Within the span of a dozen breaths, whether it was Jiang Zhiwei, Luo Shengyi, Qi Zhengyan, or Ruan Yushu, none could recover enough to fight again. Only Meng Qi had his body’s flames growing dimmer. Thus, while the monster warily kept an eye on him, it flew toward Zhang Yuanshan.
“The opportunity grants access to the Vajra Mountain,” Zhang Yuanshan lied casually based on background knowledge.
It seemed the instructions from the Master of the Six Realms were not given without reason.
“If that’s the case, cooperation isn’t entirely impossible,” the monster nodded slightly.
Zhang Yuanshan was still hesitating internally—should he take a dangerous gamble or trust the monster and give up resistance?
Seeing the monster’s relatively amicable attitude, he leaned toward cooperation.
“But you must die!”
Suddenly, the monster roared, lunging forward with its long spear in the right hand, flames rolling and scorching.
Its left arm’s pain constantly reminded it to seek revenge!
To ordinary monsters, what was the “big picture”? Could it be eaten?
Zhang Yuanshan never expected the monster to turn on him so suddenly; the spear tip was already before his eyes.
At this moment, a figure flashed out, shoving Zhang Yuanshan aside. The figure itself was pierced by the flame spear, fire burning from within outward.
“Zhen Zhen!” Zhang Yuanshan’s mind went blank, seeing only the eyes of Fu Zhenzhen looking back—joy and sorrow mingled, as if speaking and resolute.
“You act steadily and competently, displaying the demeanor of a leader, which is excellent. However, you think too much and worry too much. When it’s time to take a gamble, you lack the necessary courage…” His ancestor’s words echoed in his mind, still clear even after many years.
Back then, he had hesitated, while Qi Xia decisively stepped forward, attempting to uncover the Master of the Six Realms’ secret. That scene surfaced in his mind again.
“Yes, I lacked the courage to take a gamble.”
“But today, I will cut down that former self!”
Fu Zhenzhen’s eyes, clear and filled with attachment, stirred boundless courage in Zhang Yuanshan’s heart. Feelings of love transformed entirely into flame, fueling his sword intent.
Bloodlight surged. Zhang Yuanshan’s essence and spirit seemed to burn fiercely.
A sword beam crossed the sky, dim and shadowy, extracting the flying monster from the heavens and earth. Blood marks emerged on its body, rapidly deepening, slicing flesh and breaking bones.
Papapap, several body parts of the flying monster fell to the ground consecutively, its eyes bulging in frozen shock.
Mountain winds blew. There were no more monsters nearby, only peace.
“Master Zhang!” Qi Zhengyan struggled to his feet, crying out in grief.
After that sword strike, Zhang Yuanshan’s entire aura vanished. His face turned deathly pale as he staggered toward Fu Zhenzhen, sat cross-legged, and then lifted her into his arms, letting her lean against his chest.
Pierced through the heart by a half-step Beyond Qi monster, Fu Zhenzhen had long perished, her eyes still open, gentle as always.
Zhang Yuanshan’s left hand trembled as he gently touched Fu Zhenzhen’s face, filled with deep affection.
Meng Qi’s body flames extinguished, and the effects of the Sacrifice Art had also faded. He struggled to his feet, swallowed a Great Healing Pill, and stumbled to Zhang Yuanshan’s side.
“Master Zhang…” He didn’t know what to say. Since they met, Zhang Yuanshan had been like an elder brother to everyone—steady, reliable, and caring for each person.
Zhang Yuanshan smiled: “Now that it’s come to this, no more words are needed. Had I not made that final strike, I would never have forgiven myself. But in the end, I overcame myself.”
This was his final flicker of life.
Pausing, Zhang Yuanshan took out his Great Healing Pill and Fu Zhenzhen’s medicinal pills, handing them to Meng Qi: “I won’t need these anymore.”
“Master Zhang…” Meng Qi’s eyes blurred, his throat choked with unspoken words.
Zhang Yuanshan’s eyes slowly closed as he whispered faintly: “Live well in our place, live long enough to escape the cycle.”
“Master Zhang, if there’s a chance, I’ll definitely bring you back!” Meng Qi blurted out.
Jiang Zhiwei also approached, whispering a vow: “If there’s a chance, I’ll definitely bring you back!”
“No need. If you truly wish to, escape the cycle instead, become a supreme being, and bring us back with your own power.” Zhang Yuanshan didn’t want to burden Meng Qi and others.
“What a pity…” He still had something he couldn’t let go of in his heart, but he didn’t say it.
Meng Qi’s vision blurred. Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind, and he spoke solemnly: “Master Zhang, if your families ever face trouble, even if it means braving fire and water, I will not hesitate!”
A man’s promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold!
Zhang Yuanshan smiled, his eyes completely closed now, still sitting cross-legged, tightly holding Fu Zhenzhen.
Meng Qi took a deep breath, suppressing his grief: “Handle the bodies properly; we must leave quickly.”
They didn’t know if more monsters might pursue them.
Jiang Zhiwei found a bag of poison on Fu Zhenzhen’s body and sprinkled it over both corpses, whispering sorrowfully: “Your bodies must not be defiled by monsters… May your flesh and blood merge…”
Zizizi, Zhang Yuanshan and Fu Zhenzhen’s bodies quickly dissolved into pus and blood, merging together, leaving only the White-Haired Lovers’ Sword and the Tengshe Sword lying crosswise.
