Chapter 61:

Yunxiu Villa.

The sound of unhurried footsteps echoed outside the tightly closed door. Mu Xuanling’s eyes flickered, just as Nan Xuyue pushed the door open and walked in.

No—it was Tianming.

A faint smile graced his handsome and refined face. His demeanor was as refreshing as a breeze beneath bright moonlight. After awakening the memories of the Tianming Book, his power rapidly returned, even overpowering Mu Xuanling. He had confined her within Yunxiu Villa, cutting off all her contact with the outside world. Restored with both memory and strength, Nan Xuyue appeared gentle and scholarly as ever, but upon closer inspection, his eyes held no warmth or mirth. They were cold and detached, aloof as one who had seen through everything, untouched by worldly emotions.

He was like an unreachable deity.

“Xuanling,” the god called her name with a smile.

Mu Xuanling stared at him coldly. “Nan Xuyue, what exactly do you intend to do?”

In these past few days, she had tried hard to recall, yet memories from ten thousand years ago remained elusive. She couldn’t remember where she came from or why she had fallen into a deep slumber. Everything was shrouded in mist. Naturally, she knew of the Tianming Book—both she and he were treasures born from chaos, yet one belonged to heaven and the other to earth, seemingly never having met. Since she couldn’t recall Tianming, she still addressed him as Nan Xuyue. But she also knew that this Nan Xuyue before her was no longer the gentle and kind gentleman from the past, and she could no longer offer him a smile.

Nan Xuyue remained unfazed by her coldness. He sat down beside her, his long, elegant hand reaching toward her cheek, only to be turned away by her. He smiled faintly. “Why are you angry with me? I only did this to protect you. The Immortal Alliance merely wants to use you against the Demon Sovereign. What do the lives and deaths of the human race have to do with you? Even if it’s because of Xie Xuechen, he is already dead. Why would you do these meaningless things for a dead man?”

Mu Xuanling replied coldly, “What I choose to do is none of your concern!”

Nan Xuyue said, “Don’t you understand my feelings for you yet?”

“Tianming is ruthless, treating all living beings as straw dogs. How could you possibly understand what emotions are?” Mu Xuanling scoffed.

Nan Xuyue smiled, twirling a strand of her hair between his fingers. “If even the Hun Dun Pearl can have emotions, why can’t the Tianming Book?”

Mu Xuanling was momentarily speechless, her face hardening as she tried to snatch the strand back from him. Nan Xuyue released the lock of hair, only to grasp her wrist instead, his voice low and husky. “Xuanling, all I ever asked for was a hundred years together.”

She stiffened. For a moment, the person before her seemed to transform back into the old Nan Xuyue.

“Humans have short lifespans, but they can be reborn through countless lifetimes. I only asked for one lifetime. Was that too much to ask?” He gazed at her, whispering in quiet accusation.

Mu Xuanling was silent for a moment before replying, “Tianming, in the end, you still don’t understand love.”

Nan Xuyue gazed silently at her.

Ten thousand years ago, she had said the same thing.

She had gone to the heavenly palace to avenge that man. On the altar of Xihe, the gods trembled in fear, begging Tianming for help, but that time, he had refused.

He had merely said coldly—this is the price of suppressing the Heavens’ Chosen One.

To gain something, one must lose something—it is the Dao of Heaven. In truth, the cost of fate was never his decision; everything was arranged by Heaven’s Dao.

He watched coldly as she nearly overturned the heavens, finally confronting him directly. It was the first time he had truly seen her clearly. Though she should have been the untainted Hun Dun Pearl, she was now entangled in love and hatred, her brilliance dulled, no different from an ordinary mortal.

How pitiful. How lamentable.

“I want you to rewrite fate and release Zhaoming!” She stood before him, coldly threatening him.

The laws of the Tianming Book could only be broken by the Tianming Book itself; even as the Hun Dun Pearl, she could not alter the destiny he had written.

“I cannot, nor will I.” Tianming refused indifferently. “There is no longer the Holy Emperor Zhaoming in this world—only the fallen god Zhaoming, eternally imprisoned in the molten abyss.”

“Don’t force me,” she said, her aura surging with murderous intent. “If I destroy myself along with you, the Tianming Book will vanish, and Tianming will be reversed. Isn’t that possible?”

Tianming looked at her tear-filled eyes and said coldly, “Why go to such extremes? He used his spiritual energy to heal your wounds and his soul to mend your cracks, only to refine you and use you against the gods.”

