Chapter 132: The Farewell

**Azure Ethereal Conclave, the Miao Altar**

A new day dawned, as if even the sunlight that bathed the altar platform carried a fresh, rejuvenating scent. Ghost Li and Little Bai stood on the platform before the altar, gazing down at the land ravaged by war below.

Amidst the ruins and shattered walls, the Miao people moved to and fro, like industrious ants working to rebuild their homes when viewed from above.

Little Bai sighed and turned to Ghost Li, who stood beside her. “Have you truly thought this through? The monsters in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains are not to be trifled with!”

Ghost Li’s expression remained unaltered. “I have faced death; what more is there to fear?”

Little Bai shrugged, a faint, bitter smile crossing her lips. Just then, a strange “chirping” sound came from the side, and they turned to see Little Gray scampering over in an odd posture.

Moments later, their gazes fell upon the monkey’s hands. In each, Little Gray held a large bag, precisely the Miao wine bags used for storing potent alcohol.

Ghost Li was dumbfounded, slowly turning to look at Little Bai. She sighed again, “Don’t look at me, I have no idea either.”

Little Gray, clearly excited, grinned from ear to ear, his cheeks flushed with the scent of alcohol emanating from the two bulging bags. These were no ordinary leftovers; they appeared to be full of the Miao’s finest spirits, unlike the small remnants from their previous drinking bout.

The previous night, while Ghost Li, Little Bai, and the Grand Shaman had been in deep discussion, the restless monkey had slipped away from the gloomy altar, driven by a sudden urge to seek out the sweet nectar. In the chaos following the battle, with the Miao homeland in disarray, it was easy for Little Gray to find and claim two unopened wine bags amidst the ruins.

Last night, the monkey had hidden these two bags in a secret place, and now, as they prepared to leave, he had dragged them back, clearly intending to enjoy them on the journey.

Seeing the peculiar expressions on Ghost Li and Little Bai’s faces, Little Gray looked puzzled. After a moment, Little Bai covered her mouth, giggling. “Well, given that you’ve agreed to help the Miao with such a significant task, taking… well, taking two of their wine bags isn’t too much, is it?”

Before she could finish, she laughed, and Ghost Li shook his head, turning away. Little Gray, still confused, blinked at both of them, then put down one of the wine bags, scratching his head with his free hand, looking quite bewildered.

Deep within the altar, the Miao chieftain, Tumagu, and the Grand Shaman sat facing each other, alone in the oppressive silence.

Tumagu broke the silence after a long, tense pause. “Grand Shaman, you are so badly injured. Why must you go with these people from the Central Plains?”

The Grand Shaman sighed softly. “Didn’t I explain it to you just now?”

Tumagu’s voice grew bitter. “The Li Clan stole our sacred artifacts. We will fight to the death to reclaim them. Why seek the help of outsiders?”

The Grand Shaman shook his head. “You are mistaken.”

Tumagu was taken aback. “What do you mean?”

After a moment’s silence, the Grand Shaman spoke in a low, somber tone. “If it were merely the Li Clan who took our sacred artifacts, I would not be so concerned. But I fear… ah, it is far worse.”

Tumagu, puzzled, pressed on. “Grand Shaman, what do you mean by this?”

The Grand Shaman replied, “Do you remember the ancient tale of the beast demon that has been passed down through generations of our people?”

Tumagu’s face drained of color. “Is that legend true?”

The Grand Shaman gave a wry smile. “It is. Long ago, Empress Linglong sacrificed herself to seal the beast demon in the Demon Sealing Cave, leaving strict instructions that the five sacred artifacts should never be returned there. But now, all five artifacts have been lost, and I fear this is a sign of the beast demon’s imminent return.”

Tumagu’s expression changed, understanding the gravity of the situation. But after a moment, he pleaded, “In such a crisis, you should not leave. If you stay, our people will have some hope.”

The Grand Shaman shook his head. “My time is limited; I have, at most, thirty days left to live.”

Tumagu was shocked.

The Grand Shaman sighed. “I do not wish to leave, but I fear I will die in a foreign land. Yet, with the Five Tribes of the South divided and weakened, there may be no one to handle the impending crisis. That young man from the Central Plains, though young, possesses extraordinary powers. The black staff he carries is heavy with malevolent energy, something I have never seen before. But the most important thing is…”

He glanced meaningfully at Tumagu, lowering his voice. “The most crucial thing is that the ‘Xuan Fire Mirror,’ the essence of all flames, is in his possession.”

