"It is time to give up your foolish idea, Pai Hui."
Pai Hui froze instantly hearing those words .
Before him, the Dragon Emperor slowly shook his head, his expression filled with disappointment.
"Do you wish to embarrass yourself once again? Our court was forced to send countless immortals to stop you from revealing our existence to the mortal world."
The Dragon Emperor's golden eyes narrowed.
"So what if you witnessed Mingyin defy fate?"
His voice became heavier.
"Or perhaps you believe he truly broke fate? Is that what this is about?"
Pai Hui remained silent.
"You belong to our Heavenly Court. You are a member of Fate itself. Although you may not be among our most important members, your accomplishments are undeniable."
The Dragon Emperor continued.
"You built your life through wisdom, soul techniques, and knowledge so profound that even I was forced to acknowledge your talent."
"Your future is bright. Brighter than that of countless geniuses."
His voice thundered throughout the hall.
"So why throw everything away?"
"Why refuse fate?"
Pai Hui lowered his head.
"I understand, Sir."
His voice was quiet.
"And I know my decision is foolish."
He clenched his fists.
"But if I abandon this goal now… the goal I have spent my entire life pursuing…"
His eyes trembled.
"Then how could I face myself when death finally comes?"
The Dragon Emperor frowned.
Pai Hui slowly raised his head.
"A crack cannot be understood if it is constantly repaired."
His gaze became firm.
"Sometimes, a crack must remain broken."
The enormous dragon sculpture behind the throne seemed to tremble.
The Dragon Emperor shook his head once more.
"You fail to understand."
"Nobody has ever truly defied fate."
"Perhaps Mingyin and the Mortal Ruler managed to disturb it."
"Perhaps they even escaped its grasp for a brief moment."
"But tell me…"
His voice grew cold.
"Did it change anything?"
"Did fate crack?"
"Did the heavens collapse?"
"No."
The Dragon Emperor stood from his throne.
"Even if they broke fate once, could they do it a second time?"
"When someone defies fate, it is a miracle that occurs perhaps once in a trillion lifetimes."
His eyes shone with ancient wisdom.
"And yet not even one percent of those miracles ever reach the second step."
"Their achievements may appear glorious."
"But in the eyes of eternity…"
"They are nothing more than gluttonous pigs chasing lives that were never meant to belong to them."
Silence filled the hall.
Then Pai Hui's expression darkened.
His face twisted with anger.
"None of you understand me."
The Dragon Emperor blinked.
For a moment, he was genuinely stunned.
"What?"
Pai Hui took a step back.
"Sorry, Sir."
His voice became calm.
"But if you have nothing else to offer me…"
He turned around.
"I shall take my leave."
Without waiting for permission, Pai Hui walked away.
The Dragon Emperor's face instantly turned red.
"PAI HUI!"
His roar shook the heavens.
"Fool of the century!"
"Wait!"
"Aren't you my disciple?!"
But Pai Hui did not even look back.
His expression remained completely indifferent.
"I don't care."
Then he was gone.
The hall fell silent.
The Dragon Emperor could only grind his teeth.
A sharp screech echoed throughout the palace.
Yet after several moments, he released a long, furious sigh.
"What is happening?"
"Why is Pai Hui openly defying my orders?"
His eyes narrowed dangerously.
"If he dares enter the mortal world…"
"If he dares reveal Heaven's secrets…"
A terrifying killing intent erupted from his body.
"I will personally kill him."
His claws dug into the throne.
"Who does he think he is?"
His voice became colder.
"Let us see if he still has the courage to speak to me like that after suffering true pain.
Far away from the Heavenly Court, Pai Hui walked alone.
Dry leaves crunched beneath his feet as he crossed a vast field covered in withered branches.
The wind was gentle.
A small river flowed quietly nearby, its crystal-clear waters reflecting the sky above.
Pai Hui stopped beside it.
Lowering himself, he cupped some water in his hands and drank.
Ripples spread across the surface.
