69. Epilogue
Night fell over the cemetery forest.
A campfire was lit outside the wooden cabin, and skewers were strung on the sand around the fire. Around the perimeter of the skewers, people sat waiting for their food.
"My hands still haven't turned back." Tang Xi flapped her wings, and the surrounding bushes and trees trembled in response.
Everyone yelled and reached out to protect the food, while Tang Xichun roared, "Gently! Gently! It's going to fly away!"
Tangxi and Guaiguai folded their wings and sat down.
He and Pipi had spent a long time flying over various places during the day, and were now getting used to their wings. The campfire crackled, and Tangxi looked around, asking, "So, I'll have to wear wings all the time from now on?"
Pippi tilted her head and asked, "Isn't it good to have wings like me?"
Tang Xihe: "I want to look like a human being."
“I shared a wisp of sword intent with my friend Beichen, but he didn’t transform into a tiger… Pipi can’t transform into human form yet, so he doesn’t have all of Zhu He’s memories.”
The White Tiger stared at Tang Xihe's wings, pondered for a moment, and said, "Why don't you ask the Azure Dragon? Or the Black Tortoise?"
Tang Xichun's eyes lit up: "Azure Dragon? I've never seen the legendary Azure Dragon before! Where is it?"
White Tiger: "Azure Dragon is taking Qilin back to the Immortal Realm. Qilin's job is to maintain the Heavenly Tree of the Three Realms. Now that the Three Realms Teleportation Array has been destroyed, Qilin is weak and needs to recuperate. It is unknown when the Heavenly Tree will be repaired."
As he spoke, the white tiger yawned, "Pipi, Pipi, when are you going to learn how to transform? Once you learn to transform, my mission will be complete..."
Pipi grumbled unhappily, "What's the rush? They all want to leave!"
Zhu Qianqian glanced at Pipi with a strange expression, and suddenly realized that Lord Zhuque might not want the White Tiger to leave, so he deliberately cultivated slowly.
Tang Xi stared blankly at the campfire. As she stared, she heard Bei Chen mention the teleportation array. Suddenly, she recalled some fragmented memories from before entering the Heart Demon Water Mirror and realized with horror that she had forgotten something very important. She couldn't help but lean forward slightly and said in a panic.
"Hey everyone."
"What?"
Gui Fang threw leaves into the campfire.
Tang Xi's expression stiffened slightly. "Where is Zhang Benyi?"
"Don't worry, it's safe."
Tang Xichun secretly plucked a feather from Pipi and threw it into the fire, causing the flames to blaze even brighter. "He had something to do, so he left with the others."
Tangxi blinked blankly.
Gui Fang stared at the food. "It's in Fu Guan Hong's hands."
Tang Xi was slightly taken aback. "Fu Guanhong contacted you?"
Hearing this, Tangxi felt a little relieved. The two of them were elusive and cunning, so they should still be alive.
"It's a long story. A lot happened when you were trapped on Junxing Mountain."
Gui Fang raised his gaze slightly, looking at Tang Xi and the other side of the campfire. His eyes flickered in the flames, as if he had something to say.
"Anyway, the school definitely hasn't reopened yet, and the human living area is full of weapon-refining students... Tang Xi, tomorrow, do you want to go to Junxing Mountain to take a look yourself?"
As they said this, Bei Chen and Tang Xichun, who were sitting on either side of Gui Fang, suddenly looked up at the same time, exchanged strange expressions, and looked at each other.
Gui Fang hesitated, a rare occurrence, and Tang Xi Chun, Bei Chen, and others all wore strange expressions...
Tang Xi sensed something was amiss, feeling strange but unable to put her finger on it.
"OK."
The next morning.
While his companions were resting in disarray, Tang Xi quietly left, stealthily flying away from the Graveyard Forest and heading towards the ruins of Junxing Mountain.
"Is it really okay not to tell him?"
Baihu scratched his head. "What if he breaks down again when he finds out the truth?"
"No, it won't happen," Tang Xichun said confidently.
What kind of riddle are you two playing?
Pipi walked over yawning, but didn't see Tang Xihe anywhere. He only saw Gui Fang and Bei Chen sleeping soundly outside. He asked, "Where's Tang Xihe? Did he leave again? Why didn't he say anything?"