Though lacking in merit, Meng Qi, Jiang Zhiwei, and others had their limits. They could never bring themselves to take the swords. They simply dug a shallow pit, burying the blood and the two swords together.
As for the Great Healing Pill and Fu Zhenzhen’s healing medicine, they were entrusted to Ruan Yushu, since others would be fighting and might accidentally break the vial.
The monster’s two spear halves were also stored in the Cosmic Ring.
Afterward, they supported each other, hastening toward the distance. After traveling a while, the horizon burned with warm orange, and dawn arrived.
The morning light shone upon them, the fatigue from the previous battle and the sorrow of losing companions seemed somewhat eased.
As the light brightened, Meng Qi’s eyes suddenly widened, and despair uncontrollably surged within him.
They stood on a hilltop, gazing afar at a dilapidated temple. It looked so familiar—it was exactly the same place they had left six days ago.
Bathed in sunlight, it burned with solemn golden brilliance, majestic and serene.
Had they returned to where they started?
Was it the Master of the Six Realms’ restriction, or a natural change after the opportunity arose?
No wonder Ge Huairen’s divinations always showed great peril no matter which direction he chose—they were all the same, leading back here… Meng Qi suddenly understood the true meaning of Ge Huairen’s first divination.
Then why did every direction point west?
“At this moment, the monsters have left the temple chasing us. Returning to the temple might actually be the best strategy, perhaps allowing us to survive the final day smoothly.” Thanks to the Great Healing Pill, Luo Shengyi’s injuries were mostly healed, and his combat strength restored, as were Jiang Zhiwei and Meng Qi.
Meng Qi suppressed his despair, nodding slightly: “Yes, the most dangerous place can be the safest.”
He merely said this to maintain confidence, for it relied purely on luck. Perhaps there were monsters guarding the temple? Perhaps the true monster king was flying here?
With things having reached this point, they could not turn back toward the monster horde. They could only struggle forward, not necessarily heading into the temple. They could find a hidden spot nearby and hide out the final day.
After walking a while longer, Luo Shengyi discovered a hidden cave and signaled Meng Qi and others to hide inside.
The cave was filled with jagged rocks, like monsters lurking in darkness, faintly echoing with the sound of underground water.
“I hope the monsters can’t find this place…” Luo Shengyi sighed. His first death mission ended on the last day when he survived by hiding in a cave unnoticed due to his weak strength. Now, he couldn’t help but hope for similar luck.
Meng Qi, Jiang Zhiwei, Qi Zhengyan, and Ruan Yushu didn’t have the habit of praying to heaven. Each inspected the cave, checking where it led, considering whether they could use it to resist the monsters. Outside, they could fly, but inside, they’d be on equal footing!
Of course, this was only true if King Bibo and Balaba weren’t present, for his Beyond Qi strength could easily kill them without any weapon support.
Suddenly, Meng Qi saw a black shadow flash by, not moving quickly.
“Who’s there?” Meng Qi used the Illusive Demon Art, rushing over but catching only a bony old man—an old human man.
“Monsters? You’re not monsters?” The old man, gaunt and frail, was first startled, then calmed.
Jiang Zhiwei and others gathered around. Meng Qi asked sternly: “Old man, we are humans being chased by monsters, hiding here. What about you?”
The old man smiled bitterly: “Of course, I’m human. Due to limited food in my clan and my old age, I came out to await death, giving the young a better chance to survive.”
In the era of monster chaos, many similar records existed. In every human tribe, the elderly would leave the safe zones to await death, not wasting food. Because of their sacrifices, humanity could pass the torch, gradually rising to become the supreme beings of the universe.
“Where is your tribe?” Meng Qi tossed the old man some dried food and water, asking casually.
The old man eyed him warily: “What do you want? Our hidden tribe is far from here.”
“Old man, rest assured, we won’t disturb you,” Meng Qi exhaled, understanding the elder’s caution.
The old man sighed: “You kind people, but I still can’t tell you. There are too many monsters, many of whom have humans in captivity, some even loyal to them. Sigh, ancient times were better, with immortals, heavenly soldiers, Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Arhats. Though monsters still ate humans, they weren’t as rampant as today. We humans built many kingdoms, never worrying about food or drink…”
He gazed with longing, repeating the beautiful tales passed down.
“Ancient times? Which kingdom was here during ancient times?” Meng Qi’s heart stirred.
Only by knowing ancient place names could he locate where he was, perhaps finding a way to survive.
The old man frowned, thinking: “Ancient times? They say this was the territory of Vajra Mountain.”
“Vajra Mountain territory?” Meng Qi blurted out, his mind surging with waves.
This was actually the Vajra Mountain territory? But where was Vajra Mountain?
The old man nodded slightly, puzzled by the young man’s shock.
“This is the Vajra Mountain territory…”
“The Great Thunder Monastery plaque…”
“Ge Huairen’s divinations always pointed west…”
“The Yuan Meng legacy letter, where is Vajra Mountain?”
“The small jade Buddha… possibly a symbol, landmark, or key…”
Countless thoughts surged through Meng Qi’s mind, coalescing into a single spark of insight.
“Ge Huairen’s ‘west’ was actually symbolic, the ‘west’ of the ‘Journey to the West,’ whose destination was precisely Vajra Mountain. The symbol of Vajra Mountain was the Great Thunder Monastery…”
“Ge Huairen’s divination result actually meant the ‘direction’ was the ‘Great Thunder Monastery plaque’!”
“The small jade Buddha is the key!”
Round and round they went, returning to the beginning.
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