Chapter 272 Reunion "Feiran, are you doing well over there?"...
Late spring, a season of renewal for all things, is met with only desolation along the way.
Lin Feiran rode on a flying bird, lowered her eyes, picked up a withered blade of grass from her body, looked at it for a long time, and then put it into the air, letting it go with the wind. Her gaze remained fixed on the world below, where the lights were scattered.
The world has been in eternal darkness for months, but now only the starlight shines eternally.
She gazed intently, her deep, calm eyes, though devoid of any emotion, flickered with a certain firelight. After an unknown amount of time, she finally looked away and turned to her side.
In the shimmering night, Ru Xian sat with his arms crossed to one side, his left shoulder resting against her, his head slightly lowered, his snow-white hair falling in a flurry, particularly striking in the night. He seemed to be resting with his eyes closed, or perhaps he had already fallen asleep.
She watched for a moment, and then the bird that was flapping its wings suddenly cried out, but it wasn't a bird's cry; it sounded like a horse neighing. She snapped out of her daze and took out many gold ingots from her bag, throwing them forward like fish food.
This bird was naturally the transformed form of a large gold ingot. It carried the two of them and pounced like a large dog hunting for food. It looked very happy, sometimes soaring up and sometimes diving down, never missing a single scattered gold ingot.
Despite the turbulence, Ru Xian still leaned against Lin Feiran, pretending to sleep with her eyes closed. Lin Feiran acted as if nothing had happened, taking out a compass and stroking the pointer, pursing her lips without saying a word.
The life-or-death gamble with the Daoist Master, the death of his mother, the crack in the sky, and the hopeless polar night—all these events are inextricably linked to Tantric Buddhism.
When the Iron Khitan Book was first obtained, our ancestors mentioned the matter of mending the crack in the sky. Since the book is related to the crack in the sky, it must be related to esoteric Buddhism.
Whether it's fulfilling a promise, uncovering the secrets of esoteric Buddhism, or avenging one's mother, this book is the only way to find the answer.
Now, to unlock the Iron Khitan Book, only one last item is needed, and even the Grandmaster doesn't know where this last item is. He only told her to find a person, a mortal who has cultivated to the extreme.
Only he could find the last item.
However, this person's whereabouts were uncertain, so before leaving, Zhang Siwo gave her this compass, which would point out the person's location.
The pointer on the compass wobbled, occasionally turning at a certain Qimen position, but generally pointing west. However, Lin Feiran and his group did not head west, but instead went south. In less than an hour, the group appeared on the endless sea.
The town where they had originally hidden was in the south, very close to the boundary gate. Since they would have to pass through the Endless Sea on their way to find that person anyway, Lin Feiran thought for a moment and decided to go back to the Demon Capital to see what the Demon Capital was like now.
She remembered that the last time she left was to go to Jinling Ferry to help Zhang Siwo and others retrieve the fire seed. She originally thought she would be back in about half a month, but one thing after another came up, and she realized that she had been gone for several months.
Now, the gate in the endless sea is broken, and spiritual light flows across the cracks, illuminating the dark sea surface. As it ripples, Lin Feiran feels a sense of trepidation, as if he is returning home.
Why aren't you going down?
Ru Xian kept his eyes closed, his voice was cool and indifferent, as if his head was tired from hanging down. He took a few breaths and leaned straight against her neck.
"I wonder how Biqing and the others are doing."
During this time, she was either in hiding or in a long sleep, and she couldn't find a good opportunity to contact them.
"When the sky is about to collapse, are there any people under it who are unharmed?" He opened his eyes, his emerald eyes gleaming. "However, the situation is not too bad. In the past three months, I have often gone to the Demon Capital. Compared to other places in the Demon Realm, this place is already a safe place to live."
The cargo plunged into the sea, and for a moment the world turned upside down. The group arrived in the demon realm, but it was also dark here. There was no longer any distinction between day and night between the two realms.
Lin Feiran looked at this familiar place, and then asked with some doubt about his words, "Do you often go to the Demon Capital? Why?"
Ru Xian sat up straight, turned to look at her, her gaze fixed, and said slowly and deliberately, "Because there is a spiritual spring in the Demon Capital that can slow down the decay of a cultivator's body, I naturally have to take someone back to water it from time to time."
"..." Lin Feiran stared at him for a moment, "Could it be... that you've been carrying 'me' with you all along?"
Ru Xian looked at her, raising an eyebrow: "Otherwise what?"
Lin Feiran's throat bobbed, but he still managed to withstand the oppressive gaze and say the rest of his words: "I thought I would be buried with the other cultivators."
Ru Xian stared at her for a long time before turning back to look at the night, her cool voice carried on the wind.
"impossible."
Lin Feiran looked at his profile, blinked, and then smiled.
Ru Xian glanced at her sideways: "What are you laughing at?"
