"Yin and Yang Questioning Love. A true-heart trial begins now."
Just as Huo Yuhao and the others were still unsettled by the sudden appearance of the white-robed figure—
A cold, genderless voice rang out abruptly.
Ripples spread across the lake.
A beam of light descended from the void,
leaping back and forth between the nine circular platforms and the newly manifested courtyard—
as if choosing.
At last—
the beam settled upon the courtyard.
"Yin Yang Love Querying? It wants to question that person's 'love'? Huo Yuhao's expression turned strange.
An existence who casually stirred time and space, granted him rebirth into a second life, and treated an entire world as a trial ground…
Was God King Tang tired of living?!
Within his sea of consciousness—
Skydream Iceworm burst into laughter.
"Hahahaha! Questioning Brother Zhexian about love? Just imagining those words carries unspeakable terror!"
The Snow Demong King and Bear Lord roared in fury. Even Bi Ji's voice was icy.
"Prying into the Lord Creation God... death is the only sentence!"
Li Zhexian lifted a brow. "In the long flow of years, adding a bit of amusement is fine."
He raised his hand,
allowing the beam to illuminate the courtyard fully, revealing his appearance clearly to everyone present.
"It really is him..."
Looking at the handsome white-robed youth, Huo Yuhao felt both reassured and deeply moved.
He had heard from Brother Skydream—
This man traveled the heavens with a divine star, yet was willing to project himself into this world for his sake.
Such grace was immeasurable.
Yet Xu Sanshi and He Caitou's astonishment only deepened.
The white-robed figure appeared to be a youth about their own age.
And yet—
His bearing transcended the mundane. Every movement radiated an effortless freedom, as if utterly incompatible with all the rules of this world.
At that moment—
The calm voice descended again, this time directed squarely at the courtyard's occupant. "Do you have a lover?"
Li Zhexian tilted his head back, took a swig of wine, and smiled without answering.
"Do you have a lover? If you fail to answer after three inquiries, you shall be punished with death."
Li Zhexian lazily countered with a question: "Which one are you asking about?"
—
In the Stargazing Divine Hall—
Qian Renxue and Zhu Zhuqing paused mid-motion while making peach blossom pastries. A faint blush-tinted smile surfaced on their exquisite faces.
Nearby, Shui Bing'er, Huo Wu, and Xiao Wu also stopped their tasks.
They flicked droplets of water from their slender fingers,
their bright eyes filled with anticipation as they all turned toward the World-Viewing Mirror.
—
The moment Li Zhexian's light, airy words fell—
The entire Yin Yang Love Querying Valley plunged into absolute stillness.
The rippling golden and silver lake froze in place.
Xu Sanshi, He Caitou, Zhang Lexuan, and Ma Xiaotao all stared in shock at the white-robed youth, disbelief written across their faces.
They had already heard Huo Yuhao carefully explain the valley's rules.
This place was formed from the Goddess of Love's fall due to love itself. To pass, one must "speak truth and offer a true heart."
Yet this youth not only appeared utterly unconcerned—
he had even responded with something bordering on provocation.
He Caitou whispered,
"Is… is he going to be in trouble?"
However—
It was precisely those words—"Which one are you asking about?"—
that caused Zhang Lexuan and Ma Xiaotao's breathing to falter, their thoughts surging uncontrollably.
—
In the Divine Realm—
Tang San's eyes flashed sharply, a cold smile appearing on his face.
Such an answer
had already violated the "true love" law governed by the Goddess of Love.
The rules could now be invoked to administer punishment.
This was power at the level of divine authority. Even if the other party were a god, escaping unscathed would be difficult.
"Activate the authority immediately!" Tang San ordered coldly. "Erase him."
The Goddess of Love obeyed helplessly, divine sense circulating.
Within the light screen—
The laws of the Yin Yang Love Querying Valley trembled violently.
The golden sun and silver moon lake boiled furiously, surging with overwhelming divine might.
