“Survival is the instinct of all living things; it is never a sin,” the Divine Lady’s voice was as cold as ice. “But you used the excuse of chaotic times to commit slaughter, disregarding the lives of innocent beings and trampling upon the justice of this world. This is your original sin, and it is unforgivable.”
Luo Daoqing clenched his fists. He looked at the Divine Lady, his neck stiffening as he argued, “I wasn't the one at fault! I never wanted to kill; it was this chaotic era that forced my hand!”
A flicker of stubbornness crossed his eyes.
“That’s right, I was forced...”
“Enough.” The Divine Lady mused for a moment before speaking slowly, “Considering you are a person from the future who drifted into this world by accident and were not born bloodthirsty, I shall grant you a single chance.”
“If you can inhabit the identities of your victims and convince your past self to spare them, I will grant you a path to life, allowing you to live and atone for the sins you have committed.”
As the final word fell.
Suddenly, a crisp ringing of a bell echoed, and everyone’s consciousness receded like a tide.
When they opened their eyes again, they found themselves in a vast, pure white space.
Beneath their feet was neither soil nor stone, but a soft, flowing white light. It felt like stepping on clouds, yet it was solid to the touch.
Everyone stood frozen in place, not daring to move, or even breathe loudly.
Outside the space, Yun Shu put away the Dream-Entering Bell.
Due to the tight schedule, there hadn't been enough time to build a proper set, so this dreamscape was completely empty.
But that didn't matter.
It was only meant to stall for time anyway.
She raised her hand, tapping on the system panel to quickly equip the newly obtained Mirror of Retrospection Set.
Her clothes shifted and changed like flowing water.
The soft pink magnificent robes faded, replaced by the Trace-Light Robe—a smoky purple gauze gown with a trailing hem. The fabric was embroidered with silver thread in the pattern of the Big Dipper, with points of light flowing along the lines like the tracks of reversing time.
A narrow sash cinched her waist, adorned with a small mirror-shaped pendant with tassels that emitted a faint, cold glow.
The sleeves were wide, trembling like butterfly wings when they hung down.
After changing her outfit, she took out the Retrospection Gem, targeted the dream-bound Luo Daoqing, and read his memories from the entire year since he had transmigrated to this world.
Immediately after, she tirelessly switched to the Floating Dream Set. Together with the system, she began constructing the necessary scenes and characters based on Luo Daoqing’s memories.
Yun Shu looked at the crowd beginning to grow restless in the dream and said to the system, “Let’s build the scene for Xiaodie first. We’ll build the rest after activating the Domain of Retribution.”
“Understood!” the system replied with a nod.
And so.
The girl and the system began to work with all their might.
Before long.
Courtyards, corridors, rockeries, and ponds were all churned out at high speed by Yun Shu and the system.
Once she was sure there were no flaws, Yun Shu changed into her final outfit, the Heavenly Balance Set, and rang the Dream-Entering Bell once more.
With everything prepared, the show could finally begin.
Without any warning.
The people in the dream were pulled out of the pure white space by a powerful suction, returning to the city gate covered in flowers.
Before anyone could react, a massive Sky Curtain descended from the heavens, stretching across the entire gray sky like an infinite mirror.
The next second.
The white-haired, black-robed Divine Lady descended from the sky. A bead curtain hung from Her black-and-gold crown, obscuring Her eyes but enhancing Her majestic presence. The pressure She radiated was immense, making people instinctively submit.
“Luo Daoqing, her name is Xiaodie. She was the first innocent person you murdered. I have just visited the Nine Netherworld to bring her back to the mortal realm. Do you still remember her?”
A pale young girl floated out from the Sky Curtain above. Blood dripped from her eyes and the corners of her mouth, and a dagger was still plunged into her chest—a clear sign of a tragic death.
“Master Luo...” the girl’s voice was incredibly raspy.
Luo Daoqing looked at the girl whose feet did not touch the ground, and a look of terror gradually surfaced in his eyes.
How could he not remember?
