Chapter Seventeen: What Is Love, Heaven’s Destruction Returns

Overlooking the river of time, Chen Xing witnessed every stage in the history of this world’s birth from chaos. Much like the genesis of many worlds, this one too had its own child of destiny: Extinguish Heaven.

But unlike the world of Pangu, Extinguish Heaven did not seek to open the heavens by choice. As a primordial god-demon, he tore open the boundless chaos during a fierce battle, unleashing his divine power, and thus created a great world.

To the god-demons, this world was unnecessary. Yet, during that cataclysmic war, Extinguish Heaven’s beloved perished unexpectedly, leaving behind only a sliver of true spirit, which was then reborn into this newly formed world.

For Extinguish Heaven, who valued this love above all, the loss was unbearable. In his rage, despite his grievous wounds, he slaughtered all the god-demons, but could not restore the one he loved.

Powerless to change fate, he could only, wounded and weary, hold apart the collapsing heavens to ensure his beloved’s true spirit might one day be reborn.

Eons passed. In accordance with the rules set by the Great Dao, Extinguish Heaven ultimately perished, his body dissolving into the world, much as Pangu’s had. But unlike Pangu, whom Chen Xing had once saved, Extinguish Heaven truly fell.

Yet this world was oddly different from all other great realms.

In other realms, there were worlds of technology, cultivation, gods and demons—no matter their path, all followed the arc from weakness to strength, to their glorious peak, then slowly declined as spiritual energy faded, arts were lost, and the world tumbled towards destruction—this was the evolution of the Dao.

But this world lacked the powerful treasures of the Primordial Age, had no world-shattering cultivation techniques, and even lacked formidable physiques.

Yet, after countless ages of evolution, because the world’s creator, Extinguish Heaven, was consumed by longing for his beloved, the beings of this world developed an uncanny ability: their very emotions became their path to enlightenment.

Every living soul in this world was unwaveringly loyal to their partner. Through endless generations, there had never been betrayal among lovers. Thus, the natives called this place the Realm of Passion.

To Chen Xing, this was astonishing. Having experienced a world like Earth, where divorce was as casual as a child’s game and one-night stands were commonplace, this seemed utterly inconceivable.

Under such circumstances, this world should at most be considered a minor realm, for it was almost impossible for a sage-level expert to arise here.

Yet, things took an unexpected turn. Some beings, struck by the loss of their beloved, underwent an even stranger transformation—their divine senses expanded explosively, allowing them to manifest their partners anew, resurrected by faith alone. These mutants did not need to cultivate; their power instantly reached the quasi-sage level of the Primordial Age, with no need to advance step by step, and without hierarchy—they simply achieved quasi-sainthood and attained immortality.

As long as these mutants lived, so too did their beloved.

This defied the laws of the Great Dao. Helpless, the Dao gave birth to the World’s Will to deal with these people, choosing to no longer intervene directly. The Dao presumed that, even with quasi-saintly power, these mutants were as ants before the World’s Will.

And so, in the struggle between the World’s Will and the united resistance of the people, the conflict lasted hundreds of thousands of years.

To the Dao’s surprise, after all those aeons, the World’s Will not only failed to triumph, but was moved by the people’s devotion, ultimately wishing to break free of the Dao’s constraints alongside them. The Dao should have simply destroyed this world and brought about its end.

But even the heartless World’s Will was moved by the people—how could the inherently sentimental Dao bear to destroy what felt like its own child, unless absolutely necessary?

Bound by loyalty to the Lord of Primordial Chaos, the Dao dared not help the people of the Passion Realm, so it summoned Chen Xing.

Knowing all this, Chen Xing was troubled. If he were still the old Lord of Primordial Chaos, he would have set the world-ending catastrophe in motion. But now, it was his own consciousness guiding the Lord’s will.

To Chen Xing, this world was nearly perfect: no conflict among beings, people cherished feelings, and though mutants with quasi-saintly might had emerged, and saints would appear in the future, all developed in harmony. There were no apocalyptic wars, nor any so-called villains. It was truly unique among the myriad worlds.

Even a heartless World’s Will could be swayed by the path of emotion; perhaps this path was not without merit.

After a long silence, Chen Xing said helplessly to the Dao, “You know, I have severed my past. I am no longer able to treat the beings of the worlds with cold indifference. I imagine you too do not wish to destroy the world you have protected for countless years. Return to my true self.”

Hearing this, the Dao bowed low and remained silent.

Chen Xing waved his hand, saying, “I do not blame you this time. But if you wish to preserve this world, it must be demoted to a middle realm, its rank reduced. Are you willing?”

