The Last Immortal

Chapter Seventy-Five

Accompanied by the emergence of demonic light, layers of heavenly thunder gathered above Great Marsh Mountain, enveloping the Hall of Eternal Life.

It seemed Hong Yi was about to ascend to High Lord. Yu Feng glanced at Xian Shan and sighed, "Sect Leader, Hong Yi is, after all, a member of the Demon Tribe. Keeping him at Great Marsh Mountain for so long may invite suspicion from the Immortal Tribe. After he overcomes this tribulation..."

"Thank you for the reminder, High Venerable. This old Daoist knows the distinction between immortals and demons. If war breaks out between the two tribes, I will naturally ensure our disciples sever ties with the Demon Tribe. But for now, the two tribes coexist peacefully, and Hong Yi has shown kindness to my junior brother and sister. Whether he stays or leaves after his ascension, I will leave it to his own decision." Xian Shan nodded to Yu Feng, his voice soft yet clear to all immortals present, his protective stance toward Hong Yi unmistakable.

Great Marsh Mountain had always been known for its fairness and magnanimity, and its successive sect leaders were famously neutral in conflicts between the two tribes. Xian Shan's attitude toward Hong Yi did not surprise the immortals, though they couldn't help but think that Great Marsh Mountain had long remained aloof from worldly affairs, its disciples too kind and righteous. If they encountered sinister and evil individuals, how would they protect themselves? They could only hope the Nine Star Lantern would be lit soon, safeguarding this ancient and benevolent sect of the Immortal Realm.

Thinking this, Yu Feng refrained from further persuasion. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Xian Shan, he led the sect leaders of various mansions and the heavenly generals back to the Heavenly Palace. Remembering that Lan Feng's funeral arrangements were still incomplete, he took Hua Mo and Hua Shu with him.

As the immortals departed, Xian Shan gazed at the layers of heavenly thunder above Great Marsh Mountain, his expression growing solemn.

The Nine Star Lantern was about to be lit, and now Hong Yi had attracted the heavenly tribulation. If the thunder tribulation accidentally struck the Hall of Eternal Life, their three months of effort would be in vain. Not only would the Nine Star Lantern fail to ignite, but it might also dissipate entirely.

Gu Jin also recognized the danger. "Sect Leader, Senior Brother, A Jiu's ascension has attracted the thunder tribulation, which will inevitably harm the Nine Star Lantern. We must help him withstand the tribulation and protect the Hall of Eternal Life."

Xian Shan nodded. "It seems this is the only way. A Jiu happens to be undergoing his tribulation in the Hall of Eternal Life. He is now in deep meditation, and no one can approach him, or he risks demonic deviation and the shattering of his Demon Core. Fortunately, ascending to High Lord of the Demon Tribe only requires enduring forty-nine strikes of heavenly thunder. With the two of you here, you should barely be able to block the thunder for him." He glanced at the sky, where thunderclouds grew thicker and the roar of lightning intensified. "It seems the tribulation will descend today. I must return to the Hall of Eternal Life to help your second senior brother continue awakening the Nine Star Lantern. A Jin, tonight, you and Yan Shuang must stay outside the Hall of Eternal Life to help A Jiu resist the thunder tribulation. Do not let the heavenly thunder accidentally strike the main hall or interfere with your senior brother and me lighting the Nine Star Lantern. Otherwise, all our efforts will be wasted."

Gu Jin thought of the Primordial Spirit Pill being refined in the Forbidden Valley of the back mountain and hesitated slightly. He decided that after A Jiu endured the tribulation tonight, he could return to the Forbidden Valley tomorrow to retrieve the pill. He nodded. "Rest assured, Sect Leader, Senior Brother. I will definitely guard the Hall of Eternal Life with A Shuang."

Although Gu Jin had been playful and childish since childhood, he always understood the gravity of situations and never wavered in important matters. Xian Shan trusted him completely and turned to leave to assist Xian Zhu. But after taking two steps, he paused for some reason, turned back, patted Gu Jin on the shoulder, and revealed a gentle, affectionate smile.

