Above the peach forest hung a cold, clear moon.

Liu Shuang’s eyes stung with sorrow. She said hoarsely, “Shao You, Princess Cai Yi isn’t good enough. She wouldn’t dare oppose Feng Fuming for your sake. I… I’m not good either. I’m worse than her. I’ve only caused you pain, never giving you peace, never bringing you any happiness.”

If that day, Shao You had obtained the dragon blood, if Kun Lun’s spirit veins had never become unstable, if he had returned safely, and she had quietly waited for him, would everything have been different?

Yet it was ultimately impossible to return to that time. As Wo Jiang had said, no one was at fault; it was simply the workings of fate. Bai Zhuixu’s soul had scattered in the Primordial Mirror. The brother who had raised her since childhood was dead, dying alone on Demon Mountain, transforming into endless snow in the mortal realm.

In her profound grief, she understood that in her previous life, Yan Chaosheng had married her for her Emblem Heart, and that Kung Sang had been destroyed by his hand.

Liu Shuang said, “Shao You, neither of us is good. So, don’t choose anyone.”

Shao You looked at her and said, “Alright.”

She hadn’t expected Shao You to agree even to this and looked up at him.

“Didn’t you say to trust you?”

Liu Shuang said, “Shao You, you’re so good. You’re always so good.”

Shao You lowered his gaze with a bitter smile. What use was being good? With spirit veins depleting, he couldn’t save Kun Lun through his power, nor could he choose the person he loved.

Liu Shuang said softly, “You shouldn’t trust me either, Shao You. Turmoil across the Eight Wildernesses is difficult to avoid. The young lords of the four great immortal realms each have their missions. If one day I hurt you for Kung Sang’s sake and you’re unprepared, you’ll be hurt…”

Shao You interrupted her, saying, “Liu Shuang, don’t make yourself sound so terrible.”

Never again would anyone disregard life and death for him, carrying a soul lamp into the Eight Bitterness Valley, fearing his soul would have nowhere to go, foolishly gathering his soul.

Shao You continued, “When you were at You Mountain, I couldn’t be by your side. When the great Young Master Bai fell, I couldn’t even offer a word of comfort. I’ve never done anything for you, so how could I demand perfection from you? Liu Shuang, we all have many constraints. You needn’t fear my being hurt. Either way, it’s the path I’ve chosen, my intention. That I can express it brings me joy.”

Liu Shuang couldn’t bear his gentleness. She would have preferred Shao You to scold her harshly rather than accept her so graciously. She said sorrowfully, “My heart is scarred. I’ve barely managed to piece it together and find it again. I can hardly love anyone anymore.”

Liu Shuang opened her palm, revealing a white spirit fruit.

Shao You saw the Oath Fruit in her palm. Well-traveled and knowledgeable, he had naturally seen the demons’ loyalty fruit before.

“Why is it white?”

Liu Shuang said, “Because I grew it. The immortals’ Oath Fruit is white.”

Shao You seemed to understand something as he looked at her, his face paling.

“Is it Yan Chaosheng?”

He was remarkably perceptive, and Liu Shuang had never intended to hide it from him. She nodded and said softly, “Yes. Shao You, you see, I cannot be your true spiritual partner. I planted the Oath Fruit with my own hands, as if staining myself with sinful karma. I cannot extricate myself, and I don’t want to involve you in my affairs.”

Shao You’s lips moved slightly.

Liu Shuang, afraid his words might cause her to waver, suppressed her emotions and quickly continued, “The best solution I can think of is for us to have a false spirit union. On our wedding day, have my father merge Kung Sang’s spirit veins with Kun Lun’s. From then on, we prosper or suffer together. Shao You, you’ve always lived honorably. I don’t want you to become Feng Fuming’s puppet, driven to attack the demon realm.”

“But this way, the Chi Shui Realm Lord will blame you.”

Liu Shuang lowered her gaze and smiled, “Compared to Kun Lun’s people dying, or you leading troops against the demons, what do a few reproaches matter?”

Shao You remained silent, gripping the scroll in his hand. In his heart, he knew that what Liu Shuang proposed was the best solution. A false spirit union would allow Kun Lun to obtain spirit veins, and he wouldn’t have to become Feng Fuming’s blade. In this arrangement, the only person who would suffer was Liu Shuang herself.

