The demonic ailment was spreading rapidly. People lived in dread, unaware of when misfortune might strike—lost, in pain, at their wits' end. Many lost their sanity and judgment in despair, urgently seeking life-saving straws and targets for their animosity.
War drums, silent for many years, were sounded once more, reigniting conflicts across sixteen provinces.
The summit of the Indomitable Peak had the strongest warriors, yet the dark hand manipulating fate had torn away its guise, revealing its monstrous face. No longer concerned about the course of destiny, it had descended into frenzied hysteria.
Over the years, it had covertly cultivated many powerful cultivators who bore animosity towards Indomitable Peak, leveraging "coincidences." Now, it had inflicted an aura of "misfortune" upon the cultivators of the Peak.
The first three regions where the demonic ailment appeared were all directly under Indomitable Peak's influence.
The sect leader of Skyfire Gate was plagued by inner demons, the Buddhist cultivators of Nine Stars Temple contracted the demonic ailment, and various other unfortunate incidents occurred at places like Plum Blossom Palace, Azure Cloud Palace, Destiny Pavilion, and Night Rain Tower...
Immortal Spirit Island also faced many "unexpected" failures while setting up formations. Lady Nian doggedly led the female cultivators to fortify and repair again and again, protecting both cultivators and mortals in Nanling from entering Central State and accelerating the spread.
Above the summit of Indomitable Peak, layers of tribulation clouds gathered; torrential rains fell and countless lightning bolts struck. A dark creature also revealed its form within the clouds, exuding a stench of blood, repeatedly breaking through the protective barriers. Rebels from Central State organized their ranks, working in concert with the monster to attack Indomitable Peak.
Avian demon cultivators took to the sky amid lightning and downpours to fight the beast.
This battlefield was no place for birds; the rainwater weighed down their wings and slowed their speed. The toxins from the Nirvana Red Butterfly couldn't discriminate between friend and foe in the storm, forcing a retreat. On the ground were demon cultivators and human cultivators not adept at flight, shielded by countless Blood King Vines, employing various spells and weapons against the enemy.
Rolling rocks came crashing down, and bolts of lightning sporadically materialized, continuously claiming lives and disrupting the battle.
Medical cultivators from Medicine King Valley, aided by rune experts and artisans, took various defensive magical tools and talismans to the battlefield, providing emergency treatment for wounded cultivators and transporting them to the rear for further care.
The Divine Monarch, donning a Snow Feather Cloak and gloves, slowly exited the main hall.
He summoned a sea of Phoenix Flames, impervious to the disturbances of the lightning, sweeping towards the rebellious cultivators and engulfing them in an instant.
...
Baizi Hao stood atop the peak, his eyes fixed on the creature in the sky and the unfolding battle, patiently awaiting the signal.
A golden peacock appeared in the sky, unfurling its resplendent tail feathers. Each feather shimmered with a golden halo, imbued with a power that both intimidated and dispelled evil, directly blinding the creature.
Immediately after, the peacock transformed into a towering man, donning golden armor. His long hair was neatly tied back, and his once-frivolous expression had given way to a face filled with murderous intent.
"Hey, ugly!" Kong Muhua taunted, drawing the creature's attention and saving several endangered birds in the process. Then, he swiftly flew atop the creature, seizing its horns, unfurled his wings, mustered his divine strength, and ferociously plunged the creature into the lake at the mountain's summit. He shouted, "Zi Hao!"
Baizi Hao activated his personal artifact, unleashing the Freezing Ice Map.
A frigid world descended, as the lake's water froze layer upon layer, entrapping the creature within.
Kong Muhua conjured a massive axe in his hands, striking mercilessly at the creature's skull.
This mountain-splitting, stone-cleaving axe, wielded with the force of leveling peaks, met unyielding resistance upon hitting the creature's bones. Next, demonic energy spread over the rainbow-hued, shining axe, draining its brilliance and turning it dull, charred, and unattractive. Shocked, Kong Muhua withdrew the axe, only to find that the demonic energy had enveloped the creature's wound, rapidly healing its flesh...
