Chapter 113: The Grand Finale

She announced her marriage on a livestream, showing off her handsome partner to everyone and even revealing they had a child who was already a few years old. It was a classic case of staying silent until making a thunderous impact; the news surged into the top ten trending topics that very evening.

Both the streaming platform and several business partners offered their congratulations. Even the game developer that had frequently collaborated with Xu Nuo’s family—or rather, Xu Nuo’s "maiden home"—sent their blessings in the form of a limited-edition skin for the character Gu Qianyan, named by Xu Nuo herself.

Though it wasn't the wedding attire the groom had worn, it was a high-quality "Epic" tier skin titled "Dream Return." Xu Nuo had initially suggested basing the skin on Gu Qianyan’s wedding outfit, but he refused. The wedding clothes held too much significance; he only wanted to wear them alongside her. To celebrate the marriage, the skin was made free to try for the day, followed by a twenty percent discount the next day, with purchasers entered into a draw for exclusive wedding gifts.

During the planning phase, the developers had been desperate to use Gu Qianyan as the face of the promotion, repeatedly asking him to cosplay as his own in-game character, even offering an astronomical fee. Unfortunately, Gu Qianyan remained unmoved. He wasn't short on money—though Xiao Huan didn't believe that. In her eyes, he was an unemployed house-husband who knew nothing but chores and, as someone without a proper identity, couldn't even land a decent job. To prove his financial status, Gu Qianyan made the wedding even more extravagant, covering every single expense himself. When Xu Nuo asked where the money came from, he replied that in the world of Lu Ciyuan, he had as much wealth as he wanted—jewels and gold were his for the taking. Xu Nuo breathed a sigh of relief; at least he hadn't conjured them with magic. She had checked—they were ordinary gold and jewels, nothing out of the ordinary.

Tonight was their wedding night, yet the bride, Xu Nuo, was livestreaming a game with her groom. As usual, she played as Gu Qianyan, but with a twist: she used an AI version of him that she had personally trained to play ranked matches. During the games, players could take control from the AI at any time. However, AI players were generally considered "dead weight," and few could be trained to dominate in actual combat. Xu Nuo’s AI Gu Qianyan was still testing at a low rank.

No one disputed that Xu Nuo was a great gamer, but her skill didn't necessarily translate to her AI. She wasn't worried, though. AI players were labeled as "dead weight" because they were usually used by people who didn't know how to play, leading to high loss rates. Xu Nuo only used the AI for casual matches, which was why it remained at a low rank.

"Watch how well I've trained him," Xu Nuo said. Under the skeptical gaze of the audience, the AI carried the entire match. It was effortless. After a few more rounds of dominating the field and achieving "Godlike" streaks, Xu Nuo had no more concerns. She announced that she would be taking a honeymoon, and during this time, the AI would take over her streams.

[???]

Oh, so that’s how it works? Can't you play games while on your honeymoon? Even an hour or two would be fine—it would be better if you two appeared on camera more!

No matter how the fans pleaded, Xu Nuo didn't change her mind. The main issue was that there was no internet where they were going.

After spending some time in the real world settling affairs, Xu Nuo returned with Gu Qianyan to the original Xianxia world. Thousands of years had passed, and the world had transformed. The once-barren Demon Realm was now covered in brilliant flowers. The streets were no longer filled solely with strange demons but had become a melting pot of different lives.

Ever since Lu Ciyuan took power thousands of years ago, he had unified the thirteen cities as the first Demon Lord. This ruler, who had slain the thirteen city lords upon his arrival, had prevented the war with the cultivation world, forcibly suppressing the conflict that had been on the verge of erupting. Following that, the Demon Realm underwent a massive change. Although the Demon Lord was temperamental and bloodthirsty, he did things completely contrary to his nature: he banned private feuds, encouraged the domestication of wildlife for livestock, promoted the planting of crops, and planned city construction. With his overwhelming martial might, he forced the unruly demons to farm and raise pigs. Generation after generation passed, and the Demon Realm changed beyond recognition. People were astonished to find that the barbaric demons of their memories had learned to farm, developed their own civilization, and become much more gentle and polite.

Once the realm stabilized, the Demon Lord abdicated and vanished without a trace. Some said he was nearing his end; others claimed he was executed by the Heavens. Some even said he had gone to seek immortality—a ridiculous rumor, as how could a demon seek the path of a deity? Regardless of the rumors, the Demon Lord never appeared again.

