Oracle: Two halves, god and demon, arise from the same source. The three realms stand equally, and balance between Yin and Yang is maintained… From now on, will there no longer be a pure god in this world?

“Yet even so, the paths are different and impossible to return from. Neither of you will have a next life or a future. How could you wait for it? Foolish child, oh foolish child.”

The white figure slowly raised a hand, looking at the ball of white light within. “We were once one, but now you have your own obsession, and we can no longer merge. From now on, you are you, and I am me.”

“The spell that reverses time is a creation taboo. You defied the heavens and altered fate for him, which led to today’s chaotic and confused state. However…”

“Though you should not have been able to reincarnate, this has created an opportunity. But this fate… ah… even if you cross paths for a moment, you will eventually drift farther apart.”

The white figure seemed to be speaking to himself, but Bai Fanlu felt as though he was conversing with someone else.

“Although fate is difficult, our hearts are still connected. I know you want to go, so go ahead. The Qianyuan Seal has sealed half of the darkness for you. I will guard the dark source; it will be enough.”

“…Are you worried about the Demon God’s true form? Don’t worry. If he is ever awakened, I will hand the Qianyuan Seal over to the destined person. It contains the last pure power in this world, along with your strength. It will be enough to destroy him completely. With that, you can rest assured, can’t you?”

“The key to Hengqing… I understand. When the time is right, I will complete that task and let him take a walk in the human realm.”

After a long time, the white figure murmured again, “I have erased your memory. I hope that in this lifetime, you can live peacefully and no longer meet him.”

“As for this dust that causes trouble, I will place two restrictions on it from now on, so that it won’t cause any more unnecessary entanglements between you two.”

The heavens slowly opened, and Bai Fanlu saw the white figure drifting down. With a wave of his hand, the Qianyuan Seal appeared in front of him. Bai Fanlu had seen it before—it was Qizhao’s weapon, and now it had fallen into his hands.

“Take it. It can transform into a sword, the finest divine weapon in this world, and it will aid you.”

“Who are you?”

The voice said, “I have no name.”

“Then…”

“If you really want to know, you could say I’m another version of you.”

Another… me?

Bai Fanlu was shocked, suddenly realizing that this white figure might be the other half of the Creator God’s soul! So, the words he had just spoken were directed at Mo Jiuli!

“What a pity I have no form. Otherwise, when we first meet in your world, I should shake your hand.”

“But I believe the opportunity will come soon.”

In my world? Shake hands? Bai Fanlu was puzzled. So, the Creator God knew he was a soul from another world?

But he was just a person who had entered a book. If the Creator God knew everything, why did he say that he was another him?

Could it be that he…

“Wait…”

Ding Ding: “Clearing the dungeon. Acquired ‘Divine Weapon: Qianyuan Seal’. Exiting and teleporting.”

As Bai Fanlu walked out of the cave, he was still thinking about the last words of the white figure.

“Senior Brother! You came out too!”

Hearing the voice, he turned to see Yun Zhan sitting on the edge of the cave, one leg dangling and the other bent. His hand rested casually on his knee, and he smiled brightly at Bai Fanlu, revealing a row of white teeth.

“What are you doing up there?”

“Watching the stars.”

“You still have the mood to watch the stars?” Bai Fanlu said. “Let’s go.”

Yun Zhan jumped down, landing beside Bai Fanlu. “Senior Brother, I’m really happy. It turns out I did it!”

“What?”

“Hehe, nothing,” Yun Zhan smiled mysteriously. “So, how was it in there? Any discoveries?”

“Yes, you’ll find out soon enough.”

Yun Zhan stroked his chin. “Is that so? Well, we’re the same. Let’s go!”

The two flew back on their swords to the northwest desert. From afar, they could see yellow sand filling the sky, and the monster rampaging within the formation, stirring up massive dust storms in its wake.

Now Bai Fanlu understood why the monster felt so familiar. It was the true form of the Demon God Mo Jiuli, sealed deep underground for thousands of years, turning into this terrifying creature.

And the power within him was indeed not from the current demon race. It was born from a mix of darkness, murky energy, and the divine power of the Creator God, giving rise to new energy.

Perhaps the Demon God wanted to devour him because of that same familiar feeling and attraction.

But no matter what, if Qizhao hadn’t softened his heart back then and held onto fantasies of Mo Jiuli’s return, this body should have long since been reduced to ashes, not merely sealed.

“Ah Zhan, when we lift the formation together, that thing will charge forward. You hold him from behind, and I’ll attack from the front.”

“Okay, I’ll follow your lead, Senior Brother!”

