Deep within the endless void, all things had returned to stillness. It was here, amidst the wreckage of spatial storms and the aftershocks of a world-shaking battle, that a flicker of consciousness stirred once more.
Xiao Ning awakened.
There was no pain. He could no longer feel his body—nor even the presence of his soul.
Only an endless, bone-deep cold stretching infinitely in all directions.
His physical form had long since perished, reduced to ash beneath Meng Qingxuan's near-Immortal-level strike.
That blow had not only annihilated his body, but erased all traces of his presence from the world.
And yet... something remained.
His consciousness, perhaps. Or the last remnants of his Dao heart. Maybe just the stubborn will of a man who refused to vanish.
Whatever it was, it lingered—suspended between heaven and earth, clinging to a sliver of existence thinner than a strand of silk.
In the stillness, broken thoughts rose like ripples on a calm lake.
A golden blade.
The roar of countless voices.
The disbelief in his eyes as it pierced his chest.
And then—nothing but darkness.
"So... this is how it ends?"
"This life... was far too exhausting. If there is a next life, I only pray it doesn't begin with such hardship."
He chuckled dryly.
"Hmph. What am I thinking? As if I'd know what comes after…"
"If I reincarnate... it wouldn't be me anymore, would it?"
His laughter grew louder, though there was no sound—perhaps it was only his imagination.
"Hahaha... how ridiculous."
But before despair could fully take root, something unexpected happened.
A faint glow erupted before him—soft at first, then growing brighter until it illuminated the entire void.
In its light, a jade book materialized, hovering in midair. Its cover shimmered with crystalline patterns, and intricate silver chains bound its edges.
Suddenly, the pages flipped rapidly, emitting waves of warmth that chased away the chill of death lingering in his soul.
A strange, almost mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
"You have been granted a choice—a chance to rewrite your destiny. Will you take it?"
Upon hearing those words, Xiao Ning laughed coldly in his heart.
Rewriting destiny? A second chance? Such notions… truly laughable.
In this world, cultivators were those who refused to remain bound by mortality. Through rigorous training, spiritual enlightenment, and mastery over natural forces, they sought to ascend beyond the limits of flesh and time. Their path was one of constant struggle—a lifelong pursuit of power, longevity, and ultimately, transcendence.
The fuel for this journey was spiritual energy, a fundamental force that permeated all existence. Drawn from the heavens, the earth, and even one's own soul, spiritual energy could be refined, absorbed, and shaped into techniques that defied logic—arts that could heal wounds, destroy mountains, or bend the elements to one's will.
It was both essence and weapon, origin and end.
And yet, even as cultivators grew stronger, they remained confined within the invisible framework of the Grand Dao—an ancient, incomprehensible order that governed fate, karma, and the paths of all living beings.
Lower-level cultivators might entertain such romantic notions, but he knew better. He understood the intricate workings of the Grand Dao and its control over the universe.
The Grand Dao—ancient, omnipresent, and unfathomable—is not merely a force, but the cosmic framework that defines existence itself. It is the law behind all laws, the pattern within all patterns.
Planets revolve, stars are born, and even thoughts arise according to its flow. All cultivation paths—no matter how varied—are but tributaries feeding into its vast current.
The Grand Dao is the structure built upon that flow, assigning roles, destinies, and karmic weights to all beings.
From mortals to immortals, beasts to gods, every soul is cataloged, judged, and guided along a preordained path. It offers strength to those who conform, growth to those who obey, and reincarnation to those who die within its boundaries.
But that power comes with chains.
Every cultivation realm, every enlightenment, every so-called "breakthrough" is accounted for—recorded and balanced. One might rise high, but only as high as the system allows. Even the heavenly tribulations were not punishments, but mechanisms of regulation. To challenge fate within the Grand Dao was to fight the will of the cosmos itself—and lose.
Every being has a predetermined role within this system.
Even if reincarnation with intact memories were possible—even if one could reverse time itself—it wouldn't change the outcome.
The Grand Dao's rules are absolute. Life, ultimately, will end according to its design.
Xiao Ning, for a moment, hesitated, doubt clouding his thoughts.
He remembered his past life vividly—born into poverty in the bustling city of Yunzhou, he had clawed his way up the ranks of cultivation through sheer determination and ruthlessness.
Once a mere street orphan, he had risen to become one of the most feared experts in the Inner Realms.
Unfortunately, he had been destined to oppose Meng Qingxuan, the protagonist.
"What do you mean by 'a choice'?" Xiao Ning finally voiced his thoughts.
The glowing jade book responded almost immediately.
"To deny your current fate is to step outside the Great Dao entirely."
"Outside the Grand Dao?"
"Should you choose this path, your life signature will be erased from the Grand Dao system, denying you entry into the reincarnation cycle. Your original existence will cease, and you will exist beyond the Grand Dao's grasp."
Xiao Ning's heart sank. "Denied from reincarnation? That means... no future lives, no second chances after this one?"
"Correct," the jade book replied without hesitation. "This decision is irreversible."
"Should you fail in this new path, your consciousness will dissipate forever. No rebirth, no redemption. Only eternal oblivion awaits those who fall beyond the Grand Dao's reach."
Xiao Ning's mind raced as he grappled with the weight of the decision before him. The jade book's words reverberated in his consciousness like thunder, shaking the very foundation of everything he thought he knew about existence.
To step outside the Grand Dao was to sever all ties to the natural order—a move so radical it bordered on heresy.
But what choice did he truly have?
Remaining within the system meant accepting his fate: eternal defeat at the hands of people like Meng Qingxuan, over and over again, in life after life.
"And if I accept this... new path?"
The glowing jade book pulsed softly, its crystalline patterns shifting as though responding to his question.
"Beyond the system lies chaos, unbound potential, and infinite possibility. You will no longer be constrained by the predetermined paths set forth by the Grand Dao system."
The crystalline patterns finally stopped shifting.
"However, freedom comes at a cost. Outside the Grand Dao, you will face forces far greater than any cultivator bound by its rules."
Xiao Ning frowned, processing the implications. If stepping outside the system meant becoming an enemy of the universal order itself, then survival would demand more than just strength.
For years, he had fought against his destiny, only to find himself trapped in its iron grip. This was his chance to shatter those chains once and for all.
"But why me?" he asked finally, after much deliberation. "Why offer this choice to someone who has already failed?"