Chapter 357: Sun Ruowei’s Choice

Yue Hongling suddenly struck her palm towards her own forehead—a blow powerful enough to shatter her skull.

A thunderous sonic boom suddenly rang through the air.

A streak of blood-red light shot toward Yue Hongling at incredible speed, clamping onto her wrist just as her palm was less than three centimeters from her forehead.

Yue Hongling froze, then looked up with radiant hope.

"Big brother!"

But what met her eyes was Shangguan Huanling's face.

"Hong Ling, it's not Lu Ye, but you mustn't do something so foolish!" Shangguan Huanling said urgently.

The light in Yue Hongling's eyes drained away in an instant.

Let me die already!

She struggled with all her might, yet couldn't break free from Shangguan Huanling's grip.

"Hong Ling, Hong Ling, are you really going to give up halfway?"

"Didn't we agree? We were going to get Lu Ye back. If you die now, you'll never have the chance to earn his forgiveness!" Shangguan Huanling urged desperately.

"Huanling, there's no way back..." Yue Hongling's voice was hoarse.

"No, there is! There has to be! If we persist, Lu Ye will come around eventually—even if it takes a thousand, ten thousand years. That day will come!"

"No, it won't."

"Yes, it will!"

"Huanling, why can't you understand? I'm worthless now. I'll never catch up to senior brother's cultivation speed in this lifetime. I won't even live to see the day he becomes a Saint. There's no hope left. Let me go, let me end it!"

"No! When one door closes, another opens. I once had no path to the Great Dao, yet I still reached the realm of Emperor. If need be, you can cultivate the *Primordial Heaven-Devouring Scripture* with me!"

"Hong Ling, there's still hope!"

"There's still hope!"

Yue Hongling never expected that, in the end, it would be Shangguan Huanling who stood before her.

Before her rebirth, Yue Hongling had loathed Shangguan Huanling above all others—she had a hatred for foolishness, and this woman had somehow managed to cultivate away her capacity for love, the height of foolishness.

After her rebirth, she still disliked Shangguan Huanling, but not as intensely—partly because they were now both heartbroken, and partly because an even worse rival had appeared.

Shen Xitong!

Yet, the person she had once loathed was now clutching her close, repeating over and over that there was still a chance, still hope.

In the end, Yue Hongling couldn't hold back any longer and broke down in heaving sobs.

She cried like her soul was being shredded, wailed with bottomless grief.

Shangguan Huanling tilted her head.

Go ahead. Let it out.

It's okay for a woman to cry.

The Third Heaven’s Realm.

Sun Ruowei's eyes burned red.

She simply couldn’t accept that her best friend was capable of this.

Yet the truth was laid bare before her—the pain Yue Hongling endured was bone-deep despair.

Bai Qiulan, oh Bai Qiulan, what twisted you into this?

Sun Ruowei was heartbroken.

She’d rather not have gotten involved in this mess at all!

But now, she was already caught up in it…

This time, one could say the entire Nine Heavens had gorged on this piping-hot, mouthwatering gossip!

The story of the Celestial Lord and the Empress.

This level of scandal was so immense that even mortal storytellers and playwrights wouldn’t dare to write it. Even if someone reckless enough attempted it, they'd get their hands chopped off for writing, and readers wouldn’t dare to read it, fearing they might incur some unfathomable karma.

Yet now, the drama of the Celestial Lord and the Empress had been served up steaming hot before their eyes.

Not just the Celestial Lord and the Empress, but also the Empress and a second Empress.

And then there were the time-rewinding do-overs—notions way above the people of the Nine Heavens that even an Emperor would call you crazy for suggesting such things.

What kind of supreme power could manipulate time like this?

Because of her gossip buddy, Sun Ruowei had switched to cultivating the Way of the Nosy Cultivator. She didn’t even know how it happened—she just practiced her way until she ended up like this.

She named the path herself, as she discovered that whenever she was in a state of consuming drama, her cultivation speed became stupidly fast.

Her affinity with all kinds of energies in the world would increase, so she named her path the Way of the Nosy Cultivator. As for how far this path could take her, she could only take it one step at a time.

After all, her gossip buddy had told her that the Way of the Nosy Cultivator could lead her far, because that was the path they themselves cultivated.

For others in the Nine Heavens, watching this grand spectacle was just entertainment.

But for Sun Ruowei, it was a cosmic-level lucky break. Just moments ago, her cultivation exploded like fireworks.

She had just hit Third Heaven yesterday, yet she had already reached its peak.

No joke, this Nosy Cultivator gig was formidable!

"Time to level up!"

Sun Ruowei clenched her fists.

Of course, her ascension wasn’t to seek trouble with Lu Ye—that would be like spitting at the sun. Even if she cloned herself a million times, she wouldn’t stand a chance against him.

She wanted to find Yue Hongling.

Because she wasn’t just Bai Qiulan’s closest confidante—she was also Yue Hongling’s favorite shifu-auntie.

Now that Bai Qiulan bit the dust, who got dealt the worst hand?

No prizes for guessing—Yue Hongling.

Even Yue Hongling might even do something reckless, so she must take on her role as martial aunt. Even if... even if it means atoning for Bai Qiulan's sins, she must take good care of Yue Hongling.

So, face the tribulation!

Lu Ye shot straight into the void beyond.

The distance was insane. Even at Lu Ye's ridiculous speed, it still took a while to reach the border of the Fourth Heaven.

The Fifth Heaven would be even larger!

Even the strongest in the Fifth Heaven could fly for years and never reach its edge—it was truly immense.

When he reached the Fourth Heaven’s border, Lu Ye pondered Emperor Daohen's character.

Hmm, probably fine.

But better safe than sorry.

A copy of Lu Ye split off from him.

It remained in the Fourth Heaven.

Lu Ye stepped boldly beyond the Fourth Heaven!

The second he crossed over, the Devourbeast came barreling at him.

Lu Ye frowned but felt no threat, so he held his ground.

The Devourbeast skidded to a kneel in front of Lu Ye.

"This lowly beast pays respects to the Celestial Lord!" The Devourbeast's attitude was nothing short of reverent.

Lu Ye... didn’t know whether to laugh or facepalm.

This Devourbeast had no shame—unbelievable.

"Yeah, yeah, drop the act."

At that moment, Emperor Daohen adjusted his robes and approached Lu Ye.

"Sect Master."

This time, his tone was different.

"Greetings, Emperor."

"No need for formalities, Sect Master. You may call me by name or simply 'fellow Daoist.'"

Clearly, Emperor Daohen had seen the show and now fully respected Lu Ye!