The Last Immortal

Chapter Ninety-Five

As the two divine artifacts clashed fiercely, a wisp of black smoke slipped past the focused combatants and quietly appeared behind Hua Mo.

Hua Mo tensed his body almost the instant the black smoke appeared. His gaze grew heavy, yet his expression remained unchanged.

“Yuan Qi and Hong Yi are both here. How can you appear?” Hua Mo’s inner voice roared out, filled with shock and horror.

“Don’t worry, I’ve abandoned my true form to come here. The two of them are locked in battle and won’t notice me.” A sinister voice emerged from the black smoke, unmistakably that of Qing Li.

“What do you intend to do?”

“They share a bond; neither will truly seek the other’s death. If this continues, the Immortal and Demon Tribes will never go to war.”

“What do you propose…?”

“Without a death, how can the two tribes become sworn enemies?” A ghostly laugh echoed. “Who should die, do you think?” The gaze from within the black smoke turned toward the white and red figures, revealing a malicious gleam. “Let Yuan Qi die here. I want to see if Shang Gu can still maintain her righteous True God facade when her own son is killed by the Demon Tribe! Your Majesty Hua Mo, I must borrow your body. My apologies!”

As the words fell, the black smoke surged violently into Hua Mo’s body. A flicker of ferocity and reluctance crossed Hua Mo’s face, but in the next breath, when he opened his eyes again, they had regained their calm.

Over the years, Hua Mo had devoted himself to repairing his shattered inner core, and his strength had long reached the peak of the High Lord realm. Yet he was still unable to resist the control of Qing Li, who had undergone Divine Transformation.

Controlled, Hua Mo looked up at the two still battling in the air, a faint, icy smile curling at the corner of his mouth. He suddenly leaped into the air, his Peacock Whip lashing toward Hong Yi behind the Nirvana Wheel.

“Hong Yi, you caused the deaths of Lan Feng and Quan Lin. Today, this king will never let you leave Rakshasa Land alive! Otherwise, how can the Immortal Tribe uphold its honor? How can we avenge this blood feud?”

“Hmph, a mere Peacock King dares to challenge this emperor!”

Though Hua Mo launched a sudden attack, Hong Yi paid it no mind. Instead of recalling the Nirvana Wheel, which was locked in combat with the Primordial Spirit Sword, he snorted coldly and advanced with a palm strike.

The Peacock Whip met Hong Yi’s palm force mid-air. Hua Mo was clearly outmatched and was sent flying back by Hong Yi’s strike. As he retreated, the Peacock Whip slipped from his grasp and flew backward—directly toward the area where the Primordial Spirit Sword and the Nirvana Wheel were locked in combat.

The two artifacts were already near Yuan Qi. If the Primordial Spirit Sword were to deviate even slightly, the Nirvana Wheel would inevitably clash head-on with Yuan Qi. However, the two divine artifacts were locked in fierce combat, and both the Immortal and Demon Tribes were holding their breath, focused entirely on the battle between the artifacts, with no attention to spare for the Peacock King’s discarded whip.

Just as the Peacock Whip was about to strike the Primordial Spirit Sword, Hua Mo retreated rapidly, a trace of imperceptible triumph flashing in his eyes. If the Primordial Spirit Sword were knocked away by the Peacock Whip, the Nirvana Wheel would surely injure Yuan Qi. By then, with a covert strike from him, Yuan Qi would undoubtedly die here!

At that very moment, a Five-Colored Lotus suddenly appeared in the sky above Rakshasa Land, striking the Peacock Whip just before it could reach the Primordial Spirit Sword and the Nirvana Wheel. Before anyone could react, a pair of delicate hands emerged from within the lotus. The immortal sword in those hands, infused with the divine power of the lotus, slashed down, forcefully separating the two clashing divine artifacts.

The High Lords of both tribes watching the battle wore expressions of disbelief. The Primordial Spirit Sword and the Nirvana Wheel were the most powerful divine artifacts in the Three Realms. Who was this figure within the lotus, possessing such immense immortal power?After that strike, the Five-Colored Lotus dimmed in Immortal Power, heavily falling to the ground. Its lotus leaves withered, revealing Ayin kneeling on one knee inside, holding an immortal sword. She glanced at the Kong Que whip rolling on the ground and let out a deep sigh of relief.

