AUOF - 114

The icy blue light condensed amidst the roaring thunderclouds, colliding with the sword blade and refracting into fine, chilling sparks.

Ji Hengyu rose with the wind, attacking Shen Zheyou’s flank. Facing attacks from both front and back, Shen Zheyou found it hard to evade. He tightened his stance to narrowly avoid the move that came with the clouds but had no time to deal with the Painted Bone Feathers thrown by Sang Li. The dull pain in his chest forced him to take this hit head-on.

Pfft!

This strike made Shen Zheyou’s internal organs feel as if they were burning. He coughed up a mouthful of blood, but his posture did not slacken. Gripping his sword tightly, he formed a seal to summon thousands of swords for protection. Instantly, the sword intent surged, drawing countless lightning bolts upon himself. The spiritual force shattered the sea thunder, and continuous lightning struck the sea surface, making the surroundings resemble an apocalyptic scene.

The phoenix let out a shrill cry, carrying Sang Li out of the sword array range. However, it was still unfortunately injured by residual energy.

The fire phoenix had the ability to heal instantly but also had to endure double the pain. The intense pain caused its wings to flap wildly, nearly throwing Sang Li off its back. Seizing this opportunity, Shen Zheyou thrust his sword toward her throat.

Clang—!

A snow-white jade fan blocked the view; the sword tip couldn’t pierce through. Ji Hengyu exerted force with his wrist, and at the moment his spiritual power invaded, he flung Shen Zheyou several feet away.

Ji Hengyu put away his fan, standing in front of Sang Li, his face calm and composed.

Under the oppressive thunderclouds, Shen Zheyou stood not far away. His figure under the gray robe was as thin as a sheet of rice paper, yet he still stood upright, asking indifferently, “Ji Hengyu, if you want to practice the Binding Path, why protect her?”

Binding Path.

The unfamiliar term drew Sang Li’s attention to Ji Hengyu.

Seemingly aware, his expression flickered with ambiguity, yet he didn’t dodge. “What does it have to do with you?”

Shen Zheyou sneered, “The Kui tribe sacrificed themselves to protect all living beings, offering their lives to heaven. Yet you go against their will, destroying the peace they worked so hard to achieve. What are your intentions?”

Sang Li clearly felt Ji Hengyu’s temperature drop to freezing point the moment these words fell.

He silently restrained his emotions, but his slightly tightened fingertips betrayed him.

Sang Li couldn’t help but recall the four dragon pillars, remembering how he lost control due to karmic obstacles. And all of this originated from what Shen Zheyou referred to as “peace for all beings.”

“So, are they supposed to be like that?”

Sang Li couldn’t help but step forward and ask.

Shen Zheyou lowered his gaze to look at her.

She stepped out from behind Ji Hengyu, blocking him, her gaze piercing through the rain, her eyes terrifyingly clear. “For the so-called peace of all beings, the Kui tribe is supposed to sacrifice, and the Ling clan is supposed to die. But why should we die? And who gave you the right to decide our fate from on high?”

Sang Li suddenly smiled. “If my existence means the destruction of heaven and earth, then let us sink together. All life is equal; no one is nobler than the other. If anyone should disappear, it should be you first!”

Her words were sharp, leaving Shen Zheyou momentarily stunned. He wanted to retort, but his words faltered, leaving only silence.

He practiced the Dao of all beings, considering the peace of all beings his duty. If one day sacrificing himself could bring peace to the six realms, he would do it without hesitation. Now, Sang Li’s words enlightened him: just because he was willing, did that mean others had to be willing too?

The Sword Array Technique wavered slightly due to his momentary hesitation. Seizing this chance, Ji Hengyu flew forward to attack.

Shen Zheyou snapped back to reality, unable to think further. The two clashed again.

One gray and one white figure spun across the sea and sky.

Whether it was an illusion or not, Sang Li vaguely felt the air around her become strange. The thunderclouds seemed to gather in one place, unmoving for a long time, even the continuous lightning froze in the pitch-black sky.

As she pondered what was amiss, Big Eyes inside her sleeve suddenly became restless.

In the distance, the sky split apart as if a hand had crumpled and torn a piece of ink-stained paper. However, the two fighting figures paid no attention to this change.

