At Yunxiu Manor.

Measured footsteps echoed outside the tightly closed door. Mu Xuanling’s eyes flickered as she met the gaze of Nan Xuyue, who pushed the door open and entered.

No, it was Tianming.

His handsome face held a hint of a smile, exuding an aura as refreshing as a cool breeze under a bright moon. After the awakening of Tianming Shu’s memories, his power rapidly recovered, even suppressing Mu Xuanling and confining her within Yunxiu Manor, cutting off all contact with the outside world. With his memories and power restored, Nan Xuyue appeared as gentle and refined as ever, but a closer look at his eyes would reveal no trace of warmth or mirth in those clear pupils. Instead, they held a detached indifference to everything, looking down upon all from on high.

He was as unreachable as a deity.

“Ling’er,” the deity called her name with a smile.

Mu Xuanling coldly looked at him. “Nan Xuyue, what exactly do you want to do?”

These past few days, she had tried hard to recall, but could never remember the memories from ten thousand years ago. Where she came from, why she fell into slumber – everything was shrouded in mist. She naturally knew of the existence of Tianming Shu; they were both primordial treasures, but one was in heaven and one on earth, seemingly never having met before. Since she couldn’t remember Tianming, she still called him Nan Xuyue. But she also knew that the Nan Xuyue before her was no longer the gentle and kind young master of the past, and she could no longer smile at him.

Nan Xuyue didn’t mind her coldness. He sat down in front of her and reached out with his beautiful, slender hand towards her cheek, but she turned her face away to avoid it. Nan Xuyue smiled faintly. “Why do you resent me? What I’m doing is to protect you. The Immortal Alliance merely wants to use you against the Demon Lord. What do the lives of humans have to do with you? Even if it’s because of Xie Xuechen, he’s already dead. Why bother doing those meaningless things for a dead man?”

Mu Xuanling responded coldly, “What I want to do is my business. What does it have to do with you?”

Nan Xuyue said, “Don’t you understand my feelings for you yet?”

“Tianming is emotionless, treating all beings as straw dogs. How could you possibly understand what feelings are?” Mu Xuanling scoffed.

Nan Xuyue smiled, playing with a lock of her hair, and said meaningfully, “If the Primordial Zhenzhu can have feelings, why can’t Tianming Shu?”

Mu Xuanling was momentarily speechless, her face cold as she tried to snatch her hair back from his hand. Nan Xuyue released the strand of hair but instead grasped her wrist, saying in a husky voice, “Ling’er, originally, all I asked for was a hundred years together.”

Mu Xuanling froze. The person before her seemed to have turned back into the Nan Xuyue of the past…

“Humans have short lifespans, yet they can have reincarnation after reincarnation. I only ask for one lifetime. Is that too much?” He gazed at her, questioning softly.

After a moment of silence, Mu Xuanling said, “Tianming, you still don’t understand feelings.”

Nan Xuyue silently looked at her.

Ten thousand years ago, she had said the same thing.

To help that man take revenge, she stormed the Heavenly Palace. Atop the Xihe Divine Palace, the gods, terrified, had pleaded with Tianming, but that time, he had not agreed.

He had only coldly said – This is the price for suppressing the Son of Heaven’s Mandate.

Gain and loss, this was the way of heaven. The price of fate was never his decision; everything was arranged in a heavenly way.

He had watched coldly as she nearly overturned the divine realm, finally killing her way to him. It was also the first time he saw her appearance. The Primordial Zhenzhu, which should have been untainted by worldly dust, was deeply entangled in love, hatred, and obsession, making the bright pearl tarnished, no different from mortals.

What a pity, what a shame.

“I want you to rewrite fate, release Zhaoming!” She stood before him, coldly threatening him.

The laws of Tianming Shu could only be broken by Tianming Shu itself. Even if she was the Primordial Zhenzhu, she couldn’t modify the fate he had written.

“I cannot, nor do I wish to,” Tianming refused indifferently. “In this world, there is no longer a Saint Lord Zhaoming, only the fallen god Zhaoming, forever imprisoned in Rongyan.”

“Don’t force me,” killing intent surged from her body. “If I perish together with you, then Tianming Shu will cease to exist, and fate can be reversed, right?”

Tianming looked at the tears in her eyes and said emotionlessly, “Why go to such lengths? He nurtured your wounds with spiritual power, repaired your cracks with his soul, all just to refine you, to use you against the divine race.”

