Turbulent waves subside, and the world is renewed.
Xie Yunzhi's body transformed into countless warm specks of light in Mo Xiaoyu's arms, like stars flowing against the current, or fireflies scattered by the wind, lightly and resolutely merging into the surging, roaring waters of the Qingtian River. There was no devastating explosion as expected, no terrifying scene of the heavens and earth being torn apart, and not even a piercing sound was heard.
The massive "guiding" formation, constructed by the two of them using their lives as a guide and all the fragments of the Spirit Sealing Stele and the Dream-Tracing Jade as its core, was finally fully activated at the moment Xie Yunzhi's soul and body were completely sacrificed, radiating an indescribable, gentle yet magnificent light.
This light was not a blinding glare, but a gentle, cool glow, like moonlight, yet warm like the dawn. Like ripples spreading across a calm lake, it gently and irresistibly expanded from the now tranquil, dark lake at the source of the Qingtian River, its momentum unhurried yet instantly covering the entire turbulent Qingtian River, and then, like an invisible veil, spreading to the entire world as far as the eye could see and beyond.
Instead of blocking the already opened "valve" connecting to the power of "Return to the Void," the formation, like the most exquisite weaver of heaven and earth, wove an invisible and intangible yet resilient "sieve" outside the "valve," one that contained life and the will to protect.
The violent, dark energy that continuously flowed from the "valve," originally filled with an aura of destruction, death, and chaos, underwent a miraculous transformation as it passed through this "sieve" forged from life, love, and sacrifice—a transformation that even the ancient great beings might not have been able to foresee.
The aura of destruction was quietly purified, and the sense of death was gently dispelled. The originally turbid, violent torrent of "Return to Nothingness," capable of annihilating all things and reshaping the rules, was transformed into a gentle and abundant spiritual rain containing infinite vitality, hope, and pure Daoist charm!
Yes, Lingyu.
In the sky, the thick, leaden-gray clouds, so oppressive they made it hard to breathe, began to dissipate and disintegrate at a visible speed, as if gently brushed away by an invisible hand. In their place appeared a clear, bright, and thoroughly cleansed azure sky, like crystal. A light drizzle fell from the sky, but it wasn't cold, ordinary rain; each drop shimmered with a crystal-clear luster, containing the purest, gentlest, and most easily absorbed spiritual energy of heaven and earth!
The spiritual rain fell upon the scorched, cracked, and lifeless earth, scarred by the previous chaotic spiritual energy impact. A miracle occurred—the scorched land seemed to be infused with the most primal life force, rapidly shedding its deathly color and bursting forth with vibrant life. Tender green shoots eagerly broke through the soil, spreading at an astonishing speed into an endless, verdant carpet. Dry riverbeds gushed forth clear, sweet spring water once more, and withered trees seemed to be given a second life, their dry branches sprouting lush new shoots, some even blossoming into delicate, vibrant flowers. The air was filled with the fragrance of earth and the fresh scent of flowers, a truly refreshing experience.
The spiritual rain fell upon the cultivators, demons, and monsters who were wounded, exhausted, and weary from the fierce battle. Their wounds began to heal rapidly; deep sword cuts that exposed bone closed and scabbed over; the tremors in their internal organs were soothed; and their depleted spiritual energy was quickly restored under the nourishment of the rain, becoming even purer and more refined than at its peak. Even more astonishing was the peaceful, tranquil, and vibrant Daoist aura contained within the rain, which seemed to possess a magical power to cleanse the soul, quietly calming the violence, murderous intent, greed, and prejudice in many people's hearts, bringing a long-lost peace and tranquility.
The spiritual rain fell upon distant lands, upon the mortal towns and villages trembling with fear due to the anomalies in the heavens and earth and the disorder of spiritual energy, upon the vast and boundless mountains and plains, upon every corner. At this moment, all things received the most primal and thorough nourishment and repair. The entire world seemed to have undergone a thorough and exhilarating baptism, shedding all its ailments and impurities, and radiating an unprecedented, pure, and vigorous vitality!
The once murky, yellowish waters of the Qingtian River, roaring like a ferocious dragon, have become crystal clear and as calm as a mirror, unlike anything seen before. A rich, mercury-like spiritual energy flows through the water, its shimmering surface reflecting a rainbow of colors under the newborn sunlight, truly transforming it into a mother river that nourishes all things and blesses all living beings. The lake at its source, once dark and ominous, has also turned into a pure, flawless azure blue, its surface smooth as a mirror, reflecting the clear blue sky and drifting white clouds. The once chilling aura of the "valve" has completely vanished, as if it had never existed.
Destruction did not come.
The new life arrives quietly, yet it is so magnificent and unstoppable.
All the survivors, whether they were originally righteous cultivators, unpredictable demons, or savage and ferocious monsters, stared in disbelief at this miraculous scene that far exceeded their comprehension. They greedily breathed in the spiritual energy in the air, which had become incomparably pure and abundant, felt their injuries rapidly healing and their strength being restored, felt the vibrant life emanating from the earth beneath their feet, and felt the spiritual energy emanating from this world, far more vigorous and harmonious than before "Return to the Void." For a moment, they were all speechless, their hearts filled with indescribable shock and bewilderment.
The anticipated apocalypse did not arrive, and the expected bloodshed over treasures or the so-called "righteous path" seemed absurd and meaningless at this moment. Faced with such earth-shattering power, personal grudges, sect interests, and racial barriers all became as insignificant as dust.
