In Qiuyan Mountain, hundreds of Yan Clan immortal spirits worked day and night, constructing new palace buildings. The main hall was already complete, overlooking the mountain valleys from its high peak—not enormously grand but exquisite and refined. “Xiang Su” sat leaning against the railing on the corridor bridge between the main hall and side halls, leisurely watching the Yan Clan on the mountainside use magic to construct houses and the wood spirits invited to help plant flowers and conjure trees.

Red light flashed. “Xiang Su” looked up. Chilin stepped down from Jingyu’s back with an expressionless face and sat wordlessly on the corridor seat opposite.

“Why have you come?” “Xiang Su” was somewhat surprised, yet asked carelessly, “Did I show some flaw?”

Chilin glanced at her. “No, the Fox Clan’s Thousand Faces Technique is truly as legendary as claimed. Hu Chen, you did very well.”

Hearing this, Hu Chen wanted to smile proudly, but by the time the smile reached her lips it all turned bitter. “Thousand Faces Technique, confounding the Five Elements—the Three Realms’ first transformation art, the Fox Clan’s most difficult secret technique to master. I worked day and night practicing for him…” She gathered herself and stopped. She and Chilin weren’t friends who could confide in each other—at most they only shared common secrets and interests. “Deceiving Dong Tianyun this time wouldn’t have succeeded without the blood pearl you gave.” Hu Chen changed the subject, remembering when Dong Tianyun tested her primordial spirit—she’d been so nervous she nearly trembled, afraid the wood spirit energy illusion wasn’t sufficient or subtle mannerisms would reveal flaws.

Chilin’s mood was clearly heavy. She seemed very impatient when responding: “I’ve noted your contribution. On a chosen day, I’ll have your elder brother sacrifice to past Fire Lords and grant him the position of Assisting Lord.”

Hu Chen smiled. Over these fifty years, Chilin had increasingly understood what mutual exploitation meant. “If you’re not rushing to distance yourself from me, why did you personally come to Qiuyan Mountain?”

Chilin froze for a while before murmuring as if to herself: “I can’t find him… but I know he’ll definitely come looking for… you again.”

She’d originally wanted to say Xiang Su, but this name was already a thorn in her heart. Thinking that Dong Tianyun had rushed thousands of miles only to find the transformation-skilled Hu Chen, Chilin actually felt a kind of vengeful satisfaction. This satisfaction hadn’t yet lightened her heart before it was already filled with overwhelming bitterness.

Dong Tianyun hadn’t come yet, but Yumu did.

Seeing him, both Hu Chen and Chilin became somewhat nervous.

Yumu deliberately landed on the jade platform of the main hall, slowly walking up the corridor bridge. Mountain wind blew his flying robe corners—truly worthy of being the Celestial Clan’s Crown Prince, exquisitely refined in every way.

But in Chilin and Hu Chen’s eyes, their hearts held different flavors. Yumu stopped a few steps away from them and suddenly laughed lightly: “Hu Chen, it’s you, isn’t it?”

Hu Chen didn’t answer. Chilin stood up with a stern face, her slightly trembling mouth corners betraying her nervousness.

Yumu swept his robe hem and gracefully sat leaning against the railing, looking at them with amusement. “Chilin, this hastily arranged deception looks quite convincing at first glance, but looking closely… it’s full of holes.”

Chilin snorted, sweeping her robe sleeves with full Dijun dignity and turning away. But Yumu didn’t take her outwardly fierce but inwardly weak gesture to heart. “Without my cooperation, I’m afraid the following acts won’t perform so smoothly?” He leisurely watched the immortal spirits work, as if casually making small talk.

Though Chilin was annoyed and guilty about having her trick exposed, she was helpless. If he hadn’t restrained Tuoying at the Abyss River shore, had they continued talking, the deception might have been exposed on the spot.

Yumu smiled with pressed lips. “See, I’m very sincere. Didn’t I actively come to tell you how to make Qingsui and Yuanhou shut up?”

Chilin whipped around to stare at him. What kind of person Yumu was, she naturally knew. Though he said he was helping her, he actually still wanted to restrain Dong Tianyun. The Celestial Emperor and his son’s intentions were no longer secret when they couldn’t wait to push Tuoying into the Metal-Governing position. Cooperating with him was like seeking skin from a tiger!

Yumu received her glaring eyes with unchanged expression, yet seemed to see through Chilin. “Unwilling? Fine, then I won’t meddle either.” With that, he stood to leave.