Tumagu was stunned. “What? Wasn’t that item with the Incense Valley…?”

The Grand Shaman signaled him to be silent. Tumagu complied, but his eyes widened in disbelief.

The Grand Shaman continued, “When we first met, my dog god statue reacted, and the sacred fire issued a warning. Both the dark staff and the bone jade, sacred artifacts of the beast demon, were restless. This can only mean that the Xuan Fire Mirror, the supreme artifact that sealed the beast demon, is now in his possession. How it came to be in the Incense Valley, I do not know.”

Tumagu remained silent.

The Grand Shaman paused, then added, “Later, when I mentioned the Xuan Fire Mirror, the two of them were visibly shocked. Especially when I mentioned the ‘Eight Fiends Xuan Fire Formation,’ their faces turned ashen. It seems they have a significant connection to that formation.”

Tumagu exhaled deeply, clearly surprised by these revelations.

The Grand Shaman continued, “As you know, only the Xuan Fire Mirror and the Eight Fiends Xuan Fire Formation can suppress the beast demon. Even if we managed to take the Xuan Fire Mirror from that young man, no one among us would know how to wield it. Moreover, the mysterious Eight Fiends Xuan Fire Formation is even less understood. Therefore, that young man is our only hope. I must go with him, hoping to save his friend before I die. Perhaps, in return for this favor, he will aid our people.”

Tumagu’s lips trembled, and his weathered face was streaked with tears. He slowly knelt, pressing his forehead to the cold ground before the Grand Shaman.

The Grand Shaman smiled, a hint of sorrow in his eyes. “After I leave, do not worry about me. If the young man is kind, he will return my remains. You must take care of everything here.”

Tumagu, his voice choked with emotion, nodded. “Grand Shaman, you can rest assured.”

The Grand Shaman said, “Though I am going to my death, it is not so terrible. But you must take care of yourself and our people. The other four tribes, seeing our weakness, may turn against us, and the beast demon in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains may soon awaken, bringing a great calamity. You bear a heavy burden, so take care.”

Tumagu gritted his teeth and nodded.

The Grand Shaman slowly rose, glancing around, and added, “If the situation becomes dire, even though Seven Li Dong is our ancestral home, it can be abandoned. As long as our people survive, there is always hope.”

Tumagu, his face pale, replied, “Yes.”

With a long sigh, the Grand Shaman walked slowly out of the room.

When the hunched figure of the Grand Shaman, supported by Tumagu and followed by Ghost Li and Little Bai, descended from the altar, few noticed at first.

But as the footsteps grew louder, the Miao people began to recognize the Grand Shaman, and with cries of joy and surprise, they gathered around.

The Grand Shaman smiled and waved to his people, but he did not stop, continuing towards the exit of Seven Li Dong.

Gradually, the Miao people sensed something was amiss. Shouts in the Miao language began to ring out. Though Ghost Li and Little Bai did not fully understand, they knew the people were calling out in distress.

The Grand Shaman’s face showed a trace of sadness, his smile fading, replaced by a mournful expression.

Still, he remained silent, waving as he walked further away.

Tumagu, standing at the forefront of the crowd, watched the hunched figure with a heavy heart.

The valley echoed with the cries and sobs of the people, many of whom fell to their knees in despair.

Ghost Li, walking behind the Grand Shaman, noticed the old man’s face, now streaming with tears.

Finally, they reached the passage leading out of the valley. The sound of weeping filled the air.

The Grand Shaman’s body began to tremble, and he suddenly turned, looking back at the land, the valley, and the sky one last time.

The Miao people cried out, many jumping up in surprise.

Then, the Grand Shaman closed his eyes tightly, as if trying to etch the memory of the land into his soul. His brows furrowed, and he turned once more.

Silence fell over the valley, as if the countless eyes were screaming silently.

The Grand Shaman’s face twitched, and he slowly, slowly, stepped forward, disappearing into the passage.

Silence reigned in Seven Li Dong. After a long while, someone finally broke the silence with a sob, and soon, the entire valley was filled with the sound of mourning.

**The Ten Thousand Great Mountains**

Beyond the Black Forest, over seven treacherous mountain ranges, lay a forbidding, barren peak shrouded in perpetual black fog and howling winds. Beneath this desolate, treeless peak, a large, ominous cave gaped open. The entrance, three zhang high and a zhang and a half wide, constantly belched out chilling winds, accompanied by a harsh, piercing shriek, as if a furious soul screamed in ceaseless agony.

