**Azure Ethereal Conclave**
The majestic Hall of Mountains and Rivers was, at this moment, a picture of tranquility. Except for Li Xun and a group of elite disciples who had ventured into the mysterious Ten Thousand Great Mountains, most of the Azure Ethereal Conclave disciples were either on duty or practicing their cultivation in their chambers. It was rare to see anyone at the main hall of the conclave. This was also one of the quietest times of the day in the Hall of Mountains and Rivers, save for the late hours of the night.
Yet, at this very moment, two figures stood silently at the entrance of the Hall of Mountains and Rivers, gazing towards the distant southern horizon.
In the far-off sky, deep within the treacherous Ten Thousand Great Mountains, a colossal pillar of fire shot up into the heavens, blazing with a fierce, crimson glow and billowing black-gray clouds. Countless rock fragments, carried by an immense force, soared high into the air and then scattered in all directions like a burst of sparks.
Despite the great distance, it felt as if one could still hear the thunderous roar echoing across the heavens. Even the ground beneath their feet seemed to tremble faintly. If such a phenomenon could be felt from a thousand miles away, what kind of unimaginable scene must be unfolding in the heart of the Ten Thousand Great Mountains?
No one knew, and at least, the two people standing in the Hall of Mountains and Rivers did not know.
Yun Yilang’s face was cold and indifferent. For a long time, he remained silent, his gaze fixed on the colossal pillar of fire, which, though it had been erupting for some time, showed no signs of weakening. Behind him stood his junior, Shangguan Ce, who also gazed at the pillar of fire, but his expression was far more complex, his face shifting between shadows and light.
After a long while.
As the silence deepened, darkness slowly descended, and the sky gradually darkened. A few disciples passed by, but they quickly sensed something amiss and retreated hastily. As the last glimmer of twilight faded, even the distant anomalies in the sky began to blur and fade.
In a corner of the Azure Ethereal Conclave, a faint chirping of insects echoed, now close, now far, seemingly calling out to something, but only adding to the cold, icy silence that pervaded the vast Hall of Mountains and Rivers.
Yun Yilang’s shadowy figure moved slightly, and then he slowly turned around.
Shangguan Ce looked at him silently. Their gazes met in mid-air for a moment before Yun Yilang’s eyes shifted away, and he slowly turned to walk back into the hall. Shangguan Ce sighed inwardly, glanced one last time at the southern horizon, and followed him inside.
The heavy footsteps resounded through the silent Hall of Mountains and Rivers, sounding unusually loud!
Whose hearts did those footsteps trample upon?
Yun Yilang slowly sat down in the central seat of the hall. The night had fallen, but there were no lights lit. It wasn’t due to the laziness of the Azure Ethereal Conclave disciples; rather, it was as if the night itself was different, and they knew better than to come.
Sitting in the darkness, Yun Yilang’s face appeared somewhat indistinct. After a while, he suddenly said, “I never thought that there would be someone in this world capable of destroying the ancient Demon Sealing Cave and slaying that demon.”
Shangguan Ce sat down beside Yun Yilang. Though he was younger, his face looked much older. His voice, however, seemed more composed than Yun Yilang’s as he replied, “Since Daoxuan of the Immortalbane Nexus could severely injure the Beast God, it’s not too surprising that someone has found a way to kill the beast demons today.”
Yun Yilang remained silent for a long time, and then he let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “Human calculations are nothing compared to the will of heaven. Decades of effort, all for naught.”
Shangguan Ce pondered for a moment, carefully considering his words before speaking, “Perhaps there are other methods in the ‘Azure Fragrance Jade Book’…”
Yun Yilang snorted, and Shangguan Ce fell silent, the atmosphere becoming somewhat awkward. Yun Yilang, clearly in a foul mood, made no attempt to ease the tension, instead sitting in silence.
The wrinkles on Shangguan Ce’s old face seemed to deepen in the shadows, his eyes flickering with a complex light. After a while, Yun Yilang suddenly called out, “Junior Brother Shangguan.”
Shangguan Ce started, “What is it?”
Yun Yilang said softly, “Others may not understand, but the secrets of our Azure Ethereal Conclave are known only to you and me. You should know why our ancestor chose this remote place in the Southern Region to establish our sect, right?”
Shangguan Ce sighed, his voice tinged with a sense of history, “Our ancestor discovered the ancient Southern Witch Clan’s relic, the ‘Flame Altar,’ and found the secret of their powerful and strange witchcraft.”
Yun Yilang nodded slowly, “Yes, because of that, the Azure Ethereal Conclave was able to take root in this remote area and grow into the prominent sect it is today. Our current status and reputation are due to the combination of the ancient witch clan’s magical arts and the true teachings passed down by our ancestors.”
