Chapter 97
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Chapter 97: Title
With demons vanquished, the demon suppression array dissolved, revealing half a jade pit floating midair. Yan Ge caught it trembling, tears streaking her face.
"Tiansui…"
The remaining half Divine Bone flew from Suiyin’s body, merging with its counterpart. Suiyin’s flesh dissolved, leaving only a wooden puppet.
As bones reunited, Yan Ge collapsed. The shattered Past Mirror had shown Tiansui’s twelve transformations. Twelve meant no return. Her Tiansui was gone.
"What were all my hopes for?" Her lips twisted bitterly. "Liar."
"Fairy Lord."
Yan Ge was dazed for a moment. She thought she heard Tiansui’s voice calling out to her. Among the twenty-four immortals of the Immortal Capital where ranks held no meaning, though Tiansui remained chief, she alone would address Yan Ge as "Fairy Lord" with that uniquely tender smile.
"Fairy Lord."
The call came again.
Yan Ge slowly lifted her head to see a faint silhouette – Tiansui bending slightly, hand extended to help her rise.
"Tiansui!"
Yan Ge lunged forward expecting to grasp nothing but air, yet found herself truly embracing the translucent figure. "Am I dreaming? You…you’ve returned!" She pressed her face into Tiansui’s shoulder, tears finally breaking free.
Tiansui stayed silent, rhythmically patting her back. After several heartbeats, Tiansui gently disentangled themself, wiping tear tracks with her sleeve. "Don’t cry."
Yan Ge desperately gripped Tiansui’s sleeve like a lifeline. The tears kept flowing despite Tiansui’s efforts, making the chief immortal smile through her own glistening eyes.
Though reunited after a thousand years, panic surged through Yan Ge. "I rebuilt the Immortal Capital! The Whispering Winds stand as they once did – won’t you come see?" Her voice shook with raw hope.
The fleeting stiffness in Tiansui’s expression shattered Yan Ge’s fragile joy. Of course – the Past Mirror’s twelve transformations devoured spirits. This wasn’t true resurrection, just fading consciousness clinging to Divine Bone.
"Won’t you speak with me?" Tiansui’s voice cracked. She smiled through the agony of final moments, determined to leave only beauty in her lover’s memory.
Each forced smile shredded Yan Ge further. She trembled with the urge to strike this stubborn apparition, yet couldn’t bear to let go. "Stay," she begged. "Please stay."
Tiansui’s fingers traced Yan Ge’s face with aching tenderness. "…Forgive me. But I’d choose this path again."
Yan Ge’s nails bit her palms as Tiansui continued, "The Nine Realms could spawn countless copies through Heavenly Dao’s will – none would be my Yan Ge."
"Then where shall I find another you?" Yan Ge cried, vision blurred. "The mortal realm holds only one Tiansui!"
As Tiansui’s lashes fluttered closed, her form began dissolving. "No! NO!" Yan Ge shook her head violently, clutching at disappearing robes.
Tiansui embraced her one last time, trembling voice bright with false cheer. "Walk the world for me? See all I never could? Everything I am…it’s always been yours."
"Don’t say that! Stay and we’ll-"
"I love you."
Their final kiss tasted of salt and farewell. Yan Ge’s trembling fingers found the Divine Bone in her palm, now damp with tears.
The air stilled.
Tiansui was gone.
"Your Majesty…"
Hongling spoke cautiously. She had rushed over after noticing Suiyin’s disappearance but was blocked by the Heavenly Dao barrier. When the barrier dissipated, she immediately searched for her master – only to witness this scene.
Having served Yan Ge in the Immortal Capital, she knew about her history with Tiansui. Now she feared Yan Ge might collapse from overwhelming grief.
A red shadow flickered too fast for Hongling to react.
By the time she caught up, Yan Ge already stood before Pei Jiu.
The kneeling Pei Jiu, restrained by Xia Shi’s power, endured heavenly fire’s spiritual agony yet wore a triumphant grin. "Gone. The twelve transformations drained her completely."
Yan Ge raised her hand. The Wugui sword flew to her palm.
Pei Jiu’s face twitched, fear flashing through her gaze before hardening into defiance. "Swords can’t kill me."
"Death? That’s mercy you don’t deserve!" Yan Ge drove the blade into Pei Jiu’s chest, channeling spiritual power to continuously ravage her spirit.
Xia Shi returned holding her sword, watching Pei Jiu’s screams with detached calm.
Spiritual wounds outmatched physical pain.
"Ended?" Yan Ge asked without turning.
Xia Shi murmured affirmation, eyeing the captive. "Except her."
Before further questions, Xia Shi added, "Her crimes demand payment. Let her kneel here eternally, burning in heavenly fire – atonement for slain cultivators."
Yan Ge chuckled darkly. Both knew eliminating Pei Jiu required personal sacrifice – this was theater.
"Agreed."
Xia Shi sketched formations with the Glazed Purification Brush, embedding slivers of consciousness.
"Unless my spirit perishes, she stays bound here forever."
Yan Ge stared at her sword. "Ah Yin…?"
The puppet’s Divine Bone had failed, Tiansui’s bone spent.
Xia Shi clenched her jaw. After the final heavenly lightning and Heavenly Dao’s proclamation, Suiyin vanished. The sword stood empty.
"Seek the Heavenly Dao Tree. Answers await."
Yan Ge walked away, lonely silhouette fading into distance.
Xia Shi reinforced Qinghu Region’s barriers before dissolving into mist.
Beneath the Heavenly Dao Tree, a dimmed luminous orb awaited.
