The Legend of Shen Li Recap, Plot, Synopsis

The Legend of Shen Li Synopsis

The ancient gods perished, leaving only the last one in the world - Xing Zhi.

According to rumors, this immortal had lived alone in the heavens for tens of thousands of years, without emotion or desire. During the war between the immortals and the devils, he saved the world with his own strength, and since then, he has kept the door closed and is nowhere to be found.

Hundreds of years have passed. a female lord born with a pearl. On her thousandth birthday, She was arranged a marriage for a political union purpose.

On her way to escape the marriage, Shen Li was beaten back to her original form as a phoenix and fell into the human world with injuries.

When she fell into a coma, a mortal vendor treated her like a fat chicken, plucked all her feathers,s and put her in a cage to be sold.

When Shen Li woke up, she was furious at the situation, but there was nothing she could do.

When she fell upset, a handsome man passed by, stared at her thoughtfully for a long time, and then said with a smile, "I'll take this one."

Their fates were tied together by a seemingly inadvertent deal.

The Legend of Shen Li Recap

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In ancient times, one evening amid thunder and lightning, Shen Li, the Jade Azure King of the Heavenly Realm, defied the Spirit Lord to escape an arranged marriage. Numerous heavenly guards attempted to forcibly bring her back. Outnumbered and outmatched, Shen Li had no choice but to punch a hole in the sky and fly out. Seeing that Shen Li was about to be overwhelmed, Mo Fang came up with a plan.

He injured himself to safely send Shen Li out. The pursuing guards from the Heavenly Realm didn’t see the truth and believed Mo Fang had struck Shen Li down. They assumed her descent into the mortal realm meant certain doom. In the mortal realm, in Qingsheng City, the Heavenly guards traced Shen Li’s landing.

Wounded and powerless, Shen Li, a phoenix, found herself worse off than a chicken, and was soon picked up by a crude farmer who mistook her for a mountain chicken with its tail feathers burned off, and tried to sell her. Late at night, Xing Yun was painting in his study when he suddenly heard a loud boom from the sky. Thunder on a clear night — clearly something strange. He shook his head and went back to painting.

The next morning, while out and about, Xing Yun happened upon Shen Li in a bamboo basket at the marketplace. He spent a few silver coins to buy her and brought her home. Having descended to the mortal realm, Shen Li lost all her spiritual power. Though she was a phoenix, people mistook her for a mountain chicken. Bought by Xing Yun and taken home, she was first forced to bathe in a pond, then force-fed.

Seeing that the pastries Xing Yun made weren’t bad, Shen Li reluctantly ate a large plate of them. With nothing to do, she watched Xing Yun quietly painting. Just as she thought he looked quite handsome, she suddenly heard him say he was heading out to "sell himself" (actually selling ginseng). Whatever shred of fondness she had instantly shattered. Xing Yun called Shen Li “Cluck Cluck” and, before leaving, reminded her to watch the house.

Shen Li was about to make her escape when a "little thief" broke in. Curious, she wanted to see what was going on, but was discovered by the Snail Girl, who caught her and prepared to cook her in soup. Poor Shen Li, tied hand and foot, was about to meet her end — when Xing Yun returned! Her life was saved at the last moment.

Shen Li sat quietly to the side as she heard Xing Yun tell the Snail Girl not to come again and even gave her a rag as a parting gift. Furious, the Snail Girl left. Shen Li immediately concluded that Xing Yun was utterly unromantic and dreadfully dull. Of the thirty-six stratagems, fleeing is the best. Seeing no reason to stay, Shen Li prepared to run away again. But no matter how she tried, she still couldn’t fly.

Just then, Xing Yun came over carrying a tray of freshly prepared food. He somehow knew exactly where the escaping Shen Li was and called her to come eat. Her stomach growling, Shen Li couldn’t resist the temptation of delicious food and ended up sitting down to eat with gusto. After eating and drinking her fill in the small courtyard, Shen Li stayed with Xing Yun to watch the sunrise and sunset. That night, she actually fell asleep peacefully.

Who knows how much time passed — Xing Yun put down his brush and stepped out of the courtyard. Seeing Shen Li sleeping soundly under the moonlight, he was moved by how pure and simple she was. The moonlight was shining directly into her eyes, so to keep her from being disturbed, Xing Yun casually picked up a stone and gently tapped it nearby, allowing the moonlight to be blocked by a shimmering glow.

Badly injured once more, Shen Li tried to escape again. But this time, her luck had run out. Mistaken for a strange pheasant, she was hunted far and wide and nearly ended up in someone’s cooking pot again. Shen Li barely escaped the clutches of evil, only to be drenched in a sudden downpour. Soaked through and utterly dejected, she thought of the forced marriage awaiting her in the Heavenly Realm and fell into deep despair.

Just then, Xing Yun appeared, holding an umbrella and walking slowly toward her. Half the umbrella tilted to cover Shen Li’s head. She looked up to see this handsome scholar once again carrying her home.

Shen Li returned to the courtyard once again and noticed that her wounds seemed to heal faster here. Xing Yun regularly fed her and even understood what she said. After some thought, Shen Li decided to stay temporarily to recover. It wouldn’t be too late to leave once she regained more strength. She stayed in the small courtyard for several days.

That day, Xing Yun brought over another batch of his homemade osmanthus cakes, but Shen Li was starting to grow tired of them. She suggested buying some meat to improve their meals. Xing Yun calmly said he was short on money — the cleaned ginseng still needed to be exchanged at the pharmacy for medicine. Hearing this, Shen Li was moved with sympathy. Since her benefactor had no money, she decided to repay his kindness.

Late at night, under the soft moonlight, Shen Li began casting a spell to turn stones into gold. She tried several times, all in vain. Again and again, she pecked at the stones with her beak, but nothing worked. Xing Yun silently watched from nearby. Shen Li didn’t give up, trying until she nearly gave herself a concussion, eventually collapsing from exhaustion and falling asleep. Xing Yun decided to spend a little money on meat.

Early the next morning, he got ready to leave. Shen Li noticed that he wasn’t carrying his usual bamboo basket and reminded him to take his tools. Xing Yun said he was going to the market. Shen Li, bored, ended up being carried along by him. At the market, the fresh pork looked especially fat and tempting. Shen Li couldn’t help but drool. Xing Yun felt around in his pocket but realized he didn’t have enough silver.

To improve Shen Li’s meals, he took over the fortune-telling business of a street daoist and performed a reading for a mortal. It turned out to be extremely accurate — not only did he earn two pieces of meat as a reward, but he also won ten copper coins from a bet. A true double win. After a satisfying meal, Shen Li even began to admire Xing Yun’s talent.

She asked why, with such skills, he still spent his days digging for ginseng in the mountains. Xing Yun admitted that he had possessed insight into omens since childhood, but divination wasn’t a reputable trade. Now, he was content with a simple life. Shen Li was once again astonished by his outlook — in a world where most people chased after wealth and luxury, Xing Yun chose otherwise.

The next morning, just as Xing Yun opened the door, there was a sudden urgent knocking. A peasant woman saw him and excitedly grabbed his sleeve, asking if he was the fortune-teller from the day before. She begged him to divine the whereabouts of her husband, who had gone off to war. Seeing the worry on her face, Shen Li understood that the woman’s husband had gone to fight on the battlefield, and with war came inevitable danger.

Xing Yun was clearly moved as well, but still insisted that he couldn’t predict her husband’s whereabouts. Watching the woman leave in despair, Shen Li even blamed Xing Yun a little for not saying anything — perhaps he had already seen the truth but remained silent for some reason. Late that night, Shen Li quietly left and went straight to the woman’s home. Unsettled, Xing Yun followed her.

At the woman’s modest house, Shen Li discovered that the strange aura she had sensed during the day was actually from the woman’s husband. Fifteen years ago, he had died heroically in battle and was elevated to immortal status, but he couldn’t let go of his wife. Instead of ascending to the Immortal Realm, he stayed by her side, silently protecting her. But the woman had no idea and had spent all these years in painful longing.

Xing Yun cast a spell to help the man reveal himself and reunite with his wife. Shen Li was moved when she saw the couple embracing tightly, weeping in sorrow and joy. Mortals and immortals walked different paths, and the man’s prolonged presence was already shortening the woman’s life span. Xing Yun urged Shen Li to tell them quickly — the spell wouldn’t last long. They needed to make their choice.

When the peasant woman heard that her husband had been by her side for over a decade, she immediately burst into tears. She clutched the man's hand tightly and asked if it was true. The man said nothing, his eyes filled with tears. But upon hearing from Xing Yun that staying any longer in obsession would shorten the woman’s lifespan, the man instantly decided not to disturb his beloved any further.

Shen Li nodded and agreed to help fulfill his wish. After the man gave his wife a deep kiss, he firmly declared his decision to leave. Shen Li cast a spell to help him return to the River of Forgetfulness, then helped the woman up and advised her to live well, for the man had always loved her deeply and only wanted her to have a better life.

On the way back, Xing Yun noticed that Shen Li had become unusually quiet and guessed that she was still affected by what had just happened. He comforted her, saying, "The past was an illusion; only the future is real life. " So it was better to cherish the present. Just as Shen Li’s mood began to lift, Xing Yun accidentally slipped and fell into the water.

There was no way Shen Li would stand by and do nothing—she jumped straight in to save him. Xing Yun thought she would gently lift him up from beneath the water, but to his surprise, she swam over and dragged him out by his hair, even yanking out a chunk of it in the process. Seeing that Xing Yun was unharmed, Shen Li stood up and formally bid farewell—but was quickly turned into a phoenix bird by Xing Yun again.

Apparently, she still hadn’t fully recovered, so she had no choice but to follow him back home once more. Shen Li being turned from a beautiful woman into a bird by Xing Yun happened to be seen by the peasant woman’s brother. Driven by greed, he immediately reported Shen Li’s various magical abilities to the local authorities, claiming he had seen everything with his own eyes.

Wanting to get to the bottom of it, the city lord immediately sent people to summon Xing Yun. A large group of guards with swords appeared at the door—clearly not with good intentions. Xing Yun instantly activated a formation, turned Shen Li back into her original form, and defeated the guards so soundly that they nearly wished they could burrow into the ground and escape. Shen Li realized that Xing Yun had been playing tricks on her all along.

She had revealed her true form on the very first night, but had been suppressed by him. He even saw her drenched like a soup-soaked chicken—what a humiliation. Acting on impulse, she struck him with a palm, but unexpectedly, the dashing and tall Xing Yun collapsed to the ground, claiming she had broken his arm. Having just helped fend off a group of bad guys, and now seemingly injuring her benefactor’s arm, Shen Li felt that it truly seemed inappropriate.

She hesitated for a moment and decided to stay a while longer—at least until Xing Yun’s arm healed. This was exactly what Xing Yun had hoped for, and he eagerly nodded in agreement. Shen Li lifted his chin curiously. Though he was clearly a man, how could he be so good at playing the pitiful act?

Xing Yun responded with a playful smile, saying that although Shen Li was a woman, she was bold and bright like the sun, and the two of them complemented each other perfectly. Looking at Xing Yun’s fawning face, Shen Li grew more and more suspicious of his identity. He was skilled in formations, able to divine fate, lived like a carefree wanderer yet never missed a meal, understood bird language, and could see through her true form—completely unlike any mortal.

She resolved to uncover his origins one day. Perhaps he was being tracked by guards from the Heavenly Realm. At the Crown Prince's residence in Qingsheng City, the Crown Prince heard from his servants that Xing Yun possessed great magical power, and the maid at his side could even snap their bronze token with her bare hands. Naturally, he dared not underestimate them, and his thought of forcibly taking them vanished instantly.

Ever since Shen Li descended to the mortal world, Mo Fang had closely followed behind. Unfortunately, after searching for a long time, he still hadn’t found Shen Li’s whereabouts. Unable to use spells in the mortal realm, he grew increasingly frustrated.

Shen Li couldn’t figure out Xing Yun’s true identity. In order to uncover his background as soon as possible, she took the opportunity to search through the notes on his desk while he was asleep. After flipping through quite a few pages, she found they merely recorded weather changes and the growth of plants—what a boring fool. Just as Shen Li was losing interest and putting the book down, she suddenly saw Xing Yun sitting right across from her.

