Back in the Realm of the Firmament, in the stone statue where Yue Mi had perished, her final trace of divine consciousness concealed a memory lost in antiquity for three hundred years. If her soul had ceased to exist, how could a mere fragment of consciousness have lingered for sixty thousand years? This was why Tian Qi had never abandoned his search for Yue Mi’s soul.
The Ghost King was momentarily speechless, before asking, "And did you find her? If I were in her place, I doubt I would wish to be endlessly sought by you, Divine Lord."
Though Tian Qi was a True God, the Ghost King could hardly bear his righteous determination to find Yue Mi. She was alive once, and you didn’t care for her then. Now that she’s dead because of you, why keep searching?
The man on the throne suddenly looked up, unleashing a surge of divine pressure throughout the hall, shaking the entire Ghost King’s Palace. Across the ghost realm, all souls on the streets of Chang’an outside the palace knelt in trembling fear.
Inside the hall, Xiu Yan’s face went deathly pale, his knees bending slightly, though he struggled to remain standing.
Regarding Yue Mi, Xiu Yan’s resentment against Tian Qi was unyielding—even if Tian Qi was a True God. He could bow to him for all else, but not for this. Within him, Ao Ge raged to break free and challenge Tian Qi, but Xiu Yan kept him tightly restrained. If Ao Ge were to clash with Tian Qi today, the entire ghost realm would be at risk of destruction.
He could see that in the centuries since, Tian Qi’s search for Yue Mi had become both more exhausting and more obsessive.
Tian Qi’s icy violet eyes settled on the Ghost King, who struggled to maintain his composure under the divine pressure. The overwhelming aura abruptly ceased, and Tian Qi rose silently, striding out of the hall.
"You’re right. If I were her, I likely wouldn’t want to see myself again in this world either."
His desolate voice echoed through the hall as his solitary figure disappeared from view. Xiu Yan watched him, his expression complex and indescribable.
"Wait!" Just as Tian Qi was about to step out of the hall, the Ghost King’s voice called out.
Tian Qi stopped in his tracks, turning sharply toward Xiu Yan.
"Do you know where Yue Mi is?" His question was more a statement than a query.
"No." Xiu Yan shook his head, and Tian Qi’s gaze turned cold, his eyes flashing with anger at the perceived deception.
But Xiu Yan, ignoring this, simply asked, "Divine Lord, do you remember Yue Mi’s divine consciousness from the Realm of the Firmament?"
"Don’t tell him, Xiu Yan! You promised me, you wretched ghost—you swore!" Within the Ghost King’s body, Ao Ge roared, struggling against Xiu Yan’s control, desperate to prevent him from speaking.
"Silence! Or I’ll tear apart your palace, shatter your soul, and send you through a hundred lifetimes of love tribulations in reincarnation!" Tian Qi’s icy voice echoed toward Xiu Yan’s chest, making Ao Ge shudder.
A hundred lifetimes of love tribulations? Ao Ge detested anything resembling romance; he’d rather stay here with Xiu Yan. Silenced, Ao Ge fell quiet.
With his rambunctious counterpart subdued, Tian Qi looked at Xiu Yan with patient tolerance, his expression almost gentle. "Speak. What of Yue Mi’s divine consciousness?"
Xiu Yan, used to the ebb and flow of emotions in the ghost realm, couldn’t help but inwardly admire Tian Qi’s adaptability. Truly the skill of an ancient god who’s lived long enough to bend or stand as needed.
"Divine Lord, for these sixty thousand years, the Ghost King’s Palace has never ceased searching for Yue Mi’s soul, but we’ve found nothing. However, over a thousand years ago, a trace of divine consciousness entered the ghost realm and crossed the Bridge of Regret." Xiu Yan opened his palm, revealing a faint divine consciousness glowing with a silvery light.
Tian Qi’s gaze fixed on it immediately. It was Yue Mi’s fragment from the Realm of the Firmament. He had thought it long since dissipated, never imagining it would have found its way to the ghost realm.
"Divine Lord, as you know, the Tower of Soul Repose can nurture souls. If you use your divine power to reforge Yue Mi’s body and place this consciousness within the tower, she may one day awaken. Or perhaps…" Xiu Yan lowered his eyes, "…this consciousness will remain dormant forever, unable to become a soul again."
Xiu Yan extended his hand, offering the faint divine consciousness to Tian Qi. "Would you risk thousands or tens of thousands of years for this single chance?"
Without hesitation, Tian Qi took the divine consciousness, and his form vanished from the Ghost King’s Palace.
"Even if it takes hundreds of thousands of years, she is worth it."
"I owe you a favor. Should you ever have a request, I will grant it with all my power."
The faint trace of his defiant voice lingered in the sky above the ghost realm as the purple divine light faded.
"Hmph, as if I care! I live well enough here in the ghost realm, who’d ask for anything from him!" Now that Tian Qi was gone, Xiu Yan released his grip on his volatile counterpart, and Ao Ge finally took control, daring to shout angrily toward the sky.
Turning away, he walked back into the hall, changed into a regular robe, and set off toward the gates of the ghost realm without delay.
"Where are you going?" Xiu Yan asked, watching him, puzzled.
"To the demon realm."
"Where in the demon realm?"
"Purple Moon Mountain."
"What for?"
"To ask the True God to forge a divine body for you."
"…"
* * *
Two days later, at the Grand General’s residence, Bai Shuo awoke from a deep slumber with a start, gazing at Bai Xi, who had been keeping vigil beside her bed. Awakening felt like emerging from a dream.
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