Xia Shi frowned at its shrunken form, sensing unexpected frailty.
Could cosmic will grow feeble?
"Naturally. How else came that final lightning?" The Dao’s voice held weakened irritation.
"Why…?"
A tired sigh. "You were right. Having shaped immortals and Nine Realms, destruction suits me ill. Celestials guard mortal realms yet neglect greater domains. Perhaps… the Realms need immortal-like guardians."
“I heard those people call you ‘god.’ What do you think? Bearing divine duties to guard the Heavenly Dao Tree for me and maintain peace in the Nine Realms.”
Xia Shi stared fixedly at her, neither agreeing nor refusing.
She waited for the Heavenly Dao to continue.
If it wanted her to guard the Heavenly Dao Tree and Nine Realms, it better offer proper compensation.
“I know why you came.” The Heavenly Dao produced a fiery-red fruit that appeared freshly plucked.
The leaves clinging to it looked familiar. Xia Shi glanced up – they matched those from the Heavenly Dao Tree.
“The Heavenly Dao Tree bears fruit once every thousand years. The previous one was given to Yan Ge, becoming Divine Bone within Tiansui…”
“Deal!”
The Heavenly Dao paused, staring at Xia Shi’s outstretched palm.
It hadn’t finished speaking.
“I accept your terms. Give me the fruit.” Xia Shi’s impatience showed.
From the Heavenly Dao’s hints, this fruit could restore Suiyin.
For that, she’d agree to anything.
“Where is she now?”
“She lingered too long outside her sword body and shared your heavenly lightning punishment. Her spirit nearly scattered to nothingness. I retrieved what remained.” The Heavenly Dao sighed. “You’re both fools.”
It floated forward. Xia Shi followed, soon spotting a translucent figure meditating nearby.
She moved to approach but the Heavenly Dao halted her. “She requires undisturbed rest.”
“Fine, fine.” Xia Shi nodded but kept edging closer.
With a resigned flick, the Heavenly Dao conjured a transparent barrier.
Xia Shi pressed against the invisible wall, watching Suiyin from the nearest possible spot.
“Remember our agreement. Should the Heavenly Dao Tree falter or the Nine Realms destabilize when I awaken, I’ll reclaim everything – even her – godhood or not.”
Xia Shi frowned in confusion. When she turned to question this, the Heavenly Dao had vanished.
Only emptiness remained, the symbolic Heavenly Dao Tree, and two women beneath its branches.
——
Century later, Sanqing Realm
“Sect Leader, a visiting card from Pavilion Master Lu.” The Junior Disciple barely raised the parchment before being nudged aside by an energy surge. Master Lu already clung to their sect leader’s arm, lips dangerously close to Yan Li’s cheek.
“Ahem!” Yan Li squirmed slightly. “Behave.”
Lu Ciyou pouted, shooting the Junior Disciple a dismissive wave.
The Junior Disciple glanced at her sect leader. Receiving a nod, she scurried away.
Outsiders claimed their sect leader would marry into Liujin Pavilion. Yet given how often Pavilion Master Lu delivered “invitations”, perhaps the Pavilion Master herself would wed into Sanqing Realm instead.
The realm hadn’t hosted major celebrations – a sect leader’s wedding would be spectacular.
The newest disciple only witnessed full mountain gatherings during monthly deity tributes.
The sect leader’s wedding must be similar to honoring the gods.
“Aren’t you going to say you missed me?” Lu Ciyou tugged Yan Li’s collar irritably.
Yan Li lowered her head with a resigned smile, catching her restless hand. “Of course I did. The statue repairs kept me busy these days.”
At the mention of statues, Lu Ciyou’s gaze drifted to the training ground’s center. Everyone praised how Xia Wuwei had cut through heavenly lightning with one sword to ascend, shouldering the Heavenly Dao’s duties and governing the Nine Realms. For centuries, every leading sect had erected statues in worship.
Yet after that day, neither she nor Suiyin had been seen again – vanished completely.
People claimed Xia Wuwei became a deity, but Lu Ciyou’s heart held bittersweetness. She rejoiced in Xia Shi’s triumph yet ached from their long separation. Both friends… just gone.
“Haa—”
“Missing them?” Yan Li caught her mood instantly.
Lu Ciyou stiffened. “Who’d miss them? Not me!”
Yan Li chuckled. “Pray properly and Master Fan might hear you.”
“Never!”
…
Lu Ciyou clutched incense sticks, muttering, “This was your idea.”
“My fault entirely,” Yan Li conceded.
They bowed before the statue. As they turned to leave, laughter chimed:
“Did someone miss me?”
Lu Ciyou whirled. Perched on the statue’s bent arm sat a grinning girl.
“…”
Typical Suiyin, disrespecting her own effigy. Not that the real deity would mind.
“Get down! You’re hurting my neck!” Lu Ciyou shouted hoarsely, eyes glistening.
As Suiyin leapt down, Lu Ciyou hastily wiped her face on Yan Li’s sleeve.
“Tears?” Suiyin peered closer.
“Jerk!” Lu Ciyou shoved her, then pulled her into a tight hug.
Breaking apart, Lu Ciyou scanned behind Suiyin. “Where’s Xia Shi?”
Suiyin jerked her chin. “There.”
Near the hall, Xia Shi winced as wheelchair-bound Ye Xiao twisted her ear. Shen Huaiwen watched stone-faced, making no move to interfere.
“Senior sister! I yield!” Xia Shi begged, bent double.
Ye Xiao released her with a snort, eyeing the trio below.
“Well? Keep us waiting?”
“Coming!”
—End of the text.
