The sound of mountains crumbling and earth splitting had not yet ended, but the howls of the black skeletons were gradually subsiding.
Their hollow eye sockets gazed down at Zhou Zixi in the altar below. Though there was nothing in those eye sockets, just black bone frames, they somehow conveyed a sense of sorrowful gazing.
Long Yuye was also somewhat surprised by the current situation, but showed not the slightest fear. He turned around, looked up at Ming Li who was treading on star lines, then glanced at the massive black skeletons, and rubbed his eyebrows with a smile: “Haha, how lively.”
Unfortunately, others had no desire for casual conversation with him.
Ming Li saw Zhou Zixi standing on the altar, a scene almost identical to what she had once dreamed.
In her dream, the person on the altar was gloomy and cold, surrounded by black mist, unbearably oppressive. The piles of bones exuded a chilling aura, living alongside death, creating a pressure that could easily break someone.
Not to mention staying here for five years.
Zhou Zixi had to repeatedly die during these five years, constantly generating new hatred, forgetting every moment he had ever been touched. All those emotions that had been deemed beautiful, that had saved his life, were all extracted.
In the end, even hatred would not be left to him.
Even when facing those who cruelly tortured him, Zhou Zixi could barely generate hatred, only indifference.
Zhou Zixi on the altar followed the familiar force guiding him in heaven and earth, slowly raising his head, focusing his gaze on the person treading star lines above. The Ming Li reflected in his black, clouded eyes was also looking at him.
Her junior brother, who should have been accompanied by fellow disciples in Bei Dou, guided by his master, with friends taking him to roam the world.
These long five years, over a thousand days and nights, Zhou Zixi should have lived freely in this world, enjoying the illumination of sunlight, stars, and moon, waiting for Ming Li to turn around and tell him she liked him. Instead, all of it was submerged at the bottom of this mountain without daylight.
What these people did to Zhou Zixi was unforgivable.
Ming Li’s long sword in hand burst forth with a piercing sound, a star force pressure comparable to the previous roars of the black skeletons, grinding the flying stone pieces into powder. She looked at Long Yuye at the edge of the altar, the killing intent in her eyes completely unhidden as she flashed downward.
Observing Stars.
Double Mirrors.
Ming Li used both divine miracle abilities simultaneously. Observing Stars could see through all of Long Yuye’s disguises and movements.
Before she even arrived, the place where Long Yuye stood had been shattered into a large pit by the star force pressure, the ground in the pit caving in.
Long Yuye’s flash movement was very fast, he had already darted away before the ground collapsed. Dust rose, and the broken stone pieces suspended and reversed direction after Ming Li twirled her sword, pursuing Long Yuye.
The two engaged in battle in an instant. The stone fragments were pulverized as Long Yuye waved his hand, and after the dust, countless mirror fragments surrounded the area, each reflecting his figure.
Shu Sheng, who arrived a step behind, raised his hand and pointed out several Qi circulation word techniques, with resolute killing intent. Ming Li didn’t turn back, her manifested Double Mirrors reflected the several Qi circulation word techniques, adding her own equally murderous star force.
Two identical spiritual technique forces clashed, raising a whirlwind that broke and toppled the surrounding flower trees again. Song Tianjiu couldn’t help but retreat further, this retreat took him directly behind a black skeleton to shield from the star force impact from the front.
He and the observing Fang Hui couldn’t help but marvel inwardly: Was this the strength of the continent’s top pilgrims? If it were them, they wouldn’t have any desire to fight Ming Li.
Just the suppression from the Heart Meridian made it extremely difficult for them to even want to fight back when facing Ming Li. Being able to persevere without kneeling and not being crushed under this overwhelming pressure was already quite remarkable.
In the collision of star forces, the chains binding Zhou Zixi shook violently, emitting piercing sounds. Long Yuye retreated from the altar, and the moment Ming Li landed, the pursuing broken mirrors severed the chains.
Zhou Zixi felt the heavy restraints on his body being removed. The fierce wind carrying star force didn’t harm him in the slightest. Strands of hair lifted by the wind brushed past his cheek, lightly grazing his nose.
