Xu Yang's eyes widened as thousands of strands shot past him and rushed toward the surface."Wait!"He reached out instinctively. "Don't run wild!"But the Threads no longer moved like a single network.They split in every direction,colliding with walls and tearing through the remaining corrupted strands.A massive shockwave erupted from beneath the shrine and mountain trembled violently.Lin Chen grabbed a pillar to steady himself. "What's happening?!"Chen Yu looked toward the chamber below,his expression tense."The Threads are breaking apart!"Yan Luo immediately raised his hand as a wave of spiritual energy swept across the shrine. "No.They're not breaking apart." He narrowed his eyes."They're rejecting the old connection."
Above the mountain,the surrounding villages began shaking again and houses that had just stopped trembling rattled violently,and villagers cried out as silver-black threads appeared across the sky.One Heavenly cultivator struggled to maintain a barrier around the village."They're losing control!"Another cultivator looked toward the shrine in fear."The network is rejecting the new connection!"A third cultivator gritted his teeth as his barrier cracked."If this continues,the entire mountain range will collapse!"
The white-haired man stood motionless for a moment,his long hair whipping violently in the spiritual storm. Then realization slowly appeared in his expression."Xu Yang isn't controlling the Threads."Yan Luo turned toward him."Then what is he doing?"The white-haired man watched the expanding silver light."He's trying to change the entire system."Chen Yu's expression hardened. "Can he even do that?"The white-haired man looked toward the chamber."If he succeeds..."He paused as another tremor shook the mountain."...every connection between the Threads and Heaven will be broken."
Lin Chen stared at him."And if he fails?"The white-haired man's gaze became colder. "Then there will be nothing left to control."A powerful blast suddenly erupted from the shrine.Xu Yang's voice echoed from below."I can't hold them!"Chen Yu's expression changed instantly."Xu Yang!"He rushed toward the center of the shrine,but the floor beneath him cracked open.A wall of silver Threads rose between them."He's trapped inside the formation!"Qing Li shouted.Chen Yu looked at the Threads and tightened his grip around his staff."Then we'll stabilize the formation."He pulled several talismans from his robes and threw them into the air.
The talismans spread outward,forming a circle of golden symbols around the shrine. "Everyone!"he shouted."If those Threads collapse before Xu Yang finishes,we lose the entire network!"Lin Chen immediately stepped beside him."Then I'll keep his emotions anchored."He closed his eyes and placed both hands against the ground and warm spiritual current spread through the cracks and traveled toward the chamber."Xu Yang!"he shouted."Listen to my voice!Don't let the Threads drown you out!"
Far below,the storm of Threads surrounded Xu Yang.His body trembled as thousands of memories passed through his mind,but Lin Chen's voice reached him through the chaos."You're not alone!"Xu Yang clenched his teeth."I know!"Lin Chen shouted back, "Then remember that!"Xu Yang slowly raised his head.His eyes were filled with determination."I remember."Yan Luo stepped forward and raised both hands.The space around the shrine suddenly distorted as countless invisible lines of Fate appeared between the Threads."The flow is unstable," he said sharply."They're trying to reconnect to every possible path at once."
Chen Yu looked toward him."Can you stop it?"Yan Luo's expression became serious."I can't stop it."He spread his fingers wider. "But I can choose which paths remain open."A powerful wave of blue-white energy spread from his hands,forcing the Threads into controlled channels."Then do it!"Chen Yu shouted."I'm trying!"Yan Luo replied through clenched teeth."There are too many!"Suddenly,white petals began falling from above.Hei Long stepped into the center of the formation,his expression calm despite the chaos around him.He opened both hands.The white flowers he had carried from the mountain scattered across the ground, and each petal began glowing softly."Then I'll protect his heart."
The petals lifted into the air.One became ten.Ten became hundreds then thousands of white petals spiraled around the shrine, forming a beautiful storm of light.Hei Long looked toward the chamber."Xu Yang..."His voice became softer."Don't let their pain become your pain."A petal drifted through the Threads and reached Xu Yang.Xu Yang caught it instinctively.His trembling hand slowly steadied."Hei Long..."He looked at the small white petal."I remember."