Chilin bit her teeth and finally called out to stop him: “Wait!”

Hu Chen watched them coldly, revealing a mocking smile. This man she’d once deeply loved—the more she looked, the more her heart chilled.

“Come with me. We’ll talk on the way.” Yumu smiled, as if to save time. Hu Chen turned her head to look at the mountain scenery. She was no longer a foolish little fox—she understood very well that Yumu had never taken her seriously, never trusted her.

“But I…” Chilin frowned. The only way she could see Dong Tianyun was to foolishly wait here. She’d also thrown the hairpin that resonated with Guwen back into the Abyss River, afraid Dong Tianyun would discover she’d once possessed it and become suspicious.

Yumu laughed, pointing at Chilin from afar like an elder brother. “With me here, are you afraid we can’t find him? Let’s go quickly. You being here is quite inappropriate.”

Chilin hesitated for a while, finally sighing and departing together with Yumu.

When Dong Tianyun’s unique spiritual energy approached, Hu Chen wasn’t surprised. Turning back, he was already standing silently at the other end of the corridor bridge.

When he looked at her, Hu Chen no longer felt he was so frightening—she even felt a trace of pity. Someone who could look at a woman with such eyes would never be like Yumu, making one’s heart turn cold.

Dong Tianyun said nothing. Mountain wind blew his loose dark hair, a few strands brushing across his straight nose bridge, half-covering one eye. Though knowing he wasn’t looking at her real self, Hu Chen still felt heartache and shed tears—not false pretense but genuine emotion. She seemed to understand Dong Tianyun’s current feelings… because she’d also been betrayed and abandoned by someone she deeply loved. The sad thing was, Dong Tianyun was still trying to salvage the situation.

As the Fox King’s youngest child, she’d heard plenty about Shenghuan Dijun’s illustrious past. Such a proud man, at the Abyss River shore in front of so many immortals, even in front of Longzhun, saying words like “I’ve returned, from now on be with me.” From that moment, Hu Chen felt she could never again be as relaxed as when she’d first agreed to Chilin’s request to deceive Dong Tianyun. At least she envied the girl she was impersonating—having someone… love her like this.

“Junshang.” Hu Chen stood up but didn’t have courage to approach. After mastering Thousand Faces Technique, she’d impersonated many people, but this was the first time feeling such guilt and self-reproach.

“Come with me.” Dong Tianyun said simply. He didn’t care about anything anymore. This was the only thing he wanted to say to her.

Hu Chen shook her head. Perhaps Dong Tianyun still had more to say, but she couldn’t bear to hear it anymore. She didn’t want such a man who looked down upon all things to speak words of pleading. He couldn’t see through this conspiracy—such beautiful feelings betrayed—even she… felt immense pain and regret.

“I’ve resolved to spend my life with Longzhun.”

Spend a life together… The corners of Dong Tianyun’s mouth moved slightly. This phrase now sounded harsh and bitter. Had she forgotten? She’d sighed that a mortal’s life was short, looking at him with fortunate eyes and saying how lucky they had endless long life and could always be together. He somewhat despised himself. If she could so easily forget her vows to him, then he wished… she could also change her promise to another man.

Fifty years of darkness beneath the Abyss River—longing for her had become a kind of demonic obsession. Even turned into such a laughable and pitiful scene as now, he still couldn’t let go.

He didn’t believe it. He’d managed to return from beneath the Abyss River after enduring a thousand hardships—what could possibly prevent her from returning to his side? Longzhun? Worldly opinions? He didn’t care about any of it.

“Junshang… forget me, please forget me.” Hu Chen said, suddenly bursting into tears. She’d never lost composure like this before. This time she was crying for “Xiang Su.” She even felt it wouldn’t be so bad if Dong Tianyun saw through her. She wanted to tell him that the girl he liked never betrayed him… she waited for him until the very end of her life.

Dong Tianyun didn’t doubt, only stood rigidly on the corridor bridge where mountain winds passed through, asking: “Why?”

“Is Shenghuan Dijun honoring us with a visit?” Longzhun’s form was light and graceful. When he flew up to the corridor bridge, he was incomparably elegant. He held a small bamboo basket in his hands, respectfully raising his hand to invite Dong Tianyun to sit in the main hall. “Qiuyan Mountain’s tea is quite acceptable. Dijun must try some.”

Hu Chen quickly wiped away the tears covering her face, afraid Longzhun would notice something unusual.

