"Resurrection: Those who meet the conditions and have died within one hour can be completely revived. After resurrection, she will form a mysterious bond with you, and from then on, your lives will be bound together—sharing joy and sorrow alike."
"Resurrection requirements: 5000 Goddess Points, 10000 Dream Points. The host will also be required to complete three unpaid system-assigned tasks."
"Current host points: Goddess Points: 38540; Culture Points: 300000; Skill Points: 0; Admiration Points: 275410; Dream Points: 35012; Item Points: 27; Integrity Points: 5007015."
"Resurrection conditions met. The deceased, Liu Yanran, shall receive the blessing of fate and walk from the other side of death back into the world of the living. The Wheel of Destiny turns..."
After she chose to resurrect Liu Yanran, lines of text suddenly floated within the system space, describing the details of the resurrection ritual.
It was unlike the rumored grandeur—no angel's kiss, no demon's whisper, no ethereal aura of immortals, no fragrant lotus blooming in brilliance. There were only simple, unadorned words.
It seemed the system had reduced everything to the barest simplicity. Whether out of respect for the dead or because it deemed ceremony unnecessary at such a moment, she did not know. Regardless, this was all she could see.
In the real world, her body began to move unconsciously. Her trembling hands untied the rope binding her together with Liu Yanran, then gathered the girl's frail, boneless body into her arms. Tear after tear dripped onto Yanran's cold cheeks, adding a faint touch of life to her pale complexion.
The other girls, seeing her like this, wanted to say something—but none knew what to say. They could only watch in silence.
Then, in the very next moment, they witnessed a scene they would never forget for the rest of their lives. Liu Yanran's face, dampened by Chu Lian's tears, suddenly began to glow with countless strands of white light. The light spread, forming a translucent cocoon that enveloped both her and Chu Lian.
"Ah, what's happening?" the girls cried out in shock, utterly stunned. None of them could have imagined such a sight.
However, Inori Yuzuriha, Chu Chu, and Li Xiu'er—who had seen something similar before—only looked on thoughtfully. They knew that once the cocoon of light disappeared, something that defied every law of the world would occur.
"Wonderful... this way, I can finally leave without worry... cough cough..." A small hand gently covered her lips as Li Xiu'er smiled faintly, her eyes curving like crescents. Even if she were to die, seeing those she cared for safe and whole made everything worthwhile.
Now that I've died, I have no regrets left. I only hope Chu Lian and the others won't grieve too deeply. After all... perhaps I was never meant to exist in this world to begin with.
Her consciousness was sinking, the world before her eyes fading. One by one, the faces of those she knew drifted past her mind's eye.
Her stern, indifferent father who never smiled; her cold mother, holding her younger brother's hand; the brother who wanted to approach her but never dared get too close; the servants who whispered about her behind closed doors; childhood friends who slowly grew distant; the friend who had always stood by her, supporting her; the classmates and teachers from school...
And finally, the people who had accompanied her on this journey.
Chu Chu, who always stood in front of her, shielding her from harm. Inori, quiet but kind to everyone. Kurosaki Satsuki, who joined them later but had suffered far more than she had. The proud yet affectionate lady Cai Ya, whose heart belonged to Chu Lian. The gentle, literary girl Liu Yanran. Ruriko Nana and Lux Lyle, who were too timid to get close to Chu Lian and the others. And lastly, Chu Lian—the one who had brought her into this strange and miraculous world of cultivation.
Her smile grew softer, her eyelids growing heavier, her breathing weaker.
To meet you all at the final moment of my life... that must be Heaven's greatest blessing to me. If there is a next life, I'll find you again—and together, we'll see all the world's beauty.
"Xiu'er..." Inori's gaze never left Li Xiu'er. Seeing her condition, she instantly knew what was happening. But no matter how much spiritual power she poured into her to sustain her fading life, it wasn't enough. The only one who could truly save her—Inori knew—was Chu Lian.
Her words also startled the others. They turned their gaze toward Li Xiu'er—whose face still bore a serene smile, though her arms hung weakly by her sides—and their hearts tightened instantly. Could it be... that Xiu'er was about to leave them too?
"You're not allowed to die, girl..." Suddenly, a sultry voice echoed within her mind. Then, before her appeared a stunning woman in a blazing red gown.
"Huh? Didn't I already close my eyes? Why can I still see you?" Li Xiu'er blinked in confusion, unsure how to react to the woman before her.
"What's this? Don't you remember me?" Ayase's lips curved into a faint smile as she looked at the dazed girl. This girl was one of her favorites—both for her own reasons and for Chu Lian's sake, she could not allow her to die. That was the reason she appeared here. It was her duty.
"You're... Sister Ayase?" Hearing her voice again, Li Xiu'er finally remembered. She was the one who had disappeared for a while—the person Chu Lian cared about the most. But how could she be here?
"I am also someone from the cultivation world," Ayase explained, seemingly reading her thoughts. "And my strength is far greater than you can imagine. Coming and going as I please is nothing special for me."
