Venerable Xuan Xin and He Xian Wo led the other cultivators to retreat far from the battlefield. Everyone looked at the three intertwined figures with confusion and bewilderment in their eyes.
They couldn’t distinguish who was friend or foe anymore…
“Nan Xu Yue, it’s the Book of Destiny…” Venerable Xuan Xin gazed at the white-robed figure with a complex expression. “Born with ten orifices, truly a reincarnated divine being.”
“Then what’s the background of Xie Xue Chen?” He Xian Wo looked at the red-robed Demon Lord in confusion. “Nan Xu Yue called him Demon Lord Zhao Ming. How come we’ve never heard of someone so powerful?”
Venerable Xuan Xin looked towards the wide-open gate to the Demon Realm. The crimson moon hung high in the night sky, yet there was only silence within – not a single demon soldier could be seen emerging. Feeling something was amiss, Venerable Xuan Xin exchanged a glance with He Xian Wo before flying towards the Demon Realm’s gate.
Shortly after, the two figures flew back, bringing perplexing news.
“The Demon Realm is empty.”
Empty? What did that mean?
It meant there were no demon soldiers, no demon generals, not a single one…
The entire Demon Realm was desolate, dead silent.
“Maybe the Demon Lord devoured all the demons, that’s why he’s so powerful,” He Xian Wo offered his guess.
Venerable Xuan Xin suddenly smiled, though it was a mix of amusement and disbelief.
“I never imagined that the number one demon slayer would be the Demon Lord himself.”
He Xian Wo was also confused. “So is he the Demon Lord or Xie Xue Chen?”
“It should be Xie Xue Chen,” Venerable Xuan Xin said confidently. “Otherwise, Jun Tian wouldn’t still recognize him as its master.”
Nan Xu Yue, wielding his pen knife, maintained a cold expression as he unleashed waves of fierce Chaos energy. No matter how strong the demonic energy was, it was naturally suppressed by the Chaos energy. The knife’s intent corroded the demonic energy, leaving wounds on Xie Xue Chen’s body. But now that he had a Demon Lord’s body, he no longer bled. Instead, demonic energy seeped from his wounds, bringing waves of pain. Mu Xuan Ling helped block the attacks for him. Nan Xu Yue intentionally avoided her, but she kept throwing herself in the path of his blade, causing her white robes to be stained with blood.
Nan Xu Yue frowned slightly and angrily said, “Ling’er, move aside!”
Mu Xuan Ling ignored his words. Nan Xu Yue’s eyes flashed coldly, and a bamboo scroll appeared in his left palm.
“The Book of Destiny!”
That was Nan Xu Yue’s true form, as well as his magical weapon. When the pen-knife fell upon the bamboo scroll, it could write fate and reverse destiny.
The Book of Destiny was a Chaos artifact belonging to the divine race. If a divine being requested destiny to be changed, then that divine being would bear the price. But if destiny was changed for oneself, one had to bear the consequences. Back then, he didn’t agree to A Zhu’s request to rewrite Destiny, because the price of rewriting Destiny was not something they could bear.
Nan Xu Yue unrolled the bamboo scroll and gripped the pen knife tightly, poising it above the scroll.
Mu Xuan Ling was shocked to her core. She flew towards Nan Xu Yue without regard for anything else. A stroke of the pen-knife fell on her chest, and blood immediately soaked through her white robes.
“Ling’er!” Xie Xue Chen cried out in alarm, chasing after her.
Nan Xu Yue looked up and saw the blood on her chest. His pupils contracted instantly. Mu Xuan Ling’s attack arrived in the blink of an eye. He raised his pen knife, Chaos energy condensing at its tip, aiming at her forehead.
He wanted to force her back, using this attack with all his might.
She wanted to stop him from rewriting destiny, also holding nothing back in this move.
Both would be injured, and destroyed together!
A scene from ten thousand years ago flashed through his mind. Nan Xu Yue’s breath caught. Mu Xuan Ling’s attack landed on his divine orifice, the powerful and domineering Chaos energy suddenly bursting open his divine orifice, sending him flying.
Nan Xu Yue fell to the ground, coughing blood, clutching the Book of Destiny tightly. He looked up at Mu Xuan Ling and gave a bitter smile, saying hoarsely, “You were unwilling to wear a wedding dress for me, yet you’re willing to stain your white robes with blood for him…”
Mu Xuan Ling withdrew her hand in a daze, looking at Nan Xu Yue lying motionless on the ground. She asked, “Why did you withdraw your pen-knife?”
