AUOF - 138

Sang Sang walked out of Tianze River and was intercepted by Si Tu, who had sought her out on the way to the Divine Realm.

The demonic mark on her forehead had fully bloomed.

Red mist seemed to flow between her eyes, which were clear, and a dense, impenetrable demonic aura enveloped her.

Si Tu’s heart sank, dimly guessing that the Spirit-Locking Candles had been broken by Sang Sang. She figured it wouldn’t be long before Sang Sang fully transformed into Yen Jiuying.

Si Tu had come alone, without the knowledge of the higher realms, and now facing Sang Sang, she couldn’t help but feel a tremor of fear.

The two stood opposite each other, gazing steadily for a long time. Finally, Si Tu mustered her courage and said, “I came to find you because I want to tell you that Sang Ning’s death has nothing to do with Senior Brother. Don’t hold it against him. Everything he did was just to...”

Sang Sang calmly interrupted: “I know.”

Si Tu knew that once Sang Sang returned to the Demon Realm, she would inevitably discover the cause of Sang Ning’s death.

To avoid implicating the Divine Realm, and to prevent a rift between the two, she had taken the risk alone. She hadn’t expected Sang Sang to be so calm, but...

“Then why are you still going to the Divine Realm?” Si Tu asked. “You might not know, but the Divine Realm has already set a trap, waiting for you to fall into it.”

The Supreme Dao Venerable intended to use Ji Hengyu as bait. Once Sang Sang approached the Divine Realm, she would be a trapped beast, and even if Ji Hengyu wanted to save her, he would be powerless against all the gods of the Divine Realm.

Si Tu knew that leaving Sang Sang was always a potential disaster, but she couldn’t bring herself to be heartless.

Thinking of the deceased Sang Ning, and Ji Hengyu, and then of Sang Sang, who was truly innocent, she bit her dry lips, her voice strained, “Sang Sang, go back to Tianze River. Don’t come out again.”

As her words fell, Sang Sang responded with a soft laugh.

Si Tu didn’t know what she was laughing at and was momentarily stunned.

She walked towards Si Tu step by step.

At this moment, the sky was brightening. Fine, fragmented morning light, like falling stars, tumbled within her long sleeves, making her glow brightly, like a saintess.

“Imprison me,” Sang Sang extended her hands, “Imprison me back to the Divine Realm.”

Si Tu’s eyes widened.

Her thoughts paused for a moment, then she regained clarity and realized what Sang Sang was saying. “Do you know what awaits you in the Divine Realm?”

“I know.”

“Knowing it’s a dead end, why don’t you flee?”

“I saw the ending in the Spirit-Locking Candles.” She said, “Ji Hengyu wishes for the peace of all beings, and his heart’s desire is also my wish. A’Tu, if others mention me, I hope you first think of a friend, not a world-destroying demon; if others mention Ji Hengyu, I also hope they say he is a god who saves the world, not the husband of a demon god.”

Sang Sang’s eyes were red and raw, “A’Tu, my brother died to save me. How can I possibly cling to life?”

Si Tu found herself unable to speak.

The day dawned, morning light burst through the darkness, but the dark clouds above her head had not yet dispersed. Her frail figure stood beneath a small shadow, pale, broken, yet utterly clear-headed.

Si Tu felt an inexplicable, intense sorrow in her heart, and tears streamed down her face.

She also forgot what fear was. As Sang Sang said, standing before her was a friend, not a demon god. She approached step by step and embraced her.

“Sang Sang, I’m sorry. I was actually there when Sang Ning died, but... but I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know how to help Sang Ning, nor how to help you.” Si Tu’s body trembled, her voice choked and broken into several fragments.

“You’re willing to go to Luoyu Palace, and you’re willing to come find me. You’ve already done so much for me, so I hope it’s you who takes me back to the Divine Realm, not anyone else from there, A’Tu, you’ll agree, won’t you?”

Si Tu shook her head desperately, the uncontrollable grief making her sob aloud.

Sang Sang quietly listened to her crying, and said, “Actually, I always felt a sense of closeness with you.”

