In the vast sky, the remnants of chaos and the power of the heavenly dao watched as the figure emerged once more from the swirling vortex, yet they remained subdued, not daring to act recklessly.
Even knowing this figure was weaker than before, they obediently shrank into the shadows, unwilling to provoke.
Not far away, the Rain-Transforming Epiphyllum bloomed boldly as ever.
Xiao Yuyan’s gaze swept over the faint lotus pattern of the Silent Jade Lotus on his sleeve, his eyes filled with an emotion akin to willingly drowning in intoxication.
In the century-spanning vortex of time, the Silent Jade Lotus Xu Wanci had shaped with her spiritual energy, protected by his own, had finally settled onto his sleeve, transforming into an indelible mark.
This return to the past had taken its toll on him, yet the aura around him was unprecedentedly calm.
Because he had heard her answer.
She had said, "Yes."
All his desires had been indulged in that single word.
He knew her words were binding, that she never made promises lightly.
So, in that moment of her reply, he suddenly realized:
It had always been him.
The one who had carved himself into her bones, the one she would defy everything for—it was never the "him" from a century ago, but the him of now.
Desire sighed in satisfaction within his heart.
Xiao Yuyan looked down at Xu Wanci in the mortal realm, his eyes carrying a tenderness as light and gentle as falling snow.
The entities lurking in the void seemed to sense his mood, silently drawing closer.
The whispers in his heart rose again, stoking his desires:
"See how much she loves you."
"She waited a hundred years for you. Can you bear to make her wait longer?"
No one understood his desires better than Xiao Yuyan himself. Every voice in his heart stemmed from his own longing:
"If you return to the past and fill in the gaps of your shared history, you can truly become the man in her memories."
"You can stand by her side forever in the present."
"You can have her completely—hear her call your name every day, see her smile, watch the sunrise and sunset with her, witness the flowers bloom and wither together."
At that moment, the temporal vortex nearby began drifting toward him.
Everything around him seemed to clamor, luring him back to the past, back to her side.
Human desire knew no bounds.
The moment one desire was fulfilled, countless more would arise.
The calm in Xiao Yuyan’s eyes was gradually overtaken by darkness, his hand tightening imperceptibly.
Yet when his gaze fell on the Silent Jade Lotus pattern flickering on his sleeve—a reaction to his turbulent emotions—his grip loosened, the spiritual energy in his palm dissipating quietly.
The temporal vortex from a century ago was too entangled with fate to be replicated. No matter how powerful he was now, surpassing all in the void, each return eroded it further, until one day, it would vanish entirely.
Even if he went back, how many more times could he see her?
Would each journey into the past only deepen her suffering, adding to the century of pain she had endured?
The moment rationality overcame desire, he finally realized:
The one who had caused her a hundred years of agony was also him.
The him of now.
Xiao Yuyan watched Xu Wanci practicing her swordplay beneath the Illusionary Blossom Tree, his gaze a mix of willing surrender and remorse.
He allowed himself to drown in his emotions yet restrained every impulse to reach for her.
The corners of his lips lifted, but his smile was tinged with sorrow. At the same time, the heavenly dao forces nearby had no chance to flee before being engulfed and assimilated by his spiritual energy.
Not just those around him—every remnant of heavenly dao power in the void was dragged into his body, becoming part of his reforged form.
The torrential influx of heavenly dao energy shattered and rebuilt his meridians a hundred times over in an instant.
But he paid no heed to the pain, nor to the deafening whispers rising in his heart.
In this moment, he was merciless to himself.
His eyes, once cool and detached, now held a frigidity capable of destroying everything—softening only when they landed on Xu Wanci.
Only by becoming strong enough could he protect her.
Only then could he watch her grow powerful, watch her claim everything she desired.
As long as she was there, he would never lose his way.
In the mortal realm, beneath the Joyous Blossom Tree, Xu Wanci sheathed her Nine Heavens Sword.
As if proving something to herself, she had been practicing tirelessly since waking, refusing to pause.
The intoxication of the dream did not mean she would be swayed in reality.
Even if she wished to lose herself, the dream constantly reminded her—it was just a dream.
Recalling the final moment of the dream, when she heard Xiao Yuyan’s "wish," she abruptly closed her eyes, veiling all emotion.
His "wish" aligned perfectly with the lie she had fabricated in reality.
The true Immortal Venerable Qingyan would never... make such a request of her.
A demand without reason, one only she would sense as wrong.
That was why, in that moment, she had agreed without hesitation.
And yet...
Remembering Xiao Yuyan’s focused expression as he gathered lotus seeds in the dream, her heartbeat still faltered for a second.
That version of him felt so real that she couldn’t help but... be moved.
Perhaps it was precisely because she recognized her own loss of control that her subconscious had forced her to face the truth.
Xu Wanci sensed the slightly diminished spiritual energy within her, her long lashes fluttering faintly as a thought crossed her mind:
After all, it was only a dream with a predetermined end.