She had felt the knife’s intent pierce her skin, yet at the last moment, he had completely withdrawn his attack. He didn’t even try to dodge her attack, taking her full-force strike without any defense.
Nan Xu Yue continuously coughed up blood, the Book of Destiny disappearing from his palm.
“Wounds from Chaos energy… aren’t so easy to heal…” he said in a hoarse voice. “That knife strike to the heart… you would have died… I couldn’t bear it…”
“Ling’er!” Xie Xue Chen embraced her swaying body, but saw her shake her head and say softly, “Don’t worry, I’m fine.”
Nan Xu Yue looked at the two leaning on each other. They were so close, without the slightest gap for him to intervene. She had felt hate towards him, gratitude, apology, pity, but never a hint of love. He thought the long passage of time would be enough for her to forget the past, but it had been ten thousand years… Even for a god, ten thousand years meant several changes of mulberry fields into the sea. Yet time and reincarnation still couldn’t erase the feelings between them.
Was it that he didn’t understand?
He just didn’t understand the sweetness of being in love, only tasting the bitterness of longing.
“Ling’er… That day in Mirror Flower Valley, it was out of selfishness that I didn’t save Xie Xue Chen… I always thought that without Xie Xue Chen, you would eventually see me… But I never imagined you would die for him…” He coughed lightly, spattering drops of blood like red plum blossoms. His clear, moist eyes were full of bitterness. “During the days and nights I watched over you, I was filled with regret…”
Mu Xuan Ling suddenly realized that the person before her was not Destiny, but Nan Xu Yue.
But Destiny and Nan Xu Yue were the same person after all…
“I didn’t want to hurt you, yet I ended up hurting you the deepest… Ling’er, you once promised me a bit of affection, but in the end… even that little bit of affection was taken away… Leaving me with only an apology.”
Nan Xu Yue raised his head to look at Mu Xuan Ling, his wet, gentle brows and eyes reminiscent of when they first met in the forest. He stood before her, smiling and lowering his head, carefully raising his fan to shield her from the scorching sun.
— When I first met you, it felt like an old friend returning. The bright moon in the sky is new, yet morning and night I think of you most…
“Nan Xu Yue…” Mu Xuan Ling walked to his side and knelt, sadly gripping his increasingly cold hand. She could only say sorry, but she knew he didn’t want to hear it.
Nan Xu Yue weakly gripped her fingertips and gave a low laugh, his eyes sparkling with a fragmented smile. “Since there can only be an apology… why not make it a bit more? If I die by your hand… you’re so soft-hearted, perhaps you’ll remember me forever…”
Mu Xuan Ling’s heart ached, tears spilling from her eyes and falling onto his palm.
“Ling’er… tell me… does this… this count as… love?”
Nan Xu Yue died, but the Book of Destiny wouldn’t die. He returned to his divine position, back to Luo Wu Mountain.
“Si Ming is the Book of Destiny. He has the same lifespan as heaven and won’t die, but will only fall into slumber, perhaps for ten thousand years, perhaps for twenty thousand…” Mu Xuan Ling said gloomily. “If heaven had feelings, heaven too would grow old. He should have been sitting high in the clouds, untainted by earthly dust, not ending up like this.”
“He wanted you to remember him, so his wish was granted in a way,” said Xie Xue Chen.
Mu Xuan Ling looked at him carefully and said softly, “Are you angry?”
Xie Xue Chen chuckled and held her soft little hand in his palm, kneading it. “Not exactly angry, but a bit bothered.”
He had scattered his cultivation and died to save Mu Xuan Ling, his dao heart shattered as he turned to demons. Now with a Demon Lord’s body, without the restraint of a dao heart, his words and actions were more casual and heartfelt. Sometimes influenced by demonic energy, he was easily swayed by emotions, unrestrained in the seven emotions. At other times, when the spirit of Saint Zhao Ming dominated, his consciousness would be clearer, and his behavior would appear more cultured and restrained.
Mu Xuan Ling learned from him about what happened after he took the Longevity Lotus, and only then did she realize that the one who saved her seven years ago was the future Xie Xue Chen!
No wonder he had forgotten, it was because he never had those memories in the first place…
At that time, when he breathed his last in front of her, she had only one thought: to save him at all costs. She still didn’t understand what that power surging from within her was, thinking it was just demon energy. How could she have known that her true form was the Chaos Pearl?
