The entire sect is obsessed with love, but I'm the only one who's truly insane.

Fusang is dead, and all the demons that charged up in the battle today have been killed one by one.

Looking at the person before them, the celestial officials finally understood what it truly meant to be a direct disciple of the Dao Ancestor, to have cultivated the Dao of Dongzhen to perfection, and what that person looked like.

Most people have become accustomed to improving their cultivation through fortuitous encounters, techniques, research, and hard work, but they have overlooked the fact that true cultivation lies in the heart of the Dao.

Cultivating oneself is easy, but cultivating one's mind is difficult.

Things that actually exist are always easier to grasp than things that are ethereal and intangible; the biggest barriers are those that no one can see.

Everyone can see the great achievements of Emperor Lingwei, but how many times has the world been in danger of destruction, and how many people dare to take on the role of savior?

But now Emperor Lingwei had other things on his mind, "My residence..."

It has to be rebuilt again.

The gods fought, and the demons sacrificed themselves to break the seal, turning the entire mansion into ruins.

The house has collapsed twice in the past two thousand years.

Lin Du crossed his arms and looked at the ruins, his face somewhat sorrowful.

Those who saw him felt that the emperor was majestic and unapproachable, and suddenly felt a little scared.

Lin Du pondered for a moment, then decisively looked at the Grand Marshal of the Ministry of Finance.

The officials in charge of finance felt a chill run down their spines. Were they going to start the purge from their own finance department?

Yes, they didn't help just now, but all the officials from the Ministry of Finance who came to join in the fun were civil officials. The only military official in charge of wealth was guarding the house.

"God of Wealth, please give me some money? My house collapsed, and I have no money to repair it." Lin Du's eyes were sincere.

After all, she was worried that the children wouldn't have enough funds when she went into seclusion, so she gave them all away. Now that the Emperor is setting up a stall, it would be considered accepting bribes, which is inconvenient.

Grand Marshal: ...

He realized what was happening, "Oh! Great! This will work! This needs to be approved, this can be approved!"

"But Your Majesty, do you still want to live here? Why don't you move to the Zhongtian Ziwei Palace temporarily?" Another celestial official stepped forward.

Lin Du shook his head. "No, I like it here. It's quiet and nice here."

The Grand Marshal tried to smooth things over, saying, "Peace and quiet is good. Do you have any requests? Just tell the Ministry of Works directly."

Lin Du thought for a moment, "Keep it simple, I need a bamboo forest, that's all."

The requirements were abstract, but at that time, even if Lin Du wanted a Zhushan or Tianshan, the Ministry of Works would build it without complaint.

After the celestial official from the Ministry of Works withdrew, he secretly rubbed his hands together. The chill emanating from this emperor was truly overwhelming.

The celestial officials kept their eyes down and their minds focused, none daring to leave first, all waiting for Emperor Lingwei to depart.

Lin Du walked a few steps, then suddenly stopped.

The celestial officials who had just lifted their feet instantly withdrew their damned feet.

But then the Azure-Clad Emperor turned her head and looked directly at the group of celestial officials who were not far away. Her eyes were vast and her face smiled, like light and shadow through the cracks of bamboo, which was eye-catching. But the words she spoke next made people feel as if they were in a snowy place.

"Since each department has celestial officials, that's perfect. Please convey a message for me."

"Starting tomorrow, the Three Realms and Nine Prefectures will conduct a thorough investigation of the entire Celestial Palace. All Celestial Officials, please be on duty. Those who are absent without cause will be dealt with according to the law."

After Lin Du finished speaking, he nodded slightly, turned around, and left with the others.

The celestial officials watched the backs of the group of people. Their robes were mostly dirty and tattered, but their backs were as straight as the green bamboo in the center, and their postures were extremely relaxed. They were arm in arm, and occasionally soft laughter and complaints drifted over.

Like resilient plants emerging from rocks, they can sway and take on strange shapes, yet they are always lush and healthy, full of vitality, a rare and thriving group in this celestial palace.

Against the wind, rising from the ashes, on this long and arduous journey, we will journey hand in hand, through books and swords, to the ends of the earth.

Yuqing Palace is the residence of the Heavenly Emperor.

The celestial official on guard was covered in sweat as he looked at the line of people waiting to be summoned for a talk.

What kind of mess is this? Is it reasonable to have so many people? Did the Heavenly Emperor summon so many people? Why do they all look like they just finished fighting and want to fight again?

Is it their turn to settle scores with Yuqing Palace?

Lin Du sat opposite the Heavenly Emperor. "Playing chess again? I'm a bit busy."

The Heavenly Emperor said helplessly, "Next game, next game, it's not your busy time yet tomorrow."

