitterly, “That’s nice.”

Unfortunately, her own beloved had not placed her in his heart.

At that moment, the Changshou Lotus slowly unfurled its petals, releasing waves of rich fragrance. Feng Xiang’s eyes lit up as she reached out to seize the lotus. Without hesitation, Xie Xuechen thrust out his Jun Tian Sword. Feng Xiang turned to block, and the two began to duel. Xie Xuechen had no intention of harming her, so he called out loudly, “Venerable One, Lord Qian Guang has been searching for you!”

Feng Xiang’s movements faltered, her shoulders trembling slightly as she stared at Xie Xuechen, her face pale. “What did you say?”

“Lord Qian Guang’s beloved is you!” Xie Xuechen swiftly plucked the Changshou Lotus, turned to face her, and said solemnly, “Look back at where you came from.”

Feng Xiang turned back suspiciously, only to see magical arrays lighting up around her. Suddenly, darkness fell, and she found herself amid night. Before her eyes, a replica of herself lay sleeping, with Lord Qian Guang sitting beside her, gazing down intently…

“Feng Xiang…” He didn’t speak of love, but the expression in his eyes and the depth in his voice made it impossible not to see and hear.

This was a retrospective array, capable of recording everything that had truly happened. In the array, Lord Qian Guang raised his head, looking towards a certain point as if he were looking directly at her.

“Feng Xiang, are you watching me…”

Transcending time and space, he reached out his hand towards her…

This was all Xie Xuechen could do for them now.

He turned away despondently, unable to bear watching the tragedy unfold in the retrospective array.

Was this the price of defying heaven? Then what would be his price…

As long as he bore that price himself, it would be enough…

Xie Xuechen looked at the Changshou Lotus in his hand. After being plucked, it continuously shrank until it finally refined itself into a translucent white pearl, the same size as the red lotus core, differing only in fragrance and luster. Xie Xuechen closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and placed the white lotus pill in his mouth, swallowing it.

In an instant, a warm current flowed from his stomach to his limbs. He felt his body becoming lighter, and without even circulating his Yuan Power, his feet naturally left the ground, floating in the air. As the warmth reached his eyes, he instinctively looked up and saw an endless series of white steps appearing, leading to the peak of Luo Wu Mountain.

—The Celestial Stairway!

Lord Qian Guang had spoken the truth!

Xie Xuechen’s heart raced as he stepped onto the first celestial step. Simultaneously, he felt his Yuan Power stagnate, and he could no longer sense his spirit apertures as if he had become a mere mortal. Before he could prepare himself, a fierce wind struck his face, carrying incredibly sharp energy that cut across his arms. The invisible wind was unavoidable, seemingly targeting him, mercilessly leaving a wound on his arm.

Xie Xuechen possessed a Dharma Body, far sturdier than ordinary cultivators, but on this Celestial Stairway, all supernatural abilities were suppressed. He could only endure with his physical body, while the celestial wind and energy were sharp enough to break through his defenses, leaving deep gashes from which fresh blood soaked his white robes.

Thirty-eight thousand steps, thirty-eight thousand cuts of lingchi.

Xie Xuechen smiled faintly and continued ascending.

Another cut fell on his left leg.

The next, on his chest.

With each step on the Celestial Stairway, the celestial wind and energy hindered the mortal attempting to ascend to immortality, viciously delivering cut after cut, yet unable to deter those with unwavering determination.

Xie Xuechen’s only concern was that the energy might damage his eyes, obscuring his path. He covered his face with his hands to protect his eyes, but soon his hands were covered in cuts, exposing stark white bone.

His once-white robes were now dyed a brilliant red, and each step on the stairway left a trail of red lotus petals, a horrifying sight.

—Ling’er…

Thousands upon thousands of blades tormented his body inch by inch, repeatedly striking the same wounds until skin and flesh were utterly destroyed, penetrating to the bone marrow.

—Twenty-three thousand nine hundred and eighty…

He counted silently in his heart as he took another step.

