Chapter 280 (end)

Six Months Later

"Zheng Nan, don't run so fast."

A child who was still wearing open-crotch pants* wriggled his two fleshy short legs, skipped through the flowering shrubs, and pounced on the person who was tending to the flowers.

Xie Bi An hugged Zhong Zheng Nan, and the two let out giggles at the same time.

"Master." Zhong Zheng Nan called out tenderly, "It's so hot."

"You run around like this and are sweating all over. No wonder you’re feeling hot." Xie Bi An clamped him with both arms and wiped the mud off his hands before picking him up. He turned around, went inside the house, and poured him a cup of water.

The child took the cup of water and gulped it down.

"Slow down, or else you’ll choke. Why do you do everything so rashly? You’re like......" When Xie Bi An was about to continue speaking, he couldn't help laughing. This child was the reincarnation of his master, so it’s not surprising that he’s similar to master’s temperament.

"One more cup." The child wiped his mouth and handed it to Xie Bi An.

When Xie Bi An saw his naïve appearance, he couldn't help but laugh again. Why was he so similar to the way his master craved wine back then? When his master was young, did he have the manner of drinking wine when he drank water?

At this time, the courtyard door was pushed open with a creak. Fan Wu She came in while carrying a piece of pork, two jin of white wine, and a basket of vegetables: "Big brother, I'm back."

"Have you bought everything I asked you to?"

"I’ve bought them all."

Xie Bi An took the items and checked: "Fengdu's Xiaoyaoniang is master's favorite drink. Let’s make a few dishes that master loves to eat."

Right now, they were in Fengdu's Orchid Garden.

After sealing the Heavenly Secret Talisman, they began to eliminate the ghosts inside and outside of Fengdu. In a few months, they brought back many people who had left their homes. In these few days, everyone in the city has been rebuilding their homes in full swing.

The orchid garden, which was mostly destroyed previously, was also planted with all kinds of orchids. He recalled that he had not rebuilt the orchid garden in Wuji Palace in his previous life, because at that time, he was already dispirited even though he was the emperor who could easily plant orchids all over Daming City. Now that he had personally rebuilt the orchid garden in Fengdu, not only was his wish fulfilled, but it also made him realize that his natural character, which had been frozen for a long time, was recovering bit by bit.

Today was the anniversary of Zhong Kui's death. They planned to set out on their journey with Zhong Zheng Nan after paying homage to Zhong Kui. Fengdu had returned to peace and stability, and the underworld was in charge. They wanted to travel around to subdue the demons and eliminate the evil spirits.

Fan Wu She rubbed Zhong Zheng Nan's head: "Did you listen to your master when I wasn't around?"

"I listened. Did martial uncle bring sugar figurines for me?"

"Still thinking of eating candy every day?" Fan Wu She took out a small rubber ball from his qiankun bag, "Go and play with this."

The child hugged the small rubber ball and ran out excitedly.

Xie Bi An was still thinking about making a few dishes when his waist was tightened suddenly. Fan Wu She hugged him from behind.

"Cut it out." Xie Bi An was a little nervous. He turned his head back to find Zhong Zheng Nan for fear that the child would see something. However, Fan Wu She was used to being presumptuous, and this was probably not Zhong Zheng Nan’s first time seeing it.

"He’s playing outside. Don't mind him." Fan Wu She put his steaming hot lips on Xie Bi An's neck. "I haven't seen big brother for 2 hours and missed you already. What can I do about it?"

"You’re talking nonsense again."

"I'm not talking nonsense. You see, we have to cultivate, take care of our child, eliminate evil spirits, and plant flowers every day. We really have too little time to be alone." Fan Wu She put his forehead against Xie Bi An's cheek and said with dissatisfaction.

"That’s nonsense. We’re together every day." Xie Bi An patted his hand, "Alright, alright, let go of me. That Dongpo pork* has to take a long time to stew."

Fan Wu She came close to Xie Bi An's face and acted like a spoiled child, "Kiss me, big brother."

Xie Bi An secretly smiled and gave a peck on Fan Wu She's lips.

"Tell me what you did during the 2 hours when I was away. I don't want to miss it at all."

"I moved a few flowers and fertilized them. When we leave in a few days' time, the orchid garden will be handed over to Aunt Liu to take care of, and I'm still a bit worried."

"We will come back from time to time." Fan Wu She continued to kiss Xie Bi An's face intimately, "Big brother is so fragrant. You were originally very fragrant, but every time you stay in the orchid garden for a while, you become even more fragrant.”

"You use the same things as me to fumigate your clothes and quilt with aromatics, as well as bathing supplies, so the smell on your body is also similar to mine."

"That's different. Big brother just smells extraordinarily good. I've loved it since I was a child." Fan Wu She chuckled, "You blame me for biting you. It's all because big brother smells so good that I want to eat one mouthful at a time."

"Alright, don't say such......" Xie Bi An's face was hot. He couldn't stand Fan Wu She’s obscene remarks all day long. He would be even more ridiculous if their clothes were taken off. He pinched Fan Wu She's hand, "Hurry up and let go, I'm going to cook."

Only then did Fan Wu She reluctantly released him: "I'll help you."

"Okay, wash the meat."

