Between Tian Shuangxin and Zhizhi, the barrier between dream and reality quietly dissolved, transforming into a warm, shimmering haze.
Beside the shores of The Frozen Jade Lake, a thin mist acted like a veil; a gentle breeze brushed past, clearing the fog and seemingly sweeping away the estrangement that once sat between their hearts.
Within the rippling light of the lake, a solid red thread flickered into view, tenderly intertwining and floating as if embracing them in a phantom hold.
The color of the thread was now pure and singular—much like the Karma between them that had undergone great turmoil to finally reach unification.
It was inseparable, radiating a soft yet resolute glow, as if heralding the beginning of a brand-new bond.
"Mama..." Zhizhi leaned against Tian Shuangxin's side, the man's head lowering slightly to nuzzle her hand.
His voice carried an imperceptible tremor—the joy of a long-suppressed heart and the happiness of reclaiming what was lost.
This was the first time since obtaining a human body, peering into Tian Shuangxin's memories, and seeing the truth of the past that he had called her by this name. He had finally returned to his "Pack."
High above in the boundless void, the Divine Realm remained desolate, save for a Goddess and a beast.
Witnessing this, She felt a stir in Her heart and remarked with deep emotion:
"In the world of the myriad spirits... There was originally no shadow, nor any sense of right or wrong. Their eyes, in those barren stretches of life... reflect only a single name."
The Divine Voice was majestic, yet filled with mercy and maternal love. At this moment, these words could only be heard by the Nightmare Beast beside Her.
"Even if they are discarded in the freezing winter, exiled to the wilderness, or lost on the distant shore—as long as they hear that faint sliver of a call, they will still cross the boundaries of life and death, resolutely rushing toward the 'whole world' that once abandoned them."
Floating before Her was a Water Mirror. It clearly reflected Tian Shuangxin's face, as well as the joys, sorrows, helplessness, anger, and playfulness of the myriad sentient beings within the Eden Dream.
"Look... they never seek explanations; they only seek a place to belong. Because the place where you are, is the only sanctuary for their souls. I hope you all cherish and value this..."
Her eyes brimmed with benevolence and a profound, lingering hope.
Within the Water Mirror, Zhizhi raised his head, his clear eyes shimmering with a child-like, primal longing.
He finally mustered the courage he had been gathering: "I want strawberry crackers... the kind you used to make for me."
Tian Shuangxin's heart jolted; tears instantly blurred her vision. It was such a distant and warm memory—so old she almost thought it had been washed away by the hardships of life.
She held Zhizhi tightly, nodding through her sobs: "Okay, okay, Mama will make them for you. I'll make them right now..."
This word, "Mama", was the most beautiful echo on her path to redemption, and the final confirmation of "Home" for the depths of Zhizhi's soul.
In the air, the sweet fragrance of strawberry crackers seemed to already be drifting—the scent of a reclaimed bond belonging only to the two of them.
Meanwhile, outside that warm sanctuary of happiness and tranquility, the Blue Bird—having completed its mission of leading the way—quietly spread its emerald wings and departed.
It crossed over mountain ranges and glided over dense forests, finally alighting in a secluded, secret realm hidden from human traces.
Here, spiritual mists swirled and rosy clouds shimmered. In the center stood a primitive, unadorned Water Mirror. Its surface was as smooth as congealed fat and as clear as glazed glass, silently reflecting the myriad scenes of heaven and earth.
The Blue Bird folded its wings at the mirror's edge. In a flash, green light erupted from its body, and its form shifted rapidly.
In an instant, the tiny, exquisite bird transformed into a magnificent and extraordinary great Qīngluán (Blue Phoenix).
Its wings were a kaleidoscope of flowing light, its tail feathers trailed like a waterfall, and its gaze held both the wisdom of one who has seen the world and an undeniable majesty.
The Blue Phoenix let out a soft cry, a clear and melodious sound that echoed through the secret realm.
The Water Mirror rippled in response. Before long, a petite figure stepped out from the mirror—it was the former white mouse, named by the Beast God and burdened with heavy responsibility: Qinghong.
Seeing the Blue Phoenix, Qinghong bowed deeply. "Lord Blue Phoenix."
The Blue Phoenix inclined its head slightly, its voice as clear as jade striking stone.
"Qinghong, at the dawn of this 'Great Restoration,' I have fulfilled my promise to help you achieve your long-cherished wish. Now, do not forget the vow you made to me."
Its massive head lowered, the sharp pupils reflecting Qinghong's small figure with a scrutinizing gaze.
Grateful tears welled in Qinghong's eyes as she nodded repeatedly. "Thank you for your secret help, Lord Blue Phoenix. I'll not forget—I dare not forget."
Satisfied, the Blue Phoenix raised its head and let out two high, resonant cries: "Qiang—Qiang—!"
Mindful of the girl's small stature, it unfurled its sky-blotting wings slowly, creating a gentle, cool breeze rather than a violent gale.
It extended a massive claw covered in shimmering scales, beckoning Qinghong to board.
Qinghong's heart hammered against her ribs. Having lived as an ordinary white mouse and now as a plain human, she had never flown in her life. Her fear was only natural.