An energy blade pierced the kneecap of his left leg, the pain of sawing bone and severing tendons making it difficult to support himself. He fell to one knee on the celestial step. His bloodied, trembling hand supported him on the step, sweat mixed with blood dripping constantly, his once-thick black hair now soaked with cold sweat, clinging to his bloodstained temples. Even his handsome, dignified face could not escape the bloody marks, leaving only a pair of determined phoenix eyes fixed ahead.

Perhaps due to the mystical nature of the Celestial Stairway, his consciousness did not blur from the intense pain but became increasingly clear. Each cut was felt with excruciating clarity, each blow urging him to turn back.

But he never hesitated or retreated for even a moment.

It was just pain, after all. What were mere flesh wounds? What did it matter if tendons were severed and bones cracked? Even if he had to crawl, he would crawl his way to the celestial palace!

Because someone was waiting for him…

—Ling’er…

He silently chanted her name in his heart, drawing strength to push forward.

—Twenty-three thousand nine hundred and eighty-one.

—Twenty-three thousand nine hundred and eighty-two…

An energy blade swept across his brow, blood seeping into his eyes, causing a stinging pain. Everything before him seemed shrouded in a bloody mist.

He recalled the moment Ling’er fell before his eyes; his eyes had stung just like this then, the world before him just as crimson.

—Ling’er, there are still so many promises I made to you that remain unfulfilled. Our thousand-year vow, we’ve barely begun, how could you break your promise and leave me…

That golden core must have been taken by her when they were on Luo Wu Mountain, but he never knew when she had hidden that jade pendant on her person. Knowing this, she chose to perish alongside Sang Qi.

Xie Xuechen vaguely recalled that he had never asked Ling’er why she loved him so deeply, why she sacrificed so much for him. Now that he wanted to ask, she could no longer answer.

If she had never met him, never fallen in love with him, though she might have missed out on much joy, at least she would still be alive.

If he hadn’t neutralized the poison of the Enlightenment Grass, she wouldn’t have died because of him…

Another energy blade pierced the kneecap of his right leg, and Xie Xuechen collapsed onto the cold celestial steps. Supporting himself with both arms, he determinedly crawled upward step by step. His hands no longer had the strength to shield his eyes, and finally, an energy blade slashed across them. He closed his eyes, blood streaming down his face, leaving only darkness before him.

—Thirty-one thousand eight hundred and twenty-three.

—Thirty-one thousand eight hundred and twenty-four…

Even without sight, he did not lose his way, still resolutely climbing towards the summit. Past the snow line, the fierce wind turned to biting snow, falling on his wounds with searing pain, sharp and bone-chilling, causing even the most steadfast to shudder uncontrollably.

Xie Xuechen was almost grateful. If he had been the one to die that day, Ling’er would have unhesitatingly eaten the Changshou Lotus to climb these thirty-eight thousand steps of the Celestial Stairway. This living hell, he couldn’t bear for her to endure. He only hoped that at the end of this stairway, he could find a way to resurrect her.

—Thirty-seven thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine.

—Thirty-eight thousand!

Finally, he reached the top of the Celestial Stairway. The dense, biting snow suddenly vanished, the wind ceased, and all around was peaceful and tranquil. A warm essence enveloped his body, subtly soothing the excruciating pain of his wounds. Using his sword as support, Xie Xuechen staggered forward. With each step, his injuries lightened a bit, and gradually, his eyes regained sensation, allowing him to vaguely make out the scene before him.

Everything at the top of the Celestial Stairway seemed to float above the clouds. His feet stepped on what appeared to be soft cloud clusters, yet each footfall felt as solid as flat ground. The world above the clouds was ethereal and hazy, with distant pavilions and towers hidden in the mist. As Xie Xuechen slowly approached, he saw a chessboard carved from jade stone in a pavilion, black and white pieces locked in a fierce battle, the game half-finished, yet the players were nowhere to be seen. On a nearby table sat fragrant fruits—half-eaten grapes, a peach with two bites taken, and a half-empty cup of immortal tea. No, not half-empty, but half-drunk. It seemed as if people had been playing chess here, chatting idly, sipping tea, but everything had suddenly halted, abruptly ceasing. The people had vanished, yet all these traces remained…

An inexplicable chill rose in Xie Xuechen’s heart. He averted his gaze and continued forward, searching for the location of the divine temple.

