Chapter 57:

Luo Wu Mountain.

Feng Xiang didn’t know whether this was the 23rd time she had seen this white-robed swordsman.

The immortal lotus was about to bloom, but no one knew exactly when. Xie Xuechen guarded the lotus every day, waiting for it to bloom. Sometimes Feng Xiang would fight with him, and sometimes they would chat about matters in the Immortal Alliance or share stories of their pasts.

Xie Xuechen’s past was dull and unremarkable, except for one colorful detail—the girl who always smiled. When he spoke of her, his sharp and cold phoenix eyes softened.

“She’s the one you love,” Feng Xiang stated firmly.

Xie Xuechen nodded. “She is the one I vowed to protect forever.”

Feng Xiang’s gaze became distant, and a wave of jealousy welled up inside her. She turned her face away and murmured bitterly, “That’s nice.”

Unfortunately, the person she loved had never truly cherished her.

At that very moment, the immortal lotus slowly unfurled its petals, releasing a rich fragrance. Feng Xiang’s eyes lit up as she reached out to seize it. Without hesitation, Xie Xuechen thrust his sword, Jun Tian, forward. Feng Xiang turned to block, and the two clashed in battle. Xie Xuechen had no intention of harming her, so he called out, “Venerable One, Qian Guangjun has been looking for you!”

Feng Xiang’s movements froze, her shoulders trembling slightly. Her face turned deathly pale as she stared at Xie Xuechen. “What did you say?”

“Qian Guangjun’s beloved is you!” Xie Xuechen took the initiative and plucked the immortal lotus first, then turned to face her and said solemnly, “Turn around and look at where you came from.”

Feng Xiang hesitated as she turned her head. Before her eyes, formations lit up all around, and then everything darkened. She now stood in a world of pure darkness. In front of her was someone identical to herself, sleeping soundly. Sitting beside her was Qian Guangjun, gazing down at her with tenderness.

“Feng Xiang…” He never said the word “love,” but the expression in his eyes and the depth in his voice made it impossible not to see or hear his feelings.

This was a retroactive formation, capable of recording everything that had truly happened. In the formation, Qian Guangjun lifted his head and looked toward a certain direction, as if gazing directly at her.

“Feng Xiang, are you watching me…”

Across time and space, he reached out his hand toward her.

This was the only thing Xie Xuechen could do for them.

He turned away sorrowfully, unable to bear watching the tragedy unfold in the formation anymore.

Was this the price for defying heaven’s will…? Then, what price would he have to pay?

As long as he was the one to bear it, it would be enough…

Xie Xuechen looked at the immortal lotus in his hand. After being plucked, the lotus continuously shrank until it eventually refined itself into a luminous white pearl, the same size as the red lotus core, though differing in fragrance and hue. Xie Xuechen closed his eyes briefly, took a deep breath, and placed the white lotus pearl into his mouth, swallowing it.

In a moment, a warm current flowed from his stomach to his limbs. He felt his body becoming lighter. Without channeling his spiritual energy, his feet naturally lifted off the ground, floating. The warmth surged into his eyes, and he instinctively raised his head. He saw a continuous flight of white steps leading toward the summit of Luo Wu Mountain appear in the sky.

—The Celestial Ladder!

So it was true, just as Qian Guangjun had said!

A surge of emotion welled up in Xie Xuechen’s heart. He stepped onto the first step of the ladder. At the same time, he felt his spiritual energy stagnate. He could no longer sense the existence of his spiritual nodes, as if he had become an ordinary mortal. Before he could prepare himself, a violent gust of wind struck his face, carrying razor-sharp gales that sliced across his arms. The invisible wind seemed to target him specifically, mercilessly leaving a wound on his arm.

Xie Xuechen possessed a body of the Dharma Form, far stronger and more solid than that of ordinary cultivators. Yet on the Celestial Ladder, all his supernatural abilities were sealed, forcing him to endure the attacks with his bare flesh. The celestial winds were so sharp they pierced his defenses, carving deep grooves into his skin, causing blood to gush out and soak his white robes.

Thirty-eight thousand steps, thirty-eight thousand cuts.