"He has something important to do." Tang Xichun said to Pipi with a smile, "Now that you're awake, don't waste time. I'll be your sparring partner today."
Pipi immediately snapped out of it. Her intuition told her that sparring with Tang Xichun would definitely be difficult! So she looked to the white tiger for help, "Why?"
"Hmm..." Baihu touched his nose guiltily, "It's good to practice more."
"Come!"
Tang Xichun let out a soft sigh, drew her long sword, and without warning, the flashing blade chased after Pipi, "Let's see how long you can last against me!"
"Hey, why didn't you say 'start'?"
Pipi cried out and flew upwards, plunging into the forest.
·
The rustling sound startled the many spirits hiding in the ruins.
Tang Xihe walked through the ruins, her ears catching heavy footsteps. She immediately hid under a nearby boulder with a chipped corner and crouched down to observe.
A sturdy shadow emerged from beside the boulder. The figure seemed to sense someone nearby, its pace slowing and becoming increasingly heavy.
Tang Xi was tense, trying her best to hide behind the ruins, glancing at the approaching shadow out of the corner of her eye.
The shadow lingered on the Tangxi River and beside him.
The other person also turned their head and looked down at Tang Xihe, saying in surprise, "It's you! You scared me, I thought it was a great demon... Hey, why are you hiding? How come you have wings? So you're a demon cultivator?"
Tang Xi and the others were ready to go, but when they saw who it was, they stood up in a daze.
"boss?"
The person carrying the broad knowledge was none other than Cui Zhenshan, the owner of the roasted sweet potato skin stall that Tangxi and her frequent customers frequented.
After blinking hard several times, I was sure I wasn't mistaken. No one but Boss Cui would be willing to wear that shirt with the words "The Best Roasted Sweet Potato Skin in the World" printed on it.
Guangbo Shi was being carried on Boss Cui's back, his eyes tightly closed, his face pale, it was unclear whether he was dead or alive. Uncle Cui weighed the unconscious person on his back, and after recognizing that it was Tang Xi and her, he visibly relaxed and burst into laughter.
"Hey, I'm sure I'm here! Our entire campus of the Magic University has been destroyed; there's not even a place to roast sweet potatoes!"
Unexpectedly, even the territory of the Magic University was severely affected! Tang Xi's feelings became even more complicated. "What happened to him?"
"He was so scared he fainted!" Boss Cui said helplessly.
"...Hmm?" Tang Xi was surprised by this answer. "What happened?"
"That bookworm who only knows how to read was clamoring to see the Thousand-Armed Peacock. And what happened? When he actually saw the peacock with six arms, he fainted from fright!"
The shopkeeper shook his head speechlessly. "Sigh, never mind. I'll take him to find the Orchid Grass to wake him up. What about you? Where are you going? Why don't you come with me? The food I make is especially good for demon cultivators!"
Tang Xi smiled awkwardly, "I... am looking for someone."
He's not a demon cultivator, and Tang Xi doesn't even know what she is now.
"Looking for someone? What's there to look for?"
Boss Cui was puzzled, "Anyway, we'll eventually run into each other again in the new human living area."
Tangxi and Mangran repeated: "A new human settlement?"
"yes!"
The boss turned around, raised his chin in the direction of the magic university, and said, "The old site can't be used anymore. I've said it before, with so many humans coming here, one piece of land is not enough. We need to find a new piece of land as a human living area."
As he spoke, Boss Cui lowered his voice and sighed, "Hey, I wonder who it was that harbored such deep resentment! They actually managed to collapse the entire Junxing Mountain! How terrifying!"
Tang Xi's smile froze.
"Resentment? Junxing Mountain?"
"Huh? You didn't know? It's all over the forums!"
Boss Cui looked mysterious. "Yeah, with your personality, you probably don't like browsing forums... Let me tell you!"
"It is said that there was a powerful evil cultivator who had been hiding under Mount Junxing. After being burned by the Vermilion Bird's Burning Calamity Fire, the evil cultivator did not give up his evil intentions and intensified the resentment of a certain human cultivator."
"Good heavens! The resentment erupted so violently that the cultivator directly blasted down Mount Junxing! Terrifying, isn't it!"
resentment.
