Chapter 127

  Qīng xià shí huà dāng chǎng, bèi tā láo láo de bào zài huái lǐ, zhǐ gǎn jué shēn shàng de lì liàng yī diǎn diǎn de liú shī ér qù, yǎn jing jiàn jiàn bèi shuǐ qì méng zhù, xīng guāng diǎn diǎn dōu yìng zhe duì fāng nà shuāng rú shuǐ de xīng móu.

  Xilin coldly hummed: "The volcanic eruption at Tianyi Gorge couldn't kill you, and yet you still won't disperse like a ghost."

  Qin's flames hugged Qing Xia, his eyes faintly glanced at Xi Lin Yu and smiled softly: "You're still so spirited and alive, how can I bear to go before you?"

  "Salt in the sea, sand in the salt, you really are everywhere." A cold hum suddenly sounded, and a man with a black and gold long robe slowly walked forward, his eyes scanning Qin Zhiyan's arm embracing Qing Xia, his gaze almost piercing through him.

  Qin's flames smiled faintly and said in a low voice: "The great enemy is before us, Your Majesty and I will put our grudges aside for the time being. Once this matter is settled, I don't mind competing with you to see who's better."

  Chu Lian hummed softly, slowly turning his head to look at Xi Lin Yu, who had almost killed Qing Xia. His eyes were icy cold, and he didn't say a word, but they were filled with intense killing intent.

  Xilin saw the two sworn enemies suddenly turn their guns on him, and he couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart. However, he didn't show it on his face, instead smiling and saying: "The two of you have reached an agreement, two men sharing one woman is indeed a novelty, spreading this news will surely make it a legendary tale for the ages."

  Chu Lian let out a cold hum, and the sharp light in his eyes flashed as the silver long spear in his hand suddenly rose, sending the gray dust flying into the air. A silver glow enveloped Xi Lin's reputation.

  Qin Zhiyan's mouth curved into a faint smile, but his eyes were as sharp as snow. Suddenly, he drew his spear and joined forces with Chu Li to attack Xi Linru together. For a moment, Chu Li's moves were fierce and unparalleled, her strength astonishing, opening and closing in a frenzy like a stormy rainstorm sweeping the heavens and earth. Qin Zhiyan's spear moved with a slanted edge, unorthodox and agile, light and nimble, advancing to meet the enemy like a dense tide. The two joined forces, their moves sharp and fierce, their breaths surging like mountains and rivers, their bodies as swift as a goat hanging from a cliff without leaving any trace. They complemented each other, launching a fierce attack together, and in an instant, they forced Xi Linru onto the back foot.

  At that time, in the depths of this ten-thousand-zhang pit, within the ancient stone cave, two young kings who were the most powerful in their generation and also sworn enemies, joined forces to suppress Xilin Rong heavily.

  Just then, a heavy sound suddenly rang out, and the crowd looked up in shock. The entire massive mechanical device creaked into operation, and the ground shook with those hooks. Qing Xia knew that this giant mechanical device, which had been pressed underground for who knows how many years, was finally slowly opening.

  Qinghe burst out laughing, a heart-wrenching pain struck his chest, and the memories he had sealed away began to stir again. The intense pain turned his eyes bloodshot, and his already blurry body began to crack open due to the immense power required to activate the machinery. His skin split apart, and flesh flew everywhere. He suddenly clasped his head in his hands and let out a long, mournful wail, like the cries of ghosts from the nine hells. The ancient wind howled through the ages, blowing his white hair into disarray, and his tattered body was left in shambles. Countless inverted muscles exposed the eerie white bones beneath, while the remaining pale green maggots on his body had turned a dark char. The old man, cursed by the Seven for thousands of years, stood in mid-air, his form twisted in madness, singing a long song that sounded like a cry.

  A sudden surge of uncontrollable sorrow flashed through my heart, a desperate and painful despair. Some blurry scenes flashed through my mind. Those fluttering, bone-etching, snow-white faces spread out before me, covering the sky and earth.