Ming Li stood in front of Zhou Zixi. She had already noticed the problem with her junior brother’s eyes, realizing Zhou Zixi couldn’t see, so she reached out and grabbed his cold wrist.
At this moment, a thousand words couldn’t compare to the touch of their fingertips.
Zhou Zixi felt the warmth transmitted from his wrist. The cold chains disappeared, replaced by Ming Li’s gentle comfort. He could sense his senior sister standing in front of him, and could even smell her familiar hair fragrance.
During these days, he hadn’t been able to go out to find Ming Li. His senior sister probably came without even tying her hair.
My senior sister is here.
The person I love is here.
This feeling was so marvelous, like the most beautiful moment in the world, deeply etched in memory, also giving him boundless courage and strength.
Zhou Zixi stood motionless, and somehow, in this moment, flashes of scenes from Bei Dou passed through his mind: watching puppies gnaw on bones with Ming Li on the flower-lined path in Yaoguang Court; practicing combat with Ming Li at Falling Star Pool; studying formation star lines with Ming Li on a summer night by the cooling mat; applying lip color for her in a winter courtyard house.
Even though he couldn’t see Ming Li now, the person in his memories remained vivid, always present.
Ming Li put away her divine weapon, raised her hand to cover Zhou Zixi’s eyes, her palm touching his long eyelashes, and asked: “Who did this?”
Zhou Zixi’s lips curved slightly, saying somewhat maliciously: “As for the eyes, mainly that chatty Wandering Ghost Clan Chief.”
Ming Li turned back, looking at Long Yuye below the altar with fierce eyes.
Long Yuye shook his head with a helpless expression: “Long time no see, you’re still the same as five years ago, fighting at first sight. At least talk to me before attacking.”
Ming Li turned around, protecting Zhou Zixi behind her, facing Long Yuye and saying: “After what you did to my junior brother, you expect me to talk first before attacking?”
Long Yuye said: “His condition is all destiny’s choice.”
This was so ridiculous it made Ming Li feel disgusted. She raised her hand as her divine weapon White Bone Blooming Flower transformed into a sword, the tip pointing at the enemy. She said: “Your destiny, I’ve already made the choice for you.”
Long Yuye smiled: “You failed here once before, do you still have the confidence to make choices?”
Ming Li had no intention of wasting words with him. As she concentrated star force, she grabbed Zhou Zixi with one hand, intending to take him away from the altar first, but found the person beside her didn’t move.
Long Yuye spread his hands: “You want to take him away? That won’t do. If he leaves this altar, something terrible will happen.”
He was confident Zhou Zixi wouldn’t dare leave the altar, and that Ming Li couldn’t take him away, so he showed no sign of urgency.
Ming Li was instead held by Zhou Zixi, who said unhurriedly: “Senior Sister, he’s right, but it doesn’t matter. He’ll soon regret preventing me from leaving.”
From his tone, Ming Li knew Zhou Zixi hadn’t fully recovered all his emotions. She glanced at Shu Sheng not far away, determined to settle everything here no matter what.
Zhou Zixi had his own thoughts and decisions. Before that, following his most genuine desire from instinct, he embraced the person he couldn’t see.
Long Yuye: “…”
“That’s fine, since he doesn’t dare come out, I’ll give you siblings some time to catch up.” Long Yuye smiled with narrowed eyes and turned to look at the others. “I still have two guests to entertain.”
Song Tianjiu finally came out from behind the black skeleton, pointing at Long Yuye and saying: “It’s not right to steal other people’s divine weapons!”
Long Yuye replied politely: “Then how about I borrow from you?”
Song Tianjiu: “No! Not even if I die, give it back right now!”
“Very well, I’ll return it to you soon.” Long Yuye’s gaze swept past Fang Hui without a word, then when looking at Sui Qiusan standing on the hillside, the smile in his eyes flickered. “The embodiment of earthly ghost resentment, rare indeed.”