In the past, when Xie Bi An cooked in Wuji Palace, Xiao Jiu also liked to be around the cooking stove*. No, in fact, he liked to be around his big brother. He often said he wanted to help, but he just wanted to steal food. Now, Xiao Jiu had grown up. He would still steal food. However, he really did help out. They washed their hands together and made the broth. What was sweet and fragrant was not only the food, but also the great tenderness between lovers soaked in the smell of smoke and fire in the world*.

----

They brought along the steaming hot food and wine, carried Zhong Zheng Nan, and went to pay homage to Zhong Kui.

Zhong Kui's grave was always clean and tidy. A cultivator who had received Zhong Kui's grace volunteered to be the tomb keeper. Tens of thousands of people had gone to worship the Heaven Master’s memorial temple a few li away from morning till night. The actual place where he was buried was not known to outsiders.

Xie Bi An placed the wine and food properly, burned the incense, and brought Fan Wu She and Zhong Zheng Nan to kneel down together.

"Zheng Nan, this is your grand-master*. He’s master’s master. In the future every year, master will bring you to pay homage to grand-master. If one day master is too old to walk, you must also come on behalf of master. Do you understand?"

Zhong Zheng Nan still couldn’t read the words on the tombstone and did not even understand who was lying there. He only nodded obediently: "Disciple understands."

Xie Bi An kowtowed deeply, "Master, disciple has come to see you."

Fan Wu She also kowtowed, "One day as a teacher, a lifetime as a teacher. Master, the disciple will use the rest of my life to redeem my sins. Master can watch over me from heaven.”

Xie Bi An filled up three cups of wine, drank with Zhong Kui*, and told him everything that had happened in the past. When something sad was mentioned, he couldn’t help but shed tears. He really missed his master. Throughout his two lives, only Zhong Kui treated him sincerely and unconditionally for his own good from the beginning to end. To him, Zhong Kui was his master and father who filled in his great shortcomings in his previous life and gave him the skills and faith to persevere in this life.

Upon seeing this, Zhong Zheng Nan reached out his little hand to wipe Xie Bi An's tears and said in a soft little voice, "Master, please don't cry."

Xie Bi An was greatly touched. He embraced the child and a surge of strength grew as he said softly, "Master, I hope this disciple has not let you down."

Fan Wu She said gently, "Big brother is the best disciple in the world. Master would be proud of you."

Infinite softness and firmness were growing in Xie Bi An’s heart as he looked at the tombstone standing quietly in front of him, and the clever child nestling in his arms. He smiled and said, "Master, I will spend my life subduing demons, eliminating evil spirits, protecting the people, and guarding the stability and peace of the human and ghost realms, just like how you did." He looked at Fan Wu She, "Junior brother will also help me."

Fan Wu She took his hand, "Yes."

Xie Bi An said solemnly and certainly, "When Zheng Nan grows up, he will pass on this mission from generation to generation. In the next hundred million years, the world will still pay homage and worship Heaven Master Zhong Kui."

From now on, there would be no more Human Emperor or Supreme Demon. Those horribly dark or beautiful legendary stories would gradually fade away in time. Only two Impermanence immortals, one black and one white, would wander around Jiuzhou all year round, subdue demons, eliminate evil spirits, release fierce ghosts and wronged spirits from suffering and enlighten them so that a clear distinction between life and death would be made and everyone would respect each other without disturbing one another. It was also ensured that the good would be rewarded and the evil would be punished so that everyone would respect karma.

The story has an end, and life is long.

--End of the book...

 

SQC’s notes: Ahhhhhhhhh it’s ended it’s ended it’s ended HAHAHAHAHA

 

----

PS: hahahaha finally finally hahahaHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA fk I’m having neck problems for sitting too long in front of my laptop.

PPS: I want to thank my dear editors Emzie and Limit for your hard work and dedication in helping me out. Without you guys, I would literally drown in the vast sea. And...thank you readers for appreciating this masterpiece written by SQC, feel free to comment your reviews here or in Novelupdates, would love to hear what others' have to say about this. Honestly, I feel the ending is pretty rushed and abrupt. (I still dk what SZH was doing before he reincarnated LOL) Hopefully, SQC will make it up in the extra chapters.

PS from Emzie: Holy crap I can't believe we made it to the end. When I first joined this project, I never even thought about making it this far, it doesn't even feel real. But yes, I agree with you that the ending felt a bit rushed. I want to know what Zong Zi Heng did before his reincarnation too! Like did he go to hell like Zong Zi Xiao or was he given a duty to fulfill like Day and Night Patrol? Would Fan Wu She have seen anything if he looked at the three lives stone? Can't wait for the extra chapters to see if our questions are answered!! (also Xiao Lan and Xiao Hong papapa scene?? Maaaaybe??)

 

open-crotch pants* [开裆裤]---worn by toddlers. This term appeared in one of the chapters before (I forgot which), but I didn’t include a picture. Here’s how it’s looked like (see pic below, modernized version), so yeah technically you can see the toddler’s butt exposed when they wear it.