Tangxi's mind went blank for a moment, and she inexplicably recalled the hesitant expressions of Xiaochun and the other two around the campfire last night. Some deliberately ignored memory was about to surface.
Boss Cui's voice seemed to come from near and far.
"...Well, who really knows what happened? We don't even know if any students from the Magic Academy were teleported to Junxing Mountain. Luckily, the teleportation array was broken, so there shouldn't be many victims... Anyway, open the Listening Wind Ruler and check the forum yourself!"
The boss said in a heavy tone, "The spirits in Junxing Mountain are already very fragile. Who exactly is that black and white lotus?"
Lotus flowers, Tangxi, and a sinking feeling in my heart.
This label is blatantly similar to "Nezha," which is exactly the role he played in the Inner Demon Water Mirror!
...My resentment?
Tang Xi suddenly understood. He was naturally sensitive, and he had already sensed something deep inside, as if a neglected corner of his heart had been suddenly opened.
Is it me?
Boss Cui rambled on to himself, oblivious to Tang Xi's ashen face. He tugged at Guangbo Shi's arms and waved them slightly. "I'm not saying anything more. I'm going to find Lanxi Grass. See you later! When I reopen my stall, I'll give you a free one!"
Tangxi forced a smile in response and watched her boss leave with Guangboshi on his back.
He slowly turned around, then suddenly flew into the air, carefully taking in all the scenery below. The once radiant and star-studded fairy mountain was now nothing but ruins.
Amidst the charred ruins, remnants of spiritual fire burned silently, eerie and unsettling. After the disaster, no spirits were visible on Junxing Mountain; the wind howled, as if making an accusation.
Is it because of me?
Is it really because of me?
Tangxi landed after circling slowly, her steps unsteady and unsteady.
The moment his toes touched the scorched earth, the surrounding scenery rippled and flowed like water, and a dark blue ray of light slowly cleaved through the air.
This spiritual energy was very familiar, and the other party seemed afraid that Tang Xi wouldn't recognize them, so they even released several translucent small fish and shrimp to swim around the entrance of the spatial rift.
Tang Xi hesitated for a moment, then slipped into the space.
He guessed that Xuanwu would be inside, but he didn't expect there to be other acquaintances there—Bu Chengzhi.
How can I run into someone I know just by walking a few steps?
Tang Xi felt somewhat uneasy and instinctively wanted to hide, but there was nowhere to hide in Xuanwu's space.
Inside the Xuanwu Space, Xuanwu was playing chess with Bu Chengzhi. Xuanwu still looked like a young master, with his back straight, sitting upright on one side of the stone table, his youthful face serious as he picked up a white piece and placed it down.
Bu Chengzhi sat cross-legged on the clam-shaped cushion, his posture unsteady, craning his neck as if he wanted to lie on the chessboard to see. Even so, he seemed to have already anticipated who the visitor was, and without raising his head, he spread out his hand towards Tang Xi.
"Where's the toad skin?"
"I didn't bring it."
Tang Xi touched her pocket, recalling the hastily written self-portrait she had made on paper before being teleported to the Golden Maze. Her wings flapped against her body with a dull thud. "It's on Gui Fang."
"Well, we'll run into each other at school sooner or later anyway... well, at the new school."
Bu Chengzhi placed his black piece and then noticed that the visitor seemed to have changed. He shifted his gaze from the chessboard to Tang Xi and took off his sunglasses.
"Is this some new trend?" Bu Chengzhi asked, puzzled.
“You can treat it as a trend.” Tangxi and Muran flapped their wings.
"I won, you have to promise me."
Xuanwu placed another piece, and as he stood up, he nodded slightly to Bu Chengzhi, "Then I'll see you off."
Tang Xi's eyebrows twitched upon hearing this. Before she could warn him, Bu Chengzhi, who was still holding his sunglasses with two fingers and staring blankly at the chessboard, disappeared on the spot.
"You seem to have a lot to ask me." Xuanwu waved his hand, the chessboard disappeared, and he gestured for Tangxi to enter.
Tang Xi sat down opposite Xuanwu, feeling slightly uneasy. "I just arrived at Junxing Mountain, and you invited me into your space. Are you deliberately keeping an eye on me?"
