Chapter 104 Three Thousand Lifetimes: The End of Dharma (The End) ...
The Nine Nether Formation is unlike any other formation existing in the world. It was born in the chaotic era but has never been used. It is powerful, vast, and irreversible. Once activated, it will come at a terrible price.
Just then, the vitality belonging to this continent was continuously drawn into the bronze cauldron like shooting stars, forming an immeasurable black vortex inside.
Song Qingshu's eyes were clouded with a gray haze, and her behavior was rigid. She was clearly being controlled. The closer Shi Xianxue tried to get to her, the further away she became.
The Dragon Ball's energy was unstable, and several cracks appeared faintly.
Zhou Huang watched coldly: "Overestimating yourself."
Shi Xianxue stopped moving and, enduring the excruciating pain, looked at the enormous bronze cauldron.
Kongsang once said that she was the most suitable person to be a goddess because she could create a new world and possessed the greatest power of the creator god.
But she was completely at a loss as to what to do, how to use that greatest ability.
Countless streams of life wove the sky into a dazzling array of colors, then gathered together and were all sucked into the bronze cauldron. Shi Xianxue gave up resisting; perhaps she should try breaking the bronze cauldron first.
When it was knocked back for the third time, the Dragon Ball had already cracked open with a large crack.
Zhou Huang sneered, "Little goddess, if you want to die, just say so. Why go through all this trouble? I'll help you." With that, a blinding ball of light hurtled towards Shi Xianxue.
Shi Xianxue did not back down. The light in her eyes grew brighter and brighter. Her hair slapped against her cheeks, but she showed no sign of retreating.
Until the ball of light stopped just inches away, the handsome young man's face appeared opposite her.
Zhou Huang glanced at the Sun and Moon Guide, then looked in the direction where Wu Xiutang had appeared, and silently accelerated the speed at which the bronze cauldron absorbed the living souls.
The ball of light exploded like lightning, turning into streaks of bluish-purple electricity that dispersed. Wu Xiutang raised his hand and set up a solid barrier around them, his expression cold and sharp.
"If I had known you wanted to die, why would I have gone to all that trouble to save you?"
Shi Xianxue pouted: "At a time like this, can't you say something nice?"
His words were cold, but his heart was burning. He was a man who was cold on the outside but warm on the inside, and he was very soft-hearted. Shi Xianxue knew, of course, that he was worried about her. Now was not the time to argue. She pointed to Zhou Huang and briefly explained the situation, telling him that Lou Su was currently outside the formation after being stabbed.
Wu Xiutang showed no surprise whatsoever; he merely sneered, "He deserves it."
"Serves him right." Shi Xianxue turned her head and saw Shi Huaiyu, dressed in wedding attire, staring blankly at everything.
Her gaze fell on the identical face, and she seemed to understand something. Her expression suddenly turned terrified as she pointed at them and backed away. "I know, I know everything! You want me to die in place of Shi Xianxue!"
No wonder she felt something was off, no wonder he wasn't even wearing wedding clothes... No way, no one can make decisions for Shi Huaiyu, not Lou Su, and certainly not Wu Xiutang.
She tried to escape, but something like spider silk sprouted from her palm, trapping her firmly in place.
"Don't panic. I didn't mean for you to die in my place. As a descendant of the goddess, this is my mission, and I have accepted it. So, Shi Huaiyu, go back to the Three Thousandth Lifetime in my place."
“Shi Xianxue!” Wu Xiutang interrupted impatiently.
"Alright, Wu Xiutang, let her go. I know what you've done for me, but this isn't what I wanted." Shi Xianxue had never been so calm. She gazed quietly at her lover, showing no fear of what was to come.
Wu Xiutang stared at her with his beautiful eyes.
Not to be outdone, Shi Xianxue raised her chin.
"You're not listening to me?"
Wu Xiutang turned away in a huff.
"She's not important. What's important is us, that we love each other, and that we'll be together forever." She cupped his face, making sure she could see Wu Xiutang's dark eyes.