Although this senior brother of Great Marsh Mountain was kind, he was usually serious and rarely showed such a tender expression. Gu Jin was taken aback and momentarily stunned."A Jin, you did well just now, standing up to Hua Shu's coercion and protecting A Jiu before all the immortals." Xian Shan's eyes were filled with approval. "Before his Ascension, our master was always most worried about you, feeling that you entered the sect late and were too young, that he taught you for too short a time. But now he can rest assured—you are doing well, growing even better than your senior brother imagined."

Gu Jin seemed not to have processed this, blinking at his senior brother a couple of times.

"The Nine Star Lantern will be lit in two days. During these two days, your second senior brother and I will shut off our five senses to focus on nurturing the divine lantern. Great Marsh Mountain is entrusted to you." Xian Shan, feeling awkward under his little junior brother's clueless gaze, took out the Sect Leader jade token from his sleeve and handed it to Gu Jin. "Take it."

Having said this, before Gu Jin could react, he tossed the Sect Leader jade token into Gu Jin's hand, turned, and headed toward the Hall of Eternal Life.

It seemed that Xian Shan, usually reserved in expressing his true feelings, was so overjoyed this time that his own words felt too sentimental and uncomfortable, leaving him unaccustomed and fleeing in haste.

Gu Jin, holding the Sect Leader jade token his senior brother had thrown to him, smiled with a hint of youthful childishness in his eyes.

Gu Jin activated the Mountain Protection Array and led the people of Great Marsh Mountain back to the outside of the Hall of Eternal Life.

As soon as they landed, his gaze fell on Ayin, whose face was pale. He strode over to her in a flash.

"In your condition, why did you leave the Forbidden Valley?" Gu Jin instructed Qing Yi, "Qing Yi, escort your junior aunt back to the Forbidden Valley."

He gently squeezed Ayin's hand and said softly, "Go back and rest well. Once A Jiu completes his promotion tonight, I'll return." Suddenly, he let out a light exclamation, his expression changing as he touched her hand again. "Why are your hands so cold?"

Ayin hurriedly withdrew her hand and smiled. "I've been in the Forbidden Valley for too long, and I just caught a chill outside the mountain. It's nothing, really. You focus on guarding A Jiu and the Nine Star Lantern here. Don't worry about me."

No one knew that the surge of true energy Ayin had forcibly gathered had nearly dissipated entirely when Hua Shu uttered those words. At this moment, everyone appeared as blurry, overlapping shadows in her eyes. But with Great Marsh Mountain facing grave dangers and Gu Jin needed everywhere, she could not afford to distract him further.

Ayin struggled to make out Gu Jin before her and smiled in his direction. "I'm going back. Once A Jiu completes his promotion, you all must come to the Forbidden Valley to see me."

As if aware that she did not have long to live, a trace of sorrow, unnoticed even by herself, flickered in Ayin's eyes as she spoke. Gu Jin caught a fleeting glimpse of it, and a faint unease stirred in his heart. He was about to reach for Ayin's hand, but she had already turned and walked toward Qing Yi.

"Little junior nephew, let's go. We're heading back to the rear mountain. Don't forget to bring your mung bean cakes." She playfully draped an arm over Qing Yi's shoulder, discreetly steadying herself.

"Alright, Junior Aunt Ayin, I'll take you back to the rear mountain right away." Qing Yi, unaware of anything amiss, quickly nodded, waved to Gu Jin and Yan Shuang, and led Ayin toward the rear mountain.

Gu Jin watched Ayin's receding figure, his brow furrowed. Yan Shuang walked over to console him. "Once A Jiu withstands the Thunder Tribulation and completes his promotion tonight, everything will be fine. Don't worry too much."

Gu Jin nodded and turned with Yan Shuang to look at the increasingly dense lightning gathering above Great Marsh Mountain.

Ayin leaned heavily on Qing Yi's shoulder the entire way. By the time the two reached the Forbidden Valley, the exhaustion on her face could no longer be concealed.Qing Yi was startled by her pallor and quickly helped her sit down at the stone table beneath the phoenix tree. Kneeling on the ground, he asked with concern, "Little Martial Aunt, what's wrong? I'll go fetch Little Martial Uncle!"

