Chapter 81: Firefly Light

"Have you ever considered that, despite all your calculations, you've calculated every possible secret, yet... you've overlooked just one thing?" Chu Yun's hoarse voice echoed across the silent altar, each word imbued with an eerie calmness. For the first time, the Great Celestial Master's face, once empty and devoid of energy, revealed a genuine expression of surprise. He watched the young man, using an equally cracked ancient sword to support his body, which felt like shattered porcelain, as he slowly rose from the pool of blood. He could clearly sense that what was sustaining this young man wasn't some ethereal "concept," but a purer, more primal force, a force that even he, the self-proclaimed incarnation of the "Heavenly Way," couldn't fully comprehend. His gaze fell on Chu Yun's chest. There, the three fragments of the Evil-Suppressing Seal, now completely fused with Chu Yun's flesh, blood, and spirit, were undergoing an unprecedented, frenzied transformation! They were no longer releasing power, but... devouring it! A miniature vortex of energy formed around Chu Yun's body, madly devouring everything in this world! Devouring the ominous light cast by the blood moon, devouring the evil energy flowing through the altar, devouring the endless resentment entwined within the nine pillars of light, even... devouring Chu Yun's own fading, final vitality! "This..." The Great Heavenly Master's brow furrowed slightly for the first time. This situation was completely beyond his expectations. "It's not... over yet..." Chu Yun raised his head. His handsome face, marred by hideous cracks and golden bloodstains, looked more terrifying than any evil spirit. But his dark eyes shone brighter than ever, almost as if they were burning. "I told you... as long as I'm standing, don't even think of harming my companions... in the slightest." "Companions?" The Great Heavenly Master heard this word, which sounded incredibly childish and ridiculous to him, and a mocking smile finally broke across his usually calm face. "Are you referring to those two equally spent... 'burdens'?" He spoke, slowly raising his hand, ready to put an end to this "farce" that, in his opinion, had become somewhat boring. But at this moment, two equally frail figures, yet filled with determination and fearlessness, appeared on his left and right, blocking him and Chu Yun. They were Li Ge and Mo Li. "Your opponent..." Mo Li used her left hand, the only one still able to move, to support herself on the ground and slowly stood up. Her gorgeous dress...

"Have you ever thought that despite all your calculations and calculations, you've missed one thing?"

Chu Yun's hoarse voice rang out on the silent altar, and every word was filled with an eerie calmness.

For the first time, the Great Heavenly Master's face, once empty, revealed a genuine expression of surprise. He watched the young man, using an equally cracked ancient sword to support his body, which felt like shattered porcelain, as he slowly rose from the pool of blood.

He could clearly feel that what was supporting this young man at this moment was not some vague "concept", but a purer and more original "power" that even he, who claimed to be the incarnation of "Heaven's Way", could not fully understand.

His gaze fell on Chu Yun's chest.

There, the three fragments of the Evil-Suppressing Seal, which had completely merged with Chu Yun's flesh, blood, and soul, were undergoing an unprecedented and crazy transformation!

They are no longer releasing power, but... devouring!

A miniature energy vortex formed with Chu Yun's body as its center. It was frantically devouring everything in this world! It devoured the ominous light cast by the blood moon, the evil energy flowing through the altar, the endless resentment entwined in the nine pillars of light, and even... devoured Chu Yun's own fading, final vitality!

"This is..." The Great Heavenly Master's brow furrowed slightly for the first time. This situation was completely beyond his expectations.

"It's not... over yet..." Chu Yun raised his head. His handsome face, covered in hideous cracks and golden bloodstains, looked more terrifying than any evil spirit. But his dark eyes were brighter than ever, so bright that they seemed to be burning.

"I told you... As long as I'm still standing, don't even think about hurting my companions... in the slightest."

"companion?"

When the Great Taoist heard these words, which sounded extremely childish and ridiculous to him, a mocking smile finally appeared on his calm face.