“Yes.” Xuanwu looked directly at Tangxi, “to prevent you from becoming the next Yan Youzu.”
Tang Xi stared wide-eyed.
Yan Youzu—he was familiar with this name. He had read about him in novels in his previous life, heard about him in legends in this life, and even seen him in person not long ago. Who could have imagined that Yan Youzu would actually become an immortal and survive, hiding at the foot of Junxing Mountain, cultivating himself into that grotesque form?
"Me? How could that be? Why?"
Xuanwu: "You two have too many similarities."
"……for example?"
"Be indifferent to fame and fortune."
Xuanwu held up one finger. "You turned them down before, didn't you? The Tang family head wanted to invite you back several times."
Tang Xi frowned. This reason was really far-fetched. "I simply don't like that kind of flattery."
"indifferent."
Xuanwu held up a second finger, "He looks like he can team up with anyone, but he's actually not familiar with anyone."
Tang Xi frowned even more deeply. "I won't refute that, but it's also a far-fetched argument."
“Strong in strength, yet well concealed.” Xuanwu extended his third finger.
Tangxi was utterly speechless.
Who's stronger? Me? Then what are Beichen and Guifang?
Xuanwu slowly retracted his fingers and said slowly, "The above three points are all my archery target sketches."
Tang Xihe: "..."
You've been playing me for a while now.
Xuanwu suddenly changed the subject: "You and Yan Youzu have a very similar mentality of 'never forgiving'."
Tangxi's heart skipped a beat, and she asked cautiously, "Did you see what happened in the Heart Demon Water Mirror?"
"I can tell without even looking."
Xuanwu produced a teacup from nowhere, holding it in one hand and pointing to his eyes with the other. "Each Star Emperor has different duties and abilities, and I can see the 'labels' on you."
“You don’t need to tell me; I can see it anyway. For example, you started cultivating at the age of twelve, and by the time you boarded the Ark, your inner core was already taking shape, right?”
Tang Xi was secretly alarmed, realizing that she truly had nowhere to hide in front of Xuanwu.
“Yan Youzu is the same; he awakened very late and is exceptionally talented.” Xuanwu lowered his head and blew on his teacup. “Of course, you also have many differences.”
These words cheered Tangxi up a little.
Xuanwu said, "At the very least, you have no intention of killing demons."
"Where is Yan Youzu?"
"In his eyes, monsters are equivalent to consumables. He wants to use destruction and reconstruction to quickly achieve the 'path to immortality'... Let's not talk about him, let's talk about you."
Xuanwu put down his teacup. "To be honest, I can see through the 'information' of other people at a glance, but with you, all I see is still a hazy fog."
Xuanwu's silent gaze sharpened. "Do you know about the Lotus of the Turbid World?"
Tangxi nodded, then shook her head.
I learned a little bit from Boss Cui, but Tangxi had no recollection of lotus flowers, the destruction of heaven and earth, or the bombing of Junxing Mountain. All that flashed through my mind were vague and fragmented memories.
"That is a manifestation of resentment at the level of laws. Hatred, resentment, disgust, hostility, indignation, jealousy... When negative emotions reach a certain level, they will manifest as a lotus flower in a turbid world. To date, this manifestation of evil thoughts has only occurred twice."
Xuanwu's gaze seemed to pierce through his soul. "The last person to give birth to the Lotus of Turbid World was Yan Youzu."
The name was like an ice pick, piercing Tang Xihe more powerfully than any other attack. His face turned pale instantly, and immense guilt and fear crashed against him like waves. He was terrified, his tongue felt like it was going to freeze, and he couldn't even think straight. Why was it Yan Youzu? Wasn't it Gui Fangfu who was imprisoned in Tianxiantai?
After a moment of stunned silence, Tang Xi stammered, "I...I don't know how it could have turned out like this..."
"Actually, if I said I'm not from this world, would you believe me?"
Xuanwu put his hands in his sleeves, his gaze softening slightly, and said, "Tell me about it."
Tangxi hesitated for a moment.
Since Xuanwu asked, it meant that Xuanwu had not seen what he had experienced through the Heart Demon Water Mirror, so he briefly recounted his "past and present lives".
