Chapter 118: The Divine Nether City, Two Mysterious Women Reflecting on Their Hearts

Similarly, everyone was speeding up. They knew that even a single second of delay might mean the end of this world, and they also understood that accelerating by just a fraction could bring a glimmer of hope. Although Lan Ren and Tian Jiao were both women, they were striving equally in this joint mission between the gods and demons…

After two days of continuous flight, both of them grew tired. So they came up with a plan: instead of flying simultaneously, they took turns—one rested while the other controlled the sword. In this way, they alternated, rushing swiftly toward their destination, the Blue Sea in the far west.

Lan Ren was tired, so Tian Jiao took over controlling the sword. She flew behind Tian Jiao as they sped through the starry sky. The wind blew strongly, and Tian Jiao too began to feel exhausted, as they had not rested for two days and nights. To stay awake, she had to keep herself busy. Unconsciously, she took out the purple lover’s bell. As the wind gently stirred it, the purple bell emitted a clear ringing sound…

As the sound faded, it seemed to her that she saw a figure—clothed in black with white hair, his black robes seemingly fused forever with darkness. That lonely figure was always accompanied by a sword. Seven thousand years of love, the last bond in this life—he had silently guarded her all along. Yet his love had died. Why did he still keep guarding her? Unaware of it, Tian Jiao became fascinated by this devoted shadow.

Just yesterday, she had complained about why her sister fell in love with a demon and was sent into the mortal cycle. But after reading the book detailing Liu Yi’s three lifetimes, she changed her mind and redefined the fate of this sorrowful demon. Now that she possessed the purple lover’s bell, she knew she was deeply infatuated with the man in this story—this lonely figure in the darkness, with those sad and weathered eyes. She didn’t dare speak up, so she kept it deep in her heart…

“The lover’s bell—legend has it that it was given by a celestial maiden to a mortal. But that story can no longer be verified. Instead, such a myth has emerged among the people, and this bell seems to have become a symbol of love,” Lan Ren explained, looking at the purple bell in Tian Jiao’s hands.

Tian Jiao was pulled out of her thoughts by Lan Ren’s words and quickly hid the purple bell. How cunning that girl Lan Ren was! She smiled and said, “Don’t tell me you’ve really fallen for the man in the story.”

Tian Jiao shook her head. “Of course not.”

Seeing Tian Jiao’s attempt to avoid the topic, Lan Ren continued, “You might be able to deceive others, but not me. Do you want to experience what your sister went through? Do you want to try what love is like?”

Before Tian Jiao could answer, Lan Ren added, “But I advise you not to try. After all, you’ve seen your sister’s suffering. You belong to the divine realm. If you make the same mistake, I think you’ll also be cursed by the gods.”

Tianjiao shook her head and said, “The Divine Realm has changed a lot over these thousand years. I belong to the Divine Realm, but I am just an illusionary being who shouldn’t exist in this world. Pangu and Nüwa no longer rule the Divine Realm because new people have taken their place.”

Although Lanbin knew many things, it seemed as if Tianjiao was specifically designed to stump her—she knew nothing about Tianjiao. And what Tianjiao said—that the Divine Realm had changed, and that gods like Pangu and Nüwa had accepted someone else’s rule? Then, who ruled the Divine Realm?

And the one who ruled the Divine Realm seemed even more mysterious than Lanbin’s brother…

Tianjiao continued, “Perhaps you don’t understand. Your lives belong to yourselves, but my life belongs to someone else. I don’t have much time. Maybe I really want to experience what love feels like, to truly experience that feeling that makes one give up everything without fearing life or death.”

Lanbin asked curiously, “Why?”

Tianjiao replied, “This should also be considered a story—probably Pangu’s story, but also mine. The great sage sent down a heavenly calamity, stripping Pangu of his highest authority in the Divine Realm and sending a mysterious god to rule it. That god is always covered by a white cloak, and his face can never be seen clearly. He slept for a thousand years, and at the same time, gods like Pangu, Nüwa, the Yellow Emperor, and Chi You also fell into slumber. And that’s when I appeared. I’m not someone who can control my own fate…”

Lanbin shook her head and said, “No, people can change their fate. As long as you’re willing to try, I believe you’ll surely take control of your own fate. Don’t give up.”

Tianjiao shook her head again. “You don’t know. My appearance was completely accidental. Pangu regretted having sent the Heavenly Maiden to the mortal world seven thousand years ago. Year after year, as time passed, while he slept, he created me in his dreams. I inherited all of Pangu’s memories. I am Tianjiao—someone who replaced Pangu in his longing for the Heavenly Maiden. I’m just a shadow created by Pangu in his dreams. Maybe you see me as a real person now, but the day Pangu wakes up, I’ll vanish, disappearing forever from this world.”

Lanbin was shocked by these mind-bending words… Tianjiao was a shadow replacing the Heavenly Maiden, an illusion created by Pangu in his dreams. If Pangu woke up now, Tianjiao would disappear forever…

Lanbin seemed to feel pity for Tianjiao’s tragic fate. “I’ve met many people, but you’re the only one who makes me feel sympathy. Your fate is completely predetermined, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be changed. If my brother is willing to help, if he can kill Pangu and keep him in eternal slumber, then won’t you no longer have to disappear?”

Tianjiao asked quietly, “Is your brother very powerful? Can he kill Pangu, who once ruled the Divine Realm for ten thousand years?”

When the topic of Lan Ren’s brother came up, she immediately became energetic and said proudly, “My brother is invincible in my heart. He’s always been very kind to me since I was young. Even if I asked for the stars in the sky, he would bring them down for me. We’ve always lived in another world. Legend has it that our world was created when Pangu split the heavens and earth. Our ancestors divided the land alongside Pangu, but while Pangu had gods like Nüwa to help him, our ancestor created the Underworld alone.”
Tian Jiao shook his head and said, “I think it’s not necessary. I have no attachment to this world anyway. Just being able to see that book of yours satisfies me, truly. I don’t care when I disappear. I just want to experience what that painful yet sweet happiness feels like before I vanish.”
Lan Ren continued, “That’s easy. My brother is handsome and graceful, and his swordsmanship is the best. If he were to come to the Three Realms, I’m sure you’d fall in love with him. You’ll definitely fulfill your wish. Maybe even my brother will kill Pangu for you.”
Hearing Lan Ren’s words, Tian Jiao seemed dazed, as if recalling something. “I think falling in love with someone isn’t about what they look like. It’s just… that momentary feeling, happening at a speed faster than thought. Just as it says in that golden book: once someone’s image is etched in your heart, how can you accommodate another? Do I still have the right to love your brother?”
Lan Ren didn’t understand Tian Jiao’s words and said, “What are you talking about? You’re not really in love with that demon from the book, are you? He’s a cursed being. You’re pushing yourself to the edge of death.”
Tian Jiao shook his head and said, “Sometimes I feel that even if it’s the eighteen layers of hell, or a mountain of knives and boiling oil, or the end of life, my heart remains sweet—full of a sense of no regrets…”
Lan Ren shook her head sharply and said, “You’re just like your sister. There’s no saving you.”
Things are so strange. When you think the story will unfold as you expect, you’re wrong, because it’s heading toward an ending you have no idea about.