In the heavy rain, a newly assembled group of volunteer soldiers stood in front of the mountain, with cultivators from all sects.

     The Gate of Time, Space, Life, and Death had just been opened and everything was still uncertain. In front of them was hostile territory with danger lurking on all sides, so the morale of this newly established alliance was unstable. Everyone had their own plans, and almost no one was willing to take the lead. They were all worried that Zhenlong chess pieces were lurking at Sisheng Peak and worried that they would once again come across the fierce elites they had encountered on Mount Jiao.

     They looked into the distance, their hearts filled with anxiety—within Wushan Palace, shrouded in rain, could there be a demon sitting with his eyes closed, waiting for the outstanding heroes to act rashly, so he could tear everyone to pieces?

     Someone raised a torch lit up by a spell and looked up at the towering mountain peak, murmuring, “Unexpectedly… Tianyin Pavilion would actually do such a thing… I still feel like I’m dreaming.”

     “Stop sighing.” Bitan Manor’s Zhen Congming patted that person’s shoulder. “Since you have the time to talk so much, why not think about how to attack the mountain and quickly put an end to this nightmare?”

     Someone else said gloomily, “I’m afraid it’s not that simple. Mu Yanli has a body of divine blood, Hua Binan is the medical master of a generation, and there’s also Emperor Taxian-Jun… that Mo Ran. That person’s spiritual power is profound, and he’s very cunning. We must be cautious above all else and never lower our guard.”

     The cultivator’s words won the approval of many.

     If the Xue Meng of the previous life stood here, he would definitely feel that life went around in circles and would always return to the starting point.

     The scene before them was so similar to the night when the ten great sects besieged Sisheng Peak and Taxian-Jun committed suicide.

     Unfortunately, the one in the crowd wasn’t Xue Meng of the previous life, but a young man who had just lost his parents.

     Although he had handsome features, his face was very haggard, and because he was in mourning, he did not wear the silver-blue light armor of Sisheng Peak; he only wore a plain blue coat, and his ponytail was tied up with a white ribbon.

     Xue Meng said, “Stop talking nonsense. If this noise continues, the situation will become even more irredeemable. Why is it most important to be cautious when he’s so cunning? …If you’re afraid of getting into trouble, you simply remain here. There’s no need to go up.”

     Everything followed the same misguided path that led to failure in the previous life. Just like back then, when Xue Meng said this, the people around him exploded with rage.

     He once again became the target of public criticism—

     “Xue-gongzi, your words are really too excessive. Who are you calling afraid of getting into trouble?” The female cultivator from Jiangdong Hall raised her eyebrows high. “You’re not afraid of trouble and even recklessly ran to Wushan Palace to assassinate Taxian-Jun a few days ago. And the result?”

     “...”

     “The result was still your defeat, and you even dragged Mei-shixiong together with you to clean up the aftermath!”

     “You—”

     A slender, fair hand blocked Xue Meng’s path, the silver bell jingling on his wrist.

     Xue Meng said angrily, “Don’t you meddle in other people’s business!”

     Mei Hanxue was very good-natured. “How can the affairs of the benefactor’s son be called other people’s business?” As he spoke, he turned his head and smiled at the female cultivator, whose face flushed despite the situation.

     “Besides, if the words of such a good-looking young lady aren’t pleasant to the ears, it would naturally need to be pointed out, so the young lady can be aware of her mistakes and correct them.” He said courteously, “Helping Xue Meng is helping a friend. It really isn’t cleaning up the aftermath. To the heavens and earth foremost, my conscience is clear. I want to ask the young lady not to wrongly accuse this humble one.”

     Who in the cultivation world didn’t know of Mei-shixiong’s charm? The female cultivator was speechless for a moment, her face turning as red as a pig’s liver.