Dongpo pork* [东坡肉]---(see pic below). My parents’ favourite but not mine HAHA because it looks so fatty. Usually, this dish is served in Singapore’s Chinese wedding, where guests will eat it together with white buns (see 2^nd pic below)

cooking stove* [锅台]---(see pic below)

smell of smoke and fire in the world* [人间烟火气]---there’s no proper EN TL for this. The full phrase for this is 人间烟火味，最抚凡人心 which comes from 《一日禅知》. Meaning: the common things/ordinary life you see in your street/town are things that bring you the most comfort.  

grand-master* [师祖]---aka Shizu. Idk the EN for this lel so I just followed the grandfather à great-grandfather way of addressing

drank with Zhong Kui* [陪钟馗喝了起来]---ZK didn’t literally drink xD From what I watched from dramas, the living will pour the wine on the ground.

 

Edited on 11 Aug. 21 (Emzie)

 

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Chapter 279

That day, Lake Jinwu reflected a blood-colored setting sun. All the devastation would accompany the sunset and gradually disappear in the dark, but someone would eventually clean up the battlefield, repair the wreckage, and heal the painful wounds. When the sun rose in the East, everything would be peaceful and prosperous again.

That day will come sooner or later.

But now, they were still in the endless night*. They were the group of people cleaning the battlefield.

After Xu Zhi Nan's death, although Chunyang Sect retrieved the Golden Carved Jade Suit, they still had a long way to go to revitalize their sect, and the other sects also had their own difficult situations.

The burden of rebuilding the Immortal Alliance fell on Song Chun Gui. Looking at the immortal cultivation world, it was impossible to find a leader that everyone could trust other than him, and this future Immortal Lord, who had lost his golden core and no longer had a chance to be on the immortal path, was a person that everyone had high hopes for.

However, when he brought a group of cultivators to Luojinwu to fight against Xu Zhi Nan, when he was more concerned about the world than himself, and when he stood up on his own without being haughty or humble and said "the Dao is in his heart, not in his dantian", he had already cultivated the great Dao at that moment, so why would he care about the amount of spiritual power and the level of swordsmanship?

Most of the disciples of the Wuliang Sect supported him. Casual cultivators and small sects, who had been excluded from the regulation of aristocratic families, supported him too. The elders and sect relatives who had witnessed him not fearing life and death and fighting against the demonic immortal families for many years were sincerely convinced despite being unable to swallow up their own pride.

Therefore, Song Chun Gui was promoted to Alliance Leader of the Immortal Alliance in Luojinwu under everyone’s witness. A simple meal and wine became the first chapter of the future of the human realm’s immortal cultivation world.

Song Chun Gui would return to Wuliang Sect, deal with Li Zhi Qing, seize the position of Sect Leader, and spend the rest of his life from now on recovering the immortal cultivation world and bringing peace back to the human realm.

And Qi Meng Sheng would return to Kunlun. Her disciples and people were waiting for her. Before she left, she announced that the Cangyu Sect would withdraw from the Immortal Alliance, and without her permission, there would be no communication between inside and outside the Pass.

She only took away her Cangyu Sect’s magical treasure and her determination to never set foot in this sad place in the Central Plains again.

Both Xie Bi An and Fan Wu She were seriously injured and were recuperating in Luojinwu.

Fan Wu She absorbed a large amount of Yin energy from the Heavenly Secret Talisman when he fought against Jiang Qu Lian. He was probably only one step away from triggering his inner demons. During his recuperation in these few days, he used his spiritual power to force the Yin energy out of his body, so he was quite weak during this time.

Especially when he saw Xie Bi An, he would become exceptionally weak. Even the food had to be fed to him.

Xie Bi An looked at Fan Wu She’s helpless and innocent face and his fingers clutching the spoon, he could not tell if he really could not eat on his own or if he was pretending.

"Big brother, it's okay, I'm not hungry either." Fan Wu She said and lowered his head.

"Alright, just eat. You have to eat even if you're not hungry." Xie Bi An sighed secretly and brought the spoon to his mouth, "Your wound will heal quickly this way.”

Fan Wu She was unrestrained and was eating the food made and fed by his big brother without qualms about it: "Big brother's cooking is the best in the world."

"Then eat more." Xie Bi An caught a hint of cunning in Fan Wu She's eyes yet did not expose him.

After finishing the meal, Xie Bi An wanted to clear the table, but Fan Wu She held his hand with one hand and took the tray with the other hand and put it aside: "There’s no hurry. Sit with me for a while."

"It's hard to wash them after leaving it for a long time. I'll go and......"

"Big brother, stop avoiding me. It's useless." Fan Wu She's big hand wrapped around Xie Bi An's hand. He said warmly, "It's been so long. No matter how you hide, I'll always chase after you, won't I?"

Xie Bi An sighed lightly, "I just hope you get well quickly now, and then......"

"And then what?"

"Then we go back to the Underworld and seal the Heavenly Secret Talisman." Xie Bi An looked straight into Fan Wu She's eyes, "Just like you promised me at the beginning."

"I promised you that after everything was over, I would seal the Heavenly Secret Talisman." Fan Wu She said with deep emotion, "What about the promise you made to me?”

"......"

"Let's go and pick up our reincarnated master, and the three of us will be together and never separate, okay?"

Xie Bi An pondered for a moment. He looked straight at Fan Wu She and did not evade: "Wu She, I still don’t know how to face you naturally. There are some things in my heart that cannot disappear."

"I understand. You just need to let me stay by your side. I will use this lifetime to compensate for you. As long as we don’t separate, everything will be fine." Fan Wu She gently lifted Xie Bi An's chin, "Big brother isn't willing to separate from me, right?"