After walking for a long time, he finally saw a palace that resembled a divine temple. Its four corners had flying eaves like dragon heads, with spiritual mist gushing from the dragons’ mouths. A bell hung in front of the courtyard, and three incense sticks burned in the center, though it was unclear how long they had been burning.

Xie Xuechen took a deep breath and stepped forward to stand before the great doors of the divine temple. He raised his hand to knock lightly on the door ring. Though he heard no response, the great doors opened on their own.

Xie Xuechen frowned slightly, lifted his foot over the exceptionally high threshold, and gently walked inside.

“Human Sword Cultivator Xie Xuechen seeks an audience with the Divine Official!” Xie Xuechen’s cold, slightly hoarse voice echoed through the vast divine temple.

“Human Sword Cultivator Xie Xuechen seeks an audience with the Divine Official!” He raised his voice and spoke again.

“Oh…”

A distant, ethereal male voice resonated all around, sounding surprised, puzzled, and amazed. Its origin was indiscernible. Xie Xuechen’s expression became solemn as he cupped his hands and said, “I apologize for the intrusion. Please forgive me, Divine Official.”

Gentle footsteps approached from the depths of the divine temple. Through layers of gauze, Xie Xuechen saw a blurred yet tall silhouette. The figure walked unhurriedly as if casually strolling through a garden. A light, joyful voice carried from afar.

“It has been a long time since I’ve seen anyone ascend the God-Slaying Platform.”

“God-Slaying Platform?” Xie Xuechen’s expression changed slightly. “Those thirty-eight thousand celestial steps… were the God-Slaying Platform?”

“Indeed,” the person behind the curtains said softly. “Thirty-eight thousand cuts, slaying the primordial spirit. Only those with resilient primordial spirits and unwavering will can survive the God-Slaying Platform.”

The three legendary terrifying places: the God-Slaying Platform, the Melting Abyss, and the Avici Hell… Xie Xuechen smiled wryly, realizing he had survived two of them.

As they spoke, the Divine Official had come near. His hands were tucked into his sleeves, wearing seamless celestial robes that resembled blue smoke. His ink-black hair cascaded down past his knees. As he passed, the gauze curtains parted without wind, revealing his solemn and sacred countenance to the visitor.

“I am the Divine Official of Time, the Supreme God of the Wheel Mirror,” the Divine Official said. His handsome brows and eyes held a gentle smile as he looked at Xie Xuechen with benevolent warmth. “For you to reach this place, you must have met Feng Xiang.”

Xie Xuechen nodded, “Yes.”

“Then you must know that to make a wish to me, you must pay a small price.” The Supreme God of the Wheel Mirror’s smile grew increasingly benevolent and gentle.

A small price…

Xie Xuechen laughed bitterly in his heart but said, “I understand. I just want to be clear on one thing: will this price only fall upon me alone, not involving others?”

The Supreme God of the Wheel Mirror replied, “The fewer people your wish involves, the fewer people will need to pay the price.” He suddenly raised a finger, as if remembering something but unable to recall it. He frowned slightly in frustration, “I seem to remember someone once made a wish that involved all living beings and paid an enormous price.”

Xie Xuechen lowered his phoenix eyes and said softly, “I only wish to revive one person.”

The Supreme God of the Wheel Mirror examined him carefully and smiled, “The divine officials of the God Clan have different authorities. To resurrect the dead, two can accomplish it: one is the Official of Fate, and the other is the Mysterious Lady. I am the Official of Time; I can only control the authority of time.”

Xie Xuechen was stunned but quickly understood—no wonder Feng Xiang’s request for longevity was only six thousand years repeating a single day. It was because this Divine Official of Time had fixed her life within those twelve hours. This was the power of the Official of Time…

With the Mysterious Lady reincarnated as Su Ningxi, it would be difficult to start from here…

“May I ask, Supreme God, where is the Divine Official of Fate?” Xie Xuechen inquired.

The Supreme God of the Wheel Mirror smiled slightly, “You wish to seek his help? No, no, no…” He shook his head gently, his expression inscrutable. “I have never seen him, but I vaguely recall that he is cold and unfeeling, unlike my friendly nature.”