     Seeing her like this, her cultivation partner immediately felt uncomfortable and revealed his discontent as he stood up and sneered, “Interesting. Xue-gongzi himself is brave and invincible, but all of us are merely cowards afraid of the slightest thing? Then why don’t you go up the mountain to see first? In any case, you are most familiar with Sisheng Peak, and I heard the one at the very top, Emperor Taxian-Jun, is your cousin, Mo Weiyu, of the past incarnation. Regardless of the circumstances, it won’t be possible to take your life. It’s very secure and safe.”

     At the mention of Emperor Taxian-Jun, many people revealed sheepish expressions on their faces.

     Back then, Mo-zongshi had told them the truth, and at that time, they thought he was just plotting something, his words full of nonsense. But now, things had come to light one by one, and everything was just as Mo Ran had said at the beginning. Many people had an uneasy conscience.

     Unfortunately, not everyone had this sentiment. An elderly cultivator stroked his beard and coughed lightly before he said, “Actually, I feel that Emperor Taxian-Jun’s identity still needs to be verified.”

     Xue Meng glanced at him coldly. “What is there to verify?”

    The old man said, “What I mean is, although Taxian-Jun looks exactly like Mo Ran, what Mo Ran said before isn’t necessarily true. He may not be from the past life. After all, with a human mask and Zhenlong chess pieces, anything is possible.”

     “That’s right. I still feel that the person who killed in Guyueye was Mo Ran himself. Whether it’s the past life or not, it’s all justifications and excuses!”

     Even though it had come to this, there were still some people in the crowd who firmly believed that it was Mo-zongshi who had lied and that they hadn’t wrongly accused him.

     After all, some of them had spoken out and humiliated him back at Tianyin Pavilion; some had thrown stones and vegetables at him and ridiculed him during the three-day public trial. To admit that Mo-zongshi was telling the truth was the same as admitting they had been deceived and slandered a good person. To some, this was the greatest humiliation.

     It sometimes required more courage to admit a mistake than to make one, and cowards clearly lacked this courage. In order to insist that they didn’t make a mistake, they were determined not to let Mo Ran be cleared of his injustice. No matter how many grievances he suffered, no matter how many insults, and no matter how many accusations he carried, after two lifetimes, he wouldn’t be allowed to find peace.

     For these “gentlemen,” the innocence of others was nothing compared to their own face.

     Mei Hanxue heard this and praised with a smile, “Sun-daozhang, you are truly a man of unyielding pride and indestructible character.”

     The old man was stunned, and after a long time, he realized that Mei Hanxue was making fun of him. He was furious and rushed forward to fight him but was blocked by an old monk.

      Master Xuan Jing urged, “Alright, both shizhu, please stop arguing and listen to me first. It doesn’t matter what Taxian-Jun’s identity is. What’s important is how we should handle this after we go up the mountain and how to allocate troops.”

     He turned around and asked Xue Meng in an amiable voice, “Xue-gongzi, you are the one who has fought with Taxian-Jun. In your opinion, how is this person’s martial prowess?”

     Xue Meng gritted his teeth for a while before he clenched his fist and said, “Even with the combined efforts of all the sect leaders present, they may not necessarily be able to win.”

     “Ha!” That Sun-daozhang raised his white eyebrows. “What a proud darling of the heavens; you really know how to diminish your own strength while empowering others!”

     Master Xuan Jing was a little shocked. “So, this person’s strength should surpass Chu-zongshi by quite a bit. No wonder Chu-zongshi could be captured by him…”

     “Captured? Who is there that still isn’t aware of the filthy affairs between Chu Wanning and Mo Ran? The way I see it, he wasn’t captured at all, Taxian-Jun isn’t from a past life, and Mo Ran simply orchestrated the whole thing behind the scenes together with Chu Wanning! If you don’t believe it, let’s go up the mountain and see!”

     Xue Meng’s face suddenly paled. If it were in the past, he would have already lunged forward in a rage to smash the old man’s mouth. But he had only learned the truth about the affairs between Shizun and Mo Ran a short time ago, and he himself was so extremely disgusted that he stood frozen in place, looking downcast, unable to say a word.

     Just as he cut a sorry figure in embarrassment, a tall, light green figure lightly concealed him.

