Mortal Realm, Loong Head Mountain, Cloud Academy.

One of the Sects for mortal cultivation, Cloud Academy has countless disciples. Many mortals with fortuitous encounters step onto the path of immortality and attain Immortal Status after training here.

At this moment, Loong Head Mountain was enduring a catastrophe—a beam of light piercing through the sky unleashed an earth-shattering force.

Shuiyang, rapidly approaching, was almost injured by the residual shockwave.

“What immense Immortal Power! If an ordinary mortal were to unleash such power, they would either die or be crippled. Who could be pushed to this extent?”

Shuiyang didn’t have time to ponder further and accelerated towards the source.

At Loong Head Mountain, wind and sand churned with sparks of weapon clashes. At the highest peak, a man and a woman summoned a colossal golden Guanyin Statue with dual bodies.

“Hunyuan Wuji, reverse the fate, stars shift, Taiyin bestowed, heed my summoning!”

Their unified voices recited the incantation, and the surrounding world was engulfed in a torrent, with the heavens seemingly on the verge of being torn apart.

On the ground stood numerous disciples of Cloud Academy, with corpses scattered all around—some from Cloud Academy, some not.

They screamed desperately to stop the pair in the sky: “No—”

“Gong Xue—”

Facing the duo was a Divine being, hair loose, dressed in a languid white robe, with a divine halo atop their head and a gaze filled with indifference.

“Borrowing incantation! Borrowing the power of a Deity for oneself, but being of mortal body means the power will overload and eventually cause the body to explode. These two mortals are truly mad!” The Divine being’s eyes gleamed: “From the underworld to the celestial, embody this, and reveal true essence!”

With the fall of the incantation, a blood-red light occupied half the sky, and within the bloody sky, a sinister full moon harbored lethal intent. From the moon’s shadow, a swarm of blood butterflies flew out, disintegrating into glowing particles before reforming into a massive Divine Manifestation.

A Divine Manifestation clad in golden thunderclaps, opposed by a blood-red Deity. The collision of the two forces brought a roaring wind, flying sand, and a world falling silent into a burst of white brilliance.

Peace restored, the mortal duo was defeated.

Shuiyang quickly set up a barrier on the ground, protecting the remaining mortals.

The bodies of the defeated duo slowly descended, and everyone on the ground gathered around.

“Gong Xue!”

“Ren Yue!”

They all cried out in sorrow, weeping.

The Divine being in the sky merely smirked disdainfully: “Mortals will always be mortals, overestimating their capabilities.”

Seeing this scene, Shuiyang was filled with anger and revealed the deity’s title: “Third Heaven, Lord Zhuo Mu! What crimes have these mortals committed to warrant the presence of the Lord and such ruthless actions?”

“First Heaven, Human Deity!”

Zhuo Mu also recognized Shuiyang.

“Yes, it is I, a minor immortal. I dare to ask, Lord Zhuo Mu, under which Deity Sovereign’s command did you descend to deal with these mortals?” Shuiyang questioned forcefully, showing no deference to Zhuo Mu.

Zhuo Mu curled his colorless lips contemptuously and squinted: “Presumptuous! Since when do I need to report my actions to a mere Human Deity like you?”

He raised his hand lightly, sending a beam of light slicing towards Shuiyang.

Shuiyang didn’t expect him to attack and was momentarily stunned. Fortunately, a swifter dark blade intercepted the light.

Zhuo Mu focused his gaze and saw Feng Ang, with a heavy air of hostility, staring coldly at him with blood-red eyes, speaking harshly, “Zhuo Mu, it’s been thousands of years. When did you develop a hobby for bullying mortals?”

“Feng Ang, aren’t you supposed to be dead?” Zhuo Mu retorted, unwilling to lose face.

Feng Ang sneered mockingly, “Sorry to disappoint you.”

The Heart-Linked Jade on Feng Ang’s waist emitted a faint glimmer, allowing Bai Qian in Zipei Hall to see everything clearly.

Chengqi was also observing everything closely through the water mirror.

“What’s this? Are you planning to stop me today?”

Zhuo Mu showed no intention of backing down.

Shuiyang grew impatient: “Lord Zhuo Mu, we can discuss old matters later. For now, might you explain why you are here in the Mortal Realm and why you are targeting my people?”

Shuiyang held a grudge in his heart since Zhuo Mu’s earlier strike was meant to kill.

“Shuiyang!”

“Little Shuiyang!”

Shi Zhao, Li Yan, and Zhen Yin arrived one after another. Seeing the devastation on the mountain and the presence of two Divine Lords, they dared not act rashly.

Bai Qian casually sent the Heart-Linked Jade to the Third Heaven.

Under the moonlight, a full moon hung over the treetops, casting its glow over mountain peaks and pavilions. The highest pavilion bathed in a sea of fragrant Luoshen flowers, their scent lingering year-round.