Xie Xuechen’s heart was filled with confusion. Not only was the Divine Official of Fate absent, but the entire celestial palace seemed empty, with only this Divine Official of Time present. It was as if some great event had occurred in the divine realm, causing all the gods to suddenly vanish…

But if that were the case, why hadn’t this Divine Official disappeared?

Was he truly a god?

Thinking this, Xie Xuechen’s gaze towards the Supreme God of the Wheel Mirror betrayed his doubt.

“You harbor doubts,” the Supreme God of the Wheel Mirror’s wise eyes were gentle yet penetrating, seeing through Xie Xuechen’s thoughts at a glance. “I don’t blame you for your skepticism. I too am perplexed as to why this celestial palace is so empty, with only me, a solitary god, remaining here…”

Xie Xuechen asked curiously, “You don’t know either?”

The Supreme God of the Wheel Mirror sighed lightly, “I can sense that the God Clan hasn’t disappeared, but where have they gone? It seems something very important happened, yet I’ve forgotten. But if I’ve forgotten, there must be a power surpassing mine that made me forget.”

Xie Xuechen had a sudden thought, “The Book of Destiny?”

The Supreme God of the Wheel Mirror looked up at him and smiled, “Yes, perhaps it was the Book of Destiny’s doing. Someone might have used it to manipulate the fate of the God Clan. Do you know, the Book of Destiny is a treasure used for lying? Whatever is spoken becomes reality. All lies become truth. Its power far exceeds mine, but it too requires an enormous price.” The Supreme God of the Wheel Mirror winked playfully, “The price is the Way of Heaven. Nothing is gained without paying a price.”

“If I wish to revive someone, does the Supreme God have a method?” Xie Xuechen asked.

The Supreme God of the Wheel Mirror said kindly, “I can help you return to the past, to change her trajectory before she dies. You can decide which moment and place in the past you want to return to, and I will send you back using the Wheel of Reincarnation Mirror.”

An answer formed almost immediately in Xie Xuechen’s mind.

Seven years ago, Bright Moon Manor. He needed to know what had happened back then…

“I hear your thoughts,” the Supreme God of the Wheel Mirror nodded slightly. He extended his slender, pale right hand and drew a circle in the air. A round silver mirror appeared, floating in mid-air, emitting a soft glow. Above the silver mirror was the sun, and below it was the moon, with golden sand constantly rotating between them, flowing like time itself.

“This is the Wheel of Reincarnation Mirror. As the Official of Time, I can enter the mirror to trace back through time and space. You are human, so passing through the mirror won’t be easy. You can only enter as a spirit, returning to your past self. Once you leave your physical body, your spirit will lose its protection and be ground down by the millstone of time, risking soul scattering.” The Supreme God of the Wheel Mirror advised earnestly.

Xie Xuechen responded solemnly, “Thank you for informing me, Supreme God.”

The Supreme God of the Wheel Mirror continued, “Remember, do not try to change too many people’s fates. Otherwise, you won’t be able to pay the price demanded by the Official of Fate, and many people will become pawns of Fate because of it.”

Xie Xuechen’s expression became grave as he said seriously, “I understand.”

The Supreme God of the Wheel Mirror gently brushed the Wheel of Reincarnation Mirror with his pale hand. The beautiful, golden sand-like flow emitted a dazzling light. Xie Xuechen could not bear to look directly at it and squinted slightly. At that moment, his figure was drawn into the mirror, which then returned to stillness.

The Supreme God of the Wheel Mirror waved his sleeve, and a comfortable chaise lounge appeared beneath him. He lazily reclined on it, resting his chin on his right hand, his narrow, beautiful eyes looking at the changes in the Wheel of Reincarnation Mirror with an enigmatic smile.

“Could he be the one I’ve been waiting for…” he murmured.

Ten thousand years ago, someone had told him to wait here for a person, saying that this person would reveal the truth of this world to him, tell him the whereabouts of the God Clan, as long as he helped them to the best of his ability.

But that person hadn’t told him what the one he was waiting for looked like, whether they were male or female, old or young.

Yet this person before him was different from others. He sensed a familiar aura about him.