I raised the issues I was thinking about as questions, and Fa Zheng responded after some contemplation.

"All things meet their end, from life to non-life, none are exempt. So, one might say that everything has a day of returning to the Great True Spirit, merging with the truly omniscient, omnipotent existence," Fa Zheng said. "Since all paths lead to the same destination, the difference lies not in the conclusion but in the journey."

"Long ago, I knew of some cultivators trying to self-realize their True Spirit, and from their perspective, returning to the Great True Spirit after death versus attaining supreme wisdom while still oneself are two profoundly different concepts."

"But isn't this also a form of 'I-obsession'? With this motive as the starting point, self-realization of the True Spirit seems impossible," I said. "Moreover, after self-realization, one inevitably falls into the outcome of death, without exception... at least that's what I've read in the records."

"The cultivators who pursue the realm of True Spirit as their highest goal are the most mysterious and incomprehensible group among all demon hunters. How they view their own cultivation, I can't say I understand completely," Fa Zheng said. "Perhaps even they sometimes don't quite know themselves. The hardest to understand in this world isn't others, but oneself, is also what they like to say the most."

"Among them, there occasionally appear those who have lost their way, including a bizarre branch that worships death as its main theme. Though reluctantly acknowledged, its culture still has many remnants in today's Luo Mountain. Most of the time, these people are essentially suicidal fanatics self-destructing, harmless if left alone, but it's heard that during several historical periods, a seed of destruction that brings death to all humans and even leads to world annihilation once emerged."

However, that's unrelated to the current situation—Fa Zheng mentioned this before returning to the topic: "In any case, I don't believe proving the True Spirit is something you can achieve merely by liberating the soul structure... but you'd better regard such an approach as having the same negative consequences as self-realizing the True Spirit."

Abandoning the soul structure, merging into All Things, transforming into a truly omniscient, omnipotent existence, logically aligns with returning to the Great True Spirit through suicide. It doesn't mean attaining supreme wisdom while living, but being part of the infinite streams merging into the world's source after dying. In other words, it's not true self-realization of the True Spirit.

I wasn't pursuing self-realization of the True Spirit anyway, so I adhered to Fa Zheng's advice.

After a brief chat, I separated from Fa Zheng and Jian Feixian. Fa Zheng seemed to need a little more time to reboot the Teleportation Door back to the real world. In the meantime, I wanted to have a long conversation with Mazao. Mazao seemed eager to talk with me too, and Zhu Shi gave us the space to be alone.

The Teleportation Door was near the town ruins, and we spoke behind one of the ruins. Despite the situation, I didn't quite know how to begin the conversation. The current Mazao seemed to have regained all her past memories, and I was a bit worried whether she'd become unfamiliar, creating some emotional distance from me.

I might not be in a position to view Mazao this way because my Spirit has also undergone significant changes. Considering the differences inside and out, I probably changed even more than Mazao.

"Zhuang Cheng, let's sit there."

Mazao pointed to a nearby spot, where two stones were just the right size and shape to serve as makeshift stools.

I sat down on one stone, but Mazao didn't sit on the other stone. Instead, she, as usual, nestled into my arms, and hugged my arm, letting me hold her tightly.

She held my arm too. I thought she wanted to say something, yet she remained silent. She maintained this position, like wanting to carefully feel each other's body heat, breathing quietly. Since she wished to do this, I accompanied her, relaxed my whole body, and hugged her deeply into my embrace.

A lot of time passed that way, with no one interrupting us, nor did doomsday anomalies intrusively attack. Perhaps because Mazao could better control her 扫帚 star power now, I idly thought of many things, and only then did my state gradually detach from the tense combat mode. After relaxing, feelings of post-fear slowly emerged—just not long before, I almost lost everything, nearly losing Mazao in my arms.

I bent down, placed my nose on Mazao's hair, and inhaled her scent. Meanwhile, Mazao turned her head, gently rubbed her soft cheek against mine.

Mazao hadn't changed a bit; she was still my Mazao. This realization truthfully floated to the surface.

My mind gradually became tranquil.

