On the lonely cliff, beneath the deep and starry sky, the wind, still carrying the faint heat of the fire, occasionally swept past the treetops. It blew over the scorched wounds left on the branches, whispering like a mournful dirge from the ethereal realms. Perhaps even the plants and trees had feelings, and could use the wind to sing their sorrow.
In the silence of the spring mountains, in the long, quiet nights, one always felt small and helpless, enveloped by an endless, desolate chill.
But for the two people on this desolate cliff, they wished this night would last forever.
To place the world in the palm of your hand.
To capture eternity in a fleeting moment.
Only in this night could they ignore tomorrow, and the struggles and battles they did not want but had to face. *The two stood together, oppressed by the boundless darkness, only feeling a bit of warmth as they drew closer to each other.
In this endless night, on this desolate cliff, these two helpless souls. Perhaps some might envy them for their rare treasures and extraordinary skills, allowing them to soar through the skies like immortals, but who could understand the heartache that no amount of prowess could alleviate? Longing yet unable to stay, holding hands yet with a chasm between them.
They could only secretly set aside their sorrows in this dark night.
Finding solace, if only for a brief moment, in this fleeting escape.
Is this all a dream?
Beautiful, yet so unreal. Like a cup of poisonous wine, knowing the inevitable consequences but still unable to resist its allure. Their memories, entangled with shared life and death, with blades drawn against each other, now made them yearn to hold each other tightly, even if the world saw them as two extremes of good and evil.
But in the depths of those smiling eyes, a subtle sadness flickered, making the smile even more heart-wrenching.
…
Gazing at the sleeping, melancholic beauty of Lu Xueqi, Gui Li’s eyes were filled with sorrow and tenderness.
In his mind, he saw the woman who had been with him in the Abyss of Death, her white robes as pure as snow, reaching out to him, only to be scattered by the strike of the Black Snake. Then, in a different scene, atop the Azure Ethereal Conclave, amidst a rain of swords and an unyielding aura, a woman in green, singing softly, sacrificing her life and soul to shield against the Heaven-Defying Sword. She was doomed to eternal suffering, willing to endure it all for love, even if it meant dying without regret.
Holding her soft, cool hand, he felt a shiver, as if she encountered something terrible in her dreams. This inherent fragility of hers tugged at his heart, making him want to hold her hand tighter, warmer. Suddenly, a warmth spread from his palm, resonating in his heart like a bell, stirring his soul. It reminded him of the time in the Great Hall of the Azure Ethereal Conclave, when the world seemed to abandon him, and the only warmth came from the small, soft hand holding his.
White and green figures alternated in his mind, painful memories that came unbidden.
What kind of hands did he want to hold, to journey through life with?
Gui Li closed his eyes tightly, agonized.
No one would have thought that this man, with his closed eyes and pained expression, was the most feared warrior of the Ghost King Sect, the once-terrifying Gui Li.
Deep in the ink-black sky, it seemed as if mocking eyes were looking down, coldly observing.
If the heavens had eyes, they would not only look at Gui Li, but also see the icy indifference in the land.
Suddenly, a faint sound pierced the air, growing louder. Years of battle honed Gui Li’s senses. His brows twitched, and his tightly closed eyes relaxed slightly, but he kept them half-closed. His once sorrowful face now wore a cold expression. In a flash, the Soul Devourer returned to his hand, its green light fading, transforming back into a humble stick. The familiar icy feeling seeped through his palm, spreading throughout his body.
Not far away, Xiao Hui chirped, the three-eyed monkey, a creature of great spirit, was startled by the sound. The monkey’s calls woke up the Taotie, the beast that had been restless after failing to find the Beast God. Lifting its head, the Taotie roared, “Roar!” Its four eyes, glowing like flames in the dark, sent fiery flares into the night. The savage roar echoed through the silent peaks and valleys, rebounding off the cliffs and filling the air with a fierce, wild energy.
The roar awoke Lu Xueqi, who stood beside Gui Li, still wearing his outer robe. Her Celestial Scepter of Tianya responded to her will, flying into her hand.
Gui Li opened his eyes and looked at Lu Xueqi, a faint smile appearing on his face. They exchanged glances, saying nothing, but both turned to face the direction of the sound.
Who would come to this desolate cliff in the dead of night?
And what did it matter who came?
The night was as black as ink.
As the sound grew closer, several beams of light descended, revealing a group of familiar faces. Leading the group was Zeng Shushu of the Azure Ethereal Vapors, followed by Li Xun, and a few others from the Burnt Incense Valley. After landing, they stowed their magical artifacts and stood a short distance from Gui Li.