Once the dream truly concluded, she would naturally walk away.
When she opened her eyes again, they were utterly calm.
Her fingers brushed over the Nine Heavens Sword at her wrist. Now that rationality had returned, she suddenly realized—it had been a long time since she had heard any news about the male lead, Chu Qingchuan.
Thinking of his heaven-defying luck in the original story, where he obtained whatever he desired, she exhaled slowly:
Before leaving the Taiqing Sect, his cultivation had already neared the Great Ascension realm.
With his fortune, he must have gained much in this time, likely reaching a level no weaker than hers.
Her current cultivation was only at Great Ascension—far from enough.
Spiritual energy surged around her as the Nine Heavens Sword reappeared in her hand:
She had noticed Chu Qingchuan’s vindictiveness even while reading the original story.
Since the incident with the Formless Divine Stone, their relationship could only be one of enmity.
To break free from the shackles of the original plot, to surpass Chu Qingchuan and ascend successfully—only then could she truly protect herself.
Now she could live without constant fear, without worrying about her lies being exposed or the fate of the original story—free and at peace.
With the immortal energy from the tribulation grounds, she might just have the strength to compete with Chu Qingchuan.
As Xu Wanci had guessed, Chu Qingchuan had also successfully ascended to the Great Ascension realm.
However, his path to ascension had been nothing short of brutal.
That day, under the calculated flattery and temptation of the Bai Family head, he had resolved to prove his identity as the Child of Destiny by venturing once more into the Soul-Corroding Forest.
He knew how dangerous the forest was for cultivators, but during his first visit, he had emerged unscathed and even obtained a supreme treasure.
This time, despite knowing the Bai Family head was testing him, he still agreed.
The Bai Family head was far more ruthless and selfish than the Jiang Family head. To secure the Bai Family’s support, he had to prove his worth—his destiny.
Yet he never expected this journey to be so perilous.
He faced death three times, suffered severe injuries that damaged his meridians and dantian, and only after barely surviving did he find the treasure to break through to the Great Ascension realm in a hidden cave.
His wounds were so grave that he had no choice but to fuse with the treasure on the spot, barely managing to ascend.
An imperfect Great Ascension—one that might never progress further, without even triggering a heavenly tribulation.
At this thought, Chu Qingchuan clenched his fists.
Since the beginning of his cultivation journey, everything had gone smoothly. Even when injured, he would immediately find spiritual treasures to heal himself and even boost his cultivation.
Never had he been so battered—repeatedly on the brink of death, his cultivation compromised.
And the Bai Family…
They had sent him into the Soul-Corroding Forest but provided no support.
Only Bai Wanyi, who adored him, defied her father and insisted on accompanying him.
Thinking of Bai Wanyi’s devotion, his expression softened slightly.
But then…
He recalled the protective treasures he had generously left with her, believing the forest too dangerous for her. A shadow flickered in his eyes:
Had he kept those treasures, his injuries wouldn’t have been so severe.
Just then, a voice dripping with sweetness and affection called out:
"Qingchuan-gege!"
Chu Qingchuan looked up and saw a figure at the forest’s edge.
Bai Wanyi’s white robes were stained with blood and dirt, her hands and neck marred by cuts.
She, who always cared for her appearance, now wore grime on her face without a second thought.
Her eyes, clear as autumn water, brimmed with worry and heartache:
"Qingchuan-gege, are you hurt?"
Chu Qingchuan quickly adjusted his expression, mirroring her concern:
"I’m fine."
"Yan'er, what about you? Are you injured?"
Bai Wanyi flustered, hiding her hands as she murmured,
"I’m fine too."
Chu Qingchuan took her hand. Though her wounds were superficial, his face twisted with pain:
"Fine? This is what you call fine?"
Bai Wanyi lifted her head, her voice sweet:
"They’re just minor scratches. Don’t worry, Qingchuan-gege."
Then, as if remembering something, her eyes sparkled with admiration: "It’s all thanks to the treasures you gave me. Without them, I wouldn’t have survived after we separated."
"Though… my cultivation is too weak. In the forest, I could only keep the one treasure that mattered most to me."
Chu Qingchuan’s face twitched.
He had given Bai Wanyi eight rare spiritual treasures—now only one remained?
Then, she carefully pulled out a fourth-grade hairpin from her sleeve.
His voice stiffened:
"This is the treasure you kept?"
Bai Wanyi nodded earnestly:
"This is the hairpin you gave me when we first met. It witnessed our beginning."
"Nothing in this world could be more precious."
Her words left him speechless.
A frown creased his brow as suspicion crept in:
The Bai Family was one of the three great clans of the cultivation world, and Bai Wanyi was the family head’s only daughter. Surely she had plenty of protective treasures.
How had she conveniently used up all the ones he gave her?
Unbidden, his thoughts turned to Jiang Qiuning. With her, he had never needed to offer treasures—she had been the one aiding him.
But Bai Wanyi…
Seemingly oblivious to his doubts, Bai Wanyi wiped her dirty face and pouted:
"It’s all my cousin’s fault. She took so many of my treasures for her training."