The surrounding black skeletons were looking at Long Yuye, and Sui Qiusan was also looking at him: “Descendants of the first-generation pilgrims, people who perpetuate the sins of divine prophecy, also the chief culprits who deprive numerous Life Meridian holders of their humanity, causing them lifelong misery.”
“Do you have anything to say?”
“Me?” Long Yuye’s smile didn’t diminish, standing with an even more composed posture than Sui Qiusan, saying: “I just acted on behalf of most people, eliminating the Life Meridian they dislike, following the wishes of my ancestors.”
Sui Qiusan: “You think you did nothing wrong?”
“It’s not my fault the world has become like this.” Long Yuye raised his hands somewhat innocently. “Think carefully, from long ago, hundreds, thousands of years ago, it was already like this. The ancients, influenced by divine prophecy, made various changes to the world of Eight Meridians, causing people today to gradually lose sight of the existence of the Life Meridian, forgetting that Ancient Tongguo Continent had Nine Meridians. Instead, there are terrifying monsters like earthly ghosts, and everyone has a part in the harm done to earthly ghosts.”
“Is ignorance innocence? The harm is real. Even if you tell everyone on the continent now that earthly ghosts aren’t monsters, not beasts that kill without blinking, but people who awakened the Life Meridian—”
Long Yuye slightly raised his eyebrows, smiling at Sui Qiusan: “What do you think people would do?”
“Ah, so what I killed wasn’t a monster, but a person. But what should I do now that I’ve killed people? Driven by ignorance and fear, no one would repent for this.”
“They would even refuse to believe the so-called ‘truth,’ continue to hate and despise the Life Meridian, pray for the disappearance of ‘earthly ghosts’ who awakened the Life Meridian.”
Long Yuye looked at Sui Qiusan, talking to the embodiment of earthly ghost resentment: “Admit it, this is already a world of only Eight Meridians. In a world of only Eight Meridians, your existence is an error. There is no truth, only opposition.”
Song Tianjiu was stunned, inwardly thinking that this person was very persuasive, almost convincing.
“But that’s not right. According to you, if there had been no divine prophecy from the beginning, people wouldn’t have forgotten the existence of the Life Meridian,” Song Tianjiu said, scratching his head. “The Life Meridian has always existed, it’s just that divine prophecy blinded people’s eyes and hearts, even making people increasingly afraid of the Life Meridian because of divine prophecy. You keep saying you represent the majority in taking action, but you haven’t held any vote in Tongguo, how can you be sure?”
“This kind of thing… I’d be very willing to discuss with you.” Long Yuye looked at Song Tianjiu, snapping his fingers. “No need for voting, just perception.”
Heart Meridian – Sun and Moon Together.
Suddenly, countless voices surged into Song Tianjiu’s ears, those voices from hundreds of thousands of years ago:
—The existence of the Life Meridian is too unfair. If he didn’t have the Life Meridian, I definitely wouldn’t have lost!
—Why couldn’t I be the one to awaken the Life Meridian?
—People who awaken the Life Meridian are so disgusting! Relying on their inability to die, they dare to do anything!
—Just one meridian away from the limit, why must it be the Life Meridian? What use is a star meridian that can’t improve cultivation level through training? It doesn’t deserve to be compared with other star meridians!
—It’s best if earthly ghosts disappear from this world!
—Those beasts, if not for earthly ghosts, the people around me wouldn’t have died so miserably!
—I want to become a pilgrim and kill all the earthly ghosts in this world!
Voices of hatred, resentment, and disgust came surging from all directions, from the distant Life Meridian to today’s earthly ghosts. Whether it was thousands of years ago or now, malice towards them had never ceased.
Too many voices poured into Song Tianjiu’s ears, making his brain ache unbearably, forcing him to cover his ears with his hands.
Long Yuye snapped his fingers, dispelling Sun and Moon Together, and asked Song Tianjiu: “You heard it, there are too many people in this world who dislike them, whether in the past or now, it always exists.”
