It was utter blackness, profound darkness; I could see nothing, hear nothing, feel nothing—no up, no down, no left, no right! No weight!

I have no way to describe what kind of state this was!

Ignorance, numbness, insensibility! I couldn't even feel my own existence! It seemed that aside from my thoughts, I was nothing left. No eyes, no ears, no hands, no feet! Yet, strangely, I felt no fear or panic whatsoever; instead, there was an inexplicable sense of peace and solidity. Could it be that I am dead? Is this what it feels like after death?

The past drifted by like smoke, vividly before my eyes. I remembered clearly every detail of what had been. However, thinking back now, it all seemed like something incredibly, incredibly distant! Twenty-two years of ordinary life! After that, it seemed I even experienced a bizarre and strange life in another world! Now, savoring it all, everything—was it just a dream? Could the sum of both my lifetimes amount to nothing more than an illusory dream? Then what am I now? What is the me in the dream? What will the future me become?

For some reason, a poem suddenly flashed in my mind; I recalled it was written by Emperor Shunzhi! It was very long, but a few lines have always remained deeply imprinted on me:

Who was I before I was born, Who am I when I am born, Who am I when I grow up, And who am I when my eyes close in slumber.

Confused coming, lost departing, Coming and going, always unaware. Better not to come, nor to go, Neither joy nor sorrow.

I could never understand it before! So this is what an emperor spent his life seeking! No joy, no sorrow, no grief, no self, no thought, no form, no appearance, no knowledge, no sensation! In this very moment, however, I experienced a profound, enlightening clarity! Perhaps it is time to let everything go! If quiet serenity is possible, to continue like this might not be so bad. Is this the feeling after death? It turns out death is not terrifying; why do so many people dread its arrival?

My consciousness grew fainter, blurring until it was almost blank! But just then, I suddenly felt several intense streams of emotion—a sensation that was not unfamiliar, as I had experienced something similar when communicating with the Sword Spirit and the little fellow. However, never had it been so clear, so profound. A grief etched into the very bone! Attachment, reluctance to part, closeness! I could not describe it in words, yet I truly felt their presence! My heart suddenly felt hollowed out, as if something had pierced through it! That sense of peace, tranquility, and harmony was instantly shattered into pieces! What is happening? Why is this occurring? Why does this feeling make me so sad, refusing to dissipate? It clung to me like an invisible black hole, holding fast. It was Yin Shuang! And Mother! And Shen Yin! And Yan Luo! And Chongyang Chen Feng! These were my loved ones, companions with whom I had shared life and death! The people I cared for most! Countless vibrant faces flashed relentlessly through my thoughts. Like invisible threads, they kept me from letting go completely. If I let go of Mother like this, what would happen to her! What about Yin Shuang! Should I let her become a widow just after she became my bride! And what about the Demon Dragon Empire, the Black Banner Army—would the Church spare them? Innumerable, turbulent thoughts flooded in like a bursting dam! No! I cannot just abandon them like this! But what can I do! I cannot move; I cannot even feel the existence of my body, so what can I possibly do! Perhaps the only thing I can do is maintain my conscious awareness!

I don't know how long passed—perhaps only seconds, perhaps a century! In the current state, there was no clear reference point, and my concept of time began to blur as well. My entire mind, my entire soul, seemed imprisoned within a sealed space! But at this moment, I sensed a strange aura accumulating within this confined space. I concentrated, trying to feel it out! I cannot describe what it was. Gentle, it seemed to be flowing slowly. Like a trickle of water accidentally discovered in a deep mountain gorge. Though faint, that vibrant vitality brought forth a sense of the joy of life! Qi! It was Qi! Though I could not see it or touch it, I was certain it was Qi! As if sensing my intent, that faint Qi actually began to slowly approach me. Yes, even though I could not confirm what form I was in, or what 'I' truly was, that Qi became clearer and clearer! Denser! So dense that it merged into one with me.

What in the world is happening! Even though I considered myself accustomed to storms and tempests, even experiencing the bizarre event of transmigration, I was utterly bewildered by the present situation. However, instinct told me that this suddenly appearing Qi was far from ordinary; perhaps my ability to escape this predicament rested entirely on this Qi!