"And Father was angry I insisted on coming here, so he refused to give me more. Otherwise, I wouldn’t look so awful."
Chu Qingchuan studied her sulky expression and suppressed his questions:
"Awful? You’re the most beautiful in my eyes."
Bai Wanyi finally smiled. Then, noticing something, her eyes lit up with awe:
"Qingchuan-gege, you’ve reached Great Ascension!"
"Under two hundred years old—your speed is among the top three in the entire cultivation world!"
She acted as if she didn’t notice the instability of his cultivation, chattering excitedly:
"Even Xu Wanci from the Taiqing Sect, who ascended a few days ago, is older than you!"
At her words, Chu Qingchuan’s face darkened. His voice turned hoarse:
"Xu Wanci also reached Great Ascension?"
"Yes," Bai Wanyi nodded. "They say she even triggered celestial phenomena."
"But compared to you, she’s nothing."
"Just lucky, that’s all."
Noticing his silence, she tilted her head:
"Qingchuan-gege, what’s wrong?"
His smile was strained.
Memories of his near-death struggles in the forest surfaced, and a thought he had long resisted took root:
Xu Wanci’s destiny… might truly be stronger than his.
Ever since she exposed him as no immortal reincarnation, his fortune had plummeted. Every time they competed for opportunities, he lost.
Now, separated from her, he had almost died in the forest.
If there could be more than one Child of Destiny… everything made sense.
Currently, Xu Wanci is under the protection of the major sects and noble families of the cultivation world, making it impossible for him to harm her.
Yet, recalling how deeply devoted she had been to him when she believed he was the reincarnation of the Immortal Venerable—how she had offered him all her spiritual treasures—Chu Qingchuan narrowed his eyes thoughtfully:
If he could keep her convinced that he was the Immortal Venerable’s reincarnation…
Then all the opportunities and treasures in her possession would become his.
His luck had been damaged recently, and he needed her fortune to bolster his own.
After all, the Qingyan Immortal Venerable had been dead for centuries. As long as he displayed traits similar to the Immortal Venerable, who could deny any connection between them?
The red mole on his wrist, the cultivation techniques he practiced, and even his divine artifacts were all closely tied to the Immortal Venerable.
Moreover, he possessed a rare treasure capable of mimicking the Immortal Venerable’s aura.
If not for this treasure, he wouldn’t have been able to reach Luolong City ahead of everyone else to investigate the rumored divine artifact of the Immortal Venerable—all without alerting the demon general Ye Xiao, who had laid traps there.
With this in mind, Chu Qingchuan gazed at Bai Wanyi with deep affection and said, "Yan'er, now that I’ve broken through to the Great Ascension Realm, I should return to the Taiqing Sect to report to my master."
"I’m afraid I won’t be able to accompany you back to the Bai Family today."
Bai Wanyi’s face fell with reluctance, but she had always been understanding. Lowering her head, she replied in a tearful voice,
"It’s alright. Brother Qingchuan, go back to the Taiqing Sect with peace of mind."
She then lifted her head, forcing a cheerful expression:
"Coincidentally, I’ll ask my father for more spiritual treasures when I return home. They’ll help stabilize your cultivation."
Chu Qingchuan smiled at her obedience and gently wiped away a trace of blood from her cheek.
"Yan'er, once I attain the Great Dao, I will lay the finest treasures of the cultivation world at your feet."
Bai Wanyi nodded sweetly.
But as she watched Chu Qingchuan’s retreating figure, the smile on her lips turned mocking:
After attaining the Great Dao?
What a shameless promise—even more audacious than her own.
Her almond eyes sharpened with cold decisiveness as she stared into the dense forest ahead:
What the Bai Family needed was not a Son of Fortune who paled in comparison to Xu Wanci.
Recalling the unstable aura of Chu Qingchuan’s Great Ascension Realm, she curled her lips in disdain:
She had already checked—the rare treasure he obtained in the forest had been used on himself.
Though it had allowed him to forcibly advance to the Great Ascension Realm, not even a single lightning tribulation had been provoked.
Who knew how many more treasures would be needed to replenish the spiritual energy he had drained?
Thinking of the ancestral treasures of the Bai Family that Chu Qingchuan had plundered since his arrival, her heart ached with resentment:
The Bai Family was not like the Jiang Family, willing to squander countless heavenly treasures on a so-called Son of Fortune of dubious authenticity.
Her gaze swept over the eight spiritual treasures stored in her spatial garment, and a trace of satisfaction finally surfaced:
At least this would compensate for some of the Bai Family’s losses.
As for Chu Qingchuan…
Let him return to the Taiqing Sect to heal.
Though his fortune couldn’t compare to Xu Wanci’s, it still far surpassed that of an ordinary cultivator. He should be able to scavenge plenty of healing treasures from the Taiqing Sect.
Once he had mostly recovered, she would go to the Taiqing Sect to find him.