Baizi Hao formed countless ice spikes, aiming to pin the creature to the frozen lake.
The creature underwent another transformation; its body expanded rapidly, pushing the ice-boundary to the brink of collapse, and shattering it in an instant.
Myriad blades formed of dark demonic energy emerged from the creature's body, like tens of thousands of demonic swords, all aiming for Baizi Hao.
Baizi Hao erected a twelve-layer ice shield, which broke one layer at a time.
Kong Muhua interposed himself, transforming his golden tail feathers into a defensive barrier that absorbed the barrage of attacks.
His most cherished feathers, under the assault of the demonic energy, blackened and fell off...
Kong Muhua gritted his teeth and held his ground, not retreating an inch.
Unbeknownst to everyone, the creature's tail had already burrowed underground, elongating slowly, avoiding detection and the Blood King Vines that filled the subterranean realm. It neared the Divine Monarch, who stood atop the cliff directing the battle. Seizing a moment of distraction, it shot out from the rock wall, aiming its venomous stinger at the towering figure.
The poisonous stinger penetrated the body, leaving no trace of blood.
The Divine Monarch lowered his gaze to the creature and offered a mocking smile.
Countless Nirvana Red Butterflies flew out from his body, landing directly on the creature's tail and injecting a myriad of toxins. Surrounding him, numerous magical formations lit up, tracing along the paralyzed stinger and coiling around the creature's body—this was a new sealing array.
The creature finally understood. Emitting an eerie sound, it proclaimed, "You are him, yet you are not him!"
Baizi Hao sat on the ground, his eyes twinkling with laughter. "What a gullible fool," he said.
The true form of the Divine Monarch had already departed from the Indomitable Peak. What remained here was a powerful avatar, intentionally displaying vulnerabilities as bait to lure the creature into a trap for resealing.
Where was the real Divine Monarch?
The creature's agonized howls echoed across the heavens. Its manipulator could not tolerate such mockery and was willing to pay any price to reclaim control over the world and destiny.
Thus, the earth trembled once more. Lightning appeared in the clouds, and violent thunderstorms wove a web that enveloped the entire world.
...
After the new demon-suppression campaign began, Yue Wuhuan placed Song Qingshi in the experimental cage that had once confined the Demon of Filth, isolating all traces of aura. He then secretly moved him to the basement of the Medicine King Valley for safekeeping.
After sleeping for several days, Song Qingshi finally woke from his feverish state. He sat up and stared blankly at Yue Wuhuan, who had already transformed back into Mr. Yue. Suddenly, he reached out to study those striking phoenix eyes meticulously.
Assuming his memories were confused, Yue Wuhuan laughed, "Are you still groggy? I'm not Mo Yuan now."
Song Qingshi rested his fingertip on the vivid tear mole, softly asking, "Can you really see?"
Yue Wuhuan answered gently, "I can see."
Song Qingshi slowly withdrew his hand, scanning his surroundings. "Where is this?"
Yue Wuhuan murmured, "Medicine King Valley."
He had chosen to set both the main battlefield and the trap at Indomitable Peak, preferring to ruin the opulent palace rather than destroy a place filled with cherished memories.
Song Qingshi stood up, donned his robes, and began walking out slowly.
"Don't go out; the monster that An Long transformed into is looking for you," Yue Wuhuan grabbed him. "Stay inside this artifact; it can shield you from fate's prying eyes. My trap at Indomitable Peak has been shattered by thunderstorms. With the support of the shadowy puppeteer, that creature escaped. I need to move you to an even safer location."
Song Qingshi looked at him silently.
Yue Wuhuan advised softly, "I can't find a way to kill that creature, but I can't let anything happen to you again."
Cycle after cycle of reincarnation, death after death.
If fate demanded his life, his resentment, then he was willing to shoulder it, to confront it.