“But he didn’t,” she closed her eyes, a single crystal tear sliding down her cheek, falling into the clouds beneath her feet, dropping into the ten-thousandfold mortal world. “Until his death, he never used me. It was because I said I didn’t want to… Zhaoming didn’t know how special he was to me. If it were for him, I would willingly die!”

Tianming was momentarily stunned by that falling tear.

“I don’t understand…” He didn’t comprehend her emotions, nor her choice.

She gave a bitter smile. “Tianming is heartless by nature, incapable of comprehending love. Now I understand, but it’s already too late. Since you refuse to rewrite fate, then I shall carve his destiny with my own hands!”

In that battle, they both suffered grave injuries. The Heavenly Book was burned, and the treasure pearl lost its luster. His spirit and hers fell together into the mortal world, destined to be entangled forever, even if they both forgot the past.

He, like her, had been tainted by human emotions—love and attachment that made one weak, lowly, and lost.

But she had said, he still didn’t understand.

If this wasn’t love, then why did his heart ache so? Where did this pain come from?

The Immortal and Demon Alliances both received invitations from Yunxiu Villa. Just as everyone was already overwhelmed by the news of the Demon Sovereign’s return, Yunxiu Villa was holding a wedding.

The villa’s master, Nan Xuyue, was to marry Mu Xuanling in three days. Those who knew Mu Xuanling’s identity were shocked, especially Elder Xuanxin. He knew clearly that Mu Xuanling and Xie Xuechen were deeply in love and would never marry Nan Xuyue. Moreover, now that Mu Xuanling had regained the power of the Hun Dun Pearl, if she truly refused, how could Nan Xuyue force her?

Everyone arrived at Yunxiu Villa with their own thoughts. Since Nan Wujue’s death, Yunxiu Villa had been removed from the Immortal Alliance and had not been this lively in a long time. Immortals and demons gathered together, each with different expressions, whispering quietly. Despite the festive decorations, the atmosphere in the villa was far from joyful.

As the auspicious hour approached, the maids looked at the bride, dressed in plain white and with a cold expression, anxiously. No matter how they begged, she refused to wear the wedding attire.

Nan Xuyue entered from outside, and the maids knelt down trembling, saying, “Master, Miss Mu refuses to dress.”

Nan Xuyue smiled faintly and waved his hand. “It’s fine. You may all leave.”

Mu Xuanling frowned, seeing Nan Xuyue approaching from behind her in the mirror. She gritted her teeth, “You’re mad.”

“I’m perfectly sane,” he gently placed his hand on her shoulder, his voice warm. “I know you don’t want to wear the wedding attire. You want to mourn Xie Xuechen, and I won’t force you. If you wear white, I shall wear white too. It suits you well.”

“You’re Tianming. How can you believe in mortal wedding rituals?” Mu Xuanling asked coldly.

Nan Xuyue chuckled softly. “I don’t believe in them either, but I know in your heart you always wanted such a ceremony with Xie Xuechen. You wanted to bind your fates before heaven and earth, vowing eternal devotion.”

Mu Xuanling’s heart trembled, a sharp pain surging through her chest, bringing tears to her eyes without her will.

“Whatever Xie Xuechen could give you, I can give you too,” Nan Xuyue whispered softly in her ear. “I don’t ask you to love me as you loved him, only to know my feelings and ease my longing.”

He was the supreme Tianming, never meant to fall into this mortal world, stained with dust and entangled in love. Only now did he understand—those who drown in love die without regret.

They were born to be together, and she was so soft-hearted. In time, she would surely be moved. He firmly believed so.

That day, the Immortal and Demon Alliances witnessed such a strange wedding.

The groom and bride were both dressed in white. The bride’s face was cold, while the groom wore a gentle smile. Anyone could see that the bride was unwilling.

But they also noticed something else—Nan Xuyue, once a ruined cultivator with shattered spiritual roots, had not only recovered completely but now surpassed even Mu Xuanling in power! How could this be possible in just a few days? Even if he had learned the Jade Palace Sutra, such rapid progress was impossible unless… he was originally a god!

“First, bow to heaven and earth!”

The officiant’s trembling voice announced, but neither bride nor groom showed any intention of bowing.

Nan Xuyue smiled faintly. “I am heaven, and you are earth. Why should we bow?”