  Thirty years have passed, and the years have slipped away like floating dust. The handsome young man who once wore elegant clothes and rode a proud horse is now neither human nor ghost. In this vast world, where can he find a place to rest?

  Is a person like him, abandoned by heaven and earth, worthy of having such great sorrow in his heart? It turns out that over the years, apart from hatred, there were also beautiful memories stored between his heart and sea. Zhu Qinghe looked up at the sky and let out a long, mournful howl, as if the massive machinery was responding to his resentment. Suddenly, a brilliant light burst forth, illuminating everything in a stark white hue. At this moment, only one step remained before the Heavenly Machine Index would be activated.

  Qing Xia was shocked and jumped onto the machine, quickly climbing up.

  Xilin sneered and with a flash of his knife, he rushed forward, coldly shouting: "Don't you think you're interfering too much, miss?"

  In the blink of an eye, two tall figures suddenly rushed forward, blocking Xilin Rong's path. Their long spears shone like dragons, radiating a dazzling light, and forcibly cleared a path for Qing Xia.

  Qinghe suddenly let out a cold laugh, his figure ghostly and swift, as he kicked Qing Xia's shoulder with great force. The pale woman let out a cry of surprise. The two men standing behind her simultaneously turned around in shock, their movements identical, just about to rush forward.

  "Where to go?" Xilin Yu sneered and rushed up to entwine in a fight.

  Chu furrowed her brow and shouted at Qin Zhiyan in a low voice: "I'll hold him down, you go help Qing Xia!"

  Qin's flames slightly stunned, didn't expect him to say this, seeing that he was injured in many places, frowned and said: "You go, I'll fight with him."

  "Stop nagging!" Chu Li shouted in anger, his eyes as cold as snow, the gun barrel fiercely pressed against Qin Zhiyan's body, shouting loudly: "Faster!"

  Qin's eyebrows furrowed tightly as he turned around and floated up lightly.

  The long wind blew over the body full of scars, and the black hair danced back and forth in the air, stained with crimson blood. Under him, the blood gathered like a small stream, gurgling and flowing. Chu Li held his gun with one hand, propping up his exhausted body on the ground after three days of fatigue under Hong Tian's prison. He tightly pursed his lips, looking at the man in front of him, as cold as an ancient, unyielding ice block, and said in a chilly voice: "Do you think you can get away?"

  The heavens cracked, the trees swayed violently, and endless strong winds swept by. The brave were invincible! Just then, the entire stone chamber shook again, and Xilin's eyebrows rose as he suddenly lifted his head, carefully examining the mechanical arrangement. Suddenly, he understood that Zhu Qinghe had not followed his advice to only flood the Penglai Workshop, nor had he followed Ouyang Siya's instructions. Instead, he had triggered a flood of water and earth fire. Once the machine was activated, it would surely destroy the heavens and the earth, causing a great disaster for the entire continent. Even Xilin's face changed dramatically at this moment, and he shouted loudly: "Zhu Qinghe! Have you gone mad?!"

  The old man's white hair danced in the wind, his face was full of wrinkles, and half of his face was covered with blood. Under the long wind, the once proud young man now looked like a madman, filled with frenzy. He laughed loudly, his whole body shaking constantly, his long gown stained with blood, emitting a terrifying aura of violence and madness. Only his hoarse voice could be heard, shouting: "I'm crazy! I've been crazy for a long time! From the day she married Tan Mian, I went crazy! From the day Tan Bian's master deceived me, I went crazy! From the day my loyal and dedicated sect imprisoned me, I went crazy! Do you know? Do you know?"

  The entire stone chamber was filled with the old man's frantic and hoarse roar, which echoed in the vast underground cave of Hongtian Water Prison.

  Qinghe stood in mid-air, gazing at the Heaven-shaking Seal that was about to be lifted. He let out a loud, hoarse laugh, his voice like a ghost's, and shouted: "Good! Good! Let's all go die together!"

  Suddenly, a vast expanse of silver light shot up into the sky, shaking the heavens and stirring the clouds. The massive stone chamber began to tremble before this power, the walls covered in dense, intricate writing cracked inch by inch, the ancient stone statues on the walls shattered and crumbled, sending down a diffuse dust and debris.