At this, Yun Yilang’s voice took on a melancholic tone, “But over these centuries, despite the efforts of our ancestors, we have only managed to grasp the barest essence of the most powerful force of the Southern Witch Clan, the ‘Heavenly Fire.’ When I succeeded the position of Valley Master, I swore before our ancestors that I would discover the secret of the Heavenly Fire and make our Azure Ethereal Conclave the most powerful in the world. But now, not only have we failed, but the key to exploring the Heavenly Fire, the ‘Eight Fiendish Flames Formation Diagram,’ has been destroyed, and even the crucial Flame Mirror has been lost!”
In the darkness, Shangguan Ce’s body tensed.
With a sharp crack, Yun Yilang, in his anger, snapped the armrest of his chair. The hall fell into a tense silence.
After a while, Yun Yilang let out a long sigh and slowly stood up, his voice filled with sorrow, “Back then, when we were in a desperate situation, I learned from ancient texts that, besides the Flame Altar, there was another formation diagram in the Demon Sealing Cave. That’s why we sought a risky alliance, but alas… ah.”
He sighed deeply, his face etched with indescribable weariness.
Outside the Hall of Mountains and Rivers, only the faint chirping of insects broke the silence. Most of the conclave disciples were probably asleep, unaware of the two elders sitting in the hall.
Yun Yilang seemed to be in a state of extreme agitation, his usual composure gone. He paced back and forth, his thoughts troubled. Finally, after a long sigh, he shook his head with a bitter smile and walked toward the back hall in silence.
Shangguan Ce remained seated, watching as Yun Yilang’s figure disappeared into the dark back hall. Suddenly, a flash of determination appeared in Shangguan Ce’s eyes, and he stood up.
“Senior Brother!”
Yun Yilang paused, turning back, and asked, “What is it?”
Shangguan Ce, carefully choosing his words, said, “I’ve given it some thought, and perhaps there is still hope.”
Yun Yilang raised an eyebrow, “What do you mean?”
Shangguan Ce, feeling a bit dry-mouthed, cleared his throat and said, “Now that the two known locations of the Eight Fiendish Flames Formation Diagram, the Flame Altar and the Demon Sealing Cave, have both been destroyed, it seems unlikely that we can uncover the secret of the Heavenly Fire from the diagrams.”
Yun Yilang snorted, “True, so what do you suggest?”
Shangguan Ce was silent for a moment, then said, “I think that since the diagrams are just physical objects, we might be able to find another way through the people.”
Yun Yilang grew impatient, “Who could possibly know…” Suddenly, his eyes widened, his expression turning serious. After a moment of contemplation, he said slowly, “You mean that after the collapse of the Demon Sealing Cave, some of the Southern Witch Clan might still be alive?”
Shangguan Ce took a deep breath, as if a heavy burden had been pressing on his chest. After a moment, he said, “I don’t have absolute certainty, but I suspect that after the Demon Sealing Cave was destroyed, a few non-human, non-demon survivors of the witch clan might still be alive. One of them might not be willing to perish along with the others.”
He lifted his head, his voice somehow becoming dry, “If my guess is correct, this person might be the one who knows the most about the ancient witch clan’s secrets. We might gain something from him, even if it’s uncertain.”
Yun Yilang pondered silently, but his expression slowly brightened and became more focused. After a while, he nodded, “True, Junior Brother, you have a good point. Although the chances are slim, it’s better than giving up. In that case, you should go to the Ten Thousand Great Mountains to investigate this. Also, check on Li Xun and the others. He faced a major crisis, and it’s hard on him.”
Shangguan Ce sighed inwardly, stood up, and nodded, “Yes.”
Yun Yilang looked at him and suddenly smiled, “Junior Brother, my mood was poor earlier, and my tone might have been harsh. Please don’t take it to heart.”
Shangguan Ce shook his head, “Senior Brother, you’re too kind. It’s fine.”
Yun Yilang smiled and nodded, then turned and walked into the back hall, disappearing into the shadows. The vast Hall of Mountains and Rivers was left with a solitary figure, standing in silence.
The darkness slowly crept in, engulfing the figure.
In the Southern Region, the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.
The earth-shattering roar and the volcanic eruption, which had raged for three days and nights, finally began to subside. The apocalyptic rain of fire, at some unknown point, ceased. Across the land, the marks of the inferno scarred the peaks, rivers, and earth, and from afar, it seemed as if countless fires still burned on this tormented land.
However, the dark clouds in the sky eventually dissipated, and the warm, gentle light of the sun once again bathed the earth.
Even though the air still carried the acrid smell of sulfur, the breeze from the distance brought a fresh, cleansing scent.
