Stop pretending, the fake heiress is actually a master of metaphysics.

Time flows differently in the secret realm than in the outside world. A moment in the secret realm is nothing compared to nearly half a month in the outside world.

Some people were busy counting heads, recording identities and names, and handing out towels, water, and food; the scene was chaotic for a time.

The disciples of Lingyun Sect were also brought out.

Staring blankly at the unfamiliar world outside.

Zhou Xiao and the others hugged each other, completely ignoring the rain on their bodies, crying and laughing at the same time.

Apart from……

Shen Nian.

"Has Master Shen not come out yet?"

Someone asked anxiously.

"no."

In the secret realm.

Shen Nian picked up her pen for what felt like the umpteenth time, attempting to rewrite Gu Qiwen's destiny.

dead.

dead.

dead.

No matter how she tried to change it, it seemed she couldn't alter Gu Qiwen's destiny.

There must be a way...

There must be a way!

Shen Nian swallowed the blood in her throat and stared intently at the fate chart that was completely filled with death.

-

A month later.

One month is the time agreed upon between the Xuanmen Guild and its superiors.

The victims have all been taken to the nearest hospital in the town for treatment.

Only members of the Xuanmen Guild and a portion of the army remained in the desert.

They guarded the entrance to the secret realm day and night.

However, even after the agreed-upon one-month period had passed, there was still no sign of the entrance to the secret realm.

Wang Jingxing looked in the direction of the entrance and sighed deeply.

Someone hesitated and asked, "Mr. Wang, are we... leaving today?"

Wang Jingxing took a deep breath: "Wait a little longer. It's not twelve o'clock yet."

The desert experiences extreme temperature differences between day and night. During the day, the desert is incredibly hot, while at night it can feel frigid.

Wang Jingxing sighed.

Time passed by, second by second.

At twelve o'clock, the mechanical watch clicked.

He waved his hand, indicating that he could leave.

However, just as everyone was preparing to leave...

Two figures suddenly appeared at the entrance to the previously deserted secret realm.

Wang Jingxing was taken aback.

I felt like all the blood in my body was flowing backwards.

"Quick...quick, go check if he's alright!"

The accompanying doctor immediately brought over a stretcher and checked the two people's vital signs.

The two were in very poor condition, almost as if they had been pulled out of a pool of blood.

The vital signs were very weak.

But it does exist.

They must be rescued as soon as possible.

Wang Jingxing felt his fingers trembling as he dialed the number.

"...Prepare a helicopter to take off overnight, heading towards...the provincial capital, and apply for a flight route..."

In a daze, Shen Nian seemed to hear the voices of many people.

But she was just too tired.

She explored almost every possibility in the Heavenly Book, navigating countless branches of cause and effect, before finally managing to save Gu Qiwen.

Seriously, I'm so tired.

The secret realm is isolated from the outside world, so when altering fate, it can affect those who are unrelated to it to the least extent.

So she cut off the life of the secret realm, sent everyone away, and walked through countless threads of fate alone.

at last……

She finally found the possibility that Gu Qiwen could survive.

Shen Nian fell into a long dream.

In my dreams, I still return to the Guili Sect.

Her master stood in front of her and reached out to pat her head.

"You did a great job."

The Taoist priest in gray robes said with a smile.

"Master."

Shen Nian frantically grabbed his hand: "Where are you?"

The Taoist laughed twice: "I'm no longer in that little world."

He took Shen Nian's hand and led her to the highest point of the Guili Sect, overlooking the thousands of lights below.

Shen Nian asked, "Then how can I find you?"

"Is it to ascend to immortality?"

"Yes."

The Taoist patted her on the shoulder: "On the day you ascend to immortality, your master will come to fetch you."

"Below the Immortal Realm, there are nine thousand great worlds, divided into the upper three thousand, the middle three thousand, the lower three thousand, and countless small worlds."

"The world you live in is just one of countless smaller worlds."

"Some small worlds practice technology, some practice martial arts, and in some small worlds, cultivators are not called cultivators, but magicians... and so on."

"Most of these smaller worlds have severed ties with the larger world and gone their own way, just like the world you live in, which no longer worships gods or Buddhas."