Caught red-handed reading his journal, the moment was incredibly awkward. Shen Li pretended to be unfazed, but inwardly she panicked like a startled deer, claiming she had only picked up a leaf that had fallen into the book. Life continued on peacefully. Shen Li still hadn’t figured out Xing Yun’s true identity, only that he seemed like a pitiful man. He had no steady source of income, spending his days painting, admiring the moon, and enjoying the breeze.

Occasionally, he would stare off into the distance in a daze. Aside from that, he had no particular hobbies. Shen Li decided to stay for the time being and would leave once he had fully recovered. With three meals a day, Shen Li began learning to cook. In the Heavenly Realm, she had once been the mighty King of Bicang, and now here she was cooking for a mortal man—laughable, really.

Xing Yun, however, treated her as one of his own, even acting like her master, ordering her to cook noodles and add firewood. Shen Li would sometimes lose her patience and remind him that she was not a servant girl to be bossed around. But when the food was ready and Xing Yun came to the courtyard door, softly calling her name—“Shen Li, dinner’s ready”—his voice was so gentle it moved her.

All her life, people had called her "Your Highness," asking her about leading armies or healing wounds. Now someone was calling her to come eat, as if she were just a tender and gentle girl—it stirred something in Shen Li’s heart. The young master in the city could no longer hold back. He was desperate to have his fortune read to see if he had a chance of becoming city lord.

He stormed into Xing Yun’s small courtyard with a large group of guards, demanding that Xing Yun read his fortune at once. Xing Yun, no stranger to such scenes, refused. The young master then resorted to force. Hearing the commotion from inside, Shen Li stepped out and fiercely beat up the young master and his lackeys. The young master fled in panic with his entourage, and the courtyard finally quieted down.

Shen Li turned around and saw Xing Yun looking pitiful. The young master had splashed hot water on him, burning his eyes, and he was holding a cloth over them. Shen Li found it puzzling—how could such a delicate mortal remain so composed when facing a bully? What was it that gave him such strength? That night, Xing Yun sat nearby fanning a fire to brew medicine.

Noticing the scars on Shen Li’s hands from daily labor, he suddenly felt heartache and insisted on applying ointment for her as well. It was the first time a man had cared for her like that, and Shen Li was quietly touched. The young master hadn’t gotten his way and immediately ordered his men to summon Fu Sheng. After hearing the details, Fu Sheng assured him not to worry—he would soon make that Taoist pay.

Having clashed with the young master, Xing Yun knew their days of peace were numbered. At dawn, he took Shen Li to the Jin Yue Residence to seek help from someone else. The young master’s real name was Gu Chengrui. Spoiled since childhood, he was arrogant and unfit for leadership. His mother had passed away, and his father doted on him excessively. The second son, Gu Chengjin, by contrast, had a stable personality.

Since the position of the young city lord had yet to be decided, both sides were vying for influence. Xing Yun saw an opportunity and sought to ally with Gu Chengjin. At the Jin Yue Residence, Shen Li discovered a lotus spirit demon. The little demon was stunningly beautiful and delicate. Shen Li initially intended to capture her, but Gu Chengjin seemed to value her greatly.

When he saw her dress torn, he crouched down and carried her away in his arms. Shen Li noticed the scene, which greatly displeased Xing Yun. Jealous, he warned Shen Li not to develop feelings for Gu Chengjin. During the negotiations, Gu Chengjin seemed to believe Xing Yun. As they left, Xing Yun proudly jingled his money pouch, happily declaring that they wouldn’t have to worry about meat for a long while.

The braised pork Xing Yun made was sweet and fragrant, but Shen Li knew it was time for her to leave. Staying in the mortal world would only bring trouble to this man. The people of the Heavenly Realm were still searching for her, and she believed it wouldn’t be long before they found this place.

One time, while helping Gu Chengjin tidy up a room, the lotus spirit demon accidentally triggered a mechanism, opening the door to a secret chamber. Curious, she stepped inside and found a woman lying on the bed whose appearance was strikingly similar to her own. A demonic figure, like a mass of miasma, laughed at her, saying she had finally discovered the truth. That woman was the one Gu Chengjin truly loved—he had loved her from the beginning until now.

The demon even showed the lotus spirit scenes from the past between Gu Chengjin and the woman. Late at night, a group of black-clad men broke into Shen Li’s courtyard. Fortunately, Xing Yun had made preparations in advance. As soon as they stepped into the yard, they were trapped by formations and subjected to torment. The courtyard echoed with screams. Inside, Xing Yun sipped tea calmly. Hearing the commotion, Shen Li stepped outside and saw that the formation had activated.

She accidentally walked into it and was met with a scene of devastation. Luckily, Xing Yun arrived just in time to help her regain her senses. Gu Chengrui’s men were unwilling to accept defeat and fired flaming arrows into the courtyard, attempting to burn it down. With Shen Li’s protection, Xing Yun remained completely unharmed, but the assassins trapped in the formation suffered miserably.

Shen Li couldn’t bear for the courtyard to be stained with blood, so she soared into the air, used her formation to extinguish the fire, and then threw all the assassins outside the gate. Finally, the enemy realized it was hopeless and retreated. By using combat formations, Shen Li revealed her whereabouts to the Spirit Realm. In the royal palace, Shen Li’s mother immediately sent people toward the newly exposed location to search for her.

The small courtyard was no longer safe. Shen Li brought Xing Yun to Gu Chengjin’s residence. When she visited during the day, Shen Li already sensed something was off. Now, in the quiet of the night, she finally discovered the truth: the residence housed many undeveloped spirit beings. Tiny specks of them filled the courtyard, though Xing Yun, being a mortal, couldn’t see them.

Shen Li warned him to be careful, but he naively thought she was scared and sweetly reached out to hold her hand. Seeing the innocent expression on his face, Shen Li realized that he truly saw her as a woman. The feeling was wonderful. Shen Li leaned in close to Xing Yun and confessed under the moonlight that perhaps she had truly fallen for him. Xing Yun still looked calm on the surface, which made Shen Li uneasy.

Shouldn’t he be happy or grateful to hear her confession? Suddenly, something strange happened at the residence. The spirit beings being raised there began to turn on their master. The courtyard echoed with women’s screams. Shen Li warned Xing Yun not to leave her side and began searching for the place with the densest miasma. There, she found Xiao He, Shi Yin, and Gu Chengjin.

Xiao He realized she had been raised by Gu Chengjin solely to serve as a life substitute for Shi Yin. Overwhelmed with rage, she lost control and attempted to perish with Gu Chengjin. The Jin Yue Residence fell into chaos due to Xiao He’s rampage. Shen Li struggled to keep the situation under control and sought out the lotus demon, hoping she would abandon her dark path. If not, Shen Li would have to eliminate her.

Shen Li did her best to protect the innocent mortals within the Jin Yue Residence. Along the way, she encountered Mo Fang. Mo Fang had found her ahead of time and urged her to leave quickly, warning that pursuers from the Spirit Realm would soon arrive. Shen Li looked back at Xing Yun and told Mo Fang that she had fallen for a mortal and wished to stay just a few more days.

Time flowed differently—one day in the heavens equaled a year on earth. Shen Li knew Xing Yun’s body was weak, so she asked Mo Fang to help stall the pursuers. She promised to return after just a few more days. Mo Fang, who had always obeyed her, agreed. Xing Yun reminded Shen Li that Xiao He was likely hiding in the lotus pond.

Knowing she was going to capture the demon, Xing Yun gave her a hairpin made from a sleeve dart as a gift. Shen Li summoned the lotus spirit from the pond and, after spanking her a few times, the lotus spirit finally admitted her wrongdoing. She regretted implicating others because of Gu Chengjin. Many people had been harmed by the resentment she carried. Originally, Shen Li had planned to eliminate the lotus spirit if she remained unrepentant. Now, a more peaceful resolution was possible.

Xing Yun thought Shen Li shouldn’t have hit the lotus spirit, but Shen Li had always been decisive and preferred to solve problems with force. She told the lotus spirit to leave quickly—she would tell Gu Chengjin that the lotus spirit was already dead. The lotus spirit wept bitterly. Even though she knew Gu Chengjin was only using her as a medicinal ingredient to save another, she still wanted to see him one last time.

Shen Li tried persuading her several times, but to no avail. In the end, she agreed to let the lotus spirit see Gu Chengjin again—and also to see the woman who had made her so jealous she wished for death. Shen Li had the lotus spirit go into hiding, then told Gu Chengjin that she was dead and urged him to leave as soon as possible. But Gu Chengjin, heartbroken, didn’t want to go anywhere.

His beloved was here—he would rather die with her than leave. Hearing this, the lotus spirit lost all hope. In a moment of impulse, she clutched Gu Chengjin’s neck, but how could she bear to harm the man she had loved from the first moment she saw him? In the end, she sacrificed herself for the one she loved. Finally, Shi Yin awoke. Gu Chengjin realized it was the lotus spirit who had saved him.

As he watched the rising motes of light, he felt a deep sense of loss. Xing Yun had just been poisoned by the miasma. His wrist was bruised and blackened from the corrosive energy. Shen Li brought him back to the Jin Yue Residence and used her power to heal him. Seeing that Xing Yun’s condition had slightly improved, Shen Li knew she could no longer stay. The pursuers from the Spirit Realm were still searching for her.

If a battle broke out near Xing Yun, his frail body wouldn’t survive it. Sure enough, the Spirit Realm’s pursuers arrived in full force. Mo Fang did his best to delay them. Shen Li followed closely behind and summoned local earth deities and guardian spirits, ordering them to quickly go and save Xing Yun in the Jin Yue Residence. After all, he was a prince—how could the earth deities disobey?

They immediately promised to expel the poison from Xing Yun’s body within half an hour. Shen Li told them to look for a man in blue robes beneath the pavilion, and the earth deities rushed off in a panic to save him. Unexpectedly, two uninvited guests appeared along the way—one named Qing Yan, the other Chi Rong. Both were notorious troublemakers.

They told the earth deity to deliver a message to Shen Li: if she didn’t come quickly, they would take Xing Yun hostage and could not guarantee his safety. Soon, Shen Li received the message. Seeing strange phenomena repeatedly appear in the Heavenly Realm, she guessed that Mo Fang had already clashed with the pursuers. Knowing Xing Yun was still in danger, Shen Li had no choice but to turn back and rescue him.

When she arrived at Xing Yun’s side, Chi Rong and Qing Yan relayed her mother’s imperial command: return immediately and marry, or even if it meant breaking her arms or legs, they would still drag her back to the Spirit Realm. Shen Li looked up and saw the sky filled with Spirit Realm pursuers—densely packed like ants. To protect Xing Yun, she cut open her palm and used her blood to forge a powerful barrier, shielding him within it.

Shen Li’s mother flew into a rage, accusing her of harming her own kind and asking whether she acknowledged her guilt. Shen Li responded calmly. The Spirit Realm had lived under the rule of the Heavenly Realm for tens of thousands of years. Now even marriage was not up to them, with matches assigned randomly by the Heavenly Realm, and they were even forced to guard the demons and monsters of the heavens.

Everything Shen Li said was true, but her mother refused to listen. She ordered two celestial soldiers to take the prince away immediately. Hearing their conversation, Xing Yun finally understood—Shen Li was actually a prince! Though reluctant to part, Shen Li turned back and helped him to his feet, leaving him with a tender kiss. She told him that she was being forced into marriage and might never have the chance to see him again.

She hoped he would live well. With that, she left in sorrow. Watching her graceful figure disappear into the distance, Xing Yun was filled with deep longing.

When Shen Li ascended to the heavens, she infused some of her spiritual power into Xing Yun’s body, hoping he could overcome his trial and return safely to her mother. Her mother scolded her, saying she shouldn’t have expended five hundred years of cultivation for a mere mortal—especially since ten years from now, he might not even remember her. But Shen Li firmly stated that she was willing.

If she could say those two words—“I’m willing”—then what was five hundred years of cultivation in comparison? In the days that followed, Xing Yun lived in the small courtyard, relying on memories of Shen Li to get through each day. Whether it was spring breeze or summer rain, he would stand in the yard, lost in thoughts of her.

He remained there until he became an old man, and even when death was near, he still hobbled to the riverside Shen Li had loved most. There, it felt as if he could still sense her presence. At last, her mother lifted Shen Li’s restriction. When Shen Li emerged, she learned she had been imprisoned for a full thirty days. She immediately calculated that Xing Yun was likely no longer in the mortal world, and Mo Fang confirmed it.