Yet, he hopes that Song Qingshi will continue to live well.
"Qingshi, you've already done so much for me. Let it go," Yue Wuhuan pleaded with difficulty. "If you abandon this mission, you'll find true freedom. You won't have to share this absurd fate with me, or be dragged down into the mire again and again by me..."
"Mission?" Song Qingshi couldn't help but laugh, "I've never been on a 'mission', nor have I ever intended to be."
Yue Wuhuan was stunned, somewhat at a loss for understanding.
Song Qingshi gripped his hand and said, word by word:
"Wuhuan, I have remembered the memories of a thousand reincarnations..."
"Wuhuan, I live for you."
"Wuhuan, the only one I wish to save is you..."
"Wuhuan, I will never give up."
"Wuhuan, this is the best opportunity..."
The earth shook once again, and the sound of thunder and lightning echoed from the sky—the monster was approaching.
"The destiny controlled by the puppet master has been disrupted; it's gone awry, allowing my memories to resurface... A significant part of its power resides in An... Anlong. You need to slay this mutated black dragon to weaken it and rescue Anlong," Song Qingshi, knowing danger was imminent, focused on the essentials, telling Yue Wuhuan, "You go ahead and stall him; Qingluan has left behind a weapon that can kill Anlong—I'll retrieve it for you."
Yue Wuhuan couldn't recall any weapon-related relics left by Qingluan.
Nor had he sensed any powerful magical items or artifacts in Yao Wang Valley.
Yet, he was willing to believe Song Qingshi.
"Don't give up, and don't try to convince me to do so," Song Qingshi sprinted out of the basement, took a few steps, then turned back and seriously added, "I have the most stubborn heart in the world. Even if I run into a wall thousands or millions of times, I won't turn back. If you can't bear the pain and despair, and wish to abandon this world, then I'll vanish into ashes and smoke with you."
Yue Wuhuan looked at him for a long while and smiled: "Okay."
If they failed, he could carry the cleanest stone in the world with him as they both vanished into ashes and smoke.
What a joyful thing that would be, wouldn't it?
...
The aerial monster swooped down with thunder and lightning. Yue Wuhuan unfurled a giant red net made of Blood King Vines, blocking all incoming attacks.
Upon seeing the monster, some of the physicians in Yao Wang Valley were paralyzed with fear, others were in a state of panic, yet a majority of them were still tirelessly investigating the Demonic Transformation Syndrome.
Song Qingshi dashed out of the basement, following the ethereal golden aura in the air, heading toward the sole temple.
Yao Wang Valley's temple had undergone several expansions. At Lady Qingluan's request, every physician originating from the valley would have their memorial tablets placed here after death, to receive veneration from future disciples...
After three thousand years, Yao Wang Valley had become the largest medical academy in the cultivation world. Every year, they trained countless physicians. By now, the temple held nearly ten thousand memorial tablets, with the oldest, dark wooden tablets at the top bearing the names of Qingluan and Song Minghong.
Each life saved contributes to one's merit.
Physicians from Yao Wang Valley traversed the mortal realm, directly or indirectly altering the fates of countless mortals and cultivators. There are even many temples erected in their honor in the mortal world. Now, the golden glow of amassed merits upon the memorial tablets in the temple is in the billions—especially on Qingluan's tablet, where her individual merit accumulates to tens of millions.
Song Qingshi extended his hand and, invoking the name of his former master, chanted an incantation that coalesced all the golden merits into his palm, forming a sanctified golden longsword.
This was a weapon forged from the merits Qingluan had collected over three thousand years and then entrusted to Song Qingshi.
Only the world's purest force could slay its foulest demon.
After the merit's golden glow was harvested, a soft, beautiful shadow of a young girl appeared within the temple.
This was the residual soul image left behind by Qingluan.
She bowed deeply to Song Qingshi and requested:
"Thank you, Lord Qingshi."
"Please bring him back..."