Ji Tongzhou remained silent, his muteness fueling her fury. She shouted sharply, "Speak! Did you kill them?!"
Ji Tongzhou suddenly let out a low chuckle and replied indifferently, "You'll never see them again."
Baili Gelin felt her hand gripping the dagger tremble violently. Her vision blurred, yet the figure drenched in demonic blood grew clearer before her. Slowly, she enunciated each word, "You are indeed strong—I can't kill you now. But one day, I will personally take revenge. You must be on guard every single moment. The instant you let your guard down, I will appear behind you and cut you into a thousand pieces."
Ji Tongzhou sneered coldly, "I can send you to meet them now. No need to wait years."
Baili Gelin could no longer restrain herself. With a furious roar, she swung her dagger wildly, her movements frenzied yet swift. The monstrous creatures she had reared surged forward, the Oriole Demon shrieking piercingly as if about to spew fire.
The next moment, the dagger vanished from her grasp, and an invisible force yanked her backward. The demons involuntarily reverted into talisman papers, scattering like snowflakes. Shen Xiansheng seized her wrists, frowning. "The situation is already chaotic enough. Must you add to it? Any grudges can wait until this is over!"
Seeing that Baili Gelin was too distraught to listen, he simply pressed her nape, channeling spiritual energy into her Eight Extraordinary Meridians to induce unconsciousness. She immediately collapsed limply.
No one could blame her impulsiveness. With her loved ones brutally murdered and the killer right before her, how could a seventeen-year-old girl endure it? Shen Xiansheng shot Ji Tongzhou a stern glance, reluctantly admitting that despite the youth's ruthless actions, his talent was truly astonishing. Lei Xiuyuan, once his equal, had also been a celebrated genius of No Moon Court—but he was a Yaksa, whereas this boy was undeniably human.
A once-in-a-millennium talent, yet bestowed upon this obsessive, volatile youth who brought storms of bloodshed. If left unchecked, who knew what he would become?
Wuzheng Zi also flew over. As Ji Tongzhou's master, his expression was equally grim. Shen Xiansheng sighed inwardly. If even his own master couldn't control him, this child was truly dangerous.
"Kneel!" Wuzheng Zi halted before Ji Tongzhou and barked sternly.
Ji Tongzhou's spiritual energy rippled slightly as a drizzle of spring rain washed away the demonic blood staining him. Only then did he slowly kneel, his voice hoarse. "Your disciple greets you, Master."
Wuzheng Zi had much to say—rebukes, guidance—but he knew none of it would reach Ji Tongzhou. He even felt a twinge of regret. Had he agreed back then to protect Yue Kingdom for him, perhaps Ji Tongzhou wouldn't have committed such atrocities.
He had only wanted Ji Tongzhou to understand that the rise and fall of nations was natural; no kingdom could remain powerful forever. As a cultivator, one's perspective should transcend mortal concerns like imperial authority. But he had been presumptuous. Who knew such terrifying desires lurked in Ji Tongzhou's heart? These were his cultivation's core—without it, a cultivator was nothing.To protect Yue Country by any means necessary, to understand more clearly the desires buried deep in his heart—was this what Xuanshan Zi wanted to give him? Indeed, the aura of his Profound Splendor Fire had grown countless times stronger. At this rate, he would ascend to immortality within a century, and his ambition to dominate a region would be no empty boast.
But as a Master, he did not wish to see Ji Tongzhou with such an expression, such a gaze. He had grown thinner, his cheeks slightly sunken, dark shadows heavy beneath his eyes, his lips pressed tightly together, his face pale—all of it made him appear somber and brooding. The bright, dazzling boy who had once called out to him as "Master" with a voice like the sun had long since died.
"...After Sea Fall, return with me to Star Rectitude Hall." Wuzheng Zi stood frozen for a long time. He, too, had been one of those who pushed Ji Tongzhou into the sea of flames. He could not bring himself to utter a single word of rebuke. "You have incurred too many grudges. Only when you achieve an Immortal Body may you leave."
Ji Tongzhou replied indifferently, "This disciple obeys Master's command. Within ten years, I will surely attain an Immortal Body."
Ten years? Wuzheng Zi let out a startled laugh but did not refute him. With a long sigh, he took Ji Tongzhou under his wing and flew back beneath the Spiritual Qi Net.
Lan Ya quietly approached Ji Tongzhou, then slowly knelt and humbly embraced his feet, her voice trembling. "My lord, Lan Ya knows her wrongs. I beg for your forgiveness."
Ji Tongzhou lightly kicked her away, but like a stubborn vine, she clung to him again, wrapping herself around his legs and pleading in a pitiful voice, "Lan Ya truly knows her wrongs! From now on, Lan Ya will obey only you, my lord. Even if it means giving my life for you, I will not hesitate!"
Ji Tongzhou glanced at her and said coolly, "You would die for me?"
Lan Ya sobbed, "Lan Ya is willing to die for my lord!"
"Then fly beneath the thunderclouds and die. Go now."
Lan Ya stiffened instantly, tears welling in her eyes as she looked up at him. Ji Tongzhou kicked her away once more and spoke slowly, "I've told you before—I don’t like hearing empty words. If you say you’ll die for me, then go die for me now. If you can’t do it, don’t ever say it again."
Lan Ya wept uncontrollably. "Does my lord still hate Lan Ya?"
"Hate?" He laughed. "Why would you think that?"