At the Mo Cang Palace, everyone was elated at the return of the prince. The entire palace had been newly decorated. The little celestial attendants specially prepared a table of dishes for Shen Li to enjoy. Back when she hadn't descended to the mortal world, Shen Li had always had a good appetite. But now, for some reason, even the delicacies she used to love tasted bland and flavorless.

In the Heavenly Realm, numerous celestial gods welcomed the return of Shen Li’s elder brother, Xing Zhi. His descent to the mortal realm to endure trials had not been publicly announced. Everyone had thought he had simply gone traveling to ease his mind, and expected him to return refreshed. But instead, he was even more silent than before.

Xing Zhi bid farewell to the many attendants and went alone to the Thousand Mechanism Platform to pay respects to a dear friend who had once sacrificed himself. Fu Rong Jun, mischievous by nature, trembled in fear upon hearing he was to marry the renowned and battle-hardened King Bi Cang. Her power was well known throughout the Heavenly Realm.

Fu Rong Jun, accustomed to a life of indulgence and pleasure, was terrified at the thought of bringing such a war goddess home as a bride. He immediately rushed to Xing Zhi’s residence, kneeling and begging him to withdraw the decree and cancel the marriage altogether. Xing Zhi suddenly remembered that once, the Star God of Fate had handed him the Book of Marriages and asked him to designate a match.

He had never cared about such things and casually gave a number—unaware that it was Fu Rong Jun’s registry number. And thus, the engagement came to be. Xing Zhi helped the kneeling Fu Rong to his feet and agreed to delay things for now. He said they could get to know each other first, and then decide. When the people of the Spirit Realm heard that the marriage was being postponed, they were all puzzled.

Shen Li, however, felt a secret joy—at least she would still have a few days of freedom. Her master called her aside to explain the importance of this marriage. Shen Li complained that Fu Rong Jun was an unworthy deity—how could someone like her, with such distinguished achievements in battle, be married off to such a scoundrel? Her master understood. Though Shen Li disdained political marriages, once war broke out, it would not be a game.

It would involve innocent lives, and the Spirit Realm would suffer greatly. Not long ago, turmoil broke out in Xu Tian Abyss. Thick miasma tormented the people, leaving them in misery. Shen Li was given the task in a moment of crisis and quickly dispersed the miasma. But lasting peace required the power of the Heavenly Realm—only then could the Spirit Realm be protected and its people find respite.

Her master was thinking of the bigger picture, and Shen Li understood that. She just felt that Xing Zhi’s casual matchmaking had been far too careless.

The miasma in Xu Tian Abyss grew heavier and heavier. Upon receiving the order, Shen Li dispatched several capable subordinates to contain it. God Jun Zixia was burned by a demonic creature and fell directly into the Heavenly Realm, where he perished. The borders were constantly in danger. Shen Li volunteered to go into battle, but her master firmly refused. Instead, a few capable generals were assigned to take over Zixia’s mission.

Shen Li was furious—her master always favored the Heavenly Realm. Did he truly see the Spirit Realm as nothing more than a puppet of the heavens? Unable to reason with her master, Shen Li returned to her own palace in anger, shut the doors, and declared she was going into seclusion. In truth, she quietly rushed to Xu Tian Abyss to eliminate the demonic creatures and avenge the fallen Zixia.

Her master, upon hearing the news, did not send anyone to stop her. With the help of King Bi Cang, the morale of the Spirit Clan soared. A demonic beast nearly devoured Mo Fang, but was stopped when King Bi Cang knocked out several of its teeth with a sharp blade. The fierce battle turned the sky and earth upside down. The demonic creature was a beast of ancient times and not so easily destroyed.

Moreover, it had absorbed massive amounts of spiritual energy from the world, giving it endless power. Shen Li fought it several rounds without gaining the upper hand. Seeing that the creature still retained its strength, Shen Li resolved to act quickly. She ordered her subordinates to form an array. Smoke and dust filled the air, rocks and sand spun into a powerful tornado, annihilating everything in its path.

The demonic creature rampaged, soon breaking through the barrier Shen Li had set up and charged straight at her. Seeing Shen Li in danger, Mo Fang threw himself forward, using his chest to block the creature’s sharp fangs. Gravely wounded, he was gently supported by Shen Li. Just then, the creature opened its gaping maw again and swallowed Shen Li whole. Panic spread among the Spirit Realm forces—their King Bi Cang had been devoured. What were they to do now?

At that moment of panic, Shen Li steadied her breath, held her sharp spear, and pierced through the creature’s belly from within. She burst out in a blaze of golden light—King Bi Cang had returned alive and destroyed the creature! The crowd erupted in cheers. The demonic beast was bewildered—how could a mere princess of the Spirit Realm possess such courage? In its final moments, the beast saw Xing Zhi and finally realized who had orchestrated its demise.

Severely wounded, Shen Li caught a blurry glimpse of Xing Yun. Her face lit up with joy, uncertain whether it was dream or reality. She stumbled toward him, murmuring how she missed his cooking. Just as she reached him, Shen Li fainted. Xing Zhi immediately picked her up and asked where the Spirit Clan's military camp was—he would personally escort Shen Li there.

The Spirit Clan soldiers were nervous, cautioning that their princess was already engaged and must not cross boundaries with another man. Xing Zhi remained unmoved. He stated his name and carried the unconscious Shen Li to the camp for care. The nearby soldiers, upon hearing that this was Xing Zhi from the Heavenly Realm, stood in solemn respect.

Mo Fang, having met Xing Yun before, felt a sense of crisis from the familiar face—such a strong romantic rival, he stood no chance at all. When Shen Li slowly woke, Mo Fang immediately confessed his feelings. They had fought side by side for many years. Though Shen Li was a royal, he had never seen her only as a general.

Shen Li paused for a moment upon hearing this, then sternly warned Mo Fang not to entertain such thoughts again. From now on, he must never mention it. This completely shattered Mo Fang’s hopes—he could only remain a soldier at her side. Shen Li heard footsteps. Looking toward the sound, a burst of light entered her eyes. As she focused, she saw it was Xing Yun! Tears welled up instantly. The man before her looked so much like Xing Yun.

Shen Li knew Xing Yun had already passed away, but still asked Xing Zhi with hope in her voice—had he seen Xing Yun? Xing Zhi’s expression remained calm as he answered, never. A nearby guard told Shen Li that the Celestial God would be staying a few days to help seal the miasma and strengthen the Spirit Realm’s barriers. Xing Zhi took Shen Li’s pulse.

As she observed him closely, she thought it strange—this Celestial God, the last war god of the ancient era, looked so much like Xing Yun. Xing Zhi asked for someone to guide him. When the guard mentioned Shen Li’s name, he quickly explained that their general was seriously injured and might not be up to the task. Mo Fang also volunteered to lead in her stead.

Xing Zhi refused outright, saying he wanted only Shen Li, and that within three days, he would help her fully restore her spiritual power.

In front of Shen Li, Xing Zhi always claimed that he didn’t know her before and had never descended to the mortal realm. Yet, when Shen Li was unconscious, he stayed by her bedside, full of worry, and even transferred his spiritual power to help heal her. With Xing Zhi’s meticulous care, Shen Li felt her body recover quickly. That afternoon, Shen Li took Xing Yun to Xu Tian Abyss to check on the state of the seal.

The road was rugged and difficult to walk. Shen Li moved swiftly and nimbly, while Xing Zhi, dressed in flowing celestial robes, moved slowly. Shen Li looked back at his leisurely pace and couldn’t help but remark that he was like “an old ox pulling a broken cart. ”Along the way, Shen Li was entangled by a wild boar corrupted by the miasma. Ordinarily, such creatures were respectful toward their masters.

Xing Zhi suggested burning it, warning that it might cause trouble in the future, but Shen Li couldn’t bear to kill a spirit creature and simply kicked the boar away to release it. Although Shen Li had never held much fondness for the Heavenly Realm, she couldn’t help but be impressed when she saw Xing Zhi restore a long-dead spiritual tree to life with a wave of his hand. The surrounding withered grass instantly turned lush and green.

The soldiers of the Spirit Realm looked up to see the moon finally emerging from the haze, bright and high in the sky. The land was bathed in a soft glow, bringing peace and tranquility. All were filled with awe at the divine power of the Heavenly Realm. Mo Fang saw the gap between himself and Xing Zhi and couldn’t help but feel inferior.

Xing Zhi revived a millennia-old ancient tree in Xu Tian Abyss, then picked a fresh leaf and gave it to Shen Li, inviting her to climb the tree to “open the moon. ” Shen Li had never looked down on Xu Tian Abyss from atop a tree, especially not under a full moon in complete silence. She deeply enjoyed the rare moment of peace and casually remarked that it would be even better with music.

Xing Zhi then played a tune using the leaf, the sound crisp and melodious. As Shen Li gazed at his side profile, she still felt he looked incredibly like Xing Yun. Shen Li and Xing Yun hadn’t returned, so Mo Fang waited anxiously in the military camp. His fellow soldiers, knowing his feelings, couldn’t help but ask what exactly he liked about the princess. Thinking of Shen Li’s face, Mo Fang was filled with tenderness.

He had deep, unwavering affection for her, loved everything about her, and was willing to do anything for her. When Shen Li and Xing Zhi returned, Mo Fang was finally able to relax upon seeing her safe and sound. Shen Li asked how his injuries were healing. Remembering his confession earlier that day, she tried to keep some distance from him. Sensing Shen Li’s unease, Mo Fang admitted he didn’t want his impulsiveness to interfere with their battle.

Watching Mo Fang’s departing figure, Shen Li pondered: After hundreds of years, she had finally met a man who dared to confess to her, but the timing was wrong. Her heart was still filled with Xing Yun. Though he was no longer in this world, there was simply no room for anyone else. Moreover, she already had a betrothed—Fu Rong Jun—so she had no desire to become entangled with any other man.

Seeing that Shen Li had been at Xu Tian Abyss for a long time without word, the Spirit Lord personally performed a divination and sensed something was wrong. After hearing a report from a guard that Xing Zhi greatly resembled Xing Yun, he used the Shadow Concealment Art to go see for himself.

The moment the Spirit Lord saw Xing Zhi standing beside Shen Li, a chill ran down his spine—Xing Zhi was clearly the same person as Xing Yun, though Shen Li hadn’t realized it yet. The Spirit Lord urgently instructed Shen Li to return to the Spirit Realm. Shen Li hesitated, worried that the seal was not yet fully reinforced and that returning now would only complicate things.

With Xing Zhi also opposing her departure, the Spirit Lord could not insist further and simply urged Shen Li to strengthen the seal quickly and return as soon as possible.

Xing Zhi took Shen Li to the riverbed to examine the seal that had once been placed there. Although Shen Li was not good in water, Xing Zhi still forcibly brought her down. He held her wrist, claiming that the Water-Sealing Art required physical contact at the wrist, or else she wouldn’t be able to breathe freely.

Shen Li half-believed it, but when she saw that while Xing Zhi was urgently reinforcing the seal he no longer held her wrist and she could still breathe easily, she realized his earlier explanation had been false. Xing Zhi began awakening the spirit beasts stationed at the bottom of the river. In just a short while, the water turned crystal clear, a world apart from the lifeless, murky water from before.

Watching his focused and tender expression as he cast his spells—so identical to Xing Yun’s—Shen Li reminded herself once more that Xing Yun of the mortal world was already gone, and the man before her was now a god of the Heavenly Realm. After clearing the miasma from both the land and riverbed of Xu Tian Abyss, Xing Zhi revealed to Shen Li the hiding place of the artifact used to purify the area.

He also explained that the reason he had taken her to the ancient divine tree and the riverbed was not only to help her recover but also to calm her mind. The miasma’s invasion had not been completely purged from her body, and she would unknowingly fall into inner chaos. So that was the reason—Shen Li felt a bit touched.

She looked at Xing Zhi earnestly, though in her heart she kept reminding herself: this man is truly not Xing Yun. Xing Zhi then said that in the coming days, she need not guide him—he could handle reinforcing the seal on his own. Since he had spoken, Shen Li saw no reason to remain. Back in her room, Shen Li lay on the bed lost in thought.