Walking into the city, which now possessed a unique, exotic charm, Xu Nuo could hardly recognize the primitive town it once was. Thousands of years had passed; she no longer had to fear being hunted down. She and Gu Qianyan walked down the long street, listening to the vendors hawking their wares and smelling the aroma of food wafting through the air. Seeing the Demon Realm Gu Qianyan had built, Xu Nuo felt a deep sense of gratification—the stubborn boy had truly grown up.

After wandering through the Demon Realm, Xu Nuo suggested visiting the Dongtian Sect. The sect hadn't changed much; the familiar mountain pavilions remained. A group of boys and girls were climbing the long stairs to the registration desk—it was the day the sect opened its doors to new disciples. Xu Nuo and Gu Qianyan exchanged a look; he understood what she wanted, and they transformed themselves into the appearance of teenagers.

"Little Lu," Xu Nuo couldn't help but call him by his old name.

"Miss Xu, let's go," the boy said, a clean smile on his youthful face as he took her hand and stepped up the blue stone stairs.

They strolled along, feeling no fatigue, and soon reached the registration desk. The registrar took one look at their joined hands and shook his head. "We do not accept couples."

Xu Nuo was puzzled. "Is that a rule?" It hadn't been one before; they were cultivators, not monks.

"It wasn't before, but it is now," Gu Qianyan said, taking her hand and moving aside to let the others pass.

Behind them, the young disciples whispered, "I can't believe they dared to show up holding hands." "Don't they know the sect hates couples?" "Ever since that incident, the Dongtian Sect has banned romance among disciples."

The registrar’s face turned pale. Did these kids think he was deaf? The young couple, however, didn't seem hurt; they just smiled and walked away. The registrar sighed, thinking it a pity—both children had the aptitude for cultivation, but their involvement in romance meant they were not meant for the sect.

Halfway down the mountain, they encountered an old man selling sugar water. As they drank, they listened to him recount the tale of a sect immortal’s niece who, thousands of years ago, fell in love with a Demon Lord, stole a sect treasure, was deceived by him, and ultimately lost her life. After that, the sect added the prohibition.

The two people involved sat under the tree, listening to this embellished, distorted version of their history. It seemed the Dongtian Sect really bore a grudge; in the most popular version of the story, she was a hopeless romantic, foolish beyond redemption.

As they left the stall and walked along the forest path, Gu Qianyan spoke, "I returned the Jade Book to Xu Qingyin."

"Oh," Xu Nuo replied.

"He is still around. Do you want to see him?"

"He's still alive?" she asked without thinking.

"Yes." As Gu Qianyan spoke, his expression shifted. "We don't need to go find him."

Xu Nuo turned and saw a white-clad figure. Xu Qingyin stared at the girl in disbelief; she looked exactly like Xu Nuo, down to her temperament and gaze. But Xu Nuo had... her soul had been impossible to find; it was no different from being scattered to the winds. His gaze shifted to Gu Qianyan. He had watched Gu Qianyan descend into madness all those years ago; he never expected to see him so peaceful now.

"Long time no see," Xu Nuo said.

At the sound of her voice, Xu Qingyin knew it was his niece. He took a deep breath and offered a faint smile. "Long time no see." He hadn't changed, but his aura was different—less cold and inhuman.

"He practices the Path of Ruthlessness," Gu Qianyan noted.

"Doesn't look like he’s succeeded," Xu Nuo replied.

Xu Qingyin prepared wine and food for them. Seeing him sitting there with a cup and chopsticks shattered Xu Nuo’s image of him as someone beyond the reach of worldly matters. He spoke calmly about the changes in the world and eventually offered to pass his cultivation to her to help her shed her mortal form.

"If you pass all your cultivation to me, what about you?" Xu Nuo asked calmly.

"My time is near," he replied indifferently. "What use is this cultivation now?" All these years, he had failed to master the Path of Ruthlessness and ascend. He was the same now as he had been thousands of years ago, yet he had broken his vows. Perhaps he was never meant to reach the Great Dao.

Xu Nuo saw his resignation. Since he couldn't master it, he simply stopped trying. She declined his offer but spent the afternoon chatting with him. Gu Qianyan didn't know what they discussed, but when they emerged, the once-listless Xu Qingyin seemed reborn, his mind clear, and a bottleneck he had been stuck at for years showed signs of loosening.

"What did you say to him?" Gu Qianyan asked.

"Nothing much. Just that I’m living well and don’t blame him. And that if one path doesn't work, he should try another. Who said the Path of Ruthlessness requires cold indifference? How can he renounce emotions he’s never even experienced?"

After parting with Xu Qingyin, they traveled on, with Xu Nuo carrying a storage space full of gifts. They toured the mountains and rivers, eating their way through every food street. Of course, there was also the matter of cultivation. Xu Nuo used her original body, which had the aptitude for it; though she had missed the prime age, maintaining her youth was no problem.

