Like a bolt of lightning tearing through the night, a pillar of light, brimming with the power of true magic, descended from the heavens, striking down directly upon the White Bone Serpent. The force of the impact surged through its massive form, and several Azure Ethereal Conclave disciples who were nearby were pushed back by the invisible yet tangible gust.
The White Bone Serpent let out a long, chilling howl as it raised its head to the sky. The giant bones supporting its body began to emit an eerie glow, and soon, a series of faint cracking sounds emanated from its skeleton. Beams of light shot out from within, and with a thunderous roar, the colossal creature collapsed, smashing into the hard white stone beneath it, creating a deep crater. After a few twitches, it finally stilled.
The dazzling pillar of light slowly dissipated, revealing the seven elders and Lu Xueqi, Xiao Yicai, and others floating in the sky. Below them, amidst the carnage, the bodies of four Azure Ethereal Conclave elders lay forever still. Among the survivors, many were wounded. Lu Xueqi’s face was as cold as frost, but her robes were drenched in blood. Xiao Yicai appeared relatively unscathed, but Zeng Shushu was barely holding on. As the huge beast finally fell, he let out a sigh of relief, only to suddenly collapse, unconscious.
The others were startled, but fortunately, Xiao Yicai was nearby and caught Zeng Shushu. After a quick examination, he signaled that it wasn’t serious, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. They then returned to the ongoing battle.
Since the arrival of the dozens of senior elders, the tide of this cataclysmic battle had finally turned in favor of the righteous path. Their profound cultivation and formidable magic far surpassed that of ordinary disciples, and although their numbers were few, their influence was immense. Under the combined assault of the elders and the younger disciples like Xiao Yicai, Lu Xueqi, and Zeng Shushu, the remaining powerful beasts, despite their immense strength, were gradually overwhelmed and ultimately defeated. However, such vicious creatures exacted a heavy toll on the righteous side.
In the midst of this bloodbath, who could remember the fallen companions?
As the White Bone Serpent’s massive body crumbled, those hovering in the sky turned emotionlessly and launched themselves towards other battles, continuing the relentless slaughter. Xiao Yicai flew to the rear, placing Zeng Shushu in a secluded spot, before rushing back to the fray. Glancing back, he noticed that Lu Xueqi seemed to be in a daze, staring blankly at the corpse of the beast, her face pale.
Xiao Yicai called out, “Junior Sister Lu, what’s wrong?”
Lu Xueqi started, as if roused from a dream. She turned to look at him, her lips parted as if she wanted to say something, but seeing Xiao Yicai, she suddenly closed her mouth, took a deep breath, and then flew off, rejoining the battle. Xiao Yicai felt puzzled, sensing that Lu Xueqi was acting strangely today. But recalling her usual aloof and cold demeanor, and considering the critical moment of the battle, he set aside his thoughts and charged back into the fray.
The dark clouds rolled in, churning endlessly, and beneath them, the beasts and warriors continued their fierce struggle. Gradually, the battle tilted in favor of the righteous side, evident in the faces of the three leaders standing atop the hill, whose once-tense expressions now began to relax.
Despite the heavy casualties, the addition of the elders had halted the momentum of the six massive beasts, and they were gradually subdued. One by one, the beasts were slain, starting with the White Bone Serpent, followed by two others. The loss of these mighty beasts dampened the spirits of the lesser ones, making the ordinary disciples more than capable of handling them. United, the light barrier seemed unbreakable.
With half of the great beasts eliminated, the remaining three became the focus of the most skilled fighters. Anyone could see that these were the war souls among the beast horde. Under the relentless onslaught of the highly cultivated elders and the outstanding young disciples, and amid the dazzling glows and gleaming treasures, the last three beasts could no longer resist. In their anguished and enraged roars, they fell one by one.
Chaos erupted among the beast horde, clearly sensing the turning of the tide. Conversely, the morale of the righteous forces soared, and the light barrier shone brighter, pushing back the waves of flesh and blood.
Amidst the panic and cries, countless beasts howled to the heavens, their voices filled with despair. The merciless light barrier crashed down, splashing blood and sorrow across the battlefield.
In the midst of the howling, the roiling black clouds above suddenly stilled, as if time itself had paused. Then, a faint light pierced through the dark, heavy clouds.
A small, white light!
Instantly, the black clouds dissipated, like a fierce wind sweeping across the heavens. From the depths of the clouds, a massive vortex began to spin, dispersing the black mists and leaving no trace.
A young figure emerged, looking down at the chaotic battlefield and the bloody scene below, as if he were a god of legend. His black hair flowed in the wind, and a strange, black beast behind him fidgeted restlessly, letting out a low growl.
At his appearance, all the beasts halted and raised their heads, howling toward the sky, toward that figure.
The beasts’ howls echoed, and the black clouds receded, as if a surge of malevolent energy was ascending to the heavens.