“I wasn’t laughing at anything.” Lin Feiran smiled. “I thought that cultivators with your experience, or people like you, would be more open-minded about life and death. After all, you used to often advise me that separation is common and that growing up is about constantly saying goodbye.”
As Ru Xian looked ahead, her gaze hidden in the rising strands of hair, the voice that came through was very clear.
“Others are others, and you are you.” He paused, then continued, “Moreover, spiritual cultivation and enlightenment are not the same as letting go of life and death; everyone’s path is different.”
Lin Feiran leaned closer, somewhat curious: "I haven't asked yet, what path do you cultivate?"
Ru Xian looked at her, stretched out a finger and touched her between the eyebrows, but instead of pushing her away, she slowly wrote a word between her eyebrows.
Extinction.
"What I cultivate is the way of the mayfly, where one's life is as fleeting as a blink of an eye, and the world is born when I live, and the world is destroyed when I die."
Lin Feiran ignored the slight itch and opened her eyes slightly: "I haven't heard of it, but judging from you, it must be a very powerful Dao. Is it related to your identity as a Skywalker?"
Like a wisp of smoke, her hand slid down and landed on the corner of her mouth, nodding slightly: "I've wanted to ask this for a long time, and now I've finally found the time?"
How did you remove the curse from me? You're a Skywalker, and your health isn't good to begin with. Won't this method have any negative effects on you?
Ru Xian curved her lips and withdrew her hand, clearly satisfied with her question: "I thought you wanted to ask me how I cultivate."
Lin Feiran sat with his knees drawn up, and said very seriously, "This is your cultivation secret method, why would I want to know about it? Besides removing the curse, I also want to know why that Skywalker came to you back then. You know him, right? Is this related to your past?"
"Are you curious about my past?"
"Of course!"
Lin Feiran even subconsciously straightened up, a movement that occurs when one is in a hurry.
"You promised me before that you would tell me about your past."
Ru Xian looked at her, a hint of a smile in her eyes, and said, "That fire was burned for death, burned for new life, burned as a sacrifice."
In that sea of fire were my parents, many familiar relatives and neighbors, and many elders who had been guarding the place for years.
After a huge fire, I was the only survivor.
Lin Feiran recalled that dream again: in the upside-down mountain, like a vase overturned, a sea of fire raged, and beneath his feet lay soft, blood-soaked earth. He emerged from the flames like hailstones, a near-mad laugh on his face, but his eyes held a deathly coldness. Flames climbed his robes, only to be flung behind him...
She paused, and although she had some guesses in her mind, she still asked the question.
Who did it?
As Ru Xian looked at her, his face overlapped with his in her dream, but he had become much calmer and more indifferent.
He smiled and said, "It's a difficult place to get in and out. I'm the only survivor. Who else could it be?"
Lin Feiran was momentarily stunned.
He leaned closer, bracing himself against her back with one hand, instantly closing the distance between them. He looked down at her, and his other hand unexpectedly pinched her cheek, but only for a moment before he quickly released it, gently and slowly rubbing it.
"Oh, Lin Feiran... Don't think too much. Just keep looking at me like this, and I'll forget everything."
Lin Feiran was silent for a moment before finally speaking: "What exactly happened?"
Ru Xian murmured, "This is a very long story, which I originally wanted to tell you, but we've already come this far."
He gestured for Lin Feiran to look down. She turned her head and saw that in the dark demon realm, only one city was brightly lit, revealing a peaceful atmosphere different from other places.
Lin Feiran sighed deeply, "You did this on purpose!"
They deliberately lured her up, but then didn't put any bait on her!
Ru Xian didn't deny it, but just chuckled lightly. She then stood up and, before the two of them even got close to the Demon Capital, she took her, who was temporarily without spiritual power, and jumped down. The idiot also transformed into an inconspicuous white fox and jumped into Xingzhi Palace with them.
This was the place where Ru Xian usually held meetings. He didn't even look at it, but simply took her pulse. Then he turned around and added the prepared elixir to the pot. Lin Feiran's curiosity was piqued by him, but she couldn't get it off her feet. Feeling frustrated, she sat listlessly to the side, not moving at all.
Just as the water, heated by spiritual energy, was boiling, hurried footsteps came from outside the door.
With a bang, Xuan Zhen burst through the door, followed by Ping An, who looked like he had a headache. He rushed forward, the lightning on his body still lingering, and was already in front of Ru Xian's table.
"My Lord, where have you been these past few days? You're finally back!"
Lin Feiran sat in the chair, staring blankly.
Ru Xian glanced at him, stirred the elixir in the pot, and asked Ping An, "How has the situation been in the Demon Capital these past few days?"
Ping An rubbed her shoulders, her expression still relatively relaxed. She ran her hand through her long, black and white hair and rubbed her temples. "Everyone knows you're in the Demon Capital, so they're keeping to themselves for now. But there are more and more demons outside the city, and everyone wants to squeeze in. I've been causing quite a commotion."
