Even if they met again, they would feel distant, hesitant, and afraid to love fully.

In their past life, that plan had worked perfectly. Even when they loved each other deeply, they had always chosen solitude, thinking they had all the time in the world when in truth, they had none.

Lady Ling clenched her fists. "And now… the seal is gone."

She tried to calm herself, whispering shakily, "No… there's still time. I can still fix this. If I can't fight them, I can mislead them."

Her eyes glimmered darkly. "After all, the god they killed is gone. No one can verify the truth now. I can still twist the story."

Her trembling lips curved into a determined smile. "Yes. I'll make the world believe I was the one protecting it all along."

And with that thought, Lady Ling began plotting anew.

Meanwhile, in the distant Forbidden Land, Gu Jin and Long Yifan were finally at peace.

They had relocated the Gu family to a hidden realm of safety, one surrounded by divine barriers even Lady Ling couldn't sense. The family thrived, unaware of the dangers that had nearly reached them.

Every few days, Gu Jin and Long Yifan would send rare treasures and cultivation resources from the Forbidden Land to their family.

Even after a month had passed, Gu Jin and Long Yifan were completely immersed in their own little world.

Life in the Forbidden Land was peaceful... almost too peaceful. Every morning, the sun would rise across the endless misty hills, and they would walk hand in hand along the shimmering lakes that reflected golden light.

At night, they sat beside the crystal fire and talked about everything and nothing.

Sometimes they just cultivated.

Their bond had deepened beyond what either of them expected.

After so many lifetimes filled with regret and tragedy, this calm was almost unreal.

Sometimes, Gu Jin would look up at Long Yifan and smile softly. "Maybe peace isn't such a bad thing after all."

Long Yifan would smile back, brushing her hair gently. "Peace is only good when I get to share it with you."

Two months passed this way, quietly, beautifully, until one afternoon, the air shifted. A crackling noise echoed from the distant sky. Suddenly, a massive portal opened, shimmering like fractured glass.

Gu Jin and Long Yifan immediately sensed it through their divine energy. Their eyes met.

"Looks like the quiet days are over," Gu Jin murmured.

Long Yifan nodded, his expression calm but sharp. "It seems Lady Ling has made her move."

"Then she's going to be disappointed," Gu Jin replied, a faint smile curling her lips.

The portal widened, and from its blinding light, dozens of figures emerged.

Their presence was immense; some glowing with an authoritative aura, others were surrounded by a heavy elemental aura. These were not ordinary people.

High above the island where Gu Jin and Long Yifan resided, the newcomers descended in formation.

Among them stood three figures that shone the brightest: the Head of the International Magic Council, the President chosen by the united nations of the mortal world, and the Head of the Mighty Mage Couple Selection Department.

Behind them followed dozens of Saint-ranked and Transcendent-ranked mages, their faces filled with fury and resolve.

When they landed on the white sand of the island, the first thing they saw was Gu Jin and Long Yifan, kneeling before a grand stone statue in silence.

The moment they caught sight of the two, anger erupted among them.

"There they are!" shouted one of the Saint mages. "The sinners who dared to kill our god!"

Blinding energy flared from their palms as they prepared to strike.

But before their spells could reach, a brilliant golden light burst around Gu Jin and Long Yifan.

The barrier shimmered, smooth and unbreakable. The attacks hit it like waves against a mountain and vanished without a trace.

"What?" one of the mages gasped. "A divine barrier?"

They attacked again and again. The ground cracked, lightning flashed, the sky trembled, but the barrier didn't even ripple.

Minutes turned into hours, and the once-confident attackers began to tire. Sweat rolled down their foreheads. Their magic drained, but the golden dome surrounding Gu Jin and Long Yifan remained flawless.

Finally, the Head of the International Magic Council frowned. "Something's wrong. If they're truly enemies of the gods, why would a divine barrier protect them?"

The President's eyes narrowed. "Let's speak to them directly. Perhaps they've set some kind of illusion."

