Mu Xuanling didn’t sleep; she just kept lying there. Xie Xuechen asked her why she wasn’t sleeping—was she worried about him? Mu Xuanling denied it, saying it was impossible. Xie Xuechen mentioned that he planned to revisit the Changsheng Lotus the next day and told Mu Xuanling not to go, fearing it might be dangerous. Xie Xuechen added that if he were to die, the thread of fate binding them would automatically break, to which Mu Xuanling responded sarcastically, saying he should have just said so.
The next day, the two of them returned to the place where the Changsheng Lotus grew. There, they encountered Fengxiang Zunzhe again. However, Fengxiang Zunzhe did not seem to remember them and repeated the same words from the previous day. Xie Xuechen speculated that Fengxiang Zunzhe might have lost her past memories.
The two briefly conversed with Fengxiang Zunzhe and mentioned their intention to obtain the lotus seed core. Fengxiang Zunzhe urged them to leave immediately. The pair hid behind a tree to observe her. When Mu Xuanling made a noise, Xie Xuechen hurriedly pulled her back, fearing that Fengxiang Zunzhe would hear. However, when they turned to look again, Fengxiang Zunzhe had disappeared. Xie Xuechen remarked that if she were nearby, there should be spiritual energy, but none was present. They assumed that Fengxiang Zunzhe had left and decided to track her.
Eventually, they saw Fengxiang lying atop a large rock. The two speculated that if she had consumed the lotus seed, the core should still be nearby. Just as they prepared to approach and search, blue light began emanating from around Fengxiang.
Suddenly, Qian Guangjun emerged from her body. Startled, Mu Xuanling asked if the figure before her was a person or a ghost. Xie Xuechen immediately recognized Qian Guangjun. Qian Guangjun asked how Xie Xuechen had identified him. Xie Xuechen explained that historical records noted that Qian Guangjun and Fengxiang Zunzhe practiced cultivation together as Dao companions. Xie Xuechen said he had suspected it upon seeing Fengxiang Zunzhe, but never expected to meet Qian Guangjun in person. Qian Guangjun remarked that six thousand years had passed, and if not for their reminder, he wouldn’t even know what year it was.
Xie Xuechen asked Qian Guangjun if Fengxiang Zunzhe had entered a cycle after consuming the Changsheng Lotus. Qian Guangjun confirmed this. He explained that Fengxiang woke every morning at sunrise in the same spot but forgot everything by sunset. Mu Xuanling noted that while Fengxiang had lived for six thousand years, it was only a single day from her perspective. Qian Guangjun said that this was the price for immortality, which so many desired. He recounted that someone had previously used dark magic in pursuit of eternal life. Fengxiang didn’t immediately gain immortality after consuming the lotus but first entered a restricted magical domain.
Qian Guangjun explained that to break the seal on a cultivator’s Dharma body, one had to endure the reverse winds of thirty-eight thousand paths and climb to the top of a lofty ladder, facing countless hardships, to meet the Supreme Deity of the Wheel Mirror. The deity, who belonged to the divine race, said they were waiting for someone who might not even be human. Mu Xuanling expressed skepticism, noting that the divine race was said to be suppressed beneath the Abyss of Molten Fire, leading to the birth of the dark race. She wondered why the divine race, which had abandoned humanity, would still exist. Qian Guangjun affirmed the deity’s immense power and questioned what else they could be if not divine. He revealed that he and Fengxiang were mutually fond of each other.
However, neither had confessed their feelings, and they missed their chance. Qian Guangjun lost track of Fengxiang, searching for a long time before finding her in her current state. He also consumed the Changsheng Lotus to stand before the Supreme Deity of the Wheel Mirror, hoping to stay by Fengxiang’s side. As a result, he became Fengxiang’s shadow, accompanying her and only able to appear at night.
Xie Xuechen asked Qian Guangjun for a lotus seed, explaining that he wanted to save someone suffering from the effects of consuming Enlightened Heart Water. Qian Guangjun handed over a lotus seed. Mu Xuanling consumed it and regained all her memories with Xie Xuechen. The two embraced each other and wept. At that moment, Nan Xuyue arrived, but Mu Xuanling was clearly avoiding him.