"Can you let her out?"
The coldness in Wu Xiutang's eyes had dissipated somewhat, and when his eyes brightened, he looked like a child who had received a sweet candy. He couldn't help but smile: "In love?"
Shi Xianxue: "...Do you really have to pick out the key points at a time like this?"
A smile welled up from the depths of his eyes, and Wu Xiutang leaned forward slightly, visibly delighted: "Truth or lie?"
Shi Xianxue tiptoed and kissed his lips: "It's fake."
The spider silk on Shi Huaiyu's body was retrieved and thrown out of the formation.
The exit of the formation was getting smaller and smaller. Shi Xianxue stretched out her hand: "Give me the Three Thousand Worlds."
Wu Xiutang's first reaction was to refuse, which showed that she was more determined than ever before. He remained silent for a few moments before finally giving in.
The blue diamond-shaped magical artifact was summoned.
This was the first time Shi Xianxue had ever truly faced the Three Thousand Worlds. She stretched out a finger and probed the magical artifact, and the intimate familiarity surprised her.
Can such a small ritual implement truly contain mountains and oceans, and so many beautiful lives?
As she slowly closed her eyes and focused on feeling, her body began to radiate an almost divine light.
The surrounding area was filled with wailing cries of ghosts and howls of wolves, and the fierce winds were like blades impacting his magic, but at this moment, Wu Xiutang's heart found an unprecedented peace.
Under immense pressure, countless cracks quickly appeared on the barrier, and Zhou Huang appeared out of thin air in front of them in the next instant, attacking them.
Wu Xiutang took the blow and was knocked back several meters.
Zhou Huang stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes full of disdain: "This is the God of Order? Nothing special."
Wu Xiutang did not refute. As he slowly straightened up, the surrounding air transformed into a sharp blade capable of killing with a single blow, slashing towards Zhou Huang's throat.
Outside the formation, Linglong was struggling to channel magic into Zhou Zheyue when she heard sounds of fighting coming from inside the formation. She looked around in confusion, then turned back to find that the previously unconscious boy had opened his eyes.
She met his deep, clear eyes and panicked instantly. She tried to withdraw her healing power, but the boy grabbed her arm.
In an instant, Lou Su stood up. The wound on his chest had healed completely, but it was no ordinary magic weapon. This was not enough, far from enough. He stumbled as he walked, unable to exert any strength at all.
Fortunately, he saw Shi Huaiyu, who had been thrown out, at the entrance of the formation. Seeing her panicked expression, he raised his hand and covered her face.
Tears streamed down her face: "Brother, I don't want to die."
Without the slightest hesitation or pity, he frantically drained the girl's life force—because he truly sensed his elder sister's presence.
The opening was getting smaller and smaller, and he had no time to hesitate.
Within the formation, Wu Xiutang's attacks were always neutralized and absorbed into the bronze cauldron. Zhou Huang laughed triumphantly: "This formation was originally prepared for you. The more you exert your power, the stronger the bronze cauldron will become, and the smoother the formation will operate. Since you don't like being a god, then leave it to me. I will do it a thousand times, ten thousand times better than you."
He leaned forward and reached out to grab Shi Xianxue.
Unexpectedly, a dark blue sword light was faster than him, unexpectedly stabbing at him from the entrance of the formation. Zhou Huang dodged to the side, and another sharp sword aura followed closely behind. He retreated to his original position, looking down at the sword marks on his white robe, his eyes filled with malice.
Qiankun Star.
Li Fuchao stood in front of the two with his sword, saying, "Immortal Zhou, turn back before it's too late."
"What right do you have to advise me to turn back from the wrong path? If it weren't for the Qiankun Star, you would have died in the Eternal Array long ago." Zhou Huang looked at the other person behind him, his tone mocking. "Your Majesty Chongli, tell me, if I told Kong Sang everything you've done, would she be grateful to you, or ashamed of you, wishing she could tear you to pieces?"
