After a long and complicated process, it has finally come to an end.
First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my readers who have always supported me. In countless days and nights, whenever I wanted to give up, it was you who inspired me to keep going.
The original plan was only about 200,000 words, but I didn't expect it to go up to 300,000 as I wrote.
Even so, many details were not clearly explained.
But at that moment, my intuition told me that it should end there. So, some unresolved issues can only be explained in the epilogue.
First, as some people in the comments section have mentioned, does this book actually have a male protagonist?
Clearly, the focus of this book is on the female protagonist, Lu Zhaozhao, who relies on her own abilities and perseverance to get to where she is. While there are many male characters in the book, if the standard for a male lead is simply someone who falls in love with the female lead, then unfortunately, there isn't one. However, if the definition of a male lead is someone who can resonate with the female lead, then there are many characters in the book who meet this requirement in some way. Therefore, readers can judge for themselves; each person has their own perspective and can choose their own ideal male lead.
Secondly, there's the setting aspect.
Let's start with the Western Region. Wei Zhanjie's rebirth wasn't exactly a rebirth in the traditional sense; Wen Sheng's help was indispensable. Logically, he should have died after his physical demise, but his powerful will preserved a wisp of his soul. Later, Wen Sheng built the Mushan Nunnery at the place where he was sealed, connecting it to the stone chamber and the Western Region. Wen Sheng prepared for this for a hundred years, and later experienced a small-scale war, losing consciousness due to excessive exhaustion and entering the stone chamber, until Lu Zhaozhao arrived.
Therefore, his feelings for Lu Zhaozhao were more like those of a newborn animal seeing the first person it opens its eyes to—a natural affinity.
As for Cheng Sangji, he is, without exception, a tragic figure. He was born amidst celestial anomalies and was considered the natural successor, but fate played a cruel trick on him. Before he could even grow up peacefully, he encountered numerous setbacks, forcing him to kill his own relatives to force himself to become stronger. After that, his only remaining family members were his two cousins, Nan Rongrui and Tudan Xixiang.
Having gone through all this, he cared deeply for his two younger siblings. A thousand years ago in the Western Regions, amidst the entanglements of the eight tribes and the conflict between humans and demons, he did his best to protect them.
Unfortunately, after a single defeat, the situation in the Western Regions was reorganized. The original eight tribes were devastated, but with the fall of a whale, all things were born, and a new race is growing vigorously.
The transition between generations is the most painful. Nan Rongrui and Tudan Xixiang both paid the price with their lives, in exchange for Cheng Sangji's survival. For a thousand years, he lived alone until Wei Zhanjie pulled him into an illusion, where he saw his old relatives and friends again, and was drawn to Lu Zhaozhao under those circumstances.
In the end, I didn't include Cheng Sangji in the book. His life was bought with the deaths of countless people he cared about, so this time he wouldn't participate in these conflicts, even though the person he loved was at the center of them. The day he sent her out of the Western Border was, in Cheng Sangji's eyes, a final farewell.
We never saw each other again after that.
The book also connects the Western Regions to Zen Buddhism and Abbess Jingwen, who played an indelible role in Lu Zhaozhao's life.
Buddhism teaches about reincarnation. A thousand years ago, a thousand years later, the reincarnated person is a new beginning.
Having endured the suffering of a thousand years ago, Master Jingwen did not want history to repeat itself. She lived to the end with this conviction, and only when she saw that the future might be able to be changed did she leave this world in peace.
Her obsession was similar to Wei Zhanjie's, yet different. The similarity lay in the fact that they both sustained themselves for a thousand years because of it.
The difference lies in their devotion. Master Jingwen was solely focused on good, her obsession not for herself but for the greater good of the world. Therefore, she steadfastly followed her path until the very end. Wei Zhanjie, on the other hand, was driven by the betrayal of his dearest friend and the oppression of fate. His very birth destined him for a life of hardship; all his talents and abilities merely qualified him to become a villain. He was arguably the first in the book to awaken to the existence of the laws of nature. A thousand years had extinguished his will to live, and in the end, he chose to shatter like jade, thus fulfilling his own destiny.
As for Zen Buddhism, its practitioners, like ascetics, cultivate in the snowy lands, never changing their hearts or losing their will. One day, Zen disciples will shine again in the world of cultivation!
Finally, I would like to say that at the very beginning of this book, everyone was given a pre-determined path.
For example, Ying Che would have treated Lu Zhaozhao sincerely before Nian Zhi appeared, but after Nian Zhi's appearance, he would have various conflicts with Lu Zhaozhao because of this, which is the world's setting. But in the end, he gradually realized the irrationality of this setting, understood the wrongness of his previous behavior, and afterwards, his actions and thoughts would all come from his heart.
Take Yunxian for example. After a long struggle, he finally remembered the path he held dear in his heart, and it was because of this that the great battle was finally coming to an end.
As for Nian Zhi, the book's portrayal might make her seem less likable, but I personally have a unique vision for her. A young girl navigating between the demon and human races, she is definitely not as innocent as she appears. She uses cunning, makes her own decisions, and is not a naive and sweet heroine. Everything she does should serve her own interests, like an eagle catching its prey. This is my core concept for her, but unfortunately, due to limited space, I cannot fully demonstrate these aspects.
Throughout the entire book, the two people who resonate most with Lu Zhaozhao are actually Yaotong and Bai Yuanshi.
Yao Tong goes without saying; I think everyone can already tell from the main text. As for Bai Yuanshi, his attitude towards Lu Zhaozhao went from indifference at the beginning to curiosity after getting to know her, and finally, he developed feelings for her that he himself was unaware of.
Between them, no words are needed; a single glance is enough for them to understand each other. This kind of relationship is not that of lovers, but it is deeper than that of close friends.
Over the years, after Lu Zhaozhao's ascension, perhaps Bai Yuanshi will be able to figure out his true thoughts. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that the two will have the chance to meet again.
Last but not least, I want to thank everyone again for your support. Through all the ups and downs, without you, this book might not have been able to be finished.
After that, I might take a break for a while before starting a new book, or perhaps a flash of inspiration will come and I can immediately embark on the next journey.
In short, farewell, everyone!
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