“Nan Zhi, Fellow Daoist Nan.”
After slapping Shen Luohe, Hua Xijian suddenly stood up and bowed deeply to Nan Zhi, her tone solemn.
“If not for me and the many junior brothers and sisters in the monastery, Shen Luohe would not have committed such a foolish act, dragging your family into this and putting you in such grave danger. I, Hua Xijian, live my life with a clear conscience. I will never survive at the cost of another's life. Having received your kindness today, I will surely repay you in the future.”
As she spoke, she untied an exquisite, ornately decorated jade pendant from her waist that bore the character for “Hua” and presented it respectfully with both hands.
“This is the Hua family crest. With this pendant, no matter how far, I will surely fulfill my promise. A gentleman's word is as irreversible as spilled water.”
The jade pendant shimmered with spiritual light, clearly indicating it was of extraordinary origin. Nan Zhi noticed Qiu Buguo casting an envious look and immediately understood.
The Hua family's status in the cultivation world was likely far from low.
And for Hua Xijian to dare make such a promise, she must also have a significant background.
“Although Shen Luohe used my family to lure me here, he also helped me in secret, enabling me to send my family away safely. Since one cancels out the other, I will not dwell on it further. Besides, Daoist Qinglong was harboring evil intentions and had long set his sights on me. Even without Shen Luohe, there would have been someone else.”
Nan Zhi took the jade pendant and said softly,
“I only hope we will have the chance to drink together in the future.”
“Alright.”
Hua Xijian nodded. Beside her, Shen Luohe's face was ash-gray, his eyes filled with dejection.
...
...
Exactly nine bolts of heavenly lightning rumbled and crashed down from the sky.
By the time the thunderclouds dispersed and light returned to the horizon, the place where the Demon Suppression Monastery had once stood was unrecognizable.
The mountain forests had been leveled, and the sprawling mountain range was sheared off at its base, blasted into a scorched plain of ash. Molten rock flowed everywhere, interspersed with a few pieces of Lightning Struck Spirit Marrow.
The air was thick with the foul, mixed stench of sulfur and burning matter. The temperature was extremely high, and not a single blade of grass grew, as if they had crossed over into the legendary Flaming Mountains overnight.
In a massive crater, Nan Zhi found Nan Yi, who still had a breath of life left.
He lay on his back on the ground. Beside him lay a palm-sized, light-gray figurine. The figurine had phoenix eyes and a long beard, clearly in the likeness of Daoist Qinglong.
The moment it was exposed to the wind, the cracked figurine suddenly shattered, turning into fragments of ash that drifted away into the world.
“His Nascent Soul is shattered, his soul utterly destroyed.”
Qiu Buguo could not help but shake his head. “Monastery Master Qinglong, truly...”
Hearing the voices of the newcomers, Nan Yi struggled to sit up from the ground. His entire body was charred black, without a single patch of intact skin, leaving only the whites of his eyes visible.
Qiu Buguo gasped, his eyes showing pity.
Nun Miaoyun lowered her eyes, her gaze filled with compassion.
Shen Luohe and Hua Xijian, one filled with guilt and the other with regret, were both deeply saddened.
The once Immortal Danxia had actually ended up in such a state.
“Is that... Eldest Sister?”
The piece of Mayfly Wood that made up the lower half of Nan Yi's body squirmed. Sensing her presence, he looked toward Nan Zhi and asked again,
“Is it Eldest Sister? Is Qinglong dead? Qinglong is dead, right?”
“Yes, it's me.”
Nan Zhi held him in her arms, carefully taking out a handkerchief to wipe his face.
“His Nascent Soul is shattered, and his soul has dispersed. Having died under the heavenly lightning, even if a Daluo Golden Immortal descended, there would be no possibility of resurrection.”
“Hahaha, cough, cough, haha...”
A look of pure relief spread across Nan Yi's face. Slowly, his laughter grew louder and louder, until a glob of bloody froth welled up in his mouth. He clutched Nan Zhi's hand and said urgently,
“Eldest Sister, you promised me! You promised me!”
...
Nan Zhi's hand stiffened. She remained silent for a long time before speaking in a hoarse voice,
“Qinglong is dead. You can... perhaps there is a way to... even if not, we can surely find a solution...”