“Some people dislike, some people like, and you only listen to those who dislike them, then decide on your own to represent these people in eliminating earthly ghosts. Not to mention that from the beginning of earthly ghosts, all that resentment was caused by you.” Song Tianjiu covered his ears, his head drooping as he said, “I don’t want to discuss grand principles with you either, or save the world or earthly ghosts. My purpose is simple: get my divine weapon Waking Marrow back.”
Long Yuye rubbed his chin after listening: “You’re right, there are indeed people who like the Life Meridian, so I will turn them into earthly ghosts too.”
Song Tianjiu looked up at him, his gaze silently conveying a few words: Are you crazy?
Long Yuye just blinked and smiled, pointing to the two on the altar: “Let those two catch up, before that… Sui Qiusan, right? You want to lift divine prophecy’s modification of people’s memories? No problem, go ahead. I also want to see people’s reactions after knowing the ‘truth,’ whether it will be as you wish.”
He appeared so generous, composed, as if he had already foreseen the future, seen through all possibilities, as if all of Sui Qiusan’s efforts, at this moment here, had become Long Yuye’s generous bestowal to him.
Long Yuye always acted unpredictably, with eccentric temperament. Even Shu Sheng couldn’t guess what he was really thinking. Compared to Long Yuye’s indulgence towards Ming Li, Shu Sheng kept his eyes fixed on the people on the altar, not daring to relax in the slightest.
Sui Qiusan was not affected by Long Yuye’s attitude. He stood high, looking down at the person below, his expression even somewhat compassionate: “The ‘truth’ will redeem some people, that’s enough.”
*
When the black skeletons first roared, the people of Three Crow River looked towards Resentment Pagoda Mountain, sensing something unusual happening in that direction. Such an extraordinary fluctuation of star force could only make them think of pilgrims: Ming Li, Shu Sheng, and the chief of the Wandering Ghost Clan.
Qian Li looked up towards the direction of the black skeletons’ roars, bloodshot eyes filled with ferocity. He had a premonition that Sui Qiusan must be there.
Driven by intense emotion, Qian Li’s power erupted again, concentrating all star force in Heaven’s Net Myriad Phenomena, breaking free from Qing Ying’s restraint by severing his own blood sickle.
Trying to escape?
Qing Ying saw Qian Li roll away, and invisible sound waves pursued him again. Blood lines danced in the air, but just as they were about to touch Qian Li, they were all severed by a suddenly appearing giant blood sickle.
The giant blood sickle reflected the cold moonlight, its falling shadow completely covering Qing Ying as the blood sickle flew, slashing towards her.
Chen Zhou looked at Qing Ying, who said as she flashed away: “I can handle this kid.”
“Just discovered he might be emotionally affected by the Heart Meridian, be careful.” Chen Zhou reminded.
Qing Ying leaped onto the pursuing blood sickle, standing high as she watched Qian Li running ahead, lost in thought.
Chen Zhou turned to look at Black Fox Mask, but found the two who were previously in the river channel had disappeared. He asked Fu Yuan: “Where is he?”
“They’re fighting over there.” Fu Yuan’s eyes indicated the reed thicket behind. “No need to worry about him, he wants to resolve this himself.”
“Then let’s deal with those blocking the way first.” Chen Zhou stretched his neck and shoulders, saying to Cheng Jingbai, “As for the earthly ghosts, you handle them as you see fit.”
After all, they couldn’t kill them anyway.
Zhou Xiang and Lin Xiao attacked simultaneously, charging toward the white-robed earthly ghosts blocking the way.
There were still countless Wandering Ghost Clan warriors ahead.
Chen Zhou looked at the blocking Wandering Ghost Clan warriors, his fighting spirit surging. Five years ago, he didn’t have the chance, but today he would make up for that regret.
Heart Meridian – Ten Thousand Leaves Flying Flowers.
*
The sounds of battle by the riverbank reached the reed thicket, the collision of staff and long knife, the scattered knife force aftershocks cutting the reeds swaying in the night wind at the waist.
The white, fluffy reed flowers were carried into the sky by the wind.
Qiu Lang listened to the sounds from the riverbank, flashing to create distance from Black Fox Mask, mockingly saying: “You’ve come to rescue Zhou Zixi, but she’s the one who captured him.”
