Chu Tianqiu asked me to give Qi Xia a proper “welcome,” but the truth is, we’re not even on the same level.
I nearly got trampled to death by Qi Xia’s horse.
But maybe that’s for the best—it was the full extent of what I, an ordinary person, could do.
I remember Chu Tianqiu telling me to intentionally leave some openings for Qi Xia. Now, I realize with bitter amusement that even if I did nothing, just standing before Qi Xia would reveal countless flaws in me.
The harder I tried to play the role of Chu Tianqiu, the more glaring my weaknesses became.
After all, Qi Xia had asked me more than once: *”Chu Tianqiu, are you really as clever as they say?”*
Every time I heard that question, my *”Echo”* almost shattered. Fortunately, I always clung to the belief that I was the Chu Tianqiu of the past—because, in a way, our ultimate goals aligned. Our convictions intertwined, making me *him*, yet he could never be *me*.
Back then, Qi Xia also dropped a bizarre piece of information that forced me to reconsider the entire situation.
There were *ten* people in their room.
Every room here holds *nine*—even a madman like *”Heavenly Dragon”* knows that. Nine Heavens above, Nine Hells below—the number *nine* holds cosmic significance in the Daoist arts. If he truly intended to use all the *”Participants”* as stepping stones on his path to godhood, he would never arrange a ten-person interview room.
So then… was there someone else like me, who had struck a deal with the Azure Dragon and infiltrated Qi Xia’s room?
That sounded utterly absurd. No one in Qi Xia’s room had turned into a *”Mad One.”* In other words, the room’s proctor would kill any excess members—making infiltration a near-suicidal act.
Just how deranged would someone have to be to force their way into an already full room?
The problem was, I *wasn’t* Chu Tianqiu. I had no memory of who Qi Xia’s original teammates were. Among the eight people who followed him this time… was there one extra?
A chill ran down my spine. It seemed I wasn’t the only one who had thought of infiltrating another’s room. Others had followed my lead, desperately seeking any means to escape this place—while I had wasted two full years doing nothing.
I had infiltrated a room to infiltrate Chu Tianqiu’s group and enter *”Paradise Gate.”* So… was the extra person in Qi Xia’s room there to infiltrate *his* team?
This *”Peach Blossom Spring”* had become a place no sane person would dare enter. Its twisted ecosystem bred monsters, generation after generation.
In the past, rumors spread that *”only one person can escape,”* making it impossible to trust anyone.
Even the most trusted ally could one day lose all their memories and become a stranger.
That was when Chu Tianqiu stepped forward. He not only established an organization and tirelessly worked to preserve everyone’s memories, but he also presented a notebook during the group’s most unstable moment.
He told everyone that the notebook contained proof—more than one person *could* escape, because someone had succeeded before. The *Participants* had to unite.
Though Chu Tianqiu never admitted it, many of us guessed that notebook was a fabrication.
But what did it matter?
He had taken a scattered group and organized them—providing food, shelter, and ensuring everyone’s *Echoes* remained intact. Chu Tianqiu lived each day more exhausted than anyone else. Who would dare tear apart that fragile illusion?
No matter what that notebook truly was—even if it was just a blank page—as long as he held it, it became the faith of everyone in *Paradise Gate.* People would throw themselves into death for that ethereal scrap of paper.
In a place drowning in *despair*, no one would question the weight of *hope.*
That was why I seized the opportunity—when everyone in Chu Tianqiu’s room lost their memories simultaneously—to slip in and become one of them.
So then… what was the purpose of the person who infiltrated Qi Xia’s room?
I’d met Qi Xia a few times before, though it was so long ago that *Paradise Gate* hadn’t even existed yet.
The Qi Xia of seven years ago left a deep impression on me. But he had vanished for so long that I assumed he’d become a *Mad One.* Yet, realistically, aside from me, had *anyone* ever recovered from that state?
The Azure Dragon wouldn’t take such a risk, and the Vermilion Bird certainly wouldn’t.
That meant Qi Xia had been moving through the *Peach Blossom Spring* all this time. But if he was truly so formidable, why had he stayed hidden for so long—never even joining *Paradise Gate*?
Even if he was reclusive, Chu Tianqiu would’ve extended an olive branch.
Could this be connected to the infiltrator in their room?
Later, I learned the truth: the extra person wasn’t an outsider, but an old face.
But I’ll set that aside for now. At the time, I had only one thought—I needed to stabilize Qi Xia. His potential was still unknown, and I had to use this opportunity to understand him.
So I explained the mechanics of *Echoes* and *Paradise Gate’s* ultimate goal.
We would rely on one *Echo* user after another to break through every game.
But my task wasn’t just that—I also had to tell him about *myself.* That is, the truth about *Xu Liunian.*
Someone as sharp as him couldn’t be allowed to die pointlessly in a fight against an *Earth-level* Zodiac. I needed him to take *Xu Liunian* as a warning—to tread carefully.
Using Chu Tianqiu’s voice, I spun a vivid, fabricated tale.
After all, I wouldn’t be appearing as *Xu Liunian* anytime soon… The next time I resurfaced, it would be to ignite the war between Qi Xia and Chu Tianqiu.
Now, I couldn’t help but wonder… Which of these two would lead the charge to destroy this place?
To my shock, Qi Xia *had* retained his memories from last time.
He *had* obtained an *Echo*—the Azure Dragon’s plan had succeeded.
An *Unfortunate One* gaining an *Echo*… Just what *was* Qi Xia’s *Echo*?
Feigning surprise, I sent Yun Yao to investigate. I’d parked my car where Qi Xia and I last met. They wouldn’t find me there, but they’d never guess I’d already returned to *Paradise Gate.*
My goal wasn’t just to return—I had to stir the waters for the Azure Dragon.
If I could ride that wave, maybe—just maybe—I could touch the sky.
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