He was about to leave when Ayin tightly grabbed the corner of his sleeve.

"Don't go. I'm fine, just too tired," Ayin shook her head. "Your martial uncle needs to help A Jiu through the Thunder Tribulation and guard the Nine Star Lantern. Don't distract him. I'll be fine after resting for a while."

Ayin's face was completely drained of color, and even Qing Yi's blurred figure was no longer visible to her.

Qing Yi was torn, holding his little martial aunt's icy hand, unsure of what to do.

"Qing Yi, return to the Hall of Eternal Life. The descent of the Heavenly Thunder is no small matter. Guard your little martial uncle well for me and make sure he doesn't get hurt. Go back quickly!" Following a faint glimmer of light, Ayin patted Qing Yi's head, for the first time taking on the demeanor of an elder.

Seeing her like this, Qing Yi felt a pang of sorrow in his heart. He nodded, gave Ayin's hand a firm squeeze, and turned to fly out of the Forbidden Valley.

Once Qing Yi's figure was no longer in sight, Ayin coughed heavily, unable to hold on any longer. A mouthful of blood sprayed out, staining the nearby phoenix tree red.

She collapsed weakly into the thick layer of phoenix leaves on the ground, straining to look toward the direction of the Hall of Eternal Life, unwilling to close her eyes.

Ayin knew her life essence was exhausted. If she closed her eyes now, she feared she would never open them again.

She would not live to see A Jiu's ascension, Qing Yi's mung bean cakes, Yan Shuang's hearty laughter, or the earnest admonitions of her martial brothers.

And A Jin... Ayin slowly closed her eyes. The setting sun over Great Marsh Mountain cast its final glow in her vision.

The youth who had appeared before her eyes when she was born, the one she had silently loved for so very long. As she left this world, her only regret was not being by his side.

I love you so much, A Jin. Do you know?

But I am about to die. Perhaps it's better that you don't know.

Outside the Forbidden Valley, Qing Yi, halfway through his flight, felt an unease that wouldn't subside. He glanced toward the Hall of Eternal Life, gritted his teeth, and turned back toward the Forbidden Valley.

Little Martial Uncle had entrusted Ayin to him. If something truly happened to Little Martial Aunt, how could he face Little Martial Uncle?

In an instant, Qing Yi flew back to the Forbidden Valley. From afar, he saw Ayin lying on the ground and hurriedly dove down. When he saw the shocking red stains on the phoenix tree and Ayin's clothes, his face turned pale.

"Little Martial Aunt! Little Martial Aunt!" Qing Yi rushed to Ayin's side and lifted her up, only to find her eyes tightly closed. With trembling hands, he checked her nose and found a faint breath. His frantically beating heart eased slightly.

"Little Martial Aunt, hold on! I'll go find Martial Uncle! You must hold on!" Qing Yi shouted desperately into Ayin's ear, then turned and flew toward the Hall of Eternal Life at a speed several times faster than before.

Outside the Hall of Eternal Life, layers upon layers of Heavenly Thunder gathered over Great Marsh Mountain. At this moment, Jing Lei had already appeared, and in at most two hours, the Heavenly Thunder would descend.

Gu Jin and Yan Shuang led a group of Great Marsh Mountain disciples, standing ready. Just then, a figure sped toward the front of the hall with incredible swiftness, almost as fast as the Heavenly Thunder above them. Gu Jin frowned as he recognized the newcomer.

"Qing Yi?" Yan Shuang exclaimed in surprise. "I never expected this martial nephew of yours, usually so lazy and carefree, to possess such formidable Spiritual Power."Qing Yi was originally the most outstanding disciple among the younger generation of the Qing character branch; otherwise, he would not have been qualified to represent Great Marsh Mountain in attending Lan Feng’s wedding at the Heavenly Palace. However, his wide-ranging interests and fondness for slacking off and playing around with A Jiu and Ayin often caused others to overlook his presence.

"Little Martial Uncle!" Qing Yi’s voice rang out as he arrived.

Before Gu Jin could even ask what had happened, Qing Yi’s next words followed.

"Little Martial Aunt Ayin is in critical condition! You must return to Forbidden Valley and see her!"