In the ancestral land of the Vermillion Bird Divine Kingdom, silence lingered like a mourning veil. Liu Xiao's bloody tears had long dried. His face was hollow, his expression vacant, and yet his feet moved—staggering, trembling—as he finally rose and stepped away from the remnants of the formation.
He didn't know how much time had passed. An hour? A day? Longer? It didn't matter.
The others—if fate had been kind—must have escaped the Endless Fog Sea by now. They would be safe. That was all he could hope for.
With a shaking hand, he reached into his spatial ring. A single golden drop of blood floated gently into the air, glowing faintly in the dim, firelit chamber.
He stared at it.
"Your last request... I'll fulfill it..." he murmured. His voice was barely audible, hoarse, like wind dragging over broken stone.
He turned, slowly making his way toward the cave's exit. But just as he stepped out into the cold, he froze. Something within his ring… stirred.
A pulse.
A warmth.
A faint glow began to flicker from within—a soft golden shimmer. And then—
A book. His cookbook.
It was shaking.
Liu Xiao's eyes widened slightly. That tattered, ordinary-looking cookbook, the one he had carried for countless years, suddenly trembled in his hand like it had a heartbeat of its own. Its cover was hot to the touch, not from flame—but from something deeper.
Something awakening.
"....This... this..." Liu Xiao's voice quivered, barely audible, choked by the weight of sorrow and the storm of something far greater awakening before his very eyes. Even in his broken, tear-stained state, his gaze locked wide upon the book in front of him.
The ancient book trembled—then began to glow. An overwhelming aura surged from its core, radiating the laws of fate, space, and time. The divine pressure it released was ancient and boundless, far beyond anything he had ever felt in his millions of years of existence.
The book floated up slowly, surrounded by golden light. Without delay, Liu Xiao sealed off the surrounding space with layers upon layers of formations, cutting off all senses, all perception—no one would be able to glimpse what was about to be revealed.
As the book began to turn its own pages, its true content unfolded before him.
This book… was something his father had passed down to him long ago.
A father who had once served a mysterious lord—one who never once acknowledged his father's existence. And yet, before vanishing into the tides of war, that lord entrusted Liu Xiao's father with this very book. No words. No explanation. Due to the war, his father chooses to pass this down to him instead.
For countless years, Liu Xiao had treated it merely as a relic. A memento. Something tied to his father's final days, nothing more. He had never questioned it. Never once tried to unravel its secrets.
But now… now it answered itself.
The contents revealed on the open page—etched in light, sealed in time—shook Liu Xiao to his very core. His trembling hands clenched at his sides as the truth he'd unknowingly carried all his life finally revealed itself before him.
"From the void of her shattered soul, the Ancestral Goddess bore the seed of all creation. When her breath scattered, the myriad realms awoke—gods wept, devils roared, and the balance was undone."
"In the twilight of gods and devils, blood shall paint the sky. One shall rise from ashes twice-born, carrying wrath in his veins and sorrow in his soul."
"When the nine-stage heavenly tribulation appears, the True God will return. "Virtue will lead to eternal peace. Evil will bring the carnage of a Devil God."
"But this is not the end, for the stars have not yet bowed. The blade that brings ruin will one day shelter peace. The heart that knew only vengeance shall embrace the world."
"He who walks between light and dark shall bind the scattered legacies. The fallen kings, the silent gods, the grieving spirits — all shall speak through him."
"When sky and abyss kneel as one, And the soul once torn is whole again, He shall not merely ascend…He shall inherit."
"The last lord of the final era, not of gods, not of devils — but of all."
--------
"It has been a month since Lord Father and the senior Gods successfully rescued Brother Jianyuan… yet he still hasn't awakened." Meng Jianxi's voice echoed softly as he stood before the Divine Hall his father had built just for his brother. The weight in his tone mirrored the heavy silence around him.