Lou Su's eyes were extremely cold. He had wandered in the human world for tens of thousands of years, his soul falling into the abyss. The Emperor Chongli, who originally wanted to bring happiness to all people, had long since disappeared into these dreadful years. Over time, the idea of resurrecting his elder sister became the pillar that kept him alive.
No matter what happened, hearing his elder sister's name from someone like Zhou Huang still made him so irritable that he wanted to kill someone.
He charged at Zhou Huang like a madman, sword in hand, determined to make him pay the price for his insolence.
Purple lightning hovered above the formation, and wind and snow swept across the glazed roof with thunder, making it seem as if the sky was about to collapse.
When Shi Xianxue opened her eyes, Li Fuchao was still trying to rescue Song Qingshu, but like Shi Xianxue, the more he tried to get closer to her, the further away she became.
He drew his sword, panting, and the next moment he charged forward again, disregarding the consequences.
The boy beside her was surprisingly calm amidst the chaos. When he saw Shi Xianxue wake up, he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and gave her a bright smile.
"Did you see your mother?"
“Yes! And also, Wu Xiutang, I know how to control myself…”
"Shh." Wu Xiutang made a shushing gesture, casting a silencing spell on Shi Xianxue. His expression was unreadable, and he was extremely reluctant to spend time with her. "I want to talk to you properly, but I don't want to listen to you because you always pick out things I don't want to hear and make me angry."
He had so much to say, and it was driving him crazy with all the pent-up emotions, but when the words finally came to his lips, he remained silent for a long time before finally choosing to hug Shi Xianxue tightly and say stubbornly, "If I die, you must die for me."
He thought that he would not rest in peace if Shi Xianxue did not die with him.
What a load of rubbish! Once he saw her, he didn't want to let go; he only wanted to keep her by his side for all eternity.
If only one person is alive, things will change. Her mind is not firm, and it is hard to guarantee that she will not change her mind. At that time, should we let him come back to life to catch him in the act?
The thunderclouds piled up, resembling small hills, and the bronze cauldron greedily seized the last bit of life from this continent.
Noticing the girl trembling in his arms, Wu Xiutang felt both sorry for her and amused. He gently stroked her thin back and asked, "Are you so scared?"
"I was just kidding. How could you possibly die with me?" The boy's smile vanished.
No, that's not it!
She let Shi Huaiyu leave so that he could take her place in the Three Thousand Worlds, and she would choose to face it together with him.
At the same time, the bronze cauldron absorbed all its energy, and outside, firelight and lightning intertwined, filled with the aura of death, making the whole world resemble a purgatory.
Hearing Wu Xiutang's words, Shi Xianxue's heart pounded wildly. In the next instant, she realized that her body had been frozen in place. Wu Xiutang left her and took a few steps forward, but then turned back unwillingly.
“Listen to me, I’m not a good person, nor am I a god who saves all living beings. All the sacrifices I’ve made have been pointless—” Wu Xiutang leaned down, pinched her chin with his fingers, and looked down at her with a fierce gaze, as if looking at prey that had fallen into a trap. “I’m scheming against you. I want you to feel guilty towards me forever and become the most unforgettable person in your heart.”
I will exchange my death for your eternal, unforgettable love. I will make you regret provoking me, and cry out my name in the dead of night.
She looked at Wu Xiutang in horror and shook her head frantically.
No, Wu Xiutang, what are you doing? Don't do this. She has a way, she has a way.
At the center of the formation, Song Qingshu seemed to suddenly regain her senses. Without the slightest hesitation, she abandoned her physical body and soul and merged into the Demon-Subduing Sword. The surface of the Demon-Subduing Sword seemed to be coated with a layer of divine light. It flew over Li Fuchao and flew to the top of the bronze cauldron, drawing sword marks of talismans in mid-air.
Li Fuchao paused, turned stiffly, his eyes reflecting the light emanating from the bronze cauldron, his expression unreadable.
