I sat quietly in front of a huge mortar, while the oil in the large wok beside me was already hot. Eugenia, following my instructions, kept adding spices to the basin. Emperor Jiang and Chaos Fiend wielded two massive pestles, pounding the meat and flour inside.
I planned to make a meal for the supernatural beasts—a batch of fried meat patties I often made at home. They were convenient, easy to store in the fridge, and could last for several meals.
Many of the supernatural beasts chatted and laughed, waiting expectantly. I smiled faintly, but my expression was heavy—things in the Living World were truly grim, and I was worried about Rachel Lan.
As for the three items Mother Goddess Nuwa wanted me to find—the spiciest tears, the most radiant stone, and the hardest stick—I really had no clue. Or rather, it was the Heaven-Mending Stone that wanted me to seek them. Nuwa was still by the Heaven-Mending Stone, continuing her smelting.
I had asked Nuwa, but she said she had no leads—it was the stone itself that sent me searching for these three things. Just then, Jade May came over.
"Qingyuan, what are you thinking about? You look so down."
I smiled and shook my head.
"It's nothing, thank you!"
As I spoke, Jade May grinned and shook her head. I smiled, gazing into the distance. My return to this illusion was all thanks to Jade May—her longing for me brought me back. I realized this once I fully woke up. Somewhere deep inside, Hell's will still poked out from time to time, threatening to flare up again. I had to remain vigilant against Hell's will—it was part of me, and now it was fully awakened.
Earlier, I could once again sense the breath of coexistence, and within that breath was Rachel Lan's power. I smiled—this meant she was doing well, and that was enough for me.
"It's about ready. We can start frying now."
As I spoke, Emperor Jiang and Chaos Fiend began to grow in size. Following my instructions, they twisted together lumps of the pounded meat and flour from the basin, flattened them, and placed them into the hot oil. Soon, a delicious aroma filled the air. Many supernatural beasts gathered around. I stood up, planning to go see Mother Goddess Nuwa.
After a while, I arrived beside Nuwa. The multicolored stones in the furnace still showed no sign of melting—no matter what kind of flame was used, it was impossible.
I stared at the stone for a while. It radiated a certain aura, an indescribable feeling. I wanted to sense it more deeply, but I was powerless—coexistence was no longer within me.
As for the three things the stone wanted me to find, I was completely at a loss. I looked at Nuwa and asked.
"What exactly did you do to the Wraithlord's body?"
Nuwa pointed to the Heaven-Mending Stone in front of her.
"It's a power structure that this stone happens to be able to suppress."
I immediately nodded in understanding.
"What exactly is the spiciest tear?"
I had thought it over carefully before—tears are only salty or sweet, only born of sorrow or joy. What could a spicy tear be? I couldn't imagine it.
I slowly approached the furnace, pressing one hand against it. The flames enveloping the Heaven-Mending Stone parted. My palm rested on the stone's surface—a chill immediately spread through me. I smiled faintly, and gradually I felt the stone warm beneath my touch.
A smile appeared on my lips. The stone's vivid colors began to melt, blending together. Nuwa drifted over, looking puzzled.
"What did you do?"
I shook my head, then looked at Nuwa.
"This thing wants to come out. I don't know why, but it seems a lot like me."
As I spoke, Nuwa nodded. The dissolved stone transformed into streams of vibrant colors, drifting outwards. I caught a whiff of a fresh fragrance. The streams slowly entered my body, and I felt warmth flowing inside me.
"It has chosen you, and you are able to accept it. That's a good start, Zhang Qingyuan."
I replied with a quiet "mm."
Then I turned to head back to the supernatural beasts. They were on a massive floating island. I glanced down at the orange-red clouds below, and at the rays of light falling from the sky behind me.
"There will always be a way."
I smiled as I spoke. This was the most important thing Yin Choujian had ever taught me. I didn't know where he was now, or how he was doing. I wished I could sit down and talk with him when I had the chance.
Everything began because of him, but as things come to an end, I feel reluctant to let go. Even if I obtain the weapon Nuwa forged for me, facing the Wraithlord will still be difficult. In the worst case, I might only be able to drag the Wraithlord down into the void with me.
