As the plot progressed, Xu Shulou's life story gradually unfolded before the audience.
She sang with a sword in hand, lounged to watch idle clouds, and traversed picturesque landscapes.
Occasionally, she would fight until her robes were stained with blood, yet she never retreated, charging forward with unwavering determination.
Some viewers remarked that she embodied both the solemn dignity of "a sword never parted, a resolve never swayed" and the carefree charm of "flirting with wine, plucking blossoms in jest."
The folding fan identical to the one Xu Shulou wielded became a best-selling merchandise item.
Online praise poured in like a tide, and the director no longer needed to cling to his phone as he did on the premiere day, endlessly refreshing social media in search of the scattered compliments.
Of course, there were also those dissatisfied with the drastic deviations from the original novel, to the point where the adaptation bore almost no resemblance to the source material. They vented their frustrations online. But given how outrageous the changes were—transforming the original male-centric power fantasy into "The Chronicles of Xu Shulou"—it was no wonder the book fans were upset. They even repeatedly tagged the original author, demanding an explanation or accountability. However, the author never appeared. A close friend revealed that after watching the series, the author had a sudden epiphany, recalling more details from the dream that originally inspired the story. Now, he was holed up at home, trembling with fear, worried someone might descend from the skies to give him a beating.
What nonsense is this? The novel's fans were baffled, even beginning to question the author's mental state.
While some suspected this might be an act to avoid being dragged into the controversy, no one dared to pressure him further into speaking out.
Eventually, these dissenting voices were drowned in the flood of positive reviews, failing to make any waves.
But with the show's popularity came inevitable detractors.
All sorts of baseless rumors sprouted like mushrooms after rain.
An anonymous post claimed Xu Shulou had curried favor with the director by walking his dogs on set. The director’s lip twitched upon hearing this—wait, where were his dogs? Those two fickle Samoyeds, after spending so much time with Xu Shulou, seemed to have forgotten who their real owner was. As for currying favor… she didn’t need to. The director would be grateful if she could just keep the entire crew from making headlines for the wrong reasons.
The most infuriating rumor for the crew was the one insinuating that Xu Shulou and Bai Roushuang had secured their lead roles as newcomers by having improper relationships with an investor. The rumor-monger spun a vile tale with a condescending tone: "Here’s some juicy gossip—one of the investors behind the recent hit drama initially backed the project to pursue Sheng Wuyou, only to be snatched away by other scheming newcomers. Those two ingénues befriended Sheng Wuyou just to get close to the investor. Everyone on set knows they flaunt their connections and act like divas. Plenty of people can’t stand them."
The claims were so detailed it was as if the poster had witnessed it firsthand.
Sheng Wuyou’s fans erupted, especially after a prominent fan corroborated that the investor in question—Song Ping—had indeed shown interest in Sheng Wuyou before. The fan revealed that when many were criticizing Sheng Wuyou’s company for not securing her better roles, this investor had funded Path to Immortality. At the time, they’d hoped he would help Sheng Wuyou land a better part, only for him to be "seduced" by others, allowing some "schemer" to turn Qi Wutong—originally a sweet and likable character—into a villainess.
The fan even shared two photos from a set visit, one showing Song Ping embracing Xu Shulou. Many were shocked to learn the "investor" was Song Ping, and those who had admired him after the moonlit duel scene now declared they were "done" with him, flooding the drama’s social media with vitriol.
Of course, many others refused to believe it, arguing that someone like Xu Shulou—who had risked her life to save others—would never stoop to such tactics. The rumor-monger sneered in response, "Don’t be naive. You think newcomers land leading roles without backing? They’re just leeching off Sheng Wuyou’s fame."
Plenty of netizens remained neutral, content to watch the drama unfold.
While the number of people swayed by the rumors wasn’t overwhelming, the situation was still deeply unpleasant.
Unexpectedly, the first to respond was Sheng Wuyou herself. Fresh off filming a crucial scene, she received a call from her agent suggesting she capitalize on the controversy to craft a sympathetic public image. Sheng Wuyou hung up without hesitation, then meticulously drafted a three-point rebuttal and posted it on her social media, leaving the rumor-monger speechless.
Her agent called back, furious that she hadn’t consulted him before going public, only to be hung up on again.
"I miss her sometimes. I’ve always liked her—she and the Sheng family would welcome us warmly, even sewing tiny clothes and crafting little bathtubs for you when you shrank. It was adorable," Bai Roushuang sighed to Xu Shulou. "If even I feel this way, I can’t imagine how Second Senior Brother must… At least we’ll meet her in her next life."
"..."
After dealing with her agent, Sheng Wuyou posted again, sharing photos of herself, Xu Shulou, and Bai Roushuang enjoying skewers together. She clarified that she had chosen the role of Qi Wutong herself, purely for the challenge. Besides Qi Wutong, she was also playing another cameo role in the series, urging fans to stay tuned.