The group approached carefully, their feet crunching against the sand. When they drew close, they realized that the barrier wasn't even active anymore, it had vanished completely, leaving only a faint shimmer in the air.

"Gu Jin! Long Yifan!" shouted the Head of the Council. "Show yourselves!"

Slowly, the two lifted their heads. Their eyes were calm and serene, as if they had been deep in prayer.

Gu Jin blinked at the crowd, her expression genuinely confused. "Who are you people?" she asked softly. "Why are you here?"

Her tone was so pure, so unguarded, that even the furious mages hesitated for a moment.

The Head of the International Magic Council slammed his staff against the ground. "Don't pretend! You know exactly who we are! We know what you've done!"

Gu Jin's brows furrowed in confusion. "What we've done?" she repeated. "I don't understand."

The President stepped forward, his face stern. "The Guardian of the Mage World has already revealed the truth! You two destroyed our god! You ended the life of the Mage World itself!"

Long Yifan's expression turned grim, though his tone remained calm. "The Guardian?" he repeated slowly. "You mean Lady Ling?"

"Yes!" shouted one of the Saints. "She told us everything! You attacked the Mage God in anger after he refused to bless you!"

Gu Jin and Long Yifan exchanged a glance before Gu Jin shook her head. "You're mistaken," she said softly. "The Mage God is alive."

"What nonsense is this?" the Head of the Mighty Mage Couple Department barked. "Alive? You turned him into dust!"

Gu Jin placed her hand gently over her heart. "We've been here praying every day," she said. "The Mage God turned into stone, but he told us that if we remain sincere, he will awaken again. This barrier that you saw, it was his doing. To protect us while we pray."

The crowd fell silent for a moment.

They looked at one another, uncertain. It was true, the golden barrier had appeared out of nowhere and vanished the moment Gu Jin and Long Yifan spoke. Could it really have been the Mage God's protection?

But the Head of the Mighty Mage Couple Department's face twisted in rage. "Lies!" he shouted.

"You're just trying to buy time!" He turned to the Head of the Council. "We should destroy them here and now. Use the soul-shattering artifacts. Make sure they never reincarnate!"

The words made even the Council Head hesitate. He had his doubts from the start.

He looked at Gu Jin and Long Yifan... two young figures, barely more than twenty, with calm eyes and steady breaths. Could they really have slain a god? Even Lady Ling's story felt… exaggerated.

Yet the signs were undeniable. The Mage World was collapsing. Water was drying up, the elemental veins weakening, natural resources fading at an unnatural rate.

The entire magical community was in chaos, and everyone was desperate for someone to blame.

Still, something didn't sit right with him.

He took a slow step forward. "If what you say is true," he said carefully, "then prove it. Prove that the Mage God still lives."

Gu Jin met his gaze with quiet confidence. "We will," she said. "But we need forty-nine days. That is what the Mage God requested. After forty-nine days of sincere prayer, he will awaken."

Her voice carried a strange power, gentle yet certain, like an oath of fate.

The group fell silent again. Some exchanged uncertain looks, while others still burned with suspicion.

"Forty-nine days…" the President muttered. "That's too long."

"Do you truly think we're fools?" another shouted. "You'll escape before then!"

Long Yifan sighed softly and stood, his tall figure framed by the setting sun. "We won't run," he said. "If the god doesn't awaken after forty-nine days, then you may do as you wish. You can destroy us however you like."

His calm tone and steady eyes made several hearts waver.

The Head of the Council frowned, then nodded reluctantly. "Fine. Forty-nine days. But if you deceive us, not even the heavens will save you."

As the group turned to leave, the President glanced back one last time, his expression complicated. "I hope, for your sake, that you're telling the truth."

When the last shimmer of their portal vanished, the island fell silent again.

Gu Jin let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. "That was… close."

Long Yifan chuckled softly. "You played the part of a saint perfectly."

She rolled her eyes. "You didn't look too bad yourself."