Upon hearing this, the Passion Realm’s Dao, whose heart had been unmoved for billions of years, was deeply shaken. He had thought not only would the Passion Realm face annihilation, but he himself would be erased upon returning to the true self. He did not expect such a turn of fate. He prostrated himself in gratitude: “Thank you, Lord Dao, for your mercy!”

With a sigh, Chen Xing said, “It is not just my softness. You know, since my rebirth, my heart remains incomplete. This world may help refine my nature. Let it serve as compensation for you and your world. You must understand, once this world’s rank is lowered, there will be no realm above the Great Principle. Even the current quasi-sages will fall in rank.”

The Dao replied respectfully, “Lord Dao, your mercy is boundless. The people of the Passion Realm care not for such things. All shall follow your will.”

Shaking his head, Chen Xing transformed into a towering giant, reaching out to grasp the chaos. A stream of ominous blackness, chilling to behold, flowed into his palm as the chaos returned to its original misty gray.

The blackness drawn from the chaos gathered in Chen Xing’s hand, gradually forming a giant about a hundred feet tall, who slumbered in his palm.

“Awaken!” Chen Xing’s voice echoed through the chaos. The giant slowly opened his eyes, and upon seeing Chen Xing’s immense form, felt an inexplicable sense of closeness. He turned and knelt in Chen Xing’s palm, crying out, “Father God!” A wave of sorrow spread through the chaos.

Sensing the sorrow emanating from the giant, Chen Xing sighed and spoke gently, “Extinguish Heaven, I have gathered your lingering resentment to restore you to the world. Do you know why?”

This giant was in fact the last remnant of Extinguish Heaven’s unresolved resentment, transformed into the black chaos that guarded his lover’s reincarnated soul.

“Father God, I have no more attachments. You should not trouble yourself on my behalf,” the giant replied with hopeless resignation.

“Do you not wish to see your beloved again?” Chen Xing teased, observing the dejected Extinguish Heaven in his hand.

“Only a wisp of Divine Lotus’s soul remains in this world. There is no cycle of reincarnation here; even if she is reborn, she will not be Divine Lotus any longer.”

Extinguish Heaven’s only desire was to become the black chaos and guard her, lifetime after lifetime, in peace. That was enough for him. Divine Lotus was the beloved lost to Extinguish Heaven.

At this, the scholar-like Dao beside them could not help but let out a soft laugh, but quickly composed himself upon recalling Chen Xing’s presence.

Chen Xing shot him a glance, then turned back, half-smiling at Extinguish Heaven.

Feeling ill at ease under Chen Xing’s gaze, Extinguish Heaven suddenly had a flash of realization. Bowing low, he pleaded, “Father God! I do not know who you are, but I know you can save Divine Lotus. If you bring her back, I am willing to burn myself to ashes in gratitude!” He kowtowed repeatedly.

Chen Xing sighed, finally understanding why the people of this world cherished love so deeply. With such an ancestor, such devotion would be passed down in the blood.

How different this was from the Primordial World, where every being schemed and preyed on the weak. There, people grew indifferent to love and forsook morality, yet the world advanced steadily, driven by ambition alone.

The Passion Realm could only ever be a paradise apart from the world, unable to contend with other great worlds, for they cared too much for emotion to survive against ruthless cultivators who would stop at nothing to achieve their goals.

Suddenly, an idea struck Chen Xing—a perfect solution to the problem. He quickly sent his new plan via spiritual voice to the scholar-like Dao.

Upon hearing it, the Dao grew excited. No longer caring for composure, he prostrated himself before Chen Xing, exclaiming, “If this can be done, it will be the realm’s great fortune, worthy of your expectations!”

Extinguish Heaven, witnessing the Dao’s joy, was bewildered: he was begging for his beloved’s return, so what was this fellow up to?

Having made his decision, Chen Xing turned to Extinguish Heaven. “I will bring back your beloved, but from now on, you may only live as a mortal in this world. Are you willing?”

Extinguish Heaven was overjoyed, bowing again and again. “I am willing—thank you, Father God, for your grace.”

Seeing this man give up his world-shaking power just for his beloved, Chen Xing was speechless.

“I will establish the Six Paths of Reincarnation in this realm. Though you will henceforth be mortal, I grant you and your beloved the right to reincarnate together, lifetime after lifetime, with your memories intact. Consider this your due reward for having created this world.”

Extinguish Heaven was ecstatic; this was a form of immortality. At last, he and Divine Lotus would have a happy ending. He bowed once more, then withdrew to await Chen Xing’s magic.

Without another word, Chen Xing beckoned, and a twelve-colored lotus flew from the Passion Realm. He touched its heart with a single finger, and the lotus shattered, its fragments slowly forming a graceful figure in the void. Extinguish Heaven was overcome with excitement, his gaze locked upon the form.

When the figure finally took shape, there, floating in the void with her eyes gently closed, was a beauty of incomparable grace and charm…