“But he didn’t,” she closed her eyes, a crystal tear sliding down her cheek, falling into the clouds beneath her feet, into the mortal world below. “Even unto death, he never used me, just because I said I didn’t want to… Zhaoming didn’t know how special he was to me. If it was for him, I would be willing even if it meant death!”

Tianming looked slightly dazed at the tear she shed.

“I don’t understand…” He didn’t understand her feelings or her choices.

She smiled desolately, “Tianming is emotionless, naturally not understanding the word ‘feeling’. I understand now, but it’s too late. Since you’re unwilling to rewrite fate, then I shall write his fate myself!”

In that battle, they both suffered heavy losses. The Heavenly Book was burned, and the Primordial Zhenzhu lost its light. His consciousness fell into the mortal world along with her. Fate decreed that they would be forever entangled, even if they both forgot the past.

He, like her, was tainted by human emotions, making one weak, lowly, and lost.

Yet she said he still didn’t understand.

If Tianming didn’t understand, did Nan Xuyue not understand either?

If this wasn’t love, then why did his heart ache so? Where did this pain come from?

The Immortal Alliance and the Demon Alliance simultaneously received invitations from Yunxiu Manor. Just as everyone was in a frenzy over the Demon Lord’s descent, Yunxiu Manor was about to hold a joyous event.

Manor Lord Nan Xuyue was to be married, with the bride being Mu Xuanling, in just three days. Those who knew Mu Xuanling’s identity were all shocked, especially Venerable Xuanxin. He knew very well that Mu Xuanling and Xie Xuechen were in love, and she would never marry Nan Xuyue. Moreover, now that Mu Xuanling had regained the power of the Primordial Zhenzhu, how could Nan Xuyue force her if she was unwilling?

Everyone harbored their thoughts as they rushed to Yunxiu Manor. Since Nan Wugou’s passing, Yunxiu Manor had been removed from the Immortal Alliance’s roster and hadn’t been this lively for a long time. Immortals and demons gathered together, each with different expressions, whispering in hushed tones. Despite the festive decorations, there wasn’t much of a celebratory atmosphere in the manor.

As the auspicious hour approached, the maids looked at the bride in plain white clothes with a frosty expression, distressed. No matter how they pleaded, she refused to wear the wedding attire.

Nan Xuyue entered from outside, and the maids immediately knelt, trembling as they said, “Manor Lord, Miss Mu refuses to dress up and change clothes.”

Nan Xuyue smiled faintly and waved his hand, saying, “It’s alright, you may all leave.”

Mu Xuanling kept a stern face, seeing Nan Xuyue walk behind her in the bronze mirror. She gritted her teeth and said, “You’ve gone mad.”

“I’m very clear-headed,” his hand gently fell on her shoulder as he said softly, “I know you won’t be willing to wear wedding attire. You want to mourn for Xie Xuechen, and I won’t force you. If you wear white, I’ll wear white too. It’s quite fitting.”

“You’re Tianming. How can you believe in mortal marriage rituals?” Mu Xuanling said coldly.

Nan Xuyue chuckled lightly, “Of course, I don’t believe in them, but I know that in your heart, you’ve always wanted to have such a ceremony with Xie Xuechen. You wanted to be united with him, with heaven and earth as witness, till death do you part.”

Mu Xuanling’s heart quivered, and a dense, stabbing pain surged up, involuntarily bringing tears to her eyes.

“What Xie Xuechen could give you, I can too,” Nan Xuyue said softly by her ear. “I don’t ask you to love me as you loved him, I only ask that you know my heart and comfort my longing.”

He was the lofty Tianming, who shouldn’t have fallen into this mortal world, tainted by dust, entangled in emotions. Only now did he understand that those drowned in love die without regret.

They were meant to be a pair from birth. She was so soft-hearted; given time, she would surely be moved by him. He firmly believed this.

On this day, the Immortal Alliance and Demon Alliance witnessed such a strange wedding.

Both the groom and bride were dressed in white. The bride’s face was frosty, while the groom smiled like a spring breeze. Anyone could see that the bride was unwilling.

But they also saw that Nan Xuyue, whose divine aperture had been crippled, had not only recovered from his old injuries but even surpassed Mu Xuanling in aura! In just a few days, even if he had cultivated the Jade Watchtower Scripture, it was impossible to reach such heights unless… he was originally heaven itself!

“First bow to heaven and earth!” the officiant’s voice trembled. Both newlyweds stood straight, showing no intention of bowing to heaven and earth.

