Chapter Eighty-Nine: Illusions of Water and Moon

The temple stood majestically.

Setting foot once more in this ethereal, illusory sky, my state of mind was entirely different from before.

Jade walls and glass tiles, solitary and serene beauty, lost in thought amidst the swirling colorful clouds before the Snow Mirror in front of the Cloud Palace. Once, I often played here with the spirit birds, but those times are irretrievably gone.

The Crimson Underworld Demon God was sealed in the Celestial Mirror River, bringing peace to the mortal world; this was a long time ago.

When I left, I bid farewell to no one, merely entrusting Mozhu to return the spiritual orb formed from my cultivation to Huaying. As for the rest, it was just a simple "take care."

Qingwu once said that as a god, one must sever all emotions and desires.

A god should be emotionless to justly govern the heavens and earth.

Unfortunately, I didn't understand this before, and I still don't. Having abandoned all emotions to become a true god, I can no longer recall what I originally intended to do. Those memories that should have been firmly locked within me have faded due to their newfound "unimportance."

This is no different from exchanging my human emotions for Xianxian's life.

Perhaps humans have emotions, while gods do not; this is the greatest difference.

Speaking of which, that Crimson Underworld Demon God Dai Ying was originally my main soul. Now, we are separated, yet we can still coexist in this world. It's truly peculiar.

Even Qingwu said my current soul strength wasn't sufficient to become a god, and I would disintegrate within three days.

Did I get a free pass on life? Not only did I become a god, but my originally damaged main soul regenerated, and this main soul is one I, as Qingyue, created. It belongs solely to me.

Lightly brushing my sleeve, I suddenly heard a crisp sound at my feet.

Looking down, a clear ice-blue jade pendant emitted a dazzling light. Wasn't this Moon Spirit Jade already shattered? How is it still with me?

I picked it up, and a burning pain seared my palm—this was the power of the Crimson Underworld.

Could it be that she escaped from the Mirror River?

With doubts in my mind, I channeled my power toward the Mirror River.

The Mirror River, originally a broken fragment of the celestial realm, was tainted with mortal impurities, making it unfit for an immortal sanctuary. Qingwu had thus turned it into a celestial prison.

Here, celestial and impure energies mingled, no longer clear and transparent, but transforming into silver-white thin walls reflecting objects. The uneven terrain formed ridges, hence the name Mirror River.

Within the near-gray prisms, a woman in bright red robes rested on her side.

As I approached, she suddenly opened her eyes.

"You're still alive."

She lazily got up, eyes filled with a disdainful sneer, "Hmph... I foresaw the fates of everyone around you. Friends or foes, they either wander the world alone, become ordinary people running shops, go mad, or die. I thought you'd be left with no one! Unfortunately, I didn't foresee you."

"Your hostility toward me is immense." I threw the Moon Spirit Jade, imbued with her spell, back at her. "We were once one, why?"

"Why? You can be human, but I'm forever the Crimson Underworld Demon God. I'm the main soul, and you are merely a fragment of soul power. What right do you have to speak of 'we'?" She glanced at the Moon Spirit Jade, picked it up, and crushed it into powder.

I sighed softly, "I thought we would share many commonalities, but it seems we are as incompatible as water and fire."

"Because you are not me." Her crimson pupils glowed with dark purple light, staring intently at me.

"I was born a deity, but the three realms were too filthy. After only three hundred years, I couldn't resist wanting to overturn everything, to create new beings. As a god, why should I be constrained by these petty rules, preventing me from being happy? Gods are meant to create heaven and earth. Since I'm a god, why am I forbidden from destroying other beings to create new ones?"

Her eyes blazed with anger, her lips trembling, and a thick scent of blood emanated from her red clothes.

I couldn't imagine what she had endured in those three hundred years. I sat quietly before her, listening in silence.

"Do you know?" She regained some composure, her gaze no longer as terrifying, and continued, "I first slaughtered the Ghost Realm, destroyed the books that recorded lifespans, and liberated countless demons and ghosts. To completely rebel against the Heavenly Dao, I abandoned that tiny bit of conscience in my soul. But because of this! That bit of conscience escaped my control and took form, going to inform the gods!"

Hearing this, I couldn't help but feel a jolt in my heart.

Could it be that the world's cause and effect are already predetermined?

As I was still puzzled, I heard Dai Ying continue, "That wasn't the end of it. She led Qingwu to my bedchamber to harm me, but my fragment of conscience only inherited my appearance without any of my power. I crushed her easily." She finished with a self-mocking laugh, waiting for my reaction.

"You just said your conscience looked exactly like you?"

"Yes, she and I are one. Destroying her would have ultimately returned her to me. Perhaps Qingwu fell in love with my doppelgänger back then and has treated me as her substitute all these years." She laughed, though her tone was ice-cold. "It seems his potential as a god is no less than mine. He also loves to create."

I remained silent, but inwardly, I agreed with her point of view.

Seeing her speak so freely today, I decided to probe further. "What connection do you have with Moon Spirit Jade and Quanyu?"

She replied indifferently, "Oh, I am his master."

Master?!

But in that illusion, Huaisu's power was far inferior to Qingwu's.

She seemed to read my thoughts and clarified, "There are naturally discrepancies between the Celestial Illusion and reality. After being wounded by Qingwu, I fled to the mortal world and encountered a boy being bullied. Seeing the hatred in his eyes, which matched mine, I happily took him in. That Moon Spirit Jade was his family heirloom, but it also caused the destruction of his family."

"Did he later give the Moon Spirit Jade to you?"

She shook her head.

"He gave it to my conscience." She seemed momentarily lost in thought, then her eyes lit up, and she smiled, "So that's it. I finally understand why you not only survived but became a true god."

Seeing my confusion, Dai Ying explained, "Any creature in the world who cultivates successfully has the chance to become an immortal. For an immortal to become a god is an immeasurable feat, requiring great deeds akin to saving the world... He took the Slaying Immortal Sword from me to have you destroy the Heart of Molten Flames yourself."

A familiar yet strange feeling surged within me.

My eyes welled up with inexplicable tears.

She looked at me closely and said, "Congratulations, you now have another chance to make a choice."

I could feel human emotions once again.

This meant that I was no longer a god.

"Don't worry, I only cast a small spell. If you wish to return to being a true god, just say the word, but you can never turn back." She tilted her head, twirling her hair around her finger, and asked, "But do you really want to become a god?"

I looked down at my hands, feeling more real than ever.

After a moment of contemplation, I simply said, "Thank you."

She lay back on her jade bed, closing her eyes softly, "No need, I hope your life will be better than mine."