Black Fox Mask responded coldly: “I’ll hear it from Liangniang herself.”
Qiu Lang gave a cold laugh: “You’ll believe the words of an earthly ghost? Believe someone who deceived you, who always concealed her identity?”
“It’s not your place to question that either.” Black Fox Mask pointed his knife at Qiu Lang, unwilling to waste words with him.
Qiu Lang’s gaze flickered slightly, smiling ambiguously as he stepped forward: “Rather than letting you find her, letting her be disappointed once more, better to die here.”
Black Fox Mask’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. The wind rustled, and he calmed his mind, deducing information from Qiu Lang’s earlier words: Liangniang was in Wandering Ghost State, and he was also looking for Liangniang.
So while Qiu Lang was speaking strangely, Black Fox Mask took out and crushed the sound transmission charm from Liangniang, watching as it transformed into a white bird that flew toward the sky with a clear, melodious call.
Qiu Lang looked up at the flying bird, but Black Fox Mask flashed forward following the bird’s guidance.
Wu Liangli was not far from him, just in this boundless reed thicket.
The masked earthly ghosts, pursuing Wu Liangli on Shu Sheng’s orders, relentlessly chased her. These earthly ghosts had lost the ability to think for themselves, only pursuing their instinct for slaughter.
Wu Liangli fled in a stumbling manner. She knew people from Bei Dou had come to Wandering Ghost State by the Three Crow River, and Black Fox Mask was likely among them.
She also heard the roars of the black skeletons, feeling the resentment of earthly ghosts floating in the world. This resentment affected her, the roars awakening the anger buried deep in her heart.
Reed flowers brushed past her cheek, and her hair, soaked with sweat, clung to her skin. Wu Liangli was still worried that Black Fox Mask might be in danger, so she took out and crushed the sound transmission charm.
It was given to her by Black Fox Mask.
Because Wu Liangli appeared to him as an ordinary person unable to sense star force, Black Fox Mask always feared she might encounter danger when out alone, so he modified the sound transmission charm, adding a positioning formation. No matter where Wu Liangli was, he could find her.
Many times before, Black Fox Mask had relied on the sound transmission charm’s positioning to arrive in time and resolve crises for Wu Liangli.
Black Fox Mask never mentioned the positioning formation, and Wu Liangli was happy to pretend ignorance.
During one of their intimate moments, Black Fox Mask once again arrived precisely on time, finding Wu Liangli, who had been kidnapped due to merchant association issues.
He rescued her from the cave, carrying Wu Liangli on his back as she couldn’t walk, letting moonlight guide their way through the mountains.
Liangniang lay on his broad back, curiously tilting her head to look at his profile: “How did you know I was locked up here?”
Black Fox Mask: “I guessed.”
“Hey.” Liangniang moved closer to his ear, saying softly, “Isn’t it because our hearts are connected?”
Black Fox Mask chuckled, following her lead: “Mm.”
Liangniang continued: “Only lovers have connected hearts. Did you just admit you like me?”
Black Fox Mask didn’t answer.
Liangniang said slowly: “If you don’t respond, I’ll assume that’s not what you meant.”
But Black Fox Mask said: “Yes.”
The person on his back silently laughed. Wu Liangli looked at his serious profile in the moonlight, smiling: “What does ‘yes’ mean?”
Black Fox Mask turned his head to look at her, their foreheads touching, “Yes, I like you.”
Being loved was always what Wu Liangli yearned for most.
Initially, Wu Liangli just wanted to tease this seemingly cold-hearted knife wielder, but never expected him to be serious.
She had hesitated and doubted, but strangely, even though Black Fox Mask knew nothing, he gave her enough security that Wu Liangli could firmly walk towards him.
The feeling of being loved was so marvelous, impossible to let go of because of fear.
*
Reed flowers were carried skyward by the wind. Wu Liangli looked back in the moonlight, the white bird guiding her to Black Fox Mask’s direction, which was by the Three Crow River.