Nan Xuyue smiled faintly, “I am heaven, you are earth. Why bow to heaven and earth?”

The officiant called out again, “Second bow to the parents…”

Nan Xuyue looked at Mu Xuanling, who was pursing her lips in anger and smiled, “All things are born from chaos. We have no parents to bow to, so let’s skip it.”

The guests looked at each other, feeling increasingly strange. These two didn’t seem to want to get married at all; they had a grudge…

“Bow to each other…” the officiant’s voice weakened.

Nan Xuyue slowly turned to face Mu Xuanling, his voice softening, “Ling’er, just this one bow, for my lifelong wish.”

Mu Xuanling lowered her eyes, her fists clenched within her sleeves. She was frozen in place by him, stiffly turning under his control, forced to meet his gaze.

“Nan Xuyue, don’t force me to hate you,” she said hoarsely.

“You’ve hated me for a long time,” he sighed lightly. “It’s just that you’ve forgotten… even your hatred.”

He slightly bent his long neck, a force simultaneously pressing on her nape, forcing her to complete this ritual with him. However, at that moment, an unexpected change occurred – the earth began to shake violently!

Demonic qi surged from the west!

Everyone’s face changed as they stood up, turning to look towards the horizon. A sky-covering black mist of demonic qi raged wildly, shooting up into the heavens. Above Liangjie Mountain, the space began to distort strangely, like a crumpled painting. The desolate mountains and vast sky twisted and inverted. Suddenly, a vortex appeared, its powerful suction creating a fierce wind. Countless plants tilted and were even uprooted, flying towards the vortex.

Everyone’s face changed as they shouted, “The Ten Thousand Immortals Formation has been broken!”

Nan Xuyue’s face darkened, and the force suppressing Mu Xuanling suddenly disappeared. He flew out, his gaze somber as he looked toward the direction of the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation. In the vortex, heavenly fire raged one moment and lightning flashed wildly the next. Various magical phenomena from the formation surged forth, turning the mountains into scorched earth and changing the colors of heaven and earth!

Spiritual power was being sucked into the vortex, while demonic qi was frantically spilling out. Strands of dark demonic qi, like tendrils or vines, grew from the vortex, constantly expanding it. The vortex became a black eye, and within that black pupil, a crimson moon was reflected.

“The gate to the Demon Realm has opened…” Venerable Xuanxin looked at the scene before him in disbelief. “Is that Demon Lord truly so powerful?”

Could he, with his power alone, tear open the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation and open the gate to the Demon Realm?

All who witnessed this scene felt a deep despair rising in their hearts. Such power was simply impossible to resist.

A figure in red appeared above the crimson moon. That red was like a fusion of blood and ink, dark red and piercing to the eye. Just one glance caused pain in the eyes, making it unbearable to look directly at. Legend had it that only deities couldn’t be looked at directly, but this was a demon!

Venerable Fashen could endure the pain and look directly at the gradually approaching figure but still shed two lines of bloody tears.

Mu Xuanling stared blankly at the figure on the moon, inexplicably feeling a sense of familiarity. In an instant, that figure had descended from the crimson moon to the mortal world, passing through the eye of the storm-torn open by the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation, and gracefully landing on Liangjie Mountain. The wild wind blew his clothes and ink-black hair, and even just his silhouette made Venerable Fashen tremble. An eerie black mist shrouded his body, making his features unclear. With every movement, he stirred up surging demonic qi. The demonic qi was so dense and substantial that Mu Xuanling even suspected this Demon Lord had devoured an entire void sea.

Nan Xuyue’s cold gaze fixed directly on that person. His thin lips parted slightly, and in an icy voice, he slowly uttered two words: “Zhao Ming.”

Upon hearing this name, Mu Xuanling’s entire body suddenly froze. It was as if a hand had violently gripped her heart, making her ache and struggle to breathe.

Who was Zhao Ming, who was Zhao Ming…

Why did hearing this name make her so sad…

With the Demon Lord’s descent, all cultivators showed expressions of shock and fear. Venerable Xuanxin and He Xianwo, as leaders of the Immortal and Demon Alliances respectively, led all the Fashen Venerables to confront the Demon Lord. Venerable Xuanxin had thought Nan Xuyue wouldn’t lend a hand, but surprisingly, he flew towards the red-robed Demon Lord without any hesitation, his speed extremely fast, leaving everyone else behind.

