“Just like your realm of consciousness, originally there is no good or evil in the world, no hatred or grudges. It was only after the existence of humans that many emotions arose from a single thought in the human heart. You have held kindness in your heart, yet were confused by hatred. Up to this day, you have already realized many truths of life. Now I bestow upon you a Nine Heavens Battle Robe and nine Nine Heavens Divine Pills. Once you wear the battle robe, no deity can harm you within the Nine Heavens for nine days. When you consume the divine pills, you will gain the power of the Nine Heavens. With such strength, you are fully capable of taking the life of the Infinite Celestial Sovereign. Now, I ask you, do you still wish to seek revenge and completely settle this ancient enmity?”
Gazing at Shui Miao with a gentle and compassionate expression, the Lady of the Nine Heavens exuded a serene aura that calmed one’s heart.
Shui Miao reflected inwardly—how could he not want to avenge such an ancient grudge?
Before the goddess, Shui Miao dared not lie.
As he was about to speak, the Lady of the Nine Heavens raised her hand. “I already know your heart. Now I shall send you beyond the Nine Heavens to settle this ancient feud once and for all.”
A flash of white light passed, and the scenery before Shui Miao changed completely.
He found himself standing on the surface of an unfamiliar planet. Looking up, a massive planet seemed within reach.
Ahead stood a mountain, and before it, a cave.
Shui Miao sensed the Nine Heavens Battle Robe and the Nine Heavens Divine Pills within his consciousness. With but a thought, he could don the robe or absorb the power of the pills.
Could it be that the Infinite Celestial Sovereign was hiding here?
Shui Miao felt as though he were dreaming, yet his mind was unusually clear. Everything around him felt real, so it couldn’t be a dream.
Inside the cave, the scenery was vast and beautiful, like a paradise hidden from the world.
Cautiously, Shui Miao entered the cave. He didn’t see anyone, but the surroundings felt strangely familiar, as if he had been here before.
On a raised platform stood a massive white jade stele and many white jade statues.
Shui Miao slowly ascended the platform and gazed at the statues.
Suddenly, he noticed that all the statues bore a resemblance to him!
Looking closer at the stele, he found his own name engraved upon it!
What was going on?
Shui Miao was greatly shocked and confused.
“Who are you!?”
A strange, aged voice suddenly echoed from behind him.
Shui Miao spun around sharply and saw an old man who bore a slight resemblance to himself.
Upon seeing Shui Miao, the old man frowned instantly. He quickly performed a divination technique and shook his head in shock. “How is this possible? Why can’t I sense anything about you?”
“Because he is you.”
Suddenly, the Lady of the Nine Heavens and her attendants appeared on the platform.
What!?
At her words, Shui Miao was instantly stunned!
“Xuan Nü, what are you doing here? Have you come to steal my power?” The old man, filled with hostility, showed no fear even in the presence of the Lady of the Nine Heavens.
“Wuji, you are mistaken. With my cultivation, why would I desire your power? I am here to settle the feud between you and him.” The Lady of the Nine Heavens spoke calmly. “Do you remember creating a divine clone named Yemo in the past?”
“Yes, Yemo was formed from the malevolent spiritual energy I discarded. He was extremely evil. I kill him myself every few years. But this young man doesn’t possess that malevolent energy. Why do you say he is me?” The old man was indeed the Infinite Celestial Sovereign—genuinely so.
“That’s because he also discarded that malevolent energy.”
With a wave of her hand, the Lady of the Nine Heavens caused Shui Miao’s past and present lives to flash rapidly across the white jade stele. The images moved so quickly that Shui Miao felt dizzy and couldn’t make them out clearly. However, the Infinite Celestial Sovereign watched them carefully and then sighed deeply, examining Shui Miao closely. “Strange, he really does resemble my younger self. Alas, fate has played cruel tricks. No matter how powerful one becomes, one cannot escape the Five Decays of Immortality!”
“What do you mean? Are you saying that my past life, the Hei Ming God, was also your divine clone? So in the end, all of this was just you fighting yourself?” Shui Miao couldn’t help but speak up.
The Infinite Celestial Sovereign sighed again and shook his head with a bitter smile.
Nodding, the Lady of the Nine Heavens turned to Shui Miao. “The reason I am helping you is because you have a kind heart. I cannot bear to see you suffer endlessly. I hope you can awaken to the Dao soon and attain true liberation.”
“Liberation!”
The Infinite Celestial Sovereign scoffed. “True liberation is escaping fate itself. Even if the entire universe perishes, I shall not perish. That is liberation!”
“Wuji, you are truly mistaken. what you seek is unattainable.” The Lady of the Nine Heavens sighed helplessly. “The universe is vast beyond measure. We, the insignificant beings, no matter how long we cultivate, can never achieve liberation!”
“No! I refuse to believe it! I will escape the Five Decays of Immortality. You all leave, leave now! Let me think alone. I will find a way to liberation, I will…”
The Infinite Celestial Sovereign tried to drive them away.
The Lady of the Nine Heavens pleaded gently, “Wuji, why must you do this? Would it not be better to face reality calmly?”