As the chess pieces fell, clicking and clattering, the Heavenly Emperor spoke again, "The Three Elements and Nine Palaces were originally yours, so I won't go into that. The Heavenly Hospital was also originally under the Three Officials and was within your jurisdiction. And what about those under Fusang's command? What do you think?"

Lin Du didn't want to get involved, and he placed his pieces even faster.

"If you win, it's all yours," the Heavenly Emperor said, glancing at the chessboard.

Lin Du, who always played fast chess, hesitated for a moment when placing his piece. A few moves later, what was originally a close game of chess turned into a mess, with one side getting worse than the other.

In the end, Lin Du lost despite having a three-stone advantage.

"Since that's the case, then I'll give you the Dou Department, the Exorcising Department, and the Dangerous Office." The Heavenly Emperor was satisfied. "As for the rest, let Taiyi take charge of the Spirit Official Hall and the Four Post Stations, that's just right."

Lin Du: ...So this person had already planned this out, and the face-saving effect works everywhere, right?

Lin Du took a deep breath. "Heavenly Emperor, why don't you set an example and cooperate with my work?"

The Heavenly Emperor looked at Shang Lindu's superficial smile, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "But what about your Cang Yan...?"

Lin Du laughed, "Ziwei Palace, this place is nice. Let Taixuan Prefecture renovate it, and I can go there to work. Cang Yan is familiar with Ziwei Palace, so let's go there and stay there."

Everyone in the Heavenly Palace has a few messy accounts, and Tai Xuan Province has even more. Yan Qing holds far too many things in his hands, and whether they are true or false, they are all potential threats.

The Heavenly Emperor's meaning is clear: having monitored everyone, he can no longer bring up past grievances.

"Very well, I'll issue the order right away." The Heavenly Emperor laughed as well.

The two men were laughing at each other, each straining their facial muscles more than the other, their teeth clenched tightly. One was calculating how much punishment he would receive, while the other was worrying about how much hardship he would endure.

After Lin Du went outside, he glanced at the row of kids standing there and asked, "What are you all doing here?"

She sighed deeply. "It's alright, I've finished talking to you all. Just wait to receive your transfer orders and salaries. Ziwei Palace is even bigger. Set up your things and if you want to live in Ziwei Palace, then live there; if you want to live in Sanyuan Jiufu, then live there. You can choose whichever you prefer."

There's nothing else to it, except that they have a lot of mansions.

Having a lot of real estate is great.

She looked at Yan Ye and said, "Starting tomorrow, the Book of Fate will undergo many changes. You should rest and recuperate."

Yan Ye crossed his arms and sneered, "So I should thank the Emperor for giving me a heads-up?"

Lin Du shook his head in satisfaction, "No need to thank me, it's my pleasure, it's my pleasure."

"You..." Yan Ye raised his hand, saw the bloodstains on the chest, and finally gave up, saying listlessly, "After all, not being biased makes a difference, huh?"

Lin Du looked at the group of kids and realized something. "Sheng Yan has probably left first. Later, one of you can secretly send some tributes to support the business."

Yuan Ye rubbed his hands excitedly, "Shall we go grab a bite now?"

Lin Du thought for a moment, "Then you guys go first, I'll go back to the Three Realms and Nine Prefectures to arrest someone."

The group immediately tensed up, "Who!"

Lin Du shook his head. "They're not enemies."

As the Purple Star Daoist looked towards the entrance, the azure figure came into view.

"Your Majesty."

"I wouldn't dare." Lin Du stepped across the threshold. "Actually, the ancient tomb belongs to the Ziwei Emperor. Its relocation to the Dongming Realm was intentional, wasn't it?"

Master Ziwei chuckled sheepishly, fanning himself with his tattered palm-leaf fan. "The matter is already nearing its end; is there any need to delve into the details?"

Lin Du casually pulled up a chair and sat down, as if chatting casually. "I never understood before. If I had less talent, I would have lost to Fusang's schemes. But that day, he brazenly brought the Eight Mirrors with him."

She indeed could not pass the Eight Mirrors, because she had indeed defied the secrets of Heaven.

It's not surprising that Fusang knew she had defied the heavenly secrets; there were clues about her, especially since he was in the Ziwei Palace and could see through the flow of fate.

However, Fusang was unaware that a Eight-View Mirror had once appeared in the Realm of Insight.

That was the reason why Lin Du ultimately and steadfastly set his sights on Japan.

"Is the Eight Observations Mirror in his hand real?"

"When falsehood is taken for truth, even truth becomes falsehood," the Purple Star Taoist's palm-leaf fan swayed. "The master of the Purple Star Palace can naturally see the movement of stars and the cycle of fate. For example, I am just a minor incarnation, not a true emperor."