"Are you talking about those two... 'burdens' who are also at the end of their strength?"

As he spoke, he slowly raised his hand, ready to completely end this "farce" which, in his opinion, had become a little boring.

But at this moment, two equally weak but determined and fearless figures, one on the left and one on the right, stood in front of him and in front of Chu Yun.

It’s Li Ge and Mo Li.

"Your opponent..."

Mo Li used her left hand, the only one still able to move, to support herself on the ground and slowly stood up. Her gorgeous and intricate mechanical arm armor had been completely reduced to a pile of useless scrap metal in the terrifying collision. Her pretty face, usually filled with pride and confidence, was now pale, but her eyes remained sharp and unyielding.

“…It’s us!”

She let out a delicate cry, and poured all her remaining soul power and mental strength into the final "trump card" she had prepared long ago without reservation!

"Come out! My most powerful creation! Tianshu Divine Weapon!"

“Buzz!”

As she roared, a palm-sized silver core composed of countless mechanical parts that were smaller than dust and sparkled with brilliant light suddenly flew out from her completely scrapped mechanical arm armor!

The moment the core appeared, it began to frantically absorb all the metal and energy around it - whether it was the broken weapons on the ground, the unknown black crystals that made up the altar, or even the free energy in the air that was full of resentment and evil, all were devoured, decomposed, and reorganized by it without mercy!

In just a few breaths, a huge divine weapon several feet tall, made entirely of flowing silver metal, full of power and beauty, and with a perfect humanoid outline, appeared on the altar!

It was the ultimate mechanism that Mo Li had created with all her hard work and wisdom! It was the ultimate embodiment of her belief that "man can conquer nature"!

"kill!"

Mo Li pointed fiercely at the expressionless Great Taoist Priest!

The huge "Tianshu Divine Weapon" let out a roar full of metallic texture, and its huge iron fist, with a force enough to tear apart space, slammed towards the Great Heavenly Master!

However, facing this punch that was enough to make any "ghost king" tremble in fear, the Great Taoist Priest didn't even raise his eyelids.

He just slowly stretched out the finger that was as dry as the bark of an old tree again, and gently moved it forward a little.

"broken."

He still only uttered one word.

The next moment, "Crack!" A crisp sound, like the finest porcelain being smashed to pieces, resounded throughout the altar.

The majestic "Tianshu Divine Weapon" full of power and beauty, the huge iron fist that was powerful enough to smash mountains, suddenly froze the moment it touched the seemingly fragile finger of the Great Heavenly Master.

Then, starting from the front end of the fist, cracks as fine as spider webs spread rapidly upwards, eventually covering the entire body of the magic weapon!

"boom--!"

A dull explosion.

The strongest "creation" that carried all of Mo Li's pride and hope completely fell apart under the Grand Master's casual finger, turning into cold metal fragments scattered all over the ground.

"No……"

Mo Li looked at the unacceptable scene before her, her eyes filled with deep despair. Her faith seemed so vulnerable in the face of such an absolutely crushing force.

"puff--!"

A mouthful of blood spurted out of her mouth. Her body could no longer support her and she slowly fell down.

"Mo Li!"

At this moment, another figure filled with coldness and determination flashed in front of her. It was Li Ge.

She supported Mo Li who was about to fall, then raised her head and stared at the great Taoist priest who looked like a god or demon with her eyes burning with dark blue flames.

"Your opponent... and me!"

She unreservedly ignited all of her soul power and life force, which had already been exhausted! Using her body, long since corroded by the aura of the underworld, as an "altar," and the resentment, anger, and resentment of the entire underworld still loyal to its former master as a "medium," she forcibly launched the most insane "summoning" she had ever attempted!

"In my name, obey my command! Sleeping heroic spirit, awaken!"