Above the shrine,the chain figure raised one hand,and the chains around his arms shattered into countless silver fragments. "Then I'll hold the network together."His chains shot into the sky like enormous silver serpents,wrapping around the unstable Thread network one after another.The moment they tightened,golden light poured from his body.The sky became divided between silver chains,golden radiance,and countless restored Threads.Chain figure gritted his teeth as the force pushed against him."These Threads are stronger than I expected."
Yan Luo glanced toward him."Can you hold them?"Chain barrier gave a faint smile."For a little while."Chen Yu frowned."How long is a little while?"The man looked toward the collapsing sky."Long enough for Xu Yang to finish."The surviving Heavenly cultivators watched the formation in silence.Their weapons slowly lowered.One cultivator looked at the others."If we don't help..." Another looked toward the villages below, where families were desperately holding onto one another."...everything will collapse."The first cultivator hesitated."But we're supposed to contain the Threads."
Qing Li turned toward him."Then stop containing them."The cultivator looked at him."What?"Qing Li pointed toward the shrine."For once,help them become what they were meant to be."Xiao Ren's eyes narrowed."And you expect us to trust them?"Qing Li shook his head."No.I expect you to stop treating them like prisoners."Mu Chen glanced towards Tian Xuan."We've spent centuries keeping them under control." Tian Xuan's expression hardened. "And we will continue to."Xiao Ren looked at him."Grand Elder,look around you.We've already lost control."
Tian Xuan's eyes sharpened."Which is precisely why we cannot give those things more freedom."Mu Chen stepped forward. "They're not attacking us anymore."Tian Xuan answered coldly,"Not yet."Xiao Ren frowned."Then when will you stop waiting for them to become monsters?"Tian Xuan's expression darkened."When you stop forgetting what they did to Heaven."Mu Chen clenched his fist."And when will you remember what Heaven did to them?"For a moment,Tian Xuan gaze shifted toward the glowing shrine,but his expression remained firm."Enough.We are not risking Heaven for a theory."
Xiao Ren shook his head."No, Grand Elder.We're risking Heaven by refusing to change."Qing Li's gaze moved toward the ruined village."Maybe the problem was never the Threads.Maybe it was the chains we put around them." Tian Xuan turned sharply toward him."You speak as though breaking those chains will undo everything that happened."Mu Chen immediately answered,"No.But keeping them in chains certainly won't."Tian Xuan's eyes narrowed. "You would gamble the lives of every cultivator here?"Xiao Ren stepped forward. "We're already gambling them by standing still."Tian Xuan's voice hardened."You forget your place."
Xiao Ren met his gaze."And you forget why we protect Heaven in the first place."Mu Chen looked toward the trembling Threads. "If suppression truly worked,Grand Elder, why are they still becoming more unstable every time we force them down?"Tian Xuan frowned."Because their nature is corrupted." Xiao Ren shook his head."Then why did they stop attacking when Xu Yang began restoring them?"
Tian Xuan had no answer. Mu Chen continued,"A weapon doesn't suddenly become peaceful because someone asks it to.But these Threads did." Tian Xuan's gaze hardened."That proves nothing."Xiao Ren answered,"It proves enough to question what we've been taught."Mu Chen stepped closer."If we're wrong,we lose control of the network.If you're wrong,we may lose the chance to save it."Tian Xuan's expression tightened."And if you are wrong?"Xiao Ren looked directly at him."Then we will be responsible for the consequences.But if you're wrong,and we refuse to act,we'll be responsible for destroying something that might have been saved."
Tian Xuan fell silent.The Threads suddenly pulsed,and the barrier behind him cracked. "Senior..."a young cultivator whispered, "What do we do?"The older cultivator looked at Qing Li once more."If this fails..."Qing Li answered,"Then we'll face it together."A faint smile appeared on the Xiao Ren's face. "You really are asking Heaven to take a risk." Qing Li smiled back."I'm asking Heaven to finally have some courage."
The Heavenly cultivator stared at the glowing network. Then he slowly lowered his weapon."All right."He stepped forward."We'll help."The others exchanged glances before following him."Form the eastern barrier!"one shouted. "We'll reinforce the western channels!" another answered."Keep the villages protected!"Golden spiritual energy began pouring into the formation from every direction.
