Chapter 226: Heartrend

*Chuckle, chuckle…* A raspy, eerie laughter echoed from the mysterious figure, startling everyone present. “Such a reunion of master and disciple, truly touching, isn’t it?”

Ghoul Li exhaled deeply, though his heart was a whirlwind of emotions—excitement, joy, astonishment, and countless questions. Yet, he was no longer the naive youth of old; he quickly composed himself, though he couldn’t help but glance at Tian Bujian, his feelings mixed.

Tian Bujian, too, was a tangle of conflicting emotions after the initial shock. However, his vast experience allowed him to regain his composure more swiftly. His face turned grave as he turned to the enigmatic figure shrouded in black mists and sneered, “They are both disciples of my Azure Ethereal Conclave. If you dare to do these deeds, do you not dare to face them?”

Ghoul Li was taken aback. His gaze fell upon the mysterious figure, clearly not expecting this connection. After a moment, he looked back at Tian Bujian, his expression complex.

Standing to the side, Lu Xueqi’s lips curved into a slight smile. As she gazed at Ghoul Li, he caught her eye, and she offered a gentle, comforting smile that seemed to blend solace with joy.

The mysterious figure chuckled coldly, pointing at Ghoul Li, and asked, “So, is he also a disciple of your Azure Ethereal Conclave?”

Tian Bujian responded firmly, “He is the seventh disciple under my Great Bamboo Peak, and I, Tian Bujian, affirm it. What of it, Daoxuan Senior?”

Ghoul Li trembled, his expression indescribable, a mix of shock and bewilderment. After a long pause, his gaze shifted from Tian Bujian to the mysterious figure, incredulous, “Elder Daoxuan?”

The mysterious figure laughed, and the black mist swirling around him began to churn, slowly dissipating. It revealed the upper body of a man with a long, flowing beard and an ancient, dignified face—none other than the highly revered leader of the Azure Ethereal Conclave, Elder Daoxuan.

In that brief moment, Ghoul Li experienced several shocks. Seeing Elder Daoxuan’s face, he took an involuntary step back, his mind in turmoil, a blank slate. Lu Xueqi, though prepared, was still shaken by the sight of this man she had long revered, her face pale with shock.

Elder Daoxuan’s face remained unchanged, but a cold gleam flashed in his eyes, devoid of the benevolence and compassion he once possessed.

Ghoul Li scrutinized Elder Daoxuan, his brows gradually furrowing, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. This man was a pivotal figure in his life. Ten years ago, on the peak of Qingyun Mountain, the Heaven-Defying Sword had shattered Bi Yao’s soul, transforming Zhang Xiaofan into Ghoul Li.

Ghoul Li well understood the profoundness of Elder Daoxuan’s cultivation. He had joined the Ghost King Sect to master the Celestial Book, knowing that even a lifetime of practicing the Daoist and Buddhist techniques of the Azure Ethereal Conclave and the Heavenly Melody Temple might not be enough to match the Heaven-Defying Sword Array. Yet, the more he delved into these mysteries, the more his hopes dwindled, especially after Elder Daoxuan’s second display of power during the Beast Cataclysm, where he unlocked the Cosmic Lock and defeated the invincible Beast God, displaying godlike prowess.

Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine encountering Elder Daoxuan, now radiating a terrifying demonic aura, yet still unfathomably deep in his cultivation.

A trace of agitation flickered across Ghoul Li’s face.

Elder Daoxuan turned to fix Ghoul Li with a cold, piercing stare.

As the leader of the Azure Ethereal Conclave for over a century, he was a legendary figure. When Ghoul Li was still Zhang Xiaofan, he had regarded Elder Daoxuan as a deity. Now, under his sudden, intense gaze, Ghoul Li felt an inexplicable nervousness, clenching his fists tightly.

“Do you wish to kill me?” Elder Daoxuan asked Ghoul Li coldly.

Ghoul Li didn’t speak, but a twist of his hand brought the Soul Devourer staff into view, its faint azure light mingling with a harsh, blood-red hue, shimmering menacingly.

Elder Daoxuan’s gaze fell on the Soul Devourer, a hint of mockery in his eyes. Turning to Tian Bujian, he asked the same question, “Do you wish to kill me?”

Tian Bujian was straightforward. “Yes.”

“Can you kill me?”

Tian Bujian grunted, “Even if I can’t, I will try!”