“After you scattered your cultivation and turned to demons, why did you become the Demon Lord?” Mu Xuan Ling asked, puzzled. “I’ve never heard of such a thing happening.”
Xie Xue Chen asked in a deep voice, “Ling’er, do you remember what happened ten thousand years ago?”
Mu Xuan Ling shook her head in confusion: “I don’t remember anything… My earliest memory is at Bright Moon Manor.”
Seeing Xie Xue Chen’s solemn expression, she asked nervously, “What exactly happened ten thousand years ago?”
Xie Xue Chen sighed lightly and said, “Ten thousand years ago, the divine race ruled the three realms, viewing all living beings as ants. I killed my way to the divine realm and was suppressed in the Melting Abyss by Destiny at the request of the divine race. Destiny erased my identity and name, and from then on, the world knew not of my existence. I was originally the Human Emperor, Saint Zhao Ming.”
“Zhao Ming…” She softly murmured his name, as if cat claws were gently scratching her heart, causing a slight pain and itch.
Hearing her familiar call, Xie Xue Chen lowered his eyes and smiled, planting a kiss on her forehead.
“It feels so familiar, yet I can’t remember…” Mu Xuan Ling frowned in frustration. “Could it be because Destiny tampered with my memories? But… that shouldn’t be possible, his power isn’t enough to affect me.”
“I have other doubts. What happened after I was sealed, why did the divine race disappear, and where did the demon race come from?” Xie Xue Chen’s gaze darkened, lost in thought. “I think there’s one person who might know the answers.”
Luo Wu Mountain.
The Upper God of the Wheel Mirror was polishing non-existent dust off the Reincarnation Mirror when suddenly, he raised a smile.
“You’ve come.”
He turned around without surprise, smiling at the two people standing side by side behind him.
The red-robed Demon Lord and the white-robed Celestial Maiden.
With their powers restored, the Demon Lord and the Chaos Pearl could easily ascend the God-Slaying Platform.
“Supreme God Lunjing, when we last met, I remember you saying someone had covered the world’s truth with lies, even deceiving you. Have you remembered now?” Xie Xuechen asked.
Supreme God Lunjiang nodded slightly, smiling, “A few days ago, the Book of Heaven’s Mandate returned.”
Mu Xuanling’s eyes flickered.
Supreme God Lunjiang looked at her: “The Book of Heaven’s Mandate fell silent again, but I managed to take a peek. You should know that all written mandates remain on the bamboo slips forever, so I saw everything and remembered everything.”
“What does ‘everything’ refer to?” Xie Xuechen pressed.
“First, naturally, the existence of Holy Lord Zhao Ming, which you know best,” Supreme God Lunjiang said with a smile.
Xie Xuechen nodded: “I want to know what happened after I was sealed. And why Ling’er lost her memories.”
Supreme God Lunjiang’s gentle gaze swept over Mu Xuanling, sighing: “After you were sealed, the Chaos Pearl stormed the Celestial Palace, forcing the Book of Heaven’s Mandate to reverse-write fate to release you. But reverse-writing fate requires an unknown price, which the Book of Heaven’s Mandate was unwilling to pay. The two fought, both were injured, and both fell silent. After the Book of Heaven’s Mandate fell silent, there was a chance to switch heaven and earth – this was the only way to save Holy Lord Zhao Ming.”
Supreme God Lunjiang turned his back, his long sleeve brushing over the Samsara Mirror. A silver light flashed across the mirror, its surface rippling like a lake, gradually becoming clear.
In the mirror, a young woman who looked exactly like Mu Xuanling was covered in blood, barely breathing. She leaned weakly against the Pillar of Heaven, reaching out her right hand to press against her brow. Enduring excruciating pain, she forcibly extracted a golden-red soul from her brow. She was in so much pain that her face turned pale, covered in sweat, almost fainting.
That drop of golden-red sacred blood was gently wrapped in chaos energy. She looked at that drop of soul with lingering affection, softly calling out – “Zhao Ming”…
But even though she was so reluctant, she still let go, allowing that drop of soul to fall into the mortal world.
A round mirror appeared before her. She reached out her right hand, drops of fresh blood falling onto the mirror, which emitted a strange light. After a long time, the figure of a man in green robes appeared in the mirror. The man’s face was handsome and solemn, slowly walking out of the mirror – it was none other than Supreme God Lunjiang.