As the two were talking, Xuanzhen drooped her eyebrows and moved step by step to Lin Feiran's side. She sighed a few times, wiped her eyes, and then sniffed and looked up, her slightly red dog-like eyes immediately meeting his gaze.
Lin Feiran was also deeply moved. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Xuan Zhen suddenly put her hands together and bow to her three times very devoutly.
"Feiran, I've come to see you again. How are you doing over there?"
Lin Feiran: "..."
Which side is that...?
Xuanzhen pulled out a few fruits from somewhere and placed them on the small table next to her: "Only on times like this will the Lord let us see you. At other times, he holds you in his room."
"Your complexion looks so vibrant. Did the Lord do your makeup again?"
Ru Xian paused upon hearing this, glanced at Xuan Zhen, and said in a cold voice, "The person is not dead."
Hearing this, Xuanzhen was even more heartbroken, tears streaming down her face, and her ponytail, which had fallen to her shoulders, began to twitch.
"The Lord keeps saying you're not dead, but your flesh is all soft. If it weren't for soaking in the spiritual spring, it would have rotted long ago. He still won't change his mind and has become increasingly eccentric..."
Try to see him in your dreams when you have time; you can't let such a good person go crazy.
"Why don't you come and visit us while you're at it? Biqing and I miss you!"
Ru Xie: "..."
Xuanzhen sat sobbing beside Lin Feiran, talking about recent events in the demon realm and about Ruxian, occasionally lifting the hem of her clothes to wipe away her tears.
"Everyone has become superstitious. Sister Ping An also said that you are not dead. Actually, I perform a ritual to summon your soul every night according to human methods. I don't know if you have heard me."
Lin Feiran paused upon hearing this, looked up at Ping An, and when their eyes met, she actually smiled slightly, without the slightest surprise.
Seeing this, Ru Xian looked at her with a deeper meaning: "You knew all along?"
Ping An chuckled dryly, rubbed his nose, and took two steps back: "Didn't I tell you before that there might still be a chance for things to turn around?"
Xuanzhen looked over with red eyes: "What are you talking about?"
Ru Xian looked at Ping An, pondered for a moment, and surprisingly did not pursue the matter. Instead, she poured out the medicine, turned around and walked towards Lin Feiran, saying, "Drink the medicine; it will greatly benefit your spiritual meridian repair."
Xuanzhen shook her head: "Your Excellency, there's no need to worry about me..."
Before he could finish speaking, a hand reached over his head and steadily took the medicine bowl.
Xuan Zhen felt as if struck by lightning. She turned her head and happened to meet Lin Feiran's blinking eyes.
"...So I've finally gone mad?"
Under his gaze, Lin Feiran finished the medicine in one gulp, then pursed her lips and said, "Xuanzhen, the fact that you can see me means you've completely lost your mind."
A howl powerful enough to rip the roof off resounded throughout the hall.
Xuanzhen clearly still retained a sliver of fragile rationality: "This is impossible..."
Ru Xian retrieved the porcelain bowl and tapped Xuan Zhen's head: "Don't say the word 'death' again."
Lin Feiran stood up and squatted down, looking at the person sitting blankly on the ground: "Xuanzhen, what you said just now was a joke. Actually, what they said is right. I only faked my death back then. I am still alive."
Xuan Zhen stared at her blankly, seemingly still processing the fact, but before that, he had already put his arm around Lin Feiran's shoulder.
“It’s hot and resilient…” he murmured, as if to confirm the truth of her words.
However, Ru Xian had already raised her hand and pulled him away, her eyes unusually serious: "I won't joke about her life or death, she's still alive."
Finally, he added, "This time it's not my imagination."
Before Xuanzhen could even process this fact, Lin Feiran had already asked, "Where is Biqing?"
Xuanzhen couldn't answer. Ping An looked at Ruxian, took back the porcelain bowl, put it aside, and said in a calm voice, "Something happened in Luoyu City. Now she can only stay outside the city and cannot return."
Author's Note: [Heart emoji]
Luoyu City is not far from the Demon Capital. In less than half an hour, the cargo truck carrying Lin Feiran and Ruxian arrived nearby.
From afar, the jade-paved city walls shimmered faintly, appearing especially serene in the turbulent night. A massive defensive array rotated in mid-air, enveloping the entire isolated city.
Before the city, one can see many people moving about without having to look around.
On the city wall, only one person stood tall, holding a longbow, sitting cross-legged at the top.
The two groups faced off in silence.
The rotating city defense formation was extremely chaotic and dazzling. Although Lin Feiran could not see the person's face clearly, he could recognize her as Bi Qing just by her figure.
She sat high up, her body as solid as a rock, and it was hard to see any trace of her former carefree and romantic nature.