For a long time, he remained silent.
Then he clenched his teeth and stared toward the heavens.
"If none of you understand my ambition…"
His voice was low.
"Then what is the point of remaining there?"
The river continued flowing.
Pai Hui slowly stood.
"I will see the mortal world for myself."
His eyes narrowed.
"And I will see whether Mingyin has regressed again."
…
Moments later, his consciousness traveled across countless realms.
His vision shifted.
A scene appeared before him.
"Hm?"
Pai Hui frowned.
"What is he doing?"
Before him stood Mingyin.
Or rather—
Mingyin was being brutally beaten.
A young man wearing crimson armor stepped forward.
Veins pulsed beneath the armor's surface as if it were alive.
A blood-red cape fluttered behind him.
The young man raised his foot.
Then stomped down.
Crack.
Mingyin's neck broke instantly.
He died.
Pai Hui froze.
The scene dissolved.
Another appeared.
Then another.
And another.
Again and again.
Again and again.
Each time Mingyin died.
Each time he regressed.
Pai Hui watched years pass in mere moments.
He watched Mingyin lose his father.
He watched Mingyin fail.
He watched Mingyin die from illness.
At first, Pai Hui felt nothing but confusion.
"What is wrong with him?"
His brows furrowed.
"You possess countless lifetimes of experience."
"You should have already surpassed the mortal world."
"You should have ascended to the Nine Heavens long ago."
Yet Mingyin continued suffering.
Continued failing.
Continued dying.
And with every death…
Pai Hui's confusion slowly transformed into anger.
An anger so deep that even he struggled to understand it.
Why?
Why was Mingyin suffering so much?
What was driving him forward?
What was he chasing?
Pai Hui could not find the answer.
Yet he continued watching.
One regression.
Then another.
Then another.
Every life became worse.
Every situation became harsher.
Every obstacle became more impossible.
And yet—
Mingyin never stopped.
Pai Hui's fists tightened.
At some point…
Without realizing it…
He had begun rooting for him.
He wanted Mingyin to win.
He wanted him to succeed.
The feeling surprised even himself.
"This kid…"
Pai Hui muttered.
"He reminds me of the Mortal Ruler."
Both of them carried the same madness.
The same stubborn refusal to surrender.
The same willingness to challenge impossible odds.
Slowly, Mingyin stopped feeling like a stranger.
Then something changed.
Pai Hui's expression suddenly dropped.
His body stiffened.
Thousands of immortals appeared.
The sky was filled with them.
Every one of them stood at the peak of the mortal realm.
Each possessed overwhelming power.
Each carried enough strength to shake continents.
And standing before them…
Was Mingyin.
Alone.
At the very bottom.
The battle began.
And ended exactly as expected.
Mingyin lost.
The immortals left.
The battlefield became silent.
Pai Hui stared in disbelief.
"What happened?"
His voice trembled.
"How did he fail again?"
His eyes widened.
"Mingyin."
"How?"
"Tell me."
"Why is fate always against you?"
His anger continued growing.
"If fate truly loved you, it would embrace you as its own."
"But all it has ever done…"
"Is chain you down."
Pai Hui lowered his head.
"You're nothing but its slave."
Silence followed.
Then—
His eyes suddenly widened.
Another regression.
Mingyin had returned once more.
Pai Hui immediately sensed something wrong.
His heart skipped a beat.
"No."
"That's impossible."
The previous regression should have been the last one.
That was what fate itself had declared.
There should not have been another chance.
Yet Mingyin had returned.
Again.
Pai Hui stared.
His breathing became uneven.
"What is happening?"
"What exactly is happening?"
His thoughts raced.
For the first time, he felt genuine uncertainty.
Then a realization slowly formed within him.
He wanted Mingyin to succeed.
Not merely because he admired him.
Not merely because he pitied him.
But because Mingyin represented something greater.
Something Heaven itself feared.
Freedom.
Pai Hui slowly closed his eyes.
