Chapter 249: The Eternal Farewell

Above the platform of the Blood Pool, both Gui Li and Mister Ghost gazed upward at the hovering Dragon Subduing Cauldron, their expressions starkly contrasting. While shock mingled with disbelief on Gui Li’s face, a look of exhilaration and madness burned in Mister Ghost’s eyes, veiled behind his black shroud.

Having lost the final and most crucial Qiankun Lock, the enigmatic power of the Dragon Subduing Cauldron seemed to fully awaken, the blood-red energy surging and churning like a mad torrent. The demonic visage upon it appeared to have come alive, its eyes glinting with an almost sentient malevolence, flickering with a wicked light.

An intangible but oppressive force emanated from the cauldron, suffocating and overwhelming, making breathing nearly impossible.

Gui Li, recovering from his shock, turned to Mister Ghost with a furious shout, “What have you done?” But Mister Ghost, seemingly deaf to Gui Li’s rage, was filled with an ecstatic fervor bordering on madness. Taking a few steps forward, he suddenly knelt before the hovering cauldron, causing Gui Li to stare in disbelief at the dark silhouette.

Under Gui Li’s incredulous gaze, Mister Ghost stretched out his arms and roared, “Asura!”

With a resounding boom, as if a terrible demon had been roused from slumber, a terrifying force reverberated from the Dragon Subduing Cauldron. The cave walls cracked and shattered, sending massive rocks cascading down. The blood in the vast pool below surged and spouted into towering columns, creating a bizarre yet magnificent spectacle.

A faint, crimson shadow began to materialize on the cauldron, writhing and struggling to become more visible. Despite the distance, Gui Li could sense the horrifying power and the insane malevolence that emanated from it.

Deeply troubled by the sight, Gui Li’s expression rapidly shifted. He stamped his foot, lifted off, and swiftly headed towards the cave exit. Though he did not know what the monstrous entity was, its immense power was clearly beyond human resistance. If the Qiankun Lock still existed, there might have been a chance, but now that it had been broken by the Astral Disk, Gui Li decided to leave without hesitation.

He was no longer the naive, righteous youth who would sacrifice everything for justice. In his heart, perhaps he did not fear death, but there were things more important than dying.

The tremors grew more violent as the eerie red shadow became more distinct. An uneasy feeling gnawed at him, wondering if this unprecedented chaos within Mount Fox Ravine might threaten Biyao. His unease intensified, and he resolved to leave. Meanwhile, Mister Ghost, fixated on the mysterious red shadow, paid no heed to Gui Li’s departure. Under the crimson glow, his eyes too seemed to have turned red.

“Asura…” he raised his hands and called out to the heavens.

As Gui Li sped away, the odd calls of Mister Ghost echoed in his ears, filling him with suspicion. For ten years, Mister Ghost had been an enigma in the Ghost King Sect, a figure even he respected and feared, but today, he seemed utterly transformed. Just as these thoughts crossed his mind, he was about to reach the cave entrance and escape the maddening Blood Pool cavern.

But then, a heart-wrenching, agonized scream pierced the air from behind.

“Ahh…” The cry was shrill and piercing, filled with terror, despair, disbelief, and sorrow. To Gui Li’s shock, it was unmistakably Mister Ghost’s voice.

Startled by this sudden turn of events, Gui Li involuntarily halted and turned back, only to be struck by another shocking sight. Mister Ghost, still kneeling before the cauldron, now had his hands lowered and limp, his body impaled by a massive, deep-red tentacle, sharp as a knife, which extended from the red shadow on the cauldron. The tentacle, like a giant scythe, pierced through Mister Ghost’s chest and embedded itself deep into the ground, cracking the rock around it.

The horrific red shadow had nailed Mister Ghost to the ground with its deadly, scythe-like tentacle. Blood gushed from the wound, staining the ground beneath him. “Ah…” Mister Ghost gasped, his body convulsing violently. Moments later, the merciless tentacle yanked free, dragging Mister Ghost’s broken form high into the air.

Blood splattered through the air, a tragic sight. Who would have thought that after breaking the Qiankun Lock, Mister Ghost would become the first sacrifice to the demonic red shadow?

Instinctively, Gui Li leapt and caught Mister Ghost mid-air. The black veil remained, now stained with his blood. Gui Li glanced at the fatal wound, then averted his eyes. The injury was so severe, cutting Mister Ghost nearly in half, leaving him with no hope of survival. Just moments ago, he had stood by Gui Li, but now lay dying. Gui Li found himself at a loss for words.

Carrying Mister Ghost’s mangled form, Gui Li returned to the platform near the cave entrance, far from the terrifying red shadow. Now, with his last breaths fading, Mister Ghost let out a low, bitter laugh.

His laughter was filled with self-mockery and resignation. It lasted only briefly before being interrupted by violent coughing and more blood.

Gui Li gently placed him on the ground and warily glanced at the distant, ominous red shadow. Encircled by blood-red energy, the shadow continued to twist and contort, but it did not appear to pose an immediate threat.

Turning back to Mister Ghost, Gui Li, after a moment of silence, murmured, “Do you have anything else to say?” Mister Ghost’s breaths grew shallower, his eyes dimming, as he rasped, “No… nothing, it is all… fate, karma… karma… ah…”

Gui Li frowned, his emotions conflicted. Although they had been more often adversaries than friends, seeing Mister Ghost on the brink of death, he felt a mix of pity and remorse. He wanted to offer some comfort, but no words seemed appropriate.

As Mister Ghost’s labored breaths faded, he suddenly remembered something. With a burst of desperate strength, he grabbed Gui Li’s hand.