She missed Xing Yun terribly and unconsciously wandered to the entrance to the mortal world, wanting to try seeing Xing Yun once more. Perhaps due to her unique physique, every time she came near the place where the miasma was strongest, her heart would become anxious and uneasy. This time, she was once again enveloped by a powerful, malevolent aura. Unable to break free, she struggled to stay conscious, afraid of being sucked into the void.

Just as she was on the verge of falling into madness, a bright light appeared, and Xing Zhi strode toward her. He dispelled the miasma surrounding her and returned her weapon to her hands. Shen Li was puzzled about why Xing Zhi was there. He simply explained that the miasma in Xu Tian Abyss was too thick, and he was wandering around to familiarize himself with every corner. Shen Li didn’t believe this excuse.

She asked again whether Xing Zhi would sometimes let fragments of his divine consciousness descend to the mortal world while resting. Xing Zhi clearly understood what she was really asking but gave a vague answer: “Perhaps. ”In the Heavenly Realm, Fu Rong Jun was enjoying a flower bath when a subordinate came rushing in to report that Shen Li from the Spirit Realm had slain a demon.

She had been swallowed by it, then tore her way out, covered in blood, with a fierce and terrifying expression. Upon hearing this, Fu Rong’s face turned deathly pale. Raised in luxury and unable to even kill a chicken, how could he possibly marry such a fierce and battle-hardened bride? The thought alone horrified him.

With the wedding date fast approaching and news from the Heavenly Realm urging him to go to the Spirit Realm early to develop feelings with Shen Li, Fu Rong became even more terrified. He even dreamed that Shen Li would come for his heart’s blood. Fu Rong finally couldn’t bear it anymore and ran off to plead with his imperial grandfather to cancel the engagement.

Fu Rong Jun had never seen Shen Li in person, but he often heard tales of her venturing alone into the wilds, her strong build, and her bravery in slaying demons. The more he thought about it, the more afraid he became. He knew himself well—he was someone who avoided hardship and couldn't even bear to kill a chicken. How could he possibly marry such a fierce woman and bring her home?

He was plagued by dreams until finally, one of his idle friends gave him an idea: go to the Spirit Realm in person and intentionally leave a bad impression on Shen Li, hoping she would give up on the engagement herself. This advice suddenly enlightened Fu Rong, and he immediately packed his things and set off for the Spirit Realm. Meanwhile, Shen Li and Xing Zhi were still purging the demons from Xu Tian Abyss.

Over the past five days, Xing Zhi had taken her through every corner of the abyss. Shen Li witnessed his divine might—where she would have to exhaust herself to eliminate even a single demon, Xing Zhi only needed to wave his hand. He was unbelievably powerful! After purifying Xu Tian Abyss, Xing Zhi brought Shen Li back to the Spirit Realm. The people of the realm welcomed Shen Li’s triumphant return by lining the roads.

For the first time, Xing Zhi felt the warmth of the Spirit Realm. Someone placed a delicate flower wreath on Shen Li. Without her armor, she looked both heroic and graceful, and the wreath gave her a rare touch of softness. Seeing her so peaceful and joyful, Xing Zhi wished Shen Li could always be this happy. In the Spirit Realm, Xing Zhi asked the Spirit Lord to let him stay for a few days.

This took the Spirit Lord by surprise. She responded that the customs of the Spirit Realm might be a bit rough and worried they might not treat him well enough, but Xing Zhi replied that he felt quite at ease. Since the god had just helped purify the miasma, the Spirit Lord had no reason to refuse. Then Xing Zhi requested to stay in the residence of Prince Bi Cang.

Since Xing Zhi had made up his mind, there was no room for objection, and the Spirit Lord finally agreed. The Spirit Lord sent Xing Zhi to rest and then spoke privately with Shen Li. Surprisingly, Shen Li was not at all in favor of Xing Zhi staying at the prince’s residence.

Now that she had tacitly agreed to the arranged marriage, and the Spirit Realm was in desperate need of a divine lord to help purify their lands, she had accepted her fate. The Spirit Lord had once sent someone to the mortal world to capture Shen Li and bring her back. The moment this subordinate saw Xing Zhi, he was stunned—his appearance and demeanor were exactly like Xing Yun from the mortal world.

Whispering in private, they became extra cautious around Xing Zhi, afraid he would hold a grudge for what they had done to Xing Yun. Fu Rong Jun arrived in the Spirit Realm and deliberately acted arrogant and overbearing, hoping to make everyone hate him. But the moment he saw Shen Li, he was completely smitten. How could there be such a handsome and striking prince in the world?

Full of regret, Fu Rong immediately changed tactics and began using his charms to win Shen Li over. But Shen Li, having seen all kinds of appearances, was completely unimpressed. Because they were engaged, she begrudgingly agreed to let Fu Rong continue staying at the prince’s residence. With this special permission, Fu Rong purposefully lingered around Shen Li, bragging that he had divine power to purify miasma—second only to Xing Zhi.

Anyone with a discerning eye could tell he was lying. Bothered by his endless chatter, Shen Li gently flicked the porcelain vase beside her. In a moment, it shattered into tiny shards, scaring Fu Rong half to death. He feared angering Shen Li and ending up like the vase. Xing Zhi, watching Fu Rong fawn over her, couldn’t help but feel jealous.

His words grew impatient as he suggested that if Fu Rong was truly so skilled at purifying miasma, he should go out and put his abilities to use. After seeing Fu Rong storm off, Xing Zhi started to wonder when he had become so irritable and uneasy. Wasn’t he usually calm and composed?

In private, the Spirit Lord called Shen Li to her room and returned the Bi Hai Cang Pearl to her, explaining that Shen Li had been born with this pearl in her mouth. Now that she had grown into a responsible princess, it was time to return the precious spiritual pearl to her, so it could serve as a protective artifact. Holding the Bi Hai Cang Pearl in her hands, Shen Li suddenly felt the warmth of her mother.

On leisurely days, Shen Li would take Xing Zhi around the Spirit Realm for a stroll. The Immortal Realm wasn’t nearly as lively, and Xing Zhi was soon drawn to the variety of street food at the market. When he heard someone selling “candied lotus seeds,” Shen Li was reminded of how General Zixia had once promised his young daughter that when he returned victorious, he would buy her plenty of candied lotus seeds.

Now that General Zixia had died in battle, Shen Li bought some and delivered them to his daughter. As Shen Li and Xing Zhi wandered through the market, Fu Rong Jun wandered off on his own. Hearing the people of the Spirit Realm speak of Xing Zhi with boundless admiration made him restless, and he schemed to shift their opinion in his favor.

To show off his “privilege,” Fu Rong began selling tickets—those who bought one could visit the Prince’s residence. Mo Fang heard about Fu Rong’s stunt and immediately took away his chair as a warning, telling him not to get carried away. When Shen Li returned to the residence and saw one of her maids stuffed into a sack by Fu Rong—along with hearing about his ticket-selling antics—she was both annoyed and amused.

Afraid that Shen Li would punish him, Fu Rong immediately flew up to the roof. Shen Li, remembering that he was her future husband, tried her best to save his dignity and didn’t scold him harshly. However, Xing Zhi couldn’t stand it anymore and gave Fu Rong two hits with a broom. Hearing Fu Rong cry out in pain, Shen Li scolded Xing Zhi for meddling in her household affairs.

Seeing Shen Li protect Fu Rong like that left Xing Zhi speechless. Recently, due to supporting both Fu Rong and Xing Zhi, the Prince’s residence had been facing financial strain. After hearing a report from her maid, Shen Li instructed her to ask Xing Zhi and Fu Rong for some silver. Fu Rong, always cunning, took advantage of the moment when he was handing spirit stones to the maid Rou Ya to secretly steal the key to Shen Li’s armory.

It was his first time entering the Prince’s armory, and inside was an overwhelming collection of cold weapons. Fu Rong was dazzled by the sight. He simply opened his Qiankun Bag and swept all the weapons into it, claiming them as his own. When Shen Li discovered that all her weapons were gone, she furiously confronted Fu Rong. Fu Rong immediately tried to use it as leverage, demanding that Shen Li cancel their engagement.

But Shen Li flatly refused, stating that breaking off the engagement would only be valid with her consent. With that, she turned and left. Watching Shen Li’s angry figure disappear, Fu Rong was filled with disappointment. Even after causing so much trouble, he still couldn’t get her to back down. Xing Zhi demanded that Fu Rong return the key—after all, he was a famed divine lord of the Immortal Realm. Naturally, Fu Rong obediently handed it over.

From within the Qiankun Bag, Fu Rong discovered the weapons Shen Li had collected, including a Heaven-Earth Golden Lock Box. The box was locked with multiple nested compartments. After opening six or seven layers, Fu Rong finally found the treasured item inside—a hairpin he had given Shen Li while in the mortal world. So Shen Li had been keeping it all along. Xing Zhi was secretly delighted.

After losing her weapons, Shen Li called Mo Fang to drink and drown her sorrows. The two had risked their lives together on the battlefield many times. After a night of drinking, Mo Fang carried Shen Li back home, only to be seen by Xing Zhi. Xing Zhi felt uncomfortable and reminded Mo Fang to be mindful of his behavior.

Mo Fang understood what was going through Xing Zhi’s mind and subtly hinted that he and Shen Li had long forged a bond through life-and-death battles. When Shen Li woke up, she found that her missing weapons had been returned, and she was overjoyed. She immediately guessed it must have been Xing Zhi’s doing. Hearing that Xing Zhi had gone out to eat and stroll, she finished breakfast and headed out.

Rou Ya delivered a message from Xing Zhi saying that if Shen Li wanted to call off the engagement, she could speak to him directly. But Shen Li instructed Rou Ya to avoid troubling Xing Zhi in the future. Fu Rong started causing trouble in the Spirit Realm again, freeloading and taking things without paying in the bustling market, deliberately acting unlikeable. Following Shen Li’s orders, Mo Fang settled all of Fu Rong’s outstanding debts.

Using the excuse of helping Shen Li retrieve her weapons, Xing Zhi asked her to accompany him for a stroll around the marketplace, sipping tea and tasting local delicacies. Meanwhile, Fu Rong Jun, unwilling to be left out, wandered into the Spirit Realm's pleasure district. The courtesan there was exceptionally graceful and seductive. First, she danced provocatively in front of a crowd, then acted as a wine peddler.

To taste the finest cuisine, Fu Rong Jun didn’t hesitate to spend a fortune getting drunk. At dawn, Rou Ya hurried to inform Shen Li that Fu Rong Jun hadn’t returned all night. Shen Li took Mo Fang with her to search for him, only to find Fu Rong Jun clinging to the courtesan’s leg to stir up trouble. The courtesan cursed him loudly, and Shen Li was stunned by the scene.

Fu Rong Jun was becoming increasingly unruly, so Shen Li wrote a letter to the Immortal Realm truthfully reporting his behavior in the Spirit Realm. Xing Zhi questioned why Shen Li didn’t write to inform the Spirit Lord. Shen Li didn’t want to go that far—she knew how important this marriage alliance was to the Spirit Realm. Even though she disliked Fu Rong Jun, she didn’t want to disappoint the Spirit Lord again.

Hearing this, Xing Zhi felt a pang of guilt. After all, he was the one who meddled in matchmaking in the first place, and now he was reaping what he had sown. Ever since the Spirit Lord returned the Bihai Pearl to Shen Li, she had been experiencing heart palpitations for several days. That night, her whole body was burning up with fever. Rou Ya first went to look for Fu Rong Jun, but he wasn’t in his room.

With no other choice, she turned to Xing Zhi. After checking Shen Li’s pulse, Xing Zhi used his divine power to cool her down. Once Shen Li’s condition improved, Xing Zhi got up to leave. In the courtyard, he had a vague sense that Shen Li had been poisoned with a heartless gu. Last time, Fu Rong Jun clung to the courtesan’s leg and ended up getting beaten by Mo Fang.

Though Mo Fang always wore a stern face, Fu Rong Jun found him interesting. From then on, whenever he had free time, he would run to the military camp to look for Mo Fang. Seeing Fu Rong Jun causing mischief again, Shen Li thought she couldn’t keep letting him lead her by the nose—she should take the initiative. So, in front of Fu Rong Jun, she deliberately said that Mo Fang was her man! Fu Rong Jun was stunned.