"He understands."
"He understands reality."
"He understands suffering."
"He understands what it means to live."
His eyes opened again.
And this time they shone brighter than ever before.
"I want to help him."
The thought appeared naturally.
Without hesitation.
Without regret.
"I want to help him escape the mortal world."
His old heart felt strangely alive.
For the first time in countless years—
Hope appeared within it.
…
"Not happening."
A voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts.
Pai Hui opened his eyes.
The Dragon Emperor stood before him.
Several other heavenly rulers had arrived as well.
Their expressions were ugly.
One of them snorted.
"So that's it."
"You're jealous of his perseverance."
Another shook his head.
"You cannot betray Heaven."
Pai Hui stared at them.
Then laughed.
"What kind of nonsense is that?"
The rulers frowned.
The Dragon Emperor stepped forward.
"Little Pai Hui."
"Mingyin belongs to the mortal world."
"So does everyone else."
"Their fate has already been decided."
"They will die there."
His voice became colder.
"The Mortal Ruler was already proof enough."
"Do not become another rebel."
Something inside Pai Hui snapped.
His eyes lost all warmth.
All life.
All hesitation.
Slowly…
He reached toward the jewel embedded within his forehead.
The Dragon Emperor's expression changed.
"What are you doing?"
Crack.
Blood splattered.
The jewel was ripped out.
The rulers froze.
The Dragon Emperor's eyes widened.
Pai Hui held the blood-covered jewel in his hand.
Then casually tossed it aside.
It landed upon the white floor.
Clink.
Nobody spoke.
Nobody moved.
Pai Hui looked directly at his master.
"If you cannot help me achieve what I want…"
His voice was emotionless.
"Then I am done."
He turned around.
And walked away.
The Dragon Emperor stood motionless.
For the first time in countless years…
He felt ignored.
Completely ignored.
Veins bulged across his face.
His fists trembled.
His entire body shook with rage.
And then—
A furious dragon roar erupted throughout Heaven.
"PAI HUI
ROOOAAARRR!!
The Dragon Emperor's furious roar shook the Heavenly Court.
Mountains trembled.
Clouds scattered.
Even the immortal palaces shivered beneath the pressure of his rage.
Yet Pai Hui never looked back.
Not even once.
…
The gates of Heaven slowly disappeared behind him.
Pai Hui stood alone upon a floating path of clouds.
For countless years, he had called that place home.
For countless years, he had followed Fate.
Obeyed Fate.
Protected Fate.
Yet now…
Everything felt strangely distant.
He lifted his head.
Above him, clouds drifted peacefully through the endless sky.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
For some reason, he felt similar to those clouds.
The cloud was born to float.
Born to bring rain.
Born to nourish the world.
Its purpose had already been decided.
Just as his had.
He had been born to uphold Fate.
To conquer evil.
To maintain order.
To become a respected immortal admired by countless generations.
Yet despite their different paths…
Both were prisoners of purpose.
Both were trapped by expectations.
Pai Hui stared at the horizon.
Then laughed softly.
"Heh…"
The laugh soon grew louder.
"Hahaha…"
His shoulders trembled.
"How ridiculous."
A trace of sadness appeared in his eyes.
"I actually achieved everything I ever wanted."
He had power.
Status.
Respect.
Knowledge.
Everything.
Yet he had never felt free.
The smile slowly disappeared.
A cold light emerged within his eyes.
"I want to break it."
The moment those words left his mouth—
The world changed.
…
Darkness.
Endless darkness.
Pai Hui suddenly found himself standing inside a vast empty realm.
Countless threads wrapped around his body.
Some covered his arms.
Others wrapped around his neck.
Thousands more stretched endlessly into the darkness beyond.
His pupils shrank.
"What is this place?"
Then footsteps echoed.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
A young boy emerged from the darkness.
The boy looked exactly like him.
The same face.
The same eyes.
The same appearance.
It was himself.
