Chapter 141: Divine Glory Heals, Alliance Begins
Atop the Xuannv Palace, Ye Li finally gave way. Her body lurched, her vision blackening as a sea of excruciating pain and a soul-tearing weakness washed over her like a tide. She'd forced her way into the Heavenly Palace, battled the Ghost-Faced Man, and exhausted her soul to purify the Magic Seal. Her injuries were grievous, and she held on until this moment, relying solely on her concern for Qin Yixuan's safety and her own unyielding will.
Just as she stumbled and was about to collapse, a pair of warm and firm arms supported her in time. Qin Yixuan's eyes were filled with heartache and anxiety. He carefully pulled her into his arms and let her lean against him. "Don't move, and don't try to be so stubborn." Qin Yixuan's voice was choked with sobs, but it also contained unquestionable tenderness and determination. "Now, it's my turn to protect you."
She helped Ye Li slowly sit down on the polished glazed tiles of the hall's ceiling, with his back to her. Her delicate hand gently pressed against Ye Li's acupoint on his back. The next moment, the pure, vast, yet incredibly gentle Xuan Nu divine power, imbued with the most fundamental vitality and creative power of heaven and earth, flowed like a warm spring thawed in early spring, carrying an indescribable holy aura, slowly flowing into Ye Li's nearly dried-up and shattered meridians and his nearly collapsed sea of consciousness.
This divine power was profoundly different from ordinary spiritual energy. It didn't forcefully attack or fill, but rather, like the finest weaving, gently smoothed every tear within Ye Li's body, repairing her shattered organs and nourishing her parched dantian. The soul-tearing pain caused by overactivating the Samsara Mirror gradually eased and subsided under the nourishment of this divine power, like a haze dispelled by sunlight. Ye Li's body, tense from the pain, slowly relaxed, her furrowed brow softening. She couldn't help but let out a soft, yet deeply comforted sigh. Her strained nerves finally relaxed, and intense fatigue washed over her. Her consciousness gradually faded, and she finally sank into a warm, restorative, deep sleep. Her breathing became even and long, and a faint hint of color finally returned to her pale cheeks.
Qin Yixuan lowered her head, gazing at the peaceful, sleeping face of the woman in her arms. Her fingertips trembled slightly as she gently and lovingly brushed Ye Li's blood- and dust-stained silver hair, her movements delicate as if handling a rare and fragile treasure. Gazing at the dozens of wounds of varying depths on her body, feeling her nearly depleted essence, Qin Yixuan's heart throbbed as if gripped by an invisible hand. She knew that if Ye Li hadn't, at the last moment, disregarded his own safety and forced his way into her sea of consciousness, using his own soul to invoke the ultimate power of the Samsara Mirror to purify the Demon Seal, her essence would have been exhausted and her soul annihilated by the erosion of the God-Erosion Demon Seal, and the legacy of the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady would have been cut short. This bond, built on the promise of life, was as heavy as Mount Tai and as deep as the vast ocean.
While Qin Yixuan focused on healing Ye Li's wounds, the Yaoguang Palace Master led her remaining loyal disciples in a swift, complete annihilation of all remaining enemies outside the Heavenly Palace. Ling Hao's powerful clone, realizing the impasse was impossible, saw the Jiuxiao Palace's protective formation had been re-established by Xuannv's return. Any further struggle would only lead to defeat. Under the Yaoguang Palace Master's increasingly fierce attack, it finally roared with resentment and disintegrated, leaving only a faint trace of demonic thought attempting to escape. A cold glint flashed in the Yaoguang Palace Master's eyes, and the Master's decree unleashed a purifying divine light, annihilating the majority of that demonic thought. Only a wisp of its essence remained, escaping into the void like a slippery loach and vanishing. She did not pursue the cloak, knowing the immediate priority was to stabilize the situation in the Heavenly Palace and appease the people. She then discussed with Xuannv, who had just returned and was still unfamiliar with her power, a strategy for dealing with the subsequent demonic catastrophe.
