Chapter 413: line with translation of title

In front of the Taiqing Pavilion.

True Lord Yuanwu still knocked on the door.

But Emperor Di Hao paid him no heed.

"Emperor, I know you're here."

"I also know you can hear me."

True Lord Yuanwu thought it over and still decided to step over the line a bit.

"Actually, you don't have to sever Taiqing Dian's ties to this world; it's no big deal if your cultivation can't advance further—it's just death."

As elders of Taiqing Dian, how could they possibly be completely clueless? Even if they didn't at first understand the Emperor's actions, after all these years even a pig would have wised up.

Besides, they're not pigs.

Especially after all these years, their cultivation couldn't advance even a thread!

From this, they knew something was wrong in the world.

At least Taiqing Dian had a problem, and the solution was surely what the Emperor was doing.

But Emperor Di Hao said, "You lack ambition; you may as well be discarded."

The implication is that your lack of desire for any progress doesn't mean he doesn't want it.

True Lord Yuanwu found it hard to judge the truth of those words! Because he knew well——

If he weren't confined here, the Emperor would be an existence that could go anywhere.

True Lord Yuanwu couldn't persuade him further; he himself could be fearless, but he couldn't demand the Emperor also be fearless.

As for the other fellow cultivators, they were standing behind him at that moment; when he turned around, he met a dozen or so gazes—truly, he felt guilty.

"Perhaps the Emperor is doing this for the Young Lord's own good; a man's ambition lies in all directions, and severing affection might make him invincible." someone said.

"And then?" True Lord Yuanwu countered, "The Young Lord has grown up before our eyes; to say such nonsense is utter rubbish. The Young Lord's talent is superb, but is he even alive?"

"Not bad; back then he was also quite capable."

"But he wasn't as two-faced as now, and he even knew how to coax his wife."

"I even thought I might see the little Young Lord, so I went through his childhood clothes."

「」

As they chatted, everyone fell silent.

They were elders who had watched Di Jin grow up; how could they not see that he liked Shen Qingli?

For elders who truly dote on the young, as long as the little one likes something, they also tend to like it.

Moreover, Shen Qingli is a descendant of Pangu, with talent, appearance, and personality all top-notch in the world—she and he really are a well-matched pair.

To forcibly break them up.

"Sigh."

They all let out a sigh.

Emperor,

"Hmm?"

True Lord Yuanwu suddenly looked toward the rear of the crowd.

Nothing else—Di Jin had arrived.

He came hand-in-hand with Shen Qingli.

The hall doors were already open, and Emperor Di Hao walked out.

Seeing the two who had come forward on their own, he was actually puzzled.

But Di Jin said, "Let's start now."

"Huh?" True Lord Yuanwu froze!

Emperor Di Hao was also quite surprised, his gaze falling again on Shen Qingli.

How to put it? Although he'd expected the outcome, seeing his own son abandoned so quickly still made it hard for him as a father to let go.

Though not much.

After all, this result is what the dead boy deserved.

How could a forced cause yield a good fruit? It can't.

"What, you're not used to being given extra life?" Di Jin said again.

Emperor Di Hao couldn't be bothered to look at him; he had already turned back into the hall, but left the door open, meaning he wanted them to follow.

Ancestor Tianqing, Shen Yuan, and the others had already come over; watching the two youths' backs as they entered the hall, they all felt uneasy.

"It's because my realm isn't high enough." Ancestor Tianqing used to think he was strong enough, but who would have thought the final opponent would be this one from Taiqing Dian—he feared only if Pangu himself were alive could he stand on equal footing.

"Sigh." Ancestor Tianqing simply didn't know what to say; this one is strong, and strength has its benefits—at least A Li's parents can still be saved! But why can't we have a beautiful outcome?

Shen Qingci was furious: "What's wrong with my little sister? On what grounds does he say no and then not allow it?"

"It's because we older brothers aren't firm enough." Shen Qinghuang clenched the fists behind his back, his veins about to burst.

If they were beings like the great-grandfather, how could this young couple be subjected to such difficulty?

"That's not what you think." True Lord Yuanwu shook his head. "Emperor,"

"What's the difference? If we could save them, would it even be his turn to hand in a petition?" Shen Qingtong retorted!

True Lord Yuanwu remained silent—indeed, it wasn't his turn……

"I want to enter that black abyss." Shen Qingmo said.

"What are you doing?" True Lord Yuanwu hadn't even reacted.

"To advance." Shen Qingmo could sense that the aura inside would aid his cultivation.

No matter how many thousands of words are spoken, it's all because they're still not strong enough! Apart from initially being able to help A Li, afterward they're practically useless.

He'd had enough; he didn't want to continue like that.

"Let me in," Shen Qingmo requested.

"You're looking for death?"

"Yes."

"You,"

Yuanwu Zhenjun couldn't find a reply.

"Then I really can't send you."

Fortunately he really couldn't; otherwise, encountering such an unreasonable request, one wouldn't know what to do.

However, Jiu Li said, "Can the flower‑arm work, right?"

"Huh?" The candle‑monster that peered down from the high sky glanced at Jiu Li, then looked toward Shen Qingmo.

Shen Qingli had already bowed down to it, saying, "Thank you."

"Send him over," Jiu Li waved her paw, surprisingly calm.

After learning of Shen Qingli and Di Jin's choice, it asked to come out and keep them company.

This task, no other beast fought over it; everyone knew Jiu Li was the most suitable.

After all, it was the most articulate and knew how to handle things.