Everything would come to an end.
Everything would begin anew…
As the sun and moon rotate, the stars shift, and the constellations change, who has seen the full cycle of human affairs?
The stars twinkled, and the moon rose.
The night wind blew gently, and the trees rustled.
The tranquil night quietly settled here.
A soft murmur, like a baby in a dream, reached her lips, and she instinctively reached out, grasping something.
It was the warmth of skin, a secure presence beside her, solid and unyielding. Her lips curved in a faint, contented smile in her sleep.
In the night, under the starlight, the gentle breeze blew.
Her hair was a bit disheveled, a few strands of black hair dancing in the wind, falling on her porcelain-like cheek. She frowned slightly, with a childlike, innocent expression, her beauty in the disarray only enhancing the calmness that seeped deep into her soul.
Gui Li silently gazed at her sleeping face, so close to him. She lay quietly, breathing the fresh night air of the Southern Region. The wind caressed her, and her chest rose and fell gently, her lips curled in a slight smile.
He suddenly looked up, seeing the full moon rise high in the sky, casting a soft, warm glow over the earth.
The moonlight, like water, fell upon them.
Clothes white as snow, skin smooth as jade.
They were on a cliff high in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, a solitary ledge jutting out from the peak. Because it was far from the scorched mountain where the Demon Sealing Cave had been, the massive volcanic eruption caused by its collapse did not affect this place much. Only some ash and a few rocks mixed with molten lava had ignited a few fires, but they were quickly extinguished.
On the high cliff, the remnants of the disaster could still be seen, now reduced to ashes.
When the two, who had been saved from the Demon Sealing Cave by the spirit artifact Flame Mirror, woke up, they found themselves on this cliff. Gui Li, after regaining consciousness, realized he and Lu Xueqi were here.
After the chaos, the night was peaceful and cool.
Suddenly, a soft cry came from beside him. He turned to see the beautiful woman in her sleep, her eyes slowly opening with a faint smile.
Those clear, gentle eyes, reflecting his image…
In an instant, it felt as if something deep within his soul had cracked open!
Then, after a long, deep gaze, she smiled, a shy, musical smile.
That smile, like a lily in the darkness, blooming in the night.
For a long time, or perhaps just a brief moment, time lost its meaning. Who cared?
Gui Li smiled, a gentle, warm smile, as if he were that young man from long ago.
She reached out, wanting to hold his hand, but found they were already clasped together, never letting go. A faint blush touched her cheeks as she slowly sat up.
Her clothes had slipped, revealing that it was Gui Li’s coat covering her. She looked at him, saying nothing, but her smile deepened.
The night wind blew gently, like a tender hand passing by. In the distance, the forest on the mountain echoed with the sound of the wind.
Lu Xueqi looked around, and not far from them, at the edge of the cliff, her Tianya Divine Sword was embedded in the rock, its blade shimmering like autumn water. Beside it, Gui Li’s Soul Devourer lay quietly on the ground.
Both divine artifacts, at this moment, seemed so serene. Who knew of their past? The faint blue light of Tianya intertwined with the glowing green light of Soul Devourer, the two ancient rivals now appearing to blend and complement each other.
Suddenly, a low growl came from behind them. They turned to see a massive figure darting through the forest, the same Taotie that had accompanied the Beast God. It sounded restless, but soon, a familiar “chirping” sound calmed it, and it fell silent.
The two turned to look at each other, and Gui Li, hesitating slightly, said, “That’s Taotie. I came for it. Tomorrow, I should…”
He didn’t finish, for a soft, white hand gently covered his mouth.
He fell silent, his body trembling slightly.
The night wind blew, stirring her hair. His eyes, in the darkness, seemed to waver.
Yet, the smile on her lips never faded.
Lu Xueqi simply smiled, gazing deeply at the man who had haunted her dreams. After a long while, she whispered, “Forget about tomorrow, okay?”
The moonlight, like ice and snow, fell upon the earth.
Gui Li stared at her, at her peerless beauty and gentle smile, at the steadfastness and faint sadness behind that smile. The wind still blew, her hair cascading over her shoulders, and a faint, sweet fragrance wafted through the air.
Her figure, so slender, yet so beautiful, seemed untouched by the world’s sorrows.
Forget about tomorrow, okay?
The moon, the stars.
The night was vast and boundless.
He gently held her hand, cradling it in his palm.
Under the endless sky, who would care about such small, fleeting happiness?
Her slender form trembled slightly in the night wind, her heart filled with a lingering, timeless emotion.
In the heavens, was someone smiling, looking down?
Was it joy? Was it pain?
It didn’t matter. What mattered was this moment, this embrace.
Embrace her, gently, in your arms…
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