Amidst such dramatic changes, a few months is enough time for a person to undergo a complete transformation.
Lin Feiran stared in surprise, and amidst the precarious balance between the two, asked, "What's going on?"
Ru Xian lowered her eyes and looked in that direction, her gaze flickering slightly, and said only, "A child holding gold is coveted by wolves."
Ever since those eerie ice pillars swept across the sky, blotting out the sun and plunging both realms into eternal night, much of the order has gradually crumbled in this darkness. The demon race, which has always been at odds with each other, has been plagued by chaos.
"After the eternal night, people were filled with fear and unease."
Elders of many tribes in the demon realm have sacrificed themselves to prophesy that a new world is about to descend, and the old world will be annihilated along with this dark night, with nowhere to escape. However, by joining the esoteric sect, one can escape the chaos under the protection of the Dao Lord and be reborn.
Thus, Tantric Buddhism made its debut.
Ru Xian's voice was normal, but her tone was not as light as usual.
Lin Feiran pondered for a moment, then suddenly remembered something. She said, "Back when many demons gathered in the Demon Capital to try to expel me from the Demon Realm, it seems that it was because a certain very powerful person divined that I was a scourge."
But in the end, it seems the disaster was a hoax; the esoteric sect really wanted the spiritual vein in her body.
Tantric Buddhism has long been linked to these people, so it's not surprising that such absurd prophecies are now circulating everywhere.
Ru Xian understood the implication in her words, crossed her arms, raised her eyebrows, and said, "Those who make such divinations are almost all respected elders of their respective tribes. In addition, other tribes have also obtained the same results. It's hard not to believe it, isn't it?"
That's true. Lin Feiran paused, then turned to look at him: "You believe it too? The old is obliterated, the new is born..."
Ru Hai lowered his eyes, surprisingly not denying it directly, but instead said: "I was busy looking for a way to bring the dead back to life, and I didn't have the energy to distinguish between the real and the fake, or whether there was a change of old and new, and I didn't care."
Lin Feiran paused slightly upon hearing this, but then heard him continue.
"However, during those chaotic days, many people told me about methods of resurrection, and one of them mentioned Tantric Buddhism."
You know him too? He's that human cultivator who lives in seclusion in the Demon Capital, his name is Qi something, and his cultivation level is quite high.
He was about to leave the Demon Capital with his wife and head to the human world. Before leaving, he came to me and said that if I wanted to be resurrected, I should join the Tantric sect. He was even very certain that he would see me again.
As Ru Xian's voice softened, her eyes quietly gazed into the night: "If it weren't for the fact that it was the esoteric sect that killed you, I probably would have gone."
Similarly, if they possessed such an ability to easily bring the dead back to life, then the so-called transition between the old and the new might not be a pipe dream.
Lin Feiran was filled with mixed feelings. That period of time was a past that Ru Xian would not easily mention. He glossed over it, only offering her one possibility.
It is possible that a prophecy is true, rather than a possible conspiracy among many.
She, like a hailstone, hid high above, gazing down at the radiant light below, and pondered the past: "So, Qi Chen really is a member of the Secret Sect. Judging by his abilities, his position is certainly not low. Perhaps, I have already clashed with him..."
But what about his talk of coming back from the dead and reuniting with his wife? Does the esoteric sect, or rather, that Taoist master, really have such power to defy fate?
Then, considering that he said he had nothing and that all he held in his hands were many lives, what kind of being was he?
Lin Feiran found it difficult to think further, only feeling a chill pass through her heart. The chain that locked her soul was still gray, but she felt an unprecedented heaviness.
Did he already know that he couldn't kill her in the battle of the canyon?
After a few moments of deep thought, Lin Feiran immediately shook her head. People are always defeated by their own fears before they even face a real challenge. She turned her thoughts around and pulled herself back from this gradually sinking emotional state.
She said knowingly, "If even you are skeptical about this prophecy, then there must be many people who believe in it deeply."
Ru Xian nodded: "Nothing is absolute. Some people believe it deeply, while others will doubt it. For example, regarding your death, among those who did not witness it, there are those who do not believe it."
Within a month of these prophecies being made, many tribes turned to Tantric Buddhism. Later, some events occurred, and they split into three factions.
One faction defected to Tantric Buddhism, another vehemently opposed it, and the third remained neutral.
He led Lin Feiran forward, gradually approaching the shimmering Jade City.
Lin Feiran asked in confusion, "What is it?"
Ru Xian stopped, raised her chin slightly, and gestured for her to look at the surging figures: "The Tantric sect does not accept all comers. Those who join the sect must offer up three ounces of extremely pure energy, neither more nor less."
When Lin Feiran heard this word again, he recalled seeing thousands upon thousands of streams of energy surging towards the crack in the sky before he destroyed the ice pillar.
Could it be that... after the divine punishment artifact was destroyed, they came up with another method?
