Celestial Dragon Sword Venerable

Watching Long Tianyu and Long Tianmo depart, vanishing into the endless, dark cosmos, Ye Tianling let out a sigh as Ji Tianxie brought him back to the Forgotten Dust World.

He hadn’t been there in his true body, but was merely a projection of his will that Ji Tianxie had gathered in that place.

"They’ve gone to the Nirvana Ancestor Star and will likely end up with the Undying Fire Phoenix lineage. Although their Talent has recovered, the Dao Injury they sustained is permanent."

Ji Tianxie said, reminding Ye Tianling.

"Nirvana Ancestor Star? The Undying Fire Phoenix lineage?"

Ye Tianling felt a little relieved.

"Yes. They survived on sheer willpower, but the damage was so great that it left them with a Dao Injury. That kind of injury can be resolved with the Life Soul Spring and the Elemental Magnetic Aurora. I’ve bought you ten years.

"If things progress naturally, the Dao Injury will flare up in ten years, and the outcome will be even worse than what happened today.

"Of course, given their own fortuitous encounters, they might be able to resolve it themselves."

Ji Tianxie gave Ye Tianling a cool glance.

"Alright, I understand. I’m very satisfied with this outcome for the two of them."

Ye Tianling nodded. He knew what Ji Tianxie meant.

Ji Tianxie mused for a moment before saying, "Ye Fengyang’s Residual Soul has been gathered, but due to certain circumstances, you cannot see him."

Ye Tianling said, "Yes, as long as he can recover, that’s all that matters."

Ji Tianxie said, "I used a projection of my Demon Heart to manifest, and he mistook me for you. He was so heartbroken he wept tears of blood, but I didn’t say much. Meanwhile, Ouyang Ruoxue has entered the Celestial Secret Divine Land, which has temporarily sealed itself off from the outside world due to the chaos from the Celestial Demon Blood Domain.

"I projected myself over and healed Ouyang Ruoxue, but... Lin Yuchan and Ye Yueling are unwilling to awaken. The Ancient Soul Extinction Forbidden has changed again, and if they were to wake up, Ouyang Ruoxue would immediately undergo Transformation Dao.

"For this reason, I’ve condensed Lin Yuchan and Ye Yueling into a Blood Cocoon—they are both inside. If you have the ability, you can seek out the Divine Beast blood of an Undying Fire Phoenix to allow them to undergo a Nirvana transformation. Before that, however, you must first eliminate the Ancient Soul Extinction Forbidden afflicting them. This will stop their conditions from worsening!

"Also, you should thank Long Fengyang for not going berserk and manipulating the Ancient Soul Extinction Forbidden again. Otherwise, none of them would have survived!"

Ye Tianling’s heart sank. This outcome was truly difficult for him to accept.

But this was, indeed, the most Ji Tianxie could do.

In the man’s eyes, Ye Tianling saw a profound, ancient weariness—it was an indescribable feeling, yet Ye Tianling trusted his own instincts about it completely.

When Ji Tianxie finished speaking, he slowly opened his hand. A fist-sized, crystal-clear Blood Cocoon rested in his palm.

As the Blood Cocoon manifested, a ray of blood-red light shone from within it.

The blood-red light projected outward, revealing the figures of Ye Yueling and Lin Yuchan.

Their figures were faint, but their faces held serene, blissful smiles.

"Tianling, we’ve burdened you again."

"Young Master, in the past, I was truly blind. I completely misjudged your Talent."

Ye Yueling and Lin Yuchan conveyed those words as whispers from their souls.

A lump formed in Ye Tianling’s throat.

’A man doesn’t cry easily, unless he’s truly heartbroken.’

His will was so powerful, yet now, the simple words of these two women left him in agony.

"You’re both so foolish."

Ye Tianling’s voice trembled.

He reached out, but his hand passed right through the shimmering illusion, completely unable to touch the figures of Ye Yueling and Lin Yuchan.

"No, we’re truly... so glad... we made the right decision. Seeing Ruoxue recover makes us so happy. We... we can’t keep up with you, after all. For us, there is no future.

"But Ruoxue can. Let her carry our devotion to you, and let her walk by your side.

"With her by your side, even if you fall into utter despair, you won’t succumb to your inner demons again."

Ye Yueling and Lin Yuchan seemed to be of one mind.

"No! I asked Elder Tianxie to intervene this time. He’s already gathered your souls and saved you. I’ll find the Undying Fire Phoenix Blood and lift the Ancient Soul Extinction Forbidden from you. Then, we can all be together!"

Ye Tianling’s tone was firm.

Ye Yueling shook her head and gave Ye Tianling a deep look. "Tianling," she asked, "did you ever love me?"

Ye Tianling froze.

"I have my answer. Tianling, Sister Yuchan and I will go to sleep now. You must be well. Don’t be sad for us. We already feel very happy... because I know I truly have a place in your heart, Tianling. And thank you... for not deceiving me."

"Young Master, take care of yourself. You must cherish your own life. When you destroy yourself to save us, we’re moved, but it also causes us even greater pain. You must learn to love yourself. Smile every day. Only then... can we be smiling in the grave."

Ye Yueling and Lin Yuchan spoke their final words.

Then, the two rays of blood-red light converged and flowed back into the Blood Cocoon.

The life aura emanating from the Blood Cocoon fell completely silent.

"H-how... How could this be..."

Ye Tianling’s mind went blank.

He looked at Ji Tianxie.

"Erect a tomb here in the Forgotten Dust World and bury the Blood Cocoon. In the future, if you can find the Nirvana Divine Blood, achieve enlightenment in the ’Nirvana Nine Transformations’ Cultivation Technique, and master the ’Nirvana Rebirth Skill,’ then you may return.

"That will give you a sliver of hope. But whether it will actually succeed... that will depend on your ability and power at that time."

Ji Tianxie spoke, then added, "I did my best in this matter, but this outcome is not satisfactory. Therefore, as compensation, I have also helped Gu Xian’er consolidate her Daoist heritage, allowing her to return to the Jade Fox Race’s Ancestral Land and undergo their ancestral transformation."

Ye Tianling froze. "Was this the deal they made with you? They gave up their chance to live, didn’t they?"

Ji Tianxie was silent for a moment. "Yes," he said.

"Why? Why would you agree to that?!"

Ye Tianling practically roared.

"And why wouldn’t I agree? They sacrificed their ’Emotions’—the core of the seven passions and six desires. Fearing they would hurt you after becoming emotionless, they chose to undergo the Transformation Dao.

"Gu Xian’er is an apprentice you care for deeply, and she took a blow meant to tear open the Holy Dao Space in order to save them. From their perspective, making this trade was well worth it."

Ji Tianxie snorted coldly. "As far as I’m concerned, I didn’t break my promise. I did what I said I would; they were simply unwilling to accept it! Besides, you need to understand this: a high enough price can buy any betrayal. They offered me a better deal, so naturally, I took it."

Rage surged through Ye Tianling. He pointed a trembling finger at Ji Tianxie. "You—"

"Lower your hand. One more insolent move and I’ll strike you down where you stand! All temper and no power!"