  A gust of astonishing momentum suddenly rose from the ground, and in an instant, it seemed as if a primordial long wind had traversed the entire stone chamber. This underground nest, buried for who knows how many years, finally broke its silence on this day, releasing all its life's radiance and unleashing its terrifying, heaven-shaking power. The whole world trembled in that one second.

  "Haha! Heaven has wronged me, I'll have the entire world buried with me!" Zhu Qinghe's voice was mournful and eerie, like a ghost, his shrill voice piercing the air. His state was crazily frantic, as if possessed by a demon. The white bones on his face showed a different kind of madness and terror, his black long gown swirling and dancing in mid-air, like a despairing moth shattered to pieces!

  At this critical moment, a clear and melodious bird cry suddenly echoed from the direction of the corridor, and everyone was in awe for a while, feeling that the sound was not only clear and sacred but also full of the power of righteous light, like a gentle stream flowing, refreshing the whole body.

  Qing Xia heard the sound and in an instant, her face was filled with the joy of being reborn. She hastily turned her head towards the source of the sound.

  But surprisingly, Zhu Qinghe Ke, who had been acting like a madman, suddenly froze at the sound of the phoenix's cry. His dull eyes stared blankly in the direction of the tunnel, as if he had turned to stone, not moving or blinking. A terrifying and sinister expression appeared on his face, making it impossible for others to look directly at him. His hand was still pressed against the last set of gear mechanisms, but he could no longer operate them.

  Only a few clear calls were heard, and in an instant, a fiery red shadow entered the stone chamber. It was a huge firebird that stood proudly with its head held high, its entire body covered in fiery red feathers, sharp beak with red tassels, and a pair of emerald green eyes gleaming with cold light, showing off its might and arrogance.

  An old woman with a head full of white hair grasped the dragon-headed cane, sitting upright on the back of the firebird, her face covered in wrinkles, wearing a long green robe that was spotless and seemed to have been worn for many years, already bleached white. The old woman's eyes were calm like an ancient well, her expression gentle, quietly watching the elderly man without saying a word.

  Since he saw the old woman, Zhu Qinghe's ecstatic expression suddenly went down. He slowly closed his eyes and slowly raised his head. The bloody rain and wind blew, his long gown fluttered, and a line of clear tears suddenly dripped from his eye corners, winding across his blurred face, forming a shocking blood stain.

  Qing Xia's heart was greatly shocked, and this old man had been in contact with him twice, and he also had a slight understanding of his character. This person has lived a life of sorrow and hardship, but his temperament is strong and unyielding, otherwise, no matter what kind of person, being imprisoned in such an underground cave for thirty years, would have long since perished, dead without a whole body, how could he still be alive? What kind of person or thing could make someone as strong as a rock like him shed tears in front of others, with such sadness and despair.

  The old woman stepped down from the Firebird's body, standing in the center of a damp stone chamber. After those fierce beasts calmed down, she spoke softly: "Zhu Shixiong, it's been many years. I didn't expect to see you here again."

  Dark winds howl, the sky is filled with blood and the stench of death in a stone chamber that has not seen daylight for many years. The dust that had been buried for so long was slowly swept away, revealing the mighty waves that had been suppressed beneath.

  An old man who had borne the infamy for many years stood in mid-air, his brow furrowed, his chest heaving, and finally asked in a hoarse voice, "Is she... all right?"

  That old nun slowly turned her head and replied: "The leisurely goddess palace, the mother heaven blesses the earth cave, the light and shadow pass in the blink of an eye, in the mirror flowers and water moon. The years are bewildering, the rivers and mountains are easy to grow old, what good or bad words are there? Congratulations, brother, these years she has been thinking of you."

  "Do you miss me?" The old man's mouth slightly curled up, a wisp of inexplicable bitter smile appeared on his lips. His white hair fluttered in mid-air, and his pale face had an air of infinite desolation and mockery. He said in a hoarse voice, "How could she possibly miss me? I've ruined her chances with Tan Mian several times, he's long been wishing for my death."