Lin Feiran was particularly puzzled: "Everyone has qi, but I've only heard of differences in coarseness and fineness. Is there also a difference in purity?"
Ru Xian nodded: "I didn't know that before, but I later learned that people's qi is different. For example, the qi of children and the elderly is very different. One is pure and the other is turbid."
Under the night sky, the throng of people gradually stopped, but soon gathered together again and headed towards Luoyu City.
Ru Xian took out a shimmering pearl and placed it in front of Lin Feiran, then continued, "Whether one's aura is pure or not has nothing to do with age. Many people have aura, but it is not pure, so they cannot join the sect."
But who says that the vital energy offered can only be one's own?
Through the colorful clouds, the night suddenly turned into daylight, and the faintly glowing Luoyu City became radiant and overflowing with light.
Among the figures attacking from below, their auras were all of the same thickness and color, like white mist, with no difference between them. However, Bi Qing, who sat on the city roof, seemed to have the same aura as the others at first glance, but it was much thicker and whiter.
The difference is so subtle that it is difficult to distinguish with the naked eye, but it is very obvious through the lens of the 'Xiaozhu'.
Ru Xian withdrew her hand, letting the rosy pearl float before her eyes, and continued.
“Taking away someone’s vital energy is no different from killing them. Most of the demons who oppose or remain neutral have moved to the Demon Capital. Although the alliances in various parts of the demon realm are gradually disintegrating, there are still a few of us in the Demon Capital, so it is still relatively peaceful for the time being.”
Elsewhere, people are waiting for an opportunity to search for those with pure Qi.
In the entire demon realm, the purest energy belongs to the Jade Clan, who can nurture spiritual jade within their bodies.
Lin Feiran finally understood the reason behind it: "If that's the case, why are Biqing and the others still staying here instead of returning to the Demon Capital together?"
"Unlike humans, demons can survive wherever they go as long as they have food."
The Jade Clan is able to nurture spiritual jade precisely because they also need spiritual jade to nourish them. As you know, most of the world's mineral veins have long been depleted. Fortunately, there are still a few remaining beneath Fallen Jade City. After they left, the mineral veins were depleted and destroyed, and they have been unable to survive thereafter.
Moreover, the Lingyu clan has always been small in number, but they are deeply devoted to each other. These mines are buried beneath the remains of their loved ones; they will not abandon the city.
Suddenly, a clanging sound pierced the night sky, and the demon race, who had been waiting for an opportunity, attacked Luoyu City again. The city's protective formation began to operate, blocking the attacks one after another.
High above Luoyu City, Biqing rose with her bow in hand, while several elderly clan elders leaped down. The Jade Clan, which had always had few offspring, now had only these two standing side by side. Even though they were young, they already bore the weight of the clan's life and death.
She drew her bow and nocked an arrow, the leather armor on her shoulders feeling slightly cold. A radiant light, like the rising sun, shone on the tip of the arrow and then flickered in the darkness. The moment it left the bowstring, it shot out like a fire dragon piercing the sun!
Lin Feiran finally saw her face clearly at this moment—a face that was resolute, calm, and unyielding.
As Ru Xian looked at the arrow light, she said, "The demon realm is currently in a delicate balance, but Luoyu City is the exception."
Everyone is eyeing this place like hyenas trying to devour a giant beast, lurking in the shadows. They won't come out when I arrive, but they pounce again as soon as I leave. Even if I stay here every day, I can only stop them for a while.
As long as Tantric Buddhism doesn't change its tune, the number of people drawn to it will never decrease.
Lin Feiran looked into the distance at the figure drawing a bow and shooting an arrow, but his mind was in deep thought.
The protective array of Luoyu City was set up by the Genqian Saint and would not be easily breached, but these people are surging in like a tide, day after day, and who knows when they might actually find a loophole.
What can she do?
Ru Xian looked at her and said, "Nowadays, the demon realm is in turmoil and the order is beginning to collapse. Only the demon capital still has rules, but this is because the demon capital never interferes in the affairs of other tribes. If it rashly intervenes to help Luoyu City, the balance will be broken and the demon capital will be counterattacked."
Most of the tribes with relatively pure Qi have now migrated to the Demon Capital, and the consequences of their counterattack are equally unpredictable.
Biqing didn't want to get involved, so she simply told us to go back to the Demon Capital.
She said she would protect this place.
Lin Feiran gazed silently at that spot, the dark, oath-bound chain weighing heavily on her heart. She felt as if she were standing on a slender chain, swaying left and right, the chain beneath her feet ready to throw her into the abyss at any moment.
“I have a plan,” she suddenly said. “Do you remember when I first arrived in the demon realm, when I was feeling lost, we sat down and discussed ‘killing’ and ‘stopping’?”
Ru Xian's gaze narrowed slightly, as if she already knew the unspoken meaning in her words. After a few breaths, she nodded and said, "I remember."