A bride-to-be claiming some other man as hers—what a disgrace! He immediately went to Xing Zhi, shouting about wanting to break off the engagement. That Fu Rong Jun was even in the camp caught Shen Li by surprise. Fu Rong Jun claimed he was just passing by—after all, he had the freedom to wander. Hearing Shen Li refer to Mo Fang as “her man,” Xing Zhi couldn’t help but get jealous.

Then he saw how friendly Shen Li was with the soldiers, even putting her arms around their shoulders, and felt even more unsettled. When Shen Li announced that she would spar with the soldiers and reward wine to whoever could defeat her, Xing Zhi purposely stepped onto the stage to spar with her. Shen Li was surprised by Xing Zhi’s move, but after ten rounds, she still hadn’t won once.

Xing Zhi moved as gracefully as a swallow, each move executed with uncanny mastery. With lightning speed, he won decisively, earning the respect of all present. Xing Zhi didn’t ask for wine. Instead, he posed three questions to Shen Li. He first asked about her relationship with the soldiers she had just been so familiar with. The two soldiers didn’t know what Xing Zhi was getting at. They were already married and clearly regarded Shen Li as their lord.

Shen Li honestly answered that they were comrades-in-arms. But when Xing Zhi pointed to Mo Fang and asked about her relationship with him, Shen Li immediately realized—was Xing Zhi upset because she had just claimed Mo Fang was hers? But she had just recently rejected Mo Fang, and now, in front of everyone, she couldn’t cause trouble for him. So Shen Li had no choice but to say that he was also just a comrade.

Satisfied with her answer, Xing Zhi joined everyone for a drink with the princess. Fu Rong Jun thought Xing Zhi had asked those questions to clear things up on his behalf and gratefully thanked him. But when Xing Zhi calmly said he had already written a letter to the Heavenly Lord reporting Fu Rong Jun’s actions and words in the Spirit Realm, Fu Rong Jun was stunned as if struck by lightning and was left speechless.

The Heavenly Lord received Xing Zhi’s letter via flying crane. At first, he could still calmly listen to reports of Fu Rong Jun bullying the maids of the Bicao Royal Residence and behaving outrageously in the Spirit Realm with arrogance and willfulness. But upon hearing that Fu Rong Jun had even publicly harassed women of the Spirit Realm, he was so furious that he shouted aloud.

Fu Rong Jun’s actions were utterly disgraceful and a complete embarrassment to the Immortal Realm. Enraged, the Heavenly Lord ordered that Fu Rong Jun must return to the Immortal Realm within three days. Knowing he was in trouble in the Spirit Realm, Fu Rong Jun decided to go all out in hopes that the Immortal Realm would cancel the marriage alliance. Late at night, drunk and staggering, he hurried back, only to see Mo Fang returning alone.

Planning to tease him, Fu Rong Jun ended up being kicked to the ground by Mo Fang. Despite being a dignified immortal, Fu Rong Jun couldn’t even win a scuffle with Mo Fang. Seeing that Mo Fang showed no signs of stopping, Fu Rong Jun immediately took to his heels. The next morning, the Spirit Lord summoned Shen Li and informed her that Fu Rong Jun had mysteriously fled the Spirit Realm and returned to the Immortal Realm the previous night.

Suspecting that the Spirit Realm had treated Fu Rong Jun poorly, the Spirit Lord ordered Shen Li to return to the Human Realm and bring him back. The Spirit Lord even specially instructed Shen Li not to rush back once she found Fu Rong Jun, so they could spend more time together and grow closer.

Naturally, the Spirit Lord hoped this would help cultivate love between Shen Li and Fu Rong Jun, unaware that the two felt nothing for each other. Shen Li arrived in the Human Realm and heard that Fu Rong Jun had landed near Jinxiu City. Coincidentally, a wedding was taking place nearby. The scene was lively and festive, with colorful decorations and crowds applauding and offering blessings.

Seeing the newlyweds beaming with happiness, Shen Li felt deeply envious, wishing she too could live like a mortal couple, growing old together in love. Unconsciously, she wandered to the small courtyard where she and Xing Yun had once lived. Now the courtyard was desolate and quiet, except for a single blooming pear blossom, dazzling and bright. Shen Li remembered when she was a phoenix, Xing Yun would often stand under the tree and call her to eat.

Those were such warm and cherished times. But now, separated by realms, there was no going back. Shen Li then went to Jin Yue Mansion. Outside, she overheard a storyteller recounting how the once heroic Gu Chengjin, with his wisdom and valor, had eventually become the city lord. His wife, Lady Ye, after returning from the dead, devoted herself to Buddhist practice, living out her days in silence and prayer.

Deeply in love with her, Gu Chengjin never sought the company of another woman. After her final passing, he too fell into despair and followed her a year later. Such a deeply touching story of love—Shen Li was moved. If even plants and trees could have feelings, how could humans not? She remembered the time she was drenched by rain in the Human Realm, and it was Xing Yun who found her and carried her home.

Shen Li returned to that same little creek and stared blankly at the water’s surface. A light rain was falling from the sky, mirroring the heaviness in her heart. Just then, Xing Zhi appeared. Shen Li shared her past experiences in the Human Realm with him, how she had been impressed by Xing Yun, even though they were not the same kind and could never be together.

Finally, Shen Li admitted she had already guessed that Xing Zhi was Xing Yun in the Human Realm. But she said she no longer cared—her memory of Xing Yun had faded and become distant. Shen Li asked why Xing Zhi had come to the Human Realm instead of staying in the heavens as a divine lord. Xing Zhi explained that he had come down out of boredom, wanting to experience the life of an ordinary human.

As for why he later hid the fact that he wasn’t Xing Yun in the Spirit Realm, it was, according to him, because he had no feelings for her. Xing Zhi deliberately twisted the truth, causing Shen Li pain. She thought he disliked her just as she disliked Fu Rong Jun and responded harshly, saying she would soon become Fu Rong Jun’s wife, and her past with Xing Yun was over.

Shen Li prepared to look for Fu Rong Jun, but on the way, she suddenly saw a group capturing an earth spirit. Xing Zhi used the Water-Stopping Spell. The captured earth spirit revealed that many earth spirits like him had been abducted by a small cultivation sect called Fusheng Sect. Realizing the seriousness of the matter, Shen Li decided to investigate the whereabouts of the missing earth spirits first.

At Qingya Cave, the escaped earth spirit led Shen Li and Xing Zhi to search for their missing companions. Sensing strong demonic energy ahead, Xing Zhi handed the earth spirit a magical artifact and told him to return first, while he and Shen Li went on to rescue the imprisoned earth spirits. As they drew closer, they heard anguished cries coming from the prison—demons were sucking the spiritual power from the earth spirits.

It appeared to be an organized and manipulative group. Xing Zhi divided the task: Shen Li would rescue the prisoners while he set up a magical formation nearby to support her. Shen Li charged into battle, brave and fierce. But at a critical moment, Xing Zhi lightly waved his sleeve and all the prison doors flew open, releasing the earth spirits from every section.

The freed earth spirits claimed it was people from the Spirit Realm who had captured them, and they spoke brazenly—showing great disrespect toward the Spirit Realm and openly insulting the Spirit Lord’s character. Shen Li couldn’t tolerate it and angrily grabbed the mouthy man by the throat. Xing Zhi stepped in to calm her, reminding her that acting rashly would only make the Spirit Realm seem more careless. Shen Li had no choice but to let go.

With the earth spirits rescued, Shen Li bid farewell to Xing Zhi and prepared to go look for Fu Rong Jun. But after the battle just now, she was feeling quite hungry. Xing Zhi offered to cook for her. It had been a long time since Shen Li had eaten a meal made by Xing Yun, and since someone had volunteered, she figured she might as well eat before setting out again.

Xing Zhi took Shen Li to a courtyard, intending only to borrow the kitchen. To their surprise, they discovered it was a shady establishment, and the proprietress turned out to be a snake demon. There was also a small snake hidden inside, whose appearance resembled that of Xiao He, the little girl Shen Li had met in the Human Realm. Shen Li gave the snake demon a stern warning.

The little snake, upon hearing they were heading to Jin Yue Mansion to slay demons, eagerly volunteered to go with them. In Jinxiu City, even though it was late at night, demonic energy was everywhere. The streets were littered with bodies of people poisoned by the miasma, and no one was tending to them. Xing Zhi casually saved a poisoned mother, and soon after, they heard the sound of footsteps.

A filthy man led a group to seek shelter in a safer place. Shen Li looked closely—it was Fu Rong Jun! The once elegant and handsome Fu Rong Jun from the Immortal Realm was now in such a wretched state. He explained that he had already rescued several injured and poisoned civilians. As he spoke, he led Shen Li and Xing Zhi to his residence, where indeed many people were receiving his aid.

It seemed Fu Rong Jun still had some conscience left. Shen Li smiled and nodded in approval, just as a little demon cried out excitedly, calling someone’s name. Shen Li turned toward the voice and was stunned to see a familiar face—it was Gu Chengjin! Seeing the little snake demon's joy upon recognizing her so-called older brother Jing Yan—Gu Chengjin—Shen Li couldn’t help but recall how Xiao He had once sacrificed her life to save the woman Gu Chengjin loved.

Though the name had changed, it seemed like the cycle had started all over again. Gu Chengjin was now carefully tending to a woman who had been deeply poisoned, and she bore a striking resemblance to Lady Ye. Xing Zhi told Shen Li that after becoming city lord, Gu Chengjin had planted many lotuses in the pond at his residence, in remembrance of Xiao He, who had sacrificed herself for him.

Shen Li and Xing Zhi went together to search for the Mortal Realm’s Fusheng Gate. They searched for a long time but found no trace of it until Xing Zhi used a strand of Shen Li’s hair to sweep away the gloom, making the gate instantly visible. As they stepped into the Fusheng Gate, resentment filled the air, and evil spirits were everywhere. Shen Li fought bravely and soon the ground was littered with defeated, lifeless spirits.

The last remaining spirit confessed that to the left was the prison where the earth spirits were held, and to the right was the mastermind’s hiding place. Shen Li entrusted Xing Zhi with the task of rescuing the earth spirits while she headed to the right to eliminate the demons.

Recently, rumors had been spreading everywhere in the Mortal Realm that it was the Spirit Realm’s people causing trouble and tarnishing their reputation, so Shen Li naturally couldn’t let this pass. Finally, Shen Li met the mastermind—Fu Sheng. Although Fu Sheng was clearly a mortal, Shen Li soon understood the truth: Fu Sheng had manipulated her former general, Zixia.

Everyone had believed that Zixia had already sacrificed himself, but Fu Sheng had schemed to confuse Zixia’s mind with resentment, turning him into an accomplice to evil. Shen Li couldn’t bear to strike harshly at her own subordinate, and Fu Sheng exploited her compassion to seize her by the throat, nearly choking her to death. At that moment, Xing Zhi arrived. Seeing the woman he loved almost die, he was furious.

He instantly froze the entire Fusheng Gate in ice; all the evil spirits were frozen in an instant, the miasma gradually dissipated, and the rescued innocent civilians cheered and prayed for blessings. Xing Zhi cradled the badly injured Shen Li in his arms, comforting her and urging her to recover well. With him around, he said, neither the Spirit Realm nor the Mortal Realm would suffer any harm. Hearing Xing Zhi’s tender words, Shen Li was deeply moved.

Until now, she had always fought desperately to protect others—today, someone was willing to protect her with all his might. Meanwhile, Jing Yan carefully tended to Shi Luo, the girl poisoned by the miasma. When he saw Jing Xi drawing close to Fu Rong Jun to help treat the poisoned people, he couldn’t help but feel jealous and went forward to remind Jing Xi to keep her distance from Fu Rong Jun.

Xing Zhi carried the unconscious Shen Li back to the academy. Fu Rong Jun, who was used to seeing the mighty and indomitable King Bicao, now saw her lying weakly and lifelessly on the bed, feeling quite upset inside. Xing Zhi ordered Fu Rong Jun to immediately return to the Immortal Realm to report. Recently, the frequent abductions of earth spirits were very strange.

Although he had just eliminated a major enemy, it was unclear if there were other accomplices, so it was crucial for the Immortal Realm to be informed as soon as possible. Fu Rong Jun knew that Jing Xi had been hurt by Jing Yan in a previous life. To help this innocent and pitiful girl, Fu Rong Jun deliberately appeared as a romantic rival.