The maid, Xiaodie, was the first person he saw after transmigrating to this world, and she was also the first person he killed.
During that period, he had nightmares every night, dreaming that Xiaodie was coming for his life, demanding blood for blood.
Feeling the direct, piercing gaze of the tragically killed girl on him, he shuddered violently.
“Divine Lady, let me explain! I really didn't mean to kill Xiaodie! After transmigrating here and becoming the notoriously evil sorcerer Luo Daoqing, I was terrified. I was afraid they would discover my secret and burn me alive as a demon. I lived every day in constant fear.”
“I thought I was hiding it well, but Xiaodie, his personal maid, was observant. She soon realized I was different from the original Luo Daoqing.”
“By accident, Xiaodie caught me experimenting with white phosphorus in the manor. She screamed in terror, calling me a man-eating monster. I was so scared at that moment; I just wanted to stop her from screaming, but I ended up killing her by mistake.”
The Divine Lady lowered Her eyes slightly, Her calm gaze falling upon Luo Daoqing as he desperately defended himself, Her expression unreadable.
“Since you claim you did not intend to kill Xiaodie, then you shall walk her path in her stead.”
The small ruler hanging from Her waist glowed.
It was the Ruler of Penal Law, which could multiply a person’s perception of pain.
Before Luo Daoqing could grasp the meaning of the Divine Lady’s words, the scene before his eyes began to shift rapidly.
In the blink of an eye, he was in a strange place.
He looked down.
He was wearing a coarse, blue-gray dress, with thin silver bracelets on his wrists. He reached up to touch his face, feeling soft cheeks and neatly styled double-loop buns.
“What... what’s going on?”
When he spoke, the voice was soft and delicate—clearly Xiaodie’s voice. “How did I become Xiaodie?”
“You have three days to change Xiaodie’s fate,” the Divine Lady’s voice echoed from the void above.
“If she lives, you live. If she dies, you die.”
Luo Daoqing jerked his head up. He then saw a semi-transparent screen floating above him, showing the figures of the Divine Lady, Shen Jue, and the others.
They were watching him.
As if watching a criminal about to be executed.
In fact, that was exactly what was happening.
On the other side, not just Shen Jue and his companions, but all the citizens of Xindu could see that massive Sky Curtain.
This was thanks to the Dream-Entering Bell and the Level 2 Floating Dream Set. Not only were the healing skills enhanced, but the range of the dream-induction skill had also expanded significantly.
Xindu City fell into chaos at the appearance of the Sky Curtain.
The commoners were already worried about the State Preceptor leading an army to their gates; now, with such a strange phenomenon appearing, their terror only grew.
“Could it be that the State Preceptor has breached the gates and is using sorcery to take us? What are we going to do?”
“Heaven is angry! It’s over, it’s all over...”
“Nannan, hurry and eat this pancake. Even if we die, we should go with a full stomach. Eat quickly!”
Everyone wore a mournful expression, as if they were about to be led to the execution ground, their hearts exceptionally heavy.
A city guard ran through the streets, panting as he shouted, “Don’t be afraid, everyone! That’s not a heavenly punishment! It’s the Divine Lady manifesting Her power! The Divine Lady is punishing the wicked!”
“Officer, is what you’re saying true?”
“It’s true, it’s true! The person in that Sky Curtain is the evil State Preceptor, Luo Daoqing! The Divine Lady used Her magic to turn him into the maid Xiaodie, whom he murdered...”
After hearing the guard’s explanation, the crowd’s fear of the Sky Curtain lessened, replaced by a curious desire to watch the spectacle.
After all, the Sky Curtain didn't just have images; it had sound too. It seemed even more interesting than a play.
An old man brought a stool out from his house, placed it on the street, and sat down boldly.
Then came a second person, then a third...
Before long, the once-empty streets were filled with small groups of people.
Some were cracking melon seeds, some were holding tea bowls, and some had children perched on their shoulders.
Everyone was pointing and whispering about Luo Daoqing inside the Sky Curtain, just as if they were listening to a story at a teahouse.
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