……

The story splits into two.

At that time, inside the hall.

Di Hao had already come before Taiqing.

The so‑called Taiqing is the source of the world.

How to put it? It resembles a mass of chaotic substance.

It has qi, substance, and a shape (a lump), yet upon closer look it seems not to exist.

"It's normal not to see it; it essentially 'disappeared' after Pangu split heaven and earth—the turbid fell to earth, the clear rose to heaven, already scattered throughout the world. What remains here is merely the image of the beginning of time and space." Di Hao stated flatly.

"So you're an existence even older than A Li's great‑grandfather?" Jiu Li suddenly said.

Di Hao blinked, only then noticing this little creature that had somehow gotten in, clinging to Shen Qingli's leg, looking up at him.

However, "doesn't count, we're peers."

"Ah?" Jiu Li exclaimed in shock, "A Li, you're discussing matters with your great‑grandfather's generation!"

Shen Qingli bent down and picked it up; Li Li's interruption made it seem not so heavy after all.

"So, it was never suitable." Di Hao stepped aside, "Since you've decided, I can also promise here that I will surely save those two."

"I don't doubt you." Jiu Li looked at the mass before her, scratched her head, "It feels somewhat familiar."

"Normal. Your power comes from the Taiji. Taiji, too, after Taiqing. When heaven and earth were split, yin and yang separated, giving rise to Taiji."

Di Hao's voice rare­ly carried a hint of feeling, a trace of longing; back then there was no Taiqing Hall, and he was merely one of the living beings awakened by Pangu's splitting of heaven and earth.

He found the world novel and stayed.

Who would have thought, just entering this world…

"Alright, do as you please."

Di Hao stopped his reminiscence and stepped back.

Jiu Li looked up at Shen Qingli, anxiously clutching her clothes.

Shen Qingli was actually pinching it, gripping it tightly!

Di Jin, however, gently but firmly grasped her hand, together probing the "substance" that seemed to exist but actually did not.

But when they made contact, they understood! It was there.

A feeling of familiarity and warmth also arose?

Shen Qingli could still understand, after all she also possessed Taiji elemental power.

On Di Jin's side, he thought, maybe it's because of his dead father.

After all, according to the old man's earlier words, the old man was also born during the Taiqing period.

"Speak."

"Voluntarily forget the other."

"From the heart, sever this affection and this bond."

Di Hao was well aware that under the primordial power of Taiqing, everything could return to its origin.

From then on, Di Jin continued on his own path, while Shen Qingli returned to the Three Pure Heavens to be her human female sovereign.

Everything concerning them—people, events, things—will gradually fade, until no person or living being remembers them.

He also had basically severed all worldly ties with this realm; he could thus cut himself off from here, and thereafter whatever happens here—collapse or rebirth—has nothing to do with him or the Taiqing Hall.

"Since you've decided, be resolute to avoid unnecessary torment." Di Hao reminded, "If you can't cut it off completely, you'll have to start over."

One after another, it will surely become more painful.

So, "better a short pain than a long one."

"Get out." Di Jin didn't want to hear his chattering anymore.

Di Hao also complied as he wished; at times like this he still had the patience to endure this little troublemaker a bit.

However, he didn't go far; he was always meant to be a witness.

But as long as he could keep quiet! Di Jin would be satisfied.

He tightly held Shen Qingli's hand.

At this moment.

Actually, he was extremely unwilling.

This is the person he likes the most; among all his memories, she is the one he likes best.

He remembered that when she entered the Ten Directions Forest and bowed before his statue, he felt heartache for her; in fact, he also loved and pitied her.

Clearly, each step was agony so painful she could barely breathe, yet she remained calm and composed, her eyes shining bright! She wanted, in the Ten Directions Forest, by his side, to grasp a thread of life, a hint of hope!

Thus he realized that his life, the life of Shen Ting, and Shen Kuo's life would all change because of her. She chose him, and he also chose her.

From then on, their fates intertwined, life and death in sync.

She lives, he lives.

She wins, he wins.

……

Yet even now, they must forcibly tear apart this intertwining.

"I can't do it."

Shen Qingli couldn't from the heart sever this affection, this bond.

How could that be possible?

"Me too."

Di Jin echoed with bitterness.

Just now he said it was fine, but when the moment actually came, he turned out to be all talk.

"Let's not say more."

Shen Qingli wanted to retreat.

But Di Jin still tightly held her hand.

"We need to speak."

"Father and mother, they must definitely stay alive."

Di Jin took a deep breath, gripping Shen Qingli's hand and desperately trying to loosen it, then loosen it some more.

Before this, he had always wanted to hold her tightly, tighter and tighter...

From now on, he must also definitely let go, let her go, make a path for his parents-in-law, and open a way for their future.

"Let's begin."

Di Jin took a deep, sinking breath.

"Think of father."

"Think of mother."

Di Jin softly guided, and presented the scene as if it were unfolding in Shen Qingli's sea of consciousness.

If their being together is built on the premise of losing their parents, how could they be at ease?

Although this should not have become a karmic bond, Di Hao has forcibly made it so!

Then……

"Begin."

Shen Qingli tightly grasped Di Jin's hand.

She cannot back down!

She also must believe deeply, like A Jin!

No matter what, they will eventually love each other again!

She has already left their traces in the Primordial Spirit Realm; she will not forget.

However, when she, with resolve, together with Di Jin, sincerely spoke from the heart to sever this bond between them...

All traces of their love, even those in the Primordial Spirit Realm, vanished completely.