     Jiang Xi said coldly, “Sun-daozhang is too bold and presumptuous. If things are not as you said after going up the mountain, then I think there’s no need to keep that deceptive tongue of yours.”

     The old Daoist's facial muscles spasmed, and his lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but after mumbling for a long time, he didn’t have the courage to spit it out in front of Jiang Xi and finally shut his mouth.

     Jiang Xi cast Xue Meng a sidelong glance and said nothing more. He lowered his head and pondered for a while, then said to the others, “There’s no time to lose. Let’s first plan our respective targets for the decisive battle after we go up the mountain, then act immediately.” His gaze turned to the other sect leaders and elders as if confirming something. “Excluding Zhenlong chess pieces, who is known to be at Sisheng Peak?”

     People around him replied one after another, “We will definitely meet Mu Yanli.”

     Jiang Xi asked, “Has anyone fought against her before?”

     A female cultivator raised her hand. “I exchanged a few moves with her during the civil unrest.”

     Jiang Xi asked, “How are her martial techniques?”

     The female cultivator thought for a moment and said, “Sending three elders should be enough to hold her back.”

     “Okay, which elders are willing to target Mu Yanli after the battle begins?”

     Those of Sisheng Peak had long regarded Mu Yanli as a thorn in their side, and three elders immediately came forward: Xuanji, Tanlang, and Lucun. These three were from the same sect and were all very skilled in martial arts in addition to their own individual specialties in healing, offensive attacks, and assisting. Jiang Xi agreed without hesitation.

     Jiang Xi asked again, “Who else?”

     “There is also a group of attendants from Tianyin Pavilion. It’s hard to tell how many there are, but there are at least six or seven hundred of them, and their strength is difficult to gauge.”

     Jiang Xi pondered. “The closest fighting style to Tianyin Pavilion is Wubei Temple…” He raised his eyes to look at Master Xuan Jing. “Master, are you willing to let the disciples of your temple keep an eye on those Tianyin Pavilion attendants during the battle?”

     “This…” Master Xuan Jing quietly weighed the pros and cons.

     The downside was obvious. The number and might of the disciples of Tianyin Pavilion were unknown. It would be best if they were weak, but if they were strong, he feared it would cause great damage to Wubei Temple’s strength. But the benefits were also very tempting, because at least they wouldn’t have to face the most frightening of all, Emperor Taxian-Jun.

     He nodded and said, “This old man will share the worries of the world.”

     “The only one left is Hua Binan…” Jiang Xi sighed and closed his eyes. “It goes without saying that although Guyueye may not be familiar with all of his moves, he at least belonged to the same sect. During the battle, I ask that all the elders of the sect keep an eye on this man and not be soft-hearted or merciful.”

     After all these arrangements were made, all that was left were the Zhenlong chess pieces and Taxian-Jun.

     Jiang Xi’s eyes swept across the crowd, but apart from some cultivators who petitioned earnestly, many more seemed as if they were suddenly suffering from severe neck pain, their heads hanging low as some others even reached out to touch their necks as if they were in pain.

     “Palace Master?”

     Ming Yueluo nodded. “Taxue Palace ought to contribute our strength.”

     Jiang Xi also asked the Pavilion Master of Shangqing Pavilion. The daozhang also nodded his head and said, “It’s our duty.”

     But apart from them, the other sects were either afraid of trouble or were truly unsuited for battle, and the sect leaders of those sects were fairly hesitant. Some people even muttered, “Since that Taxian-Jun can tear open the Gate of Time, Space, Life, and Death, the strength of those few sect leaders alone definitely isn’t enough.”

     “Right. Isn’t this the same as seeking death?”

      Others also sighed. “If Rufeng Sect were still in existence, with its seventy-two cities of cultivators and so many city lords, sigh… it’s a pity.”

     “Huh?” Suddenly, a cultivator of Jiangdong Hall raised his voice: “Where is that Ye Wangxi? Isn’t she a good fighter? Her strength may even be comparable to ten of Nangong Liu, and she would definitely have the combat capability of a sect leader. Where is she?”

