Shu Han transformed into Gui Wu and approached Shangguan Ruolin, saying, "Linlin, don't waste words with her. She's just buying time to recover. Let me handle her and then hand her over to you."
Shangguan Ruotong, looking at Shu Han, sneered, "Another one calling you so affectionately. Sister, your charm remains undiminished over the years. One after another, they exhaust themselves for you." She then turned to look at the Shu Han's avatar in the corner, speaking with a touch of shared plight, "Do you see? This is my sister. Those who become useless to her are simply discarded."
Shangguan Ruolin remained silent, quietly enduring Shangguan Ruotong's mockery.
"You think you can defeat me while I'm weakened? Think again!"
Struggling, Shangguan Ruotong stood up, with the Phoenix Feather Falling Flower Needle revolving around her, though it lacked its previous might.
Shu Han snorted, "I always knew you wouldn't be easy to deal with. Fortunately, I have a backup plan. Behold, the most potent formation from the Bai Family Artifact Refining Manual, the Stellar Wish Formation!"
Suddenly, Shu Han took out a star bead from his storage bag. It was primarily made from blue, white, and gold materials and supplemented with other rare treasures. The bead shone with starlight, and as Shu Han channeled his magic power into it, the starlight grew more radiant.
Other star beads buried in the surrounding soil began to rise in the starlight. As they received the radiant starlight from the bead in Shu Han's hand, they too started to shine brilliantly. One hundred and eight star beads reflected each other's light. In an instant, the surrounding scenery changed, immersing the three of them in a vast starry expanse.
The myriad stars formed a dazzling galaxy, rushing towards Shangguan Ruotong.
The Stellar Wish Formation wasn't like the Silent Heartbreak Formation, which could immediately utilize sound waves to exert a constant suppressive force. However, its strength grew with adversity. As long as the starlight remained and the formation patterns were not extinguished, the grinding power of the galaxy would grow stronger.
Defending herself with the Phoenix Feather Falling Flower Needle and wielding her green flag, Shangguan Ruotong summoned cyclones to resist the continuous onslaught of the galaxy. Yet, the vast and endless galaxy grew more oppressive as the starlight accumulated.
Standing above the galaxy, Shu Han frowned as he observed Shangguan Ruotong's undiminished might below.
She truly was a Core Formation cultivator, still holding on against the Stellar Wish Formation even when she was at her limits.
No longer wanting to hide, Shu Han's avatar lurking within Shangguan Ruotong dispersed, and the scattered magic power returned to its original body. He then channeled all his magic power to boost the operation of the grand formation.
Shangguan Ruotong, sensing the flow of the Stellar River, saw that Shu Han had actually merged with this person. Her face twitched in surprise, and she exclaimed angrily, "That's your avatar!"
Shu Han revealed himself and said, "It's always been my avatar. You didn't expect that, did you? Your plan of waiting for an opportunity was a joke from the start. If it weren't for this avatar of mine gathering intelligence by your side, you wouldn't have ended up besieged by six and depleted of your vital energy."
Shangguan Ruotong disbelieved, "How is that possible? How could I not see through a mere avatar!"
Shu Han replied, "There's a lot you can't see through! Enough talk, it's time to suppress you!"
Whoosh!
Empowered by Shu Han's full magic power, the Stellar Wish Formation instantly expanded. The star beads began spinning rapidly, and the overflowing Stellar River surged forth.
Bathed in the deluge of the Stellar River, Shangguan Ruotong was on the verge of losing her footing.
Shu Han immediately launched a frontal attack.
"Evil-Breaking in hand, justice spans the land!"
A golden thunderbolt as thick as a bowl struck down along the river, targeting the protective golden light over Shangguan Ruotong's crown. The impact caused her whole body to shimmer in gold, forcing her to stumble backward.
Finally, depleted of her energy, she could no longer resist. The power of the Stellar River engulfed her without hindrance. Overjoyed, Shu Han waved his hand, and the 108 star beads flew towards her, concentrating all their power on her acupoints, immobilizing her.
