Killing Tian Huan was no easy task. After plunging into Ruoshui, Su Su's body had already grown terribly frail.
The Clam King's Palace had stood for millennia, and their strength had not always been so weak.
Su Su gathered all the pearls and walked deeper into the palace.
The deep sea was a beautiful blue, yet the Clam King's Palace before her was shrouded in an lingering black haze.
She dove to the riverbed, pushed aside the aquatic plants, and a stele without inscriptions came into view.
When Su Su toppled the unmarked stele, the riverbed shook violently. She rose from the ground, seemingly undeterred, and began digging downward.
The Water Stabilizing Seal lay quietly at the bottom of the pit.
Su Su lifted the Water Stabilizing Seal in her hands.
When she had seen it as a child, it emitted a faint purple glow. The Mohe River was clear then, with fish and shrimp swimming freely. The King of the Clams had said, "Sang You, Sang Jiu, this is the Water Stabilizing Seal. We of the Clam Tribe are born with Demon Bodies, but with this Divine Artifact, the Mohe River remains stable and prosperous, and our cultivation progresses more smoothly."
With the Water Stabilizing Seal, the Mohe River was a pure immortal river; without it, it would become a demonic river with churning black waters.
Su Su turned the Water Stabilizing Seal over. The once-complete seal now had a hollow space in the center.
Its Divine Core was gone.
Su Su's tears fell onto the Water Stabilizing Seal. The Divine Seal emitted a dim glow, as if comforting her.
The Divine Artifact sensed her coldness and radiated a warm yellow light, illuminating the dark sea.
Yet this scene felt like a knife twisting in the Conch Princess's heart. Though the Divine Artifact did not blame her, she could never forgive herself.
A century ago, Demonic Energy churned above the Mohe River. She had witnessed Ming Ye in his white robe with cloud patterns, protecting the mortal realm behind him.
The area he shielded included the Mohe River at his back.
The Conch Princess peeked from the shallow waters, watching the Immortal Lord's robes billow in the air as he stood his ground without retreating a single step.
At that time, the Demon God had just awakened, and countless great demons were causing chaos. The Conch Princess worried daily that the Demonic Beasts would attack the Mohe River, yet that white figure defended it steadfastly from beginning to end.
She didn't know him, but she lifted her head and watched him continuously.
Later, when both the Demonic Beasts and he had moved far away, she lay in the clear water, her clam shell opening and closing, basking in the sunlight.
A few days later, a woman in light blue robes stumbled to the Mohe River. Su Su didn't recognize her, but she recognized the man with closed eyes beside her.
It was the Immortal Lord who had protected them.
The woman's mouth was bleeding. Sensing the fluctuations of Immortal Aura around, her eyes lit up: "Is there an immortal friend here? Please save our lives."
That was the first time the Conch Princess saw Tian Huan.
Tian Huan wore a light blue feathered dress and was exquisitely beautiful.
Sensing the increasingly thick Demonic Energy, the Conch Princess hesitated for a moment before opening her clam shell and hiding both of them within the Mohe River.
They had been marked with a tracking spell. After hiding them safely, the Conch Princess turned back to lure away the demonic army.
She transformed into human form and swam swiftly through the Mohe River. After losing the demonic army, she immediately returned, only to find the riverbed blazing with light.
Startled, the Conch Princess rushed over and witnessed the moment the Divine Core of the Water Stabilizing Seal merged into Ming Ye's unconscious body.
"No!" She ran to Ming Ye's side, but it was already too late.
The Conch Princess shook Ming Ye: "Give it back, wake up, return the Divine Core to me."
Ming Ye was surrounded by a faint white light, completely unaware, while Tian Huan lay on the ground, also unconscious.
The Conch Princess never imagined that Tian Huan would bring Ming Ye out of their hiding place to the unmarked stele.
Due to Ming Ye's unique constitution, he had unexpectedly absorbed the Divine Core of the Water Stabilizing Seal.The Conch Princess did not know whom to blame.
Ming Ye had not intentionally devoured the Divine Core, and Tian Huan, the Saintess who knew the truth, remained unconscious.
She had brought them home, hoping to protect this Immortal Lord who had fought tirelessly for the mortal realm for three months, never expecting it would bring calamity upon the Clam Tribe.
With the loss of the Divine Core, the Mohe River grew turbulent, alarming the entire Clam King's Palace.
The King of the Clams arrived in a rage, raising his hand to slay Ming Ye and the other.
She recalled the unyielding figure in the sky and, for the first time, knelt to beg her Father King.
It was her mistake—she should never have brought Ming Ye and Tian Huan home.
Born with the ability to purify water sources, the Conch Princess endured heart-rending agony and excised her own Spirit Marrow to calm the Mohe River.
A white light suffused the entire Mohe River, leaving Sang You both furious and heartbroken.
Even so, her Spirit Marrow could only protect the Mohe River for ten years.
Curled within her shell, the Conch Princess murmured softly, "Do not kill him. It was not intentional. He has always protected the mortal realm."
The King of the Clams remained silent for a long time. Just as Sang You thought he would slay Ming Ye, he let out a heavy sigh.