"...Therefore, I often fall into doubt."
“I often feel that my current life is fake, and perhaps the experience during my hospitalization is real? I learned Tai Chi from the old man, had acupuncture at the hospital, and underwent tests.”
Tang Xi lowered her eyes, "But now I can feel the spiritual energy in the space, I can feel my hands turning into wings, and I can feel joy, anger, sorrow, happiness, and pain."
"I can't tell which side is real. Is it possible that right now, as we're face to face and having a lively conversation in your space, Xuanwu, it's all fake? Are you just a figment of my imagination?"
Xuanwu remained silent, staring at Tangxi for a long time before speaking.
"So that's how it is. No wonder I couldn't see you clearly... You're not from this world?"
"but."
Xuanwu countered, "Is it possible that because this world is on the verge of collapse, a restorer is needed to prevent its destruction?"
The Corrector?
Tang Xihe had never thought of it from this perspective before, and her eyes widened slightly. "Then... is the mission of the Correctors over?"
Who knows?
The scrutiny in Xuanwu's eyes faded slightly, and as he raised his hand, the cold, flat stone table in front of the two began to ripple.
"Destruction and creation, seemingly opposite, are actually of the same origin. Your wings were born from the power of the Vermilion Bird, and they should contain the life force to soothe all things. They are yours, and you can use them as you see fit."
The water flowed slowly under Xuanwu's control, and the stone table gradually reflected the ruins of Junxing Mountain.
"If you truly regret it, then do what you think is right. Your will, your guilt, your determination, along with all your spiritual power, should be returned to this land itself through these wings."
"It's not about imposing, but about guiding, like guiding a river to the sea. It's about awakening the earth's own memory and letting it heal itself."
Tangxi felt like cursing for a moment. Xuanwu looked so young, yet his words were so abstract.
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to imagine using Xuanwu's stilted words, spreading his wings as wide as possible and immersing his entire mind in it.
He thought of those innocent spirits who had passed away, and all his emotions mingled with a vast, vibrant golden spiritual power, like a warm torrent, gently and continuously flowing into the "Stone Table Water Mirror".
Golden light rippled across the mirror, and where it touched, the scorched earth began to fade, revealing fertile soil; the broken spiritual vein array began to flow again with a faint glow; the shattered rocks rolled and reassembled to form the outline of the mountain...
As Junxing Mountain revived, Tangxi and the pair of wings began to slowly dissipate from the edges. The golden light densely merged into the water mirror condensed by Xuanwu. The wings shortened inch by inch, and the light gradually subsided. The outline of human arms appeared from the fading brilliance.
The last rock returned to its original position, and the first new green shoot broke through the soil around the abyss where lotus flowers once bloomed in the turbid world, unfolding a circle of fuzzy green buds. Tangxi and its wings had completely disappeared.
When Tang Xi opened her eyes again, she found herself in Junxing Mountain, still sitting.
Xuanwu actually removed him and his chair from the space.
Tang Xi felt like cursing, so she got up and looked around.
The flowers, plants, and trees were all unfamiliar. The spiritual energy in Junxing Mountain was stagnant, and it looked like it had been reborn.
A breeze blew by, and Xuanwu's voice echoed in Tangxi and her ears, carrying a hint of barely perceptible relief before fading away with the wind.
"Remember this weight: power has no inherent good or evil, only the will of the people."
Tang Xi clenched his fist, feeling the real touch from his fingertips. He looked at the reborn Junxing Mountain and whispered, "I will not forget."
Xuanwu's voice drifted away on the wind, his tone carrying obvious amusement: "When will you recover, flying around like you and Pipi?"
"..."
I'm so angry.
·
The setting sun was like blood, and the yellow earth was like gold.
A few months later, monsters began to appear in the gradually recovering human living areas. The monsters could move around without documents. The mule monsters yawned as they finished work, the borsty insects ran into the bushes, and the roe deer monsters helped move the cloth.
As the business reopened, Mr. Cui skillfully roasted sweet potato noodles. While waiting, he sincerely asked...
"Actually, you really don't get tired of eating it?"
"Hmm?" Tang Xi thought for a moment, "Is it delicious?"
"..."
Tang Xi noticed something was wrong from the boss's hesitant expression. "What's wrong?"