From the outside, the Divine Hall was utterly imposing. Terrifying layers of ancient formations pulsed with divine light, veiling the entire structure in a gentle yet unyielding pressure. Even though this place was already located deep within the heart of the Dreamweaver Divine Kingdom—arguably the safest land in the Abyss—the added measures made it impenetrable. Night and day, the Dream Hall's Masters stood watch, never once leaving their post. It had become a place that even the smallest speck of dust would need permission to enter.
Yet inside that fortress, his brother remained still.
Meng Jianxi stared in silence for a long while before speaking again, his eyes softening.
"I don't know if it's a fortune or a misfortune..." he murmured, gaze lingering on the highest window where a soft light glimmered faintly. "Even while unconscious, Brother Jianyuan still has someone willing to stay by his side, day and night." His words carried a quiet warmth, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips—small, sincere, and filled with both hope and helplessness.
He took one last look at the sealed Divine Hall.
"Wake up soon, Brother… our Dreamweaver Divine Kingdom needs you to lead us."
With those parting words, he turned, his robes sweeping softly across the steps as he walked away, his servants silently following behind.
He had actually been coming here every day, hoping—praying—that his brother would awaken from his deep slumber. But today, like the many days before, it was another quiet disappointment. Another day where silence answered hope.
His father, the Divine Regent of Dreamweaver, had personally examined Yun Che more times than he could count. Senior Hua Fuchen, the Heart Painted Divine Regent, had also lent his insight. Even the twin Gods from the Moon and Star Divine Kingdom had offered their divine senses. And then there was High Priest Wan Dao—an Ancient True God himself. All of them had carefully scanned Yun Che's body multiple times. All of them had come to the same conclusion: nothing was wrong. No damage to his soul, no wound in his body, no lingering curse nor hidden poison. By all laws of heaven and earth, he should have awakened long ago.
Yet… a full month had passed.
And still, he lay in silence.
During that month, one person never left his side. Hua Caili.
Day and night, she remained there, her delicate figure like a statue of longing and love. Her eyes rarely left his face, as if afraid that even blinking would cause her to miss the moment he stirred. Her love for him was fierce and unwavering, the kind of love that made others—those who may have once harbored quiet feelings—lower their eyes and quietly step away.
Her dedication. Her devotion. Her love.
It was something that moved even the hardest of hearts.
This brother of his… Meng Jianxi thought to himself as he stood under the soft light of the protective barrier. This brother of mine is truly, even with all the misfortunes… a lucky man.
"CRACKKKK!!!" A thunderous rupture tore through the sky above the Dreamweaver Divine Kingdom. It was as if the heavens themselves were being split apart. Space twisted and groaned before two ancient figures stepped out of the void, their auras descending like an invisible tidal wave that pressed against the entire realm.
One was the High Priest Wan Dao—serene, composed, yet heavy with ancient presence.
The other, returning from his long absence, was the High Priest Liu Xiao. His appearance sent ripples of awe through the air, not merely because of who he was… but because of what his return might signify.
Meng Jianxi, who had only taken a few steps away from his brother's divine hall, froze in place. His heart pounded in his chest as his eyes locked onto the two towering figures. He didn't need to guess—their presence alone said everything.
Weeks ago, after helping the other gods escape from the Endless Fog Sea and assisting in scanning Yun Che's body, High Priest Wan Dao had suddenly vanished. A single report had surfaced—that he had appeared in the Eternal Night Divine Kingdom and declared himself their "guest," stating only that he was "waiting for something."
Now it seemed that whatever he had been waiting for… had finally come.
And he had not returned alone.
"Junior Jianxi greets Lord High Priests," Meng Jianxi quickly stepped forward and bowed deeply, his voice steady despite the tension that now weighed upon the entire divine capital.
The space around them pulsed with divine pressure as more powerful figures began to arrive—one after another, they appeared like stars drawn to a blazing sun. His father, the Divine Regent of the Dreamweaver Divine Kingdom, arrived with solemn expression. Behind him came the Heart Painted Divine Regent, calm but curious. Even the guards and masters who normally watched over the Divine Hall had gathered in silence, each one feeling the gravity of this moment settle in their hearts.