  The old woman slowly shook her head and said softly, "Time flies like an arrow, those past events have long been fleeting clouds, why are you still so obsessed with this? You're now in a state that even Huo Feng wouldn't recognize, isn't that enough?"

  Qinghe's expression changed, and he looked down to see the red firebird standing beside the old woman. Its emerald green eyes were vigilant, staring at him. When it saw Qinghe looking at it, it suddenly flapped its wings and let out a loud cry. He remembered how he had raised this little firebird for over half a year before giving it to her, as he was afraid it would hurt her with its ferocity. At that time, it was still a young bird, and it had seen him from the moment it opened its eyes. It had been attached to him like a child to its mother. But now, after all these years, they were like strangers. A hint of sadness rose in his heart as he thought about how he himself had become unrecognizable, not just to this small bird, but even to himself. His anger and sorrow intensified, and he couldn't help but laugh coldly:

  "I owe my present situation to Tan Bian and Tan Mian. When I was imprisoned under the Hongtian Water Prison, I vowed to heaven that one day I would break out and avenge my thirty years of imprisonment. In these ten thousand days and nights, if it weren't for this thought supporting me, I would have long since dissipated into nothingness. You've come here today, if you're speaking on her behalf, wanting to persuade me to give up my revenge, then quickly dispel this notion. Out of consideration for our past relationship, I'll spare your life. Otherwise, don't blame me for ignoring our fraternal bond."

  The old woman smiled wistfully, her hands sinking into her bosom as she pulled out a small, yellowed object that resembled a withered grass kite. In a low voice, she said: "Three days ago, when I learned that Hong Tian Shui's prison was about to collapse, I knew that the day of my master's return was near. She told me that good and evil would eventually be repaid, and that Penglai owed my master for so many years, it was time to settle the debt. If my master wanted revenge, she asked me not to stop him. What is destined will come, and now she is waiting on Qingzhi Mountain where we once practiced our skills, awaiting my master's mighty wave to engulf this outwardly beautiful but inwardly corrupt Penglai, to repay the debt owed to my master for many years."

  The old woman's voice was as calm as an ancient well, without a ripple. But Zhu Qinghe's body trembled even more. He asked in a low voice: "Since that's the case, what are you doing here?"

  The old woman smiled wryly and said in a low voice, "In those years, my senior brother was imprisoned by the Young Valley Master in the Hongtian Water Prison. The hundred beasts were enraged, the nine mountains sank, and Penglai sank into the ground. Later, when I learned of this matter, I had a bloody battle with the Young Valley Master for three days, and we cut off our friendship in the Holy Temple. For thirty years, I have not set foot in the Fengming Palace again. Even after the Young Valley Master passed away last year, she did not leave the inner valley. In these years, she went down to the Water Prison seven times, experiencing hardships, but still could not find any news of my senior brother's whereabouts. She only found this green wooden bird that was picked up in Qingzhishan Village, Bucloth Mountain. Today, I have come to say a word: back then, she wronged my senior brother, and today she is willing to apologize with her death."

  Zhu Qinghe suddenly opened his eyes, staring fixedly at the small cloth bird in Lao Yu's hand. His eyes were bloodshot and red, and his hands trembled uncontrollably. How could he forget those carefree days when he was with his fellow disciples on Qingzhi Mountain, playing in the golden valley? She was still young then, always following her brother secretly, and would often sneak up behind him, calling out "Zhu Shixiong" in a sweet voice. Those naive and innocent days now seemed like they belonged to a past life, lost in the vast expanse of time. Only he remained fixated on those memories, unable to shake them off for a long time.

  Still remember those sunny days on the mountain slopes, still remember her pulling his sleeve to put bird nests on the tall trees, still remember those hidden loves and passionate emotions. He even began to wonder whether it was the undying hatred that made him endure humiliation in this dark cave or the thought of seeing her again that supported him until today?

  An old man covered in blood stands on top of a massive machine, empty memories flashing before his eyes like smoke - fleeting as the morning dew, brief as a daylily, beauty lost to age, and after years of loneliness, he realizes they were worlds apart all along!