With a fleeting flash, she quietly arrived at the rooftop of Xuannv Palace, where she saw two people embracing. The sacred and majestic Xuannv was gently nourishing the unconscious guardian with her own divine power. A complex and incomprehensible emotion flashed across Yaoguang Palace Master's eyes: relief, emotion, and even anxiety about the future. She didn't interrupt them, but quietly stood by, like the most loyal of guards. At the same time, she used her divine consciousness to send a distant message, instructing Envoy Yunying and others, who were less seriously injured, to expedite the clearing of the battlefield, reorganizing defenses, treating the wounded, and calculating the losses.
Time passed in silence. The setting sun stained the sky a brilliant orange-red, as if painting a tragic and majestic ode to this tragic victory. Several hours later, the rising sun once again cast its golden light over the Jiuxiao Palace, newly restored by the power of the Xuannv goddess, dispelling the last traces of blood and gloom. Finally, nourished by the pure divine power, Ye Li's injuries stabilized, and he slowly regained consciousness.
Her long eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings before slowly opening. Her vision was blurry at first, but the beautiful face, etched with worry and concern, etched into her very soul, came into view with uncanny clarity. Feeling the warm and powerful residual divine power still flowing through her body, repairing the last of her hidden injuries, Ye Li felt a surge of warmth in her heart. She tried to stretch her muscles. Though still weak, she was at least safe, and her strength had recovered by about 20% to 30%.
"How do you feel? Are you feeling any discomfort anywhere?" Qin Yixuan asked hurriedly in a low voice when she saw her wake up, her voice as soft as a whisper.
"Much better." Ye Li gave a reassuring, slightly pale smile. She struggled to sit up straight, but Qin Yixuan gently held her down. "You've also consumed a lot of divine power. Don't waste it on me." Ye Li shook her head, turning her gaze to the Yaoguang Palace Master standing quietly beside her. Her expression turned solemn. "Palace Master, what are the losses in the Heavenly Palace? What's the situation outside?"
The Yaoguang Palace Master sighed softly and stepped forward. "The casualties were heavy, especially among the lower-level disciples, who lost nearly 30%. Yun Ying was also seriously injured, but fortunately, thanks to the divine goddess's healing power, she is now out of danger. As for the outside world..." She spoke solemnly, "According to the scattered intelligence we've just received, the Shadow Demon's actions are definitely not just targeting our Jiuxiao Heavenly Palace. Genius disappearances are occurring frequently across the country, including Zhongzhou, Dongzhou, the Southern Wilderness, and even the Western Regions. Before Ling Hao's clone collapsed, he boasted that the Eclipse Plan had already been launched and that a catastrophe was imminent for the spiritual world. We must unite all forces as soon as possible, clarify the truth, and jointly respond."
Ye Li nodded, her eyes sharp. "Indeed. The Shadow Demon's plan this time is meticulous and ruthless, revealing their ambitions. The disappearances of geniuses across the country, as well as the conspiracy against Yi Xuan, are probably just the tip of the iceberg of the 'Eclipse Plan'. They are collecting the essence, blood, and souls of geniuses for some grand ritual or summoning. Ling Hao's true form has yet to appear, so he must be planning something even more terrifying."
Qin Yixuan had also risen, an aura of divine majesty flowing naturally from her body. After a brief period of recuperation, her demeanor became even more profound and lofty. Her gaze was clear and resolute as she gazed into the distance. Her voice was steady and powerful, carrying a convincing force, as if representing the will of heaven and earth: "Now that I have inherited the throne of the Mysterious Lady and returned to this place, it is my duty to protect the spirit world and its inhabitants. I cannot shirk my responsibility. The Nine Heavens Palace is willing to spearhead this calamity, liaising with all parties, exposing the demonic plot, and jointly resisting the demonic calamity!"
Her voice was not loud, but it was clearly heard throughout the Heavenly Palace, which had just experienced the baptism of war, and fell into the ears of every surviving disciple, bringing endless confidence and hope.
The decision was made, and action was immediately launched. In the name of the Jiuxiao Celestial Palace, the "Demon Slaying Covenant," signed jointly by the newly restored Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady Qin Yixuan and the Yaoguang Palace Master, and an urgent notice regarding the "Eclipse Plan," were dispatched through the Celestial Palace's unique, ultra-fast communication channels (including ten-thousand-mile communication arrays, mystically trained spirit birds, and directional spatial talismans). Like wings, these dispatches reached the leading forces of the spirit world: the Human Dynasty, which controlled order in Zhongzhou; the Pure Land of Bliss, a Buddhist nation where Western faiths converged; the Xing Palace, a star-gazing and fortune-telling power in the East Continent; the Ten Thousand Demon Valley, home to hundreds of tribes in the Southern Wilds; and other leading sects and families, including the Xuanyun Sect (Yeli's master) and the Bishui Pavilion (Qin Yixuan's former master).