Sure enough, Jing Yan grew increasingly jealous whenever he saw Jing Xi always by Fu Rong Jun’s side. Jing Xi didn’t understand who Fu Rong Jun had truly chosen. Jing Yan explained that when he was young, he had once been saved by Shi Luo, and now meeting again was merely his way of repaying a debt of gratitude. After understanding the truth, Jing Xi said no more. Xing Zhi recognized that this Jing Yan was actually Qing Ye.

He invited him for a walk and then awakened his divine consciousness, asking if he knew anything about Fu Sheng. Qing Ye only remembered that in a past life, Fu Sheng had been an advisor to the Eldest Prince and had been executed for aiding and abetting evil.

Xing Zhi consulted Qing Ye, asking who in this life might resemble Fu Sheng. Qing Ye pondered for a moment and indeed thought of someone—Jing Yan. After being captured by Fu Sheng, Jing Yan was rescued by Shi Luo, and the one who had caused the death of Jing Yan’s parents long ago also bore a striking resemblance to Fu Sheng. Xing Zhi could only awaken Qing Ye for a short time.

After a brief conversation, the proud and aloof Jing Yan regained consciousness. Xing Zhi reminded him that now he possessed the ability to purify miasma and hoped he would do more good deeds for the common people. After Jing Yan left, Shen Li stepped out from the shadows.

Xing Zhi explained Qing Ye’s past life: he was once a high god of the Immortal Realm, punished for breaking celestial rules and sent to the mortal world to undergo trials, repeatedly missing his destined love. Xing Zhi gave Jing Yan some spiritual power, hoping he could sooner realize what he truly sought. Shen Li sighed, recalling how in his past life Jing Yan wavered between two women, ultimately harming them both.

Now that the past seemed to be repeating, Jing Yan would have to make his own choice, for fate is three parts predestined and seven parts determined by choice. Fireworks bloomed in the sky, and the people of the Mortal Realm celebrated with lanterns and fireworks, rejoicing in their newfound life after the miasma’s dispersal. Xing Zhi also took Shen Li to stroll through the lantern fair and watch the fireworks. All around them were joyful, smiling faces.

The brief moment of peace made Shen Li cherish it all the more. She took off her battle robes and changed into a woman’s dress, letting Xing Zhi lead her through the bustling crowds. Several times they were separated by the throngs, but after a short while, they always found each other again. Seeing the rabbit lantern that Xing Zhi gave her, Shen Li was deeply moved.

Although she knew that those of the Immortal Realm were forbidden from falling in love, feeling Xing Zhi’s sincerity, Shen Li could not help but feel joy in her heart. Under the moonlight, Shi Luo went to bid farewell to Jing Yan. She saw him clumsily weaving a grasshopper out of straw, just like the one Shi Luo had made for him long ago to comfort him when she first rescued him as a child.

Now Jing Yan made a grasshopper for her. After a few words of farewell, Shi Luo got up to leave. For some reason, Jing Yan shed many tears as he watched her departing figure. The next day, Jing Yan left with his junior sister. As Shi Luo departed by boat, she saw the two of them together, their intimacy clear. The treasured grasshopper fell silently from her hand.

In this life, Shi Luo was the lotus spirit who would sacrifice for love, and Jing Yan was destined to keep missing his chances. Once Shen Li’s health recovered, Xing Zhi sent her back to the Bicao Palace. Rou Ya anxiously welcomed her mistress back and informed Shen Li that Fu Rong Jun had returned to their residence and was clinging to Mo Fang every day.

Now not only Fu Rong Jun but also the celestial maiden You Lan was present at Bicao Palace. At that moment, Ling Zun was in the main hall receiving this “honored guest” from the Heavenly Realm. Shangbei Xianjun revealed You Lan’s background: when she was a child, her body was extremely frail.

The high gods of the Immortal Realm had given up hope for her, but Xing Zhi took the sickly young You Lan away, treated her, and miraculously cured her strange illness. Since then, You Lan had developed feelings for Xing Zhi. Shen Li recounted her experiences in the Mortal Realm to her master, Ling Zun.

Although Ling Zun had never heard of Fu Sheng’s name, upon hearing that General Zixia had been refined into a puppet, she was greatly shocked and realized the gravity of the situation.

Upon hearing Shen Li’s account, Ling Zun said that she had never even heard of the villain named Fu Sheng. After Shen Li left, Ling Zun immediately ordered her subordinates to descend to the mortal world to capture Fu Sheng and execute him on sight without reporting to the Immortal Realm.

The celestial maiden You Lan went to find Mo Fang and demanded that he tell her everything about Xing Zhi’s visit to the Spirit Realm and the events at Xu Tianyuan. From the first moment Shen Li saw You Lan, she felt no goodwill toward her. Seeing You Lan aggressively ordering Mo Fang around, Shen Li immediately dragged Mo Fang away by force. You Lan started throwing a tantrum, her tone full of provocation.

Shen Li held tightly to Mo Fang’s wrist and insisted on leaving, and this was all seen by Xing Zhi. Unable to bear seeing Shen Li show concern for another man, Xing Zhi immediately stepped forward to protect You Lan. At this moment, Shen Li both loved and hated Xing Zhi. She felt that sometimes he treated her coldly, while at other times he deliberately seduced her with his looks—this hot and cold behavior was truly detestable.

To give him a warning, she deliberately grabbed Mo Fang’s arm and walked off proudly. Being pulled so close by Shen Li made Mo Fang’s heart race, but knowing that there could be no possibility between them, he tried hard to maintain a respectful distance. Shen Li handed General Zixia’s token to Mo Fang, instructing him to deliver it to Zixia’s widow. Soldiers who protect their homeland always face dangers, and sacrifice is inevitable.

Shen Li told Mo Fang not to blame himself too much. Seeing Zixia’s widow break down in tears upon receiving the memento left Mo Fang with a heavy heart. That night, he went to a tavern to drown his sorrows in alcohol. Shen Li, also saddened, called together the soldiers who had fought with them that night to drink and honor the memory of the fallen warriors. Late at night, Shen Li got drunk.

Mo Fang carried her home on his back. It had been a long time since they had been this close, and Mo Fang couldn't help but wish that time could freeze at this moment forever. Drunkenly, Shen Li murmured that she also wished time could stop at this very moment and suggested they go stargazing. Mo Fang, who always obeyed Shen Li’s words, really carried her onto the rooftop to watch the stars. The cool night breeze gradually sobered Shen Li.

Realizing that she was lying on the rooftop of her subordinate’s residence, she thought how embarrassing it would be if word of this spread. However, leaving right after just getting onto the roof would seem too abrupt. As she was thinking of a good excuse to leave, she suddenly heard Fu Rong Jun’s voice. Fu Rong Jun deliberately and mockingly accused Shen Li of meeting a subordinate secretly at night, damaging her reputation.

Shen Li was not afraid of Fu Rong Jun’s provocations, but when she heard Xing Zhi’s voice, she became truly nervous. Fu Rong Jun kept chattering away, which annoyed Shen Li greatly. She immediately put him in his place. Fu Rong Jun once again proposed breaking off the engagement, and this time Xing Zhi agreed on the spot. Now it was Shen Li’s turn to be unhappy. She openly scolded Xing Zhi for acting recklessly.

It was he who had irresponsibly arranged the engagement in the first place, and now he was just as carelessly calling it off. But this was the Spirit Realm—whether the engagement was broken or not was up to her, and she now refused to annul it. Xing Zhi had never confessed his feelings to Shen Li, leaving her heart always uneasy. Now his hurtful words stung even more.

Shen Li, speaking in veiled terms, said that now that the miasma in Xu Tianyuan had been cleared and there was nothing pressing in the Spirit Realm, Xing Zhi should return to his position in the Immortal Realm as soon as possible. Faced with her clear words, Xing Zhi could only reply that he would take You Lan back to the Immortal Realm the next day.

After Xing Zhi left, Shen Li often became absent-minded, frequently recalling the times they had spent together clearing the miasma in Xu Tianyuan. Back then, it had felt like Xing Zhi cared about her. Yet he often appeared cold and distant to others, making her wonder which was the real Xing Zhi.

Ling Zun, seeing Shen Li’s distracted state, mistakenly believed that Shen Li was lovesick over Fu Rong Jun’s departure from the Spirit Realm and deliberately assigned her a task that would send her to the Immortal Realm for a while.

Xing Zhi visited the Heavenly Lord and listened to him ramble about how he had recently taken a liking to a jade cup belonging to another immortal. Because he liked it so much, he thought about it day and night, unwilling to let it go. He wanted to seize it but felt that such behavior was beneath an immortal’s dignity. Yet not fighting for it left him feeling frustrated.

These words struck a chord with Xing Zhi, for he too harbored similar thoughts. The Heavenly Realm had its jade cup, just as he had Shen Li—both were things he found difficult to let go of. You Lan returned to the Immortal Realm, where many of her sisters came to visit and inquire about Xing Zhi’s heroic deeds in expelling the miasma among mortals. As You Lan recounted her experiences in the Spirit Realm, she couldn’t help mentioning Shen Li.

Several young immortals remarked that it seemed Shen Li had fallen for a mortal who closely resembled the Divine Lord, and that she had visited the mortal world several times to see him. Hearing that Shen Li once loved a mortal who looked like Xing Zhi, You Lan grew even more curious.

She went to find Fu Rong Jun to confirm the story, but Fu Rong Jun was vague and confused, unable to give a clear answer, leaving You Lan even more uneasy. Fu Rong Jun resumed his idle lifestyle in the Ninth Heaven. One day, at the Hundred Flowers Banquet, he saw Shen Li’s name. Remembering their old acquaintance, Fu Rong Jun happily went to greet her and personally showed her around various places in the Immortal Realm.

The Immortal Realm, long accustomed to its superior position, inevitably looked down upon visitors from the Spirit Realm. Shen Li could sense the disdain in their gazes. Since it was her first time in the Immortal Realm, she had no intention of seeking trouble. Fu Rong Jun proposed to Shen Li that they draft a prenuptial agreement: after marriage, they would treat each other as sworn brothers, ignoring whomever the other chose to be close to.

Fu Rong Jun confidently believed Shen Li would agree without hesitation. However, Shen Li did not consent. She looked at him steadily and stated word by word that although she would not sign the agreement, if she ever discovered that Fu Rong Jun crossed the line, she would show no mercy and kill without hesitation. Seeing the determination in Shen Li’s eyes, Fu Rong Jun felt a chill down his spine.

You Lan had once heard Xing Zhi play a sorrowful tune with a leaf, the music filled with sadness and longing. Some immortals skilled in music remarked that it seemed Xing Zhi had fallen in love, which greatly displeased You Lan. Not long after, she heard a similar melody coming from Fu Rong Jun’s residence. However, the tune was not sorrowful and was clearly played by someone unskilled.

Upon learning that Shen Li had just arrived at Fu Rong Jun’s estate, You Lan, full of anger, rushed over to cause trouble. Fortunately, Fu Rong Jun still had a sense of the bigger picture. Seeing a group of aggressive immortals charging toward his residence, specifically coming to pick a fight with Shen Li, Fu Rong Jun immediately stepped forward to shield her.

He claimed that Shen Li was only casually playing music and that her relationship with Xing Zhi in the Spirit Realm was extremely strained, making any romantic involvement impossible. Fu Rong Jun maintained his composure, and You Lan, deceived by his words, left with the other female immortals. One female immortal, infatuated with Fu Rong Jun and jealous that Shen Li had been betrothed to him, secretly poisoned Shen Li’s soup. However, Shen Li quickly saw through the petty trick.

Calmly drinking her porridge, Shen Li asked the immortal whether she truly loved Fu Rong Jun. If her feelings were deep, Shen Li said she would step aside and even help her petition the Heavenly Lord for the marriage. Unexpectedly, the female immortal had accomplices. In a sudden attack, a silver needle shot toward the back of Shen Li’s hand. Shen Li, unfazed by such tactics, swiftly captured several of the female immortals.

When Fu Rong Jun heard his subordinates hastily report the emergency, he rushed back and heard Shen Li say that she had killed the female immortals and made them into barbecue. Fu Rong Jun was utterly shocked. Seeing the fresh, bloody meat nearby that had not yet been grilled, he mistakenly thought Shen Li had used the immortals as ingredients and was so frightened that he immediately threw up.