“No! I refuse to live like you all. I will escape the Five Decays of Immortality. Even if the entire universe is destroyed, I shall remain!”
The Infinite Celestial Sovereign drove both the Lady of the Nine Heavens and Shui Miao out.
…
On the desolate surface of the planet, they stood helplessly before the cave entrance.
After a moment of silence, the Lady of the Nine Heavens turned to Shui Miao with a troubled expression. “Even the mightiest beings cannot escape death. The Infinite Celestial Sovereign’s time is near. Do you still wish to seek revenge?”
“No… I don’t want to anymore…”
Shui Miao’s heart stirred, and he immediately summoned the Nine Heavens Battle Robe and Divine Pills from his consciousness. “Thank you, my Lady, for guiding me. I never expected the truth to be like this. But my Lady, what exactly is this malevolent spiritual energy? If left unchecked, won’t it harm even more people?”
A flash of white light, and they were back within the Immortal Mirror.
The Lady of the Nine Heavens spoke calmly, “The malevolent spiritual energy is the root of all evils in the world. Yet it is also an essential part of nature. Without it, all things would never decay or die. Without it, the universe would quickly fall into chaos. Long ago, the Infinite Celestial Sovereign, being extremely wise, considered the necessity of decay for all things, so he discarded this malevolent energy. However, it took root in the Immortal-Demon Realm, multiplied, and created countless divine clones, giving rise to endless conflicts and grudges.”
“Please, my Lady, guide me. What should I do from now on?” Shui Miao suddenly felt a stirring in his heart and knew he must ask the goddess for guidance.
The Lady of the Nine Heavens paused. “This is the second question I wished to ask you. With your current cultivation, you could easily achieve great feats in the Immortal Realm. However, you will forever be entangled in the ancient grudges created by the Infinite Celestial Sovereign, destined to be caught in endless cycles. Do you intend to continue living like this, or shall I help you sever all ties and start anew?”
…
Shui Miao’s thoughts churned. After a moment’s silence, he let out a long sigh. “I’m tired of all these grudges. After cultivating to this point, I feel as if I’ve been living in a dream—a very annoying one. If possible, I truly wish to sever all ties with the malevolent spiritual energy, be reborn, and live a new life. But… I hope this time I won’t be lost. I want to understand the laws of heaven and earth, the ways of Feng Shui and nature.”
“That is not difficult to achieve,” the Lady of the Nine Heavens said, frowning slightly. “But are you truly willing to give up everything you have gained? Your current cultivation rivals that of an Immortal King. A hundred Great Golden Immortals may not be your match. Are you truly willing to abandon all this hard-earned power just to become an ordinary mortal who understands only the ways of nature and Feng Shui?”
The Lady herself found it hard to believe. Such a sacrifice was beyond what most could ever do.
“What good is great cultivation? Even the Infinite Celestial Sovereign is still tormented by the thought of death… Forget it. I don’t want it anymore. I just want to live a peaceful life with my family. I don’t need these messy memories anymore. If I could be a little duller, never thinking about parting and death, never pondering the Five Decays of Immortality, that would be even better!”
Shui Miao spoke from the heart. In truth, he had been deeply affected by the Infinite Celestial Sovereign.
The Five Decays of Immortality—this was a torment even the gods could not escape.
(The Five Decays of Immortality refer to the unavoidable physical decline and eventual death that even immortals must face. Immortals can delay aging, but they cannot achieve eternal life. Even the mightiest gods cannot escape death.)
“I understand…”
The Lady of the Nine Heavens nodded at Shui Miao. “Are you ready?”
At her words, Shui Miao quickly cried out, “Wait! What exactly are you going to do? I am currently in the Realm of Rakshasa, and I have many friends here. I cannot endanger them…”
“You truly have a kind heart…”
The Lady of the Nine Heavens smiled gently at Shui Miao. “I possess a great cosmic technique. By consuming the practitioner’s cultivation, it can reverse time, sending the target back several years. In other words, time itself will flow backward.”
“Truly reverse time!?”
Shui Miao found it hard to believe, feeling as if he were dreaming again.
If time could flow backward, many things could be redone. If he didn’t recklessly peek into the Immortal Realm, he wouldn’t be discovered by the Spirit General. If he wasn’t discovered, he wouldn’t have cultivated the malevolent spiritual energy. Without cultivating that energy, none of the later tragedies would have occurred. He could find his mother and take care of her, living happily with his family. He could be a good person for his entire life. What a wonderful thought! Even better, he would remember future events—like skyrocketing house prices and crashing stock markets.
“Do I look like I’m lying to you?”
The Lady of the Nine Heavens chuckled lightly.
Shui Miao took a deep breath, filled with excitement. “Alright! I’m ready! Thank you, my Lady, for granting me a second life!”
“There is no need to thank me. It is but a small effort on my part…”
With a flick of her brow, the Lady of the Nine Heavens signaled her disciples, who quickly formed a formation. Soon, a stream of chaotic energy descended from the sky, enveloping Shui Miao. He felt a sudden dizziness, a reversal of time and space, and his memories began to flow backward rapidly…
“Ahh!”
With a startled cry, Shui Miao sat bolt upright on his wooden bed, drenched in sweat.
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