The Five-Colored Lotus had carried her all the way from the Heavenly Palace. Little did she expect that upon arriving, she would witness Hua Mo's Kong Que whip about to collide with the two Divine Artifacts. Without time to think, she used the last trace of Divine Power left by Dong Hua within the lotus to knock the whip away, then expended her own remaining Immortal Power to separate the clashing Primordial Spirit Sword and Nirvana Wheel.

"Ayin!" Seeing it was her inside the lotus, both Yuan Qi and Hong Yi were startled. Without hesitation, Yuan Qi moved toward the ground but was blocked by the Primordial Spirit Sword.

"Divine Lord! You must not!" The Primordial Spirit Sword circled urgently before him, secretly warning. Chang Que also appeared by his side, shaking his head with concern.

No one knew that Yuan Qi's Divine Power was compromised. His ability to withstand Hong Yi now relied entirely on the Primordial Spirit Sword by his side. If he moved more than ten feet away from it, the secret of his damaged Divine Power would be exposed, and the Demon Monarch would no longer have any reservations about breaching Rakshasa Land.

Yet the Primordial Spirit Sword could not leave the sky, as it was needed to counterbalance the Nirvana Wheel.

Hong Yi showed no hesitation either. He withdrew the Nirvana Wheel and descended to the ground, helping the kneeling Ayin to her feet.

"Ayin! How are you?" Ayin's face was unnaturally pale. Hong Yi assumed she had been injured by the Divine Power of the Primordial Spirit Sword and Nirvana Wheel, unaware that she had arrived with half her life left after enduring the Six Paths Heavenly Thunder.

"A Jiu, I'm fine." Ayin swallowed the blood rising in her throat and shook her head. Her gaze swept over the Kong Que whip and Hua Mo, revealing a trace of doubt.

Hua Mo guessed that Ayin must have noticed something amiss, which was why she had knocked the whip away. Fearing Yuan Qi would become suspicious, he stepped forward before anyone could react and coldly shouted, "Lady Ayin! Not only did you release the Demon Emperor in the Heavenly Palace, but now you've escaped to the battlefield to rescue him. Your devotion to the Demon Emperor truly knows no bounds. Such betrayal of your sect and disgrace to the Immortal Tribe!"

The immortals had already harbored doubts about Ayin's relationship with Hong Yi. Now that Ayin had appeared in Rakshasa Land to stop the duel between Yuan Qi and Hong Yi, it seemed all the more like she had come to protect the Demon Emperor. After Hua Mo's words, the immortals' gazes toward Ayin grew even more hostile.

"A Jin, it's not like that." Ayin looked at Yuan Qi, her eyes pleading.

"Then why have you come?" Seeing Ayin collapsed in Hong Yi's arms, a strange light flickered in Yuan Qi's eyes as he said solemnly, "Why didn't you stay safely in the Heavenly Palace? What are you doing in Rakshasa Land?"

"People in the Heavenly Palace said A Jiu led demon troops to attack the Immortal Realm. I feared something might happen to the Immortal Realm, so I rushed here from the Heavenly Palace..."

"Preposterous! If you truly cared about the safety of the Immortal Realm, you would never have released the Demon Emperor, sowing such calamity!" Hua Mo said coldly. "The Demon Emperor raised an army in rebellion to save you and caused the death of High Immortal Quan Lin. Lady Ayin, all that has happened today stems from the disaster you brought upon us."

Hua Mo waved his hand, pointing at the slain Lin Quan and the severely injured Blazing Sun and Yu Feng. He turned and bowed deeply to Yuan Qi, his expression grave. "Divine Lord Yuan Qi, our Immortal Realm has lost countless lives here today. We cannot show leniency toward the source of this calamity. I implore you, Divine Lord, to slay the Demon Emperor and severely punish Lady Ayin, to uphold the laws of our Immortal Tribe and avenge the souls of our fallen immortals!"

As Hua Mo's words fell, the gathered High Immortals seethed with righteous indignation, nodding in agreement. The atmosphere grew tense, as if they were ready to execute Ayin and Hong Yi on the spot.Yuan Qi's lips were pressed tightly together, his gaze heavy as he looked at the assembled High Immortals. "I have said before that Ayin has endured seven strikes of the Nine Heavens Profound Thunder. The crimes she committed need no longer be mentioned. From this day forward, she enters Clear Pond Palace and will have no further connection with the Three Realms."

