Tantai Jin's soul scattered into the Path of Shared Sorrow.
Su Su also flew toward the rift in the sky above.
Jingmie witnessed this scene and, disregarding his own burned body, frantically lunged forward: "No, you can't!"
Demonic beasts had been suppressed for tens of thousands of years. The world's energy remained in balance—when spiritual energy flourished, demonic energy waned.
She never wanted to slumber in the icy depths of the sea again, nor let Hanba's descendants become monsters shunned by the world.
Why shouldn't demonic beasts exist in this world?
Her beautiful face faded, her hair withered, transforming into a ghastly visage with fangs as she flew toward Su Su.
Seeing this, Jingmie gritted his teeth and joined the effort to stop her. Though the Demon Lord had perished, the Path of Shared Sorrow had already opened. If Su Su didn't sacrifice herself, in mere moments, the six realms would belong to them.
Perhaps all demonic beasts thought the same. Every one with cultivation poured their lives into stopping Su Su.
Su Su's eyes reflected this scene.
Countless demonic beasts, tears in their eyes, knowing full well they couldn't oppose an ancient God, still surged toward her wave after wave.
Under the Phoenix's Karmic Fire, some were incinerated, yet others, undeterred, transformed into black mist and flew at her.
Su Su's heart swelled with sorrow.
Ancient demonic beasts were born in the wildlands, while Gods descended in divine realms brimming with spiritual energy. For millennia, demonic beasts were trapped in the Desolate Abyss, while cultivators received sincere worship and offerings from mortals.
The demonic realm was barren, so they desired this beautiful world for themselves, craving freedom.
But survival could not be built upon extermination and slaughter.
Without looking back, Su Su flew straight into the Path of Shared Sorrow, carrying several demonic artifacts. Through the Phoenix's eyes, she saw only eternal darkness within.
Yet this time, her heart was calm.
But as she approached the Path, a brilliant light surged forth, pushing her back.
The Phoenix transformed into a red-robed Goddess. Sensing something, she watched the scene unfold.
The demonic beasts stared in awe. "The Demon Lord!"
"It's the Demon Lord's power!"
The Path of Shared Sorrow had fully opened. Tantai Jin's death had not stopped it.
Yet the Path before them was nothing like anyone had imagined.
—A torrent of immortal spiritual energy and chaotic demonic energy poured forth, flowing into the mountains and rivers.
The Path, which had once greedily absorbed the world's spiritual energy, now acted like a funnel, returning it all to the six realms.
The Path had existed since ancient times, absorbing spiritual energy for millennia! Now, that energy surged out in an unprecedented, awe-inspiring display.
This scene reflected in Su Su's eyes, the world awash in radiant colors.
Life began to flourish, streams flowed, and birds returned.
Su Su gazed at the familiar landscape before her, momentarily lost in thought.
Five hundred years ago, she had activated the Talisman of All Beings before Tantai Jin, showing him the world's most serene and beautiful scene.
That image had reflected in the youth's stunned dark eyes. That year, she had smiled at him, hoping he would understand the beauty of the six realms.
Today, he returned that very scene to the world.
The four vanished divine pearls transformed into fireflies, scattering across the mortal realm.
The Illusion Face Pearl used the Path's spiritual energy to simulate a body, the Life Gathering Pearl condensed souls pouring from the Path, the Greed Wolf Pearl guided souls back to their bodies, and the Kaiyang Pearl bestowed them with vitality and memory.
Jingmie collapsed to the ground, muttering, "This can't be... impossible..."
How could anyone alter an ancient Path?
She finally understood what Tantai Jin had done. Knowing the Path couldn't be destroyed—even if sealed now, in another ten thousand years, a new Demon God would emerge and reopen it—he had entered the demonic realm, embraced demonic ways, collected divine pearls, and summoned the spirits of all things.
Once capable of absorbing others' power for his own use, he now used that method to control the Path, releasing all the souls it had devoured over the ages.
On the ground, Cang Hai opened his eyes. Disciples of the Carefree Sect regained consciousness.
All who had perished in the Nine Revolutions Profound Return Array returned to the world.
Mortals killed over the past five hundred years to appease the Path awoke in the streets, bewildered. "What happened?"
Doors opened, children's joyful voices ringing out: "Father! Mother! Father's back!"
White-haired elders embraced their returned children, weeping uncontrollably.
The chaotic demonic energy flowed into the shattered demonic realm, forcibly drawing the demonic beasts back. Jingmie supported Jingmie as they gazed at the land now blooming with night-blooming cereus, the vast mountains, the newly formed demonic veins, speechless for a long time.