For the time following, I constantly pondered this strange Qi, attempting to communicate with it! And this Qi seemed capable of transforming freely according to my thoughts—sometimes as slight as the wind, sometimes as ethereal as clouds. It was as if whatever state I conceived, it could manifest that state.

I don't know how long this state lasted. But gradually, I felt this Qi growing stronger! As the Qi strengthened, I also began to feel that the sealed world was loosening, much like a fragile eggshell! Finally, one day, that fragile shell burst open! The world at that moment became incredibly clear! Familiar, yet imbued with a strange sense of distance and separation. It felt like returning to a place long since abandoned. Though it was empty and numb, there was an exhilarating ecstasy and agitation that made my heart pound! Ah! It was my body—I could actually feel the existence of my body! Eyes, mouth, hands, feet! I instinctively opened my eyes! What greeted my gaze was a soft, gentle light, like a luminous, shimmering mist. Ethereal, agile, yet containing infinite vitality, it gave me a feeling of profound familiarity. Yes, this aura seemed to be the same Qi that had broken through the sealed space! And the source of the Qi was directly beneath me. Only then did I realize that I seemed to be lying within a massive array of light! It was warm, soft, and incredibly comfortable; even the softest Simmons mattress from my previous life could not compare to this marvelous grand array. Hmm, excellent!

I’ve decided, this is going to be my bed from now on!

I instinctively sat up cross-legged! Only then did I notice that this place appeared to be a vast, grand hall. The surroundings were empty; the only object seemed to be the light array beneath me. What place is this? I strained to stand up! Only to be struck by a sudden wave of dizziness! It nearly caused me to fall. Damn it, when did I become so fragile! My entire body lacked even a trace of strength!

Stumbling, I managed to reach the hall entrance! Before me lay a small path paved with mother-of-pearl stone, stretching toward the distance, where I could vaguely make out the picturesque beauty of the sunset amidst mountain peaks. It seemed as if the entire world was dyed red by the evening glow, appearing hazy, magnificent, dreamlike. Lining both sides of the avenue were rows of silvery-white snow pines—a rare tree species that could only be grown in the Imperial Palace of the Demon Dragon Empire. Each one was tall, straight, and full of life! Strolling among them felt like being immersed in a vast, verdant forest! The sound of trickling water could be heard from a short distance away. Beyond the pine forest, on a small hill not far off, a creek winding like a jade belt snaked out, adding grace and vibrancy to this teeming world. Instantly, a feeling of yearning surged within me! It was the Sunset Cloud Palace! This was the Sunset Cloud Palace where Mother and I used to live!

Beside the stream was a patch of yellow-green flower clusters. The familiar scent of grass and blossoms allowed me to quickly identify it: the unique fragrance of ginkgo flowers. Within the flower patch were several hazy figures, seemingly busy picking the blossoms. But when they lifted their heads, I finally saw their faces clearly! It was Mother and Yin Shuang! Along with Shen Yin, Shen Yi, Matcha, and the few maids serving Mother. Their black pupils, long blue hair, and haggard, melancholy faces were completely different from the radiant images in my memory; they seemed to have aged considerably. And Yin Shuang’s appearance had also changed significantly. She had become more mature, lacking her former determined steadfastness, now possessing a kind of calm, gentle composure, truly like a warm and considerate housewife. As for the changes in Shen Yin and Shen Yi, they were astonishingly great—if I hadn't been so familiar with them, I might not have recognized them!

At the sight of me, they all froze on the spot! "Is that Xiao Man?" I wondered if I had misheard! This gentle, melodic female voice had come from Mother’s mouth! "It truly is Your Highness," Yin Shuang rushed over even more wildly! "Xingchen," Shen Yin and Shen Yi were equally overjoyed!

Before I could react, I felt two masses of flesh press tightly against my chest. Soft jade and warm fragrance, breath like orchid nectar, stirring up an intoxicating and feverish urge. "I say, if you keep holding me like this, I might actually pass out," being embraced by beauties naturally made my mind wander, but alas, having just recovered from a serious illness, I was too weak to enjoy such proximity. "Ah!" Yin Shuang finally reacted, her face flushing crimson; she felt her own transformation was too drastic. "Xiao Man, you're truly awake," Mother hurried to my side now. "Ah, Mother, you can really talk now?" I was still a little disbelieving. "Yes!" Mother embraced me again, extremely emotional: "You scared me to death; I thought you would never wake up."