The officiant continued: “Second, bow to the elders…”

Nan Xuyue looked at Mu Xuanling, her lips tightly pressed and eyes filled with anger. He smiled. “All things were born from chaos. We have no elders; there’s no need to bow.”

The guests exchanged uneasy glances, finding the situation increasingly strange. These two clearly didn’t want to marry—they seemed to have a grudge…

“Exchange bows as husband and wife…” the officiant’s voice grew weaker.

Nan Xuyue slowly turned to face Mu Xuanling, his voice softening. “Xuanling, this one bow is all I have ever wished for.”

Mu Xuanling lowered her eyes, her fists clenched tightly within her sleeves. She was immobilized by his power, forced to turn stiffly to face him.

“Nan Xuyue, don’t force me to hate you,” she whispered hoarsely.

“Actually, you’ve hated me for a long time,” he sighed softly. “It’s just that even your hatred… you’ve forgotten.”

He gently bowed his elegant neck, and a force simultaneously pressed against the back of her neck, forcing her to complete the ritual with him. But at that moment, an unexpected catastrophe occurred—the earth violently trembled!

Dark demonic energy surged from the west!

Everyone’s faces changed as they stood up and turned toward the horizon. A suffocating black mist, thick and oppressive, wildly raged across the sky. The space above the Two Worlds Mountain twisted strangely, as if a piece of paper had been crumpled by hand. The desolate mountains and vast sky inverted and distorted, and suddenly a vortex appeared. A powerful suction force created a fierce gale, uprooting countless trees and grasses, pulling them toward the vortex.

Everyone’s faces turned pale as they shouted, “The Ten-Thousand Immortals Formation has been broken!”

Nan Xuyue’s expression darkened, and the pressure on Mu Xuanling vanished instantly. He flew out, his gaze dark as he looked toward the direction of the Ten-Thousand Immortals Formation. Suddenly, heavenly flames roared from the vortex, followed by flashes of lightning. The various magical formations of the Ten-Thousand Immortals Formation continuously emerged, turning the mountains into scorched earth and shaking heaven and earth!

Spiritual energy was being sucked into the vortex, while demonic energy wildly spilled out. Thin tendrils of dark demonic energy, like vines, extended from the vortex, continuously expanding it. The vortex transformed into a black eye, and within that black eye, a crimson moon was reflected.

“The gate to the Demon Realm has opened…” Elder Xuanxin looked at the scene in disbelief. “How could that Demon Sovereign be so powerful?”

Could he really have torn open the Ten-Thousand Immortals Formation and opened the gate to the Demon Realm with his own strength alone?

Everyone who witnessed this scene felt a deep sense of despair. Such power was simply insurmountable.

A red-clothed figure appeared atop the crimson moon. The red was like a mixture of blood and ink—dark and glaring. Just one glance caused stinging pain in the eyes, making it impossible to look directly. It was said that only gods could not be looked at directly, yet this was clearly a demon!

Dharma Elder Fa Xiang endured the pain and forced himself to stare at the gradually approaching figure, yet tears of blood still streamed down his face.

Mu Xuanling stared blankly at the figure on the moon, inexplicably feeling a sense of familiarity. In an instant, that figure descended from the crimson moon into the mortal world, passing through the eye of the storm created by the shattered Ten-Thousand Immortals Formation, and gracefully landed atop the Two Worlds Mountain. The fierce wind lifted his robe, his jet-black hair whipping wildly. Just his silhouette alone sent chills down Fa Xiang’s spine. Dark, sinister mist coiled around his body, obscuring his face. With every movement, he radiated an overwhelming demonic aura. The density and intensity of this demonic energy made Mu Xuanling suspect that this Demon Sovereign had devoured an entire void sea.

Nan Xuyue’s cold gaze fixed on that figure. His thin lips parted slightly, and his icy voice slowly uttered two words: “Zhaoming.”

Upon hearing that name, Mu Xuanling’s entire body stiffened, as if a hand had tightly gripped her heart, causing her unbearable pain, making it hard to breathe.

Who is Zhaoming, and what is Zhaoming…

Why did she feel so heartbroken upon hearing this name…

The Demon Sovereign had descended. All cultivators wore expressions of horror. Elder Xuanxin and He Xianwo, as the leaders of the Immortal and Demon Alliances, led all the Dharma Elders to confront the Demon Sovereign. Elder Xuanxin had originally assumed Nan Xuyue wouldn’t intervene, but to everyone’s surprise, he flew toward the red-clothed Demon Sovereign without hesitation, his speed so fast that he left everyone else far behind.