Jingmie whispered in disbelief, "Is this... our place?"
As everything settled, the red-robed Goddess remained standing.
Chongyu said softly, "Su Su."
Stop looking. You've been staring too long.
The rift in the sky gradually vanished. All who should have returned had come back.
Except one.
Su Su watched the closing rift.
Where was he? Why hadn't he returned?
Gazing at the twilight, she faintly saw Tantai Jin as he had been when they first met.
A youth draped in a black cloak, his eyes downcast, frail, pale, and aloof.
This time, he didn't come toward her but slowly faded into the world.
Just as Chongyu thought Su Su would keep watching forever, she turned and walked toward the demonic realm blooming with cereus flowers.
Su Su knew she wouldn't see him again. Even if she hadn't come today, Tantai Jin would have chosen to sacrifice himself to the Path.
Ji Ze had guarded the Desolate Abyss for ten thousand years.
Li Susu would spend her life guarding the demonic realm, protecting the six realms.
Until the day she, too, vanished.
But a God's life was so very long.
Flowers bloomed and withered; another year passed in the mortal realm.
On a snowy winter day, a white-robed Immortal Lord carrying a sword called to the man ahead: "Fuyai, don't go further. That's the demonic realm's boundary stele—you can't cross."
Yue Fuyai turned, revealing a sharply defined face. "It's been almost a hundred years. I want my senior sister back."
Gongye Jiewu lowered his eyes. "Su Su guards the demonic realm. She won't leave easily."
Yue Fuyai clenched his teeth. "Of course you wouldn't miss her. You have Yaoguang now; she means nothing to you. Should the world's last God spend eternity guarding a frigid demonic hall?"
Gongye Jiewu watched him quietly, his grayish eyes filled with sorrow.
Yue Fuyai balled his fists. "I'm sorry, senior brother. I... lost control."
A hundred years. He came every year, yet the demonic realm's gates never opened for him. In truth, Yue Fuyai knew Gongye Jiewu came yearly too.
But with their master unable to manage Hengyang Sect's affairs, everything fell to Gongye Jiewu.
Everyone knew Gongye Jiewu would be Hengyang Sect's next leader. Though the Path's opening had returned all souls lost because of him, Gongye Jiewu still performed good deeds daily. His master said a thousand acts of kindness could restore inner peace.
Yaoguang accompanied him, from Hengyang's immortal mountains to the mortal realm.
Gongye Jiewu suffered no less than Yue Fuyai.
Yue Fuyai closed his eyes. "Senior brother, forgive me."
Gongye Jiewu pressed his lips together and shook his head, gazing at the boundary stele. For a century, no demonic beasts had plagued the mortal realm—only small spirits who had gained sentience and human form.
The immortal sects were rebuilding, slowly returning to their former glory. The mortal realm was peaceful.
All was well, save for one thing.
Since the day the Path poured into the world, none of them had seen Su Su.
The world knew a Goddess watched over them, but to Yue Fuyai, he had lost the person who mattered most.
"She shouldn't stay in the demonic realm," Yue Fuyai said. "A Goddess should ascend to the divine realm."
Gongye Jiewu replied, "She stays in the demonic realm because it brings her peace. After all, it's what he left behind."
At the mention of Tantai Jin, Yue Fuyai fell silent. He nodded to Gongye Jiewu and vanished into the mortal snow.
Gongye Jiewu studied the demonic realm's boundary stele.
"Su Su," he said with a faint smile. "These years, I've traveled the mortal realm and heard many tales. I often dream of a man named Xiao Lin. Recently, I visited the ruins of Xia and Zhou Kingdoms from six hundred years ago. Everything had changed beyond recognition—except two places."
"One was the Xia Kingdom's general's manor. The people said generations of Ye family generals who fought on battlefields had lived there—an eternal glory the people would remember."
"The other was the Zhou Kingdom's imperial tomb." He sighed softly. "They say a mad emperor unnamed in history buried his beloved there, forbidding all from disturbing her rest."
The snow had piled thick, nearly covering his boots. Gongye Jiewu nodded and left the boundary stele.
After he had gone far, a woman in a white cloak walked into the snowstorm, holding an umbrella.
Her steps were light, a blue butterfly perched on her shoulder.
"Su Su, where are we going? A Mi might be scared without us." The little phoenix, newly hatched and fragile, stirred Chongyu's maternal instincts.
