Everyone knows that Dao Lord Chun Ming of Changmingtian is handsome, and that his Evil-Slaying Sword has purged the demons and monsters throughout the world, making him renowned across the four seas.
Yet his Dao companion, Shi Xueyi, has no merits beyond his beautiful face.
Everyone says Shi Xueyi must have burned incense for eight lifetimes to earn such a devoted and loyal Dao companion.
Until the day Dao Lord Chun Ming severed his feelings and love, and personally killed Shi Xueyi before the mountain gate. Only then did everyone realize that Dao Lord Chun Ming cultivated the Heartless Sword Dao.
No one knew that for three hundred years after ascending to the Upper Realm, Dao Lord Chun Ming had endured the scorching flames of karmic desire for three hundred years.
All he could think about was Shi Xueyi, who had stood atop Floating Plum Peak and smiled quietly at him all those years ago.
So he searched the four seas and three rivers, all to find a miraculous remedy that could reunite a soul and bring the dead back to life.
One day, Dao Lord Chun Ming was invited to the Immortal Palace of Lingzhou.
There, he discovered that the palace's Grand Supreme Elder, who had been in seclusion for many years, had a face exactly like that of his deceased Dao companion.
At the same time, the other invited guests, including a Buddhist holy son whose heart was like a bodhi tree, a ruthless and domineering young lord of the Demon Palace, and a world-renowned master craftsman, all discovered that the Grand Supreme Elder had a face identical to that of their former Dao companions.
Only later did they learn that the Grand Supreme Elder of the Immortal Palace of Lingzhou was surnamed Shi and named Xueyi, and cultivated the Supreme Way of Transcending Passion, one of the Three Thousand Great Daos.
Shi Xueyi refined countless clones and sent them throughout the Myriad Worlds to fall in love with people, all so he could experience the anguish of love and sever his three thousand karmic entanglements.
A little skit:
One day, the geniuses who had ascended from the Myriad Worlds gathered together.
Dao Lord Chun Ming: I once had a Dao companion.
Buddhist holy son: I once had a lover.
Master craftsman: I once had a disciple.
Young lord of the Demon Palace: I once had a subordinate.
Dao Lord Chun Ming: My Dao companion loved me dearly. He rejected his childhood sweetheart and left his sect to be with me.
Buddhist holy son: My lover loved me dearly. To save me, he sacrificed himself and endured infamy and the scorn of the whole world.
Master craftsman: My disciple loved me dearly. To further my path, he cut off his own flesh and bled every day to provide materials for my crafting.
Young lord of the Demon Palace: My subordinate loved me dearly. To protect me, he would rather have his eyes gouged out and his cultivation destroyed than reveal my whereabouts.
Dao Lord Chun Ming: Then I treated him like trash, and I regret it so much.
Buddhist holy son: I treated him like trash too, and I regret it so much.
Master craftsman: Me too.
Young lord of the Demon Palace: Same here.
Dao Lord Chun Ming: My Dao companion's name was Shi Xueyi.
Buddhist holy son/Master craftsman/Young lord of the Demon Palace: ???
Buddhist holy son/Master craftsman/Young lord of the Demon Palace: What a coincidence. My lover/disciple/subordinate was also named Shi Xueyi.
The not-yet-introduced sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth... male lead: ...Me too.
One-sentence summary: He thought he treated me like trash, but actually, I was the one who treated him like trash
Content warnings:
1. The male lead is a playboy. Ask why, and the answer is: exes. His combat strength is unmatched, and he never fears a single romantic rivalry.
2. Over-the-top melodrama, a groveling redemption arc, a universally adored protagonist, and a brainless, fluffy read.
3. Self-pairing, one-on-one. The protagonist's clones have been with other people, so this probably isn't a first-time-for-both story.
4. You can drop the story, but don't leave a negative review. You can point out typos, but don't nitpick. The author isn't sweet and cuddly, and will curse people out.
Theme: If Heaven had feelings, it too would grow old. The great love of humanity knows no bounds.