"If you're so strong, then why didn't you help Chu Lian? Do you have any idea how much she's suffered? How much pressure she's been under these past few days?" Li Xiu'er's eyes reddened as she shouted angrily, unable to hold back her emotions.
"My care for her outweighs that of everyone else combined. How could I possibly not want to help her?" Ayase didn't take offense at her tone. She merely gave a bitter smile and shook her head. "Ten days ago, I did help her once. But that gave our enemies the chance to catch me. They trapped me in a dark dimension and tormented me for ten days. It was only yesterday that I broke free of their seal and returned."
"Then... then this time, you'll help, right? If you had stepped in earlier, Chu Chu and the others wouldn't have been injured, Yanran wouldn't have died, and Chu Lian wouldn't be in so much pain..." Li Xiu'er's voice faltered. Yes—Ayase's concern for Chu Lian was obvious. Was it really fair to question her like this?
But as she recalled everything that had happened, another thought struck her. If Ayase had truly returned, then why hadn't she intervened sooner? Why wait until Chu Lian was on the verge of breaking before helping? Wasn't that far too cruel?
"I wanted to act yesterday," Ayase sighed softly. "But our enemies were even more cunning and desperate than I'd imagined. They were willing to pay a terrible price just to restrict my movements and stop me from helping Chu Lian. Their goal was simple—to make sure Chu Lian died during this trip. For them, who were already on the verge of defeat, that would have been a reversal of fate itself. I was only released after Chu Lian killed that woman, when our foes finally lost hope in this plan."
"I'm sorry... I wronged you," Li Xiu'er said sincerely. She bowed deeply to Ayase, ashamed of her earlier outburst.
"I'm glad to see how much you care about Chu Lian and your friends. I don't blame you at all. In fact, it only strengthens my resolve to save you." Ayase smiled faintly and shook her head. She truly didn't mind. In fact, seeing such loyalty only confirmed that this girl deserved to be saved—and must be saved.
"Save me? That's... impossible now, isn't it?" Li Xiu'er wasn't foolish. She knew full well that her body had reached its limit. The only reason she still had consciousness was because she was clinging to her final moments.
"No, you're wrong. Inori has been working hard to pour her spiritual power into you, keeping your last breath of life from fading. If not for your weak desire to live, you wouldn't have declined this quickly. You still don't value yourself enough, still lack faith in the life you once had." Ayase sighed as she denied her words. She stepped closer, leaning down to look into her eyes.
"Xiu'er, tell me—do you want to live? To live a more brilliant life than before? To live for yourself, and for Chu Lian? Are you willing?" Ayase's question wasn't just a plea. It was a choice.
What she was about to do next depended entirely on the girl's will. If she truly longed for death, then Ayase could not bring her back. Resurrection required her own acknowledgment—only then could it succeed.
Lowering her head, biting her lip, Xiu'er's eyes fell upon her own toes as she struggled to make a decision.
Yes, it was an agonizing choice. Throughout this entire journey, she had been nothing but a bystander and a burden—unable to fight, needing protection. She didn't want that to continue. She didn't want to trouble Chu Lian and the others anymore.
And now, even her family was finding her presence harder and harder to tolerate. If not for the lingering affection of the past and the ties of blood, she would likely have already been cast out.
For a girl who had grown up in such a home, who hadn't felt true familial warmth since the age of eight—and who had known so little friendship—she no longer wanted to be someone others found troublesome or unwanted.
But... if she gave up now, what about Ruoxue, who had always supported her? What about her classmates who never cared about her background? And what about Chu Chu and the others? Wouldn't it feel too unfair to them?
As she stared blankly downward, a pair of bare feet suddenly stepped upon the top of her own. She looked up—and saw Chu Lian, her body bare and radiant, smiling softly at her as if to say, "I'm waiting for you..."
When her vision cleared, that figure vanished, replaced by Ayase's mature and enchanting face.
The girl's expression hardened into one of quiet resolve. "Sister Ayase, please... I want to live."
Even if others come to despise me again, I'll have someone I can rely on. Even if my home no longer accepts me, I can still go to them. I don't want to return to that old life—I want to live for myself, and for those I care about.
"That's good..." Ayase exhaled in relief. She had truly been worried that this seemingly shy but inwardly strong girl might make a foolish choice. But now, it seemed Xiu'er finally understood what she truly wanted.
"Girl, remember this—your future lies in your own hands, not in anyone else's. Whatever you want to do, go and do it." As Ayase spoke, she stepped forward and pulled her into a gentle embrace, whispering softly into her ear, "Close your eyes... and sleep."
Li Xiu'er hesitated for only a moment before doing as she was told. In the next instant, her form vanished from Ayase's arms—and Ayase herself slowly dissolved into nothingness.
In the real world, the body lying coldly in Inori's arms suddenly radiated boundless vitality. Crimson petals began to scatter around her, drifting gently through the air. Some were carried away by the wind, while others settled softly upon the ground.
"What's this...?" The girls gasped again in astonishment. Could it be... that something was happening to Xiu'er too?