As Celia gazed upon Xia Tian's new life, she couldn't help but discern a stark contrast. Over time, he underwent a transformation into a full-blown troublemaker, his mischievous nature growing more prominent with each passing day.

In the past, when they were together, he had always been serious. However, now it was a rarity to witness him in that state. His seriousness had become as elusive as a fleeting rainbow, replaced by a constant amusement derived from toying with ants. It was as if he took pleasure in randomly snatching one up, cruelly breaking its fragile legs, and relishing in the sight of its desperate struggle for his entertainment.

Nevertheless, Celia's once radiant smile gradually dimmed. A delicate blend of anxiety and anticipation began to envelop her as the long-awaited reunion with Xia Tian drew near.

She dared to hope that the 'present day' within the illusion held the key to breaking free from the perpetual cycle.

This never-ending mirage was finally on the verge of shattering, granting her the opportunity to reunite with Xia Tian at long last. Deep within, she yearned for his forgiveness and the chance to reconcile their fractured bond.

If she hadn't already been consumed by her obsession for him, now, after spending an immeasurable amount of time lost in a delusional fantasy, she had undoubtedly crossed into the realm of obsession.

The anxiety and anticipation escalated to such a fervent degree that she could practically hear the pounding of her own heart, reverberating loudly in her ears.

Oh, how could Ceilia not be painfully aware of Xia Tian's cruel methods?

He took pleasure in mercilessly shattering people's hope, relishing in their devastation, but only after he had lured them into false hope and expectations.

He firmly believed in the delicate balance of life, where anything capable of bringing joy and purpose can also bring an overwhelming sense of despair.

The very same thing that had the power to stir tears of happiness in your eyes was also capable of evoking tears of profound sadness.

Only the things capable of bringing you the greatest happiness have the potential to inflict the deepest sorrow.

So, if the mere presence of your lover had the ability to fill you with utmost joy, then their sudden disappearance would undoubtedly shatter your heart into irreparable pieces.

Emotions wield a sharp blade, cutting through our souls with equal force in both directions.

So, what is the key to avoiding sadness then?

Is it to stop feeling happiness altogether?

It's certainly an interesting perspective. If nothing in the world brings us joy, then nothing would have the power to make us sad either.

That's why it's crucial to be cautious when interacting with others and to recognize whose presence brings us the most happiness.

Because if someone's lover brings them the most happiness, their death would undoubtedly bring the deepest sorrow. The enemy could destroy them by taking their loved one away.

Under the cunning schemes of manipulative individuals, our own emotions can be turned against us.

Emotions should be seen as a tool, not something we become dependent on. Losing ourselves to our emotions can lead to our downfall.

Chasing after happiness alone is a futile pursuit, as it always has its counterpart lurking in the shadows, waiting to emerge.

This is why those who relentlessly pursue happiness often find themselves engulfed in depression.

It's the reason why those who smile the widest often cry the most when they're alone.

Perhaps this is why many philosophies advocate for minimizing material desires.

But is that the right philosophy to follow?

An excessively rational approach?

Becoming like Buddha?

Or is there another approach?

Maybe becoming god, like Xia Tian, could be the solution. To defy the universal rules so they can no longer affect us might be the only way.

Becoming Xia Tian might be the only way. Perhaps the purpose of free will is simply to achieve this—to become the gods of our own existence.

Alternatively, one could choose neutrality for their entire existence, but what meaning does such an existence hold?

During the first chaos cycle, Xia Tian had already foreseen it and had made the decision for himself.

The demerit of a balanced world became crystal clear to Xia Tian. He summed it up perfectly: "A fair world which is balanced in its own unfair way..."

Now, Xia Tian held Ceilia firmly attached to himself. She had witnessed an overwhelming surge of emotions that were too numerous to count. From their moments of silly laughter to her own self-cursing for letting him down, she had experienced it all.

Her curiosity had gradually transformed into anxiety and nervousness as she closely observed his journey. Every now and then, her heart would race uncontrollably, threatening to drive her to the brink of madness if anything were to happen to him.