Xie Bi An blinked and looked away as his eyes twinkled.

"Big brother is not willing to separate from me. From now on, no one can separate us anymore."

Xie Bi An pursed his lips, "You must listen to big brother."

"I'll listen."

"You have to do your best to repay the evil you have done in this life. You must do good deeds throughout your life."

"I’ll repay it."

"You also have to......"

Fan Wu She leaned in and kissed Xie Bi An's lips. He was kissing him gently, softly, indulgently, sincerely, and lovingly.

After Xie Bi An was slightly stunned, there was a little struggle in his eyes, but he didn't push him away.

This kiss was so deep with love as if it could melt the snowfields of Kunlun. Even the light gasps exchanged between them were the sound of breaking ice.

---

After Fan Wu She recovered from his injuries, the two left Luojinwu and returned to Fengdu City.

The Yin Yang Monument had been repaired, but there were still no people and ghosts in the city. The people who had fled this place did not dare to come back so easily. Even though the Yin servants had cleared the city as well as the outside, those wronged spirits and fierce ghosts released by Jiang Qu Lian still needed to be released from their sufferings and enlightened by thousands of cultivators all over Jiuzhou. This would be the biggest responsibility of the Immortal Alliance in the future, and there is a long way to go with this important job.

They returned to the Underworld. Under Cui Jue's supervision, the Underworld had been restored to its former state, and Bo Zhu became the person who followed him.

"I have personally sent Day Patrol and Night Patrol to reincarnate." Cui Jue said with a smile, "I specially chose two families who were friends for a long time from the same city for them. Both are wealthy and kind hearted. They will arrange a betrothal for them* and the two will love each other until old age.”

Xie Bi An was delighted from the bottom of his heart: "That’s great. They have redeemed their sins and have made great achievements. They deserve it."

"Yeah. After five hundred years of not leaving each other, they finally got married." Cui Jue sighed with emotion.

"And what about you?" Xie Bi An looked at Bo Zhu, "Isn't it time for you to reincarnate too?"

Bo Zhu was a kid picked up by Xie Bi An on Huangquan Road. He was escorted by the Yin servants and was about to go to Yanluo Hall, but yelled that he wanted to be a ghost rather than a human being, because he was prone to illnesses and had been bedridden since he was a child. He was despised by his family as a burden. “Bo Zhu” was a name that he changed for himself, insinuating that his life was like a weak candle flame*. He died young at the age of 13 and became a ghost. On the contrary, he was happier to stand up and walk for the first time than being a human.

Xie Bi An was soft hearted for a moment and took him back to the Heaven Master Palace. However, he had been trying to convince him to reincarnate. He had not done evil throughout his life and would surely reincarnate into a good family.

Bo Zhu smiled: "Little White Master, I decided not to reincarnate. When I was alive, I was suffering every day. Why should I go to the precarious human realm again? I want to stay with Official Lord Cui so that I can see you again when you return to the Underworld."

Xie Bi An opened his mouth and wanted to persuade him, but looking at Bo Zhu's sparkling eyes, he was convinced that he really liked the Underworld more. He nodded after sighing lightly, "That's fine."

Cui Jue asked, "What are your plans for the future?"

After thinking about it, Xie Bi An decided not to tell Cui Jue that they were going to adopt Zhong Kui's reincarnation. On the contrary, they could be like Zhong Kui; bring the child back to the Underworld one day, report to Cui Jue later, and let him have no choice but to accept it. Thinking about this, Xie Bi An couldn't help laughing, "Official Lord Cui, we came back this time to put the Heavenly Secret Talisman back into the Eastern Emperor’s Bell and seal it up."

Cui Jue nodded his head in appreciation, "Very good."

"After that......" Xie Bi An looked at Fan Wu She, "After all that has happened, I have long been exhausted and would love to find a secret place to live in seclusion and spend the rest of my life in peace. However, I can't let those wronged spirits and fierce ghosts harm people. I am the Impermanence. From now on, I should also perform the duties as an Impermanence until the human and ghost realms return to their former peace."

Fan Wu She said without hesitation, "There are black and white Impermanence. I will do whatever big brother does."

Cui Jue frowned at Fan Wu She and coughed lightly, "I'm relieved that Bi An can control you. I believe that he will not let you go if you do evil again.”

"I won't." Xie Bi An said with certainty.

Fan Wu She curled his lips and smiled again.

When the two came out from the Judge’s mansion, they did not delay and flew towards the Eastern Emperor’s Bell.

The two stood in front of the towering Eastern Emperor's Bell and strongly felt its power and majesty. This was undoubtedly the only place that could seal the ancient evil item, the Heavenly Secret Talisman, and this should be the best place for the Heavenly Secret Talisman to return to.

Fan Wu She looked at the jade talisman in his hand and had mixed feelings in his heart. To say that there was no reluctance in sealing this divine treasure was certainly false. He was born with great talent. After knowing that he had tyrannical potential, his male ambition began to expand infinitely. He longed for power and pursued it. If it was not because of Xie Bi An, he wouldn't hand over the Heavenly Secret Talisman even if there was a landslide and the three realms were destroyed.

But he really didn't need the Heavenly Secret Talisman now, because he had his big brother, which was his biggest source of power.

He looked into Xie Bi An's eyes and sent the Heavenly Secret Talisman away with his own hands.

