High in the sky, the gray, mirror-like object remained motionless in its original position, but the surface of the mirror shimmered with multicolored light, displaying hazy scenes that flickered rapidly.
Upon closer inspection, these scenes were as elusive as the moon reflected in water or flowers mirrored in a well—utterly impossible to discern clearly.
Above the demonic mist, the Gold Devouring Beetles continued their cannibalistic frenzy as if nothing else existed.
After such a long time, the swarm had dwindled to only a few hundred, and the scene had devolved into a massacre as the candidate beetle kings slaughtered the remaining ordinary beetles.
Though the ordinary beetles fought back with equal ferocity, they were clearly no match for the candidate kings and were swiftly devoured.
Soon, even the candidate kings bore numerous wounds.
Thus, time passed bit by bit.
After an indeterminate period, all the ordinary beetles in the air had been consumed, leaving only the battered candidate kings.
The moment the last ordinary beetle was torn apart and devoured, the candidate kings abruptly scattered in midair, pausing briefly to rest before fixing their savage gazes on their remaining rivals.
With a renewed hum of hostility, their wings buzzed, and without hesitation, they lunged at one another, locking into pairs and tearing into each other once more.
This round of combat was far more brutal than before.
Amid the shrill buzzing, severed wings and limbs occasionally plummeted from the sky.
Some candidate kings spat golden threads of light, while others expanded or shrank their bodies unpredictably, all desperately employing their abilities to ensure their opponents were devoured without a trace.
However, the strength of the candidate kings was relatively evenly matched, and determining life or death was no quick task—it would require a prolonged and bloody struggle.
Meanwhile, in another space, Han Li was surrounded by a group of villagers, men and women alike, who pushed him with hearty laughter into a room adorned with red silk ribbons.
Amidst playful cries of “May you have a son soon!” and “May you grow old together!” the villagers retreated with knowing smiles, hastily closing the brand-new wooden door behind them, its fresh scent still lingering in the air.
In an instant, the small bridal chamber, no more than a few zhang in size, held only Han Li, draped in red silk, and a petite figure seated on the red-lacquered bed, her face concealed beneath a crimson veil.
Han Li scratched his head awkwardly, hesitating for a long while before finally mustering the courage to approach the bed, his face slightly flushed.
He had never met this bride from a neighboring village before, only hearing snippets from the village matchmaker, Aunt Liu.
She was said to be a clever and capable woman, and—most importantly—fertile, which was why his parents had immediately taken a liking to her.
They had spared no expense, offering a large pig and three lambs as betrothal gifts, securing her birth details, and arranging this rare village wedding in just half a month.
“But what was her nickname again? Qingmei? Chunwan? Or Xiaoling?”
Han Li suddenly felt a wave of confusion. The name he had remembered so clearly moments ago now seemed indistinct, as if all three names were familiar yet none quite fit.
But it didn’t matter. This petite woman before him was now his wife, and soon, like his elder brother’s wife, she would bear him two or three—perhaps even more—children.
Then, like his parents, they would watch their children grow, marry, and establish their own families…
Han Li stood by the bed, his expression dazed, yet a strange thought crossed his mind: Why was he suddenly entertaining such scattered musings instead of focusing on the long-anticipated moment, as his fellow villagers had teased?
He exhaled subconsciously, mustering his courage, and reached out to snatch away the red veil.
The petite figure beneath it trembled slightly, her waist twisting unconsciously as if she, too, felt uneasy.
Han Li’s mouth felt dry, but he steeled himself and yanked the veil away in a fluster.
A face—not particularly fair but undeniably delicate—appeared before him, blushing shyly.
Han Li grinned foolishly, utterly satisfied. He absentmindedly tossed the veil aside and opened his mouth to murmur something to the woman before him—
But then, a sudden chill surged from his dantian, spiraling through his head before exploding with a “boom,” unleashing a flood of previously sealed memories.