Fu Rong Jun thought that Shen Li had turned those female immortals into barbecue and was worrying about how to report this to the Heavenly Lord when he looked up and saw several immortals hanging high from the roof, with fire basins burning beneath their feet. The immortals screamed in terror, their faces pale. Fu Rong Jun hurried to speak kindly of them in front of Shen Li, hoping she would spare them for his sake.

Although the immortals were untied, their noisy chattering remained extremely annoying. Just then, the Heavenly Lord arrived. Shen Li reported that ever since she arrived at Fu Rong Jun’s residence, she had been subjected to poison, silver needles, sneak attacks, and knockout incense—despicable tricks. The Heavenly Lord’s face turned red and then white as he listened.

When he heard that Shen Li was unwilling to stay at Fu Rong Jun’s place any longer, he immediately agreed and amiably arranged for her to move to a quiet courtyard. Shen Li only wanted to get away from Fu Rong Jun as soon as possible, lest the jealous immortal girls cause further trouble. She had hoped for some peace, but unexpectedly, the place the Heavenly Lord assigned her was Xing Zhi’s residence.

With a nervous heart, Shen Li arrived at the West Garden. The lively little catfish spirits tugged at her clothes, insisting she go play in the lotus pond with them. Seeing these mischievous but friendly little spirits who treated her like one of their own, Shen Li was drawn in. She joined them in splashing water by the lotus pond. It had been a long time since Shen Li experienced such childlike joy.

Soaked by the splashing children, she happily retaliated, splashing them back. Xing Zhi returned home and, hearing the boisterous laughter and shouting he had never heard before, followed the sound to find Shen Li having a water fight with the little spirits—a rather amusing sight. Shen Li noticed Xing Zhi and glared at him immediately. Every time they met, she seemed to end up in water—last time she was even a fallen phoenix.

To vent Shen Li’s anger, Xing Zhi playfully pretended to spank the little spirits and told them to take good care of Shen Li in the future. Early the next morning, Shen Li was driven nearly mad by the noisy little catfish spirits. She ordered them to quickly return to the lotus pond. Xing Zhi came over, smiling, and asked if she was getting used to living in the Immortal Realm. Just then, You Lan arrived.

Hearing their conversation, she was startled. She had always thought the two were barely acquainted, but the familiarity in their words revealed an undeniable bond, so much so that she dropped the fruit basket she was carrying. You Lan said she would take Shen Li to the Marrow Cleansing Pool for purification. Since it was a customary ritual in the Immortal Realm, Shen Li went along.

She found the Immortal Realm filled with spiritual energy, with much of it lingering in the surroundings—highly beneficial for improving cultivation. As Shen Li stepped into the Marrow Cleansing Pool, she sensed her celestial power being suppressed. She wondered if the Divine Realm feared the growing strength of the Spirit Realm. Suddenly, a roar rang out. Shen Li saw a furious divine beast charging at You Lan. You Lan’s celestial power was far too weak to resist.

If Shen Li did not act, You Lan’s life would be in danger. Shen Li immediately stepped in and subdued the rampaging divine beast. Just as she was about to punish it, an immortal messenger arrived, explaining that this was the Bai Ling divine beast raised by Xing Zhi, specially sent to accompany Shen Li. Somehow, it had passed through this place and had its temperament altered.

Shen Li then stopped her actions but understood almost immediately—this was surely due to You Lan’s secret meddling that caused the Bai Ling divine beast’s sudden change in behavior. After Shen Li left, Xing Zhi rebuked You Lan for her underhanded actions. You Lan knelt to admit her fault, tearfully reminding Xing Zhi to stay away from Shen Li, because the rules of the Heavenly Realm forbade any Heavenly Lord from falling in love. Xing Zhi’s face remained expressionless as he coldly replied that she was overthinking it—he and Shen Li were not even familiar with each other.

Early in the morning, Shen Li walked out of the courtyard and saw that breakfast was already prepared—it was Xing Zhi’s handiwork. She had tasted such exquisite dishes before when she was in the mortal realm. Shen Li carried the breakfast into her room and saw Xing Zhi coming out from a nearby courtyard. Shen Li gave a slight nod to express her gratitude.

After finishing breakfast, Shen Li strolled around the West Garden and often saw Xing Zhi coming in and out of a certain courtyard. However, it was not Xing Zhi’s sleeping quarters. Curiosity got the better of Shen Li, and she couldn't resist walking in. She discovered that inside were many spirit tablets with names such as Qing Ye, Luo Xing, Guan Yue, and Qian Ji. It turned out to be a place where tablets of ancient divine lords were worshipped.

As soon as the tablets sensed someone entering, they immediately gathered around Shen Li as if being very close to her. One of the tablets, named Qian Ji, showed Shen Li a past memory: a scene of Xing Zhi when he first arrived in the Immortal Realm, revealing that young Xing Zhi was actually quite adorable.

Xing Zhi also walked in and explained that most of the ancient gods had suffered misfortunes before death, and now, with both body and soul extinguished, they had gone to the mortal world to undergo trials and taste all hardships.

If Xing Zhi himself were to face misfortune one day, he too would be stripped of his divine status, losing his divine power and spells, and would vanish along with the collapse of Xu Tianyuan, dragging the lifeblood of the Spirit Realm into ruin with him. Hearing this, Shen Li deeply felt the heavy burden Xing Zhi carried. It was not only about his own fate but also concerned the destiny of the entire spirit race across generations.

She couldn't help but urge Xing Zhi to live on until the very end of his natural lifespan. Shen Li’s words came from the bottom of her heart. Now she finally understood what You Lan had warned her about not long ago: do not charm Xing Zhi, because there was only one supreme god left in the Immortal Realm, and he bore the fate of the Three Realms.

At that time, Shen Li hadn’t understood the meaning behind those words, but now it was all clear. Facing Shen Li, Xing Zhi couldn't help but confess that this was why he could not allow himself to like her. Shen Li was deeply moved. She had once blamed Xing Zhi for being hot and cold, but now she realized the reason behind it.

Shen Li responded that she would maintain a proper distance from now on and asked Xing Zhi not to tease her again. Xing Zhi couldn’t help but chuckle. The Hundred Flowers Banquet was about to begin. Shen Li went to the banquet venue, and You Lan introduced her to the Immortal Realm’s flat peaches and fine wine. After confirming that You Lan had not tampered with anything this time, Shen Li picked up a flat peach and began eating.

After downing a pot of wine, she fell into a deep sleep. The wine of the Immortal Realm was indeed different from that of the Spirit Realm. When she woke up, she heard the ethereal music from the Ninth Heaven, signaling that the Hundred Flowers Banquet was about to start. As Shen Li flew toward the Ninth Heaven, she suddenly encountered countless huge fireballs shooting directly at the West Garden with tremendous power.

Realizing that something was wrong, Shen Li saw several fireballs landing in the West Garden, instantly turning it into a sea of flames. The fireballs were clearly targeting the courtyard with the spirit tablets. Knowing how important they were to Xing Zhi, Shen Li immediately fought with all her might to protect the shrine. Seeing the disturbance from the Ninth Heaven, the soldiers of the Immortal Realm reported the mysterious fireball attack.

The Heavenly Lord immediately led numerous heavenly soldiers and generals to provide assistance. Fortunately, Xing Zhi rushed back just in time. Shen Li had defended the shrine of spirit tablets with her own strength. Everyone gasped at the charred ruins. Just as they remembered Shen Li, they saw Xing Zhi emerge from the wreckage, holding the heavily injured and unconscious Shen Li in his arms.

Normally, Fu Rong Jun only thought of Shen Li as brave and tough like a man, but now, seeing her so frail and still like a tiny bird, he realized that Shen Li, after all, was a delicate woman—even stronger than ordinary women. Under the gaze of the crowd, Xing Zhi strode forward, carrying Shen Li to heal her wounds. After a few days, You Lan, grateful for Shen Li’s life-saving grace, came to visit her benefactor.

Hearing the conversation between Shen Li and Xing Zhi, she found that Shen Li requested to leave early and not continue her recovery there. However, Xing Zhi, stubborn like a child, insisted that Shen Li must fully recover before returning.

You Lan saw that Shen Li and Xing Zhi were caught in an endless argument, so she immediately reported and asked them to go to Lingxiao Hall. When Shen Li arrived, she heard the Divine Lord speak about the attack on the Spirit Tribe five days ago. In that battle, the civilians of the Spirit Tribe suffered heavy casualties, ten generals were killed instantly, and countless other soldiers also fell. Even the Spirit Lord was seriously wounded and remained unconscious.

Hearing that this had happened five days ago and she was only now being informed, Shen Li couldn’t help but feel indignant. However, after thinking everything over carefully, she found the situation extremely suspicious. It seemed that the fire attack on the Immortal Realm was just a feint, and the real target was the Spirit Tribe. Shen Li softened her tone and immediately bid farewell to the Immortal Realm to return home.

Xing Zhi watched Shen Li’s departing figure with a deep sense of loss. Even though he knew he must not develop feelings for Shen Li, he found it beyond his control. When Shen Li returned to the Spirit Tribe, she was met with scenes of devastation. The few surviving soldiers were covered in bloodstains, making it heartbreaking to behold. The Spirit Lord lay unconscious on the sickbed.

The subordinates reported that the doctors had diagnosed the Spirit Lord as being poisoned by miasma. Shen Li saw a wound on the Spirit Lord’s neck, already purplish and yet long unhealed. The subordinates reported that only a little over three hundred enemies had attacked, but they possessed extraordinary strength. Though they looked no different from ordinary people, no blade could pierce their skin unless infused with spells.

Shen Li thought of the black-clothed figures she had encountered recently, who had attacked with mindless, puppet-like ferocity. It had already been five days, but the fallen generals had yet to be buried. According to the Spirit Tribe's tradition, soldiers must be buried before generals after a war. Shen Li mourned each fallen soldier one by one, recalling their smiles and voices from the past, feeling sorrowful beyond words.

Suddenly, she heard that Mo Fang had also been swallowed by the enemy during the battle. This news enraged her even more. She ordered the soldiers to search at all costs—living or dead, Mo Fang must be found. Besides that, she organized a grand memorial ceremony and swore to avenge them all. In the Dark Forest, Fu Sheng heard his subordinates report that even after scouring the Spirit Realm, they still had not found the Bihai Cangzhu.

Now that Shen Li had returned to the Spirit Tribe and the Spirit Lord had received an antidote to suppress the miasma poison, it would be much harder to launch another attack. Fu Sheng berated his subordinates for their incompetence. In the last battle, only a few puppets had been lost, which was insignificant. He planned to create even more puppets for a larger-scale assault.

To increase his power, Fu Sheng ordered his men to find some strong and robust young men for him to feed on. Fu Sheng’s true target was the Bihai Cangzhu. He speculated that the Spirit Lord had already handed the bead over to Shen Li. A full-scale assault would surely invite the master's rebuke, so Fu Sheng ordered his subordinates to keep the matter quiet and make preparations in secret.

Soon after, the Spirit Realm patrol reported that several black-clothed enemies from the last assault were moving straight toward Xu Tianyuan, committing atrocities along the way. The Spirit Tribe's generals, still grieving for their fallen comrades, were eager to launch a counterattack. However, Shen Li warned them not to act rashly, for the barrier of Xu Tianyuan would not be easily broken. This time, she would personally lead the forces to confront the invaders.

The residents living on the outskirts of Xu Tianyuan held a grand blessing ceremony for the Spirit Tribe’s generals. However, just as Shen Li set out, Xu Tianyuan was ambushed. Some villagers, terrified by the ghastly faces of the invaders, fled in panic. The clear skies were instantly covered by dark clouds. As the fiends closed in, and the villagers' lives hung by a thread, Shen Li led the Spirit Tribe's generals, arriving like the wind.

Wherever Shen Li’s spear pointed, the fiends were crushed into flesh and dust. A little boy, who had been wailing in despair moments ago, watched Shen Li descend, stepping on a red cloud, invincible and unstoppable, so awestruck that he even forgot the danger around him. Fu Sheng finally confronted Shen Li. This time, however, his palm was wounded by Shen Li’s attack, and he failed to gain the upper hand. Shen Li warned him that if he wanted to rampage through the Spirit Realm, he would first have to ask whether the weapon in her hand agreed.