The Heavenly cultivators formed a vast circle around the shrine,and their combined power filled the gaps between Yan Luo's Fate pathways and the white-haired man's chains.The entire mountain became covered in layers of golden,silver,and white light.Qing Li looked around at everyone. "Everyone is connected now."Lin Chen smiled faintly despite his exhaustion. "Funny,considering that's exactly what Xu Yang wanted."Chen Yu laughed under his breath."Then let's make sure his idea doesn't kill us first."
Another enormous pulse exploded from the shrine and ground cracked beneath them.Xu Yang's voice echoed through the mountain. "I can feel them!"Chen Yu immediately shouted,"Then guide them!"Xu Yang looked toward the enormous crystal heart.The Heart Blossom's light had spread throughout the chamber,and the Threads were beginning to change from silver into a brilliant,pure white."They're afraid."
Xu Yang whispered."They're afraid of losing themselves again."The First Weaver's voice echoed softly."Then show them another way."Xu Yang closed his eyes."I will."He opened his arms.The Threads responded. The violent storm began slowing down.The silver-black network above the shrine started gathering toward a single point in the sky.All remaining forces instinctively looked upward.A gigantic sphere of concentrated light began forming above the shrine.
Chen Yu's talismans rotated around it.Lin Chen's energy formed a warm core beneath it.Yan Luo's Fate pathways wrapped around its edges.Hei Long's white petals spiraled through the center.Chaain barrier's chains held the outer network together while golden spiritual energy from Heaven filled every remaining gap.Qing Li stared upward in awe."It's becoming one formation."Chen Yu nodded."Not just one formation."He looked toward the sphere."One connection."
The sphere expanded until it covered the entire shrine.The mountain beneath them fell silent for one brief moment.Then Xu Yang's voice echoed from the center."I can see everyone."Lin Chen looked up."Then look at us!"Xu Yang opened his eyes.The sphere reflected all of them Chen Yu,Lin Chen,Yan Luo,Hei Long,Qing Li,the white-haired man, chain barrier and even the Heavenly cultivators who had once stood against them."We're ready!"Chen Yu shouted.Xu Yang looked around at the big network of light.His breathing slowly steadied."Then let's finish this."
For one second,nothing happened.Then every Thread in the network suddenly turned toward Xu Yang.The peaceful silver strands twisted violently,and the entire sphere began trembling.The white-haired man's expression changed."Something is wrong." Yan Luo immediately looked toward the network."They're moving again!"Chen Yu raised his staff."Hold the formation!"Before anyone could react,the Threads surged toward the center like a storm.They pierced through the shining sphere and rushed directly toward Xu Yang.Countless strands wrapped around his arms,his shoulders,and his chest before pouring into his body.Xu Yang's eyes widened in shock."Ah!"His entire body jerked as an overwhelming flood of memories crashed through his mind.
"Xu Yang!"Chen Yu shouted."Don't let go!" Xu Yang tried to answer,but another wave of Threads passed through him and his vision blurred.The shrine disappeared and everything around him became fragments of light.He saw himself as a child.He saw a younger Qing Li laughing beside him.He saw Yan Luo standing with them,pretending to be annoyed while secretly protecting them.He saw Wang Xio smiling beneath the moonlight.He saw Hei Long running toward them with white petals in his hands.Then another memory of Ling Yuan appeared.His expression softened instinctively."Ling Yuan..."he whispered.
But the Thread wrapped around the memory and pulled it apart."No..."Xu Yang reached toward the fading figure."Wait!"The memory disappeared and his childhood vanished next.His memories with Qing Li flickered like dying flames.His time with Yan Luo became distant.His memories of Wang Xio and hei Long began fading.Then Chen Yu's face began to blur.Xu Yang's breathing became frantic."No...no,don't..."He pressed both hands against his head."Give them back!"A cold whisper echoed inside his mind. "Become the Weaver."
Xu Yang froze as another voice followed. "Forget yourself."His pupils trembled. "Forget the person you were."Another Thread wrapped around his heart."You do not need your memories.""You do not need your friends.""You do not need your name." Xu Yang's body trembled violently."Shut up..."The Threads tightened."Become the Weaver.""Forget yourself."Xu Yang's eyes slowly closed.His childhood was almost gone.Ling Yuan's face was fading.Qing Li's voice was disappearing.Yan Luo's laughter became nothing more than a distant echo. Wang Xio's figure dissolved into light.Hei Long's white petals scattered into darkness. Chen Yu's voice became impossible to hear.