The righteous forces were shocked, and Daoxuan, standing outside the Jade Purity Hall, frowned and muttered, “Is this the Beast God?”
******
In the Enchanted Moon Cave, the realm of dreams and illusions, the ethereal moon hung in the sky, always glowing softly, regardless of the weather.
The struggling figures of the world seemed to have vanished, leaving only a solitary, bewildered soul.
“Who am I?” he whispered, gazing at the moon. “What is the purpose of my life?”
He asked this, unsure whether he was questioning the moon or his own heart.
His life, filled with tumultuous events, came flooding back, with familiar faces and cherished memories flashing through his mind. Yet, none left any trace, vanishing silently.
Feeling a sense of resentment, he instinctively reached out, grasping at nothing but air.
There was nothing!
Only the moonlight, piercing through the storms, still shone upon him, illuminating his robe.
He collapsed, shedding all pretenses, in a world where he needed no strength. The rain and dust grew silent, and his body, too, seemed about to merge into the desolate landscape, becoming one with the silence.
Perhaps death would bring an end to suffering and longing, even if it meant descending to the netherworld. Perhaps the fleeting joys of the mortal world were, in the end, nothing but illusions.
But suddenly, his still form trembled, and the moonlight shivered, casting a beam of light upon him.
He struggled to rise, each movement exhausting him, the earth tempting him to lie down and forget his troubles. Yet, he refused to yield, determined to stand. His hands bled, his lips cracked, but in this desolate world, he could not give up.
The moonlight, whispering like a gentle voice, urged, “Why persist? Let go, and you will be free…”
He struggled, like an ant in the vastness of the universe. Despite everything, he raised his head, looking to the heavens, and slowly stood up.
Familiar faces drifted through his mind, reminding him that even in the face of death, he could not let go. There were still people he cared for.
Zhang Xiaofan, or perhaps Ghost Li, stood there, gazing at the enigmatic moon.
The moonlight was eerie and cold.
With a sudden cry, he leaped, leaving the boundless land, and soared towards the moon. Before him, a golden, azure, and crimson light burst forth, merging with his body, and they ascended together towards the moon.
The moon remained silent, but just as he approached, the light dimmed, and a couple appeared, their faces filled with kindness and joy, as if welcoming him after a long absence.
His heart, pierced by an invisible blade, trembled, but he did not waver. The tri-colored light, like lightning, pierced through the couple, splattering phantom blood and tears.
Their forms vanished, and he felt numb, but his eyes remained resolute, focused on the moon.
Suddenly, the light dimmed again, and Tian Buyi and Su Ru appeared. Su Ru smiled at him, while Tian Buyi, as stern as ever, huffed and gave him a sharp look. Between them, Tian Ling’er, wearing a red dress and smiling, called out, “Little Brother, let’s go cut bamboo on the mountain…”
He felt suffocated, as the three figures blocked his path. The light, growing closer, tore through his heart. Finally, the light passed through them, and a chill ran down his spine. He spat out a mouthful of blood, staining his chest, and his face turned ashen.
Still, he looked up, like an arrow that would not stop until it reached the moon.
The moonlight was cold, and the world dimmed, a sense of sorrow permeating the air.
Just as he neared the moon, a figure appeared in the mist.
That figure, deeply etched in his heart, stopped him in his tracks. The grip of the Soul-Sucking Orb, cold and chilling, brought back painful memories. But now, what should he do?
In the dead of night, under the cold moon, a heart-wrenching howl echoed, like a dying beast’s cry, filled with utter despair.
A brilliant light, surrounded by three mystical rings, shot up, piercing through the mist and the indistinct figure.
Then, something shattered…
The storm quieted, and hot tears welled in his eyes, fixed on the fading figure. So close, yet so far, her face was still unclear. From the distant void, a soft sigh seemed to echo.
The wind ceased, and the rain dispersed.
The moonlight fell like a cloud, and the heavens and earth became as still as water.
He fell from the sky, like plummeting into an abyss, but he no longer feared, only felt a lingering regret, watching the figure fade away. Moments later, he landed, and the visions around him disappeared.
At his feet, an ancient, bright mirror lay shattered, pieces scattered across the floor. Surrounding him were the rugged walls of the cave, and he was only ten steps from the entrance.
Those ten steps felt like a lifetime, reliving all the pain and memories.
Regaining his breath, he prepared to venture deeper into the Enchanted Moon Cave. Suddenly, his body stiffened, and he slowly turned around.
As the mirror shattered, the magical mist at the entrance dissipated, revealing a figure behind it—Lin Jingyu.
Their eyes met in the air, and both froze.
For a long moment, they stared at each other, as if seeing through a lifetime of experiences.
Lin Jingyu bit his lip, drawing blood, and then spoke, “Did you kill the old man in the Ancestral Shrine?”
Ghost Li lowered his head, and after a moment, nodded, “Yes.”
Lin Jingyu’s eyes turned red.
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