The bronze cauldron actually stopped transporting materials and was temporarily sealed by a transparent film.
Zhou Huang was incredulous. He didn't trust Lou Su, or anyone else. What they had planted in them was a puppet technique that was impossible to break. How could Song Qing Shu have woken up, and how did she break free of the array's core? Now was not the time to think about these things. Since the pawn had escaped control, it could only be discarded.
The other eight sect leaders were controlled and attacked Lou Su, allowing Zhou Huang to escape and fly towards the bronze cauldron.
He knew that Song Qingshu alone could not destroy the bronze cauldron, but at this critical moment, even a moment of lapse in concentration could lead to total defeat.
He was right. The divine bones and demonic bones merged into the Order Dharma Wheel and separated from Wu Xiutang, and a golden bow flashing with flames rose from behind him.
The invisible bowstring was stretched to its limit, emitting a resounding clang that could tear the void apart. Borrowing the power of heaven and earth, it gathered strength to launch a fatal blow.
Zhou Huang had already absorbed 60% of the energy in the cauldron, but the moment he was hit by the arrow, he felt his cultivation level leak out like a sieve, and all the energy he had painstakingly absorbed was forced back into the bronze cauldron.
The flames of death spread through Zhou Huang's heart, and he let out a desperate scream, his eyes filled with extreme resentment: "Even if I, Zhou Huang, die, I will make this world pay with its life!"
His body exploded, transforming into a cloud of malevolent energy that rushed towards the bronze cauldron.
Wu Xiutang's entire body was enveloped in golden light, and his human emotions were once again stripped away. He hung high in the heavens, looking down upon the mortal world.
The apocalypse is irreversible. All living beings on the entire continent are now within this bronze cauldron. If left unchecked, this world will undergo a complete purge in a few hundred years, resulting in species extinction. The main world will determine that it is a world without signs of life, thus classifying it as an abandoned world. No more energy will be invested in it, and the moon and sun will no longer shine upon it.
His golden eyes moved, and his godlike gaze fell unmoved upon that petite figure.
When this world perishes, the three thousand worlds will also cease to exist, and his lover will also die.
When the gods fall, all things come into being.
Three thousand lifetimes emitted a fluorescent blue light, and the Goddess of Kongsang finally appeared. She was like a phantom, her face shrouded in mist. Lou Su struggled to get up from the ground, "Sister."
"Chu Ji, are you alright?"
Lou Su hurriedly wiped the blood off her face. With a blink of her eye, crystal tears slid down her cheeks, but she couldn't even speak: "I'm fine, sister, I'm fine."
The phantom was silent for a second: "Chu Ji, I need you to control the Chaos Pearl and fight for one last chance for this land."
"Sister."
"Stop clinging to the idea of resurrecting me. It's all pointless. Even if I were resurrected, you would only be a walking corpse. Please, sister, grant me liberation."
“You’re always like this! You were like this tens of thousands of years ago, and now you’re making me watch you die! Why are you always so cruel to me? Why won’t you look at me properly? Why do you always trample on my feelings…” How is this any different from sending his sister to her death with his own hands? He can’t do it, and he shouldn’t do it.
"I used you."
Lou Su's expression froze.
“From the moment we met, to the moment I raised you to adulthood and helped you ascend to the throne and become an immortal, I had a purpose. I was kind to you and devoted myself to you so that you could become another version of me, sacrificing and contributing to this world just like me. So even if you saved my life, I will not be grateful to you, because compared to saving all living beings, you are insignificant to me.”
Kong Sang's expression was blank. She was not very empathetic to begin with, and losing 80% of her divine soul left her unable to take care of herself. She could not understand his collapse and simply stated the facts in a flat manner.
"So now that you know, are you still willing to listen to your older sister?"
Lou Su stared at her intently. As expected of his elder sister, she always knew exactly where to hit him where it hurt the most.
"Chu Ji, are you still willing?"