This post was aimed squarely at her fans—passionate and easily riled, but not unreasonable. Given a logical explanation and the promise of another role, many calmed down and even apologized.
Some scrutinized the photos, noting the different outfits in each, proof these weren’t from a single gathering. One fan joked, "No wonder Sheng Wuyou’s face looks rounder in recent selfies—how many skewer feasts did they have?"
The production team seized the moment to release a backlog of behind-the-scenes footage. Building on Sheng Wuyou’s three-point rebuttal, they explained that Song Ping, Xu Shulou, and Bai Roushuang had trained together in the same martial arts school for years. The moonlit duel rehearsal footage stunned viewers—no special effects, just real swordsmanship—and Song Ping’s skills made it clear he was no amateur.
Next, the team dropped a clip titled Not Taking Filming Seriously, showing Xu Shulou tumbling off a roof for real. The internet collectively facepalmed, resigned to the fact that nothing about this production could surprise them anymore.
Even the acclaimed actress Fen Mo weighed in, declaring, "If someone like Xu Shulou wanted to break into the industry, I’d pave the way for her myself. Why would she need to cozy up to investors for resources? What kind of agenda does this rumor-monger have?"
Someone who disliked her commented below, "Since when have you been so kind-hearted?" Fen Mo effortlessly shot back, "She once saved my life."
That grubby little pink fox once flung out from the belly of a crocodile by Xu Shulou had now grown up.
A well-known racecar driver also publicly @'ed Song Ping, teasing, "Look at you, Second Brother, daring to pull strings for our senior sister now."
Song Ping wished he could immediately fly over on his sword to cover his junior brother’s mouth.
Netizens were left utterly speechless, completely baffled as to who this Xu Shulou really was, with so many people stepping forward to shield her and dispel the rumors.
Throughout it all, Xu Shulou herself never opened an account on any social media platform, showing no intention of responding.
The producer came to find Xu Shulou again: "A beverage brand wants you as their spokesperson. Since you don’t have an agent, they called me directly. It’s a pretty high-profile brand, and the offer looks good. Want to take it?"
Xu Shulou shook her head. "What if I accidentally get a bounty on my head later? Wouldn’t want to drag them into trouble."
The producer was baffled. "...How does one ‘accidentally’ get into that kind of situation? Are you joking?"
Xu Shulou shrugged innocently. Such things had indeed happened to her before—more than once. Over centuries, she had lost count of the "bans," "wanted posters," and "kill-on-sight orders" bearing her name or likeness.
She still remembered the decree issued by the Heavenly Mountain’s Ice Lotus Palace: "Xu Shulou and demons are forbidden entry. Kill on sight." Later, however, relations between the demon realm and the cultivation world became relatively harmonious. Demons occasionally visited Heavenly Mountain to admire the scenery, and the Ice Lotus Palace, fearing that some long-secluded cultivators might remain unaware and trigger another conflict, hastily corrected anyone who repeated the old decree: "Don’t spread misinformation—demons are allowed now." That was just unfair.
Of course, none of this stopped Xu Shulou. She still sneaked into Heavenly Mountain more than once to watch the snow lotuses bloom.
Recalling these innocent memories, Xu Shulou couldn’t help but sigh dramatically.
The producer sighed along with her. "You really don’t plan to stay in the entertainment industry, do you?"
"Not planning to," Xu Shulou admitted frankly. "You’ve seen my acting skills. That line I read when we first met? That’s my real level."
"Don’t lie to me. You’re acting perfectly naturally now."
"Ask me to play a different role, and you’ll understand."
"..."
——
After filming all of Qi Wutong’s scenes, Sheng Wuyou changed costumes to play Sheng Wuyou.
Amidst the blooming flowers, the young woman turned with a soft smile. Whether it was due to their shared soul or her deep understanding of the role, even Bai Roushuang was momentarily convinced she was the Sheng Wuyou from back then.
Song Ping had been silently watching from the sidelines. When he first arrived in the modern world, he struggled to adapt, often sitting alone on park benches for entire days, observing passersby. The strangers fascinated him, but he never felt the urge to join them.
Today, Sheng Wuyou was filming a grand wedding scene. With the show’s rising popularity, the budget for costumes and props had grown significantly. Her headpiece was even a real gold set loaned by a local jewelry brand—a stunning phoenix coronet and bridal robes, exquisitely crafted but unbearably heavy. Yet, after wrapping, Sheng Wuyou didn’t rush to remove her makeup. Instead, she paused beside Song Ping and asked, "President Song, is the Dustless Island disciple Song Ping, who marries Sheng Wuyou in the script, based on you?"
Song Ping nodded silently.
"I see." Sheng Wuyou didn’t press further, leaving in her dazzling red bridal attire.
"..." Despite his junior sister’s crash course on modern interactions, Song Ping still didn’t understand what she had "seen." Was she implying he had abused his power to force the scriptwriter to pair them together?