Liu Shuang said softly, “Shao You, I’ve been thinking about something lately. The Way of Heaven is manifest. In ancient times, the Phoenix Clan goddess and the evil god Dan Tai Jin sealed their daughter, Goddess Zi Mi’s bloodline, allowing her to live an ordinary immortal’s life. From then on, the world had neither gods nor evil gods, only immortals and demons. No one has considered that the Way of Heaven should be balanced, yet for various reasons, demons have declined to this state. Spirit veins are depleting, and the rise of demons is simply responding to circumstances—a predestined fate under the Way of Heaven that no one can escape.”

“On the day all demons perish and evil runs rampant, who can guarantee that immortals plagued by inner demons won’t become the next monsters? Who can imagine that when demons, bearing evil and suffering, are destroyed, a new evil god might be born?”

“So you’ve thought about this too…” said Shao You.

He was shocked, never imagining that the words buried deep in his heart would come from an immortal lady barely a few hundred years old. While the Eight Wildernesses fought to the death over a spirit vein, she had already glimpsed the consequences of demon extinction.

Shao You had indeed considered these things, which was why he didn’t support the complete extermination of demons. But such “treasonous” views in the immortal realm had never been expressed to anyone.

Yet she had her deep thoughts and plans.

Shao You said softly, “I understand. What do you need me to do?”

Liu Shuang said, “There’s something I’ve been hesitating about. Shao You, can you divine for me?”

The Ji Mo clan’s ability to see fate required an enormous price. If this matter didn’t require Shao You’s help and impact Liu Shuang’s final decision, she wouldn’t have asked him.

Shao You nodded, “What shall I divine?”

“Kung Sang’s future. Not too far—seven hundred years from now will do.” She wanted to know what would happen to Kung Sang if she did nothing.

“Very well.” Shao You summoned his divination peachwood. Compared to Immortal Master Wo Jiang’s divination techniques, Shao You’s peachwood pieces had a lustrous color, like polished jade.

The peachwood dispersed in the air. Shao You formed a seal with one hand while drawing blood from his heart with the other.

The blood scattered and merged with the peachwood, making it even more lustrous. The next moment, it seemed to become transparent, blooming with countless flowers.

This was Liu Shuang’s first time seeing Shao You use such divination techniques—beautiful and sacred. His skills were even more advanced than Immortal Master Wo Jiang’s, truly befitting a descendant of Kun Lun’s gods.

Shao You opened his eyes and saw the divination, his heart sinking.

Liu Shuang asked, “What is it?”

The night breeze stirred Liu Shuang’s robes. She didn’t realize her knuckles had turned white with tension.

Shao You looked at her for a long time before softly uttering a single word.

“Destruction.”

Liu Shuang’s face turned ashen as she froze at the jade table.

Destruction? Annihilation? So this would still be Kung Sang’s fate.

“Divinations can be wrong. I’ll divine again.”

Liu Shuang shook her head, “Shao You, there’s no need.” She knew Shao You’s divinations were never wrong. If he said Kung Sang wouldn’t exist seven hundred years later, it must be true.

She had come from that era. In her previous life, Kung Sang had already been destroyed by Yan Chaosheng’s hand. Not only that, but all the immortal realms, large and small, had fallen to Yan Chaosheng. In her previous life, even Kun Lun had bowed to him. The only one who could barely oppose Yan Chaosheng was Feng Fuming, supported by Ji Xianghan.

Liu Shuang knew she had no more room for hesitation. She had no choice.

Even for Kung Sang’s sake, she couldn’t allow Yan Chaosheng the opportunity to become the invincible Demon Lord of the future. If he followed the path of her previous life, Kung Sang was destined for destruction, becoming a sacrifice to the balance of the Way of Heaven.

She hadn’t been reborn to watch Kung Sang’s destruction again.

She wanted to defy fate and save Kung Sang. The ancient Phoenix Goddess Li Susu had done it, proving destiny wasn’t fixed.

If Yan Chaosheng lived, Kung Sang would fall. If Yan Chaosheng died, he would either practice the Ghost Path, or the demon realm’s last backbone would break, causing them to scatter completely. The Eight Wildernesses would fall into chaos, demons would vanish, and new evil gods would arise in response. The overly prosperous immortal realms would still decline.