"Where is...?" Hua Fuchen began, but before he could finish his sentence, Meng Kongchan gently raised his hand and shook his head.
The motion was subtle, but filled with unspoken weight.
Though Meng Kongchan had received only fragmented reports after High Priest Liu Xiao carried the injured Ling Xian out of the Endless Fog, the pieces he'd gathered were enough. Rumors, whispers, and the unmistakable sorrow in Liu Xiao's eyes—eyes still reddened with grief—spoke more than words ever could.
He knew.And he couldn't let his friend reopen that wound.
Before the air could grow heavier, a tired voice broke the silence.
"Where is Meng Jianyuan?" Liu Xiao asked.
His voice was hoarse, worn thin by pain and exhaustion. Not just from battle, but from a loss that still clung to him like shadow.
"Replying to Lord Liu Xiao," Meng Kongchan responded respectfully, his tone solemn, "my son has not yet awakened. He is resting within the Divine Son's Hall."
Liu Xiao slowly lifted his head.
His gaze, sharp despite the fatigue, pierced through the countless formations layered over the Divine Hall—each one complex, ancient, and near-impossible to breach.
"Crack..."Space split apart with a faint yet thunderous sound, and in the blink of an eye, Liu Xiao stepped forward and disappeared.
He reappeared within the Divine Hall, where layers of golden light dimly pulsed in stillness.
There, resting upon a jade bed carved with celestial runes, was Yun Che—unmoving, his breathing shallow and peaceful. Beside him, arms gently wrapped around his form, was Hua Caili. Her head rested quietly against his shoulder, her eyes closed, as if in silent prayer.
She had not left his side for even a moment.
Liu Xiao stood still. The divine aura of the Vermillion Bird stirred faintly around him, yet he did not move. He simply watched… his ancient heart stirring with emotions even time could not wash away.
Soon, four more figures appeared in succession—Meng Kongchan, Hua Fuchen, Hua Qingying, and High Priest Wan Dao.
The moment Wan Dao laid eyes on Liu Xiao, his gaze unconsciously fell upon the faint trace of Vermillion Bird's aura lingering on his robes—Ling Xian's aura.
A sorrow too heavy for words flickered in his eyes.
He said nothing. There was nothing left to say.
He didn't know if the Abyssal Monarch had received the news yet... but when word eventually spread—when the Abyss came to know that High Priest Ling Xian had perished because of the Fog Monarch—the peace they clung to now would be shattered. And what followed... would be chaos. True chaos.
But for now, he had already given strict orders. No one was to speak a word.
"Ah...!"
Startled by the sudden appearance of so many powerhouses, Hua Caili jumped to her feet. She quickly lowered her head and offered a respectful bow.
"Grandpa Wan Dao, Grandpa Liu Xiao, where—?"
Her question caught in her throat the moment her eyes swept over the people behind him.
They were all quietly shaking their heads.
Her breath hitched. Her eyes turned red almost instantly as realization struck her like a blade to the chest.
Without another word, she stepped forward and gently embraced Liu Xiao.
He didn't flinch. He simply raised a trembling hand and returned the embrace.
"She's... in a better place now," Liu Xiao said softly, his voice faint and rough, his smile barely holding together the cracks in his soul.
"....."
Yun Che had been silently listening to every word spoken in the room—but at this moment, his body trembled uncontrollably. So much so, even the Gods and others present could see it.
Yet… he still pretended to be asleep.
It wasn't because he was unwilling to awaken—but rather, in the month he spent in this state, Hua Caili had never once left his side. Day and night, she remained there, softly speaking to him. Maybe she did it to ease her own heart, or maybe she truly believed he could hear her. And she was right—he heard everything.
Every word she said came from the outside world—news that Hua Qingying often brought with her. Whatever happened during this past month, no matter how large or small, Hua Caili told him.
The other Divine Regents had long since returned to their respective Divine Kingdoms.
The news of his "rescue" had already spread far and wide. The entire Abyss buzzed with celebration.
