The Master and His Wealthy Fiancée

The Lingyu over Jiangzhou was intercepted by the immense Blood Storage Array that blotted out the sky. An immense amount of Spiritual Qi coalesced into a crimson glow, mending the bodies of those who had died tragically.

Beneath the center of the Array, Chen Dong asked the question that was burning in his mind. "Why exactly are you looking for Li Wang? And why do you call her 'Fate'?"

At the mention of this question, the Corpse Dove clamped its beak shut with a wing, not daring to utter a sound.

"Since you've agreed to sacrifice your fortune, there's no harm in telling you."

You gazed up at the night sky and began to explain slowly, "Fate and I are not from this world. We come from the same place, a realm called the Floating Shadow Realm."

Chen Dong was stunned. 'In my memories, Li Wang was my sister from my past life, born of the same mother. How could she be from another world?'

"About 130,000 years ago, this world was teeming with Cultivators, and immortal masters were beyond number. For the sake of resources and conquest, they constantly invaded other worlds. It was during that time that Fate's and my homeland was invaded by this world..."

Chen Dong was appalled. 'This world was once that powerful?' he wondered. 'But now, Martial Artists can't even break through to the Profound Pill Realm.'

A flicker of sorrow appeared in You's eyes. "To this day, I can still remember every blade of grass and every tree in the Floating Shadow Realm... Although the Floating Shadow Realm was a major world in its own right, it was ultimately no match for this one in the war between realms. Fate and I were two of the twelve High Priests of the Floating Shadow Realm. We could not stand by and watch our people face a destiny of enslavement. During the final, decisive battle, Fate and I infiltrated this world. She was tasked with severing this world's Spiritual Qi, while I was tasked with destroying the Realm Passage."

At this, a smile touched You's lips. "Though Fate and I paid an irreversible price, we both succeeded. Fate's body and soul were corrupted by the Spirit Tide, so much so that even dissolving her mortal form was impossible. She had no choice but to enter this world's cycle of reincarnation. As for me, though I destroyed the Realm Passage, I suffered a severe backlash and could only use the Resurrection Technique to enter a deep slumber."

Chen Dong asked, "So, you're saying Li Wang is the reincarnation of Fate? Then what about the Spirit Tide? Didn't she already sever it?"

You replied calmly, "Spiritual Qi across the three thousand worlds is not static. Its ebb and flow follow a natural cycle. She could sever it for a time, but not forever. When the Spiritual Qi has been depleted for a full cycle, the Spirit Tide will naturally return."

"Then why did you cause this massive earthquake?" Chen Dong asked.

You pondered for a moment. "Very well, I might as well tell you. When the Spiritual Qi is depleted, this world curls in on itself, shrinking to a minuscule size. When the Spiritual Qi revives, it unfurls, revealing its true form. These ten colossal Earth Veins are its true form. I have merely brought them forth ahead of schedule!"

A flash of confusion crossed Chen Dong's eyes. "Ahead of schedule? What do you mean?"

The Corpse Dove cawed mockingly. "Ahead of schedule means what it says, you idiot!"

You continued to explain softly, "The eve of the Spirit Tide is like this endless drizzle, silently nurturing all things. The process of this world revealing itself would normally take about ten years. But I must completely unleash the Spirit Tide before the limits of the Celestial Dao are raised."

Chen Dong frowned. "So you're saying that these ten Earth Veins would have emerged slowly over ten years, without causing such a massive earthquake?"

You casually tore open a black rift and said, "Correct." Then, she stepped into it. "Until the Realm Passage opens, you must stay by my side. Let's go."

Before Chen Dong could react, a shadowy black light shot out and instantly yanked him into the rift.

「On a street about five kilometers from Li Manor」

Murong Qing trailed behind Li Huiran and her three companions, her lips pursed in a pout.

She grumbled inwardly about Li Huiran. 'This woman just used me and cast me aside. So cold and heartless.'

Li Huiran, walking at the head of the group, was also deeply conflicted. Along the way, Murong Qing had saved her several times. If it weren't for her, their group would have never made it this far.

The sight of three stunning beauties was a magnet for trouble. Even though it was the end of the world, some people had completely let themselves go.

'But every time Murong Qing saved me, she'd look at me with such desperate pleading in her eyes, and it makes me incredibly uncomfortable. If I really were Chen Dong's wife, I might have a moment of weakness and actually approve this match. But I have nothing to do with Chen Dong, so it's useless even if I agree. Besides, I need Murong Qing's help right now, so I don't dare tell her the truth.'

And so, her heart was a tangled mess of helplessness, guilt, and frustration.

Just as she was being consumed by this inner turmoil, a group of a dozen or so people approached in an orderly fashion.

Xiaoye instantly rushed to the front. The women's hearts lurched when they got a clear look at the newcomers. The people were dressed in matching light-gray uniforms, each emblazoned with the image of a giant serpent with a crimson mark on its head. It was the Illusory Sect, a group that had recently gained much notoriety.

In an apocalyptic landscape such as this, religion often wielded an unprecedented level of influence.

Li Huiran had no idea just how powerful Murong Qing was, or if she would stand a chance against the Illusory Sect.

Before she could even begin to strategize, the actions of the Illusory Sect members left her utterly stunned.

To her shock, the group began to chant, their eyes filled with fanatical fervor, "All things in this world are illusory; only our Lord is real!" Then, they dropped to their knees and performed a grand kowtow directly in front of the women, shouting, "We respectfully greet the Mother of My Lord!"