Mu Xuanling took the opportunity to break free from Nan Xuyue’s magical restraints and flew towards Liangjie Mountain close behind.

The two white-robed figures were like two beams of light, their faint golden glow breaking through the blockade of the black demonic mist, leaving two beautiful arcs.

Nan Xuyue waved his wide sleeve, and primordial qi materialized from the void, like heavenly punishment, slashing down towards that red figure with space-shattering force. Dozens of Fashen Venerables joined forces, Buddhist chants echoed on Liangjie Mountain, golden light from formations flickered, heavenly thunder fell, and flames rose. The combined power of the layered formations was incredibly grand. For a moment, the sky darkened, the sun and moon lost their light, and everyone only heard a buzzing sound, nothing else.

When the formations retreated, all was silent, and there was no one there.

Mu Xuanling was stunned and then felt a tightness around her waist. A pair of hands reached out from behind, tightly embracing her waist. The person lowered his head, his chin resting on her left shoulder, his low, hoarse voice like a sigh.

“Ling’er…”

Mu Xuanling’s eyes suddenly widened as she turned her head to look at him.

Familiar features, yet an unfamiliar aura. He was Xie Xuechen, yet not like Xie Xuechen!

“You…” She reached out a trembling hand, gently touching his features.

His usually cold and sharp phoenix eyes now surged with deep, intense emotion. His sword-like eyebrows flew diagonally into his temples, even more sharp than before. Her fingertips traced his brow bone, slid down his straight nose, and fell upon his thin lips.

It wasn’t an illusion conjured by the Demon Lord. He was Xie Xuechen. Even with his body full of demonic qi, she wouldn’t mistake him!

“Xie Xuechen…” She choked out his name, turned around, and threw herself into his embrace, her arms tightly hugging his body, afraid he would disappear like a dream. Surging tears wet his clothes. He gently held her trembling, thin body, lowering his head to kiss the top of her head, allowing her to release her grief and wild joy in his arms.

“Ling’er…” His deep, slightly hoarse voice responded tenderly.

She was Ling’er, and also Azhu. Only, for some unknown reason, she had lost her memories and forgotten that he was originally Zhao Ming.

Saint Lord Zhao Ming, Fallen God Zhao Ming, Demon Lord Zhao Ming – no matter who he was, no matter how many years had passed, she was always the one he couldn’t let go of in his heart.

During the ten thousand years of being sealed, he endured the pain of tempering his body day and night. His memories were altered by Tianming, making him forget who he originally was, only knowing himself as the Fallen God Zhao Ming. It wasn’t until the memories belonging to Xie Xuechen merged with his primordial spirit that he vaguely understood many things. Xie Xuechen was a strand of his soul that he had cut off back then, a tribulation that Zhao Ming had experienced in this mortal world. He inherited Saint Lord Zhao Ming’s aspirations, prioritizing humanity and caring for all beings, but like Zhao Ming, he also deeply loved Azhu. It was a bond from past lives, an entanglement that couldn’t be untied. Even Tianming couldn’t separate them.

Everyone looked at the embracing couple in shock. They too recognized that the red-robed Demon Lord was Xie Xuechen…

“Sect Leader Xie…” someone murmured.

Xie Xuechen raised his slightly cold eyebrows, and those swept by his gaze all trembled in fear.

“Demon Lord Zhao Ming.” Only Nan Xuyue coldly called his true name.

Xie Xuechen’s phoenix eyes gazed deeply at Nan Xuyue. Since awakening in Rongyan that day, he had remembered everything. Nan Xuyue was the Tianming Shu he had seen in the Xihe Divine Palace that day.

“Lord Tianming,” Xie Xuechen said coldly, “I didn’t expect you would also fall into the mortal realm.”

After Zhao Ming was suppressed by Tianming Shu, he knew nothing of what happened afterward. Naturally, he didn’t know that Azhu had stormed the Heavenly Palace to save him, resulting in both her and Tianming being grievously injured. He didn’t even understand how he had broken free from the constraints of Tianming’s laws and escaped from beneath Rongyan. He vaguely felt that it had something to do with Azhu, but Azhu had also lost her memories.

“Even after falling into the mortal realm, I am still Tianming,” Nan Xuyue’s aura suddenly became countless times stronger. His handsome and refined face became as cold as if frozen in ice. He raised his chin proudly, looking down at Xie Xuechen. “I suppressed you once, I can suppress you a second time!”