"Divine Lord! How can you shield her for the sake of personal affection... How will your actions allow High Immortal Quan Lin and High Venerable Lan Feng to rest in peace?" Hua Mo's eyes flashed with a dark light, relentless and unyielding. Furious that Ayin had ruined his plans, he decided to go all the way, using the anger of the immortals toward Ayin to undermine Yuan Qi's prestige in the Immortal Realm.

Seeing Hua Mo shift the blame onto Yuan Qi, Ayin nearly choked on the blood she had swallowed. Quan Lin had died because of Hong Yi. If Yuan Qi continued to protect her today, he would likely lose all standing in the Immortal Realm.

"Arrogant and conceited," Hong Yi, standing nearby, said with a cold expression. "Is my life something you can take as you please? Today, with me here, no one will lay a finger on Ayin."

Hong Yi pointed directly at Hua Mo, about to summon the Nirvana Wheel in his palm, but Ayin stopped him. Her gaze swept over the body of High Immortal Quan Lin, revealing a deep sorrow before she turned to look at Hong Yi.

Hong Yi avoided her eyes. "Ayin, I..."

"A Jiu, return to the Demon Realm. Everything that happened on Great Marsh Mountain was not your doing. I do not know what the Demon Tribe seeks by stirring chaos in the Three Realms, but if you truly breach the Immortal Realm today, you will only fulfill their wishes. When I rescued you from the Immortal Locking Pagoda, it was not to watch you and A Jin end up like this. Find the truth, bring justice to Great Marsh Mountain, and clear your name."

"If I do not come, should I stand by and watch you endure the Nine Heavens Profound Thunder alone in the Heavenly Palace?" Hong Yi shook his head. "I failed to protect my aunt. I cannot fail to protect you as well."

Ayin shook her head. "A Jiu, cause and effect—what I have done, I must bear. When I rescued you from the Heavenly Palace, my conscience was clear, but it led to High Immortal Quan Lin's death in Rakshasa Land today. This is my sin. As a disciple of Great Marsh Mountain, even in death, I cannot disgrace my sect."

As she spoke, she pushed Hong Yi away with a palm strike. Unwilling to relent, Hong Yi tried to pull her back. "Ayin!"

Before Hong Yi could step forward, Ayin suddenly turned around, her stern and cold voice ringing out. "Your Majesty, if you still remember the debt of saving you in Purgatory, I implore you to lead the demon army back to the Demon Realm and never again invade the lands of the Immortal Tribe. Ayin thanks Your Majesty!"

Hong Yi stood rigidly in place, unable to step forward under Ayin's sorrowful gaze. He knew that his stubborn insistence on leading the demon army into Rakshasa Land, though driven by fear for Ayin's life under the Nine Heavens Profound Thunder, had now left her with no place in the Immortal Realm. The accusations and doubts the Immortal Tribe now directed at Ayin were all because of him.

Ayin turned back to Hua Mo. When she spoke again, her voice was infused with Immortal Power, clear and resounding, echoing across the sky of Rakshasa Land.

"Your Majesty Hua Mo, even if Ayin has made mistakes, they are my own. Even if I am guilty, I will bear the responsibility alone. My sect has stood in the Immortal Realm for over sixty thousand years. Even if today the great hall collapses and all disciples perish, the name of virtue and justice will forever remain atop Great Marsh Mountain. I ask Your Majesty to choose your words carefully and cease defaming my Great Marsh Mountain sect! Otherwise, even if it costs me my life, I will defend the righteous voice of my sect!"

"You!" The young woman who raised her head had eyes as sharp as the blazing sun. Qing Li within Hua Mo's body was startled by this gaze, momentarily unable to utter a single word in rebuttal.Upon hearing Ayin's words, the group of High Immortals showed a hint of regret on their indignant faces, regretting that they had just echoed the Peacock King's words in a moment of anger. This Lady Ayin spoke with reason; even if she was at fault, Great Marsh Mountain had bestowed grace upon the Immortal Realm for over sixty thousand years. Though the entire mountain had now perished, it should not be casually belittled or insulted.

Ayin paid no further attention to Hua Mo. Step by step, she walked toward Yuan Qi, stopping a few paces away and gazing quietly at him.

The plain-robed maiden's eyes were as clear as a stream. Though she was at an age as radiant as the morning glow, it seemed as if all light had been extinguished in an instant.

Yuan Qi suddenly realized that the eyes with which the maiden gazed at him were as clear and beautiful as they had been on the day the Water Condensation Beast hatched and opened its eyes many years ago.

Yet within them, there was no longer that unique trust from before.