Xie Bi An nodded and gave him an affirmative look. He then controlled the Shanhe Sheji Map, tilted the Eastern Emperor's Bell up to show a small gap and resealed the Heavenly Secret Talisman.

When the Eastern Emperor's Bell landed on the ground with an ancient and sacred dull sound, their hearts seemed to be gently and slowly put on the ground from the high sky.

Fan Wu She blinked at Xie Bi An, "Big brother, am I obedient?"

"Mm."

"Because I love you."

Xie Bi An blushed at this unexpected sentence. He stammered, "You..."

Fan Wu She took Xie Bi An's hand: "From now on, you are the only person in the world who possesses an ancient divine treasure. Go and do what you want to do. I will always be with you."

Xie Bi An stared at Fan Wu She blankly. This familiar face that ran through his past and present lives reminded him of many things that happened in the past; happy, sad, good, and bad. He had seen the most innocent and dependent look, the most evil and brutal look, the most loyal and affectionate look, and the most despaired and fearful look on this face. All his different looks composed of the person he loved most in his life. Whether it was Xiao Jiu, Zong Zi Xiao or Fan Wu She, he had never let him go. He will never let him go.

So, they chased the sky light leaking from the gap between the black clouds and passed through this extremely long wind and rain*.

Xie Bi An turned his face and looked at the ancient Eastern Emperor’s Bell in front of him. He reached out and caressed its thick bronze body and profound totems. When he closed his eyes, it was as if he heard the loud sound that could split the chaotic world coming from beyond the highest heavens, just like his master's patient and sincere teachings to him.

He got inspired because of this. He opened his eyes and revealed a peaceful and beautiful smile to Fan Wu She: "Okay." Suddenly, a garden of orchids was in full bloom. He was still that eldest prince who was gentle, brave, and delicate among the flowers.

Fan Wu She held his hand tightly. He only felt his heart throbbing and an inexplicable urge to shed tears. To see such a smile on this face again, all the pain and suffering he had suffered for a hundred years had become his willingness.

 

----

PS: Cui Jue: You guys are really…like master like disciple…taking advantage of my toleration! (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻

PPS: ONE MORE CHAPTER TO GO HKDFSNGN

endless night* [漫漫长夜]---means things still haven’t ended. Usually, it is used for sufferings that doesn’t seem to end.

betrothal for them* [娃娃亲]---the betrothal of a little boy and a little girl arranged by parents of both sides.

weak candle flame* [薄烛]--- 薄 (Bo)=weak 烛 (Zhu)=candle.

wind and rain* [风雨]--- trials and hardships

 

Edited on 10 Aug. 21 (Emzie)

 

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Chapter 278

Xu Zhi Nan’s expression was gloomy. He snorted coldly, generated a wind with a sweep of his palm, and that yellow talisman was like being caught in a whirlwind, which instantly tore it into pieces. However, the blood-colored talisman did not disappear. The ghostly red glow intensified and became more and more dazzling in the air. The sky which was bright just now had darkened suddenly.

Qi Meng Sheng probably had poured all the spiritual power she could transfer into this soul-summoning talisman.

"Qi Meng Sheng, are you crazy? Jiang Qu Lian told me that Cheng Yan Zhi had already been reincarnated. What’s the use even if you can summon back a fragmented earth soul?!"

After a person died, among the three souls, the heavenly soul would return to heaven, the earth soul would return to earth, and the human soul would be led to the underworld and reincarnated. The mind, memory, and cultivation of the earth soul were incomplete. The only "function" was that those with obsession or resentment might become evil spirits.

"Might as well try it to see whether it’s effective or not." Qi Meng Sheng rebuked in a low voice. Her spiritual pressure was flaring up, and her eyes were flickering with a firm and persistent light.

Xu Zhi Nan inexplicably started to panic. He simply bit his finger and drew a forbidden talisman in the air. This forbidden talisman was a universal talisman. As long as the caster was strong enough, it could destroy any spell and formation. That forbidden talisman was wrapped with a green glow and attacked the soul-summoning talisman. The two talismans collided and competed in mid-air. If it had been Qi Meng Sheng, who was a generation of Immortal Lords in those years, she would have had the strength to fight with the current Xu Zhi Nan. However, Hua Xiang Rong's body was too weak in comparison. Soon, the soul-summoning talisman was in a disadvantageous position.

Xie Bi An immediately came up with an idea: "Wu She, change the soul weapon!"

Fan Wu She immediately understood. The soul weapon was far more useful on the soul than the physical body. As Qi Meng Sheng said, Xu Zhi Nan's soul was not stable in Cheng Yan Zhi's body. Even after eating a top-quality human core and breaking through the Imperishable Heavenly Fire, from Xu Zhi Nan's reaction, it could be seen that the different spirit and flesh still could not be fully merged. If the real soul of this body was summoned back at this time, it would have a great impact on Xu Zhi Nan. That’s why Xu Zhi Nan used his blood talisman to deal with it.

In addition, attacking Xu Zhi Nan's soul with the soul weapons now must be a heavy blow to him. Since they could not break through his tough body, they would defeat him from the inside!

Xu Zhi Nan's face suddenly changed, and he realized the purpose of this duo.