“I... me too.”

Sang Sang pushed her away, gently wiped away her tears, and reached out her hands again.

Si Tu gave her a deep look, and the demon-restraining rings settled on Sang Sang’s wrists.

**

News of the Demon God’s capture quickly spread throughout the Three Realms.

Compared to Yen Jiuying’s second rebirth, what was even more talked about was her fleeting romance with Heavenly Lord Heng in the mortal realm. Some said Heavenly Lord Heng felt no true affection, merely using love as a guise, a trap to lure the demon into formation. Others said the couple were in perfect harmony, and Heavenly Lord Heng surely couldn’t bear to slay her with his sword.

For a time, opinions varied, all waiting for the Demon Subjugation Day in ten days to see if Heavenly Lord Heng would obey the command and kill his wife to prove his enlightenment.

After all, the Evil-Repelling Chi Li Sword he wielded was the only ancient divine sword forged from divine bones in all of heaven and earth.

The Three Realms eagerly awaited, finally reaching the Demon Subjugation Day.

For this crucial moment, the Divine Realm set up a Heaven-Gazing Mirror in the mountains, connected to the Immortal Slaying Platform, allowing all immortals of the Three Realms to witness the Demon God’s demise.

The Immortal Slaying Platform was originally the execution ground for sinful immortals.

Now, a hundred layers of restrictions were set up. Around the circular platform, there were four divine pillars named after the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Black Tortoise, and Vermillion Bird, respectively. Four divine-locking chains extended from these pillars to the center, each imprisoning one of her limbs.

Sang Sang was thus suspended mid-air.

The Heaven-GGazing Mirror in the center reflected her. Through the ripples in the mirror, she saw herself in plain clothes, her pale face lacking its usual vibrancy, her eyes clear as water, revealing a sense of peace.

The platform below was packed with immortals, three layers deep outside, three layers deep inside.

Even above the clouds, countless immortal soldiers and guardian immortals stood guard in dense formation.

Such a scene was truly rare.

Almost all the immortals of the Three Realms gathered. The Supreme Dao Venerable presided, with the twelve Golden Immortals as his protectors on either side, along with Grand Luo Martial Immortals, Grand Luo Golden Immortals, Xuanming Immortals, and other high gods rarely seen on ordinary days. The mere display was enough to intimidate.

The lesser immortals present had not experienced the catastrophe of ten thousand years ago, and their understanding of Yen Jiuying was only superficial.

The woman imprisoned on the Immortal Slaying Platform was frail, like a piece of paper about to tear. Her head was bowed, her hair gently stirred by the floating breeze, her profile was fair, her eyelashes long and slender, and her demeanor was pure and beautiful. It was truly impossible to connect her with the world-destroying demon god.

“Is she really?”

Someone voiced a doubt.

“The Heavenly Venerable certainly cannot be wrong.”

“I heard this woman is Senior Brother’s lawfully wedded wife from the lower realm. The Heavenly Venerable ordered Senior Brother to be the executioner. If Senior Brother is unwilling...”

“Don’t speak nonsense!” Someone sharply interrupted. “Senior Brother is a sword god, and moreover, the future leader of the Divine Realm. How could he disregard the safety of all beings for personal romantic entanglements?”

These words dispelled some people’s concerns.

That’s right, Heavenly Lord Heng was the Divine Realm’s chosen leader. No one was more upright and compassionate than him. How could he abandon the greater good for a mere woman?

As they spoke, the appointed time arrived.

The Supreme Dao Venerable ascended the Immortal Slaying Platform, gently tapping the ground with his divine staff. A golden array spread out like ripples in water. “Sang Sang.”

Sang Sang lifted her eyes.

Flashes of immortal light enveloped her, her pupils dark, the whites of her eyes distinct, her lips bloodless. She stared unblinkingly at the Heavenly Venerable before her, as if she had long accepted her fate, without revealing even a trace of fear.

Such composure made the Supreme Dao Venerable regard her seriously.

“Do you have anything else to say?”