The Ziwei Daoist rose listlessly and walked out, saying, "Moreover, the Lingwei Emperor is so intelligent that he must have already guessed it."

"Consider it a lamp lit by the gods for your future."

Lin Du remained where he was, pondered for a moment, and when he looked up again, the figure was gone, cleaner and tidier than a gentle breeze.

She stood up helplessly as well.

When Zhen Ziwei fell in the Dongming Realm, naturally a host of stars rose up.

Fusang saw the inherited Eight Mirrors and learned that Lin Du had defied the will of Heaven and wanted to condemn her to eternal damnation; Yan Ye saw the real Eight Mirrors and learned that there was no future without defying Heaven, but as he watched the world move further and further away from destiny, he decisively chose to support a future that went against the tide.

Lin Du changed his clothes and arrived at the restaurant. The large table in the private room was big enough for a horse to run through. The roulette wheel was full of plates, and everyone was laughing and toasting. When they saw Lin Du arrive, they didn't stop and cheerfully called for him to sit down.

Lin Du found an empty seat and noticed that no one was fighting over the food today. "Why is everyone so polite? Are they waiting for me?"

Yan Qing coughed and said, "We're all mature adults now. We're supposed to be the Three Elements Nine Palaces Star Lords, so we don't steal things."

Ni Jinxuan actively reported the issue, saying, "No one is threatening us anymore!"

Lin Du's gaze fell on the glutinous rice ball. "Why aren't you eating?"

Chu Guanmeng puffed up her cheeks and curled into a ball, "I'm not eating! I'm not hungry!"

Lin Du poked it, "Who knows when the next meal will come after this one?"

Chu Guanmeng circled around again, "I won't eat!"

Lin Du sighed and turned to look at Wei Zhi. "Did it do that just now too?"

"I haven't eaten yet," Wei Zhi said with a helpless smile.

"Alright, then let them all eat. You watch out, I won't be taking you next time."

As Lin Du spoke, he tugged at the fluffy ball of fur. "So what if I didn't tell you beforehand? I'm perfectly fine, aren't I?"

"But you have no heart!" Chu Guanmeng was still angry. "If I had known it would be like this, I would have eaten you alive from the beginning!"

Lin Du was too lazy to bring up the past. "Eat, eat, eat raw. Come on, if you don't eat now, they'll all be gone."

Chu Guanmeng had a tribute fruit shoved into her hand. She subconsciously took a couple of bites, then realized what she meant and asked suspiciously, "Wasn't this a thousand-year-old peach you smuggled somewhere?"

"It's from Yuqing Palace," Lin Du said matter-of-factly.

The group at the table included not only the few people from today's gathering, but also many other fellow disciples from the Supreme Sect. Apart from the reclusive Jiang Liang, they were all in high spirits and engaged in lively conversation after drinking.

"Speaking of which, after ascending to heaven, it's mostly you kids who go to the Heavenly Palace. It must be so tiring all day long."

Upon hearing this, Ni Jinxuan replied, "Because Junior Uncle is inside!"

"Whether you ascend or not, whether you enter the Heavenly Palace or not, it's all a matter of personal choice. A free spirit is free wherever he is." Yuan Ye propped his head up, his phoenix eyes narrowed. "You agree, Master!! Your two disciples are taking the blame for you! So you can be as carefree as you want."

"Hey, the master leads you through the door, but cultivation depends on yourself. The Heavenly Palace you're heading to—our founding ancestor didn't ascend, but countless descendants have—it's all about individual destiny!"

Lin Du suddenly recalled the teachings of his predecessors in the library, "Didn't our patriarch ascend to immortality?"

"Yes, our ancestor could ascend to immortality, but he didn't. After his tribulation, he refused to convert his spiritual energy into immortal energy and instead stayed in the library to live his life." A stranger spoke eloquently, looking at them as if they were his closest juniors.

"He had experienced the Dao Ancestor's lectures and felt that there was no need for him to ascend to immortality. He only wanted to uphold the tradition of the sect he founded. As a wandering immortal in this realm, he had a long lifespan. The old man told me before that his lifespan could only last for a hundred generations at most. A hundred generations is a hurdle."

"After a hundred generations, it's up to the sect's own destiny!"

Another person with a gentle demeanor explained, "We guard the library because it is the true foundation of our Supreme Sect. It's for the sake of the Supreme Sect, so that its flame can be passed down and there will be successors!"

Becoming an immortal may be the wish of many, but there are always those who have more important and persistent goals.