Lin Feiran clenched and unclenched her hands, not out of tension, but to relax her arms. She said, "You said that sometimes killing is a form of praise, but at that time it was others killing me."
As Xian once told her, if one person kills him, he is like fish on a chopping board; if ten people kill him, he is like a defeated soldier; if a hundred people kill him, he is like a local tyrant; but if a thousand people kill him, he is like a warlord in a chaotic world; and if ten thousand people kill him, then he is the embodiment of right and wrong.
She raised her hand, making a sword gesture: "What if the roles were reversed, and I was the one killing someone else?"
Kill one person, kill ten people, kill a hundred people, even a thousand or ten thousand people...
She used to agree with Ru Xian's words, and although she doesn't disagree now, she has a different perspective. She thinks she has overcomplicated the concepts of killing and stopping. At least for her, killing is killing, and that's all there is to it.
She doesn't need to be given any other meaning.
Just like saving someone, saving someone is simply saving someone; everything should come from the heart and need not be for any other reason.
Ru Xian asked, "You want to stop killing with killing?"
Lin Feiran moved her hand and took out a moon-shaped coin from her half-tied long hair. The coin was shaped like a crescent moon, and the blade was gleaming with cold light, reflecting her eyebrows and eyes.
This was a treasure that Ping An gave me when we were learning runes, and now it just so happens to come in handy.
She looked at the object in her hand, a glimmer of light appearing in her eyes amidst the darkness. The gray chain in her heart seemed to be swept away by the wind, the darkness gradually dissipating to reveal a mottled light.
Once she chooses to restore her spiritual power, the Oath Chain will be reconnected to the chaos at the end.
"I just thought, this is the time for me to draw my sword."
As if a haze were to part his lips slightly, he had many things he wanted to say at this moment, such as her vow chain, the secret sect, and the various situations, but when it came to his lips, he paused again and again, and only said one sentence.
"To me, even if you kill someone, I would still consider it a compliment."
"Go if you want to. No one can stop people your age."
He raised his hand, his cool palm pressed against her chest, and slowly uttered a spell. A moment later, the mottled patterns that were slowly spreading on the heart chain stopped, the falling gray color paused, and everything stopped at this moment when the heart chain was about to become clear.
“This heart-locking chain is extraordinary. Even the incantation cannot break it, but it can at least temporarily slow it down.” He withdrew his hand and casually brushed aside her stray hairs. “Do whatever you want. You’re already in the Divine Travel Realm, so do as you please.”
Lin Feiran, suspended by the moon wheel, slowly moved away from his side, her spiritual energy gradually filling up and flowing into the new spiritual vein.
"Wait for me for three days."
As soon as she finished speaking, she put on a veil, and lightning crackled beneath her feet. In an instant, she descended upon the attacking crowd like a divine warrior. Before those nearby could even be shocked, they were already affected by the swirling moon, and blood splattered everywhere.
She rushed towards the city gate like a whirlwind, leaving only a series of abrupt, choked gasps in her wake.
Bi Qing and several elders looked on in surprise, only to see that the figure moved like lightning and arrived at the foot of Luoyu City in just a few moments. The spiritual light in the person's hand surged, and he spun around and swung out the floating moon wheel. A vast and powerful sword aura spread out, like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing, knocking back the people who were attacking him several meters.
Everyone looked over and saw that the newcomer was dressed in black, wearing a veil, and carrying an ordinary-looking Cold Shadow Moon Wheel. Judging from his figure, he seemed to be a tall young man, but in the darkness, it was impossible to tell whether he was male or female.
Bi Qing stared for a moment, her expression changing slightly. She thought, "He looks too much like Lin Feiran."
There were many people who thought the same way as her, but everyone knew that Lin Feiran was killed in one blow, and Ru Xian had been searching for a way to revive her for a long time. She was already dead, and her life was taken by the Holy Maiden of the Secret Sect herself.
The attackers looked at her, their expressions darkening slightly, and asked, "Who goes there?"
Lin Feiran spoke, his voice unusual: "The city guard of the Jade Clan."
One of them sneered, "I've heard that they have a few younger members in their clan, but your aura is weak and impure, unlike that of the Jade Clan. You're being secretive. Tell us which clan you belong to now, and leave quickly, or we won't pursue your lineage."
Lin Feiran didn't speak again, but the others thought they had revealed her secret. They laughed mockingly and took turns threatening her. When they saw that she was still unmoved, they became angry and stopped bothering her.
"Since you didn't announce your family name, you have no reason to complain about dying on the spot today. If your elders come looking for you in the future, we will not acknowledge you!"
Just as the man finished speaking, a swift, cold light flashed by, as gentle and soft as the moonlight that had not been seen for a long time. The man's body relaxed, and he suddenly fell into the moonlight.
Everyone fell silent for a moment, only to see that the moon had returned to the man's palm.