Xu Yang's lips trembled."I...don't want to forget..."Suddenly,a voice broke through the darkness."Xu Yang!"His eyes moved slightly.Chen Yu's voice came again,clearer this time."Xu Yang!Listen to me!"Xu Yang's fingers twitched."You aren't alone!"Lin Chen's voice followed from outside the sphere."You promised you'd come back!"Xu Yang's breathing became uneven.Another voice cut through the storm.Hei Long shouted,"Come back!"A silver line of light shot through the darkness surrounding Xu Yang.Yan Luo's voice followed,firm and unwavering."Don't let them decide who you are."
Xu Yang's eyes slowly opened.The darkness around him began cracking.He saw them through the storm.Chen Yu was still standing with his staff raised,his hands trembling from the strain.Lin Chen stood beside him,refusing to move even as the formation shook violently.Yan Luo continued controlling the Fate pathways,his expression tense.Hei Long's white petals surrounded the formation.Qing Li stood beneath the glowing sphere,his eyes filled with fear but also determination.
Chain figure held the silver chains with both hands as golden light poured around him. Even the Heavenly cultivators were still contributing their strength.Xu Yang stared at them."You..."His voice was barely audible. "You're all still here."Chen Yu shouted,"Of course we are!"Lin Chen's eyes became teary "We told you we'd be here when you came back."Hei Long clenched his fists. "You gave me your promise."Yan Luo looked directly at Xu Yang."So keep it."
Xu Yang's expression slowly changed.His fear remained,but beneath it something stronger appeared and he smiled."I understand now."The Threads tightened around him."No!"Xu Yang raised his head. "You don't get to choose what I forget."The rose mark on his hand suddenly blazed with brilliant light.The Threads recoiled for a moment.Xu Yang looked toward the shining core above him and slowly raised both hands."The First Weaver created Threads to connect people."His voice echoed across the entire formation."Heaven turned them into chains."
The Heavenly cultivators lowered their heads as his words reached them."Shou Heng became trapped inside them."Xu Yang's eyes filled with sadness."He lost himself inside a connection that was never meant to imprison him."He looked toward the enormous network surrounding the shrine."And now everyone is trying to destroy the Threads because they're afraid of what they've become."The Threads began trembling again.Xu Yang's expression became determined."But that's not the answer."
Chen Yu stared at him."Then what is?"Xu Yang looked at the shining core."We don't destroy a bridge because someone used it to hurt people."His voice grew stronger."We repair it."Lin Chen's expression softened. "Xu Yang..."Xu Yang spread his hands."We don't erase the memories because they're painful."He looked at the fading images around him."We learn how to carry them." The rose mark spread across his arm,then suddenly stopped."The Threads were created to connect people."He took a deep breath."So I'll return them to what they were."
The concentrated core above him began responding and sphere contracted for one moment,then exploded outward with a tremendous wave of light.Xu Yang's body became the center of the formation.Every talisman,petal,chain,Fate pathway,and strand of golden spiritual energy flowed toward him.Chen Yu's eyes widened."He's taking everything into the core!"Yan Luo immediately shouted,"Then hold the formation!"
Chain barrier tightened his chains."I'm holding it!"Lin Chen gritted his teeth and poured more energy into Xu Yang's emotional anchor."Don't lose yourself!"Hei Long's petals spiraled faster around the sphere."Remember us!"Qing Li raised his head toward Xu Yang."Remember why you chose this!"Xu Yang's eyes shone brightly."I remember."He pushed both hands toward the core."I remember all of you."The light expanded and massive wave spread from the shrine and raced across the mountains.It swept through the villages.It crossed forests,rivers,and distant cities.It passed through every place the Threads had touched.For one moment,everything became completely white then the Threads stopped attacking.
Xu Yang slowly opened his eyes.The black corruption covering the network began peeling away.The darkness didn't explode.It didn't burn.It simply separated from the Threads like ash being washed from silk. One strand became silver then another.Then thousands more.The corrupted energy dissolved into tiny particles of light that drifted away like dust beneath sunlight.
The Heavenly cultivators stared upward in disbelief.One lowered his weapon slowly. "They're changing..."Another whispered, "The corruption is disappearing."A third looked at his hands as the golden formations around him faded."We aren't destroying them."The white-haired man watched the enormous network with open astonishment.His silver chains loosened as the restored Threads moved peacefully around them."He's purifying them..."Qing Li shook his head slowly.His eyes remained fixed on Xu Yang."No."The white-haired man looked toward him.Qing Li's voice became soft,but filled with emotion."He's reminding them what they were."