Seeing these righteous disciples suddenly appear on the desolate cliff, Gui Li was slightly surprised. But he quickly understood. Zeng Shushu was likely on a mission from his master to hunt down the demonic beasts in the Southern Border. The Burnt Incense Valley, being familiar with the region, joined forces with the Azure Ethereal Vapors to track the beast. Lu Xueqi must have come with them, though she ended up in the Demon Subjugation Cave and met the Beast God, and then, him.
As Gui Li had guessed, the group had followed Li Xun to the Demon Subjugation Cave, where they were trapped by Xiao Bai. Amidst a cataclysmic earthquake, they felt a surge of destructive power, and took the opportunity to escape. The Beast God summoned the Eightfold Fire Dragon to battle Gui Li, and the final blow from the dragon destroyed the ancient cave, unleashing a fiery rain that engulfed the surrounding mountains.
Li Xun and the others, not seeing Lu Xueqi emerge, were deeply worried. Li Xun, who had a long-standing interest in Lu Xueqi, and Zeng Shushu, who was determined to find her, continued to search. For days, they combed the scorched, smoke-filled landscape, seeing only burning trees and charred remains of animals, and the falling red stones. The world seemed to be a realm of fire, with no sign of life except for the burning mountains. The righteous disciples lamented the destruction, wondering how long it would take for the land to recover.
Tonight, driven by Zeng Shushu’s curiosity and keen senses, the group was drawn to the Taotie’s low growl. They came to investigate, hoping to eliminate any surviving beasts. But instead of a beast, they found Gui Li, and Lu Xueqi, standing together, not fighting, which was more shocking than encountering a beast. Especially seeing Lu Xueqi in a charred robe, clearly not her own, but perhaps Gui Li’s. This situation was perplexing, especially to Li Xun, whose eyes flashed with fury and resentment as he saw Lu Xueqi and Gui Li standing side by side.
“Evil demon, today we will end you here!” Li Xun shouted, and the other disciples of the Burnt Incense Valley surrounded Gui Li.
Zeng Shushu frowned, feeling no hostility toward Gui Li, remembering the young Zhang Xiaofan of Dazhu Peak, his junior in the Azure Ethereal Vapors, and the little monkey.
Gui Li’s expression remained unchanged, his cold gaze fixed on the approaching crowd. A hint of arrogance mixed with the coldness, and the Soul Devourer began to glow with a faint green light, interlaced with red threads, emanating a chilling, oppressive aura. Lu Xueqi, sensing the tension, reached out to hold Gui Li’s hand, her eyes filled with disdain as she coldly looked at Li Xun.
The endless night seemed to freeze.
Before anyone else could speak, a thunderous roar echoed, and four lights appeared in the darkness. A monstrous figure, with four eyes and a ferocious appearance, emerged behind Gui Li, roaring at the approaching disciples. On its shoulder perched a small, three-eyed monkey, unfazed by the monster and even playfully patting its head.
The sight of such a terrifying beast startled everyone.
“Tartarian?” Zeng Shushu exclaimed, recognizing the ancient beast seen with the Beast God. He then noticed the three-eyed monkey, Xiao Hui, and was shocked to see that it had opened its spiritual eye. “How could this have happened so fast?” Whether he was muttering to himself or asking someone, Xiao Hui, annoyed by his stare, bared its teeth and threw a small stone at Zeng Shushu.
“I need to take the Tartarian,” Gui Li said, turning to Zeng Shushu, then fell silent again.
“For what purpose? It is a vicious, violent beast.”
“It is not my choice; I am ordered by the Ghost King.”
“Such an evil beast should be eliminated. Today, the Burnt Incense Valley will rid the world of this menace,” Li Xun declared, and the disciples of the Burnt Incense Valley readied their weapons, their magical lights illuminating the area.
The Soul Devourer’s green light intensified.
The Tartarian, understanding something, roared and launched itself at Li Xun and the others, its speed defying its size. The air before it solidified into a wall of force, rushing at the disciples. The Tartarian’s body grew larger, its six eyes wide and glaring, and Li Xun and the others could see the glint of its fangs. Xiao Hui, caught off guard, fell to the ground, scrambled up, and angrily chattered at the Tartarian before climbing back onto Gui Li’s shoulder.
Li Xun, facing the Tartarian, drew a strange rune with his left hand and swung his right, sending a white light wrapped around a jade-like object at the Tartarian. This was Li Xun’s prized Nine Sun Scale. The disciples of the Burnt Incense Valley also unleashed their magical powers, combining their lights to form a barrier. The impact of the collision was immense, and the Tartarian’s force field was shattered. The beast’s massive body crashed into the light, and with a deafening boom, it was thrown back, crashing to the ground and kicking up dust.