Dong Tianyun still stood without moving. Longzhun felt somewhat awkward and self-deprecatingly took a green fruit from the basket to hand to Hu Chen. “This was specially sent by Plum Immortal. Try it. Don’t you love eating plums most?”

Hu Chen absent-mindedly accepted it, daring to look neither at Dong Tianyun nor Longzhun. Just as she was about to bite, Longzhun pulled her hand back. “How confused I am.” He smiled apologetically, taking back the green fruit from her hand and using magic to clean it thoroughly before returning it to Hu Chen, smiling: “Eat it. It’s good now.”

Dong Tianyun slowly lowered his eyes. He finally somewhat understood her choice. Xiang Su had actually always been someone who feared loneliness. Having someone so attentive, gentle, and reliable appear by her side was better than following him in wandering displacement. Now he was half-immortal, half-demon with an uncertain future—he couldn’t give her such a stable life.

He turned to leave. Hu Chen clutched the green fruit in her hand, taking a step forward in pursuit, no longer caring about Longzhun beside her, crying: “Junshang, don’t hold resentment against me!”

Don’t resent the pitiful girl she was impersonating, and don’t resent her as the impersonator either. She already deeply regretted making this deal with Chilin, but had no way to retreat.

Dong Tianyun stood for a while before slowly turning back. Hu Chen couldn’t raise her head to see his expression, only hearing him say lightly: “Don’t say foolish things…” He seemed to want to say more comforting words but ultimately only returned to silence, turning to depart on a cloud.

Before coming to Qiuyan Mountain, Dong Tianyun felt his resolve was incomparably firm, yet with just a few words from Xiang Su and Longzhun’s eyes and smile, he was defeated. He rarely lost, but regarding Xiang Su… he lost quite miserably, only because he hoped she would live well.

After falling into the Abyss River, he’d perhaps changed too. In just fifty years, everything had transformed—he’d also lost his formerly unshakable confidence. He’d once believed without doubt that only he could give Xiang Su the best. He’d broken his word to her, letting her at the Abyss River shore use that expression to say she didn’t want to be alone anymore. He had some awakening… perhaps what she wanted, he couldn’t give.

For the first time, Dong Tianyun drifted aimlessly on a cloud not knowing where to go. Besides his birthplace Nine Extremes Mountain, he seemed to have nowhere to settle. He smiled somewhat self-mockingly—even Dong Tianyun had such desolate moments.

Several colorfully dressed people came from the opposite direction. Chilin wasn’t riding the phoenix but also traveling on a cloud with the others. Seeing him, her face full of anxiety, she quickly approached and looked at his expression with concern.

Dong Tianyun didn’t resist Chilin stepping onto his cloud. Today he felt especially lonely. Though he hadn’t particularly liked Chilin before… but speaking of it, she was that person who hadn’t changed much. Was this also fate mocking him?

Yumu still smiled warmly like spring breeze, suggesting: “First settle at my manor and discuss the Shen Nong Ding matter in detail.”

“I’m not going!” Qingsui said decisively. “Jin Zhan, Yanji, return to the manor with me.” Usually so easygoing, she seemed to have encountered something that annoyed her.

Yuanhou’s spirits were also not high. He lazily looked at Dong Tianyun. “I followed along only wanting to find you and ask about your future plans. Shenghuan Manor…” He somewhat mockingly drew out his tone, obviously speaking for Yumu to hear, “…can’t be returned to either.”

Dong Tianyun pondered a moment. “Let’s temporarily settle by the Abyss River.”

Yuanhou raised his brows, smiling and shaking his head. “You really know how to pick places. By the Abyss River shores, magical power will decrease by thirty percent. This is even more troublesome than last time when I built Shenghuan Manor for you.”

“Flowers and plants don’t grow well there either!” Qingsui frowned and complained. It seemed she wasn’t leaving after all.

“You all go. Why should I follow?” Rebellious youth Yanji erupted again. Earlier, Bai Zhicao had seen these people and cried like his parents died, insisting he go with them, saying he could learn the most superior magic, and privately saying he could see Xiang Su anytime. Now it seemed like another trap! Running east and west like a fool, and she… had completely disappeared without a trace—no one even mentioned her.

Dong Tianyun glanced at him, not expecting Water Lord Qing Ze reborn as a youth would have such behavior. In a bad mood plus past “grievances,” he raised a hand and pointed. A purple demonic energy like chains wrapped around Yanji. Yanji struggled several times, glaring angrily: “What are you doing?”

Dong Tianyun acted as if he heard nothing, teasing like playing with a dog, leisurely pointing east then west. Yanji, bound by demonic energy, was dragged running back and forth, so angry his veins bulged.