He gave a bitter smile, the life in his eyes fading like a blown-out wick: "Of course, I will always listen to my elder sister."
Lou Su looked at her one last time with deep longing before flying towards the Chaos Stone.
Feng Yun manipulated the Sun and Moon Guide in the Demon Realm. He seized the opportunity to abandon his physical body and, like Song Qingshu, entered the divine artifact.
Everyone was busy saving the world, but she, the goddess, could do nothing. Shi Xianxue bit her tongue, and a clear pain came through. She felt a gentle breeze brushing her cheek, like the gentle caress from her mother after she was injured when she was a child.
"Xiaoxue, you have your mission. Your life force is unstable throughout the three thousand lifetimes. You need to live well and become the backbone that supports the three thousand lifetimes. The fall of the God of Order caused the earth's core to tremble. The three thousand lifetimes will have a chance to reopen. I have already chosen a small world to accommodate them. The rest is up to you."
Shi Xianxue's eyes moved slightly, silently meeting the gaze of the Order God in mid-air.
He parted his thin lips slightly, but no sound came out.
No, please don't treat her like this. As long as the formation is quelled, there are still hundreds of years of breathing room in this world. There will always be a way. Why go to such lengths?
The snow was falling heavier and heavier, almost cracking the glazed roof. She forced a smile that looked more like a grimace, wanting to rush forward at this last moment, regardless of the consequences, to grab his hand and never let go, to apologize to him. She had never thought of abandoning him; she thought they had a long time to spend together. She wanted to explain that those words were not sincere, and she also wanted to tell him that she loved Wu Xiutang, that she loved Wu Xiutang the most in the whole world.
But she couldn't move, her mouth opened and closed but she couldn't make a sound, and she couldn't even ask him if he was in pain. When it was time to part, she suddenly realized that the time they had spent together was so short.
The time had come. The Demon-Subduing Sword was deflected, and Kong Sang's divine soul entered it. The three divine artifacts, having each found the most suitable person to sacrifice, unleashed their most powerful abilities, and the formation began to change from pitch black to whitish.
The Reincarnation Array is complete!
The moment Shi Xianxue's body regained its mobility, the magnificent and majestic body belonging to the deity began to disintegrate at a speed visible to the naked eye, like fine sand that could be scattered at a single blow. Along with his divine soul, it transformed into specks of divine light and surged into the bronze cauldron.
Her world was engulfed in an eternal busy signal; what should have been a fleeting moment stretched out into an endless expanse. The glass roof shattered, snowflakes landed on her hair, and she inhaled them, feeling a sharp pain and a chill in her throat…
As if falling into an abyss, a suffocating feeling gripped her throat.
They didn't even... say goodbye properly.
Exhausted, Shi Xianxue collapsed to her knees, her eyes downcast, her back so thin it seemed as if it would shatter at the slightest touch.
"Shishi!" Li Fuchao's roar pulled her back to reality.
The Three Thousand Worlds were shattered and reassembled due to the influence of the formation. A dense array of blue screens enveloped her. Shi Xianxue raised her hand, and a small world of lily of the valley color fell off and flew into her palm.
As if teeming with life, a towering green tree rapidly grew from the bronze cauldron, its fruit, full of life, falling into Shi Xianxue's right palm.
Countless rays of light flew out from the sea of consciousness, and Shi Xianxue used her own body to form the hub connecting the two.
The ground began to shake beneath their feet, and underground energy erupted like a volcano. The last light belonging to this continent disappeared. Li Fuchao held three divine artifacts in his hands, embraced Shi Xianxue, and entered the Three Thousand Worlds.
Before the entrance to the Three Thousand Worlds closed completely, she seemed to hear someone softly calling her name.
But when she turned around in a daze, she saw only a dark ice layer that seemed to have the ability to reproduce, swallowing up the entire continent. The once magnificent mountains and rivers seemed so insignificant at this moment, and an irresistible primal force eroded her vision.
All that remains is a shocking collapse and destruction.
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