Shangguan Ruotong clenched her teeth, attempting to muster her magic power. However, with all her acupoints suppressed and her vital energy severely wounded, she couldn't muster any strength. In this dire situation, her eyes filled with resentment not towards Shu Han, but towards an indifferent Shangguan Ruolin. Tears involuntarily streamed down her cheeks as she spoke in pain, "Fine! Sister, you win again. In eight hundred years, I've never once bested you. Even when you lost all your powers, I'm still no match for you."
Shangguan Ruolin approached her. Shu Han, holding the Eight-Direction Evil-Breaking Sword, hurriedly escorted her, fearing the Core Formation cultivator might have another trick up her sleeve. She turned to Shu Han and said, "Lend me your cultivation, I'll handle this."
Shu Han nodded, transferring his cultivation power to Shangguan Ruolin and handing over the Eight-Direction Evil-Breaking Sword.
Casting a glance at the sword, Shangguan Ruotong sneered, "Go ahead. I've lost this battle. If death is the outcome, I'd rather it be by your hand. After this, no one will ever plot against you again."
Shangguan Ruolin, holding the Eight-Direction Evil-Breaking Sword, remained silent.
This silence infuriated Shangguan Ruotong, who yelled, "How long are you going to keep up this pretense? Kill me and no one will vie for the position in the Great Fortune Sect with you!"
Upon hearing this, Shangguan Ruolin immediately took action. With a swing of her sword, Shangguan Ruotong, expecting her end, closed her eyes, waiting for the sharp blade to slice her neck.
However, the swing wasn't aimed at her. Instead, it slashed open a red mark on Shangguan Ruolin's own left wrist.
The damaged mark emitted a flash of golden light. Immediately after, both the golden light and the mark vanished as Shangguan Ruolin's wrist bled profusely.
"You..."
Shangguan Ruotong was stunned.
"This is what you've always wanted, right? The position of the Great Fortune Sect is now yours. I once promised to always take care of you, and I've always upheld any promise I made. I won't let you go to such a place."
Suddenly, Shangguan Ruotong remembered, eight hundred years ago, as a seven-year-old, nestled in Shangguan Ruolin's embrace. Shangguan Ruolin had tenderly whispered, "Your sister will always look after you, Tongtong."
Her quivering lips, wet with tears, murmured, "What is this... what does this mean..."
She shouted with a mixture of despair and frustration, "Look after me! Is this how you take care of me?! When I was alone and destitute in the palace, where were you? When I waited at the Star Platform for twelve years for your return, where were you? When I, with an impaired mind, was bullied by wicked servants, where were you?"
Tears flowed incessantly from Shangguan Ruotong's eyes as she cried out, "Now you pity me, I don't need it! Who is the broken mark shown for? Everyone knows that the position at Great Fortune Sect has been predestined for you! I don't care if my end is the same as Sister Ruoyu's, whether I dissolve my Golden Core, leap off a cliff, or exhaust my essence. It doesn't matter..."
She sobbed with a melancholic tone, "I just wish you hadn't left... Why did you have to leave, sister?"
Shangguan Ruolin reached out, embracing the tearful Ruotong, whispering words of comfort, "I'm sorry. It was Ruoyu who told me to do this. Only by cultivating with the 'Sky Palace Six Harmony Secrets' to achieve Nascent Soul and securing the sect leader's position, can I protect you."
Eight hundred years ago, on that fateful night.
Shangguan Ruoyu, dressed in black, gazed at the fifteen-year-old Shangguan Ruolin. With a somber tone laced with deeper implications, she said, "Go and fight for the sect leader's position. Only then can Tongtong avoid becoming the next sacrifice."
The then-naive Shangguan Ruolin didn't understand her words. But upon hearing the news of Ruoyu's death the next day, she gradually grasped the meaning behind Shangguan Ruoyu's words.
The Sky Palace Sect was like a tightening net, step by step pulling both her and Ruotong into an abyss.