This notice wasn't simply a plea for assistance. Instead, it detailed the existence of the Shadow Demon Organization, its structural features (such as the possibility that Dark Eyes was a branch), its numerous crimes in recent years in collecting genius spirits, the malice and difficulty of cracking the Eclipse God Seal, and Ling Hao's connection (though his specific relationship with Ye Li's past life was not explicitly stated, he was clearly the core of the Shadow Demon Organization and an ancient demon) to the world-destroying "Eclipse Plan." To enhance its persuasiveness, the notice included fragmented, processed memory images obtained from soul searches of Elder Qingxu and the Ghost-Faced Man. These included scenes of gory cruelty and fragmentary references to "sacrifice," "adventure," and the "end of an era."
For a moment, the entire spiritual world was in shock! While the disappearances of geniuses across the country had previously aroused widespread concern, most dismissed them as localized friction, vendettas, or the isolated actions of certain evil cultivators, and hadn't escalated to the point of threatening the entire spiritual world. It wasn't until the ancient Jiuxiao Palace suffered such a ferocious attack, nearly annihilating it, and even the legendary reincarnation of the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady narrowly escaped disaster. Coupled with the terrifying revelation of the "Eclipse Plan," along with the irrefutable video evidence, that it struck a chord with all those in power. This wasn't just internal strife or a localized conflict, but a massive, long-planned conspiracy encompassing the entire spiritual world, intent on total destruction.
The Zhongzhou Dynasty was the first to respond. The current Human Emperor, enraged at a court meeting, ordered a thorough investigation of all leads related to the Shadow Demon. Any collusion would be punished along with the entire clan. He immediately dispatched an envoy bearing valuable gifts to the Jiuxiao Palace to express his intention to form an alliance. He also mobilized elite troops to patrol the borders and guard against demonic intrusion. In the Western Buddhist Kingdom, the current Living Buddha, who had been in seclusion for many years, was awakened and issued a decree ordering the Vajra Temple, the Great Leiyin Temple, and other sacred Buddhist sites to activate their mountain protection formations and take strict precautions. He also dispatched a group of monks, led by the renowned Huijue Arhat, to the Jiuxiao Palace to discuss countermeasures. The Palace Master of the Dongzhou Xing Palace observed the stars at night and confirmed that the Emperor Star was dimming while the Demon Star was shining brightly, a sign of great misfortune. Not wanting to delay, he dispatched a team of elders expert in formation techniques. Despite the diverse races within the Southern Wilderness Demon Territory, which often experienced friction, the combined efforts of the Demon Emperors temporarily put aside their differences and dispatched a delegation of powerful Demon Kings.
For a moment, the wind and clouds gathered, and Jiuxiao Palace became the focus of the spiritual world and the center of the counterattack storm.
Meanwhile, Ye Li wasn't idle either. After her injuries stabilized somewhat, she immediately passed on more detailed intelligence (including her understanding of Ling Hao's skills and some of the characteristics of the Samsara Mirror) through Youge's most secretive, single-line communication channel. She also relayed the vague locations of several possible locations (primarily concentrated in the Western Regions and several ancient battlefield ruins) that she had deduced based on subtle inductions between the Mirror fragments, possibly containing other Mirror fragments or important Shadow Demon strongholds. These locations were passed on to Lin Feng, who was secretly operating far away in the Xuanyun Sect area. She ordered him to mobilize all available resources at all costs to infiltrate and explore the Western Regions and other areas, and to obtain more crucial information before the coalition forces took action.
Undercurrents surged, and a vast net targeting the Shadow Demon was slowly unfolding, coordinated by all forces in the spirit world. Meanwhile, the Nine Heavens Palace, having just experienced a baptism of blood and fire, was rapidly recovering under the radiance of the Mystic Goddess, preparing to face the impending, even larger storm.
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