Sang Li’s body trembled, suddenly realizing something. Her pupils contracted, and she rode the phoenix towards Ji Hengyu—

“Run!!”

“Ji Hengyu, run! It’s the Heavenly Gate!!”

The speed at which the Heavenly Gate appeared was astonishing. The split opening resembled a huge, eyeless black socket, looming high above, overlooking the ground. The terrifying suction of the Heavenly Gate followed immediately. In an instant, seawater reversed, evil winds flowed backward, and the three were flung in different directions.

The Heavenly Gate was unpredictable.

It appeared and disappeared at random, bringing disaster at any moment.

However, this was the first time the Heavenly Gate had opened unpredictably over the Guixu Sea!

“Ji Hengyu!”

Sang Li shouted in the storm. The phoenix couldn’t maintain flight amidst such intense suction. Just as they were about to be pulled away together, Big Eyes suddenly burst out of her sleeve, expanded in size, and carried the phoenix and the person out of the Heavenly Gate’s range.

She had no time to care for herself.

The vast ink-black sea stretched to the horizon, the sea breeze briny. Amidst such chaos, she couldn’t find Ji Hengyu’s figure.

Could he have been swallowed into the Heavenly Gate?

The possibility made her teeth cold. She immediately broke free from Big Eyes and rushed back.

“Gurrrr!”

Big Eyes anxiously tried to stop her, but due to its injuries, it failed. Helplessly, it watched the delicate figure move farther and farther away.

“Ji Heng…”

“I’m here.”

Amidst the roaring waves, the clear, laughing voice was particularly abrupt.

Before she could react, her waist was tightly gripped by him. Sang Li looked up, dazed, at the man close to her, “Yu…” She unconsciously murmured the last syllable to him.

The person before her was soaked, a few strands of wet hair sticking to his cheeks.

Aside from looking somewhat disheveled from falling into the water, he appeared unharmed. Sang Li couldn’t help but pinch his waist. Noticing this action, Ji Hengyu looked down at her, his eyes under long lashes resembling a starry sea, filled with straightforward tenderness.

Sang Li pursed her lips, her eyelids drooping, her expression full of grievances.

He raised his eyebrows, called back Big Eyes, and placed her on it. “Are you going to cry again?”

Sang Li turned her head away. She wouldn’t be so weak as to cry at every turn.

Ji Hengyu chuckled, holding Sang Li as he gazed at the Heavenly Gate.

Such randomly appearing small Heavenly Gates wouldn’t last long. After swallowing some things, they would quickly disappear. The surrounding atmosphere gradually calmed, and as the suction diminished, the small Heavenly Gate also began to close.

Thinking of Shen Zheyou, Sang Li felt uneasy inside: “He…”

Ji Hengyu calmly continued: “Fell in.”

Sang Li fell silent.

Falling in meant little difference from death.

But she still couldn’t understand. With the heavy arrays of Guixu, how could the Heavenly Gate…

Recalling Shen Zheyou’s earlier words, Sang Li’s brows furrowed, her emotions tightening again. “They said the Ling clan was born from the shattered Demon Suppression Stone. If the Demon Suppression Stone truly has the ability to open and close the Heavenly Gate, then could I…”

If that was the case, it wasn’t hard to suspect why the divine realm wanted to exterminate the Ling clan.

She alone could unknowingly open the Heavenly Gate. With so many of her kind added, the future would undoubtedly bring irreparable fear to the Nine Ling Realm. Though she had spoken confidently to Shen Zheyou before, when faced with this situation, she still uncontrollably fell into a dilemma.

In her panic, her cheek was gently tapped.

Sang Li looked up and saw her worried reflection in his calm pupils.

“I don’t know if the Ling clan will bring unrest to all beings, but I know my wife won’t.”

Sang Li was initially stunned, then her brow relaxed, and her wildly beating heart gradually returned to calm.

She retracted Big Eyes and, riding the phoenix, they headed back.

This journey was silent yet peaceful.

Originally, Sang Li had many questions to confront him with, accusations to make, and perhaps throw a tantrum so he’d never dare again. But after all that had happened, those emotions seemed to have settled. Nothing was better than everyone surviving together.

Approaching Guixu Palace, Sang Li grabbed Ji Hengyu.