Taking this opportunity, Mu Xuanling broke free from Nan Xuyue’s magical restraint and swiftly followed him toward the Two Worlds Mountain.

Two white figures shot forward like beams of light. Faint golden light pierced through the demonic mist, leaving behind two beautiful rainbows.

With a wave of his wide sleeve, Nan Xuyue summoned the chaotic energy, transforming it from nothingness into reality. Like divine punishment, it slashed toward the red figure with the force of shattering void. Dozens of Dharma Elders joined forces. The Two Worlds Mountain echoed with chants, golden light flashing from the formations. Thunder fell, flames rose, and the combined power of the formations was overwhelming. In an instant, the sky and earth darkened, the sun and moon lost their light. Everyone heard only a loud buzzing, unable to hear anything else.

When the formations faded, all was silent. Yet there was no one left at the scene.

Mu Xuanling was startled when she suddenly felt a tightening around her waist. A pair of arms reached from behind, tightly embracing her waist. The person lowered his head, resting his chin on her left shoulder, his voice like a sigh.

“Xuanling…”

Mu Xuanling’s eyes widened instantly as she turned her head to look at him.

Familiar features, yet an unfamiliar aura. He was Xie Xuechen, yet not quite Xie Xuechen!

“You…” she trembled, reaching out to gently touch his face.

His usually cold and sharp phoenix eyes overflowed with deep, intense emotion. His sword-like eyebrows arched upward more sharply than before. Her fingers traced his brow bone, gliding down his high nose bridge, finally resting on his thin lips.

“This isn’t an illusion created by the Demon Sovereign. It really is Xie Xuechen, even though he’s filled with demonic energy, she wouldn’t mistake him!

“Xie Xuechen…” she choked out his name, turning to throw herself into his arms, tightly embracing his body, afraid he would vanish like a dream. Tears streamed down, soaking his robe. He gently held her trembling, fragile body, lowering his head to kiss the crown of her hair, allowing her to pour out her sorrow and joy in his arms.

“Xuanling…” his deep, hoarse voice tenderly responded.

She was Xuanling, but also A Zhu. Yet for some unknown reason, she had lost her memories, forgetting that he was originally Zhaoming.

Holy Emperor Zhaoming, Fallen God Zhaoming, Demon Sovereign Zhaoming—regardless of who he was, no matter how many years had passed, his heart had never let go of her.

During the ten thousand years of imprisonment, he endured endless pain, his memories altered by Tianming, forgetting who he truly was, believing himself merely the fallen god Zhaoming. Until the memories of Xie Xuechen merged into his primordial spirit did he vaguely understand many things. Xie Xuechen was a fragment of his soul he had once severed—a tribulation that Zhaoming had undergone in the mortal world. He inherited the Holy Emperor Zhaoming’s aspirations, placing humanity first and caring for all beings. Yet like Zhaoming, he deeply loved A Zhu. This was a karmic bond from past lives, an entanglement that could never be unraveled, not even by Tianming.

Everyone stared in shock at the two embracing figures. They recognized him too—the red-clothed Demon Sovereign was actually Xie Xuechen…

“Master Xie…” someone murmured softly.

Xie Xuechen raised his slightly cold and sharp eyebrows. Those who met his gaze trembled with fear.

“Demon Sovereign Zhaoming.” Only Nan Xuyue coldly called him by his true name.

Xie Xuechen’s phoenix eyes darkened as he stared at Nan Xuyue. Since awakening from the Molten Abyss, he had recalled everything. Nan Xuyue was the Tianming Book he had encountered that day in the Xihe Temple.

“Tianming Divine Lord,” Xie Xuechen said coldly. “I never expected you to fall into the mortal world.”

After Zhaoming was sealed by the Tianming Book, he knew nothing of what happened afterward. Naturally, he didn’t know that A Zhu had gone to the heavenly palace to save him, battling Tianming and both suffering grave injuries. He didn’t even understand how he had broken free from Tianming’s laws and escaped from beneath the Molten Abyss. He vaguely suspected this had something to do with A Zhu, but A Zhu had also lost her memories.

“Falling into the mortal world, I remain Tianming,” Nan Xuyue’s aura suddenly became infinitely stronger. His handsome, gentle face was as cold as ice. He proudly lifted his chin, looking down at Xie Xuechen. “If I could suppress you once, I can do it again!”