Shu Han transformed into Gui Wu and approached Shangguan Ruolin, saying, "Linlin, don't waste words with her. She's just buying time to recover. Let me handle her and then hand her over to you."
Shangguan Ruotong, looking at Shu Han, sneered, "Another one calling you so affectionately. Sister, your charm remains undiminished over the years. One after another, they exhaust themselves for you." She then turned to look at the Shu Han's avatar in the corner, speaking with a touch of shared plight, "Do you see? This is my sister. Those who become useless to her are simply discarded."
Shangguan Ruolin remained silent, quietly enduring Shangguan Ruotong's mockery.
"You think you can defeat me while I'm weakened? Think again!"
Struggling, Shangguan Ruotong stood up, with the Phoenix Feather Falling Flower Needle revolving around her, though it lacked its previous might.
Shu Han snorted, "I always knew you wouldn't be easy to deal with. Fortunately, I have a backup plan. Behold, the most potent formation from the Bai Family Artifact Refining Manual, the Stellar Wish Formation!"
Suddenly, Shu Han took out a star bead from his storage bag. It was primarily made from blue, white, and gold materials and supplemented with other rare treasures. The bead shone with starlight, and as Shu Han channeled his magic power into it, the starlight grew more radiant.
Other star beads buried in the surrounding soil began to rise in the starlight. As they received the radiant starlight from the bead in Shu Han's hand, they too started to shine brilliantly. One hundred and eight star beads reflected each other's light. In an instant, the surrounding scenery changed, immersing the three of them in a vast starry expanse.
The myriad stars formed a dazzling galaxy, rushing towards Shangguan Ruotong.
The Stellar Wish Formation wasn't like the Silent Heartbreak Formation, which could immediately utilize sound waves to exert a constant suppressive force. However, its strength grew with adversity. As long as the starlight remained and the formation patterns were not extinguished, the grinding power of the galaxy would grow stronger.
Defending herself with the Phoenix Feather Falling Flower Needle and wielding her green flag, Shangguan Ruotong summoned cyclones to resist the continuous onslaught of the galaxy. Yet, the vast and endless galaxy grew more oppressive as the starlight accumulated.
Standing above the galaxy, Shu Han frowned as he observed Shangguan Ruotong's undiminished might below.
She truly was a Core Formation cultivator, still holding on against the Stellar Wish Formation even when she was at her limits.
No longer wanting to hide, Shu Han's avatar lurking within Shangguan Ruotong dispersed, and the scattered magic power returned to its original body. He then channeled all his magic power to boost the operation of the grand formation.
Shangguan Ruotong, sensing the flow of the Stellar River, saw that Shu Han had actually merged with this person. Her face twitched in surprise, and she exclaimed angrily, "That's your avatar!"
Shu Han revealed himself and said, "It's always been my avatar. You didn't expect that, did you? Your plan of waiting for an opportunity was a joke from the start. If it weren't for this avatar of mine gathering intelligence by your side, you wouldn't have ended up besieged by six and depleted of your vital energy."
Shangguan Ruotong disbelieved, "How is that possible? How could I not see through a mere avatar!"
Shu Han replied, "There's a lot you can't see through! Enough talk, it's time to suppress you!"
Whoosh!
Empowered by Shu Han's full magic power, the Stellar Wish Formation instantly expanded. The star beads began spinning rapidly, and the overflowing Stellar River surged forth.
Bathed in the deluge of the Stellar River, Shangguan Ruotong was on the verge of losing her footing.
Shu Han immediately launched a frontal attack.
"Evil-Breaking in hand, justice spans the land!"
A golden thunderbolt as thick as a bowl struck down along the river, targeting the protective golden light over Shangguan Ruotong's crown. The impact caused her whole body to shimmer in gold, forcing her to stumble backward.
Finally, depleted of her energy, she could no longer resist. The power of the Stellar River engulfed her without hindrance. Overjoyed, Shu Han waved his hand, and the 108 star beads flew towards her, concentrating all their power on her acupoints, immobilizing her.
