As the Sky Demon Calamity Fiend truly descended in its ravaging fury, Yu Ci had already traveled over a hundred miles away. At that moment, Tie Lan could no longer maintain his form. He could only rely on his own strength to escape, his body bathed in blood, enduring a grueling ordeal.
Yet compared to another, his plight seemed trivial.
Shadows spread ominously behind him, with ghostly wails piercing the air. However, Yu Ci understood that these were merely inconsequential Thought Demons, incapable of breaching the one-mile radius around He Qing. The real Demon Head stemmed from within He Qing's own heart.
Yu Ci estimated that He Qing's Dao foundation consisted of three parts: Fang Hui influenced one, the Fish-Dragon another, and He Qing's own cultivation was the third. These segments interlocked with each other, a situation somewhat akin to the separate yet connected structures of his own Inner Void of the Heart's Life Death Talisman.
It was evident that the three parts – "Fang Hui," "Fish-Dragon," and "He Qing" – were not in harmony.
Among these, the "Fang Hui" aspect was the most formidable, a fact made clear by the loss sustained during the division of the Yang Spirit. He Qing had earlier surmised that the issue lay with the "Fang Hui" segment and sought to resolve it with the Heart-Splitting Sword Lock. It seemed successful at first, but the outcome was ironically the opposite. With the loss of this largest piece of the puzzle, the other two suppressed parts rebounded fiercely. Outwardly, this manifested in a series of inexplicable actions and subtle emotional shifts.
Especially He Qing's own heart, which had always been deeply encircled and overshadowed, became ineffective when it had to rely solely on its own strength. The impact was so profound that it even exceeded Yu Ci's most optimistic estimations.
"Leveraging strength is harmless, but to achieve things solely through others is lamentable! It would have been acceptable if it led to personal growth and transformation, but has her decades of cultivation been completely misguided?"
In that moment, Yu Ci recalled the words of Old Master Zhu from the Star Plucking Tower, delivered through a Sound Transmission Talisman:
"She is ambitious and competitive, which is fundamental. But most importantly... she is insecure!"
Ambition without belief is but an inflating bubble; toughness without confidence is like a rootless tree. With a bewildered heart that lacks clarity, what use is external power? Seventy years of hardship had torn her heart to shreds, hanging by a mere breath. Once she soared with the wind, her heart decayed and collapsed. Who is to blame?
With this thought, a disturbance touched his heart, and he saw the air violently churn in the distance. A piercing shriek followed, reverberating in all directions. The decayed heart had become a playground for the Sky Demon. A burst of energy was about to implant new consciousness there, but regardless, it no longer had anything to do with He Qing.
Yu Ci turned back, ready to hasten his escape, when his heart skipped a beat.
From the cloud-woven, tapestry-like sky, a distinctly subtle wave of vibrations swept from behind. It wasn't particularly strong, but it expanded rapidly, in an instant crossing the Hundred Miles of Void, slicing through the throngs of Outer Realm Sky Demons, and continuing its relentless advance toward this side.
The Shadow Ghost let out a strange cry: "Divine will transforms substance and gathers form, its movement like ripples in water... This is Fang Hui!"
Only then did Yu Ci realize that what had been shaking the void was merely the sweep of Fang Hui's Divine Will Power. A chill ran through him, yet, curiously, he felt no surge of panic. When the gap between the two sides was so vast that no semblance of victory could be found, what was the point in worrying further?
The Shadow Ghost was more anxious than he: "Thousands of miles apart, he couldn't possibly pinpoint our location with precision... Do as I say!"
The creature finally proved its worth. It instructed Yu Ci to tend to his wounds and seal all his pores to ensure that no trace of his aura would leak out. Then, they hastened downward, crashing through the earth's surface, while the Shadow Ghost taught him a hurried method to conceal his aura, all to temporarily evade Fang Hui's perception. Truth be told, even the Shadow Ghost was unsure of the outcome.
Yu Ci activated the Void Divine Travel Talisman, piercing through the clouds and plummeting downwards. His speed was undeniably fast, but the spread of the divine will's ripples was even more astonishing. No matter what he did, he couldn't completely avoid them and eventually felt a numbing sensation sweep over his body, causing him to shiver uncontrollably.