The two switched to their soul weapons and flew up, attacking Xu Zhi Nan from the front and back. These were the two parts that were easiest to strike a person's soul. The soul would be knocked out of the body if an ordinary person got hit. Xu Zhi Nan was now the body of a giant, so he could attack in a very large range, and his speed was much slower. This hard and huge body was like a fortress that could resist knives and guns, but it had become his disadvantage now.

The soul-hooking chain immediately wrapped around the crack of the Golden Carved Jade Suit. Fan Wu She ascended a few steps along Xu Zhi Nan’s body and leaped onto his shoulder. Xu Zhi Nan reached out to grab Fan Wu She, but Xie Bi An had already raised Wuqiongbi and attacked his back viciously.

Sensing the murderous aura behind him, Xu Zhi Nan had to turn back to defend and force Xie Bi An back, because the soul weapon was not a sword, he did not dare to take the attack directly.

Under the fierce converging attacks, with plenty of spiritual energy absorbed by Xu Zhi Nan’s blood talisman, he was suddenly struggling to cope.

Fan Wu She dodged Xu Zhi Nan's attack, jumped onto his shoulder several times, and aimed the soul-hooking chain between his brows.

Xu Zhi Nan shouted angrily. The golden-armored giant's hand grabbed towards Fan Wu She with an incredibly fast speed. If he was caught by this hand, he would undoubtedly be crushed.

Fan Wu She turned over again, went around to the back of his neck, and once again drew Xu Zhi Nan's attention to himself. Xie Bi An took advantage of this opportunity to attack again. He poured a lot of spiritual power into Wuqiongbi. A green spell was forming in midair. With a wave of Wuqiongbi, he hit directly on Xu Zhi Nan’s back. That spell on Xu Zhi Nan’s body looked very small, but it burst out with extreme power.

Xu Zhi Nan shouted in pain. His huge body staggered a few steps and twitched briefly but fiercely. That was his soul in shock!

Although this blow was not a heavy blow to Xu Zhi Nan, it was not easy to feasibly hurt him, and the pain on his face also proved the effectiveness of this blow.

The soul-summoning talisman, which was about to be suppressed by the forbidden talisman, became strong again because Xu Zhi Nan was injured. The blood-colored glow erupted. A sudden eerie wind spiraled close to the ground and swirled up countless fallen leaves and crushed stones.

Qi Meng Sheng once again clearly shouted the name of the summoning spirit: "Cheng, Yan, Zhi!"

Xu Zhi Nan's face gradually became pale, as if an immobilizing spell was cast on him. He suddenly slowed down all his movements, and his eyes were staring straight ahead. The muscles of his face were twitching and trembling, and his original handsome features were distorted frighteningly at this time.

When Qi Meng Sheng saw this, her tears rolled down again. She trembled and asked cautiously, "Yan Zhi, is that you?"

Xu Zhi Nan didn't move, and everyone didn't move either. The chaotic battlefield seemed to freeze instantly. It was so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.

For a long time, a faint sigh came from the air.

"Yan Zhi......" Qi Meng Sheng cried, "is it you?"

Xu Zhi Nan's body trembled uncontrollably as if something invisible was fighting in his body. His head was hung down, his hands kept trying to clench, and his lips were opening and closing slightly, letting out an indistinct voice.

"Cheng Yan Zhi!" Qi Meng Sheng roared.

Xu Zhi Nan's body trembled again. He shrunk rapidly and returned to normal. He staggered a few steps, put his back against a camphor tree, and slowly raised his head. That moment when he saw Qi Meng Sheng, his tears fell: "Is...is…it…you…?"

"It's me." Qi Meng Sheng only felt her heart ache extremely.

"Meng......Sheng......" After a hundred years, Cheng Yan Zhi's earth soul returned to his body again.

The crowd was shocked by it.

Qi Meng Sheng’s tears were running like a bubbling spring: "This is…this is the first time I've seen the real you."

"......I'm sorry." Cheng Yan Zhi was desperately suppressing something. He was using his lonely earth soul resisting Xu Zhi Nan's three souls and six spirits, and he also saw everything in Xu Zhi Nan's memories. After seeing everything, painful and hopeless tears flowed down from his eyes, "I thought......senior brother had lied to me. I'm sorry......"

"It's not your fault, Yan Zhi, it was never your fault." Qi Meng Sheng cried, "I was incompetent and didn't stop him."

Cheng Yan Zhi shook his head and murmured in pain, "Why is senior brother like this.....?"

"He is no longer the senior brother you knew. In these hundred years, too many things have happened. We have gone too far and there was no way back." Qi Meng Sheng slowly walked up to Cheng Yan Zhi. She stretched out her hands. The look of wanting to embrace but not daring to made people extremely distressed. Finally, she just gently cupped Cheng Yan Zhi's face, "Yan Zhi, you and I fell in love but never met each other in our true form. In the past, I didn't care that you were just a living dead man. Now I don't care that you are only a wisp of a remnant soul. You are always in my heart."

Cheng Yan Zhi stiffened and suddenly hugged Qi Meng Sheng. This was the first time he hugged the woman he loved most with his own body, but this time it was her turn to live in someone else's body. This bitter love spanning a hundred years would not even have a moment of perfection from beginning to end. He burst into tears: "Meng Sheng, I'm sorry. If I could restrain my emotions, none of us would be like this. I'm sorry."