——
Another day, another crew gathering. The director had worked on many projects, but never one with so many frequent dinners. Xu Shulou was in charge of carving a massive roast beef. Watching her technique, the director joked, "You’d need at least three or five lives on your hands to slice like that."
Xu Shulou raised the knife and looked at him. "Try three or five hundred."
"..." The director felt he should demand psychological compensation from investor Song Ping—no other director had to endure actors threatening them so casually.
Meanwhile, Song Ping, the subject of his thoughts, was being intercepted by Sheng Wuyou.
"Xiao Bai’s script is finished," Sheng Wuyou said softly. "I’ve read all of it."
Song Ping tensed, forgetting his junior sister’s teachings entirely. He replied stiffly, "...Did you like it?"
Sheng Wuyou laughed, likely amused by his awkwardness. "I did. But I have a question—does Xu Shulou’s story end there? What did she do afterward?"
"..." Song Ping hadn’t expected this question and didn’t know how to answer.
When he stayed silent, Sheng Wuyou continued, "Did she eventually arrive in the modern era, join a production crew, and play a character with the same name?"
Song Ping stared at her in surprise.
"Ever since we met, the more I interact with you all, the more mysterious you seem," Sheng Wuyou said earnestly. "Lately, I’ve been researching cultivators. You must know some scholars insist they truly existed in our history."
"..."
"Did you know? In an ancient Xiao Dynasty folktale, the name ‘Xu Shulou’ actually appears. The story tells of a wealthy family who lost a child in every generation. No matter how they tried to prevent it, the disappearances continued—until one day, a missing child was returned. Out of gratitude, the family erected a statue and shrine for their savior. That savior’s name was Xu Shulou."
"..."
"What’s even stranger is that the family’s curse began when their ancestor offended a phoenix and a wutong spirit centuries earlier. From then on, the firstborn of each generation was stolen. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?"
"..."
"Don’t tell me Xiao Bai took inspiration from this tale for the script. There are far too many coincidences—the mysterious disappearance of that building, the martial arts director who fled overnight, your superhuman skills, your bizarre fixation on this script... And the way you look at the world. I don’t know how to describe it—like you’ve seen everything, possessed everything, yet left nothing behind, yet somehow it’s enough."
"..." The description struck Song Ping deeply.
"Senior Sister, Second Brother, Junior Sister—that’s how you address each other," Sheng Wuyou brushed a strand of hair aside. "And that racecar driver who @'ed you online—what was his name? Ji Ci?"
Song Ping fell silent for a long moment before finally smiling. "Sheng Wuyou is indeed Sheng Wuyou."
Graceful and wise, radiant and pure—even as time passed and the person was no longer the same, their souls still shone with the same brilliance.
"My heavens," Sheng Wuyou murmured, though she had already suspected it. The moment Song Ping confirmed it, she couldn't help but feel exhilarated. "So you really do exist! The characters from the stories are right beside me—this feeling is utterly magical."
"Yes, we truly exist." Song Ping extended his right hand, using the sparkling water in his left to conjure a delicate water flower in his palm. Under the sunlight, it glistened, flawless and translucent. Sheng Wuyou stared at it, mesmerized.
"I never understood your obsession with the script before," she whispered. "But now I get it. If everything Bai Roushuang wrote was actually real history, then you... you’ve been silently preserving a legend. Not just Xu Shulou’s legend, but everyone’s."
"..."
"But... how did you all fade from the public eye? From a living legend to just a chapter in a collection of supernatural tales?"
"These are the twilight days of magic," Song Ping explained. "Few mortals can still embark on the path of cultivation. Over time, people simply stopped believing—or no longer wanted to."
"Twilight days? Will things ever return to how they were?"
Song Ping chuckled. "Perhaps. Who can say for certain about the future?"
"So, the Sheng Wuyou in the script was once real too. The first time you saw me, you were so emotional because I’m her reincarnation, right? Do I look just like her?" Sheng Wuyou ventured another guess. "The script mentioned the reincarnated scholar and Xu Shulou’s parents, so I figured reincarnation must be real too."
"...You’ve guessed it all."
Sheng Wuyou’s expression flickered between astonishment and delight. "I never imagined my past self was part of a world of immortals and heroes, witnessing those breathtaking moments I’ve only read about in the script. She even played a role in that folktale about returning the lost child."
Song Ping watched her with a smile.
But after her initial excitement, Sheng Wuyou shook her head earnestly. "Still, don’t mistake me for her. I don’t have her memories. I’m not her anymore."
"I understand," Song Ping nodded.
"No, you don’t. If the script is true, that Sheng Wuyou was the daughter of a scholarly family, her every smile as warm as a spring breeze. Even when kidnapped to serve as Qi Wutong’s maid, she handled it with poise. After being rescued, her first thought was to return the missing child... But I’m just an ordinary person who can’t even navigate the entertainment industry. She was extraordinary—I’m not her," Sheng Wuyou sighed. "After spending time with you and learning about your past, I’ve developed feelings for you, but you have to understand—I’m not her."
"..."