Xie Xuechen smiled faintly and continued climbing.

Another blade struck his left leg.

The next one hit his chest.

Each step on the Celestial Ladder was met with sharp celestial winds, obstructing mortals who sought immortality, mercilessly cutting blow after blow, yet unable to force back those with unyielding determination.

Xie Xuechen only feared that the gales might injure his eyes and obscure his path. He covered his face with his hands to protect his eyes, but soon his palms were slashed open, revealing the white bones beneath.

His white robes were stained crimson red, and with every step he took, a crimson lotus bloomed on the steps, a shocking sight.

—Ling’er…

Amidst the thousand cuts and myriad blades tearing at his body, he silently counted in his mind as he took another step.

A blade slashed into the patella of his left leg. The pain of severed tendons and broken bones made it hard for him to stand, and he knelt halfway on the celestial steps. His blood-soaked hands trembled as they supported him on the steps, sweat and blood dripping continuously, soaking his thick, dark hair, sticking to his bloodied temples. His refined and noble face was also cut with countless bloodstained marks, except for his phoenix eyes, which remained fixedly determined ahead.

Perhaps due to the divine nature of the Celestial Ladder, his consciousness did not blur from the pain but became increasingly clear, each excruciating cut vividly felt, each one urging him to turn back.

But not for a moment did he hesitate or retreat.

It was just pain. What was flesh wound compared to his goal? What was broken bones compared to his determination? Even if he had to crawl, he would still reach the celestial temple!

Because someone was waiting for him…

—Ling’er…

He silently recited her name in his heart, drawing strength from it to move forward.

—Twenty-three thousand nine hundred and eighty…

—Twenty-three thousand nine hundred and eighty-one…

A gust of wind swept across his eyebrows, and blood seeped into his eyes, causing a stinging sensation. Everything before him seemed to be enveloped in a red haze.

He recalled the moment Ling’er fell before his eyes. His eyes had burned with the same pain, and the world before him had been similarly crimson.

—Ling’er, there were still many things I promised you that I have yet to fulfill. Our millennium vow has only just begun. How could you break your promise and leave me…

The golden core must have been taken by her when she was at Luo Wu Mountain. But that jade pendant—he had no idea when she had hidden it on her body. That must be why she chose to perish together with Sang Qi.

Xie Xuechen vaguely recalled that he had never asked Ling’er why she had loved him so deeply, sacrificing herself so completely. But now, when he wanted to ask, she could no longer answer.

If she had never met him, never fallen in love with him, she might have lived a life with fewer joys, but at least she would still be alive.

If he had not cured her of the poison of the Wuxin Grass, she would not have died because of him…

Another gust of wind slashed into the patella of his right leg. Xie Xuechen collapsed onto the cold celestial steps. Supporting himself with his arms, he climbed forward step by step, his hands too weak to shield his eyes any longer. Finally, the wind blades sliced into his eyes. He closed them, and blood streamed down his face, leaving only darkness before him.

—Thirty-one thousand eight hundred and twenty-three.

—Thirty-one thousand eight hundred and twenty-four…

Even without sight, he did not lose his way, continuing to climb resolutely toward the summit. Beyond the snow line, the gales turned into icy snowflakes that landed on his wounds, causing searing pain, sharp and bone-piercing, making even the most steadfast tremble.

Xie Xuechen even felt grateful—if the one who had died that day had been him, Ling’er would have undoubtedly swallowed the immortal lotus and climbed this thirty-eight thousand-step Celestial Ladder without hesitation. He couldn’t bear to let her endure such a living hell. All he wished for was to find a way to bring her back at the end of this ladder.

—Thirty-seven thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine.

—Thirty-eight thousand!

Finally, he reached the end of the Celestial Ladder. The dense snow abruptly vanished, the howling winds ceased, and all around was serene and peaceful. A warm energy wrapped around his body, soothing the pain of his wounds. Leaning on his sword for support, Xie Xuechen staggered forward. With each step, his injuries lessened. Slowly, his vision returned, and he could vaguely make out the scenery ahead.