Ugh! Although the reunion with my mother was touching, I felt like a grown man being treated as a human pillow. How frustrating! Yin Shuang was like this, and now Mother is too. After a long while, Mother finally released me. Shen Yin and Shen Yi, though equally excited, kept studying me! A hint of confusion and strangeness shone in their eyes. "Um, is there something strange about me?" I felt a little uneasy. "Strange? You haven't changed at all after all these years," Shen Yin suddenly remarked. "All these years?" I felt puzzled. "Did I remain unconscious for a long time?" I instinctively glanced at Yin Shuang, only to see her looking as if she wanted to speak but held back. What is going on! "How long was I actually unconscious?" Even I, being somewhat slow, sensed that something was highly unusual. "You were unconscious for a full twenty-five years," Mother said, though with some hesitation! "What, twenty-five years!" I was stunned for a moment. "This servant will inform the Emperor and the others!" Shen Yi quickly recovered, grabbing Matcha's hand and bolting out of the woods. As for me, I remained dumbstruck! How could this be! My unconsciousness lasted twenty-five years! No wonder I felt Mother had changed so much; it turned out time spares no one; Mother was already over sixty years old. Because she hadn't practiced magic, Taoist arts, or martial skills, Mother looked older than before, and even her blue hair showed streaks of gray. As for Yin Shuang, she already possessed considerable cultivation. I didn't know what rigorous training she underwent during those twenty-five years, but I could sense her current cultivation level was astonishingly high—even stronger than the old Priestess back then. Her appearance hadn't changed much, but the temperament and depth accumulated over the years could not be concealed. No wonder I felt she had changed so much. In the blink of an eye, twenty-five years had passed. Twenty-five years! How many twenty-five-year spans does a person have in a lifetime, yet I let one pass by in a flash, without even the slightest unusual sensation. "A lot has happened during this time," Yin Shuang sighed deeply. "You need to be prepared!" "A lot has happened," I murmured blankly. "Hehe, first, congratulations," Shen Yin chirped happily. "Ten months after you fell unconscious, Sister Yin Shuang gave birth to a pair of lovely babies for you." "Ah, Yin Shuang had children for me!" I exclaimed in shock. "..." Yin Shuang beside me was already bright red with embarrassment; she pulled my head into her chest, exquisitely shy and captivating: "Yes, a pair of dragon and phoenix twins." Everyone around wore mischievous smiles. Good heavens, I'm a father now! I never thought that just five days after the wedding night, I managed to hit the mark, and it was a double shot! "Hehe, I'm a father," this news was too shocking; I never expected this; I, too, have reached this day! For a moment, all I could do was giggle stupidly! My son, my daughter—I wonder what they look like, are they cute? But soon, I felt something was wrong. "Wait, you said I was unconscious for twenty-five years. Doesn't that mean my two children should already be twenty-four and grown up?" "Of course," Yin Shuang replied with a hint of pride. "How could this be! Then I didn't get to see them as little children?" "Heh heh, indeed," Shen Yin showed a trace of regret. "These two little ones were quite cute and obedient when they were small, but once they grew up, they didn't like clinging to their Auntie anymore." As she said this, Shen Yin displayed that peculiar expression again. "However, hehe, they are much more capable than you. Two years ago, they already gave you two grandsons and two granddaughters, haha! The palace is quite lively now." "Wait, what did you just say?" I could hardly believe my ears. "My children... they had children?" "Yes," Yin Shuang nodded shyly beside me. "You are not only a father now, but also a grandfather and a maternal grandfather." "..." Grandfather, Maternal Grandfather—how is this possible! I am a grandfather and a maternal grandfather! This shock was no less than a collision between Mars and the Earth! Waking up from a single sleep, I was instantly a father, a grandfather, and a maternal grandfather! This world is too crazy! Heavens, am I still dreaming!