Gui Li, startled, asked, “What?”

“Go… find… Xiao… Huan…”

Gui Li, surprised, asked, “Find Xiao Huan? What for?”

Mister Ghost’s grip weakened, but he struggled to finish, “Tell… her… to… save… save…”

After saying “save,” Mister Ghost’s energy drained completely, his eyes dulling, his body going limp, and his breaths ceasing.

Gui Li, having a deep connection with Xiao Huan, considered her like a younger sister. Hearing Mister Ghost’s final plea, he realized the gravity of the matter.

Fearing Mister Ghost would die without completing his message, Gui Li leaned close and shouted, “Who do you want Xiao Huan to save? Tell me!”

Mister Ghost’s lips moved, and with a final, barely audible whisper, he said, “Save… the Azure Ethereal Vapors… back… mountain…”

His body convulsed one last time, then went slack, lifeless. Gui Li, stunned, slowly placed Mister Ghost on the ground, his mind filled with questions. The Azure Ethereal Vapors’ back mountain? What did that mean? If he heard correctly, Mister Ghost must have referred to the Azure Ethereal Vapors, but which part of the vast mountain range was the back mountain?

After a moment, Gui Li sighed, looking at Mister Ghost’s lifeless form. Closing his eyes, he whispered, “If I ever meet Xiao Huan, I will pass on your message, though I doubt she will understand it.”

Standing up, he glanced at the red shadow. It was now mostly corporeal, blood-red, with its head still obscured. Gui Li frowned, unwilling to linger, and turned to leave. But something tugged at his thoughts, halting him for a brief moment.

A sudden urge overcame him, a desire to see Mister Ghost’s face. He stared at the black veil, tempted to lift it. After a moment, he dismissed the thought and left.

As Gui Li exited the Blood Pool cave, Little Gray clung to his shoulder, quietly chattering. Though concerned for the four spirit beasts, Gui Li knew this place was now the most perilous. Even with his current power, he doubted he could stand against that terrifying, unknown force.

The stone walls and ground still trembled, and despite knowing Biyao was guarded by the Ghost King, Gui Li felt anxious. This disaster, and the evident loss of control over the mystical formation, made him decide to take Biyao and leave.

Mount Fox Ravine was too dangerous now.

Deciding this, Gui Li hastened along the familiar path, reaching the intersection with two entrances. As he approached the one he entered, he noticed a faint red light deep in the other tunnel, advancing rapidly toward him.

Without thinking, Gui Li turned and entered the other tunnel, hiding in a dark corner, holding his breath and silencing Little Gray.

The passage fell silent, but it didn’t last long. Soon, a growling sound, accompanied by heavy breathing, came from the direction of the red light. The figure was more beast than man.

A tall, ragged figure burst from the tunnel, landing heavily on the ground. It was the Ghost King, but different—his clothes were tattered, his body bulkier, emitting a strong, familiar scent: the stench of blood.

From the shadows, Gui Li watched coldly.

The Ghost King didn’t linger, quickly moving towards the distant red light, driven by some urgent desire, not noticing the bloodstains on the ground. As he vanished into the red-glowing cave, Gui Li stepped out, his eyes flashing with uncertainty.

Little Gray chirped, and as Gui Li prepared to leave, a sudden, bone-chilling realization hit him. With the earthquake intensifying, the situation becoming more dire, and the Ghost King acting so strangely, Gui Li’s mind raced to Biyao. Who was guarding her now?

Pale and shaken, Gui Li bolted, his thoughts consumed by her name: Biyao… Biyao… don’t let anything happen to her…

The quake was relentless, and the entire Mount Fox Ravine shook. Gui Li felt the ground tremble, the quake lasting far longer than any previous, and showing no sign of stopping. Cracks spread, rocks tumbled, and fear gripped everyone. When Gui Li emerged from the hidden passage into the Ghost King’s chamber, he found the once orderly corridors in ruins, filled with frantic, fleeing disciples.

Pushing and shoving, the usually strict order of the sect had dissolved. No one heeded his status; all were consumed by the instinct to survive. Gui Li, desperate, forced his way through the panicked crowd, fighting to reach Biyao’s ice chamber.

Another fierce quake jolted the ground, toppling the masses. Screams and wails filled the air, and the scene was one of absolute chaos. Gui Li, his eyes bloodshot, pushed forward, his mind a blur of determination. He had to get to Biyao.

Reaching a fork, Gui Li saw the same madness in the other tunnel. Disciples flooded out, desperate and afraid. He felt hopeless, but he pushed on, driven by a desperate need. Just as he turned, he saw the ice chamber’s entrance, but the new stone door was smashed, debris scattered everywhere.

Gui Li rushed in, his heart sinking. Inside, the ice platform was empty. No trace of Biyao. All his strength drained away, and the world spun. His only thought was Biyao, her name echoing in his mind.

Suddenly, a white figure appeared at the doorway—Xiao Bai. Seeing the empty platform, her face paled. Spotting Gui Li collapsed, she rushed to him, finding his pale, desolate face. Her eyes filled with tears as she saw the torn piece of green cloth in his hand.

More booms shook the ground, and Xiao Bai, realizing the imminent danger, scooped up Gui Li and fled. The cave crumbled, but she leapt, dodging falling rocks, and glimpsed the sky above. With a determined leap, she shot upward, escaping just as the floor gave way, revealing a churning, glowing sea of lava.

In the chaos, Xiao Bai, carrying Gui Li, soared through the fiery storm, avoiding rocks and molten lava, finally breaching the surface as Mount Fox Ravine crumbled. High above, amid the erupting lava, she escaped, flying towards the horizon.