  The old woman saw the appearance of Zhu Qinghe, and a faint smile suddenly appeared at the corner of her mouth. She slowly stretched out her hand and placed the green wooden bird on the stone floor covered with blood and dust. She said softly, "The message has been delivered, and I will return to see her now. Does Master have any messages for her?"

  Qinghe's entire body was drenched in blood, his skin burning with pain as if on fire. Countless wounds oozed black blood, and his pale face was a ghastly sight to behold. He stood suspended in mid-air, gazing down at the small, thirty-year-old Qingmu Buniu who had reappeared before him. The proud young swordsman of yesteryear was no more; all that remained in this shell of a body was a puppet maddened by hatred. Slowly closing his eyes, he whispered: "Go tell her... I'm sorry to her. My current state is the result of my own doing."

  The old woman heard the words and raised an eyebrow, then turned over the back of Huo Feng's spine. With a clear whistle, she rode the wind and left. From afar, there was a faint sound that floated over: "Zhu Shixiong, when a massive underground wave submerges Penglai, you might also see it - on Qingzhi Mountain, the Sihyuan flowers are now blooming all over the mountain, the Buxi trees have grown tens of feet taller, and the Qingmu birds are full in number. The Double-Winged Flying Grass we planted back then has now opened up across the entire hillside. When a strong wind comes, the fragrance of flying grass fills the sky. The next generation of children from Penglai are still learning on the mountain - the sound of machinery and forging, the sound of reading, all ringing in one's ears..."

  "Boom!" The massive heavenly mechanism suddenly emitted a blinding flash of light, and in the midst of the raging flames, the old man's eyes were tightly closed, but he suddenly sat up straight, his hands weaving intricate patterns as he struck various mechanical components with rapid succession.

  Qing Xia was furious, although he half understood what they had just said, but still hoped that the old woman could persuade the evil god to give up his idea of opening the heavenly mechanism. However, the old woman only spoke a few words and left, while Zhu Qinghe continued with his previous actions as usual. In anger, Chu Li exchanged a glance with him and was about to step forward to stop him.

  "Hold on!" Qin Zhiyan suddenly raised an eyebrow and blocked Qing Xia and Chu Li, saying in a deep voice: "He seems to be closing the mechanism again."

  "Trash!" Xi Lin suddenly shouted, and the old man rushed away. Several people took advantage of this opportunity, swinging their silver guns and daggers, directly slashing at Xi Lin's chest. Three people fought against Xi Lin together. Chu Li laughed loudly and said: "Mr. Zhu, who sympathizes with heaven and pities humans, has finally experienced the true meaning of compassion. You can't let this human pig's loser ruin it. If you want to fight, come and practice with us!"

  At this moment, the moves are like the Yangtze River and the Great River, and the sunset white clouds are not limited to one style. After Xi Lin's defeat, he retreated step by step, and dangers arose.

  Qin's flame smiled faintly at the corner of his mouth, his right foot tapped lightly, and he rose with the wind, his clothes fluttering, his wide sleeves slightly spread, as if a celestial being.

  Xilin's eyes gleamed with a fierce light as he glanced at Qing Xia and the others, then turned and sprinted down the corridor. A loud whooshing sound echoed through the air, and in an instant, he had vanished from sight. His skills were indeed impressive, for even surrounded by so many people, he was able to break through the encirclement and escape with his life.

  Things developed too quickly, and Qing Xia didn't even have time to react. It wasn't until Xilin Rong hastily escaped without a trace that he suddenly realized this troublesome guy had run away. His heart couldn't help but feel a wave of great joy, but just as he was about to burst out laughing in celebration, he suddenly heard a thunderous roar that shook the sky and rose up into the air.

  The old man's white hair flew about, his body rapidly shriveled up, and his skin was as dry as a withered tree. His face, now a deathly pale skull, looked even more ancient and terrifying. The blood seemed to have been drained from him, leaving no vitality in his entire being.

  "Long live the master!" Qing Xia's face showed a look of horror and she exclaimed in terror.