"To visit someone from the past. Jingmie will take care of A Mi." Her voice was gentle and calm.
"Someone from six hundred years ago?"
"Yes." She smiled. "And my past self."
Chongyu asked no more, accompanying her into the imperial tomb. The tomb of the Tantai royal family from six centuries ago stood desolate and empty.
With the Zhou Kingdom gone, no one guarded it.
The tomb radiated heavy malice—no mortal or monster exterminator could enter.
Su Su's white robes trailed as she noticed skeletal remains of blood ravens nearby. They had died long ago. She gazed at them—once, they had guarded this tomb.
Wherever Su Su walked, the tomb's chill dissipated, warmth spreading.
She reached the innermost chamber and saw a gray tombstone.
Dust covered it. Without using magic, she wiped the dust away with her hand.
The engraved words became clear. Chongyu flew over, his blue glow illuminating the inscription.
Su Su's lips curved as she softly read: "Tantai Jin's beloved wife, Ye Xi Wu's tomb. Jinghe Year Two, Midwinter Fifteenth."
The blue butterfly fluttered to another stone. Chongyu exclaimed, "Su Su, look! Another tombstone!"
The two stones stood side by side, like a shared burial.
Su Su turned.
This stone was newer than Ye Xi Wu's. She touched it, slowly kneeling.
Dust fell away.
Her fingers froze as she read the words.
How?
—"Ye Xi Wu's husband, Tantai Jin's tomb."
Even Chongyu was stunned. "The date... a hundred years ago. It says you carved it."
Su Su lowered her eyes. With a thought, light filled the tomb.
Her divine vision revealed a jade box carefully placed behind the stone.
For some reason, she hesitated to touch it. Tantai Jin had been gone a century. All these years, she had lived dutifully as a Goddess.
She opened the box.
Inside lay a golden love thread, the beaded bracelet she had once strung, a sword tassel, and the jade pendant she had given Tantai Jin six hundred years ago.
So this was where they had all been.
She reached out, touching the love thread. Long ago, Su Su had learned that love threads carried all of a person's affection.
Ye Bingshang, who had obtained her father's love thread, could make others love her.
As her fingers brushed the thread, an image formed in her mind.
A hundred years ago, the black-robed Demon Lord entered the tomb alone.
He changed into white robes, concealing his demonic mark, and carried a sword—looking nothing like a demon. Leaning against her tombstone, he carved his own.
When signing it, he wrote that Su Su had carved it.
He raised a hand, and the Illusion Face Pearl simulated a woman's form.
"Su Su" smiled. "I've finished the sword tassel. Keep it close, and this time, remember to return."
Tantai Jin gazed at her tenderly. "I will."Mortals say if you weave a love bead string with sincerity, we can be together for lifetimes." When you return, we'll stay together forever. Okay?"
The youth's dark hair fell, his skin ghostly pale. "Okay."
Su Su embraced him. "Husband, I believe in you. You're not a demon, not a monster who only kills. I'll wait for you here. If the world doubts you, I don't."
He stared at her, longing but not touching, and nodded.
The illusion faded. Tantai Jin stroked the tombstone, his eyes tinged peach-red. "I know you'd love me. You'd believe in me, wait for me."
He smiled, content as a child.
"I promise I'll return soon."
After a long while, he stood and left.
The mortal sky was gray.
The pristine white-clad youth became the black-robed Demon Lord once more.
His gentle eyes turned cold, the demonic mark reappearing.
He had known early on he would perish in the Path. He carved his own tombstone, pretending Su Su had done it.
He finished the sword tassel she'd never completed, pretending she'd given it to him.
Lost in a world where Su Su loved him, he faced death calmly.
In this life, Su Su had given him so little love that deceiving himself required such effort.
But in reality, he never gained her trust or protection—his soul scattered. She loved all living things. Once, he had tried desperately to keep her, but he eventually learned how to truly love her.
In this divine-demonic war, all found their place.
Only one vanished forever from the world.
A man who had never known love, sensitive and fragile, had conceded defeat when carving his tombstone. He accepted no one would ever love him. Knowing Su Su was the Demon King's daughter, he pushed her toward death's door, letting her sever her past to become a Goddess.
Tantai Jin buried the past in this tomb. He believed Gods couldn't love or weep for someone like him.
But now, Su Su held the love thread.
The Goddess who shouldn't have been able to cry gazed at all she had once given him.
After a hundred years, she finally broke down, weeping before his tombstone.
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