The Heart-Linked Jade flew up the towering steps into the Snow Palace, a realm of pure white filled with immortal essence, exuding sacred elegance.

Everything happening with Shuiyang was projected within the palace. The person seated on the high throne opened a pair of stunning eyes, their clear, jade-like pupils silently observing the people and events in the images.

“Feng Ang!” the man’s voice was melodious and calm, tinged with meaning as his cherry-colored lips, glistening with moisture, curled slightly.

The scenes continued.

“Human Deity, mind your status. I owe you no explanation!” Zhuo Mu had no intention of further engaging with Shuiyang.

“Lord Zhuo Mu, your unauthorized descent to the Mortal Realm already violates the Heavenly Law. On top of that, you have injured my people. Do you truly think I am powerless to act against you?!”

Shuiyang’s eyes flared with anger, her demeanor aggressive and ready to strike at any moment.

“Oh? And what does the Human Deity intend to do?” Zhuo Mu’s expression was lazy, his attitude leisurely, showing no regard for Shuiyang.

“You…” Shuiyang gritted her teeth, her fist subtly clenching with force.

Sensing the escalating tension, Feng Ang intervened: “Zhuo Mu, as a Divine Lord, surely you wouldn’t stoop to bickering with a minor immortal. None of us are yet clear on what has transpired here. Regardless of right or wrong, your unauthorized descent and attack on mortals will be hard to justify to the Deity Sovereign upon your return to the Third Heaven.”

Zhuo Mu’s expression darkened: “Feng Ang, what are you insinuating?”

“You’re clearly in the wrong here! Zhuo Mu, you are a magnificent Divine Lord, yet you can’t even admit your own mistake?”

This left Zhuo Mu in a tight spot.

“Feng Ang, are you opposing me?”

“Lord Feng Ang, Lord Zhuo Mu, please, let’s not rush to conflict. I have a method to uncover all the causes and effects of this situation,” Shuiyang interjected, extending her hand as a faint light emanated from her palm, revealing a mirror within the glow.

“This is the Memory Reflecting Mirror, capable of extracting a person’s memories before death. Why don’t we review the causes and effects?”

With that, Shuiyang began to cast a spell on the Memory Reflecting Mirror: “Light and shadow entwine, dust dissipates with time. The immortal soul is undying; crossing the bridge, it shuns the hot soup. Reflections gather!”

A beam of light shot from the mirror towards the deceased woman.

Suddenly, a massive mirror image unfolded mid-air. Zhuo Mu, panicking, flicked his finger, shattering the giant mirror and halting the spell.

Shuiyang shouted in anger, “What are you doing?!”

“Human Deity! I don’t have time to play with you!” Zhuo Mu’s eyes turned vicious, and he immediately launched an attack intended to kill Shuiyang.

Just as Feng Ang was about to intervene, a powerful force descended from the sky, restraining Zhuo Mu and effortlessly neutralizing his attack.

“Who dares?!” Zhuo Mu’s anger turned to panic when a commanding voice echoed from above: “Zhuo Mu, descending to the Mortal Realm and killing mortals is a grave offense. Explain yourself.”

Cold sweat broke out over Zhuo Mu, and alarm spread through his heart.

All the deities saluted: “Greetings, Sovereign Xiangti!”

“Deity Sovereign!” Zhuo Mu, struggling against the force that bound him, tried to defend himself: “Deity Sovereign, I’m being framed!”

Seizing the moment, Shuiyang interjected: “If Lord Zhuo Mu is indeed innocent, why would he fear revealing the truth? Could it be that the great Lord’s conscience isn’t clear?”

“Shuiyang!!!” Zhuo Mu’s rage flared.

Sovereign Xiangti declared, “Since this is the case, let us follow the Human Deity’s suggestion and uncover the truth.”

“Yes, Shuiyang obeys!” Shuiyang replied gleefully, mocking the immobilized Zhuo Mu with a slight pout.

Sovereign Xiangti, far above in the Third Heaven, found amusement in the situation, a smile playing on his lips.

Shuiyang began to chant the incantation anew. The deceased woman’s body glowed, and the massive mirror reappeared above her, revealing a vision of blossoms in full bloom.

My name is Gong Xue, eldest daughter of the Gong Family, one of the four major families in Cang Ao Kingdom. My family is renowned for creating gunpowder and weapons. It’s said that the Gong family’s secret technique can produce the Cloudstrike Cannon, a weapon potent enough to kill deities.

At the age of fifteen, I met a man named Liao Sixin. We pledged our lives to each other, promising eternal love and loyalty.

“Sixin, in a few days, would you come home with me to meet my daddy?”

Gong Xue nestled in Liao Sixin’s embrace, surrounded by the lavish and tenderly falling petals of the Jade Branch flowers.

Liao Sixin was visibly excited: “Really? I can really meet your father?”