Everything at the top of the ladder seemed to float above the clouds. The ground beneath his feet appeared soft like clouds, yet solid as the earth. The world above the clouds was ethereal and hazy. In the distance, pavilions and terraces were hidden within the mist. Xie Xuechen slowly approached and saw a stone-carved chessboard in a pavilion. On it, black and white pieces were locked in fierce battle, the game halfway through, yet the players were nowhere to be seen. Beside the board, a table was set with fragrant fruits—half-eaten grapes, a peach with two bites taken out of it, and a cup of immortal tea, half-drunk. No, not half-poured, but half-consumed. It seemed as though someone had been here playing chess, chatting, and sipping tea, but everything had suddenly stopped, the people vanished, leaving only these traces behind…

A sudden chill rose in Xie Xuechen’s heart. He averted his gaze and continued forward, searching for the temple.

After walking for a long time, he finally spotted a palace that looked like a temple. Its four corners curved upward like dragon heads, and spiritual mist spewed from the dragon’s mouths. A bell hung in the courtyard, and an incense burner held three burning sticks of incense, though no one knew how long they had been burning.

Xie Xuechen took a deep breath, stepped forward, and stood before the temple’s entrance. He raised his hand and gently knocked on the door ring. No one answered, but the massive doors slowly opened on their own.

Frowning slightly, Xie Xuechen stepped over the high threshold and entered quietly.

“Xie Xuechen, a swordsman of the human race, seeks an audience with the divine official!” His cold, hoarse voice echoed through the vast temple.

“Xie Xuechen, a swordsman of the human race, seeks an audience with the divine official!” He raised his voice and spoke again.

“Ah…”

A distant, ethereal male voice echoed around, filled with surprise, confusion, and wonder, yet impossible to trace its source. Xie Xuechen’s expression sharpened as he clasped his hands together and said, “I apologize for the intrusion. Please forgive me.”

Soft footsteps approached from deep within the temple. Through the layers of thin veils, Xie Xuechen saw a blurred yet tall silhouette. The figure walked unhurriedly, as if leisurely strolling through a garden, yet his voice came from afar, light and cheerful.

“It has been a long time since anyone has set foot on the Divine Severing Platform.”

“The Divine Severing Platform?” Xie Xuechen’s expression shifted slightly. “You mean the thirty-eight thousand steps of the Celestial Ladder… that was the Divine Severing Platform?”

“Precisely,” the figure behind the curtain replied softly. “Thirty-eight thousand cuts, severing the soul essence. Only those with a strong soul and unwavering will can survive the Divine Severing Platform.”

The three legendary terrifying places—Divine Severing Platform, Rongyuan, and Wu Jian Hell… Xie Xuechen gave a self-mocking smile. He had survived two of them.

As he spoke, the divine official had already approached. His hands were tucked into his sleeves, wearing seamless celestial robes that resembled drifting smoke. His long black hair cascaded down past his knees. As he walked, the thin veils stirred without wind, parting to reveal the divine official’s majestic and holy visage.

“I am the Divine Official of Timekeeping, Lun Jing Shang Shen,” the official said with a gentle smile, his refined eyebrows and long eyes filled with compassion as he gazed at Xie Xuechen. “You must have met Feng Xiang already.”

Xie Xuechen nodded. “Yes.”

“Then you must know that making a wish to me requires a small price,” Lun Jing’s smile grew even more tender.

A small price…

Xie Xuechen gave a bitter smile in his heart but replied, “I understand. However, I must clarify one thing—will this price be borne solely by me, without affecting others?”

Lun Jing said, “The fewer people involved in your wish, the fewer people who will bear the price.” Suddenly, he raised one finger, as if recalling something, his expression slightly troubled as he furrowed his brows. “I seem to remember someone once made a wish that involved all beings, and paid a tremendous price.”

Xie Xuechen lowered his phoenix eyes and said softly, “I only wish to bring back one person.”

Lun Jing studied him carefully and smiled, “The divine officials of the gods have different powers. To bring the dead back to life, only two can do it—Siming and Xuannü. I am the Divine Official of Timekeeping; I can only control the power of time.”