Someone loosened their grip on their blood-stained weapon, and it clattered to the ground with a crisp sound. This sound seemed like a signal; then came a second, a third… more and more weapons fell to the ground, like a strange, anticlimactic symphony of peace. The fighting ceased, the standoff vanished, and the lingering hostility seemed so pale, laughable, and out of place in the nourishing rain and the newly reborn world.
Su Qingqing stood there, dejected. The white jade pendant in her hand, a symbol of the Su family's ambition and obsession, had long since lost its luster and was as cold as ordinary stone. She stared blankly at the pure blue source lake, at this vibrant and spiritually rich new world, her mind uncontrollably replaying the cruel contents of the animal-hide scroll from her ancestor Su Yan that Mo Xiaoyu had thrown at her.
A lie... It turns out that the Calamity of the Heavenly River, the so-called Otherworldly Demons, and the so-called seal were all a complete lie from beginning to end...
Her unwavering commitment, the Su family's generational obsession, the expectations of her father and elders, all the sacrifices she made, even going so far as to distort herself to frame and hunt down... were all built upon such a despicable and insane deception! And Xie Yunzhi, whom she had always regarded as an opponent and hated to the bone, and Mo Xiaoyu, whom she despised and regarded as an ant, used the most resolute and thorough method to expose this lie that had lasted for three hundred years, and at the cost of their lives, truly saved this world and brought about this incredible new life.
"Hahaha...hahaha..." Su Qingqing let out a maniacal laugh that was more unpleasant than crying, filled with endless mockery and despair. Her eyes completely glazed over, losing all focus. Like a madwoman, she suddenly turned around, even bumping into a fellow disciple beside her, stumbling and aimlessly rushing into the dense, newly grown forest behind her. Her figure was quickly swallowed up by the lush greenery, never to look back. The Su family's ambition and obsession seemed to have come to a hasty and pathetic end with her final madness.
Elder Xuan Shi, his body hunched over, gazed at the scene before him, a world seemingly beyond his reach, at the clear river and the vibrant earth. Tears streamed down his face, cutting deep into the wrinkles. Slowly, with immense difficulty, he bent down, as if bearing a thousand-pound burden. With trembling hands, he carefully picked up the Zhan Yuan Sword, now dull and lifeless but still ancient and heavy, and held it tightly to his chest. He could still feel a faint warmth and will left by the disciple he had placed his hopes on but ultimately failed to protect. He was wrong, the sect was wrong, everyone had been deceived… This rebirth was bought with his disciple's life!
After a brief period of shock and recovery from the nourishing rain, the demonic and monster forces silently gazed at the newly born world, then at the equally bewildered righteous cultivators who had laid down their weapons, exchanging complex glances. Ultimately, most chose to retreat quietly, withdrawing like a tide from this place of conflict that had lost all meaning. Perhaps, faced with this true rebirth and hope, even the most arrogant demons and the most ferocious monsters were touched by a touch of reverence for life itself. The peaceful Daoist aura permeating the air also calmed their violent temper considerably.
A strange silence enveloped the world. Only the rustling of the raindrops falling on the newborn grass and soil, and the murmuring of the flowing river, intertwined to create a tranquil, peaceful, and hopeful symphony of nature.
Mo Xiaoyu remained kneeling by the riverbank, the spot where Xie Yunzhi had vanished seemingly transformed into another stone statue. The rain soaked her hair and clothes, streaming down her pale cheeks, mingling with scalding tears, and dripping onto the newly sprouted grass. She slowly reached out her trembling hand to catch the falling, shimmering raindrops. The raindrops gathered in her palm, cool yet strangely bringing her a warmth akin to the warmth of new life. She raised her head, letting the rain and tears flow freely, gazing at the river where he had merged, now clear and gentle.
He did not bring destruction, he brought new life, for this world, and for her.
He let her live, so she could see this new world for him.
She will. This is the future he risked his life for her, and it is also her promise to him.
She took a deep breath, as if trying to etch the essence of this new world into her very being. Then, with all her might, supporting her frail body, she slowly but resolutely stood up. Though her figure was still so thin it seemed she could be blown away at any moment, and though the hollow in her heart, from which a piece had been ripped away, still throbbed with sharp pain, her back stood ramrod straight, like a pine tree that had withstood wind and snow. She looked down at the Soul-Stabilizing Pearl in her palm, still radiating a soft, warm glow, feeling the faint connection that seemed to remain between him and the pearl. She gently clenched it, as if grasping her last remaining belief and strength.
Then, she turned around, no longer looking at the crowd behind her with their complex expressions—some sad, some happy, some bewildered—no longer listening to any possible discussions or attempts to persuade her to stay, and no longer paying attention to the countless creatures in this newly transformed world, some surprised, some grateful, some helpless. She simply started walking, step by step, firmly heading downstream along the now clear and calm banks of the Qingtian River, towards the unknown distance where he was no longer present.
The golden sunlight finally pierced through all the clouds, pouring down without reservation, gilding her slender yet resilient figure with a warm and sacred golden edge. Her figure appeared exceptionally lonely on this newly reborn land bathed in spiritual rain and sunlight, yet it carried an indomitable and unyielding tenacity that could not be defeated or erased after enduring tribulations and being reborn from the ashes.
The turbulent waves have subsided, and the world has been renewed.
An era, with its sacrifices and rebirths, has slowly come to a close.
Her path, carrying memories and promises, must continue.
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