He hated Long Mingzuo, for with them lay bone-deep enmity and wariness. He had once hated Jiang Li Fei, who could not return his feelings and yet dared to pull him back into the confines of friendship. He had hated himself even more—his weak heart, his fragile cultivation, surviving only by relying on the aid of greater power.
Hate was too intense an emotion. Not everyone was worthy of his hatred.
Ji Tongzhou lowered his gaze and saw Lan Ya staring up at him, her face filled with confusion and entreaty. He smiled again, pressing the tip of his shoe against her face, leaving a dirty mark. "You don’t understand. Your heart cares only for status and glory. If you wish to keep these things, learn how to please me. Don’t delude yourself with self-righteousness."
Lan Ya remained stunned for a long while before finally bowing submissively, pressing her forehead respectfully against the tip of his shoe. She said nothing more.
Li Fei leaned against the broken wooden window, squinting as she gazed at the dense Spiritual Qi Net in the distance. After driving the monstrous creatures to shatter the erected Aura Walls, the Celestials had indeed not rebuilt them. The Heavenly Thunder had rained down ceaselessly for three days and nights, each time with the thunderclouds drifting in to strike thrice before retreating back over the Eastern Sea.
She turned to look at Lei Xiuyuan, who stood by another wooden window, staring intently at the dark crimson thunderclouds, his expression grave.
"What’s wrong?" Li Fei asked.Lei Xiuyuan stroked his chin: "It's a bit strange. I've never seen Heavenly Thunder like this before. It seems to be waiting for something."
This was her first time witnessing Sea Fall. She had no idea how to navigate the Heavenly Thunder Fire Sea, nor did she particularly care. Compared to this once-in-five-centuries celestial phenomenon, she was more concerned about Ge Lin and the others' situation.
Taking out the proclamation from her sleeve, she glanced at it again. It stated that Baili Gelin, Lu Li, and others had colluded with overseas forces and harbored intentions to defect, hence they would be executed at the Eastern Sea. This was clearly deliberate bait, undoubtedly another scheme by Cui Xuan Xianren. But he probably never imagined they'd been waiting in an inn room of this small town for three days, not far away at all. They could clearly sense that Baili Gelin and the others were safe—even Ji Tongzhou and Lan Ya Junzhu were there too.
Apart from those familiar spiritual energy fluctuations, there were many extremely powerful spiritual energy vibrations, even stronger than Cui Xuan Xianren's. The founders of the Academy, sect leaders... Sang Hua Jun, who had once lent the Twin Swords of Fate to Zuoqiu Xiansheng, had come. But Zuoqiu Xiansheng himself hadn't appeared.
A pang of sorrow struck Li Fei's heart. It was this Celestial who had given her her name. Besides her Master, he was the first to discover the peculiarities of her constitution and had kindly kept it secret for her. Though he hadn't come, there must have been some unresolved feelings in his heart, right? Just like Chongyi Shifu.
Later, she and Lei Xiuyuan returned to Green Mound and found Chongyi Shifu and the others, explaining everything in detail. She had expected Chongyi Shifu to have many questions, but to her surprise, he only said one sentence—a sentence she had been pondering ever since.
He said: "Simply going overseas would naturally be best. Qing Cheng Xian Ren has already passed away; nothing can bring him back. But if you intend to kill, then today I must keep you here no matter what."
Hu Jiaping had said that to the Central Land Immortals, people from overseas were bitter enemies. At the time, she hadn't fully grasped the true meaning behind those words. But when Chongyi Shifu spoke, she immediately understood the heartbreaking implication.
In the end, she was an outsider from overseas.
She solemnly stated she wouldn't kill anyone, making a serious promise before bidding them farewell with great care. Zhao Min Shijie, Su Wan, and Deng Xiguang all smiled and told her to return quickly after her overseas journey. Those genuine smiles and reluctant gazes were something she would never forget.
If she could truly return, would she see those same smiles and gazes again?
The sound of Heavenly Thunder grew closer. The room trembled violently, dust flying everywhere, followed by a deafening roar—countless times louder than the previous thunderclaps. Li Fei's ears rang from the explosion. Suddenly, Lei Xiuyuan grasped her hand and said gravely, "The thunderclouds are dispersing!"
Indeed, the dense black-and-red thunderclouds rapidly scattered across the nearly shattered Spiritual Qi Net, revealing the long-obscured sky. To the east, the moon shone brightly amidst a sea of stars, while the western sky blazed with the midday sun, its white light piercing. Half was day, half was night—a stark divide.
A fierce wind rose from the ground, howling sharply through the gap between night and day. Strange, dragon-like cries echoed from the heavens, sometimes urgent, sometimes slow, now light, now heavy—utterly unpredictable.
"It's the wind," Lei Xiuyuan tightened his grip on Li Fei's hand. "The Fire Sea is coming. Once it reaches shore, we'll go."Li Fei instinctively summoned the Horn of the Rhinoceros. It pressed tightly against her forehead, silently screaming its hunger. For this day, she had long since emptied all the stored spiritual energy within the horn.
"Quiet," she frowned as she gazed at the thin line of crimson advancing from the depths of the Eastern Sea. "You'll be fed soon enough."
The Spiritual Qi Net above had been withdrawn, and the Aura Wall was swiftly being erected again in a crisscross pattern. The dragon-like roar of the wind grew louder. The gale outside no longer carried snowflakes but countless scorching sparks, hot enough to burn. Half the sky gradually darkened under the glow of the flames. Suddenly, the wind ceased, and silence fell. An endless sea of fire seemed to pour down from the horizon, instantly engulfing the small town.
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