Xie Xuechen was stunned but soon understood—no wonder Feng Xiang’s wish for immortality had merely repeated the same day for six thousand years, because the Divine Official of Timekeeping had frozen her life within those twelve hours. That was the power of the Divine Official of Timekeeping…

Now that Xuannü had reincarnated as Su Ningxi, it would be difficult to proceed from that angle…

“Your Grace, where can I find Divine Official Siming?” Xie Xuechen asked.

Lun Jing smiled slightly. “You want to seek his help? No, no, no…” He shook his head gently, his expression enigmatic. “I have never seen him, but I vaguely remember that he is a cold and unapproachable god, unlike me who is so friendly.”

Xie Xuechen was filled with confusion. This heavenly palace, not to mention Siming, was completely empty, with only the Divine Official of Timekeeping present. It seemed as though a great event had once occurred in the divine realm, causing all the gods to suddenly vanish…

But if that were the case, why hadn’t this divine official vanished?

Was he truly a god?

Thinking this, Xie Xuechen’s gaze toward Lun Jing revealed his doubts.

“You harbor doubts,” Lun Jing’s wise eyes were gentle yet penetrating, instantly seeing through Xie Xuechen’s thoughts. “I don’t blame you for doubting. Even I am puzzled as to why this heavenly palace is so empty, leaving me alone as the sole god here…”

Xie Xuechen asked in surprise, “You don’t know either?”

Lun Jing sighed lightly. “I can feel that the gods have not vanished, but where have they gone? It seems something important happened, yet I have forgotten. But if I have forgotten, there must be a force greater than mine that caused me to forget.”

Xie Xuechen’s mind stirred. “The Book of Heavenly Mandate?”

Lun Jing looked at him and smiled. “Yes, perhaps it was the Book of Heavenly Mandate. Someone used the Book of Heavenly Mandate to alter the fate of the gods. Do you know, the Book of Heavenly Mandate is a treasure that tells lies, and whatever it says becomes true. Its power is far beyond mine, but it also demands a great price.” Lun Jing winked playfully. “Everything comes at a price.”

“If I wish to bring back one person, Your Grace, do you have a way?” Xie Xuechen asked.

Lun Jing kindly replied, “I can help you return to the past and change her fate before she died. You can decide where and when in the past you wish to go, and I will send you back with the Wheel of Reincarnation Mirror.”

Xie Xuechen’s mind immediately had an answer.

Seven years ago, Bright Moon Village—he needed to find out what had truly happened back then…

“I can hear your thoughts,” Lun Jing nodded slightly. He extended his slender, fair right hand and drew a circle in the air. A circular silver mirror floated midair, emitting a soft glow. The mirror was divided into two parts—sun above, moon below. Golden sand continuously swirled between them, like the passage of time.

“This is the Wheel of Reincarnation Mirror. I am the Divine Official of Timekeeping and can enter the mirror to travel back in time. However, as a human, it will be difficult for you to use the mirror. You can only enter as a soul, returning to your past self. Once you leave your physical body, your soul will lose its protection and be crushed by the grinding of time, leading to complete disintegration.”

Xie Xuechen solemnly said, “Thank you, Divine Official, for informing me.”

Lun Jing added, “Remember, do not attempt to change the fate of too many people, or you will not be able to afford the price demanded by Siming, and many people will become his pawns.”

Xie Xuechen’s expression turned serious, and he said solemnly, “I understand.”

Lun Jing gently touched the Wheel of Reincarnation Mirror with his pale hand. The beautiful golden sand between the sun and moon emitted dazzling light. Xie Xuechen couldn’t bear to look directly and squinted slightly. In an instant, his figure was drawn into the mirror, and the mirror returned to calmness.

Lun Jing flicked his sleeve, and a comfortable reclining chair appeared beneath him. He lazily lay down, resting his chin on his right hand, his long, narrow eyes watching the mirror’s changes with a faint smile.

“Could he be the one I’ve been waiting for…” he murmured softly.

Ten thousand years ago, someone had told him to wait here for a person, saying that this person would reveal the truth of this world and the whereabouts of the gods, and that he should do everything in his power to help him.

But that person never told him what the person he was waiting for looked like, whether they were male or female, old or young.

But there was one difference between this person and others—he felt a familiar aura from him.