But, remembering the Beast God's grand vision and her own mission, she gritted her teeth and suppressed her terror.
She took a deep breath, her gaze hardening with resolve, and stepped onto the Blue Phoenix's claw. She sat down carefully, hugging the bird's pillar-like leg with all her might, and squeezed her eyes shut.
Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, she chanted internally. This is for the mission given by Her! Ganbatte...
The Blue Phoenix saw through her nerves and gave a satisfied nod, a flash of light passing through its phoenix eyes as it sent a secret message to the Nightmare Beast, who was diligently weaving dreams in the Divine Realm.
To distract herself, Qinghong forced her thoughts elsewhere.
She remembered the images she had seen in the Water Mirror—
The scene of Tian Shuangxin and Zhizhi embracing, their singular red thread of Karma glowing brightly.
To her, this wasn't just a reconciliation; it was a sign that the "Soul Reshaping" project was working.
"Zhizhi, congratulations... You lived," she whispered, her voice scattered by the wind.
Suddenly, they hit what felt like an invisible wall of water. Blue Phoenix beat its wings, carrying Qinghong through it.
Together, they turned into a streak of emerald light and vanished from the secret realm.
In the Divine Realm, the Nightmare Beast moved on tiptoe, blinking guiltily. The Great One... She didn't notice, right?
Beside it, the Beast God's lips curled into a nearly imperceptible, knowing smile.
With the secret help of the Nightmare Beast, the "Duo" who had sneaked into the dream to help Zhizhi had slipped away unnoticed.
She shifted Her gaze to a vastly different space.
Far from the warmth of the dream, Hans, the Lawyer stood in a void of chaos.
There was no up or down, no passage of time—only him and a hovering silver scale radiating a celestial glow.
Hans was no longer the opportunist he once was. His eyes were focused and cold as he tapped the air.
Abstract symbols—Justice, Evidence, Defense, Punishment, Redemption—
emerged from the void and drifted toward the scale.
"To build a true 'Soul Court', these are not enough," Hans muttered to the scales.
"We need standards for 'Intent', metrics for 'Repentance', and deep assessments of 'Harm'. We must distinguish between 'Ignorance' and 'Malice', and weigh the impact of 'Environment' versus 'Nature'."
As he refined the logic of this new judicial system, the silver scale hummed in "Assessment". The laws of the old world were hollow here; he was forging the new Iron Law of the soul.
When Hans spoke the words, "The possibility of redemption should be proportional to the depth of the soul's stain, yet must also consider an individual's actual contribution to the 'Great Restoration'."
The two pans of the scale coalesced into faint glimmers of light, achieving a delicate sense of equilibrium.
A flash of excitement crossed Hans's eyes. He knew he was participating in a sacred and monumental creation—weaving the web of a new order for this reshaped world.
After seeing that progress here was stable, She turned Her gaze elsewhere.
Not all dreams were so peaceful, nor could everyone possess the tranquility of Tian Shuangxin and her Zhizhi, or focus on the construction of rules like Hans.
At this moment, high-level world leaders were mired in their own dream domains.
Some were immersed in an "Eden-like" vision where their souls were purified and all things lived in harmony; others had fallen into "Karmic Nightmares" born from past environmental destruction and the mistreatment of living beings, enduring endless regret and terror.
In a quiet corner of the Eden Dream, on a meadow covered in dandelions.
The leaders of the Long Nation gathered alongside representatives from nations that had reacted swiftly to Her descent by purging abusers from their ranks:
the loyal St. Bernard Nation, the protective Golden Lion Unicorn Nation, the Three Golden Lions Nation, the resolute Black Eagle Nation and Red Lion Nation, as well as the Federal Eagle Nation and the Eurasian Blackbird Nation.
"I am grateful we took decisive measures early," the Long Nation representative said with a heavy sense of relief.
"Otherwise, our core decision-making bodies might have collapsed in nightmares, as has happened elsewhere."
Beside him, two elegant white odd-eyed Lion Cats leaned against him, their tails brushing his legs. He knelt to scratch their chins, surrounded by orderly, non-constricting red threads.
"The will of the Beast God cannot be defied," added the representative from St. Bernard Nation, a bicolor Ragdoll cat perched on his shoulder, licking his hair.
"The division of safety zones and danger zones based on the 'Record of Good and Evil' is no joke. In this era of Great Restoration, we must set aside old grudges to ensure the survival of civilization."
"We need a new communication mechanism, or perhaps—" the Golden Lion Unicorn Nation representative began, but was interrupted by two Devon Rex cats—one blue-and-white, one cinnamon—nuzzling his cheeks.
This secret summit, which should have been conducted with absolute gravity, had become a scene of bizarre warmth.
None could have predicted that Her power could penetrate thousands of meters underground to "drag" these leaders and their household pets into a shared virtual dream.
They discussed coordinated action and how to coexist with the "Non-Human Tribes", all while being chaperoned by feline companions.
After all, it was impossible to maintain a stern face when being nudged by a furry head; any sign of disrespect toward their "Goddess" might result in being "disciplined" at home—or worse, reported to the Great Presence Herself.