Elder Daoxuan laughed, a shrill, chilling sound that carried far. “Indeed, I saw it long ago. Among the younger generation of the Azure Ethereal Conclave, regardless of talent or bravery, you stand out as the first.”

A shadow of sadness crossed Tian Bujian’s face. “What use is saying this now?”

Elder Daoxuan’s brows knitted, and he shouted, “Very well, then tell me, why do you wish to kill me?”

Tian Bujian was taken aback, unable to find the words.

A strange, sorrowful look appeared on Elder Daoxuan’s face, strangely at odds with his malevolent demeanor. “Tian Shidi, do you wish to kill me for the sake of righteousness and justice?”

Hearing the title “Tian Shidi” for the first time in days, Tian Bujian felt a fleeting sense of confusion before biting down and saying, “After you succumbed to evil, I must stop you, lest you commit even greater sins!”

Elder Daoxuan let out a long, mocking laugh, his gaze fixed on Tian Bujian. “A righteous cause, indeed. Tell me, do you remember how I became this way?”

Tian Bujian was dumbstruck, speechless.

Elder Daoxuan snorted, glancing at the vigilant Lu Xueqi. “Your esteemed Shiti refuses to say, can you tell me?”

Lu Xueqi’s face grew even paler, avoiding Elder Daoxuan’s gaze, silent.

What could be said? Could she recount how Elder Daoxuan had risked his life to save the world, twice driving the Heaven-Defying Sword Array, only to end up like this?

Right and wrong, good and evil, entangled in a web of fate, manipulated by the heavens themselves!

The abandoned crematorium was dominated by Elder Daoxuan’s presence. Though Tian Bujian’s resolve was noble, he found himself at a loss when faced with Elder Daoxuan, who, despite his descent into darkness, retained his sanity and formidable power. His words shook Tian Bujian, causing him to tremble, hesitating to act.

Both Tian Bujian and Lu Xueqi knew the truth. Elder Daoxuan’s contributions to the world and the righteous path were immeasurable. In normal times, they might have erected statues in his honor. But the cruel whims of fate had brought them to this impasse. If Elder Daoxuan had lost his mind, they would have less to consider. But his clear, incisive questions trapped them.

What was the right course of action?

At that moment, Ghoul Li spoke coldly, “The world’s plight is none of my concern. Nor do I care about your past deeds. I only seek the one strike that killed Bi Yao ten years ago!”

The Soul Devourer’s azure light flared, an icy aura enveloping the entire crematorium. A sharp whistle cut through the air as Ghoul Li launched his weapon, aiming straight for the heart.

Elder Daoxuan’s face changed, surprised by Ghoul Li’s progress. The Soul Devourer, seemingly slow but actually fast, wielded with the power of wind and thunder, was a manifestation of the Azure Ethereal Conclave’s Taiji Xuqing Dao, and he had surpassed the Jade Purity realm, achieving the Upper Purity stage. Elder Daoxuan, with his keen insight, recognized that Ghoul Li was at the pinnacle of the Upper Purity, almost reaching the legendary Highest Purity.

Both Tian Bujian and Lu Xueqi, skilled in their own right, were struck by the sight, exchanging glances filled with astonishment.

Tian Bujian’s eyes showed more surprise, while Lu Xueqi’s eyes, after a moment of astonishment, held a faint, bittersweet tinge, soon replaced by joy.

They did not know that Ghoul Li, despite his trials, had encountered fortuitous opportunities. He was the sole person to have mastered the Celestial Book, a tome of immense power and ancient wisdom. The book’s origins were shrouded in mystery, and its contents included the most advanced cultivation techniques, including those of the Heavenly Melody Temple and the Demon Sect. Ghoul Li, having mastered all four volumes, was a formidable force.

Despite his newfound strength, Ghoul Li faced Elder Daoxuan, one of the greatest figures in the world, whose mastery of the Heaven-Defying Sword Array required reaching the Highest Purity. The true extent of his power was now on full display.

The Soul Devourer, carrying the force of wind and thunder, approached, but Elder Daoxuan’s surrounding black mist roiled violently, nearly dispersing. Elder Daoxuan, initially startled, regained his composure, and his right hand emerged from the black mist, forming a sword seal and tracing a Yin-Yang Taiji diagram in the air, glowing with the same azure light.

The Taiji diagram, once formed, rotated continuously, creating a swirling vortex in the air. The Soul Devourer, with overwhelming force, met the Taiji diagram, but the collision produced only a faint, sharp whistle. The Taiji diagram retreated three feet, but it halted the Soul Devourer, which began to fade and follow the vortex.