"These worlds have their own paths, but they are no longer suitable for cultivators to live in. That's why one needs to cultivate diligently and ascend to the upper realms."

"But……"

Shen Nian said, "My Dao heart is destroyed. Can I... continue on this path?"

Moreover, this world doesn't believe in gods or Buddhas, and faith is waning. How can she possibly transcend tribulations and ascend to immortality?

The Taoist looked at her gently, and after a long while, he slowly said, "Your Taoist heart has not been destroyed."

"The Path of Ruthlessness may seem to be heartless and devoid of all human emotions, but in reality, it is only the first stage of the Path of Ruthlessness."

"You don't know that there is affection, so you talk about peace without affection? You've only just entered the realm of 'affection'."

"Once you truly understand the realm of 'sentient beings,' you will be able to control your seven emotions and six desires at will, and everything will be according to your own will."

Shen Nian paused for a moment.

"Put yourself in a desperate situation...and then you'll survive?"

The Taoist priest said gently, "The principles are all interconnected."

Shen Nian said again, "But I still don't understand what I should do."

"No need to rush, just let things take their natural course."

"In this life, you are not the senior sister of the Guili Sect. You can treat yourself as no different from ordinary people, do whatever you want, become whatever you want, accept your feelings, and live a good life in this world... I believe that once you understand 'sentient beings,' the day when you break through the shackles and ascend to the upper realm will not be far away."

"Then what about the Heavenly Dao of this realm...?"

Shen Nian had an epiphany about cultivation and then turned to ask about the Heavenly Dao here.

The Taoist slowly said, "A thousand years ago, I was entrusted by the upper realm to monitor the operation of the Heavenly Dao in the lower realm and to find cultivators with exceptional talent to bring to the upper realm."

"It was at that time that we discovered that the Heavenly Dao of many small worlds had developed self-awareness and were no longer willing to be observed and disturbed by the greater world."

"Just like this world today, it has embarked on its own path. The way of Heaven is to drive away the examiners from the upper realm, which is me."

"In truth, it was my fault that I harmed you and your fellow disciples."

Shen Nian shook her head, tears welling up before she could speak.

"After that, the spiritual energy declined, and the immortal sects went into seclusion, which was also the work of the Heavenly Dao. However, back then, the Heavenly Dao used those major sects to destroy my Guili Sect, but was instead blackmailed by them."

"Therefore, the Heavenly Dao of this place preserved the last secret realm in the world, allowing people to cultivate in seclusion. However, the elders and sect leaders of those major sects either lacked talent or had impure hearts. In short, over the years, their disciples have perished one by one, and even those who find their way back to the next life are few and far between."

"Perhaps unwilling to see the immortal sects perish, or for other reasons, they searched extensively among ordinary people for potential cultivators, bringing them into secret realms for nurturing. Unfortunately, the Heavenly Dao, which previously did not tolerate interference from the upper realms, will not tolerate the disobedience of sects in this realm now."

"The appearance of that blood corpse must be the work of Heaven."

It wasn't bait laid by the Lingyun Sect.

They weren't particularly clever, but they weren't stupid enough to provoke us openly.

"Why is Heaven still preventing me from attacking them?"

The Taoist priest smiled and said, "It can hardly be called obstruction."

"Giving you heavenly lightning is to allow you to advance to a higher level."

"As for the wordless heavenly book... that belongs to the upper realm. Whether it is used before the Heavenly Dao of this realm or used to annihilate the last immortal sect of this realm, the Heavenly Dao still needs to do something."

"You saved your senior brother's life with the Heavenly Book, which should already be an act of mercy from Heaven, giving him a last chance to live. After this, unless you are truly powerless, do not use the divine artifacts again. When you ascend to the Upper Realm, I will officially take back these two divine artifacts."

Shen Nian nodded, then suddenly realized something: "Master... are you leaving?"

The Taoist priest did not reply.

He simply touched her hair one last time, and then disappeared into a warm white light.

Shen Nian opened her eyes.

Hearing someone exclaim:

"Master Shen is awake! Quickly, go and call the doctor!"