Qi Meng Sheng also hugged back tightly: "Yan Zhi, let’s not talk about right and wrong. Let’s not talk about it. We must stop him now. This is our last chance."

"Okay......wuu......" Cheng Yan Zhi's body twitched again. His arms holding Qi Meng Sheng suddenly tightened. The force was so great that it seemed like he wanted to embed Qi Meng Sheng into his own body. There was a strange voice rolling in his throat and his expression was changing unpredictably. From this face, people saw the expression belonging to Xu Zhi Nan.

Qi Meng Sheng endured the pain and called out, "Yan Zhi, stop him, stop him!"

"Meng Sheng, see you…in the next life.” Cheng Yan Zhi roared furiously and pushed Qi Meng Sheng away fiercely.

Cracks suddenly appeared one by one on the body that was invincible and invulnerable to swords and spears. The dazzling golden light was shooting out from the cracks, lighting up the gloomy sky. Cheng Yan Zhi's body was like a Thunderfire Stone that was about to explode, and he screamed bitterly.

"Qi Meng Sheng----" That was Xu Zhi Nan's last roar, which was full of despair, pain, and unwillingness.

With a boom, this body burst into flames in an instant, turning into a huge ball of fire.

Qi Meng Sheng stared at the fire in a daze, and the heat dried up her tears. The golden light reflected in her pupils was clearly the most brilliant color, but she clearly gave off a miserable and lonely feeling of death.

Initially, that ball of fire burned warmly and magnificently, as if it could burn everything, but it eventually returned to desolation too. The light disappeared and the temperature cooled. Finally, it turned into a wisp of smoke and dissipated into the world.

The empty Golden Carved Jade Suit fell to the ground.

Everyone looked at this scene and could not come back to their senses for a long time.

This was originally the ultimate style of the Chunyang Technique ---- the Indestructible Heavenly Fire, where one will be reborn after death*. As long as one breaks through a boundary, one can be reborn regardless of any state, which is equivalent to having eternal life as a mortal, but if one is careless, one will be burnt alive. Cheng Yan Zhi was the genuine owner of this body. Even if he was only a wisp of a remnant soul, he had defeated Xu Zhi Nan.

From now on, there would be neither Cheng Yan Zhi nor Xu Zhi Nan in this world.

He racked his brains and suffered defeat on the verge of success. The conspiracy and scam that spanned a hundred years ended at this moment.

 

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PS: my head hurt like MAAAD today, so I’ll only upload this one chap today. Will reach 280 soon :’) (headache plz go away soon)

 

reborn after death* [置之死地而后生]--- the true definition of this Chinese phrase is: place sb on a field of death and he will fight to live (idiom based on Sunzi's "The Art of War"). However, I don’t think it has the same meaning in this novel. What this phrase means is like a phoenix. When a phoenix dies, it will be born again. 

 

Edited on 9 Aug. 21 (Emzie)

 

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Chapter 277

"Meng Sheng, stop doing things that are meaningless." Xu Zhi Nan's tone was full of warning, "My tolerance towards you is more than everyone else. I've given in to your demands repeatedly. What more do you want from me?"

"I want you to go to a place where you should be." Qi Meng Sheng sighed softly, "Xu Zhi Nan, go to a place where you should be, and let Yan Zhi's body go to a place where he should be.”

Xu Zhi Nan's pupils contracted violently, and he immediately smiled again: "Are you willing to give him up? You haven't even seen what Yan Zhi really looked like back then. Which high-level disciple of Chunyang Sect is not dashing? You've only seen him at the point of death when he was surrounded by the Seven Stars Lamp." He straightened his back, "You see, this is Yan Zhi."

"But you're not him. You're not Cheng Yan Zhi." Qi Meng Sheng's gaze gradually moistened, "You have used our bodies to do evil. What is the meaning of this empty shell if it does not belong to us?"

"I'm not him?" Xu Zhi Nan secretly clenched his fists, "Yeah, I'm not him. Why didn't you find out earlier that I'm not him? But what's the difference between him and me? We lived and ate together, grew up in the same sect, practiced the same technique, and cultivated the same path. My family background is more illustrious than his, and I’m more talented than him. I am the next leader of Chunyang Sect appointed by my master. I met you and fell in love with you earlier than him. He was already half-dead, yet you liked him through my body?!” Xu Zhi Nan's words were full of resentment. Even after more than a hundred years, it’s still fully soaked in blood and tears when it’s mentioned again.

"Only one of what you said was wrong. Both of you did not cultivate the same path." Qi Meng Sheng said with tears in her eyes, "Yan Zhi was kind, upright, loyal, and respectful towards you. He trusted you even when he died. He still believed you even though he didn’t believe me. However, you made full use of him and let him die along with your old body, leaving this body for your rebirth."

"If it weren't for me, he would have died over a hundred years ago!" Xu Zhi Nan growled, "I once regarded him as my closest brother, that's why I used the Seven Stars Lamp to hang on to his life regardless of my master’s objection and lent him my body. I was willing to share my life with him, but how did he repay me? He snatched my beloved woman. He let me down. Both of you betrayed me!"

Qi Meng Sheng gritted her teeth and said, "I never betrayed you. I loved him from the start till the end. It was you who confused me. If I hadn't found out that both of your personalities were different, you would have lied to me for the rest of my life."