     It would have been fine if no one had mentioned this, but once someone did, Jiang Xi’s face darkened. He said gloomily, “Before we left, we settled a group of refugees in Guyueye. At that time, we decided to keep a cultivator behind to guard that place in case the chess piece army invaded the territory—no one took the initiative to volunteer. She was ultimately the one to remain.”

     The cultivator let out an “ah” and looked embarrassed.

     Jiang Xi said sternly, “All of you here are real heroes. Why do you need one little girl everywhere?”

     “...”

      After waiting for a while, there were still few people in the crowd willing to take initiative. The pretty young Sect Leader of Jiangdong Hall even stammered, “I think we still have to deliberate it carefully; after all, this is no joking matter. Let’s wait a little longer.”

     Hearing the word “wait,” Xue Meng was immediately so infuriated that his lips turned blue. He tried his best to hold back his anger and asked, “How much longer do we have to wait? How much safer will it be if we wait a little longer?”

     “We can’t just rashly go up the mountain and throw away our lives.”

     “Success or failure is dependent on this move. Young Master Xue, please be cautious.”

     Master Xuan Jing also advised, “Xue-gongzi, we must proceed with caution, guaranteeing smooth sailing for thousands of years. Now that the world has turned upside down and the Gate of Life and Death has appeared, no one knows what kind of changes lie ahead. All of the top cultivators of the world are gathered here. If all of them were to fall into the water, who would take responsibility?”

     “Yes, if the sect leaders were killed, what would we do…?”

     Xue Meng had been holding back the entire time, but now couldn’t do it any longer. He suddenly raised his head with bloodshot eyes. “Your sect leaders aren’t dead yet, but you’re already thinking about what to do. Then what about Sisheng Peak?!”

     “...”

      At the mention of Sisheng Peak, everyone couldn’t help but think of the sect leader and his wife, who died because they were wrongly accused. Many people avoided their eyes, and some even felt extremely guilty and kept their heads down in silence.

     “I already don’t know what to do about Sisheng Peak.” Xue Meng’s voice was slightly hoarse. “I’ve lost my cousin, my shixiong, my mother, my father, and now even my Shizun…”

     Xue Meng’s eyelashes trembled slightly, and his adam’s apple moved as if he were trying his best to swallow his pain. However, the pain was too deep for him to bear. He closed his eyes and opened them again. “All of you are afraid of death because you still have a legacy. I have nothing, so I am not afraid of death.”

     Mei Hanxue frowned beside him and whispered to stop him, “Xue Meng!”

     But how could he listen?

     No one in this world could stop him anymore.

     Xue Meng said, “If you won’t go, I’ll go by myself.”

     “Young Master!” The disciples of Sisheng Peak came forward one after another to dissuade him, but Xue Meng had already made up his mind and expressed his killing intent. He turned around and left everyone behind. The anger and grievances he’d been holding back turned into tears on his cheeks that rolled down where no one could see them.

      Jiang Xi stood in the heavy rain and gazed at his back. “You…”

     At the sound of his voice, Xue Meng walked faster. Longcheng was already broken, and he didn’t even have an ordinary sword, but he still walked towards the towering summit of Sisheng Peak without looking back.

     “Xue Meng!”

     After some hesitation, a hoarse shout suddenly broke from Jiang Xi’s throat with great difficulty.

     Jiang Xi walked forward, and before his hand could touch Xue Meng’s shoulder, he saw the young man suddenly turn around, his round, bird-like eyes flashing with a fiery light. He shouted furiously, "Get out of the way! Don’t touch me!” With that, he flung Jiang Xi’s hand away, turned around, and left without giving anyone a chance to speak.

     Moss grew on the steps and bamboo stalks in the mountains.

     Xue Meng panted heavily as he ran through the torrential rainstorm, and before his eyes was a sodden world, almost like a dream.