Seizing the opportunity, Li Xun cast another spell, and the Nine Sun Scale split into four beams, aimed at the Tartarian’s four eyes. A green light suddenly appeared, cutting through the darkness, intercepting the beams. The clash of the two powerful artifacts was silent, but the Soul Devourer’s green light spawned red threads that wrapped around the Nine Sun Scale, counterattacking Li Xun. Li Xun, feeling the draining, suffocating force, quickly cast a protective spell and pushed back the green light with a burst of energy. Gui Li, like a ghost, appeared before Li Xun, the Soul Devourer glowing with intertwining gold, green, and red lights, casting an eerie, chilling glow.
Remembering the pain from the Nine Sun Scale, Gui Li immediately countered, blocking the attack and protecting the Tartarian. The devouring red threads attacked Li Xun, causing him to recoil. Li Xun, managing to recover his Nine Sun Scale, retreated. Gui Li did not press the attack, giving Li Xun a chance to recover. Li Xun, noticing the thread from the Vermillion Fire Mirror on Gui Li’s arm, was both angry and envious, wanting to take it for himself. But the Soul Devourer’s power made him hesitate.
“Zeng Shushu, help me! We must eliminate this evil,” Li Xun called, and the disciples of the Burnt Incense Valley, emboldened by their success, prepared to attack Gui Li. Zeng Shushu, hesitant, did not move, his gaze shifting between Gui Li and Xiao Hui.
Lu Xueqi, still standing in place, was torn, unsure of what to do. She held the Celestial Scepter of Tianya, its blue light flickering. Having just fought the Eightfold Fire Dragon with Gui Li, and now wearing his robe, she felt torn between helping him and aligning with the righteous sects. She could not bring herself to join the fight, so she remained rooted to the spot.
The standoff continued, the atmosphere tense. Xiao Hui leaped to the ground, screeching at Li Xun, its three eyes glowing red. The Tartarian, undaunted, rose to its feet, its eyes blazing with fury, ready to attack again.
A streak of white light sliced through the sky, and a white-robed figure, Xiao Bai, appeared. A thousand-year-old fox spirit, she sensed the danger and escaped the Demon Subjugation Cave. Not finding Gui Li, she had stayed to wait for him. Hearing the commotion, she flew over to investigate. Recognizing the Burnt Incense Valley disciples, she sneered, “I thought it was someone else, but it’s just you lot. I’ve been waiting to teach you a lesson.”
The disciples, enraged by her insult, were ready to attack. But Li Xun, recalling her earlier strength, hesitated. The disciple’s confidence faltered, and the standoff continued.
Xiao Bai, seeing the situation, announced, “We have found the Tartarian. Let’s return.” She scooped up Xiao Hui and, with a wave of her hand, enveloped the Tartarian in a beam of light, soaring away.
Gui Li, seeing Xiao Bai leave, looked at Lu Xueqi, unsure of what to say. Lu Xueqi, her eyes fixed on him, seemed frozen. Gui Li sighed, the Soul Devourer transforming into a green light, lifting him into the air. Lu Xueqi, with a pained expression, watched him go. Li Xun, shouting, “Evil demon, leave the Vermillion Fire Mirror,” gave chase, but Gui Li countered with a wave, blocking the attack and retreating.
“Brother, the Vermillion Fire Mirror is with him?” the disciples asked.
“Yes, it is. We must inform our master. Zeng Shushu, Lu Xueqi, will you join us for a brief visit?” Li Xun, his eyes fixed on Lu Xueqi, asked.
Lu Xueqi, gazing in the direction Gui Li had gone, said, “The Beast God is dead. I will return to the Azure Ethereal Vapors with Zeng Shushu.”
Surprised, Zeng Shushu asked, “Sister, is this true? The Beast God is dead?”
“Yes, I saw it,” Lu Xueqi said, her voice distant, remembering the battle in the Demon Subjugation Cave.
Zeng Shushu, nodding, said, “We must return to the Azure Ethereal Vapors. Brother, thank you for your hospitality. We will not trouble you further.”
Li Xun, resigned, bid farewell, his eyes lingering on Lu Xueqi. With a parting glare, he and the disciples of the Burnt Incense Valley departed.
Lu Xueqi, without a word, rose into the air, and Zeng Shushu, with a wry smile, followed.
Silence once again enveloped the desolate cliff.
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