Xu Zhi Nan's face gradually became hideous: "Then what do you want me to do? Give my woman to him, give my body to him, and wish you both a long and happy life together!?”

"I don't belong to you, and his body doesn’t belong to you either." Teardrops fell one after another from Qi Meng Sheng's eyes, but those foggy tears could not block the light in her eyes. She bit her lips, and her back remained straight, "In fact, I also wish I knew nothing. It's better to be confused throughout my life than to see you become like this. You even implicated my people in Kunlun and brought disaster to everyone in the world. Everything is beyond any help, so let me end it."

"What do you want to do?" Xu Zhi Nan seemed to be crying and laughing, "Kill me? With your current level of cultivation? Even if you have the ability to kill me, are you willing to do so?" He pointed to his heart and said sarcastically, "Do you want to give him up?"

"I didn’t want to give him up last time, but......" Qi Meng Sheng shed tears while smiling bitterly, "Below three inches of skin is white bones, so why would I not give up a body? He is gone. I can’t let you use his body to continue to do evil."

"That's right, he's dead, completely and utterly dead. If you still want to be stubborn, I may not be willing to kill you, but I can let your Cangyu Sect go and accompany him."

Qi Meng Sheng gently shook her head: "Xu Zhi Nan, you have done everything you can to reshape an indestructible body for yourself, but you are only a mortal after all. Even if you broke through the Imperishable Heavenly Fire, you are still a mortal. It’s not like you’re flawless."

Xu Zhi Nan laughed uncontrollably: "Flaw? Where are my flaws?" He looked around, and when he glanced at Fan Wu She, his expression changed slightly, "In this world, the only one who can fight with me is the Heavenly Secret Talisman, but if the Heavenly Secret Talisman awakens his inner demons, you will not be able to free yourselves from this human realm’s purgatory even if I die. Between us, he is worse than me."

Fan Wu She said disdainfully, "We’ll talk about that after killing you first."

"Your flaw is in your heart." There was a layer of sadness between Qi Meng Sheng's eyebrows and eyes, "Xu Zhi Nan, you thought you had completely obtained Yan Zhi's body and were reborn. In fact, you always knew that different souls and bodies couldn’t really fuse, so you urgently needed a top-quality human core, not only to change into a younger body, but also to be able to place your three souls and six spirits in it steadily."

Xu Zhi Nan narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Why did I know that? Because you put me into Yan Zhi’s body, and now into Rong Er’s body. Replacing the soul and flesh with the Seven Stars Life-Sustaining Lamp is extremely damaging to both parties unless one can truly fuse. Now it seems that Song Chun Gui's human core had helped you achieve this."

"Of course. Otherwise, why would I bother to go through all the trouble?" Xu Zhi Nan gazed at Qi Meng Sheng with emotions that could not be described as love or hate, "I will also find a good human core for you so that your soul and this body......"

"I am not you, and you are not Cheng Yan Zhi." Qi Meng Sheng's gaze became cold and ruthless. She said word by word with power and resonance, "Xu Zhi Nan, you harmed Yan Zhi, harmed me, and harmed the Cangyu Sect. Today, I want you to see your beautiful dream shatter before it’s achieved with your own eyes." She took out a blood talisman from her pocket.

Xu Zhi Nan was shocked: "What do you want to do?"

Among the talismans used by cultivators, the blood talisman written with one's own blood is the most powerful. The power of the talisman written in blood is more than ten times powerful than the one written in cinnabar. The blood talisman will also cause harm to the cultivator, so it is not used casually unless it’s in a critical moment.

This blood talisman had already been written, which meant that Qi Meng Sheng had planned in advance.

When Qi Meng Sheng injected spiritual power into that blood talisman, its runes emitted a blood-colored light. The crowd could immediately recognize that it was a soul-summoning talisman. It was a forbidden art that everyone knew how to write. Cultivators learned it from books when they were young. It was slightly less powerful than the soul summoning array, and it could be performed by one person at any time. However, summoning the souls of people who have died violated the law of the Dao, and would also create karma, so it was explicitly forbidden by the immortal cultivation world.

All forbidden arts would backfire on the caster themselves, it's just that the severity varies, such as the Supreme Demon Zong Zi Xiao, who got backfired by the Heavenly Secret Talisman back then. Qi Meng Sheng not only performed the forbidden art, but also used a blood talisman, which would cause irreversible harm to herself. Therefore, Xu Zhi Nan felt frightened.

Qi Meng Sheng mouthed the incantations. Her eyes were like burning torches, staring fixedly at the soul-summoning blood talisman. She released her spiritual power madly, and that talisman flew towards Xu Zhi Nan like an arrow. She shouted: "Cheng Yan Zhi, may your spirit come back to us!”

 

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❗️Important (WCJ)❗️

I'm changing the surname Song to Zong (except for Song Chun Gui). I apologize for the sudden change, as I would like to follow the PV and most of the pronunciation. This will be applied to all the chaps. Will finish the changes within 2 days. 👍

PS: I’m literally dying here. Gonna have a break today and continue 2mr.

PPS: Rmb XBA and FWS wanted to pick up Zheng Nan? Zhong Kui brought back a human XBA to the underworld, and then a human FWS. If XBA brings back a human Zheng Nan, I think Cui Jue is gonna FLIPPPP HAHAHA

 

Edited on 9 Aug. 21 (Emzie)

 

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