Gong Xue was slightly surprised by Liao Sixin’s excessive excitement but attributed it to his nerves about meeting her father. She harbored no doubts.

“Of course, we are already deeply in love. Meeting our elders is the next step.” As she spoke, a delicate blush spread across Gong Xue’s fair cheeks, and she shyly lowered her head.

“Yes, it was only a matter of time.” Liao Sixin gently pulled Gong Xue into a closer embrace. At this moment, Gong Xue was lost in the lies of love, completely unaware of what was to come.

Under Gong Xue’s guidance, her father met Liao Sixin. That evening, they had a private conversation which Gong Xue did not understand at the time, assuming it was just business.

Afterward, her father asked her what she thought about Liao Sixin.

Gong Xue replied, “He treats me very well, devotedly. He said I am his only wife in this life. I believe him and I am willing to entrust my life to him. And he is brave, just, and kind. I think he is perfect.”

It seemed her father made a mental decision that day. In the following months, almost a year passed, during which Gong Xue saw very little of her father as he was frequently traveling for unknown business.

Liao Sixin sporadically kept her company, but he seemed involved in some matters with her father. Gong Xue thought it must be of great importance and refrained from inquiring further.

Two years later, on a night when the rain poured down heavily, Gong Xue went out to buy supplies and was returning home through the rain. As she approached her house, she saw flames soaring towards the sky, undeterred by the rain. A sense of foreboding gripped her, and she rushed home in haste.

Upon arriving, the scene that greeted her was horrifying—she saw Liao Sixin killing her father.

The entire Gong Family, a hundred individuals, lay dead on the ground, blood pooling in the courtyard. Gong Xue screamed, “Daddy!!!”

Her cries attracted the attention of Liao Sixin and his men.

Gong Xue stumbled and staggered towards her father, but he screamed in a cracked voice, “Run! Get out, now!!!”

Ignoring his words, Gong Xue pushed farther into the house. Liao Sixin’s subordinates were about to stop her, but he allowed her to pass.

Gong Xue fell to the ground, lifting her dying father in her arms, weeping.

“Daddy!” Not far from her was her mother’s lifeless body.

Her father, his hands covered in blood, tried to wipe her tears, soothing her with a soft voice, “Xue’er, don’t cry. Xue’er, don’t cry.”

“Daddy, how did it come to this? Why did it come to this?!” Gong Xue couldn’t believe it. Her tear-filled eyes met Liao Sixin’s, who stood drenched in rain and blood, expression cold. She screamed through her sobs, “Liao Sixin! What are you doing?!”

Her father grasped Gong Xue’s hand weakly, “Xue, Xue’er…”

“Daddy, I’m here! Daddy!”

“Daddy, all of this is Liao Sixin’s plot. He has long coveted the Gong Family’s Cloudstrike Cannon. He told Daddy that he needed a batch of Cloudstrike Cannons for the border soldiers to defend against foreign enemies… In reality, he just wanted to take the Cannons for himself… He wants to kill Deities—cough, cough…”

Her father coughed up a mouthful of blood, his hand gripping Gong Xue’s arm tightly: “Xue’er… run! He’s insane! He doesn’t love you, he’s using you!!!”

“Daddy! Daddy!” Gong Xue felt her heart sink into despair. She was terrified, resentful, angry, and deeply sorrowful.

“Go—” With his last breath, her father used all his strength to throw Gong Xue into the sky. A black hole appeared at the horizon.

“Daddy—” Gong Xue screamed, her voice shattered. Just as she was about to escape, Liao Sixin struck with a decisive blow. Gong Xue was grievously injured but managed to flee through the black hole.

Gong Xue was transported to a pitch-black bamboo forest, where she fell heavily to the ground, completely drained of energy.

Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. The forest was filled with the patter of rain, many bamboo leaves were struck down, and as they drifted to the ground, they were hit by raindrops, falling in fragmented pieces. The only thing that fell fully was her broken body.

Gong Xue looked at the scattered leaves on the ground, feeling they shared her misery. Her body sent waves of searing pain as she lay motionless on the ground, the cold rainwater seeping into her skin and splashing her face, keeping her cruelly aware that everything that just happened was real.

“Hehehehe…” Gong Xue started to laugh, her laughter haunting and eerie amid the dark forest and the rainy night.

“Liao Sixin, I will kill you—”

A surge of wrathful energy seemed to part the surrounding raindrops, causing the bamboo stalks to shake violently before calming once more. The rain resumed its dominance.

Gong Xue lay there helplessly, her tears mingling with the heavy rain, sinking into the muddy ground, just like her heart trodden to bits and churned into the filth.

Footnote:

Deity Sovereign(帝君): In this novel, it refers to deities with higher status and divine power in the Heavenly realm. To avoid redundancy, the term “Sovereign” will be used to refer to other Deity Sovereigns in the following text.