  The old man slowly raised his head, calmly looked at Qing Xia, and chuckled softly: "I didn't expect that after thirty years, I would still have the chance to see an old friend. Girl, we can be considered to have a fate, aren't you from Penglai?" Qing Xia was taken aback, hastily nodding her head.

  The old man smiled slightly and said, his face pale as a ghost. He sighed and asked, "I don't know if she's been doing well these years?"

  Heaven and earth wept, grass and trees were sorrowful, time flew by with a whistle, and life was fleeting. The proud youth of years past had lost everything he once took pride in, but his heart still couldn't be controlled. Zhu Qinghe, who had been cursed for many years, looked at this junior who was thirty years younger than him with kindness in the moment between life and death, and asked in a low voice: "Do you know, is Little Su... still okay?"

  Qīng Xià's tears finally flowed down uncontrollably!

  "Sorry," Qing Xia said in a low voice: "I've only met the current Penglai Valley Master, Tan Suqing Miss. Her father has passed away, and it's said that her mother lives in the Nei Gu Wanshutai, and hasn't come out for many years. I suppose she must be very sad in her heart."

  "Is that so?" Qing He's mouth curled up in a bitter smile, "Even if it was difficult, it wouldn't be for me. If not for this unexpected event, she might have already forgotten that she had an older brother like me."

  An old man with white hair stood in mid-air, his clothes fluttering lightly, fresh blood flowing down, and suddenly chuckled and said faintly: "They're just cheating me, just like they did back then."

  He slowly reached into his bosom, and after a long while, he gently pulled out a withered yellow bird made of grass. He sighed and shook his head, muttering to himself: "She's not an ordinary woman, for years she has been decisive in her killings, never leaving any loose ends, yet in the end, she miscalculated me. This wooden bird has been on my person for thirty years, how could I possibly throw it into the water dungeon? Even if she had a falling out with Tan Mian, it's impossible that it was because of me, but the fact that she still remembers our past encounters on Qingzhi Mountain is enough."

  Time flashed, misty shadows surrounded, blessing the clear river face was bleak and bewildered, could no longer see his facial features, only felt that his body was filled with a diffuse glow, as if tiny dust particles were rising.

  Qinghe's voice was low and hoarse, dripping into the ears of the three people, amidst the drifting away of all things, a faintly sweet smell of blood in the air, an eternal wind blowing across the hem of several people's clothes, sprinkling down a vast expanse of misty air. His hand grasped the intricate mechanism, laboriously turning those thousands of wheel buttons, like dense beehives, shattering his already exhausted heart.

  Thirty years ago, he suffered unjust persecution, was framed by his own sect, abandoned by his fellow practitioners, and cursed by the people of the Seven Departments. He was even suppressed by his own clan in the dark and damp Hongtian Water Prison, enduring extreme suffering for decades. Thirty years later, he re-emerged into the world, yet still regarded as a great enemy by his former sect, pursued and deceived. However, now he is going to risk everything to save Polaris's life.

  In this world, a murky and dark place, people's hearts are like snakes and scorpions, full of evil spirits and sinister plots. What is right? What is wrong? Where is the true pure land? In those days, on the White Deer Plain, Zhuangzi spoke repeatedly about rebuilding the so-called eternal life of humanity, eliminating darkness and slaughter, protecting the upright soul from pollution, and restoring the ancient sacred light that shines on the country. Perhaps it will forever be just an impossible dream.

  At this time, a clear whistle suddenly came from the Wuyin Pass. Qing Xia and the three others quickly concentrated their minds to look over, only to see that it was the fire phoenix that had just been ridden by the old woman, rushing back alone. A wave of scorching warmth instantly enveloped the entire stone room, rushing straight towards Zhu Qinghe.

  Qing Xia was shocked, just about to intervene, but saw that the fire phoenix suddenly let out a mournful cry, attached itself to Qing He's body and rushed forward, its sharp beak tightly grasping Qing He's collar. Then it desperately pulled him away. The sound was sorrowful and mournful, in the huge emerald green eyes of the phoenix, tears continuously flowed out. Seeing Qing He looking over, it hastily shook its head at him, as if telling him not to stupidly use his life to re-close the Heavenly Mechanism Lock again.