For example, establishing a sect, guarding the sect, passing on the torch, and illuminating the path for future generations.

"Our Supreme Sect has just reached the Immortal Realm for its 100th generation, which means we've definitely overcome this hurdle. I'm truly overjoyed! Come, let's raise a glass!"

"Honoring our ancestral master!"

"Respect the Supreme Sect!"

"Homage to us, the undying righteous path passed down through generations!!!"

The nebulae swirled, the plates and cups were emptied, and everyone returned home thoroughly drunk.

Lin Du and Wei Zhi walked side by side, Mo Lin supported Xia Tianwu, Ni Jinxuan carried Yuan Ye, Yuan Ye was still holding Yan Qing's sleeve, and Chu Guanmeng transformed into a white tiger and ran ahead.

"Hey! The sun's about to come out, isn't it?" Ni Jinxuan said, as if she had seen something.

Yuan Ye landed with a thud in the clouds.

The group stopped at the same time and sat scattered on the jade bridge not far from the Three Yuan Nine Mansions, looking up blankly, waiting for the sunrise.

As the year draws to a close and the air grows cooler, a gentle breeze caresses the face, dispelling the lingering smell of alcohol.

"Look!! The sun is out!!!"

"Our happy and carefree days are over!!"

"A new day!! Time to work hard!"

After the group finished shouting, they laughed at each other's foolishness, and when they got up, they were still smiling, just like when they were young. They brushed off imaginary dust from their robes and ran towards the Three Elements and Nine Palaces as the sun rose.

"Let's see who gets there first!"

From that day on, the celestial officials of the Heavenly Palace were successively placed under surveillance. Lin Du's glass heart and the heart-binding rope were buried deep underground along with the disappearing Three Poisons and evil spirits. However, the divine talisman and abilities she inherited not only did not decrease, but because she advanced to the level of Emperor, she broke through her own mental state and reached a higher level.

There are quite a few hidden demons, most of whom have fled because they dare not accept supervision.

Kelindu and Weizhi's subordinate celestial officials were also skilled at capturing people. The Paw Patrol members developed many capture and tracking magical artifacts and programs, and finally, they successively killed all these escaped demons.

The entire Heavenly Palace was thoroughly cleaned up and transformed into a new place. Many of the seniors who had ascended from the Supreme Sect also entered the Heavenly Palace to fill vacant positions.

A rumor circulated in the celestial palace: the blind hold sway over destiny, hence fate is unpredictable; the heartless enforce the law, hence there is no longer any favoritism.

Regardless, Emperor Lingwei became an unforgettable figure of frost and snow in the hearts of many celestial officials.

She is powerful and intelligent, capable of strategizing and plotting for the world, and judging the merits and demerits of the three realms. She is one of the most favored disciples of the Dao Ancestor. When she is at leisure, she is as gentle as a spring breeze, but when she acts, she is as ruthless as solid ice. Some people look up to her, some people fear her, but some people can also laugh and talk with her and walk the path together.

Lin Du's mansion has been rebuilt, and behind it still lies the Ruins of Guixu. She came alone, but now, she has achieved everything she desires and is extremely wealthy.

"The investigation is finally over. I'll have time to visit the Ghost Realm again. I wonder what level my senior uncle has reached in his cultivation. Will I be able to run into him on the way to the Fourth Brother's reincarnation?"

Under the moonlight, bamboo shadows crisscrossed, and Bai Mao Tuanzi comfortably sprawled on the glazed roof, basking in the moonlight. Lin Du leaned loosely against the branches of a white jade tree, tilting his head back and gulping down a freshly opened bottle of honey wine at the spot where he had planted his heart.

"The honey that the Fairy of a Hundred Flowers gave you, does it taste wrong if you mix it with alcohol? Next time, wait until I make lotus honey."

Wei Zhi stood under the tree, raised his hand, and handed over a new pot of wine that hadn't been added to anything. He himself just stood under the tree, looking up at the edge of his pale blue robe, which was shimmering with light as it peeked through the white jade branches.

Lin Du took it. "Something does seem off. Why aren't you coming up?"

Wei Zhi looked up, the sound of wind rustling through the bamboo in his ears, the place where all rivers flowed before him, and the place where all souls perished beneath his feet. The bright moon hung high, filled with ice and snow, which fell onto the branches.

"I was just wondering, does the 'Shared Fate Curse' mean the same as a shared heartbeat?"

Lin Du lowered his eyes to look at the only magnificent scene amidst the serene beauty beneath the tree, and carefully tilted his head to sense it. "I heard it."

It wasn't a heartbeat, it was a divine movement.

As the year draws to a close and the weather grows cold, it's time to return home.

—End of text—