The Shadow Ghost cursed under its breath, relieved that this too was within its expectations. For a Great Thunderbolt Tribulation Cultivator to lock onto a target was indeed easy; out of ten individuals like Yu Ci, nine and a half could not escape. Fortunately, before the divine will's ripples reached Yu Ci, they first encountered the Sky Demon Calamity Fiend, which caused some interference. Thus, the route chosen by the Shadow Ghost was to use the Sky Demon Calamity Fiend as a shadowy shield, buying time. If they could burrow a thousand feet underground before Fang Hui arrived, there was a ten percent chance of escape.
Then there was He Qing. With her Heart Demon erupting and her transformation into a demoness all but certain, dealing with her would also give Fang Hui a headache. Including this factor, the odds of escape increased by another ten percent.
"Twenty percent chance, boy, you must fight with all your might!"
Regardless, the Shadow Ghost was a formidable entity with its own sect, possessing profound insights into the human heart. It continuously encouraged Yu Ci, outlining the pros and cons: "I understand the minds of the Lichen Sect. If you fail, no matter what means you use, they won't hesitate to bestow upon you a righteous title, find a reason to imprison you for a century as a show of magnanimity. But if you succeed, it will be seen as personal vengeance. Even if these people dismiss He Qing, they will be compelled by reason and fear to punish you severely. Not to mention Fang Hui—judging by his demeanor, he likely won't say a word before raising his hand and crushing you with a single blow!"
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Yu Ci remained silent. Before him, the vast expanse of the land stretched out endlessly. His speed unabated, he invoked the Earth Escape Technique and, like diving through ripples in water, he plunged into the ground.
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The Sky Demon Calamity Fiend resembled a surging tide of gray, formed by the convergence of countless Lifeless Thought Demons and Gathering Yin Sha Demons. So densely amassed, these formless and intangible Demon Heads gathered all the negative elements within a thousand miles, creating this heart-palpitating shallow gray tide. Such a phenomenon was only possible at such a lofty altitude; had it occurred over any densely populated area, it would have undoubtedly led to immense chaos.
Amidst the ashen 'tide' there was a focal point where He Qing stood erect, her hair bun undone, her long hair wildly dancing with the wind, and her eyes a blood-red about to drip. Fang Hui was standing right above the grey 'tide', observing the surging 'cloudy tide' and the silhouette within it, remaining silent for a long time.
"Why has it come to this?"
The series of changes outside the Sect's Mountain Gate left the Jade Void Elder and others feeling out of their depth. Due to the distance, only the Jade Void Elder had some understanding of the far-off situation, albeit partial. However, when the Sky Demon Calamity Fiend descended and Grandmaster Fang forcefully broke through the void, landing just outside the Sect's Mountain Gate, everyone witnessed it. Thus, led by the Jade Void Elder, a group of them arrived successively at the final scene of the incident, confronted with such a sight before them.
Even Uncle Lu De, who had the greatest objections, was rendered speechless at this moment.
From the moment He Qing personally went to 'explain' to Yu Ci, Uncle Lu De had resigned himself to Yu Ci's likely fate, which was probably to be confined by the Sect for ten or eight years. In his view, this was a nonsensical outcome, but at least it hadn't spiraled into an uncontrollable situation. Putting aside the resulting "Alienation of Heart and Morality," he had been contemplating ways to exonerate the young people.
But now, what kind of mess was this?
The Jade Void Elder, in comparison, was somewhat calmer. After all, he had experienced the Four Nine Heavy Tribulations and was accustomed to the brutality of seeing his peers fall during Thunderbolt Tribulations. He stepped forward and said softly, "Uncle-Master, it's better to act sooner rather than later. It is clear now that a demonic seed has sprouted, and evil intent has taken possession. If we do not use our methods now..."
Fang Hui merely smiled and said, "It's too late for any method."
Seeing this, the Jade Void Elder furrowed his brows. Before he could speak again, a golden light descended from above, and the Law Sky Prison was once again under Fang Hui's control. With a single strike, the grey 'tide' was immobilized. At that moment, the figure in the center instinctively looked up, and Fang Hui pointed a finger from the void.
