Deep within the endless void, all things had returned to stillness.
It was here, amidst the ruin, that a flicker of consciousness stirred once more.
Xiao Ning awakened.
There was no pain.
He could no longer feel his body—nor even the presence of his soul. Only a thin strand of awareness remained, surrounded by an endless, bone-deep cold stretching in all directions.
His physical form had long since perished, reduced to ash beneath Meng Qingxuan's near-Immortal-level strike.
That blow had not only annihilated his body, but erased all traces of his presence from the world. Even memory itself seemed stripped away.
And yet... something remained. Something faint, but unwilling to fade.
His consciousness, perhaps. Or the last remnants of his Dao heart. Or simply a stubborn will that refused to disappear.
Whatever it was, It persisted despite having no reason to.
A golden blade. The roar of countless voices. Cold eyes looking down at him. The disbelief in his eyes as it pierced his chest.
And then—nothing but darkness. The end came without resistance.
"So... this is how it ends?"
"This life... was far too exhausting. If there is a next life, I only pray it doesn't begin with such hardship."
He chuckled dryly.
"Hmph. What am I thinking? As if I'd know what comes after…"
"If I reincarnate... it wouldn't be me anymore, would it?"
His laughter grew louder, though there was no sound—perhaps it was only his imagination.
"Hahaha... how ridiculous."
But before despair could fully take root, something unexpected happened.
A faint glow erupted before him—soft at first, then growing brighter until it illuminated the entire void.
In its light, a jade book materialized, hovering in midair. Its cover shimmered with crystalline patterns, and intricate silver chains bound its edges.
Suddenly, the pages flipped rapidly, emitting waves of warmth that chased away the chill of death lingering in his soul.
A strange, almost mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
"You have been granted a choice—a chance to rewrite your destiny. Will you take it?"
Upon hearing those words, Xiao Ning laughed coldly in his heart.
Rewriting destiny? A second chance? Such notions… truly laughable. He had long stopped believing in such things.
In this world, cultivators were those who refused to remain bound by mortality. They sought power beyond the limits of life, through training, enlightenment, and control over natural forces.
Their path was one of constant struggle—a lifelong pursuit of power, longevity, and ultimately, transcendence. Every step demanded a price.
The fuel for this journey was spiritual energy, a fundamental force that permeated all existence. It could be refined and shaped into techniques that defied logic.
Arts that could heal wounds, destroy mountains, or bend the elements to one's will. Such power always came with limits.
It was both essence and weapon, origin and end. Everything began and ended with it.
And yet, even as cultivators grew stronger, they remained confined within the framework of the Grand Dao—an ancient order that governed fate, karma, and the paths of all living beings.
No one escaped it.
Lower-level cultivators might believe otherwise, but he knew better. He understood how the Grand Dao controlled everything.
The Grand Dao was not simply a force, but the structure behind existence itself. Everything operated within it.
From mortals to immortals, beasts to gods, every soul followed a fixed path. It granted power and allowed reincarnation, but only within its system.
But that power came with chains. They could not be seen, yet they could not be broken.
Every cultivation realm, every breakthrough, was accounted for. One could rise, but only within allowed limits.
Even heavenly tribulations were forms of regulation. To challenge fate within the Grand Dao was to fight the cosmos itself—and lose.
Every being had a predetermined role. Struggle did not change that.
Even if one retained memories through reincarnation—even if time could be reversed—the outcome would not change.
The Grand Dao's rules were absolute. Life would always end according to its design.
Xiao Ning hesitated, doubt surfacing in his thoughts. This situation was different.
He remembered his past life—born into poverty in the bustling city of Yunzhou, he had clawed his way up through sheer determination and ruthlessness.
Nothing had come easily.
Once a street orphan, he had become one of the most feared experts in the Inner Realms. His name once held weight.
Unfortunately, he had been destined to oppose Meng Qingxuan, the protagonist.
That fate had ended everything.
"What do you mean by 'a choice'?" Xiao Ning finally asked.
The glowing jade book responded immediately.
"To deny your current fate is to step outside the Great Dao entirely."
"Outside the Grand Dao?"
"Should you choose this path, your life signature will be erased from the Grand Dao system, denying you entry into the reincarnation cycle. Your original existence will cease, and you will exist beyond the Grand Dao's grasp."
Xiao Ning's heart sank. "Denied from reincarnation? That means... no future lives, no second chances after this one?"
"Correct," the jade book replied without hesitation. "This decision is irreversible."
"Should you fail in this new path, your consciousness will dissipate forever. No rebirth, no redemption. Only eternal oblivion awaits those who fall beyond the Grand Dao's reach."
Xiao Ning's mind raced as he processed the meaning behind those words. This was beyond anything he had faced before.
To step outside the Grand Dao meant severing all ties to the natural order. No cultivator would take such a step lightly.
But what choice did he truly have?
Remaining within the system meant accepting his fate: defeat at the hands of people like Meng Qingxuan, again and again, across endless lifetimes.
"And if I accept this... new path?"
The glowing jade book pulsed softly, its crystalline patterns shifting.
"Beyond the system lies chaos, unbound potential, and infinite possibility. You will no longer be constrained by the predetermined paths set forth by the Grand Dao system."
The patterns stopped moving.
"However, freedom comes at a cost. Outside the Grand Dao, you will face forces far greater than any cultivator bound by its rules."
Xiao Ning frowned as he considered it. Strength alone would not be enough.
For years, he had struggled against fate, only to remain trapped within it. This was the first real chance to break free.
"But why me?" he asked after a long pause.
"Why offer this choice to someone who has already failed?"