She raised her hand, her five fingers slightly bent, and the magical artifacts in everyone's hands immediately began to vibrate and hum. Then, she slowly clenched her fist, and an indescribable force pressed down, compressing many magical artifacts into a ball in an instant.
"What level of cultivation do you possess?!"
Lin Feiran did not answer, but said only: "Those who attack the city will end up like this person. You can leave, otherwise, even if you die on the spot today, you have no complaints. If your elders come to your door in the future, I will not acknowledge them."
The arrows continued to fall from the sky, illuminating the figure moment by moment.
Although everyone was frightened, they were not deterred by this unknown realm. They simply kept their eyes on her for the time being and slowly withdrew.
Lin Feiran neither left nor gave chase. Instead, he leaped into the air and stopped in front of the city's protective array, facing Bi Qing, who was staring in astonishment.
A night breeze occasionally lifted her veil, revealing her deep, serene eyes. Biqing's pupils contracted instantly, but she didn't shout out as she usually did. Instead, she immediately pursed her lips, changed her expression, and bowed as if it were the first time they met.
"My clan has been in distress for a long time. Today, we are fortunate to have your help. Please come in and have a chat."
Lin Feiran shook her head: "No need."
She took out a letter, wrote a few words on it with her spiritual power, and sent the letter out: "Do as instructed. From now on, I will stay on the city wall and be a silent guardian of the city."
The letter was slowly handed to Biqing. She hurriedly took it, read the words on it, and then looked at Lin Feiran again. This time, her eyes were slightly red and her lips were tightly pursed, making her look somewhat like she used to.
"good."
After speaking, she cupped her hands again and led several elders back to the city. Lin Feiran stood at the boundary of the city's protective array, high on the city wall, with the moon wheel spinning beside her and the hem of her robe fluttering slightly below. She sat down, then neither spoke nor moved again.
The magical artifact used to measure the time spun three times, and Lin Feiran sat there for three days without changing her posture. During this time, several demons who were waiting for an opportunity attacked, but she drove them back each time by controlling the moon wheel.
No matter the time of day or the hour, she seemed to be always awake, forever sitting atop the city wall, ready to strike at the slightest disturbance, and hundreds of men had already fallen before the city.
"What kind of weirdo is this? Who goes three days without rest?"
"She's been sitting there the whole time; she must have been secretly resting when no one was attacking the city."
"Look, she's ignoring the Jade Clan members. Maybe she's some unparalleled expert from the Demon Realm who can't stand the act of stealing someone's life force, so she's stepping in to protect them. But judging from her cultivation technique and spiritual weapon, they seem more like those of the Iron-Eating Beast Clan..."
"What bad luck. Killing people is like mowing grass. Now, whenever I see someone sitting quietly like her, I instinctively tremble. Oh well, she has a powerful expert overseeing her. If you want to die, go ahead. The demon realm isn't just about the Jade Clan with pure energy. I'll find another one. I won't see you off."
Many of those who had come to attack the place backed down, but a steady stream of people continued to arrive, coming and going without end.
Lin Feiran sat for three days without sleep. By the beginning of the seventh day, there were still many lurking figures around, but no one dared to approach anymore.
By the end of the seventh day, the person sitting on the high seat atop the city wall was still there, but Lin Feiran had already appeared in Luoyu City with Ru Xian.
Biqing sat opposite the two of them. Looking at the unharmed Lin Feiran, her eyes were already bloodshot. She rushed forward, hugged Lin Feiran tightly, and wailed loudly, no longer showing the perseverance and indomitable spirit she had shown before.
"Grandpa Dashi, he has already..."
Lin Feiran felt a pang of sadness as well. She hugged Biqing back, unsure how to comfort her, and could only gently stroke her again and again.
After venting for a long time, Biqing finally sobbed and said, "Thank goodness you're still alive. What I hate most right now is parting, I hate it so much!"
Lin Feiran looked her over for a moment and sighed softly, "At least for a long time to come, nothing will happen."
As Ru Xian looked at the letter, she couldn't help but say, "They actually came up with this idea."
Bi Qing choked up and said, "Our clan elders said that this should be an empty city ploy."
Lin Feiran shook his head: "This doesn't count as an empty city strategy."
In Lin Feiran's own view, her scheme was very simple and could hardly be called a strategy.
It was merely a pretense, a facade of a powerful figure in charge. Once everyone was in a state of panic, she would replace the statue with a controllable jade statue, leaving the moon wheel behind, creating the illusion that she was still there, thus intimidating the other side.
"My sword energy remains in the moon, so it doesn't matter if they attack again. It's just that what's fake is still fake, and it won't last long. This period is just a transition."
You must rebuild that formation before it's exposed, so that Luoyu City disappears from the demon realm.
The intimidation was a ruse to buy them time; the real purpose was to set up an array and hide in Luoyu City.
