Chapter 483: A Mirror, Reflecting the Version of Oneself Most Longed For

For the existence of parallel selves…

Originally, Hermes didn’t care about this matter at all.

The reason was simple.

Few people are truly troubled by the concept of parallel selves—and hardly anyone can exploit such an elusive connection to pull off anything remarkable.

But now…

For Hermes, Xilian was Xilian, Aelisya was Aelisya, and Raiden Wuchuan Shou Mei and Raiden Mei were two entirely separate individuals.

For the first time, Hermes felt that certain boundaries in this world ought to be clearly defined.

Raiden Mei stole a glance at her Hades version and lowered her head, slightly saddened.

The gap was truly immense.

Were they even parallel selves, beyond sharing similar appearances?

“Alright, little Mei, how many years has Hades grown? How many years have Itachi grown?”

Hermes watched and couldn’t help but smile, yet still patiently comforted: “Right now, Hades is the complete form of Raiden Mei; Itachi are the developing form of Raiden Mei. There’s nothing to compare.”

“At your age, achieving this is already extraordinary.”

“Or rather—Itachi should be proud of yourself!”

Hades’s voice still carried the faint huskiness and maturity forged through centuries as the Void Envoy, yet after immersing herself in pure beauty, it now held an indescribable quality, imbuing her tone with a unique, captivating, paradoxically harmonious resonance.

She looked at Raiden Mei as if seeing her former self from the days of Izumo—and that was enough.

Or rather—

Raiden Mei was precisely the self she had once dreamed of becoming.

Under these circumstances, how could she possibly feel inferior?

One, having exhausted every effort, still lost her homeland; the other, after enduring trials, gained everything…

She, Hades, Raiden Wuchuan Shou Mei, was ultimately just a failure.

This Origin Lawbringer version of herself—this Raiden Mei—was the self she had once longed for, chased after, and wished to become!

“Huh?”

Raiden Mei was momentarily bewildered, staring at her own flawless, dreamlike, and impossibly powerful self…

That was a height she could never reach, no matter how hard she tried!

As for Hades failing to save her homeland?

She had already understood the reason from those memories—it was a world shrouded under the shadow of Void-IX!

Under such conditions, the destruction of this world was inevitable; how could it be blamed on 【herself】?

The two Raiden Meis exchanged glances for a moment, each sensing the complex emotion in the other’s eyes.

But…

"This isn't really me~"

Raiden Wuchuan Shou Mei sighed softly. Before meeting the Lord of Heaven, perhaps this version of herself was exactly the self she had dreamed of becoming.

At the same time,

she finally understood completely.

Why the Lord of Heaven had permitted this Raiden Mei to enter the courtyard at this moment.

It was like a mirror.

A mirror that reflected the true 【self】!

“Little Mei, do Itachi understand?”

Hermes felt Hades’s grip on his shoulders pause slightly—he was in an unusually good mood today, and seeing his little Envoy finally touch that crucial threshold, his smile deepened further.

Today was truly a day of great joy!

“Thank Itachi, Lord of Heaven.”

Raiden Wuchuan Shou Mei’s voice rang long, filled with a bright smile; she glanced once more at the bewildered Raiden Mei, and her lips subtly curved upward.

How wonderful.

Younger version of myself, walk on happily—forever and always.

Every time she saw this version of herself, Raiden Wuchuan Shou Mei felt her heart-mirror, already as clear as glass, grow even more transparent.

On the other side, Raiden Mei finally sensed the invisible connection.

That feeling—as if her small pond had been directly linked to an infinite, star-strewn expanse…

“This sensation… this constant, perfect reference point, making me become more 【better】…”

In Raiden Mei’s eyes sparkled countless tiny stars of awe—this feeling was even stranger than twin bonds, stranger than any telepathy—but…

Wasn’t this just taking advantage?

“Go ahead—use this chance to strive upward!”

Seeing the hesitation in her younger self’s eyes, Raiden Wuchuan Shou Mei nodded encouragingly and gently explained: “Compared to these visible things, what I gained is something invisible yet infinitely precious!”

“In comparison, I’m the one who truly benefited!”

It was true.

Any great cultivator standing before the threshold of Dao-certification, faced with such an opportunity to comprehend the 【True Self】, would hesitate no more than Raiden Wuchuan Shou Mei.

Itachi may gain power rivaling the entire universe—but what I gained is the potential to transcend all things!

Of course, in this process, there are always minor costs.

Hmm, compared to the gains, such costs are negligible—yes, to anyone’s eyes, these costs are practically nonexistent.

“But… Kiana, I think Itachi’ll understand, won’t Itachi?”

Watching Kiana’s face swell like a pufferfish, Hermes smirked—yes, during this moment, Raiden Mei had naturally stood beside Hades, one on each side, beginning to massage and knead his shoulders.

Lost my love! Lost my love aaaaah!!!

At this moment, Kiana deeply regretted why she had ever brought Mei to this world—why she had brought her to this courtyard, to meet this unscrupulous old schemer… old man!

Similarly, the pink fairy lady, like a bleached and withered flower, dissolved into the wind amid a heartbroken gaze…

One little Mei, one big Mei—and now, both have nothing to do with me?

“Enough, enough. Only Ixun can soothe my battered heart—and thank goodness, Ixun still belongs to me, the fairy lady…”

The pink rogue comforted herself, planning to return immediately and fetch Ixun for the upcoming God of Cooking tournament.

Heartbroken as she was, as her best friend, she would never let Ixun miss this unprecedented feast.