"As expected of the Gods!" they said."The Fog Monarch never stood a chance!""He was only lucky the first time!""Against true divinity, even the Fog Monarch must kneel!"
So many voices. So many assumptions.
There was also a particular report coming from the Boundless Divine Kingdom—one that had spread like wildfire through the noble courts and common streets alike.
Perhaps due to the shame and humiliation he suffered from being unable to do anything during the rescue, in order to vent his frustration, Dian Jiuzhi had accepting concubines. The beauties of his Divine Kingdom, as well as those from subordinate realms, were all being scouted to enter his harem.
After all, Dian Jiuzhi was the Divine Regent—to become his woman was a dream come true for countless young women. Some even fantasized: "If I bear his child, and if fate favors me… perhaps my child will inherit Perfect Divine Essence!" Such a child might become the next Divine Son… or even a future Divine Emperor.
This news alone sent noble ladies and heiresses scrambling. Skirts dropped faster than blades in war.
All of this… Hua Caili told him.
Everything she knew—her struggles, the endless torment of waiting, the pain she endured while he was "kidnapped." She poured her heart out to him, night after night. She vowed she would never leave his side again. And her words weren't just sentiment. Her father, her aunts, and even the senior Divine Regents had already agreed to it.
And so, even as he lay still, Yun Che knew all that had transpired within the Abyss.
But there was another reason why he continued to feign unconsciousness.
Deep within the Sky Poison Pearl…
He could feel it.
The pulse of gentle light…The warmth of creation stirring once more…
Li Suo, the Goddess of Life, was awakening.
Yun Che wasn't sure when—only that it would be soon.
The faint, ethereal stirrings from the Sky Poison Pearl told him everything he needed to know. Li Suo, the Goddess of Life, was on the verge of awakening.
But that wasn't what troubled him the most.
The entire reason he had come to the Divine Kingdom… the reason he set his sights on reaching Pure Land… was because of one thing:
The Well of Samsara.
That name haunted his thoughts. That place… that mystery… it might hold the key to everything he needed.
He hadn't placed much hope in Li Suo, even if she were to undergo another transformation. Her current understanding—her identity, her knowledge—everything she remembered came only from him. He was her anchor, not the other way around. If she regained her memories, it would be a miracle… but a miracle he could not rely on.
So, the Abyssal Monarch, Mo Su, was his only hope. The only one who might know something about the Well of Samsara.
And if even he didn't know…
Then Yun Che truly didn't know what he would do next.
------
Seeing Yun Che's body tremble, everyone quickly gathered around him, their expressions tightening in concern. One by one, they scanned his body again and again, using their divine senses with utmost care—but just like before, they found nothing wrong.
They could only shake their heads, frustration and helplessness written across their faces.
"...."Liu Xiao stood silently, his gaze fixed on Yun Che. Countless thoughts flickered through his mind.
He couldn't be sure what the prophecy he saw truly referred to… but standing before him now was a young man who bore the legacies of many gods within his body. And because of her last request—her dying wish—he would entrust Ling Xian's divine blood essence to him as well.
The blood of the Vermillion Bird.
Soon, a golden drop of divine blood floated into the air, its glow ethereal and warm, yet pulsing with immense power. The moment it appeared, it drew the eyes of everyone present.
"This…"Meng Kongchan's eyes widened, his voice barely more than a whisper.
"This aura…"At the same time, Hua Caili stared at the glowing drop of blood, murmuring softly, her expression filled with emotion.
Liu Xiao took a deep breath. His aged voice trembled slightly, yet carried a weight that pressed down on every heart in the room.
"Meng Jianyuan… I don't know if you can hear me or not… but to rescue you, we lost Ling Xian. Because you once helped her, offering her the Primordial Flame Crystal, she never forgot your kindness…"
"Before she passed, she wished for you to inherit her power."
"Use it well."
With those words, he lowered his hand, and the golden drop of divine blood gently descended, merging into Yun Che's forehead. In an instant, the divine energy flowed through his soul and his profound veins, becoming a part of him—the legacy of the Vermillion Bird.