"Most people get diarrhea after eating my roasted sweet potato skin."
"Yes," Tang Xi nodded, "I've heard a little about it."
Mr. Cui added, "Because most people can't digest my roasted sweet potato skin."
Tang Xi's expression changed slightly. "You put something evil in there."
"No!" Boss Cui cursed, his face contorted with rage. "Just you wait! If the monster eats my roasted sweet potato skin, you'll see!"
"..."
What are you saying? Can't you just be direct?
Tangxi casually grabbed a passing bat sprite and asked, "Want something to eat?"
The little bat was startled, sheepishly grabbed its two horns, and said shyly, "I don't have any immortal coins..."
"I'll treat you to something."
The little monster was startled, flapped its bat wings, and landed on the sweet potato rind stall, its eyes sparkling as it stared at the automatically heating griddle. The food jumped into the red-hot griddle on its own, and soon a fragrant aroma wafted out. The little monster took a deep breath, "So delicious!"
"Of course it's delicious!" the shopkeeper said proudly. "The immortal who treated you to sweet potato noodles has been eating them for three years in a row!"
The little bat demon then remembered and turned to Tang Xi, saying gratefully, "Thank you, little immortal!"
"eat."
When the sweet potato peels were put out to the stall, the little bats, with overwhelming force, opened their blood-red mouths and greedily sucked them into their mouths, smacked their lips in satisfaction, and swallowed the sweet potato peels whole.
"Huh?" The little bat suddenly opened its eyes wide and clutched its stomach.
Tang Xi asked, slightly nervously, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
The little bat blinked blankly, looking at the boss, then at Tangxi and...
"His demonic power... has increased?"
Tang Xihe's expression was strange. "How is that possible? Is roasted sweet potato skin more powerful than a magic pill?"
The owner said proudly, "I told you! My roasted sweet potato skin is the best in the world!"
"What! Roasted sweet potato skin that can increase cultivation level!"
"I want one too!"
"How much is one serving, boss? I have money, I want one too!"
"It says here, ten immortal coins per serving, so expensive."
"But it can increase your cultivation level!"
"..."
Boss Cui's face gradually stiffened. "Wait a minute! One by one! Line up! Line up!"
Tangxi, who had been squeezed out of the circle by the monsters, dusted off the non-existent dust on her sleeves and turned back to her unopened shop.
Gui Fang and Bei Chen were arguing fiercely over the font of the store signboard. At the front desk, Tang Xichun squatted down and looked at Jin Chan Lao.
"Brother," Tang Xichun pointed at the Golden Toad, "it says it can make you rich? Should we still operate it?"
"Open! Of course open!"
Bei Chen flipped down from the second-floor handrail. "Of course it has to open! We've been discussing the Wishing Hall since the Graveyard Forest!"
Gui Fang chased after him down from the second floor, angrily shouting, "What wish are you making? Have you lost your mind? Fine, I'm a demon now, I wish you would hand over the Thunder Mace right now, will you or not?"
"No way!"
"..."
Tang Xichun speechlessly pulled the Golden Toad in front of Tang Xihe. "You two chat, I'm going to find Wei Xue to play, bye."
"Why are you here?" Tang Xi asked. "I'm sorry to have made you come all this way from so far away. Is there something you need?"
"Immortal Tang! Good evening!" The Golden Toad said with a shy smile. "Nothing much, I just heard from other demons that you're planning to open a Demon Wishing Hall here? I've come to show my support!"
"It's not open yet..." Tang Xi chuckled, turning back to look at the two people arguing heatedly. "It seems we don't know what kind of store we'll be opening yet."
"Master Tang, no matter what kind of shop it is, I can help you!"
The Golden Toad Elder rubbed his hands together and walked over, confidently reaching out to touch things randomly. "Immortal Tang, don't let my appearance fool you. I'm actually quite good at turning stones into gold. Everything I touch can turn into gold and jewels..."
Tang Xi exclaimed in alarm, "Stop! Stop right now!"
Nightmare, the Golden Toad's aesthetics are still suffocating.
His initial wish was for world peace, so he could lie down and relax.
Unexpectedly, the problem was solved, and he had to go to work.
But I don't dislike it either.
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