Sang Sang shook her head.

She had no regrets in this life, and being trapped on this Immortal Slaying Platform was her own wish. Even if she had something to confide, it wouldn’t be to these high immortals.

“Good.” The Supreme Dao Venerable nodded, turning his back to Sang Sang and facing the masses. “A thousand years ago, the demon god Yen Jiuying perished in Tian Mountain Prison, but her soul did not dissipate and was reborn by borrowing a life. One hundred seventy-eight of my disciples unfortunately died by her hand. Today, the demon god is brought to justice on this Immortal Slaying Platform. Only by slaying her can we offer sacrifices to all beings and comfort their souls!”

“Slay her!”

“Slay her!”

“Slay her!!”

The shouts of killing were incessant, their mighty force shattering the clouds.

Under this influence, all the gazes on Sang Sang were now filled only with hatred.

“Zihang, it’s your turn.”

With the mention of Zihang, the chaos immediately subsided.

Sang Sang also looked up.

She saw the crowd part on both sides, and a figure emerged from within.

He wore an immortal feather crown and a robe of profound gold jade satin, outlining his tall and elegant immortal posture, full of grace. There was almost no sign of his emaciated and disheveled state from the illusion.

Ji Hengyu was expressionless, his clear and cold eyes showing neither sorrow nor joy.

The demon-slaying sword was tightly clasped in his hand. Covered by his wide sleeve, no one could see his slightly trembling fingertips.

The crowd involuntarily held their breath, nervously watching him ascend the divine steps, one by one, towards the Immortal Slaying Platform.

The Supreme Dao Venerable blocked Ji Hengyu’s path. He gazed at him with deep eyes for a few moments, then clapped Ji Hengyu on the shoulder, whispering, “Don’t disappoint the Three Realms.”

The Three Realms.

That was a great hope, and a reliance.

Ji Hengyu’s body stiffened, but he did not move.

The Supreme Dao Venerable withdrew his gaze, brushing past him.

The two were a few feet apart, not far.

Ji Hengyu’s eyes were deeply set, staring intently at her.

They had lived together day and night, slept in each other’s arms every night. Only Ji Hengyu could see that she had grown thinner and suffered greatly.

His wide sleeves swayed like butterfly wings in the wind, revealing a segment of her snow-white, slender wrist. Golden shackles were tightly bound there, and from being constricted for so long, a deep, bone-deep blood mark had formed around it.

Ji Hengyu then looked at her face.

Skin as pale as snow, adorned with a pair of clear, shining eyes.

A bitter taste arose in his throat.

Then, a crisp sound of a blade being drawn. Ji Hengyu pulled out his sword.

The people below were filled with anticipation. Only Si Tu, hidden in the crowd, watched all this, covering her mouth to suppress her tears.

Ji Hengyu gripped his sword and continued to approach her.

Sang Sang looked down at him, moving her lips, “...Kill me.”

Ji Hengyu spoke in a voice only they could hear, “I’ve come to save you.” His voice was extremely low, and the tenderness in his gaze was as it always had been; he had never changed.

Sang Sang couldn’t help but smile at him.

“Sang Sang, don’t be afraid. I’ll take you away.”

Sang Sang shook her head.

A couple’s hearts are connected. In fact, from the moment he stepped onto the platform and looked at her for the first time, she knew exactly what he intended to do. But she understood, and Ji Hengyu also understood, that what lay before them was a dead end with no turning back, an insurmountable chasm.

Only death could resolve it.

From the beginning, all of this was destined.

“Husband, kill me,” she said in a soft yet firm tone, “Kill me.”

Ji Hengyu trembled all over.

A flush of red quickly spread to the corners of his eyes, hot tears clinging to his eyelids, refusing to fall.

“I can’t.”

He rarely showed his emotions. Sang Sang knew that for Ji Hengyu, this moment was harder to bear than death itself.

“Ji Hengyu, you should understand that I cannot live.”

“I’ll take you away...”