The Jade Void Elder exclaimed in shock, "Uncle-Master..."
Before he could finish, the figure of He Qing below trembled violently, and the myriad demons dissipated, causing the entire sky to pause for a moment. Fang Hui's finger instantly erased all demonic hearts and evil intentions within a hundred miles, including the Outer Realm Sky Demons that turned to ash. More importantly, the Heart Demon that had taken shape within the female cultivator's body was also eradicated.
Naturally, what was erased included He Qing's vitality as well.
Uncle Lu De sharply held his breath, as did everyone else around him. At this moment, Grandmaster Fang's attitude was unmistakably revealed:
In this place of decisive action, all that follows must be equally resolute and unwavering!
Uncle Lu De felt a surge of passion as he was about to stand and argue his case, when suddenly, a voice descended from the skies:
"A disciple harbors 'confusion' and seeks enlightenment; I wish to discuss the Dao with the Patriarch!"
"He's back!" Uncle Lu De clenched his fists tightly, his heart torn between sorrow and joy. Then, a figure appeared before him. Tall and thin, with an unremarkable and wooden countenance, he might not catch the eye, but he was Uncle Lu De's dearest friend, the most unique among the third generation of Sect disciples.
"Brother Jie Liang!"
The newcomer was none other than Elder Jie Liang.
Elder Jie Liang and Xie Yan, following the Sect's decree, had been on official business in the Northern Region before heading to the Outer Realm of the Nine Heavens. Even when the Sword Garden was in turmoil and the disciples were recalled, he did not return. Uncle Lu De had only sent messages to him and Xie Yan after Yu Zhou's transformation, without expecting them to make it back in time. Yet, against all odds, not only had Elder Jie Liang returned, but his timing was impeccable.
Elder Jie Liang did not respond but instead approached Fang Hui and Jade Void Elder, paying his respects with proper ceremony.
Jade Void Elder was taken aback, suddenly understanding Elder Jie Liang's intentions. He wanted to intervene, but his lips moved without uttering a word. Fang Hui glanced at Elder Jie Liang and, without immediately responding, gestured for Su Ji Ren to step forward and hand over the body of He Qing. Only then did he speak:
"To discuss the Dao amidst 'chaos' is to retain the air of a scholar... Speak."
Fang Hui was exceptionally tolerant of Elder Jie Liang, but the greater the tolerance, the more steadfast his resolve. Elder Jie Liang's expression remained impassive as he knelt in the void, assuming the posture of one seeking enlightenment, and then his flat voice echoed through the sky: "As a disciple, I have read of a tale that puzzles me: 'The great emperor of the Southern Sea was named Shu, the great emperor of the Northern Sea was named Hu, and the great emperor of the Central region was called Hun Dun, or Chaos. Shu and Hu often met at Chaos's place, where Chaos would host them generously. Shu and Hu, wishing to repay Chaos's deep friendship, said, '''Every person has seven orifices for seeing, hearing, eating, and breathing, but Chaos alone does not have any. Let’s try to drill these seven orifices for him.''' Each day they drilled one orifice, and after seven days, Chaos died.' I am confused and seek the Patriarch's guidance."
Such a rudimentary question... Fang Hui's expression remained unchanged as he calmly asked, "Do you truly not understand?"
Elder Jie Liang's face was as wooden as ever, as if reciting a memorized script in sequence: "As a disciple, I have read, 'The way of Heaven is to take from the excess and give to the deficient.' I have also read, 'The way of man is to take from the deficient to serve the excess.' As we seek harmony between heaven and man, which path should we follow? I ask the Patriarch to dispel my 'confusion.'
"As a disciple, I have read, 'To expect a river to flow far when its source is shallow, or a tree to grow tall when its roots are not deep,' which leads to the adage 'Be cautious at the start and respectful at the end.' I am uncertain of its correctness and ask the Patriarch to dispel my 'confusion.'"
He paused for a moment then spoke with the clearest enunciation: "When I studied, all seemed clear, but in the presence of the Patriarch, I am overwhelmed with 'confusion.' Why is this so? I beg the Patriarch to dispel my 'confusion'!"
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