Bai Fanlu formed a hand seal in front of his chest, ready to release the formation. Suddenly, Yun Zhan spoke, “Senior Brother, when this is over, don’t forget about me again.”

Bai Fanlu paused. “How could I?”

But he said… “again”? Was he referring to the time they exited the chessboard?

No, even if he returned to his original world, he would never forget this person again.

“Get ready!”

“Alright.”

With two resounding booms, the swords Cangjin and Bilu returned to their owners’ hands simultaneously. Two figures, one purple and one blue, shot forward like arrows from a bow, diving into the sandstorm ahead.

In an instant, the dust flew wildly, and aside from the massive black shadow and two streaks of light weaving through it, nothing else was visible.

Bai Fanlu fought calmly, searching for an opening but finding none.

The Demon God, trapped for so long, had grown incredibly frenzied. Faced with the return of the two, his rage was boundless. Stone dragons and sand pillars shot up toward the sky, the force shaking heaven and earth.

In comparison, the two seemed so small within the storm, as though they could be crushed at any moment, completely outmatched.

Suddenly, Bai Fanlu’s mind heard a voice, “Senior Brother! This is the chance!”

Bai Fanlu didn’t know where Yun Zhan was, but the Demon God in front of him suddenly raised an arm, and a vast energy silently spread from behind him, clashing with the Demon God’s powerful aura, dissipating it into nothingness. The stones and sand that filled the sky also disintegrated into ash.

The sight was overwhelming, but Bai Fanlu had no time to hesitate. As the Demon God raised his arm as if to turn around, he hurled the Qianyuan Seal forward.

A burst of pure, radiant energy shot from the Qianyuan Seal, instantly transforming into a giant sword that stretched to the heavens. Bai Fanlu controlled the sword with both hands, and without a second thought, he thrust it toward the Demon God’s chest!

The sword pierced through with a resounding “clang.”

Bai Fanlu felt as though his heart had stopped at that moment. Amidst the deafening noise of the collapsing formations and the flying sand and stones, the sound was so faint it could barely be heard, yet it was as sharp and unstoppable as cutting through gold and jade.

The Demon God’s body suddenly froze as though something had bound him in place.

“Did it succeed?”

Bai Fanlu murmured, but it all felt too smooth. What had Yun Zhan just done?

“It worked…” Yun Zhan’s voice echoed in his mind, surprisingly weak.

The dust slowly settled, and the vortex of air stagnated. Moments later, the evil aura surrounding the Demon God vanished, and even his massive, terrifying body crumbled into scorched earth, falling to the ground like a heavy rain.

The Qianyuan Sword lost its divine glow, shrinking back to its original form, still lodged in the Demon God’s heart. As his enormous body collapsed completely, the sword remained embedded—not in the Demon God but in a person.

That person’s face was handsome, with a carefree smile. Though he always appeared lighthearted, he was once the purest god. Even after reincarnation, his presence was still awe-inspiring, captivating.

Bai Fanlu stared at Yun Zhan, his eyes stinging, yet he couldn’t utter a single word to express what he felt.

Yun Zhan spoke, “Senior Brother, I’ve returned the favor.”

He had been pierced by the Qianyuan Sword, and the formation in his hand had yet to be withdrawn. Yet Yun Zhan smiled as though he was saying something simple, like “Senior Brother, it’s your turn to drink.”

“And now that I’m like this, aren’t you going to come and help me?”

Bai Fanlu rushed over just in time to catch Yun Zhan as he collapsed.

He didn’t dare to touch the sword, but he could clearly feel Yun Zhan’s life slipping away rapidly. Yun Zhan grasped Bai Fanlu’s hand, “Don’t waste your strength. This is the Qianyuan Sword. How could I not know my own weapon?”

“Stop talking nonsense! What is going on?!” Bai Fanlu shouted, his voice trembling.

Yun Zhan smiled faintly. “The ancient Demon God… even with a divine weapon, it takes inside and outside coordination to strike the vital point.”

Bai Fanlu’s eyes reddened, and his gaze turned fierce. “I told you, I am not your Senior Brother. You don’t owe me anything. Why return the favor? Don’t you feel cheated?”

“…If it’s a loss, then so be it.”

Yun Zhan raised his other hand, and a soul lantern floated before them. “This is the lantern you used to guide my soul into the chessboard. Today, I’m giving it to you… Fortunately, I managed to save it.”

Bai Fanlu looked down. Inside the lantern was Lu Lingjue’s remaining soul.

“…”

Bai Fanlu could no longer hold back. His eyes burned, and his heart felt paralyzed. He could only grip Yun Zhan’s hand tightly. “You tricked me again.”

“I didn’t trick you,” Yun Zhan smiled at him. “Although I can’t tell you everything, I know you can do it. You’re much stronger than I am.”