Shangguan Ruotong clenched her teeth, attempting to muster her magic power. However, with all her acupoints suppressed and her vital energy severely wounded, she couldn't muster any strength. In this dire situation, her eyes filled with resentment not towards Shu Han, but towards an indifferent Shangguan Ruolin. Tears involuntarily streamed down her cheeks as she spoke in pain, "Fine! Sister, you win again. In eight hundred years, I've never once bested you. Even when you lost all your powers, I'm still no match for you."
Shangguan Ruolin approached her. Shu Han, holding the Eight-Direction Evil-Breaking Sword, hurriedly escorted her, fearing the Core Formation cultivator might have another trick up her sleeve. She turned to Shu Han and said, "Lend me your cultivation, I'll handle this."
Shu Han nodded, transferring his cultivation power to Shangguan Ruolin and handing over the Eight-Direction Evil-Breaking Sword.
Casting a glance at the sword, Shangguan Ruotong sneered, "Go ahead. I've lost this battle. If death is the outcome, I'd rather it be by your hand. After this, no one will ever plot against you again."
Shangguan Ruolin, holding the Eight-Direction Evil-Breaking Sword, remained silent.
This silence infuriated Shangguan Ruotong, who yelled, "How long are you going to keep up this pretense? Kill me and no one will vie for the position in the Great Fortune Sect with you!"
Upon hearing this, Shangguan Ruolin immediately took action. With a swing of her sword, Shangguan Ruotong, expecting her end, closed her eyes, waiting for the sharp blade to slice her neck.
However, the swing wasn't aimed at her. Instead, it slashed open a red mark on Shangguan Ruolin's own left wrist.
The damaged mark emitted a flash of golden light. Immediately after, both the golden light and the mark vanished as Shangguan Ruolin's wrist bled profusely.
"You..."
Shangguan Ruotong was stunned.
"This is what you've always wanted, right? The position of the Great Fortune Sect is now yours. I once promised to always take care of you, and I've always upheld any promise I made. I won't let you go to such a place."
Suddenly, Shangguan Ruotong remembered, eight hundred years ago, as a seven-year-old, nestled in Shangguan Ruolin's embrace. Shangguan Ruolin had tenderly whispered, "Your sister will always look after you, Tongtong."
Her quivering lips, wet with tears, murmured, "What is this... what does this mean..."
She shouted with a mixture of despair and frustration, "Look after me! Is this how you take care of me?! When I was alone and destitute in the palace, where were you? When I waited at the Star Platform for twelve years for your return, where were you? When I, with an impaired mind, was bullied by wicked servants, where were you?"
Tears flowed incessantly from Shangguan Ruotong's eyes as she cried out, "Now you pity me, I don't need it! Who is the broken mark shown for? Everyone knows that the position at Great Fortune Sect has been predestined for you! I don't care if my end is the same as Sister Ruoyu's, whether I dissolve my Golden Core, leap off a cliff, or exhaust my essence. It doesn't matter..."
She sobbed with a melancholic tone, "I just wish you hadn't left... Why did you have to leave, sister?"
Shangguan Ruolin reached out, embracing the tearful Ruotong, whispering words of comfort, "I'm sorry. It was Ruoyu who told me to do this. Only by cultivating with the 'Sky Palace Six Harmony Secrets' to achieve Nascent Soul and securing the sect leader's position, can I protect you."
Eight hundred years ago, on that fateful night.
Shangguan Ruoyu, dressed in black, gazed at the fifteen-year-old Shangguan Ruolin. With a somber tone laced with deeper implications, she said, "Go and fight for the sect leader's position. Only then can Tongtong avoid becoming the next sacrifice."
The then-naive Shangguan Ruolin didn't understand her words. But upon hearing the news of Ruoyu's death the next day, she gradually grasped the meaning behind Shangguan Ruoyu's words.
The Sky Palace Sect was like a tightening net, step by step pulling both her and Ruotong into an abyss.