The fate of all ancient demons sealed in the Desolate Abyss would become their future fate. If another Dan Tai Jin were born, would there be a Phoenix Goddess to oppose him?

Therefore, Yan Chaosheng could neither grow powerful enough to destroy Kung Sang nor be allowed to die.

The life and death of countless beings across the Eight Wildernesses were interconnected. This was no longer about her grievances.

Seeing Liu Shuang’s terrible expression, Shao You waved his sleeve. From beneath a distant peach tree, a jar of Immortal Intoxication flew out. Shao You conjured two jade cups, pouring one for Liu Shuang and one for himself.

“Drink a little. The last Immortal Intoxication in the Eight Wildernesses.”

Liu Shuang had only heard of Immortal Intoxication but never seen it.

“Where did it come from?”

Shao You didn’t answer and drank his in one gulp. Liu Shuang had never seen him drink before and roughly understood that his mood tonight was also complex and sorrowful. She followed his example and took a sip. Immortal Intoxication tasted rich and penetrated her divine soul.

After one sip, she couldn’t help taking another, almost forgetting what she had just said. Soon her cup was empty.

Liu Shuang reached to pour more. Shao You covered her cup and said calmly, “One cup is enough. More will make you drunk.”

Even gods could get drunk.

Liu Shuang had to withdraw her hand. One cup of Immortal Intoxication made her somewhat confused, no longer resembling the person who had been analyzing the Eight Wildernesses’ situation with Shao You. At least she wasn’t as pale as when she heard about Kung Sang’s destruction.

Shao You suddenly asked, “Do you… Like him?”

Liu Shuang looked at him with unfocused eyes. “Who?”

“Yan Chaosheng.”

She didn’t answer Shao You’s question, only grabbing his sleeve and murmuring, “I want to seal him.”

Sealing Yan Chaosheng was the last resort. She would rather abandon all past grievances to bring this to an end.

Shao You was surprised, not expecting this answer. From Liu Shuang’s words, he guessed Kung Sang’s destruction was likely related to Yan Chaosheng. What did Liu Shuang know?

Shao You said softly to Liu Shuang, “Let’s go back. We’ll do as you said. Thank you for saving Kun Lun. I’ll help you do what you want to do.”

One cup of Immortal Intoxication had flushed her small face. She sat dazed for a while, heard Shao You’s words, and obediently stood up, but was too dizzy to find her way.

Shao You sighed, supporting her. With a wave of his hand, the peach forest rustled, “Cen Cui, escort the Chi Shui Young Lady to the immortal pavilion. She’s drunk.”

A small peach wood fairy materialized from the peach forest and led Liu Shuang away.

Shao You sat back down and poured himself two more cups.

When Wo Jiang came running with his hair standing on end, Shao You had already drunk three cups, his face showing a faint blush. Seeing Wo Jiang, he smiled, “Master.”

Wo Jiang’s heart nearly shattered. With trembling hands, he exclaimed, “This old man’s Immortal Intoxication, the last jar of Immortal Intoxication! Disciple, this master trusted you so much that he buried it in your immortal pavilion, yet you dug it up and drank it, drank it!”

The last two words nearly broke in pitch.

However, looking down at his usually composed disciple, Wo Jiang saw hidden sorrow in his eyes and couldn’t say anything more.

“I used the Immortal Intoxication to coax her back. Master, I didn’t want her to see my distress.”

Wo Jiang felt deeply pained. Taking back the nearly depleted Immortal Intoxication, he said, “Young Lord, you normally don’t drink. Three cups have made you so drunk.”

Shao You lowered his gaze and said, “Indeed, I’m in such a disgraceful state. Fortunately, she didn’t see it.”

In the twelfth month of the mortal realm, snow fell in flurries.

Liu Shuang sent little Qing Luan back to the Demon Palace to deliver a message to Yan Chaosheng, while she returned to Kung Sang with Shao You.

They rode Shao You’s immortal carriage, followed by a magnificent procession carrying numerous betrothal gifts. Before Feng Fuming could react and take further action, they planned to complete the spirit union in Kung Sang to save Kun Lun’s depleting spirit veins.

After that day’s conversation, Shao You showed no unusual behavior, but Liu Shuang felt somewhat embarrassed.