“…”

No, he wasn’t strong at all! Bai Fanlu’s eyes trembled as he felt utterly weak.

“Senior Brother… Why won’t you kiss me? When I stabbed you before, you took the initiative to kiss me… Or is there poison under your tongue again, and you don’t dare to kiss me?”

Bai Fanlu wanted to kiss Yun Zhan, but his whole body felt stiff, as if paralyzed. He couldn’t even move a finger, and he struggled to catch his breath.

“Senior Brother… don’t be sad.”

“I’m not sad.”

Yun Zhan sighed. “But you look like you’re about to cry.”

Bai Fanlu stared at him, his bloodshot eyes filled with the sight of Yun Zhan’s fading aura, on the verge of collapse.

“Yun Zhan, don’t lie to me. Who are you really? And who am I?”

Bai Fanlu was starting to doubt. It seemed that in every lifetime, he had felt the same.

Just now, facing Qizhao as he approached the dark source, he had spoken those parting words almost reflexively.

And the pain that pierced his heart could deceive him then, but not now.

“Senior Brother,” Yun Zhan touched Bai Fanlu’s face, but his answer veered off. “Promise me two things: first, survive.”

“And second, trust me.”

“I will always be by your side. Always… Senior Brother, you must… trust me…”

His hand grew weak, starting to fall. Bai Fanlu held on tightly, not letting it drop. “Ah Zhan… don’t sleep… You haven’t answered me yet!”

“Senior Brother, fortunately, you chose the right side. Otherwise… you would have suffered again, and I… couldn’t bear it…”

“And… Senior Brother, at the end… you still didn’t kiss me… How disappointing…”

Bai Fanlu finally lowered his head, but just as he touched those lips, a celestial breeze passed, and the warmth in his arms vanished.

The sword was sharp, its energy pure and clean. The Qianyuan Sword remained, but the person was already gone.

Bai Fanlu’s hands stopped trembling; he felt as though he had fallen into an illusion.

No love, no hate, no fear, no sorrow—he seemed to remember nothing, left only with emptiness, a hollow shell.

At last, he understood the feeling that Qizhao had once experienced.

His vision gradually blurred, water vapor clouding his eyes.

In a daze, Bai Fanlu stood up, gathered all his strength to retrieve the Qianyuan Sword, and sent the Soul Lantern into the entrance of the Ghost Realm. When Wu Zhong saw him, he was surprised that Bai Fanlu was alone.

Bai Fanlu just shook his head and left. He didn’t want to think about anything anymore. Only one thought drove him: he had to find Wang Chongyu and Ling Qingzi at the Tianxu Gate and put an end to all this.

Lingjue Peak, the highest mountain in the celestial realm, with a sacred tree atop it that reached into the clouds, beyond anyone’s reach.

Bai Fanlu arrived at the foot of the mountain, gazed up at its heights, and slashed Lingjue Peak with his sword. Half the mountain collapsed with a thunderous crash, revealing a hidden world within.

A clear stream reflected the sky, and a green forest surrounded a small cottage. Two figures sat together among the flowers.

Bai Fanlu walked step by step towards them. He saw many paintings suspended in the air, all depicting the same white-haired, green-robed immortal from various angles and poses.

Wang Chongyu stood with his back to him, studying one of the paintings—it was the same one Bai Fanlu had seen before, depicting Ling Qingzi and a small boy.

Hearing footsteps, Wang Chongyu turned around. “You’ve finally come? Faster than I expected.”

Bai Fanlu looked into his eyes, which were cold as ice. “You are not Chongyu.”

“You’re right, I’m not him.” Wang Chongyu smiled wickedly. “But I am him too. The Chongyu you speak of is nothing more than a discarded piece of trash that I abandoned.”

Bai Fanlu drew his sword.

Wang Chongyu appeared unafraid. He glanced at Ling Qingzi beside him, then back at the painting. “The Master in Senior Brother’s painting is indeed the best—much better than Yun Zhan. I don’t understand why you favored him.”

He lifted Ling Qingzi’s chin, and Ling Qingzi’s eyes were empty, offering no resistance.

“Thanks to you, though, this wonderful person is now mine.”

At the mention of Yun Zhan, Bai Fanlu’s hatred surged to its peak. Seeing Wang Chongyu disrespect Ling Qingzi, his anger could no longer be suppressed. He gripped the Qianyuan Sword tightly and struck with a force that separated the two of them.

In the next moment, Wang Chongyu and Ling Qingzi charged at him together. After just a few moves, Bai Fanlu avoided harming Ling Qingzi and cornered Wang Chongyu.

“Fighting like this—is it because you no longer care about living?”