Bi Qing nodded emphatically: "The array diagram you gave me has been handed over to the elders, but this array is too big and will take a long time... Can't we stay here for a while? I haven't seen you in so long."
Lin Feiran shook his head: "I still have things to do. As long as the secret cult is not eradicated, you will not have a day of peace."
"Biqing, let her go."
A voice came from outside the door. The group turned to look and saw Saitama, the patriarch of the Jade Clan.
She entered the room with a solemn expression, which made the cracks on her face, like jade about to shatter, even more obvious.
She nodded to Lin Feiran first, then said to Bi Qing, "You should understand now that everyone has their own things to do."
Biqing's face darkened slightly as she gripped her longbow and glanced at Lin Feiran and Ruxian: "...Yes, I know. But I can't help but wonder if we could go back to the past, when Grandpa Dashi hadn't died a martyr, and all we worried about all day was where to go and what to eat."
Lin Feiran looked at her for a long time before finally managing a smile: "Biqing, every day is different. Today we eat noodles, and tomorrow we eat noodles again, but the noodles taste different on the two days, right?"
Bi Qing was slightly taken aback and looked up.
“Every day is changing. Even if we went back to yesterday, the noodles we ate would no longer be the same. If we really went back to the past, where would the powerful Biqing go?”
Lin Feiran had already stood up, carrying the veil behind her back. Her silhouette was outlined in the candlelight, remaining perfectly still in the firelight.
"Biqing, time doesn't turn back, just keep moving forward."
Biqing stared blankly, thinking of Lin Feiran's deceased parents, and when she heard her words, she was filled with mixed emotions.
What kind of sleepless nights must Lin Feiran have gone through to be able to say these words calmly today?
The first hurdle in growing up is perhaps accepting separation with equanimity. I am only now experiencing this feeling, but she has already gone through it several times.
As night deepened, Lin Feiran and Ru Xian's figures gradually disappeared into the distance. Bi Qing watched with tears in her eyes, sniffed, and turned back to look at the motionless jade statue on the city wall. A slight sigh quickly dissipated into the wind.
...
"Not sleepy?" Ru Xian turned to look at Lin Feiran. She didn't speak, but just shook her head.
After a long silence, she finally said, "I thought that everyone's pain during their growth would be different, but it turns out that it's all the same. Everyone has to go through such growing pains, only the difference is that some are milder and some are more severe."
Ru Xian stood with her arms crossed, tapping her fingertips lightly: "Perhaps, it's not just this. Human pain is no different; it's just a constant cycle of gaining and losing."
He added with a smile, "However, the joy we experience is equally undeniable."
Lin Feiran smiled, exhaled a long breath, and then leaned onto the back of the bird as if to relieve herself. She looked over the bird's back at the scattered lights below and cleared her mind.
They are traveling from Luoyu City to the Endless Sea, returning to the human realm.
Ru Xian leaned down to look at her, his snow-white hair blocking the breeze, and said softly, "I think you should go to sleep."
Lin Feiran immediately looked up: "I suddenly remembered that before, as soon as you said I should sleep, I fell asleep and didn't wake up all night. Did you use a spell?"
Ru Shan raised an eyebrow and answered frankly, "Yes. What's wrong? What are you trying to say?"
Lin Feiran raised her head and then slowly lowered it again, whispering, "It's nothing, everything you use is fine."
Ru Xian chuckled and then said, "It's such a waste to use a spell for something as trivial as sleeping."
Lin Feiran looked up again: "What exactly does this way of addressing me mean?"
This time, Ru Xian didn't try to evade the question. Instead, she explained, "Incantations are hard to describe in your human language. If I had to put it bluntly, the imagery of this word represents dawn, shimmering waves, new buds, the source of life, the first clouds, the bud, and the heart."
Lin Feiran's ears burned as she listened, and she almost buried her head in the bird's feathers, regretting that she had asked the question. But when she heard the last word, she suddenly asked in confusion.
"Isn't there a big difference between 'heart' and 'dawn'?"
Ru Xian said, "Is it great? To heaven and earth, these are the earliest and most precious things, the origin of all things. To put it bluntly, it means that the human heart is very open-minded."
Lin Feiran turned his head, spat out half a mouthful of bird feathers, sat up straight, and said seriously and keenly.
"No, I've also studied runes. An image is just an image; it must have a corresponding word in human language. What do you usually call me?"
Ru Xian turned her head to look at the night, smiling without saying a word.
After Lin Feiran pressed her for details, she slowly said, "It's a very intimate word, I like it, but you wouldn't like it if I said it directly."
Lin Feiran retorted, "How do you know I don't like it?"
He shook his head: "Because teenagers your age wouldn't like it."
Lin Feiran: "..."
She buried her face in the bird feathers and sighed deeply.
Author's Note: These past few chapters are like the calm before the storm. [heart emoji]
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