He turned his head, his features hidden in shadow.

“You said if Shen Zheyou died, the divine realm would send someone.”

“Mm.”

Sang Li gripped him tighter, “Then…” She dared not continue, her jawline taut.

“As long as the Demon Suppression Stone remains suspended, the divine realm won’t dare kill me.” Ji Hengyu laughed, cupping her face. “Not just a small fry like Shen Zheyou, even if one day I fight to the Mingxiao Hall, they won’t dare do anything to me.”

This was his weakness, and his confidence.

Seeing her believe his words, Ji Hengyu gradually reined in his smile.

Suddenly, Qi appeared silently beside them.

They were being intimate, and Qi didn’t glance aside, “The divine realm envoy has arrived.”

Sang Li instantly straightened her back, gripping his robe tightly.

Ji Hengyu patted her hand and whispered in her ear, “Go back to Shuoguang Hall, don’t come out.”

Sang Li didn’t want to let go, but Ji Hengyu forcibly pried her fingers apart.

She watched his departing figure, her heart in her throat. She understood worrying wasn’t helpful. Going to the front hall now would only raise suspicion among the divine realm people.

After Ji Hengyu left, she slowly dragged herself back to Shuoguang Hall, step by step.

For Sang Li, the waiting time was long, stretching from noon to sunset before hurried footsteps finally echoed from outside the hall.

She instantly leapt up and ran to the front hall.

It was Yue Zhuqing who entered. Judging from her serious expression, the situation likely wasn’t good.

Sang Li rushed forward, grabbing her hands, only to find them ice-cold.

“How is the Lord?”

Yue Zhuqing shook her head, “The divine envoy spoke privately with the Lord for an hour. Afterwards, the Lord entrusted us with some matters and left with him.” She paused, “The situation likely isn’t optimistic.”

Sang Li pressed, “Did he say anything?”

Yue Zhuqing replied, “He asked me to pass on a message to you, to wait for him in Shuoguang Hall. He also said… he also said this time he won’t disappoint you.”

Sang Li lowered her long lashes, hiding the deep gloom in her eyes.

Yue Zhuqing sighed, supporting Sang Li, noticing her icy shoulders, likely from waiting in the courtyard all day. “The Supreme Dao Lord has always been wary of Guixu and the Lord. Over the years, they’ve schemed to reclaim control of Guixu from the Lord.”

Sang Li frowned, “The abyssal prison needs Ji Hengyu’s Fuxi blood to suppress it. How can they take it back?”

“That’s exactly the issue.” Yue Zhuqing pulled Sang Li inside. “The divine realm never trusted the Lord. While Fuxi blood can suppress the abyssal prison, it can also…”

She paused, not completing her sentence. “The Lord’s current state isn’t entirely due to Emperor Qi’s injury.”

Sang Li was astonished.

Yue Zhuqing solemnly explained, “Three thousand years ago, the Lord fought Emperor Qi for ten days and nights, from the outer heavens to the barren mountains. Then the divine realm set up an array and ordered the Lord to lure Emperor Qi into the Extermination Array. However… the Extermination Array targeted the Lord as well.”

She said, “If it weren’t for Wuyan Zhaowu, the Lord would already be a paralyzed, unconscious invalid.”

The Extermination Array wasn’t a fatal formation.

It would destroy the bones of immortals and sever their bodies. Immortals caught in it could survive, but afterward, their roots would be broken, their powers lost. Aside from retaining a breath of immortal energy, they’d be useless.

The divine realm didn’t need a “war god,” only a docile, harmless “Demon Suppression Stone.”

After that great battle, Ji Hengyu understood this truth. Since then, like a hedgehog stripped of all its spines, he lay low in the Guixu Sea, behaving modestly, treating others kindly. No trace of his former arrogance remained.

Sang Li’s throat tightened, and the bittersweet emotions involuntarily made her choke out, “What will the divine realm… do to him?”

Yue Zhuqing affectionately stroked Sang Li’s soft hair, gently hugging her. “I’m telling you this to let you know that if the Lord could endure that bone-breaking pain, he’ll surely return safely this time too. So… A Li only needs to trust him.”

Sang Li nodded, burying herself in her shoulder, unconsciously tightening her embrace.