Han Li’s smile remained frozen on his face, his expression unreadable.
The woman, sensing something amiss, rose from the bed and bowed slightly, murmuring softly, “Husband…”
Han Li’s eyes flickered as if regaining clarity, but instead of responding, his smile faded. He studied her with an odd gaze before finally remarking coldly, “A fine illusion, but a fake is still a fake. Did you truly think you could deceive me and trap me in this fantasy so easily?”
With a flick of his sleeve, a streak of icy blue light shot forth, circling the woman once before slicing her cleanly in half.
Her severed corpse toppled to the floor beside the bed, blood gushing forth as the stench of iron filled the air.
Han Li glanced dispassionately at the remains and sneered, “Still clinging to this pitiful trick? You underestimate me far too much.”
He twitched a finger, and with a crack of thunder, a golden lightning bolt arced from his fingertip, striking the corpse.
With a “boom,” the body dissolved into black mist, rising into the air.
But Han Li was prepared. He formed a seal with his hands, and the lightning bolt curved midair, unerringly striking the mist.
A shrill scream echoed as part of the mist dissipated, and a furious male voice snarled, “Don’t celebrate too soon, Han brat! Even if I failed this time, as long as you remain within this tribulation of the heart, I can subject you to the experiences of ten—no, a hundred—lifetimes. Sooner or later, I’ll find a crack in your resolve, and then I’ll replace you!”
Han Li chuckled, unfazed. “I’ve long mastered the Soul Refinement Technique. My divine sense rivals that of a Mahayana cultivator, and my mind is unshakable. You’re nothing but my inner demon—how could you possibly sway me?”
“Oh? So confident?” the voice mocked. “Don’t forget—in a way, I am you, and you are me. Every memory, every emotion you possess, I know intimately. What haunts you most? What do you regret? You can’t hide anything from me. Even if your will is stone now, after a thousand cycles, you’ll falter. And the moment you fail to awaken… haha!”
The black mist erupted into maniacal laughter.
Han Li’s expression darkened slightly, but before he could retort, the mist exploded in the distance, unleashing a strange energy that engulfed the world.
The surroundings shattered like glass, and in a flash of milky light, Han Li found himself in another realm.
A sprawling courtyard, lush with flowers and grass, stretched before him. A winding pebble path led to a round moon gate, where a green-robed girl of fifteen or sixteen—her face as lovely as a blossom—grinned at him playfully.
“Senior Brother,” she chirped, extending a slender, lotus-white arm, “since you’re my senior, shouldn’t you give your junior sister a gift upon your first meeting?”
“Mo Manor… Mo Cai Lian,” Han Li murmured, instantly recognizing the place and the girl. Against his will, he heard himself reply, “What kind of gift would you like, Junior Sister?”
“Jewelry, trinkets, anything fun or interesting will do! I’m not picky. Or—if you’re really stingy—seven or eight thousand taels of silver would suffice!” She batted her dark eyes, feigning innocence.
Han Li’s lips twitched at the familiar demand. He wanted to laugh bitterly, but an irresistible force swept over him, erasing his awareness and leaving only the memories he’d had before entering Mo Manor.
Leaving home to join the Seven Mysteries Sect, becoming Mo Daofu’s disciple, bidding farewell to Li Feiyu—all these events felt as fresh as if they’d happened yesterday.
In this state, Han Li replied without thinking, “Seven or eight thousand taels? How could I possibly have that much? I’ll owe you for now, Junior Sister.”
The girl pouted, her eyes glistening with exaggerated disappointment.
Han Li felt an immediate headache coming on…
Outside this illusory realm, Han Li’s physical body and Nascent Soul remained motionless in meditation, but the demonic mist around him churned violently.
Stronger demonic entities now lurked near his body, testing its defenses with increasing frequency.
Though golden lightning repelled them with thunderous cracks, more emerged from the mist, their attacks growing bolder and more relentless, as if coveting his flesh with insatiable greed.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage