Chapter 3: Interweaving

07 Jul, 2025

Chapter 3: Interweaving

It was unknown how many years had passed.

In the temple on Heavenspan Island.

This place was already packed with people. There were countless cultivators dressed in luxurious clothes, their expressions solemn. It was a grand and majestic sight.

Master Xue Hanzi wore a blood-colored robe that was embroidered with golden threads. He wore a gilded daoist cap on his head, and a golden dragon belt on his waist. He knelt at the foot of the stairs, his expression solemn, his eyes sharp.

At the top of the stairs was Daoist Heavenspan. His temples were already graying, and he held a magic scroll in his hand as he read aloud from it.

"Master Xue Hanzi drove the Arch-Emperor's army for millions upon millions of kilometers, and slew five heavenly kings. He is now a Dao Child of the East, and is now in charge of the eastern region."

Eyes warm, Daoist Heavenspan finished reading.

"Han'er," he said, "what other reward do you want? Master will fulfill it."

"Uh…" Master Xue Hanzi hesitated. He wasn't interested in being a Dao Child, or being in charge of the eastern region. The only thing he wanted…

Mustering his courage, he said, "Apprentice Xue Han wishes to become Daoist partners with Elder Sister Zhen Ling'er. Master, I hope you can grant me this wish!"

Zhen Ling'er stood off to the side of the stairs. When she heard Master Xue Hanzi's words, her heart skipped a beat, and her valiant face flushed a bit. Normally, she would act swiftly and decisively, but now, she looked a bit embarrassed.

"Ling'er, what do you think?" Daoist Heavenspan asked, looking over at Zhen Ling'er.

Blushing, Zhen Ling'er looked at Master Xue Hanzi affectionately, then clasped hands and bowed deeply to Daoist Heavenspan.

"I'll do as you say, Master."

Daoist Heavenspan laughed heartily.

"Very well!"

…

The word 'very well' was still echoing in the mind of the blood-colored giant.

Perhaps it had been the happiest moment of his life. Although he was riddled with wounds, and his blood was running dry, he couldn't stop the corners of his mouth from curling up into a smile.

It was as if that were the only thing that could comfort him in the midst of all his pain.

"You owe Daoist Heavenspan a debt of gratitude for recognizing your worth, and Zhen Ling'er is the love of your life. When the two of them collide, you must be in pain, right?"

The old man in black robes looked silently at the giant in front of him, and it seemed that there was only pity on his face.

“I... don’t owe anyone.”

The crimson giant was silent for a long time before speaking in a deep voice. In his mind, the scene that he didn't want to see the most appeared.

…

In the vast icy plains of the Northern Heavenspan Range.

The Humble Class was already flourishing like never before. Pavilions and towers covered in snow stretched as far as the eye could see.

At this moment, Xue Hanzi was sitting cross-legged on a jade platform in a huge ice palace. He was consolidating his newly comprehended cultivation method.

Zhen Ling'er, who was already dressed like a married woman, sat quietly beside Xue Hanzi to protect him.

After a long time.

Xue Hanzi slowly opened his eyes and looked at her.

"Senior Sister, you've been acting strange recently. Is there something on your mind?"

Zhen Ling'er pondered for a moment, then took a deep look at Xue Hanzi and said softly.

"Have you noticed that something is wrong with Master recently?"

Xue Hanzi didn't say anything. Although he was obsessed with cultivation, he could sense that Daoist Heavenspan's personality had changed a little. However, he didn't think much of it.

"Master is becoming colder and colder, but this coldness is making me feel uneasy." Zhen Ling'er did not hold anything back when it came to Xue Hanzi.

"Are you thinking too much?" Xue Hanzi looked at Zhen Ling'er.

"I hope so. Do you still remember the silver pearl I gave you previously?"

"Yes."

"It has a power that even Master can't detect. Keep it safe."

Zhen Ling'er looked at Xue Hanzi affectionately, her eyes filled with reluctance and reluctance. She seemed to know more, but she didn't tell Xue Hanzi.

…

A golden thunderbolt suddenly flashed across the sky. It was like a long blade that sliced the purple clouds in half. Following that, the roaring thunder pulled the blood-colored giant back to reality from the depths of his memories.

The golden thunderbolt was like the roar of Daoist Heavenspan. It was also like a merciless blade of fate that sliced Xue Hanzi's life into pieces.

At this moment, pain and conflict were written all over the giant's face. He felt a stabbing pain in his heart. He wanted to take a deep breath, but he felt like he was suffocating.

"In life, it seems that everyone has a few heart-wrenching memories. What's more painful is that you want to struggle with all your might, but you're powerless…"

"Just like this blood-colored rain, it was born from the heavens and falls to the earth. This is its destiny."

The black-robed old man spread out his hands, allowing the blood-colored rain to drip onto his palms. It then slid through the gaps between his fingers and onto the ground.

The giant didn't respond. His face was filled with bitterness. Although he was trying his best to suppress it, he couldn't help but recall that painful scene in his mind…

In the scene, it was the Humble North.

It was a vast ice field.

Blood was splattered all over the ground. It was especially glaring against the white snow.

The Humble North of Tripod City was experiencing an unprecedented catastrophe. It was reduced to ruins. It was as if the Heavenspan Daoist Sect was going to wipe the Humble North off the face of the Heavenspan Continent.

Above the ruins.

"You're sick, Ling'er," Master said, "But I don't blame you."

"Don't talk nonsense, Master. I, Zhen Ling 'er, am indebted to you for raising and teaching me. I've never regretted anything. I've risked my life for you. I fought the Arch-Emperor Dynasty, killed multiple heavenly kings, and drove them out of the Heavenspan River. But Master, what are you going to do to me?"

Up in the air, Daoist Heavenspan and Zhen Ling'er had completely severed ties. Master Xue Hanzi stood in front of his Elder Sister, facing his Master, feeling very conflicted.

On one side was his Master, whom he owed as much as a mountain. On the other side was the love of his life.

"Hanzi, your Elder Sister has been possessed by the discarnate soul of the Arch-Emperor. She's no longer her. Master has a way to restore her, and expel the discarnate soul of the Arch-Emperor. However, we can't delay things for too long. If we don't, we won't be able to reverse the situation!"

Daoist Heavenspan had a pained expression on his face, and his face was filled with the grief of a father.

"Don't believe him, Junior Brother. I'm still me. There's no such thing as possession. From the very beginning, he took us as apprentices with ulterior motives. He wanted us to cultivate the Undying Live Forever Technique because he wanted to turn us into Undying Live Forever Pills. That way, he could leave this world."

Don't be fooled! "Zhen Ling 'er was already seriously injured.

"Time is running out, Hanzi" Daoist Heavenspan said, looking at Zhen Ling'er with a sympathetic expression."

"Don't believe him, Junior Brother. His goal is your Undying Technique…"

"Hanzi, if we wait any longer, it'll be too late…"

"Junior Brother…"

"Hanzi…"

"…"

Countless voices, countless memories, were like wild beasts, burrowing into the mind of the giant on the surface of the Heavenspan River, tearing and tearing at it.

"Arghhhhh!"

Finally, the blood-colored giant couldn't hold back any longer. Letting out a bloodcurdling howl, it staggered backward, then tumbled down into the Heavenspan River. The icy water was bone-chilling, and the memories were even more so.

"Did you hesitate back then?" the black-robed old man asked, causing the giant to tremble violently."

Laughing bitterly, the blood-colored giant once again struggled to its feet in the middle of the Heavenspan River.

"I hesitated…"