Chapter 1495: Taking You Along the Roads Once Traveled

When the armies of the Heavens were defeated and retreated, the final outcome instantly spread to every corner, triggering a massive uproar and widespread panic.

The Third God was defeated, her divine essence absorbed by the Saint God. The Saint God is now undergoing a metamorphosis, and once complete, its power will become even more formidable. Who in the Heavens could possibly contend with it then? It could be said without exaggeration that when the Saint God awakens from its metamorphosis, it will mark the end for all living beings in the Heavens.

This outcome plunged the beings of the Heavens into terror and disarray, and subsequently, the order of the entire Heavens began to crumble. The Returning Ruins Temple did its best to maintain order in the Heavens, but an atmosphere of despair and pessimism permeated not only the Heavens but also within the temple itself. Even some of its Saints lost all hope, and with their hope extinguished, they fell into utter despondency.

Faced with this situation, Cang Yuan, Jin Luo, and the other two Ancient Venerables were helpless. They could only try their best to adjust their mindset and then advise the other Saints of the Returning Ruins Temple. Regardless of the circumstances, as the Heavens' last bastion, the Returning Ruins Temple had to shoulder its essential responsibilities. However, confronted by the harsh reality, even though the four Ancient Venerables strove with all their might to stabilize the situation, it only left them increasingly exhausted. The entire Heavens grew increasingly chaotic.

About a month had passed by the time Yaoyao returned to the Cangxuan Heaven with Zhou Yuan. She immediately went to the Great Zhou Dynasty. Inside the royal palace, Zhou Qing and Qin Yu burst into tears at the sight of Zhou Yuan, standing silently before them, his eyes vacant. They had never imagined that their son, once so full of confidence and vitality, would now be reduced to such a state. This dealt a severe blow to both of them.

“Uncle Zhou, Aunt Qin... I'm so sorry. It's all my fault that Zhou Yuan is like this.” Watching their grief-stricken expressions, Yaoyao's eyes filled with tears, and she knelt before them. Tears streamed down Qin Yu's face, but she stepped forward to help Yaoyao up, reaching out to caress her somewhat thin cheek. She choked out, “Yaoyao, it's not your fault. Those things were beyond your control. Your return, at least, is a comfort.” Tears also trickled down Yaoyao's cheeks as she said, “Aunt Qin, please don't worry. I will definitely help Zhou Yuan recover.”

Qin Yu nodded, then wiped away Yaoyao's tears, forcing a smile. “You can't call me Aunt Qin anymore,” she said. “You and Zhou Yuan are married, after all.” Yaoyao froze for a moment, then a faint blush crept onto her fair, jade-like face. Gathering her courage, she whispered, “Mother.” Gazing at the girl, usually as cool and ethereal as a banished immortal, now appearing so charming, even Qin Yu, a woman herself, couldn't help but feel a touch of awe. This softened some of her sadness. She thought to herself, how perfect it would be if Zhou Yuan were there, smiling as he watched this scene. For that, Qin Yu would even willingly give her life.

“My dear child.” Qin Yu took a gilded phoenix jade hairpin from her robes and used it to coil Yaoyao's dark hair. The jade hairpin complemented Yaoyao's fair skin, making both the person and the accessory radiate beauty. “From now on, you are truly a daughter of our Zhou family,” Qin Yu said with a smile. Upon hearing this, Yaoyao reached out her small hand and gently clasped Zhou Yuan's, who stood motionless beside her like a statue. Then, she shyly nodded her head towards Qin Yu. The more Qin Yu looked at her, the more endeared she became, and for a moment, her grief-stricken heart felt a little lighter, though she knew it was merely a temporary distraction from her sorrow.