The Divine Core had already fused with Ming Ye's body; killing him would be futile.
To atone for his sin, Sang Jiu had excised her Spirit Marrow, forever cutting off her path to the Great Dao. Meanwhile, Ming Ye, now possessing the Divine Core, would cultivate smoothly and might even ascend to Godhood.
The King of the Clams had also witnessed Ming Ye battling the great demon for the sake of the Mohe River and the mortals behind him.
The Clam Tribe could not kill Ming Ye—they could not slaughter a warrior.
Guarding his weakened daughter within her shell, the King suppressed his anguish and coldly declared, "If you wish to save him, fine. He hails from Shangqing and may one day become a Divine Lord. I demand that he, with the power of a Divine Lord, protect my Mohe River for ten thousand years. Shangqing possesses the Immortal Artifact, the Sarira. Every ten years, you must borrow the Sarira to return and pacify the river. If you can do this, I will release them."
The Conch Princess nodded.
The King stroked her hair and said, "Go kneel before the Unwritten Stele until he comes to marry you."
She knelt before the Unwritten Stele for a long time, personally burying the Water Stabilizing Seal, now devoid of its Divine Core, beneath it.
Fish and shrimp from the river came to see the Conch Princess, finding her kneeling before the Unwritten Stele, her face pale.
To save others, she had lost the Water Stabilizing Seal;
To ensure Immortal Lord Ming Ye's survival, she had sacrificed her Spirit Marrow, forever severing her path to the Great Dao;
Her father had coerced Ming Ye into marrying her, ensuring her husband would never love her;
She could not tell Ming Ye everything—she had no way to inform him how many Living Beings had perished in the Mohe River these past days. The path of the Great Dao is arduous; only those without debts or grievances can walk it with an untroubled heart.
Ming Ye must become a God to protect the Mohe River for ten thousand years.
From the very beginning, she had been the sacrifice in this love. The King of the Clams knew it, and Sang Jiu knew it herself.
Suppressing his heartache, the King pushed his daughter forward, hoping the little princess would find a place by Ming Ye's side.
If he became a God, even occasionally helping the little princess without Spirit Marrow, clearing away impurities for her, would be beneficial.
Yet, though the Clam Tribe had calculated everything, they had not accounted for Ming Ye's cold and detached heart—over a hundred years, he never loved the Conch Princess even a little.
In the end, the "selfless" Saintess Tian Huan, claiming the Mohe River was full of demonic creatures, ordered immortal soldiers to slaughter the Mohe River.
To save him and Tian Huan, Sang Jiu had lost her Spirit Marrow, her dignity as a princess of the Clam Tribe, and finally, her family and the Clam King's Palace.
As she lay in the Mohe River watching him, she had liked him timidly yet sincerely, but she had never thought of going to his side.
The Divine Core of the Water Stabilizing Seal had bound their destinies together.If someone had told her from the very beginning that saving Ming Ye and Tian Huan would lead to eternal damnation, she would have let them die by the Mohe River.
She loathed herself, and she loathed them even more.
Su Su placed the blood-stained pearls, one by one, into the gap where the Divine Core of the Water Stabilizing Seal was missing.
The Water Stabilizing Seal devoured all of her life-bound pearls.
Nearly the entire Mohe River, along with the pearls of most of the Clam Tribe, were poured into the Water Stabilizing Seal. The dim seal emitted a brilliant white light, and the river's waves became clear and gentle.
Su Su tucked the Water Stabilizing Seal into her bosom and walked out of the Clam King's Palace.
Outside the palace stood bewildered immortal soldiers. They had long known that the Mohe River was murky, with treacherous undercurrents, but just moments ago, the river had suddenly become incredibly clear and calm.
In that fleeting moment of confusion, they caught sight of the Conch Princess.
The immortal soldiers moved to capture her, but she calmly said, "There's no need. I will return to Shangqing with you. The Mohe River has sheltered demonic creatures, and I shall personally plead my guilt before Saintess Tian Huan."
Two fairies looked at her with contempt.
When she returned to Shangqing, she glanced toward the main hall.
A light mist enveloped it, making it seem like an Immortal Realm.
A female immortal sneered, "What, are you still deluding yourself? A hundred years wasn't enough for you to see the truth? Compared to Saintess Tian Huan, you are nothing."
Su Su looked at her own palm and whispered, "You're right. I am nothing."
It was a pity that it had taken her a hundred years to understand this truth.
Once, she had desperately hoped that one day, Ming Ye would try to understand her—just as she understood him—to visit the Mohe River and see that her people were not evil. But he despised the Clam Tribe for "forcing gratitude" and coercing him into marrying a little conch spirit.
She had longed for Ming Ye to fall in love with her, so that even if he ascended to godhood, he would remember to protect the Clam Tribe. But Ming Ye did not love her, and she endured a century of loneliness in vain.
She had guarded him with utmost care, exhausting all her strength. Her Spirit Marrow was gone, her conch shell nearly shattered. In the end, she wept over her Father King's remains at the bottom of the Mohe River, while he stood aloof, still guarding Tian Huan.