*Ba-dump!*

*Ba-dump!*

*Ba-dump!*

However, the long-awaited moment she yearned for never arrived. After finally reaching the present day, all she could perceive was a profound sense of guilt, as if begging to be punished. And just as Xia Tian turned back and disappeared into the portal, her heart sank.

"No... No!" she whispered desperately.

"Wait!" she cried out, her voice filled with panic.

Ceilia's eyes brimmed with tears, their shimmering intensity reflecting her deep longing as she stole one last glance at her fading illusion. Without hesitation, she embarked on a mad chase after Xia Tian, whose form was vanishing with each passing second.

"Don't go!" she pleaded, her voice breaking with despair.

"Dad!"

She screamed, her voice echoing but her words falling on deaf ears. Being incorporeal, she was invisible and inaudible to Xia Tian, caught in a heart-wrenching state of being unable to reach him or gain his attention.

Ceilia's eyes trembled uncontrollably, channeling her anguish as crystalline tears floated gently from her ethereal form. She continued to hop and jump , leaping and falling to her knees before Xia Tian, who had returned to the sanctuary of his manor.

But despite Ceilia's relentless efforts, her tears and pleas went unanswered, yielding no fruitful results.

*Boooom!*

A deafening shockwave erupted, violently shaking the surroundings as she unleashed every ounce of her power in a desperate attempt to grasp his attention. But much like her ethereal body, her powers seemed futile, unable to affect the tangible world.

"N-No, d-don't *sob* l-leave me..."

This heartbreaking cycle persisted for countless years, each passing moment etching deeper sorrow into Ceilia's weary eyes, now stained with the traces of countless tears. Perhaps, she reluctantly acknowledged, she was truly dead.

The glimmer of hope, a chance of reuniting with him, felt like a fleeting dream, slipping through her ethereal grasp as Xia Tian forged ahead with a new life, a life that no longer included her.

And then, after years of desolation, a spark of hope ignited within her when, on a rare occasion, Selene inquired, "Darling, what became of that enchanting pink-haired girl you once held dear..."

"Y-Yes!" Cecilia's voice quivered with anticipation, her heart skipping beats as she anxiously awaited Xia Tian's response.

However, all hope was ruthlessly crushed as Xia Tian shook his head, his solemn gaze piercing through her ephemeral existence. "She died," he declared, his words delivering a ruthless blow to her fragile spirit.

Those heartless words shattered the remnants of hope, leaving Ceilia's eyes clouded with despair.

*THUD*

Buckling under the weight of her broken soul, she sank to her knees, her being shattered and irreparable.

Unconsciously, the passing years became woven into the tapestry of Xia Tian's life, as he continued on his journey with Nyx and the others, accompanied by his toys.

As Ceilia sat motionless amidst the laughter and tears of those around her, she appeared like a statue in a forgotten manor, rooted to the same spot. Her existence seemed to spring to life only in the moments when he reappeared, whether with Isabelle or someone else.

Yet, it was as if nobody noticed or cared about her pitiful state, as they carried on with their mundane, everyday actions.

If that weren't enough torment, a scene unfolded before Ceilia's eyes that seemed to fracture her sanity. Nyx approached, cradling a small bundle in her arms, and with just a single glance, it was unmistakably the child of Xia Tian and Nyx!

In that moment, Ceilia's body jerked to life, stumbling forward for the first time in what felt like an eternity. The courage welled within her veins, compelling her to confirm the identity of the newborn with her own eyes.

But the cruel reality that awaited her froze Ceilia once more, for it wasn't only Nyx, but the other daughters of Xia Tian who followed in her wake, each with their own precious child. Their faces bore radiant smiles, like a sunbeam piercing through stormy clouds.

"I-It could have been me," she chuckled bitterly, the sound laced with self-deprecation. Before long, her laughter escalated into a wild, maniacal outburst, pushing her to the very edge of sanity itself.

Yet, a glimmer of hope ignited within her as the shadow of Xia Tian loomed in the distance, approaching with each passing moment.

"D-Dad..." she stammered, her voice trembling with a mix of desperation and longing.

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A/N: Xia Tian methods are truly curel, but don't believe its over, infact it's just beginning!