If Qiu Lang had gone there, he would have attacked him.
Wu Liangli hardened her heart and rushed towards the Three Crow River, but was forced back by masked earthly ghosts in the reed thicket.
Physical Meridian – Thunder Fist.
Physical Meridian – Celestial Possession.
Two masked earthly ghosts concealed themselves in the reeds, closing the distance with Wu Liangli before unhesitatingly using Physical Meridian killing techniques.
The earthly ghost, wielding a long sword, thrust directly at her face. Wu Liangli barely avoided it by tilting her head back, but was hit by one person’s thunder fist, coughing blood as she was sent flying and tumbling to the ground. Lightning flickered on her body, the pain making tears glisten in her eyes.
She had sealed her star meridians for many years. All her cultivation knowledge came from Black Fox Mask, not hiding anything from her, often explaining things for her to hear, from which she learned much.
The Eight Meridians formation she once excelled at was still somewhat unfamiliar when picked up again.
Not to mention physical techniques, which had always been her weakness. Once someone got close, it was difficult to escape.
But she couldn’t die here!
Wu Liangli, enduring the excruciating pain of her internal organs being shattered by the thunder fist, struggled with her last breath to slowly raise her hand, attempting to point out a killing technique at the masked earthly ghost slashing down with a sword.
Another Qi circulation word technique came out before hers, from the masked earthly ghost who had unleashed the thunder fist. The killing technique pierced Wu Liangli’s heart, and her raised hand fell powerlessly.
In that instant, Wu Liangli saw the severed reeds, heard the familiar knife song by her ear, and the white fluffy reed flowers carried up by the night wind fell on the newcomer’s shoulder. In her gradually blurring vision, she saw the man flashing towards her from a distance.
She had never seen such an anxious expression on that handsome, cold face before, as if something precious was breaking. Even though the cry of the long knife in his hand was filled with killing intent, it couldn’t cover the despair and fear spreading from the depths of his eyes.
Why did seeing him so anxious and sad make her somewhat happy?
So he really, truly cared about me.
Wu Liangli lay on the ground, reed flowers floating down on her blood-stained clothes and hair.
The masked earthly ghost, wielding the long sword, had seen Wu Liangli’s Life Meridian, prepared to destroy it before she revived. The moment the blade caught a falling reed flower, it was severed by a long knife. Star force pressure carrying killing intent swept across, sending the white fluffy reed flowers not yet landed flying far from the storm’s center.
Black Fox Mask was covered in murderous aura, his movements continuous and swift, at a speed that opponents couldn’t discern even with the Eyesight Meridian operating at its limit.
The sound of the knife and sword piercing flesh rang out in the moonlight. Black Fox Mask unhesitatingly withdrew his knife and slashed again, driving back the second person, blood splattering on the reeds.
Qiu Lang, arriving a step late, collided with the masked earthly ghost, sent flying by Black Fox Mask. His staff knife pressed down, pinning the ghost to the ground and delivering a fatal blow.
Qiu Lang raised his head, seeing Wu Liangli lying in a pool of blood, his face darkened.
Black Fox Mask turned to lift Wu Liangli, his arms trembling slightly. Feeling her silent stillness, grief reached its peak in his heart, yet then he saw Wu Liangli’s eyelashes flutter slightly, life returning.
Wu Liangli opened her eyes in Black Fox Mask’s arms, seeing not a face disgusted or afraid of her, but Black Fox Mask treasuring her like a jewel. What she saw was the expression of a man finding his lost treasure.
This person looked like he was about to cry.
Wu Liangli wanted to smile, but was held tightly in Black Fox Mask’s embrace, with such force as if he wanted to fuse her into his blood and bones, never to separate again.
Black Fox Mask lowered his head against hers. Wu Liangli could feel the trembling in his arms. The feeling of being favored and valued was so real and clear, softening her heart. She slowly reached out to grip Black Fox Mask’s clothes, saying softly: “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, I’m an earthly ghost.”
Wu Liangli wanted to give herself a chance.
A chance not to be abandoned.