Shen Li and Fu Sheng fought fiercely for several rounds. Fu Sheng used the Still Water Technique to summon towering waves in an attempt to drown Shen Li. However, Shen Li soared into the air and responded effortlessly. Seeing that the Still Water Technique posed no threat to her, Fu Sheng created even more puppets to drain Shen Li’s strength. The Still Water Technique was originally Xing Zhi’s formation.

Shen Li cursed Fu Sheng for overestimating himself and was about to finish him off when she suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure—Mo Fang! Fu Sheng addressed Mo Fang as Young Master and hoped to get his approval to kill Shen Li that day. Mo Fang, unable to bear it, urged Fu Sheng to withdraw immediately, but Fu Sheng stubbornly refused.

He kept persuading Mo Fang to prioritize the greater good, saying that the Bihai Cangzhu was within their grasp and that retreating now would ruin everything. Hearing their conversation, Shen Li felt a chill in her heart. After the Spirit Realm’s crushing defeat in the last war, her people had suspected a traitor among them. Now, it seemed beyond doubt that it was Mo Fang.

She had known Mo Fang for three hundred years, having shared countless life-and-death experiences and trusted him with her life. Yet now she discovered that he was a traitor who had committed countless crimes against their people—it was simply outrageous. Shen Li questioned Mo Fang whether he was aware of his guilt.

Mo Fang once again demanded that Fu Sheng retreat, but Fu Sheng instead bound Mo Fang with ropes and ordered the puppets to spare no effort in killing Shen Li. Fu Sheng mustered all his strength and forced Shen Li into the depths of the lake, then froze the entire surface, instructing his men to retrieve the Bihai Cangzhu once Shen Li’s presence disappeared from the lake. Fu Sheng had underestimated Shen Li.

Holding her breath and concentrating her spirit under the water, she finally shattered the barrier and leapt out successfully. She defeated Fu Sheng and Mo Fang together and was ready to punish the traitor. Holding her spear, she needed only one strike to erase Mo Fang from the world. But as memories of the past three hundred years flooded back, Shen Li found herself unable to strike ruthlessly.

Fu Sheng absorbed endless dark power, flooding his body with malevolent energy and greatly increasing his strength. Half the sky was already shrouded in dark clouds. Mo Fang, seeing through Fu Sheng’s scheme, desperately urged Shen Li to flee and told her to run southwest. Tears streamed down Shen Li’s face. At this point, she didn’t even know if she should still trust him.

As Fu Sheng closed in, Mo Fang struggled to drag Shen Li away, but they were ultimately a step too late. Shen Li’s heart was pierced by Fu Sheng’s black claw, and the Bihai Cangzhu began to churn violently inside her, as if it was about to be taken. Determined to perish with dignity, Shen Li forced out all the spiritual power within her body to die together with Fu Sheng. The Bihai Cangzhu was not taken away.

Fu Sheng was incinerated by raging flames, and Shen Li perished as she sacrificed herself. In her final moments, Shen Li’s mind conjured the image of Xing Zhi. Now that Fu Sheng had been eliminated, the Spirit Realm should be safe. The only thing she could not let go of was Xing Zhi. She longed to eat another meal of the rice he once cooked. Tears slowly slipped from the corners of her eyes and fell into the molten lava.

The Spirit Tribe’s general brought back Shen Li’s belongings. The Spirit Lord finally awakened, and the first thing she instructed upon waking was to forbid Shen Li from seeking revenge for the Spirit Realm. But when she saw the urn carried by General Shang Bei and heard the news that Shen Li was gone, she was overwhelmed with grief.

Now that Shen Li was no longer alive, the Spirit Lord ordered General Shang Bei to report to the Heavenly Lord in the Immortal Realm and cancel the marriage agreement. In recent days, Fu Rong Jun had frequently visited Lingxiao Hall to pay his respects, hoping to gather news about the Spirit Realm. After all, he had once crossed paths with Shen Li.

On the way, he happened to encounter General Shang Bei, who was dressed in mourning white, his expression filled with sorrow, making Fu Rong Jun realize that something serious had happened. In the Immortal Realm, upon hearing General Shang Bei’s report that Shen Li had died in battle at the Eastern Sea, Xing Zhi’s hand trembled slightly. He interrupted General Shang Bei, reminding him that no unverified information should be recklessly asserted.

General Shang Bei reconfirmed the news of Shen Li’s death, and Xing Zhi, enraged, immediately grabbed him by the neck, warning that speaking falsehoods would bring divine retribution. General Shang Bei admitted that they had not found a body. The vast Eastern Sea was shrouded in thick mist, making it impossible to search.

Now, with madness in his eyes, Xing Zhi bade farewell to the Heavenly Lord and rushed to the Eastern Sea, determined to search once more for the whereabouts of the King of Bicao.

Xing Zhi searched every corner of the Eastern Sea but ultimately did not find Shen Li. He only found a torn piece of red clothing, indicating that Shen Li had indeed met with misfortune. Xing Zhi’s heart felt as if it were being torn apart. Once, they had been able to be together, but he had suppressed his feelings, believing he bore the responsibility of safeguarding the Three Realms.

Yet when he truly lost her, he realized how deeply it hurt. If he could not even save the one he loved, how could he care for the world? Scene after scene of the past flashed before his eyes. He remembered that in the Immortal Realm, Shen Li had joked that ever since she met Xing Zhi, she always got injured in battles. If one day she were to die unexpectedly, she would definitely come back to hold him accountable.

At that time, Xing Zhi had looked into her eyes and said that when that day came, he would repay it with his own life. Now, it had come true. Xing Zhi defied fate, willing to sacrifice all his cultivation, even at the cost of suffering a backlash of spiritual power, just to bring the King of Bicao back. Xing Zhi froze tens of thousands of miles of the Eastern Sea, vowing to find even the faintest trace of spiritual power.

Meanwhile, the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea hurried to the Immortal Realm to complain. The Heavenly Lord, hearing that Xing Zhi was acting for Shen Li’s sake, could only helplessly advise him to calm down. Upon hearing that Xing Zhi had frozen the Eastern Sea, Fu Rong Jun immediately went to find him. When he saw Xing Zhi, he was shocked to see him covered in bloodstains.

Every time he had seen Xing Zhi before, he had always been composed and steady, but now it was clear that real feelings had been stirred. Xing Zhi also sighed that he had finally tasted the pain of backlash, and it was so utterly humiliating. Normally, he had not felt how vast the Three Realms were, yet now, faced with just the Eastern Sea, he could not find the person he was looking for.

After regaining a little clarity, Xing Zhi lifted the ice seal from the Eastern Sea. Fu Rong Jun carried the unconscious Xing Zhi back to the Immortal Realm. Now Xing Zhi was the only ancient deity remaining in the Immortal Realm and could not afford any mishap. The Heavenly Lord prayed that Xing Zhi could survive this ordeal and, once his body recovered, maintain a clear mind.

Hearing the Heavenly Lord’s words made Fu Rong Jun very uncomfortable, feeling that Shen Li had sacrificed herself for the safety of the Spirit Realm and that it was far too tragic. You Lan overheard Fu Rong Jun blaming himself for not having tried harder to court Shen Li back when they were in the mortal world. Perhaps if he had, Shen Li might have paid him more attention, and then Xing Zhi wouldn’t have had a chance.

This greatly piqued You Lan’s curiosity, and she pestered Fu Rong Jun to recount every detail he had witnessed in the Spirit Realm. However, at the critical moment, Fu Rong Jun stubbornly refused and swore he would take those memories to his grave. Desperate, You Lan knocked Fu Rong Jun unconscious with a stone and threw him into the Marrow-Cleansing Pool. Through the divine power of the pool, she glimpsed his memories.

What she saw left her full of sighs over the missed fate between Shen Li and Xing Zhi. Clearly, both of them cared deeply for each other, yet they could not bring themselves to face it. The Immortal Lord ordered You Lan to bring half of the Immortal Realm’s spirit stones to the Spirit Realm as a token of condolence. However, the people of the Spirit Realm surrounded You Lan, preparing to seek justice for Shen Li.

For generations, their Spirit Realm had guarded the Immortal Realm’s artifacts without complaint. Now that the King of Bicao had sacrificed herself, they could not accept this outcome and cared nothing for the spirit stones. Hearing the commotion outside, the Spirit Lord ordered her subordinates to calm the emotions of the Spirit Realm’s people. They had suffered heavy losses and now was the critical moment when they needed spirit stones, so they could not act emotionally.

After dismissing the guards, the Spirit Lord recalled raising Shen Li from a young age. Tears poured from her eyes. Though they were master and disciple, their bond was no less than that of mother and daughter.

Since the battle at the Eastern Sea, Mo Fang had been resisting allowing his body to be borrowed by Fu Sheng. Fu Sheng accused Mo Fang of forgetting his past. A thousand years ago, when Xing Zhi opened the Xu Tian Abyss and imprisoned their lord, it was Fu Sheng who secretly rescued the infant Mo Fang. Because Mo Fang was frail and sickly, Fu Sheng often nourished him with his own heart’s blood until Mo Fang grew up safely.

Fu Sheng then secretly sent him to the Spirit Realm to develop his abilities. Unexpectedly, after Mo Fang went to the Spirit Realm, he did everything he could to obstruct Fu Sheng’s plans. Fu Sheng had tried more than once to corrupt Mo Fang, turning his originally kind nature cold and even blurring his sense of right and wrong.

To help the Demon Clan break the seal, Mo Fang had repeatedly joined Fu Sheng in ambushing Spirit Clan generals who guarded the seal. They collected magical artifacts everywhere, amassing power in hopes of one day dominating the Xu Tian Abyss. No matter what Fu Sheng urged him to do, Mo Fang could consider it—except anything that would harm Shen Li. After being wounded by Shen Li’s Red Feather Spear, Mo Fang’s strength declined.

Seeing Mo Fang’s growing disobedience, Fu Sheng took advantage of his moment of weakness, launched a sneak attack from behind, and completely took over Mo Fang’s body, thereby controlling his mind. At this point, Mo Fang became a mere puppet. Shen Li was tightly bound to a Bagua Formation by Fu Sheng’s Qiankun Nails and iron chains. The enchanted wedges consumed part of her blood every day.

Also trapped was the third prince of the North Sea King, whose inner core Fu Sheng had seized, leaving him imprisoned. When the third prince heard Shen Li speak, he sighed that she had been unconscious here for three months. Over these three months, Shen Li, who had lost all five senses, gradually recovered three; except for sight and touch, the others were still usable.

Shen Li worried about the Spirit Realm, having heard that the Immortal Realm had already declared her fallen in battle. She feared that her comrades, her master, and even Rou Ya might be grieving too much. Fu Rong Jun had carried the unconscious Xing Zhi back to the Eastern Sea. Three months later, Xing Zhi awoke. Upon hearing that the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea had found Shen Li’s Red Feather Spear, he immediately got up to see it.

The weapon was still there, but its master remained missing, making Xing Zhi even more sorrowful as memories flooded back. Shen Li’s condition was very poor. She had no spiritual power at all, like an ordinary mortal. Surrounded by formations, she could not escape and had no choice but to focus on recovering. Fu Sheng, coveting the Bihai Cangzhu within her body, subjected her to intense daily refining, yet he still could not obtain it.

Now that he had seized Mo Fang’s body, he was even more desperate to see Shen Li, willing to do whatever it took to extract the Bihai Cangzhu. Though Shen Li could not see, she recognized Fu Sheng by his voice. She mocked him, saying that she had not understood the meaning of his name before—now she realized it meant surviving by stealing others’ bodies. She deliberately provoked him.

Hearing her words, the third prince shook his head repeatedly, reminding her not to anger Fu Sheng any further. However, Shen Li had never taken Fu Sheng seriously. She only worried that the Spirit Clan had lost too many elite warriors and could be vulnerable to another attack. She still hoped to find a way to get a message to the Immortal Realm so that they could send reinforcements to the Spirit Realm.

Seeing that Shen Li still refused to submit, Fu Sheng resorted to an even crueler method, piercing Shen Li’s body with numerous Soul-Devouring Needles. Such a vicious tactic was something only Fu Sheng would use. Shen Li shuddered violently, a sharp pain searing through her very soul.

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