The questioning voice of Li Mo, the young man known as "Little Li," echoed endlessly through the Crystal Palace, and the atmosphere seemed to plunge into an abrupt silence.

"Qin Yuzhi" remained silent for a few seconds before chuckling, "You're overthinking it. I am who I claim to be, Ancestral God. Just follow my instructions, and the truth will reveal itself."

"Even Qin Yuzhi herself couldn’t confirm whether she was still herself. You shouldn’t be so certain."

Ying Bing recalled the diary entries in the corridor and murmured, "Qin Yuzhi lost the battle for dominance against you. The real her, along with her physical body, was sealed inside the coffin."

"And you—you’ve been imprisoned by the Heavenly Phoenix Domain, unable to fully take control, haven’t you?"

"Yun Mengxian."

Ying Bing uttered these words almost instinctively.

After speaking, she froze, her expression blank.

How did she know this? Yet, it somehow felt... natural.

Li Mo, oblivious to her thoughts, mentally gave her a thumbs-up.

Truly worthy of being called the "Ice Block"—sharp as ever.

He pointed at "Qin Yuzhi" and declared sternly, "Audacious fiend! I saw through your disguise at a glance!"

"Ah, why won’t you believe me? If you hadn’t reminded me..."

"Qin Yuzhi" sighed faintly, then curled her lips.

"...I might have almost believed I really was Qin Yuzhi."

As she muttered to herself, her pupils—gray-white like swirling vortexes—locked onto Ying Bing.

"Fortunately... you... aren’t her yet either..."

The cryptic words hung in the air.

Her eerie voice caused the Heavenly Phoenix Domain, suspended above, to churn violently, its radiance surging like boiling water, becoming dangerously unstable.

Was "Qin Yuzhi"—or rather, Yun Mengxian, the Ancestral God—also probing them?

"Restrain!"

Tian Miao, skilled in dealing with soul-based threats, parted her lips and uttered a divine incantation.

She had used this technique before against the Nightmare Fiends, with devastating effect.

But this time, the moment the incantation touched the Heavenly Phoenix Domain, it dissolved into nothingness.

"Sleep... sleep..."

"Qin Yuzhi" hovered midair, her black hair whipping wildly.

Something within the Heavenly Phoenix Domain seemed desperate to break free, causing its light to flare uncontrollably.

Dreamlike, yet terrifyingly real.

"My eyelids... so heavy..."

"If I fall asleep now..."

Li Mo’s mind grew increasingly foggy. He thought of the Nightmare Fiends outside—were their souls trapped in eternal slumber, leaving only hollow husks behind?

He and Tian Miao were likely just collateral.

The Ice Block was the real target!

A faint golden glow enveloped Li Mo’s body as he activated his Indestructible Vajra technique.

But alas.

No matter how unyielding his body, it couldn’t resist the overwhelming drowsiness.

His vision blurred, and consciousness slipped away rapidly.

In his daze, he felt himself plummeting into an abyss—one that wasn’t bottomless but faintly illuminated.

Suddenly, everything was too bright.

The heat suggested midsummer, with skyscrapers reflecting the scorching sunlight.

Blurrily, Li Mo saw a steady stream of cars outside a school gate.

Standing before him was a vibrant young woman, around eighteen or nineteen.

Slender, with her hair in a cute bun, her face was fresh and pretty. She wore a hoodie and a short skirt, her legs pale as snow, and she hugged a stack of books while smiling at him.

Behind her, a bustling university campus stretched out.

Li Mo: "?"

Where the hell am I?

Is this still the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths?

Or...

Was that entire world just a bizarre daydream during a boring lecture?

"Li Mo, you’re a good person."

"......"

Little Li shuddered, goosebumps rising on his neck as if the words had struck something deep in his soul.

Memories flickered.

After all, who hadn’t had a crush in their youth?

This girl had once perfectly fit his youthful fantasies. From the moment he started university, this bright, cheerful senior had been a constant presence in his campus life.

Helping him find his dorm... getting a SIM card... joining the student council...

Until today, when a roommate accidentally spilled the truth.

"Li Mo, I said you’re a good person." The senior waved five fingers in front of his face.

"Uh, yeah, I am a gentleman."

Li Mo snapped back to reality and nodded.

Then he frowned.

Shouldn’t he be blushing, stammering denials? Why was he so casually calling himself a gentleman?

Not only did he feel no heartbeat acceleration, his mind was eerily calm.

Even a little... underwhelmed.

"Well, I... actually like good people."

"?"

This wasn’t how things were supposed to go.

A normal person might’ve been swept up in the moment, but Little Li only found the scene increasingly surreal.

Who gets a "good person" card and then gets asked out?

This wasn’t fantasy—it was sci-fi!!

Something’s wrong!

And...

"Senior, didn’t you like girls?"

Li Mo said seriously.

He remembered now—in his past life, his big-mouthed roommate had spread rumors about his crush. Later, the senior had gently told him:

She had a girlfriend.

"You should find someone too, junior."

Snap—

A crisp shattering sound came from nowhere.

Cracks spread through the dream.

As his consciousness cleared, Li Mo sighed inwardly. Being rejected like this in a dream—even Yun Mengxian wouldn’t have imagined it.

"......"

The scene dissolved, swiftly restoring the breathtaking Crystal Palace.

And "Qin Yuzhi," who had been hovering midair with overwhelming presence moments ago.

Now, her eyes flickered with disbelief.

"You woke up? No, you’re not..."

Before she could finish—

Beside Li Mo, Ying Bing’s eyes also snapped open, her cool gaze tinged with something unreadable.

A divine mark glowed between her brows, and phantom phoenix feathers flickered around her, making her already radiant beauty even more ethereal.

What had she dreamed of?

And why had she awakened so quickly?

Li Mo was curious, but now wasn’t the time to ask.

"You’re awake?"

"Mn. Li Mo, go open the coffin."

At her words—

"Qin Yuzhi’s" face paled instantly.

"Got it!"

Li Mo lunged forward, gripping the heavy coffin lid. It felt welded to the entire Crystal Palace, as immovable as a mountain.

"Strength!"

Tian Miao, now awake, uttered another incantation.

Li Mo felt his physical power surge.

The next moment, he channeled the World’s Might!

Creeeak—

The lid finally shifted—just a sliver.

Behind him, a rush of wind—

Ying Bing shot upward, streaking toward the Heavenly Phoenix Domain’s true form.

She wasn’t planning to release it.

She was going to... refine it!