Just then, a palace maid reported that Cang Yuan and the other three Ancient Venerables had arrived. Clearly, they had sensed Yaoyao's return and had come immediately to ascertain the situation. Zhou Qing glanced at Yaoyao, and upon her nod, instructed his people to usher in all four Ancient Venerables. The four Ancient Venerables—Cang Yuan, Jin Luo, Dilong, and Chiji—entered the hall. Their gazes immediately fixed on Zhou Yuan, who stood utterly still, his eyes blank and devoid of life.

“Yaoyao, what has happened to Zhou Yuan?” Cang Yuan asked, his brows furrowed with worry. “The vessel for his divine essence was shattered,” Yaoyao explained simply. “His divinity and humanity are clashing, causing him to lose control of his body.” “When can he recover?” Ancient Venerable Jin Luo inquired. “That depends,” Yaoyao replied, shaking her head slightly. “The Saint God has been in its metamorphosis for a month now,” Ancient Venerable Jin Luo said with a bitter smile. “The Heavens are in disarray, and the Returning Ruins Temple is barely holding on.”

Yaoyao's beautiful face remained cool and detached, clearly showing little interest in the matter. At that moment, her sole focus was on Zhou Yuan's recovery; she had no desire to concern herself with the state of the Heavens. However, if the Saint God were to destroy the Heavens, Great Zhou City would inevitably fall as well. For the sake of Zhou Yuan, Qin Yu, and Zhou Qing, Yaoyao stated, “The Saint God's metamorphosis will still require some time. The final seal Zhou Yuan applied will significantly slow down its transformation.” The four Ancient Venerables nodded. This was, at best, mildly comforting news, though it merely postponed the inevitable.

“Yaoyao, is there truly no hope left for the Heavens to contend with the Saint God?” Ancient Venerable Chiji asked, her voice tinged with hesitation. Silence fell over the hall, all eyes fixed on Yaoyao. Yaoyao remained silent for a moment, then finally said, “Who can truly say what the future holds? If it genuinely cannot be resisted, then the Heavens' destiny will simply have run its course.” Hearing this, the four Ancient Venerables could only offer bitter smiles. After a few more brief exchanges, they voluntarily departed.

For a period afterward, Yaoyao stayed with Zhou Yuan in the royal palace. They revisited all the places they had once frequented in the city, Yaoyao hoping these familiar surroundings might reawaken Zhou Yuan's humanity. However, a month passed, and Zhou Yuan's eyes remained blank, utterly devoid of emotion.

But Yaoyao did not give up. After consulting with Zhou Qing and Qin Yu, she took Zhou Yuan and left the Great Zhou Dynasty, following the path they had once traveled. Years ago, after leaving the Great Zhou Dynasty, they had followed this very route, journeying towards the Cangxuan Heaven. However, the youth back then was brimming with vigor, confidence, and vitality. He had embarked on their remarkable journey, accompanied by the cool, quiet girl and the playful, cunning little beast. But now, that youth was no longer young. He had endured countless trials, rising from obscurity to become one of the most formidable experts in the Heavens. Yet now, he was like a stone statue, devoid of any emotional stirrings, a puppet allowing the girl to lead him slowly forward. Only Tun Tun, having reverted to its original small beast form, rolled ahead, scouting the path.

As they exited the territory of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Yaoyao spotted three familiar figures ahead: two women and a man. They were Su Youwei, Wu Yao, and Zhao Mushen. Su Youwei, in a purple dress, resembled a delicate purple orchid swaying gently in the wind, exuding enchanting grace. Wu Yao, in a vibrant red dress, possessed a spirited yet sharp aura, like a thorny rose. Zhao Mushen wore a black shirt, his expression complex.

Su Youwei approached, her beautiful eyes filling with sorrow as she gazed at the puppet-like Zhou Yuan. She then softly asked, “May I try to speak with him?” Yaoyao did not refuse. She led Zhou Yuan to sit beneath the shade of a nearby grove and carefully tidied his somewhat disheveled clothes. Su Youwei watched from the side, observing that Yaoyao must have been doing her utmost to care for Zhou Yuan recently. Though not naturally adept at nurturing others, Yaoyao had undoubtedly become far more vibrant than her previously detached self.