“What are you doing?” Qingsui jumped out protectively, wanting to break the demonic energy and free Yanji.

“Want to let him go?” Dong Tianyun raised an eyebrow. “Let him go and he’ll leave.”

Qingsui glared at him. Dong Tianyun’s infuriating nature truly never changed in ten thousand years. At a time like this, he still had the mood to toy with Yanji. Of course she couldn’t let Yanji go. She could only smile soothingly and pull Yanji’s hand bound at his side. “Don’t be angry. I’ll take you to see amazing big magic tricks.”

Yuanhou unhappily pulled down the corners of his mouth. His famed-throughout-the-Three-Realms earth-controlling city-conjuring technique was “big magic tricks”?

Yanji shook off Qingsui’s hand, feeling her smile looked more and more like a human trafficker luring children to sell. “What do you want, old hag!” Actually Qingsui wasn’t old, but he felt she was like an ancient monster a generation older, probably because Bai Zhicao had respectfully knelt to her calling her Dijun Elder Sister, leaving such an impression. Though this appearance was quite good, heaven knows how old she actually was? Even Xiang Su was over three hundred years old.

Seeing Qingsui so disdained, Yuanhou’s mood improved considerably. He chuckled several times, drawing Qingsui’s fierce glare.

Yuanhou controlled earth to create mountains by the Abyss River. Because it consumed more magical power than elsewhere, his face appeared pale. Many earth spirits were summoned to meticulously construct palace buildings on the mountain—earth spirits’ specialty was building cities and houses. Dong Tianyun sat on a stone silently watching. He’d originally only wanted to build a few simple dwellings, but Yuanhou insisted on such grand undertaking for complex reasons, so he let it be.

Yanji had long been freed from restraints but was stunned by Yuanhou’s earth-controlling technique, forcing himself to look calm as he watched the earth spirits cast spells. This was magnificence and wonder beyond his imagination.

“You, create a waterfall on the west slope.” Dong Tianyun’s mood improved somewhat. The feeling of having nowhere to return finally dissipated. Looking back and seeing Yanji’s unworldly foolish appearance, he couldn’t help wanting to tease him again.

Yanji snorted defiantly. Knowing he lacked this power, why speak mockingly?

Qingsui looked at Dong Tianyun and shook her head. “Spiritual consciousness hasn’t awakened. Can’t force it. Better call Mingyu.”

Dong Tianyun contemptuously quirked his mouth corner. Qingsui watched and wanted to shake her head again. Previously he and Qing Ze already couldn’t stand each other—now even a mortal world child received his mockery. Obviously venting evil fire.

Yumu summoned Mingyu. After creating water, Mingyu stood on the mountain cliff, bowing from afar to Yanji. Yanji had no reaction, thinking he was bowing to others.

Jin Zhan watched somewhat disheartened. With Water Lord’s current condition, he probably couldn’t extract Xiang Su’s soul. Estimating wood spirits would be needed soon, Jin Zhan took advantage of everyone watching the spectacular spirit arts in the mountains to very carefully take out the soul pearl from the Jade Rain Basin and hide it in his lapel. Just as he’d hidden it safely, Qingsui was already beginning to create trees and conjure flowers. Jin Zhan quickly handed over the Jade Rain Basin. When passing by Chilin shoulder to shoulder, Jin Zhan nervously broke out in cold sweat. Fortunately, Chilin’s attention was entirely on Dong Tianyun—she didn’t take this little wood spirit seriously at all.

The Abyss River’s spiritual energy was peculiar. Many flowers and plants Qingsui planted withered. Just as she was frowning helplessly, Dong Tianyun walked over, took the Jade Rain Basin, and said in a heavy voice: “I’ll do it.”

His spiritual consciousness resonated with the Abyss River. He conjured flowers and plants half-belonging to the divine realm and half-belonging to the demon realm—the scenery fantastically magnificent. Even Qingsui had never seen such things. Everyone was even more stunned watching.

“This place really resembles the border between the divine realm and demon realm.” Qingsui picked a deep purple flower to examine closely with wonder. The flower pistil actually had twinkling starpoints.

But Dong Tianyun’s expression became even more icy. No matter how beautiful here was, the person he most wanted to show it to… would never come.

Jin Zhan had been watching in amazement when suddenly something moved in his lapel. That soul pearl actually fell out on its own, rolling toward Yanji. Jin Zhan was shocked and alarmed, unable to save it in time.