This was power far beyond mortal limits—
the manifested remnant authority of the Goddess of Love.
Any being who entered this valley—
if their heart or actions contradicted what the Goddess of Love recognized as "love"—
would suffer divine punishment.
"Slighting love, frivolous in word and deed, you shall receive severe punishment. Erase!"
The indifferent voice now carried anger.
The lake surged into towering waves, shaking the circular platforms beneath Huo Yuhao and the others so violently that they trembled.
The once warm and gentle lake light—
now erupted with pure divine punishment. Every strand of it was enough to tear apart mortal boundaries, causing the entire valley to change color with wind and cloud.
An unfathomable force of law, carrying the will of the Yin Yang Love Querying Valley, bore down upon the courtyard with crushing force.
And yet—
the courtyard remained suspended in stillness, radiating a faint, hazy glow.
Even the petals on the plum tree within did not quiver in the slightest.
It was as if... this courtyard did not exist in this heaven and earth.
"Punish me?"
Li Zhixian gave a light chuckle, allowing that divine punishment power to wash over him. His robes didn't even flutter, his black hair hung loosely, and the curve at the corner of his lips deepened.
"I've given you face."
The moment his words fell—
metallic screeches of twisting and tightening echoed through the void.
Under the horrified gazes of Huo Yuhao and the others—
chains inscribed with ancient divine runes descended from the very core of the valley, coiling toward the white-robed youth.
This was the manifestation of the Goddess of Love's authority.
Yet at this moment, these chains of authority representing the highest rules were actually trembling and wailing.
Crack! Crack!
Crack! Crack!
The white-robed youth did not move at all—
but the chains emitted brittle snapping sounds as countless fine fractures spread rapidly across them.
Then—
with a thunderous explosion, like crystal shattering—
all the authority chains burst apart simultaneously, dissolving into a rain of light that vanished into nothingness.
Xu Sanshi and the others stood frozen, their expressions blank.
That youth had not even lifted a finger—
and divine authority had disintegrated on its own?!
What kind of existence was this, beyond comprehension?!
"So strong…"
Huo Yuhao stared at the white-robed youth, his hand slowly clenching as blazing light ignited in his eyes.
"A true man should be like this!"
"This is the goal I, Huo Yuhao, will pursue for my entire life!"
Before their surging emotions could settle—
Li Zhexian leisurely appeared above the ten circular platforms.
With a casual lift of his hand—
the entire Yin Yang Love Querying Valley hummed and trembled.
A newly formed divine authority condensed into being, obediently flowing into his palm.
He raised his eyes, looked toward a certain direction, and smiled faintly.
"Since I have leisure today, I shall preside over the Yin Yang Love Querying Valley."
...
In the Divine Realm—
"AAAAAAAAAH!"
As the authority shattered—
the Goddess of Love suffered unimaginable backlash. Cracks exploded across her body, and blood sprayed wildly from her mouth.
Tang San's expression changed drastically. Vast Sea divine power surged around him as he tried to stabilize the collapsing godhood of the Goddess of Love.
But in the next instant—
the Goddess of Love vanished into thin air.
What made his divine soul tremble was—
the memories of the "Goddess of Love" within his mind were rapidly fading and blurring away.
As if she had never existed in the Divine Realm at all.
"What is happening?!"
"What in the world is happening?!"
Tang San's face twisted in extreme terror.
He abruptly turned to look at the water screen.
Within it—
the white-robed youth happened to lift his gaze at that very moment.
His eyes pierced through the mirror—
looking straight at him.
Tang San felt as though within those pitch-black eyes,
a resplendent sword intent suddenly bloomed.
"AAAAHHHH!"
He screamed miserably.
His Purple Demon Eye, cultivated to its highest realm, had its very foundation destroyed in an instant.
Blue-gold blood-tears streamed uncontrollled from his tightly shut eyes.
"Who exactly are you?! Who are you?!"