After settling Zhou Yuan, Yaoyao voluntarily moved a short distance away. Su Youwei then sat beside Zhou Yuan and softly began to speak, recounting their past encounters, some of her stories, and... the heartfelt sentiments a girl had suppressed for many years.

The setting sun dipped low in the sky, casting a deep red glow across the land. In this secluded corner, the girl in purple whispered to the man beneath the tree's shade. Not far off, the beautiful girl in white quietly gazed up at the sky, while the girl in red leaned against a tree trunk, arms crossed, with unreadable emotions flickering in her narrow, phoenix-like eyes. Further in the distance, the man in black stood on one leg, carefully maintaining his balance, allowing the small beast named Tun Tun to lazily tug at his hair from atop his head. It was a singularly beautiful scene, of course, provided the man beneath the tree's shade could once again flash his brilliant smile as he used to.

As only a sliver of the setting sun remained on the horizon, Su Youwei stood up, helping Zhou Yuan to his feet as well. Her eyes were red-rimmed, filled with self-reproach and sorrow. Yaoyao approached and whispered, “Don't worry, I will make him well.” “Thank you for your efforts, Sister Yaoyao,” Su Youwei said, nodding. Yaoyao said no more. She took Zhou Yuan's hand and slowly led him onward, while Tun Tun, without a moment's hesitation, hopped off Zhao Mushen's wistful and reluctant head, continuing to scout the path ahead. Su Youwei watched the figures of the man, woman, and beast recede into the distance. As the last rays of the setting sun touched her cheek, tears suddenly streamed down her face.

“You could have gone with them,” Wu Yao said, appearing beside her. Su Youwei shook her head, wiped away her tears, and softly replied, “No. This is their journey; I cannot intrude. As long as I can see him recover, nothing else matters.” Wu Yao sighed softly, shrugging off the thought. The end of the Heavens was fast approaching anyway; once everything was annihilated, there would be no more such complications.

After parting ways with Su Youwei, Yaoyao and Zhou Yuan continued along their former path. These familiar routes were filled with memories of the past. Those beautiful scenes continually resurfaced from the depths of her mind, extraordinarily vivid.

They arrived at Saint Remains City, which had been rebuilt. However, with the impending apocalypse of the Heavens, the city was in a state of unrest. So, Yaoyao only stayed with Zhou Yuan on the city wall for a short time before leaving Saint Remains City and heading to the Saint Remains Land, located far outside the city. Years ago, it was here that Zhou Yuan met Patriarch Cang Xuan, thus beginning a new chapter. Over the years, the Saint Remains Land had become a renowned training ground. The mere allure of it being the place where the Cangxuan Heaven Lord once obtained his fortuitous encounter was enough to draw countless talents from across the Cangxuan Heaven. Yaoyao went directly to the deepest part of the Saint Remains Land, the very place where Patriarch Cang Xuan's wisp of imprint had once dissipated. However, years had passed, and nothing remained. Even someone as powerful as Yaoyao now could not retrieve what was lost. So Yaoyao led Zhou Yuan to that spot and sat silently with him in the mountains for two days before finally departing.

After leaving the Saint Remains Land, they made their way to the Saint Continent. However, this continent, once the heart of the Cangxuan Heaven, had long since shattered, its fragments now dispersed. But Yaoyao didn't shy away from the effort. She visited every single place she and Zhou Yuan had once been, leading him through them all without missing a single one. Time slowly slipped by during this journey, and in the blink of an eye, three months had passed. For three months, Yaoyao took Zhou Yuan to every place they had ever visited. Yet, Zhou Yuan remained unresponsive, still like a puppet.

Thus, after three months of traversing countless corners of the Cangxuan Heaven, Yaoyao finally arrived with Zhou Yuan before the mountain gate of the Cangxuan Sect.