Black Fox Mask’s Adam’s apple moved slightly, his voice low and hoarse: “It’s good that you’re an earthly ghost.”
Otherwise, he would have lost his love forever.
This short sentence made Wu Liangli freeze, the sourness in her nose impossible to resist as tears spilled from her eyes without her consent.
Wu Liangli’s hand gripping Black Fox Mask’s collar gradually tightened, her knuckles turning white. Using all her strength, she still couldn’t suppress the emotions surging in her heart. She leaned into Black Fox Mask’s arms, wrapping her arms around his neck, allowing herself to cry.
She had lost everything because of her earthly ghost identity, spending long days and nights trying to convince herself that this world could accommodate her.
But until this moment, Wu Liangli had never truly reconciled with her past.
She hugged Black Fox Mask’s neck, saying with a sobbing voice: “I agreed to capture Zixi… because Grandmother was controlled by Qiu Lang, and I also wanted to know where Zixi was being held. The one in the imperial capital was just his shadow.”
Black Fox Mask’s palm gently stroked her head, saying softly: “We’ll bring Zixi back.”
Qiu Lang pinned the revived earthly ghost to the ground, slowly standing up, expressionlessly watching the two people embracing ahead.
Descending white fluffy reed flowers danced, lightly brushing his cold cheek. Qiu Lang’s expression remained cold, yet he withdrew his killing intent.
Perhaps from long ago, people had been consciously or unconsciously resisting divine prophecy.
Kindness was only a part, malice was only a part.
*
At Resentment Pagoda Mountain, more black skeletons continued to rise from the ground’s shadows.
Long Yuye and Sui Qiusan’s conversation continued, while Shu Sheng still fixed his gaze on Ming Li and Zhou Zixi on the altar.
Zhou Zixi said to Ming Li’s ear: “Whether he or Shu Sheng, they both like to say annoying nonsense. I’ve been impatient with these two for a long time.”
Before Ming Li could speak, she heard him say: “Senior Sister, Master is dead.”
“He just went to a place he always wanted to go.” Ming Li said softly.
“According to what you say, I should be very sad,” Zhou Zixi said, lowering his eyes. “But I only feel anger, annoyance, wanting to crush everyone into meat paste.”
Ming Li wanted to look up at him, but Zhou Zixi pressed her head, forcefully restraining her in his embrace.
“I can’t feel any sadness, yet I somehow know I should,” Zhou Zixi said, his brow slightly furrowed. “Senior Sister, before, I thought as long as I kept yielding, enduring all pain and resentment, I could stay with you forever. Indeed, as long as I didn’t think about the memories before coming to Bei Dou, I could continue to endure, as long as I was with you, I could restrain myself, choose forgiveness.”
“It’s the same now.”
Ming Li had a bad feeling.
Zhou Zixi embraced Ming Li tightly, but would ultimately have to let go, giving up this greed. He grabbed Ming Li’s sleeve, his brow showing undisguised and unconscious ferocity: “But I cannot forgive or tolerate those who hurt Bei Dou.”
He regained love and desire, compromising for Ming Li, yet also wanting to make his own choice.
Ming Li asked him: “What do you want to do?”
“Senior Sister.” Zhou Zixi lowered his head, touching his forehead to hers, his lips curving slightly as he said, “This entire Northern Ghost Plains is a formation laid by the first-generation pilgrims to perpetuate divine prophecy. If I walk out of the altar, I’ll be controlled by Yin-Yang sorcery to kill Bei Dou’s people.”
“But I can’t let them have their way in everything, otherwise I wouldn’t be content even dying countless times.” Zhou Zixi’s voice was hoarse, yet his gaze swept towards Sui Qiusan. “My Life Meridian is very special compared to others, able to connect with others’ Life Meridians, something only the Star Meridian Origin can do.”
Ming Li slightly raised her eyes, meeting his gaze, the man before her overlapping with the youth from the martial arena years ago.