     In this place, Madam Wang once carried a hoe and watched a peony bloom under the moon. In this place, Xue Zhengyong was once mighty and majestic as he returned from battle, lifting his spear. Xue Meng walked through the stone gate and saw Shi Mei bowing his head and meditating. He ran past Hero Pillar and saw Mo Ran looking at the moon. He saw a bustle of disciples returning from class in the wind and rain; the laughter on the bridge and through the corridors was just like yesterday.

     He quickened his pace and ran as if fleeing for his life, reluctant to let go. Then he caught a glimpse of an old peach tree out of the corner of his eye and saw his younger self kowtowing three times under the tree before smiling and raising his head to Chu Wanning, who was dressed in white in front of him, and saying:

     “Disciple Xue Meng pays his respects to Shizun.”

     He suddenly closed his eyes.

     Sisheng Peak carried too many memories, each of them burning him within. There was once so much brilliant warmth here, but now there were only so many desolate ashes.

     Xue Meng walked all the way, through the wind and rain, as his old friends all faded away.

     “Don’t follow me… Don’t let me see this again…”

     He murmured, weaving in between those lingering shadows, abandoning his armor and fleeing from the time of his high-spirited youth. When he stood on the peak of the mountain, he was soaked through by the rain. He was like a phoenix whose feathers had withered, shivering slightly.

     Cold.

     His bones were frozen to ice.

     He narrowed his thick eyelashes and gazed at the distant palace with dim candlelight. This was the Sisheng Peak of the previous life. The last time he had come here to assassinate, he hadn’t even looked closely…

     Suddenly, he saw three graves standing in front of the nearby Heaven-Piercing Tower.

     This was something he’d never seen at his own sect. He couldn’t help but walk over to take a closer look. Of the three graves, one had the words “Deep Fried Empress” carved on it and another had been toppled and lay on its side.

     The last one was very old and worn.

     In front of the grave, there was a faint shadow, standing alone.

     The man’s robe was stained with blood, and his wide sleeves reached the ground. He stood in front of the grave, raising his hand to caress the words on the headstone.

     Xue Meng was started. His skull felt as if it had been pierced by an arrow, and all the blood in his body surged to his head. He cried out sternly, “Mo Ran!” He wanted to pull out Longcheng and slash towards him, but there was nothing at his waist.

     Then he remembered that Longcheng had shattered during a previous confrontation with Emperor Taxian-Jun.

     The man with his back to him seemed unable to hear any sound and only slowly bent down in front of the grave, as if an extremely tiring journey had finally come to an end. Xue Meng saw him rest his head against the cold stone surface, rubbing it gently.

     Xue Meng’s palms suddenly ignited with flames, and orange light scattered everywhere.

     He struck towards Taxian-Jun’s back without hesitation and attacked—

     Bang!

     There was a loud bang, but the firelight didn’t hurt anyone, and only the headstone, covered in moss over time, was shattered.

     Xue Meng was startled and looked around, but there was no Emperor Taxian-Jun, no black figure, no one—no one anywhere.

     The rain poured down around him, and the trees rustled and fell to the east and west, as if he were the only one left in the world. However, the shadows of the trees and the sound of the wind made it seem as if thousands of troops were lurking in the dark forest and among the grass, waiting to fight at any moment.

     “Taxian-Jun—! Taxian-Jun!!”

     He shouted, but his voice was instantly crushed into dust by the thunder.

     Had he seen wrong?

     How could it be wrong? It was such a clear silhouette. He had clearly been standing here just now. He even reached out and touched the headstone, the headstone…

     He suddenly paused.

     Xue Meng leaned over, raised his hand, and slowly picked up the fragments of the headstone he’d smashed into pieces. When he picked up half of it, he felt as if he’d fallen into a cave of ice!

     To his shock, the grave was clearly inscribed with the words:

     Grave of My Late Master Chu Wanning.

     Whose grave? What grave?!!!

     Xue Meng suddenly jumped up and staggered back. The white light of lightning shone on his miserable face. Xue Meng shook his head and muttered, “No… no… What’s going on…? How is this possible?”