Sang Sang closed her eyes and shook her head. She tried to maintain her smile, but tears rolled down first, “Sooner or later... sooner or later his soul will possess me, but that won’t be me. You know better than anyone that even if I live, what remains in the end will be someone else’s soul.” She asked him, “You and I have seen the most beautiful sights in this world. Can you bear to destroy it all for this private affection?”

“Ji Hengyu, I killed my brother. I don’t want to hurt anyone else.” She opened her eyes, washed clean by tears. “Ji Hengyu, kill me.”

He was struggling, a thick white mist blurring his vision.

Ji Hengyu resisted with all his might, “You are my wife.”

Sang Sang smiled, “But you are also a god who protects all beings.”

“Ji Hengyu, please, I beg you, kill—”

Before her words finished, Ji Hengyu’s eyes held a determined look, followed by a chilling sensation that pierced his chest.

In an instant, the excruciating pain of a tearing soul crushed him from his heart, spreading quickly through his limbs and bones.

Her vision blurred, her thoughts chaotic, then quickly cleared.

She opened her mouth, her head slowly resting on his shoulder. She loved the cold, cedar-like scent of him, it brought her peace. Her heartbeat was very slow. Sang Sang didn’t feel pain, she was very happy, and closed her eyes, letting out a soft laugh.

“I knew it, you always listen to me.”

The Chi Li Sword pierced her chest, warm blood dripping along the blade onto his fingertips.

Her white robe was soaked. Ji Hengyu’s body was also stained with the blood gushing from her. He trembled all over, the hand holding the sword unsteady, the veins on the back of his hand bulging.

Ji Hengyu felt cold.

He felt as though his entire being had been thrown into deep, icy water. He couldn’t breathe, couldn’t struggle. Besides tears, nothing else would fall.

Ji Hengyu waved his hand, retracting the chains. Once freed from their restraint, she loosely collapsed into his arms.

Ji Hengyu held her as he fell.

He held her so tightly, with such force, that it felt as if he was trying to crush her into his bones.

The people below saw her shattered soul, saw her thin robe stained red with blood. After a moment of stunned silence, cheers erupted.

“The Demon God is slain!”

“The Demon God is slain!!”

“Excellent—! Senior Brother has avenged our fallen brothers!!!”

They were shouting, laughing, celebrating, cheering, exulting.

Auspicious clouds enveloped the heavens and earth, seemingly witnessing this joyous event.

Ji Hengyu only felt a commotion.

He wished he could raise his sword and slaughter this world, wished he could dismember every person here with a thousand cuts, wished he could die right then and there, die with her.

Large, scalding tears fell on her brow.

Sang Sang reached out and caressed his face, whispering, “Gods do not weep over the death of a demon.”

Ji Hengyu tightly clutched her cold fingers, “But the one lying in his arms is his wife.”

Sang Sang smiled upon hearing this.

She closed her eyes, feeling her breath falter, her soul scattering like dust in the wind. “Growing old together, for you and me... seems to be a difficult matter.”

She softly said, “Husband, you must live well.”

Her soul vanished.

Her body was like shifting sand, like drifting clouds, leaving not even a trace of essence for Ji Hengyu in the end.

The fall of the sinful god signified the erasure of heavenly retribution.

The world-destroying celestial phenomenon, suspended above the dome, dissipated along with Sang Sang. At this moment, people’s excitement reached its peak.

All four seas and eight provinces celebrated the demise of Yen Jiuying.

Below the Immortal Slaying Platform, they hailed Ji Hengyu with reverence, calling him a hero who saved the world. Yet, the one he had killed was his own wife, the love of his life.

Ji Hengyu stared blankly at the lingering bloodstains in his arms, and in an instant, something dawned on him.

Rage and grief overwhelmed him, his heart and soul were torn to shreds. He curled up on the ground, his hoarse screams from deep within his chest muffled by the cheers from all sides.

No one cared.

No one cared who he had killed; no one cared what he had lost. They only knew he was Heavenly Lord Heng, the future leader of the Divine Realm.

This sword strike was merely his necessary mission on the path to the Heavenly Dao.