“I promised him I would survive.”

“Oh? He’s dead?”

Bai Fanlu’s gaze turned cold, and his mind cleared of distractions. The Qianyuan Sword emitted a pure killing intent as he prepared to strike.

At the critical moment, a figure suddenly rushed into his line of sight—it was Ling Qingzi!

Bai Fanlu couldn’t pull back the sword in time, but just then, Wang Chongyu forcefully pushed Ling Qingzi aside, pulling him out of the sword’s path.

With a deafening boom, the pure, clear sword energy exploded between them, sending flowers and grass flying wildly. In an instant, everything was reduced to fragments, swirling madly around the sword formation.

The Qianyuan Sword finally pierced through Wang Chongyu’s body, but this time, there was no blood, no flesh.

Wang Chongyu looked at Bai Fanlu with a faint smile. “Senior Brother, I’ve long wanted to have a proper fight with you. You’re stronger after all. I concede.”

His gaze was clear, just like the many times they had sparred before.

It was the familiar Wang Chongyu. He had returned, but now he was gone again.

Not far away, Ling Qingzi slowly got to his feet and walked toward them. He looked down at the fading Wang Chongyu, whose body was turning transparent, revealing his true form—a leaf from the divine tree.

Seeing this, Bai Fanlu noticed the emotions returning to Ling Qingzi’s eyes; they were no longer empty.

Bai Fanlu gripped his sword, the Qianyuan transforming back into a seal. He turned and walked away.

There was a sound behind him, but Bai Fanlu tilted his face upward slightly, letting the bitter tears flow back into his throat. He closed his eyes and decided never to look back again.

Outside Lingjue Peak, an old celestial with white hair and beard sat atop the clouds, as if waiting for him. “Do you want to go back?”

Bai Fanlu didn’t ask any questions; he simply nodded.

“Then return to where you’re meant to be.”

Bai Fanlu felt his body rise as everything around him descended.

All things withered, the sky fell, and everything twisted and disappeared.

Only the old celestial before him remained, stroking his beard and smiling, calm and unmoving amidst the chaos.

In a daze, Bai Fanlu saw the old man approach and slowly reach out his hand. Bai Fanlu, as if compelled by something, extended his own hand.

Their hands met, as if greeting each other, and then Bai Fanlu lost consciousness, sinking into a deep dream.

As he disappeared, the old celestial gradually transformed into white light. From the peak of Lingjue, a ball of black light rose simultaneously, as if the two ends of a Taiji symbol, ascending to the top of the divine tree.

At the tree’s crown, two figures seemed to be playing a game of chess, just as one game ended.

The white figure said, “You lost this round of the stacked chess game.”

The black figure snorted, clearly displeased.

The white figure chuckled softly. “I even let you win by making the child’s opening difficult, giving him many hardships, and yet you still lost.”

“A bet is a bet. Stop talking nonsense.”

The white figure noticed the black figure’s defiant tone, though his killing intent had completely vanished.

“This long game of stacked chess feels even longer than the millennia we spent entangled in that darkness. Have you gotten what you wanted from your journey into the human world? Any insights?”

“Boring.”

“If you call it boring, then your wish is fulfilled, and you bear no more resentment or hatred, right?”

The black figure, always sparing with words, was easily understood by the white figure’s sharp insights.

“Think what you want.”

“At least you’ve kept me company for so long. Otherwise, having me guard that lightless place alone would have been truly dull. I don’t know how you feel, but I no longer have any regrets. Now that the tribulation is over, those two will finally have a lifetime of fulfillment, free from the suffering of separation and reincarnation.”

“Hmph.”

“You’re as stubborn as ever. If he hadn’t left a piece behind for you in the Hengqing Key, we wouldn’t have even been able to play this game today. So, you should thank him.”

“So, he was that certain I would lose?”

“Winning or losing was secondary. He just wanted to fulfill your wish. But the human world’s emotions, its love and hate, are full of suffering. What’s the point?”

The white figure chuckled, rising to his feet. The chess pieces scattered across the board. “It’s time for us to leave, don’t you think? Or do you still not want to go? Didn’t you say you’d accept your loss?”

“…You really can let go, can’t you? You’ve let half your primordial spirit reincarnate. Once your remaining half is gone, there will be no more Creator God left in this world.”

“Now that the darkness is gone, what’s the use of the Creator God? In the end, my mission was to watch over you. At least we got to accompany each other in the end. Isn’t that wonderful?”

“…Whatever you say.”

Soft laughter, like a breeze through the pines, rustled through the air. The divine tree began to dissolve into shadows.

Heaven’s light shimmered, and the stars scattered, as if heralding a new beginning.