Before accepting such an outcome, I had many regrets: my family, my lover, my friends. I wanted to find each of them and thank them for staying with me all this way—especially Rachel Lan. I worried about her, because in the end I might have to leave, and she would be the one left to bear everything.
After returning to the island, I didn't go to the supernatural beasts. They were all gathered around the wok, waiting for the fried meat patties to be done so they could each get a share.
"Thinking about your wife, Qingyuan?"
From the pond in the grass nearby, Jade May surfaced, grinning as she came closer.
I looked at Jade May, unsure how to explain, but I nodded anyway. Jade May bent down and sat beside me.
"What's she like? Very beautiful, right?"
I replied with a quiet "mm" and then smiled.
"She can be pretty temperamental at times, but meeting her might be the most brilliant chapter of my life as a human."
Jade May giggled and nodded.
"Don't worry, Qingyuan. It'll be fine. Sometimes you might be overthinking things—maybe it's all much simpler than you imagine. Just relax."
I replied with a quiet "mm." The image of Rachel Lan appeared vividly in my mind. I looked at the celebrating supernatural beasts in the distance.
"What do you think the spiciest tear is?"
"I think maybe it's a feeling you can never truly have, no matter what."
I laughed. I planned to ask about the three items in other illusions once the supernatural beasts had eaten. I'd have Eugenia take me. When things settled down, I'd spar with the supernatural beasts, keep finding ways to hone my strength. I raised a hand—there was still power within me, the power of Hell, but I didn't intend to use it. If I did, Hell's will would be uncontrollable.
If Hell's will suppressed me again, I might truly destroy everything.
"Come with me, Zhang Qingyuan."
Suddenly, I heard a voice. I immediately understood—it was the will of this world. I stood up.
"What's wrong, Qingyuan?"
"Just something I need to handle. Go get something to eat."
After Jade May left, I teleported into the distant clouds. Feeling a force pulling me, I dove into the cloud layer. I stopped on a fog-shrouded sea reef. In the mist ahead, other colors slowly appeared—a multicolored humanoid figure stared at me in a daze.
"You look different from the one I saw before."
I replied with a quiet "mm."
"That was me too, but I completely suppressed that part."
The illusion nodded and slowly drifted over to me.
"I can tell you where to find the three things you're looking for."
My eyes widened, and I quickly smiled and thanked him.
"These three things do not exist within illusions."
"Where is it?"
The Illusion slowly pointed at my feet.
"Your wife's tears, the withered wood left behind after Berziran's death, and the Corpse Jade of Tantan!"
I looked at the Illusion in surprise.
"I can't return to the Living World right now, can I?"
The Illusion shook its head.
"I can let you return temporarily, but it will be to a different time and space. The Illusion also has its own timelines, different from other worlds, yet still connected to all of them. But you won't be able to do much—only briefly enter those timelines in your illusory form, retrieve what you need, and then return."
I gave a quiet "Mm."
"Where do you want to go first?"
"To find Tantan."
I planned to seek out Tantan first. Although I wasn't sure if he'd hand over the Corpse Jade, this was too important—and I knew Tantan was protecting Lan Ruoxi now. He might know about the other timelines.
"If I take Tantan's Corpse Jade, won't he die? Would he really give it to me?"
I asked, but the Illusion didn't answer. Suddenly, a large hole opened beneath my feet and I fell through. Instantly, Illusions flashed past me, and in a daze, I found myself standing at the entrance of Gourd Village. To my shock, the village was utterly destroyed—only ruined houses and countless corpses remained. My body felt insubstantial, like a wavering shadow on water, shifting slowly.
"What in the world is going on?"
I instantly moved into Gourd Village and saw many Taoist and Buddhist practitioners gathered. Among them, I recognized a familiar figure—Samuel Young.
I moved to Samuel Young's side. His white robe was stained with black mud and blood; he was barely alive, hair disheveled, choking back sobs as he looked at me.
"You finally came back, Ethan Zhang! I thought it was all over."
I didn't understand what had happened, but suddenly I felt a violent surge from deep within Gourd Village. I tried to use my powers, but it was as if they were bound—completely useless!