Or perhaps…
The version of himself he had abandoned long ago.
The boy stared at him.
Then suddenly punched him in the chest.
Bam!
Pai Hui barely moved.
The boy pointed directly at his face.
"Breaking Fate is impossible."
Pai Hui sighed.
"Even you believe that nonsense?"
The boy shook his head.
"You think shouting about freedom changes anything?"
His voice became sharper.
"You think imagining yourself as some hero will suddenly allow you to break Fate?"
Pai Hui remained silent.
The boy continued.
"Look at yourself."
His finger pointed toward the countless threads.
"You are bound."
"We are bound."
"Everyone is bound."
Pai Hui lowered his gaze.
The countless threads seemed endless.
Yet his expression gradually calmed.
"There is always a way."
The boy laughed.
"There isn't."
"There is."
"There isn't."
"There is."
The darkness became silent.
Pai Hui slowly raised his head.
His eyes were firm.
"Every ruined path contains a way forward."
"If Fate truly controls everything…"
His voice grew colder.
"Then let it control you."
The boy frowned.
Pai Hui took a step forward.
"Let it take your family."
"Let it torture your loved ones."
"Let it decide every thought in your mind."
"Let it dictate every choice you make."
The boy's expression froze.
Pai Hui's voice thundered through the darkness.
"If that is what Fate means…"
"Then I reject it."
The countless threads trembled.
Pai Hui clenched his fists.
Suddenly he understood.
The weakness he had always felt.
The emptiness inside his heart.
The dissatisfaction he could never explain.
It wasn't because he lacked power.
It wasn't because he lacked achievements.
It was because he had never been free.
The boy slowly lowered his hand.
His expression softened.
The two stared at one another.
Then both smiled.
At the same time.
"We finally understand."
The darkness began collapsing.
The threads shattered.
One after another.
Crack.
Crack.
Crack.
The realm broke apart.
And Pai Hui opened his eyes.
…
His gaze had changed.
The hesitation was gone.
The uncertainty was gone.
Only determination remained.
He finally knew what he wanted.
Breaking Fate.
No matter the cost.
…
Swish!
Swish!
Swish!
A dark valley stretched beneath the night sky.
Gigantic flowers towered above the landscape.
Their shadows covered entire hills.
The valley was ancient.
Unknown.
Forgotten by almost everyone.
Yet Pai Hui knew it well.
A streak of light shot across the sky.
Blood scattered through the air.
Pai Hui's body crashed through the clouds.
His robes were torn.
His face was covered in blood.
Deep wounds covered his body.
Yet his eyes burned brighter than ever.
A cruel light shone within them.
The light of absolute determination.
"If Heaven refuses to let me reach the mortal world…"
He spat another mouthful of blood.
"Then I will kill whoever stands in my way."
Boom!
His figure shot forward once more.
…
Far behind him—
Two immortals watched silently.
One possessed a body that looked carved from flawless jade.
Long green hair flowed behind him.
The other was a massive warrior draped in beast fur.
A giant bone bow rested across his shoulders.
The larger immortal laughed loudly.
"Ahahaha!"
His voice echoed across the valley.
"Poor Po Ming."
The jade immortal nodded.
"Indeed."
The name Pai Hui no longer existed.
The Heavenly Court had already erased it.
Now he was known as—
Po Ming.
The Fate Breaker.
The Rebel.
The Traitor.
The jade immortal folded his arms.
"Po Ming."
His voice was calm.
"You will never defeat Fate."
The large warrior grinned.
"Even if you destroy your destiny, what comes afterward?"
"Can you control that as well?"
Neither immortal moved.
Both merely watched.
The jade immortal's eyes narrowed.
"Only the Nine Rulers may challenge Heaven itself."
"You are not worthy."
"Nor are you worthy of the Heavenly Alliance."
Far away, Po Ming continued flying.
His expression never changed.
Not even slightly.
For the first time in his life—
He truly didn't care what Heaven thought.
Hmm