In the center of the entrance stood a lifelike stone statue, depicting a beautiful woman, gazing silently into the depths of the Demon Sealing Cave. The relentless, icy winds, which never ceased, blew against the statue, producing a low, mournful sound, like a fragile wooden board battered by a storm.

Yet, she seemed to never waver.

Wuyi, clad in black, stood before the statue, gazing intently.

The evil dragon at his side, seemingly fearful of the statue, instinctively kept its distance, looking around nervously. It called out, then bounded up the mountain, vanishing into the black fog.

The biting, icy winds rustled Wuyi’s black robes, making him appear almost ethereal in the desolate landscape.

He stood there, unmoving, for a very long time, so long that even Jin Ping’er began to wonder if the black-clad figure had become a statue.

Having narrowly escaped the Black Forest and unexpectedly discovered the Kill Life Blade embedded in a cliff, Jin Ping’er suspected that perhaps Ghost King Sect’s formidable warrior, Kill Life Monk, had entered the area even earlier than she had.

However, the blade was present, but Kill Life Monk was nowhere to be found, a sign of grave danger. Likely, the monk had met an unfortunate end. The Ten Thousand Great Mountains indeed harbored deadly perils.

Despite her caution, Jin Ping’er decided to follow Wuyi. Aware of his extraordinary abilities, she treaded carefully, maintaining a safe distance from the black-robed figure and the evil dragon. Unbeknownst to Wuyi, Jin Ping’er had been tracking him ever since the Black Forest, and now, she observed him from a nearby hill, wondering if he intended to stand before the statue for eternity.

Since arriving at the Demon Sealing Cave, Wuyi had been motionless for over four hours.

Just as Jin Ping’er was about to fall asleep from boredom, Wuyi finally stirred. She perked up, watching closely.

Wuyi, after a long period of contemplation, bent down before the statue, bowing respectfully.

Jin Ping’er, though unable to hear his words, saw him murmur something to the statue. Then, Wuyi slowly turned and drifted into the depths of the Demon Sealing Cave.

Jin Ping’er frowned, her curiosity growing. The cave held a significant secret, possibly the location of the mysterious figure mentioned by Shangguan Ce. But why was there a statue of a woman in such a remote, desolate place?

Clearly, Wuyi had a deep connection to the statue, hinting at a complicated history.

As Jin Ping’er prepared to investigate the statue, Wuyi suddenly stopped.

Startled, she feared she had been discovered. However, Wuyi did not turn to look at her, so she relaxed, hiding again to observe.

To her astonishment, a white mist appeared in front of the statue, contrasting starkly with the surrounding black fog. Wuyi paused, observing the mist.

The mist condensed into a human form, a tall man holding a greatsword in his right hand and a shield in his left. His body, composed entirely of white mist, swayed in the wind, yet his movements and expressions were clear.

Jin Ping’er gasped, muttering, “What a fearsome wraith!”

She, a former member of the Demon Sect, knew of these ghostly beings. According to ancient lore, souls of the deceased, bound by attachment or hatred, refuse to pass on, becoming wraiths.

Years ago, when Ghost Li was still Zhang Xiaofan, a junior disciple of the Qingyun Sect, he and Lu Xueqi encountered such wraiths in the Dead Spirits Abyss beneath the Ten Thousand Bats Ancient Cavern. Those wraiths, though terrifying, were not a match for practitioners of magic. Thus, Zhang Xiaofan and Lu Xueqi, despite their inexperience, managed to hold their own.

The wraith Jin Ping’er saw, however, was a rare and formidable “vicious wraith,” a powerful being who, driven by a deep, unresolved grudge, chose to remain in the mortal world as a vengeful spirit.

These wraiths, already powerful in life, become even more dangerous after death, far beyond the capabilities of ordinary mages. Such creatures are extremely rare, and Jin Ping’er was genuinely startled to encounter one.

However, Wuyi, the black-clad figure, seemed unfazed. He looked up at the wraith, who blocked his path, towering over the entrance like a war god.

Wuyi sighed. “You finally deign to show yourself?”

The wraith, cold and menacing, stared back. “Traitor, you who abandoned the Empress, what right do you have to speak thus?”

Wuyi’s body trembled, the accusation piercing his heart. He gazed at the angry visage, silent for a long moment, then bowed his head.