  This bird, which was once carefully raised by Qinghe, finally recognized its brand new owner at the last moment and desperately escaped with its life to save him.

  Qinghe's heart was greatly shocked, and he looked down at the small bird that was no longer as small as a sparrow in his palm. A sense of desolation swept over him like a tidal wave. Time flew by like an arrow, leaving behind a trail of withered things. In this bleak and barren land where everything had changed, only this phoenix-like bird remembered the old affection, using its simple mind to distinguish between good and evil in an instant. There was no calculation, no conspiracy, not even a hint of ulterior motive, all for the sake of that brief half-year of care, all for the sake of that little bit of kindness back then.

  Endless sorrow filled his entire being, Zhu Qinghe suddenly let out a long and mournful laugh, gently stroking the fiery red feathers on Huo Feng's head. He looked up to the sky and said in a low voice: "I've wasted my whole life thinking I was skilled in taming beasts, but only now do I understand that true mastery is not about conquering with methods or suppressing with force, but about surrendering one's spirit. I've been lonely for so long, never expecting to find some warmth in you. This vast world has nothing good for a lone soul like me to hold onto. My life should have ended thirty years ago; living these extra years was just asking for suffering. Since she wants me dead so badly, why not grant her wish? Perhaps only by dying can I fulfill her desire, and maybe then she'll finally be satisfied with me."

  He suddenly raised his head and shouted in a hoarse voice: "Anyway, we are also the ones who are not welcome in this world. Why bother to go to that desolate world? It's better to return home now, merge with the void between heaven and earth, disperse into nothingness, and there will be no more troubles."

  The colorful clouds rose into the sky, and the mournful cry of the phoenix grew louder. The two wings flapped wildly, struggling to pull Yu Zhuqing away. Tears streamed down from her eyes, and her voice was filled with despairing reluctance and painful sorrow.

  Qing Xia couldn't bear to watch, helplessly closing her eyes, only feeling a heavy heart as if pressed by a thousand-ton boulder. She only heard Zhu Qinghe's voice in mid-air, heroic and bold, but gradually weakening, his tone like sobbing, his long song turning into wailing.

  Suddenly, a dazzling array of colors filled the sky and earth, and a massive tearing force suddenly tore apart Zhu Qinghe's corpse, turning it into countless flying bloodstains. In just an instant, everything returned to calm, and the ancient machinery stood quietly in the stone chamber, as if nothing had ever changed.

  Qing Xia gazed out, but all she saw was the desolate and empty stone chamber. The air was dead silent, with dust piling up everywhere, and the walls were old and worn. Where could even a hint of Zhu Qinghe's presence be found? Such an extraordinary talent, who had endured so much hardship, had vanished into thin air, leaving behind not even a thread of his existence. It was as if he had never existed at all.

  If it weren't for the blood that flowed like a river, Qing Xia would have thought that everything that had just happened was just a dream. Looking at the Fire Phoenix standing still in its tracks, the feeling of having had a great dream was overwhelming. Wasn't this chaotic world just a big dream born of floating dust?

  Huǒ Fèng stood still, looking around blankly, as if still searching for the shadow of Zhu Qinghe. Qing Xia felt a pang in her heart and slowly walked forward, gently patting Huo Feng's neck, knowing that this simple-minded bird couldn't accept the fact that its master, who had been missing for thirty years, had disappeared just like that. Huo Feng stared blankly at Qing Xia, then slowly turned its emerald-green eyes back to look at the empty stone wall, and finally seemed to remember something, with big tears welling up in its eyes again, dropping one by one onto Qing Xia's collar.

  Huǒ Fèng hung its head and stood still beside Qīng Xià, for a long time not moving. This unprecedented scene of one person and one beast suddenly gave rise to the same desolate feeling. In this vast underground cave isolated from the outside world, time whizzed by, with small life and death. Those past events buried in dust finally gradually disappeared again, submerged by huge waves, leaving no trace.

  "The ghosts and monsters have all been swept away, now it's our turn."

  Chu Li coldly snorted and slowly walked forward.