“Eldest Sister, I'm too tired.”
Nan Yi kept his eyes open, staring at her stubbornly. Even as the bloody froth overflowed from his throat, he refused to look away.
“Let me sleep. You promised me.”
Nan Zhi fell silent again for a moment. Suddenly, she leaned Nan Yi against a rock, took out a sheet of drawing paper and a brush, and began to draw something in fine detail.
No one present understood what she was trying to do.
Nan Yi watched for a while, then suddenly realized something. His breathing grew rapid, and he leaned his body forward, a look of boundless happiness and ecstasy appearing on his face.
On the drawing paper, the likeness of a youth gradually took shape. He had a baby face, handsome features, and a constant smile that made him extremely endearing to look at.
Nan Zhi's drawing was highly accurate, identical to how Nan Yi used to look.
Once she finished the drawing, she draped the paper over Nan Yi. His lower body, which was that of an insect, transformed into human legs—though it was merely a simple glamour, it was enough to bring Nan Yi joy.
“This is wonderful. Eldest Sister dotes on me.”
He panted heavily, welcoming this moment with happiness, without a single trace of reluctance in his expression.
“This is wonderful. I can finally escape from this skin.”
He did not mention the Nan family at all, completely devoid of attachment.
Nan Zhi remained silent, using her hand to cover his eyes. Nan Yi closed his eyes obediently, resting happily on her lap with a sweet smile on his lips.
A tiny needle as fine as a cow's hair pierced his forehead. The Mayfly Wood stirred slightly and began to struggle violently—
In midair, the Mayfly Wood attempted to flee, carrying his soul with it, but Nan Zhi captured it and dragged it back.
【You have sacrificed Mayfly Wood to the "Corpse of Old Nan".】
【Flesh Sacrifice. Current number of divine abilities extractable from the "Corpse of Old Nan": 1. Number of divine abilities extracted: 1.】
【Divine Ability: Call Wind (Learned)】
【Divine Ability: Summon Rain (Available to learn)】
【Divine Ability: Wood Manipulation (Sacrifice Progress: 0.1%)】
Nan Zhi completely ignored the system notifications, only gently covering Nan Yi's eyes.
“Sleep now. Don't be so tired in your next life.”
The baby-faced youth lay on the ground just like that, his hands resting on his chest, a smile still lingering on his lips.
It was as if he had merely fallen asleep.
Nan Yi was dead.
He died in the form of a human.
...
The incident at the Northwest Circuit Demon Suppression Monastery shook the other twenty-three circuits of the Demon Suppression Division within the Great Song.
Three days later, the Demon Suppression Division issued an official document detailing the preceding events, widely publicizing the truth that Daoist Qinglong was the one who had conspired with Huiyuan to cause the tragedy of Yin Yang Road.
On the day of the disaster, purple lightning descended from the heavens, and Qinglong's life and cultivation were utterly extinguished. Such a massive disturbance naturally could not be hidden from the Qingjing Sect.
By the time Nan Yi was laid to rest, the treasure ship from the Qingjing Sect had already arrived in the skies above the Great Song.
The Mount Wanshou Demon Suppression Monastery in Bianjing.
In a main reception hall, there was a miniature rockery, a waterfall, flowers, birds, fish, and stones. It was also adorned with clusters of blossoms and lush green grass, as if a separate paradise had been carved out within this small space.
Several figures sat in the hall drinking tea. They were Nun Miaoyun, Qiu Buguo, State Uncle Cao, Empress Cao, and a pair of identical twins with black hair and white pupils.
The twins had extremely striking and outstanding appearances. Both possessed slender faces, delicate arched brows, and exceptionally pale skin. Their pupils were completely white, and even their eyelashes shimmered like ice and snow.
Shen Luohe, whose injuries were gradually healing, stood in the lower section of the hall. Hua Xijian had changed into red robes, a sword hanging at her waist as she stood to the side.
“Are these the two disciples of Uncle-Master Qinglong?”
The older of the twins suddenly spoke, though his voice was as tender as a child's.
“Wasn't it said that there was also a Foundation Establishment cultivator who broke Senior Brother Mo's formation that day? Why is she nowhere to be seen?”
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