“From today on, your name will be Lunjiang,” she said in a hoarse voice. “I have given you the power to reverse time and space. You are now the Time Keeper.”
The Time Keeper knelt before her, respectfully calling out: “Lunjiang pays respects to the Supreme God.”
She coughed lightly, extremely exhausted: “My time is running out, listen carefully… The divine race has been destroyed by me, fallen into demons, and suppressed in the Molten Abyss. I’m about to fall into slumber, losing all my power and memories, unable to save Zhao Ming anymore. The only way is to cast his soul into the cycle of reincarnation. After thousands or tens of thousands of years, when the time is right, his soul will enter the Molten Abyss and merge with his physical body, regaining his past life’s memories. This is the only chance of survival I’ve seen after looking through thousands of years of reincarnation cycles…”
The Book of Heaven’s Mandate controlled the laws of fate, while the Chaos Pearl controlled the power of time and space. But fate couldn’t control her destiny, and she couldn’t reverse the laws of fate. Only after mutual destruction could they find a glimmer of hope.
“You’ll probably forget these words soon… Everything about Zhao Ming will be erased by Heaven’s Mandate. You only need to remember to wait here. Many years later, someone will come here. No matter what wish he makes, you must agree and help him.” She frowned, not daring to say too much, fearing it would touch upon fate and be erased, which would ruin everything.
The Time Keeper didn’t dare to ask more. He bowed his head in agreement.
“If the Supreme God loses her memory, what if she finds his soul again?”
A gentle and confident smile appeared on that pale face: “After thousands of years, among the sea of mortals, the one I fall in love with will be him.”
Everything in the Samsara Mirror gradually blurred, only that voice still echoing in the temple.
The Time Keeper’s ethereal voice slowly said: “So I’m not a god, just the embodiment of the Supreme God’s time and space power. The original divine race is now the demon race. Water overflows when full, and the moon wanes – this is the way of heaven. The divine race declined at its peak, one thought makes a god, one thought makes a demon.”
He turned around, slowly bowing to Mu Xuanling. A faint blue smoke emanated from his body, his figure gradually becoming ethereal and misty.
Strands of time and space power floated towards Mu Xuanling, entering her divine aperture. Power filled her divine aperture, and memories gradually became clear.
The Time Keeper respectfully said: “Welcome back, Supreme God.”
As the Time Keeper’s voice sounded, his figure returned to the mirror surface, finally disappearing. The miraculous Samsara Mirror slowly fell into Mu Xuanling’s palm. The sands of time no longer flowed, the mirror surface calm and lightless. Turning it over, one could see drops of fresh blood seeping into the mirror, leaving layers of rouge color, resembling thousands of blooming peach blossoms.
“Zhao Ming…” her voice softly sounded, heavily falling on his heart.
“That day I told you I came from chaos, and that the life and death of all beings meant nothing to me. So you hid it from me, went to the Celestial Palace alone, facing death alone, thinking you were no different from other beings in my heart.”
“But Zhao Ming, I didn’t understand then. You’re different from all other beings in this world. I don’t care about others, I only care about you.”
“I waited for you for ten thousand years, searched for you for ten thousand years, just to find you and tell you this in person.”
“Whether as Ah Zhu or Ling’er, for thousands of years, I want to be with you, never parting in life or death.”
“Do you understand now?”
Her response was a warm embrace. Behind her was his solid chest, his hands covering the back of her hands, his fingertips caressing the peach blossoms on the mirror. Each petal was a thought of love, quietly growing in a place unknown to others, just waiting to bloom in this life.
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The main story ends here~
Thank you to all the readers who have followed the serial, and to those who have actively commented, giving me a lot of motivation to write~~!
The endings of some supporting characters were not addressed in the main text and will be supplemented in the form of extra chapters.
Tentatively planned are the daily lives of the Demon Lord couple, and the future of the Bao-Sheng CP. Because Ah Bao was too young in the main text to fully develop the CP, the extra Qian Duo Tao Hua Yi Shi Kai – Chapter will start when Ah Bao grows up. For Sang Xi’s reincarnation extra, check my Weibo, there’s an extra Qian Duo Tao Hua Yi Shi Kai – Chapter the length of a story outline for you to imagine.
With this, except for the main characters, everyone else has a Bad Ending!