Things like the Oath Fruit—discussing it with Shao You had required her to completely open up. Fortunately, Shao You’s reaction had been relatively calm. Otherwise, meeting him now would have been mortifyingly awkward.

She borrowed divine jade refined from Shao You’s Shennong Cauldron, finally able to carefully place Bai Zhuixu’s soul inside.

Shao You asked her, “With his soul scattered like this, can the Immortal Lord still be revived?”

“I’m not certain,” Liu Shuang said. “But as long as there’s a glimmer of hope, I’ll try my best.”

Shao You knew Bai Zhuixu had been killed by Yan Chaosheng, but hadn’t realized Bai Zhuixu still had a wisp of scattered soul remaining.

Watching little Qing Luan’s departing figure, Shao You frowned, “Will Yan Chaosheng come?” After all, that was the Kung Sang Immortal Realm. What demon wanted throughout the Eight Wildernesses would dare appear openly in one of the four great immortal realms unless they truly didn’t fear death?

“He will,” Liu Shuang said softly. “He will come.”

If only for the Emblem Heart, Yan Chaosheng might not risk it, calculating that he had plenty of time. But if Liu Shuang were to unite spirits with Shao You, regardless of whether it was real or false, with his temperament, he would come. From the moment he jumped into the Weak Waters, embracing her without hesitation, she should have known Yan Chaosheng would come. Moreover, now that they had both eaten the Oath Fruit, even for his own sake, he would come.

The demons’ dominance was known throughout the Eight Wildernesses, especially the young Demon Lord. How could he tolerate his woman being touched by another?

Yan Chaosheng had even gouged out a demon’s eyes before. A man’s possessiveness was no weaker than a woman’s.

The wind picked up. She wondered how Yan Chaosheng would react when little Qing Luan returned to the Demon Palace with the news.

Imagining the scene, she lowered her gaze and smiled, finding the image vivid, as if right before her eyes.

He would certainly tremble with anger, his eyes probably turning red with hatred, wanting to strangle her.

Upon hearing that Liu Shuang and Shao You had returned to Kun Lun together, Chi Shui Chong was greatly surprised. When he learned of Shao You’s intention to unite spirits with Liu Shuang before Feng Fuming could prevent it, Chi Shui Chong couldn’t help but laugh, “Good, good!”

With two consecutive “goods,” Liu Shuang looked at Chi Shui Chong and silently sighed in her heart. In her father’s mind, Shao You’s spirit union with her was also a sign of submission.

Chi Shui Chong saw this as Shao You supporting his bid to become the Heavenly Lord.

They all viewed Shao You as a blade to be wielded across the Eight Wildernesses, but Liu Shuang didn’t think so. In her plan, Shao You would live unrestrained.

“On the wedding day, Yan Chaosheng will come. At that time, use the Fu Xi Seal to set up a formation,” Liu Shuang said. “With the Demon Suppression Pagoda gone, only the Fu Xi Seal remains in the world that can seal Yan Chaosheng.”

This was why she had done so much to lure Yan Chaosheng here. The Fu Xi Seal was Kun Lun’s founding cornerstone. The formation could only be set at the Sky Palace atop Kun Lun.

Beneath the Sky Palace lay the Sea of Nothingness.

That would be Yan Chaosheng’s resting place.

On the day the formation was arranged, Liu Shuang personally went to see it. This was her first time seeing the Fu Xi Seal. The golden divine seal bore cracks but still radiated a brilliance too dazzling to look at directly.

“Father,” Liu Shuang frowned at the magnificent and terrifying formation. “I want to seal him, not kill him! Tell the elders to alter the divine seal’s power.”

Because of Bai Zhuixu, Chi Shui Chong had long harbored murderous intent toward Yan Chaosheng. He knew even more than Liu Shuang, fearing that the future Eight Wildernesses would belong to the demons.

“Since he’s coming, we cannot let him leave alive.”

“If you set up a killing formation, I will not proceed with the spirit union. Then he will never come.”

“Liu Shuang!”

Liu Shuang’s expression remained unchanged as she looked at him stubbornly.

Chi Shui Chong raged, “Why? Are you reluctant to see him die? During this time of pretense, have you truly fallen for a demonic creature?!”