Ghoul Li, soaring into the air, recalled the Soul Devourer. Elder Daoxuan, with a cold sneer, directed the Taiji diagram towards him. The sky filled with whistling sounds as Ghoul Li, like a phantom, moved rapidly. But Elder Daoxuan, with supernatural vision, kept the Taiji diagram on his trail, drawing ever closer.

Finally, Ghoul Li’s movements slowed, and the Taiji diagram caught up, growing in size and power, slicing down from above.

Lu Xueqi’s body trembled, while Tian Bujian nodded slowly.

The Taiji diagram descended, and Elder Daoxuan’s face changed. With a bizarre scream, he abandoned the diagram, soaring upward as it missed its mark. The Taiji diagram, seemingly controlled by some external force, dissipated in the wind.

As Elder Daoxuan rose, the ground beneath the crematorium erupted in a massive quake, lifting earth and debris into the air. The crumbling structure disintegrated, and a massive wave of earth and stone, gathered by Ghoul Li’s magic, chased after Elder Daoxuan.

The battle dynamic shifted, but Elder Daoxuan, in the air, showed no fear. The black mist around him condensed into a protective wall, and the massive earth wave, with the force of a thunderclap, crashed into it, causing ripples of lightning and a deafening roar. The impact generated a powerful wind, tearing the environment apart.

The abandoned crematorium was completely destroyed, and everything was obliterated, even the sparse trees nearby, uprooted and cast away. Tian Bujian and Lu Xueqi, floating in the air, managed to avoid the debris, but the immense wind still cut like knives, even for their level of cultivation.

The black wall, though thin, withstood the assault, and the earth wave was gradually suppressed. Ghoul Li, though vastly improved, could not match Elder Daoxuan’s centuries of cultivation.

Tian Bujian, seeing the relentless attack, made a decision. His body enveloped in a fiery blaze, he charged forward, combining with his sword, a fierce phoenix.

Behind him, Lu Xueqi, slightly stunned, decided to follow.

The flaming figure, somewhat bulky but unmistakably Tian Bujian, soared through the air. Even Elder Daoxuan, with all his might, had to move aside, respecting the ferocity of the attack.

The black wall dissipated, and the earth wave crumbled, revealing Ghoul Li, unharmed and resolute. The battle, a testament to their powers, was enough to shock the world.

Tian Bujian’s flame, now a blazing inferno, curved through the sky, striking again at Elder Daoxuan.

Elder Daoxuan dodged, sneering, “Do you believe in righteousness and justice now?”

Tian Bujian growled, halting mid-air, “You have great merits, but also great faults. I fight for the ancestors’ legacy. If I kill you, I will take my own life in atonement.”

Ghoul Li, slightly shaken, looked at Tian Bujian, momentarily confused. But Tian Bujian’s fierce determination, coupled with the fire, was unyielding. Ghoul Li, seeing this, joined the fray, his hesitation replaced by resolve.

The three high-level cultivators surrounded Elder Daoxuan, whose prowess was now fully displayed. His sword seals and the black mist, versatile and formidable, held them at bay, even turning the tide.

Tian Bujian, with a mighty slash, forced Elder Daoxuan back, and in that moment, he warned Ghoul Li, “Seventh Disciple, be careful, he has the Heaven-Defying Sword!”

Ghoul Li’s heart raced, the memory of the Heaven-Defying Sword’s power fresh in his mind. Enraged, he lunged forward, his attacks fierce and relentless. Tian Bujian, seeing this, sighed inwardly and followed.

Elder Daoxuan, taken aback by Ghoul Li’s ferocity, was briefly overwhelmed. But his unparalleled skills allowed him to gradually regain control, even if he was not in the ascendant.

Tian Bujian, increasingly alarmed, realized that his mentor’s strength was beyond comprehension. Despite his doubts, he was prepared to face the worst.

The battle intensified, and just as the trio was gaining the upper hand, Elder Daoxuan’s eyes flashed with a cold, deadly intent. He chanted a dark, ominous spell, and his fingertips turned black, emitting a dark energy.

The sky darkened, and a chilling, mournful cry echoed, as if from the depths of the underworld. The sinister energy surged, thick and oppressive.

Ghoul Li and Lu Xueqi, recognizing the impending danger, moved to intercept, but a strange, ear-piercing sound, like something tearing apart, came from behind them. They turned to see Tian Bujian, his body frozen, a horrifying sound emanating from him.