As she chanted with sorrow and determination, the entire massive altar began to tremble violently! Streams of inky black "ghost energy," filled with endless resentment and fighting spirit, rose from all sides of the altar. Finally, behind Li Ge, it coalesced into a powerful ghost king, tens of feet tall, composed entirely of the purest, solidified "resentment," wielding a massive ghost-headed knife.

That is the collection of the last "grudges" of all the unyielding old subordinates who died in the battle of the underworld!

"Kill him!"

Li Ge gave her last and weakest command to the Great Taoist Priest.

The strongest ghost king, condensed by resentment, let out a silent roar that could eclipse the entire sealed land. It raised the ghost-head knife in its hand that could cut through anything and slashed it fiercely at the tiny great master!

However, the Great Heavenly Master remained expressionless. He looked at the ghost-headed knife that was slashing down on him, carrying endless resentment and murderous intent. He simply shook his head and uttered two words calmly:

"sad."

The next second, a "divine light that destroys evil" that was a hundred times more vast than before, full of holiness and light, and extremely masculine and strong, shot up from his body into the sky!

"Purification."

What you say is what you will be punished by.

The strongest ghost king, formed by endless resentment, was unable to put up even a hint of resistance under the illumination of the overbearing "Evil-Destroying Divine Light" that was like the bright sun. He let out a complex wail filled with unwillingness and relief, and then completely disappeared into thin air.

"puff……"

Li Ge also followed in Mo Li's footsteps. Her body softened and she completely lost all consciousness and fell into Mo Li's arms.

“No… No!!”

Chu Yun looked at the horrifying scene in front of him and let out a heart-wrenching roar filled with endless pain and anger.

He saw that Mo Li, the always proud, confident and arrogant heir of the Mo family, was now like a child who had lost all his favorite toys. He was kneeling on the ground, holding Li Ge who had already fainted, and crying helplessly.

He saw that their bodies, which were already at the end of their strength, were still blocking him tightly, buying him a few precious breaths of breathing time.

Why?

They used their fragile bodies to build the last and most indestructible "line of defense" for him.

At that moment, Chu Yun suddenly understood.

He finally understood why his father had that calm and relieved smile on his face when he walked onto the black jade bed.

That is not some bullshit "righteousness" or some empty "common people".

He was just there to protect.

To protect those he cherished, loved, and for whom he was willing to give everything. To protect his brothers, his comrades, his family, and also the son he hadn't had the chance to properly hug.

This is the true and only meaning of the identity of "Daoshu".

It is not a cold "destiny" that requires self-sacrifice.

It is the burning will to "protect" that comes from the deepest part of the heart!

"boom--!"

It was as if an invisible, heavy shackle that had bound him for thirteen years suddenly shattered from the depths of his soul at this moment!

He felt that his exhausted body and soul seemed to be injected with a new, unprecedented and boundless power at this moment!

That power came from the Taiyi Qi that had long since merged with him, from the two companions behind him who were willing to give everything for him, and even more from his "Dao heart" that had finally emerged from its cocoon and become a butterfly after experiencing all the pain, confusion, despair, and betrayal!

He slowly raised his head and looked at the great Taoist priest who was walking towards them step by step, like a god or demon.

All the pain and anger in his dark eyes vanished. Instead, there was an unprecedented calmness and a brilliant light that could outshine the sun and moon.

He smiled.

"You're right, I am indeed a firefly."

"but……"

Before he could finish, the three fragments of the Evil-Suppressing Seal on his chest, which had already absorbed a huge amount of energy, suddenly burst out with thousands of feet of golden light!

The complex and huge energy that was swallowed up, after being transformed by the Evil-Suppressing Seal, now turned into the purest and newest power, and began to madly and reversely inject into his broken body!

His bones are being reshaped, his meridians are widening, and his soul is being sublimated!

An unprecedented, heart-wrenching pain once again swept through his body! But within this pain, there was also a hint of... the joy of a new life!

"Have you ever seen..." Chu Yun gritted his teeth, enduring the pain of being reborn, and said word by word, "...a firefly that can burn all the heavens?"