The silver network continued glowing above the shrine,but its movements had become slower and gentler.The countless strands that had once twisted through the sky like a living storm were now beginning to separate one by one.Chen Yu looked upward,his tired expression slowly changing."What's happening now?"Yan Luo narrowed his eyes as he watched the distant Threads."The network is collapsing."Lin Chen immediately became tense."Collapsing?"He looked toward the sky."After everything we just did?"The white-haired man shook his head."Not collapsing."His gaze followed the silver strands as they began dissolving into tiny points of light."Returning to their original form."
The network covering the sky suddenly began breaking apart and threads disappeared from the mountains first. Countless silver strands slipped away from the peaks,leaving only faint trails of light behind them.Then the Threads surrounding the villages began fading.Villagers slowly stepped out of their homes,looking upward in confusion as the strange strands that had surrounded their houses vanished without a sound.The Threads disappeared from the forests,the rivers,and the distant roads.
Finally,the last remaining strands above Heaven began dissolving.The enormous web that had once covered the sky became smaller and smaller until only a few silver lines remained.The Heavenly cultivators stood frozen.One of them lowered his weapon completely."It's over."Another stared at his hands as the final golden barrier around him dissolved peacefully."The Threads...they're gone."A third cultivator looked toward the empty sky."After thousands of years...They're really gone."
Qing Li slowly shook his head."Not gone." Everyone turned toward him.Lin Chen frowned."Then what happened?"Qing Li looked at the sky,and a faint smile appeared on his face."Freed."The remaining Heavenly cultivators exchanged looks.One of them lowered his head. "Freed..."he repeated softly."Then all this time,we were protecting ourselves from something that never wanted to hurt us."
Qing Li looked at him."The Threads were never the enemy."The cultivator swallowed. "We made them one."Qing Li didn't answer, but his silence was enough.The dark clouds that had covered the mountain for so long finally began disappearing.They scattered slowly across the horizon until the last trace of darkness vanished and golden light touched the broken pillars,the cracked stone steps,and the damaged village below.White petals drifted gently through the air,turning slowly as they fell.The river beside the village reflected the clear blue sky.Lin Chen slowly turned in a circle,his expression filled with wonder."It's beautiful..."
Chen Yu leaned against his staff,exhaustion visible across his face,but a tired smile appeared."After everything we went through..."He looked toward the blooming flowers."I almost forgot the world could look like this."Yan Luo lifted his gaze toward the clear sky.The last silver glow of the Threads faded into the distance."It's almost difficult to believe."Lin Chen looked at him."You mean after all that chaos?"Yan Luo gave a faint smile."After all that chaos,I expected the sky to remain broken."He paused. "Instead,it simply...returned."
Hei Long gently raised his hand and caught a falling white petal.The petal rested quietly against his palm.He looked at it for several seconds before whispering,"It feels peaceful."Qing Li glanced at him.The Heavenly cultivators slowly lowered their weapons completely.Xiao Ren looked toward Qing Li."What happens to Heaven now?"Qing Li looked at him."That depends on what Heaven chooses to become."
Xiao Ren remained silent for a moment before lowering his head."Then perhaps..." He looked at the peaceful sky."...we should finally learn how to choose for ourselves." Qing Li gave a faint smile."Perhaps you should." Mu Chen slowly stepped forward. His gaze moved across the ruined village, the blooming flowers,and the empty sky."For generations,we were taught that control was the only way to prevent disaster."His fingers tightened around his lowered weapon."But today,we watched people survive without our control."
Xiao Ren glanced at him."And we watched the Threads become peaceful after we stopped forcing them to obey."The cultivator gave a bitter smile."Maybe we were so afraid of losing control that we never realized we had already lost something more important." Qing Li looked at him."What?"Mu Chen lifted his eyes toward the blue sky."Trust." Xiao Ren Looked at him for second."Then perhaps Heaven needs to remember that word."Qing Li nodded."And perhaps it needs to remember that protecting someone doesn't mean deciding their life for them." Xiao Ren looked toward the shrine."Will Xu Yang be able to return?"