She had come with a sincere heart, only to end up as nothing.
Her Clam King's Palace, her Father King, the swimming fish, and the corals—all had shattered and dissolved in the filthy river water.
Su Su touched the Water Stabilizing Seal in her bosom.
It rested close to her heart.
But the True Lord in her heart had died—today, in her memories.
The mists of Wu Palace never dissipated.
A middle-aged man in green robes smiled at Ming Ye.
Ming Ye said, "Congratulations on your return, Master. I have guarded Shangqing for a thousand years and have fulfilled my duty. I now return it all to you."
Tian Hao said, "Ming Ye, you have done well. Without you, Shangqing would not be what it is today. I still remember when I first met you—you were just a little black snake, and now you are the renowned God of War."
Ming Ye lowered his gaze and bowed calmly.
Tian Hao continued, "Before I entered Mangcang, I entrusted Tian Huan to you. But I heard that a hundred years ago, Tian Huan fell into a deep slumber, and you married a little conch spirit. Is that true?"
Ming Ye paused, then replied, "Yes."
Tian Hao waved his hand dismissively. "Since you did not form a bond with her, a mere little conch spirit is unworthy of standing by your side. Send her back to the mortal realm. Tian Huan has been close to you since childhood—do not break her heart."
Ming Ye frowned, but before he could speak, a brilliant white light burst forth from the Jade Pond.
Though the light emanated from a Divine Artifact, it carried a destructive, aggressive force. The waters of the Jade Pond surged, flooding the area and swiftly reaching the front of the hall.
A sense of dread gripped Ming Ye's heart, and he had no time to explain further to Tian Hao. "I must go and see," he said.
In an instant, his figure vanished from the hall.Ming Ye appeared at the Jade Pond, where a female immortal spat blood and stared at him in terror: "True Lord, save me! Sang Jiu has gone mad—she wants to kill us all, even Saintess Tian Huan!"
With a frosty expression, Ming Ye kicked her aside and strode into the hall.
The entire Jade Pond was flooded, immortal maids scattering in panic. Tian Huan, her Immortal Marrow extracted and a gaping hole in her chest, floated lifelessly in the water.
A girl in pink-and-white robes sat cross-legged upon the water's surface.
The Water Stabilizing Seal hovered midair. Ming Ye raised his hand, effortlessly seizing it, and demanded angrily, "Sang Jiu, what are you doing?"
She opened her eyes.
Her once beautiful, clear pupils now glowed with an eerie crimson.
Even without the Water Stabilizing Seal, she stubbornly persisted in trying to kill Tian Huan.
Ming Ye struck her shoulder with a dark beam of light. She grunted in pain, flung backward.
He lifted Tian Huan from the Jade Pond’s waters, only to find her already breathless. His gaze turned icy as he looked at Su Su. "Lock her up. I will interrogate her myself!"
Su Su was seized by arriving celestial soldiers. Struggling up from the rippling water, she watched him vanish from the Jade Pond, clutching Tian Huan anxiously.
She thought, He arrived so quickly.
Pity. Tian Huan is already dead. No matter how much it pains him, it’s useless now.
Her eyes vacant, she lay back in the Jade Pond.
The Water Stabilizing Seal, forcibly activated, was now useless after a single use—but killing Tian Huan made it all worthwhile. Before dying, Tian Huan had stared at her wide-eyed, filled with resentment.
Su Su mused, So even a Saintess fears death.
No different from the little spirits of the mortal realm. Who is truly nobler than whom?
Su Su allowed herself to sink into the Jade Pond. At least now, she wasn’t afraid.
Shackled, she was imprisoned in the dungeons of Shangqing.
Su Su had never imagined Shangqing could harbor such a place. The constant drip of water echoed in the pitch-black silence. With no distinction between day and night, she lost track of how long she had been confined.
Footsteps approached the cell.
Hugging her knees, she watched him quietly.
He spoke: "Tian Huan has awakened, but she has lost her Spirit Marrow."
Su Su felt a flicker of disappointment, but by the end, she grinned widely.
As Ming Ye took two steps forward, Su Su rasped, "Don’t come closer!"
He halted, his voice as cold as midwinter ice. "I’ll release you now. Apologize to Tian Huan. I know that after the War of Gods and Demons, you were corrupted by fiendish energy—you didn’t mean to kill her."
Su Su let out a soft laugh.
He moved silently closer, intending to lift her.
But before he could touch her, the little clam spirit slapped him across the face. "Ming Ye, are you awake now? I meant to kill her. Sadly, I lacked the power to destroy her Soul as well."
He gripped her wrist, each word cold and stubborn. "No. A Fiend possessed you. You were controlled."
Only when she was in his arms did he realize how light she had become. Her once soft body was now emaciated, little more than bones.
As if sunlight alone could dissolve her.
Involuntarily, Ming Ye held her tighter.
He whispered in her ear, repeating, "Remember, you didn’t intend to kill Tian Huan. Just apologize, and all will be well."
She laughed, her laughter growing louder and wilder, while his face gradually paled.
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