Soon, Mazao opened the topic.

"—I've remembered many things."

With these words as the introduction, she began to recount her past.

Her retelling largely matched the conclusions I had previously drawn from interlinking various clues. Mazao initially roamed the Post-mortem World as a Doomsday survivor, losing all memories due to the Frenzy, and was discovered by the Evangelical Institute. The Institute, needing fresh blood, absorbed her, and later, Huang Quan, recognizing her unique talent, took her as his disciple.

While at the Evangelical Institute, Mazao met many companions, No. 7 was among them. However, most companions died due to Mazao's 扫帚 star power, and even deeply connected No. 7 experienced severe conflict with Mazao, leaving with curses.

No. 7's words deeply hurt Mazao, transforming her into someone who dared not make friends anymore.

Perhaps seeing Mazao's solitude, No. 7 seemed to regret his actions at the time and always wanted to reconcile with Mazao. Yet Mazao couldn't let go of her inner barrier, and No. 7's words couldn't reopen her heart. Later, Mazao realized the darkness of the Evangelical Institute and departed from it, losing further opportunities to converse with No. 7.

Until recently, No. 7 finally reunited with Mazao, but Mazao no longer recognized the person before her.

"The Frenzy of doomsday made me lose too many memories, but perhaps in a sense, it protected me. If I could clearly remember every person killed by my destiny, I certainly couldn't bear it and would choose to end myself," Mazao said.

"But now you've remembered everything," I cautiously asked. "Do you still want to end yourself?"

I did not consider those events as Mazao's sins. If one were to blame someone, it would be the Naraku Gospel, ruthlessly imposing the burden of "saving the world"—a destiny too heavy for anyone—on a young girl's shoulders. Yet I knew this rationale wouldn't console Mazao. Kind-hearted people often blame themselves for many things that aren't really their fault, while another portion of people exploit such phenomena to shift their rightful blame onto others. So, I must protect Mazao at least in this regard.

If her answer were "yes" now, I would stop her, no matter what I say.

"I might have gained more courage now. And the source of my courage is holding me right now," Mazao said. "I still feel unforgivable… but I want to do something within my capacity."

"That's good," I said.

"Zhuang Cheng, you previously told Fa Zheng you've stopped obsessing over Doomsday..." Mazao turned her head to look at me.

She should know better than anyone the weight this decision carries in my heart.

"Have you given up venturing?" she asked.

I shook my head.

I haven't given up on continuing adventures, just not fixated on narrowly defined adventures anymore. Moreover, I actually still love adventures in the magic world now. The fantastic supernatural power, varied uncanny events, enemies with extraordinary ideals, continue to excite and inspire me; it's my best imagination of the adventure concept.

However, if it were me from the past, I'd surely not just think this is the best, but also consider it the "only," yet now I'm no longer "solely this."

Whether holding onto this as the only way or regarding it as black history to be discarded, naively thinking growing up should be snide about it, are both ways of being mentally obstructed. If confined in such superficial and childish mindsets, truly mastering Manifestation is impossible. Now, I can view my own heart levelly, accepting all aspects of myself.

As for Doomsday, to be honest, I still have interest now, wanting to see what image I present in Doomsday and what forms of existence unfold in it. The fascination the past me had for it, the present me can still deeply resonate with.

However, since Doomsday would bury everything, especially the future of everyone important in my heart, I'll stand firmly against Doomsday.

"I want to save the world; this is the adventure I've chosen now," I said.

Hearing this, Mazao looked at me with brightened eyes.

"As for what to do afterward, I haven't figured it out yet; maybe I'll decide then. But one thing I've decided is that by that time, I must have you by my side," I said. "—Mazao, let's save the world together."

Upon saying this, my soul seemed to become incredibly light and bright.

Perhaps, since long ago, I've wanted to say this to Mazao.

Still, I was reluctant to face this possibility. Like closing off my ears tightly, admitting only one object in my vision. How many detours have I taken just to say this sentence?

"Mm—mm!" Mazao nodded firmly.

After enjoying tender moments for a while, we returned to the place where the Teleportation Door is.