After their travels, Gu Qianyan implemented his strict cultivation plan. He was usually doting, but he was ruthless when it came to training. Neither pouting nor acting angry worked. Occasionally, Xu Qingyin would pass by, and Xu Nuo would beg for mercy. Under Gu Qianyan's strict supervision, she finally reached a level where she could "graduate."

Back in the modern world, Xu Nuo felt exhausted. Xiao Huan and the audience were curious. "Weren't you on your honeymoon? Why are you so tired?"

To be precise, only Xu Nuo was tired; Gu Qianyan looked as energetic as ever. During her absence, Xiao Huan had managed the stream, letting the AI Gu Qianyan play. At first, the audience was fascinated, but the novelty wore off, and viewership dropped. However, before Xiao Huan could contact her, the traffic returned—the AI’s playstyle had changed, becoming even more brilliant and flashy. It seemed Xu Nuo had secretly adjusted the data while on her "honeymoon." In reality, no one would have guessed it was Gu Qianyan himself playing.

The Xianxia world had its charms, but it lacked the conveniences of modern life. While Gu Qianyan tried his best to accommodate her, Xu Nuo missed her home. Besides, she didn't want to be forced to wake up early for cultivation. After not playing for a while, her skills had dipped, and she gradually regained her edge in the game.

Gu Qianyan watched her, puzzled. Why was she so passionate about fighting in a game, yet lacked motivation for real cultivation?

"Because in the game, I can do as I please without burden," she explained honestly. "Reality is different."

Her cultivation training involved real combat with beasts. While she wasn't afraid, she simply didn't have much interest in it.

So that was it. Understanding her mindset, Gu Qianyan adjusted her training.

After a month of resting in the modern world, Xu Nuo grew bored. "Not playing games anymore?" Gu Qianyan asked, wearing an apron. As a competent house-husband, he never asked if the game was more important than him.

"I'm tired of it," she said. There were no interesting games left on the market.

"Shall we visit the world where we first met?" he suggested.

"Alright!" Her interest piqued.

She posted a "return date unknown" notice on her account, ignored the comments about her being "distracted by love," and set off with Gu Qianyan.

Stepping back onto the ruins of the apocalypse, Gu Qianyan’s heart was different now. They went straight to the camp they had built. Years had passed; the villa was weathered, the walls cracked like scars, and the garden was overgrown. The interior was thick with dust, and the furniture had rotted. Xu Nuo’s room was locked, but the lock fell apart at a touch. Inside, her belongings had been carefully covered, but time had taken its toll.

It was clearly uninhabitable. Gu Qianyan prepared to use magic to restore it, but Xu Nuo stopped him. "Leave it. It’s a memory. If we restore it, we lose the traces of our past."

She cleared the weeds herself and found some hardy vegetables still growing. They cleaned the place up together. They didn't intend to stay in the villa; they would build a new house. Xu Nuo, wanting to show off, stumbled through using magic to build a frame, eventually becoming quite skilled. She loved the challenge.

The hardest part wasn't building the house; it was farming. She wanted to enjoy the process, so she didn't use magic to speed things up. Gu Qianyan picked up a hoe, his face smeared with mud. Having been a Demon Lord and an Immortal, he hadn't done such manual labor in ages.

"So inefficient," Xu Nuo laughed, seeing his muddy face. "How long will this take?"

"An eternity," he replied with a smile.

In the distance, two figures approached. "I told you we shouldn't have gone to the South Pole! Look at this place—it's practically a desert now."

"Tsk, who was it that applied for the Antarctic expedition?"

Hearing the familiar voices, Xu Nuo looked up and saw two stunned faces. Her heart raced.

"Xu Nuo?" they asked, disbelieving.

"Yes," she said, recalling their names. "Young Master Sheng, and Brother Lin?"

They rushed over, only to be stopped ten meters away by Gu Qianyan. Sheng Ming stared at them, trying to see if he was hallucinating. "How... how are you back?"

"We're here to hand out wedding candy," Gu Qianyan said, magically producing two gift bags printed with their names.

Sheng Ming and Lin Qisheng exchanged a look and laughed. "Why so protective? We’re not going to steal her."

"When did you get married?" Lin Qisheng asked. "You didn't even invite us! That's not fair."

They each took a bag, their expressions calm. It seemed they had truly let go, which put Gu Qianyan at ease. Xu Nuo smiled; with more hands, their camp would soon come to life again. Lin Qisheng and Sheng Ming joined in the work. Xu Nuo didn't forget anyone—she dragged 007 out of her storage space. "Little Seven, don't be lazy!"