     He swallowed and tried his best to calm himself. He crouched there and breathed heavily for a while before coming to his senses and examining the headstone again with narrowed eyes.

     The headstone was already very dilapidated, at least more than ten years old, not new. There were traces of carvings of varying depths on it, as if something else had been carved on it originally before someone rubbed out those original words and re-carved these words later on.

     My Late Master.

     Grave of Chu Wanning.

     This was the grave of his Shizun from the previous life?

     Xue Meng’s lips turned blue, and his entire body was shaking. He didn’t know whether it was grief, anger, fear, or something else that churned in his chest… He buried his face in his palms and wiped away the wet rain, his heart in turmoil.

     So, in that future he didn’t know, what kind of love and hatred, resentment and sentiments, truly were there in the end?

     There was no way to know anymore.

     Xue Meng rested in place for a while, but when he opened his eyes, he saw the black and gold silhouette appear again. This time it was closer, and the magnificent rivers and mountains, dragons and tigers, all beautifully embroidered on the robe with gold thread, were so clearly visible.

     That figure seemed to be something between a soul and a living person, neither completely alive nor quite a spirit. The figure looked at Heaven-Piercing Tower from afar, and Xue Meng barely heard him whispering, “Shizun, please… pay attention to me.”

     The voice was ethereal, like a dream.

     “I’m going home, I’m going home.” He spoke, but a trace of reluctance and unease still leaked through. “I’m going home…”

     “Shizun…”

     With a booming sound, thunder seemed to smash the earth apart. The mountains and rivers shook slightly, and all of his organs felt numb.

     “But I don’t have a home…”

     The black and gold figure suddenly turned around, and in the tumultuous rain, Xue Meng clearly saw his face, Mo Ran’s face.

     Mo Ran seemed unable to see him and just muttered to himself, “I don’t have a home anymore… I want to go back… I want to go back!”

     He became anxious and desperate. “Let me go back, let me go back! I want to see him… I want to see him!!”

     Amidst the thunder and lightning, the black shadow rose up into the air. Xue Meng was caught off guard by a cold, violent black wind as the shadow passed through him with a bone-piercing chill much colder than the rain. He was instantly dazed and couldn’t open his eyes, falling to the ground.

     “I can’t die… I want to see him!”

     Xue Meng clearly heard Mo Ran’s low shout, and the black shadow flew towards the back mountain of Sisheng Peak like a whirlwind. When he came back to his senses, he had already lost sight of the rising ghost, and a red light burst out from the back mountain!

     ……

     What happened? What was that shadow just now?

     A ghost?

     His face was deathly pale as he sat frozen in place—until someone patted him on the back.

     At this moment, Xue Meng’s whole body was already tense. He suddenly jumped at the touch, shouting madly and helplessly, “Who?! Who is it?!!”

     Mei Hanxue held him down and said hurriedly, “Don’t be afraid. It’s me.”

     From the forest behind him, another person from Taxue Palace walked out, exceedingly ugly in appearance. However, he had a pair of light blue eyes that Xue Meng was familiar with. It was Mei Hanxue’s cold and icy elder brother, wearing a human skin mask.

     The elder brother, Mei Hánxue, stepped out of the forest with two swords in hand—one was his own holy weapon, Shoufeng, while the other was…

     “Xuehuang.”

     Mei Hánxue walked up the trembling Xue Meng and handed him Jiang Xi’s sword.

     “Sect Leader Jiang asked me to give this to you on his behalf. He said you can use it, and there is no need for certain things to cause you to refuse it.”

     The younger brother was a little curious. “May I ask, what is your relationship with Jiang Xi?”

     “Let’s go.” The eldest brother interrupted him mercilessly, “Let’s go to Wushan Palace and survey Chu-zongshi’s situation first.”

     Mei Hánxue said these words, glanced at Xue Meng, used the hilt of Shoufeng to tap his shoulder, and went into the heavy rain without another word.

     As for his twin brother, he sighed and raised his hand to pat Xue Meng on the head before following his elder brother towards the precarious situation at Wushan Palace.