Zhou Zixi gently cupped Ming Li’s face: “They cannot control me with divine prophecy, nor can they kill me with it, so they can’t obtain the Star Meridian Origin parasitizing in me. If Long Yuye kills me and seizes the Star Meridian Origin, he can destroy the Life Meridian or completely control it. From now on, whether people awaken the Life Meridian would be up to him.”
Before today, he would never have told Ming Li these things.
Zhou Zixi never had confidence that Ming Li would choose him, let alone after losing his emotions, he would have even less confidence, wouldn’t even think in that direction.
And he was too afraid, afraid Ming Li would abandon him because of his earthly ghost identity.
Zhou Zixi was accustomed to solving problems himself. As long as he held on, as long as he didn’t die, he would surely find an opportunity.
Before, he would have destroyed his Life Meridian seeking release, but not now, because he wanted to live on.
“Maybe I won’t die this time either.” Zhou Zixi kissed Ming Li’s cheek, but also took the opportunity to give her the Recollection Map. “Senior Sister, don’t look for me, I’ll come back on my own.”
In Zhou Zixi’s shadow reflected on the ground, as his words fell, a huge black skeleton rose. A hurricane swept across, lifting Ming Li’s clothes and hair while also scattering the white bone piles on the altar, causing crackling, breaking sounds.
Ming Li reached out to grab him, but Zhou Zixi was seized by the black skeleton’s hands. As the skeletal fingers closed, covering Zhou Zixi’s eyes, Ming Li saw his slightly curved lips, a challenging smile seemingly defying heaven and earth.
Shu Sheng, who had been closely watching the altar, moved immediately.
Long Yuye, who had been conversing composedly with Sui Qiusan, suddenly changed expression. Both he and Shu Sheng flashed toward the altar simultaneously, but were blocked by Ming Li’s Double Mirrors.
The black skeleton closed its hands, crushing Zhou Zixi within its grasp. Black flesh and blood fell from between the white bone fingers onto the ground.
Ming Li looked up at this scene, her eyes dark and deep.
Zhou Zixi had once told Shu Sheng and Long Yuye, life and death are mine to decide.
Although Shu Sheng and Long Yuye had always wanted to understand how he was able to revive after his Life Meridian was destroyed years ago, they never got an answer from Zhou Zixi.
Shu Sheng didn’t dare rashly destroy Zhou Zixi’s Life Meridian. If it were like before, he would have to find Zhou Zixi again, so he repeatedly let Zhou Zixi die and revive, searching for a way to truly kill him and seize the Star Meridian Origin.
The person Zhou Zixi had been waiting for in Resentment Pagoda Mountain these years was Sui Qiusan, the embodiment of earthly ghost resentment.
The hurricane blew so fiercely that Song Tianjiu again activated his star force to defend. He glanced at Fang Hui, who nearly got blown away without Shu Sheng’s protection, and grabbed him.
The black skeleton opened its hand, only a black skull remained in its palm, still bearing several cracks—traces from the first death.
The black skeletons gazing toward the altar raised their heads to the sky, star lines of light flowing in their hollow eye sockets. In the pitch-black night sky, the clouds were torn apart, and a golden-glowing eye appeared from behind them.
Song Tianjiu looked in shock at Fang Hui whom he was holding. One of the youth’s eyes was flowing with golden light, weak yet special star force surrounding him.
White mist curled through heaven and earth. The black skeletons roared at the celestial eye, their fury reaching the sky. Exhausting their voices, they vented the resentment of earthly ghosts, the anger of the Life Meridian, toward the divine prophecy’s incarnate celestial eye.
Massive, immeasurable star force mixed into the world, transmitting the truth of the world to people across the entire Ancient Tongguo Continent.
People sleeping were startled awake, night patrol guards couldn’t believe what they saw in the night sky, detention officers watching captive earthly ghosts changed expression, and those battling at Three Crow River had memories forcibly poured into their minds—memories both absurd and strange, yet undeniably real.
This resentment, originally meant to kill everyone, had, because of one earthly ghost’s concession, changed to only transmitting the truth, lifting divine prophecy’s deception of this world.
The black skeletons’ roars shook heaven and earth, giving people back the eyes to see the Life Meridian.