Chapter 99: Exorcism
“I remember many things,” Yao Ji looked up, her golden mask facing the desolate sky, “I remember that man, another version of myself, who gave up everything for him…”
Jiang Hong didn’t interrupt her, simply listening quietly, while inwardly praying she would recall something about the Vajra Arrow.
“I recall that I was merely a stray thought abandoned by Yao Ji…” Yao Ji said, “I was once a part of her. What kind of betrayal did she suffer to cast me aside?”
Yao Ji seemed lost in thought for a moment, and Jiang Hong whispered, “You… are you her inner demon?” while thinking to himself: Could the Vajra Arrow be inside her?
“No,” Yao Ji answered, turning to Jiang Hong, “I am the love for this world that she abandoned.”
Jiang Hong: “!!!”
Yao Ji continued, “A goddess must love every blade of grass, every living being, every person, every demon in this world. But in the end, she abandoned me, choosing to retain only endless anger and hatred.”
Jiang Hong: “Yao Ji… you…”
Yao Ji softly said, “Those are all things from the distant past. I should have entered the cycle of reincarnation long ago, but someone still clung to hope that I could exist.”
Jiang Hong quickly said, “Yao Ji, I need the Vajra Arrow! Lu Xiu has been assimilated by his inner demon, and only the Vajra Arrow can save him.”
Yao Ji replied, “You will have it. Go, as long as you still love him, both the Vajra Arrow and the Eclipse Bow will respond to your call.”
“What… what?” Jiang Hong said, “I don’t understand. Shouldn’t the Vajra Arrow be in… in some place?”
“The Sword of Wisdom represents the 'anger' to purge demons, the Binding Rope is the 'joy' to restrain malice, the Great Sun Wheel signifies the 'happiness' of the cycle of life, the Demon-Subduing Pestle embodies the 'evil' of subjugating all things, the Eclipse Bow symbolizes the 'sorrow' of inconstancy, and the Vajra Arrow embodies the 'love' that pierces through worldly distractions,” Yao Ji joyfully explained, “The six emotional whirlpools are like oceans from which beings cannot escape, immovable as mountains, this is the 'Unmovable Clarity'."
“As long as you love that person,” Yao Ji said, “the Eclipse Bow and the Vajra Arrow will answer your call. When you need them most, just reach out your hand towards the sky.”
“I,” Jiang Hong added, “I’m afraid of hurting Lu Xiu…”
Yao Ji's tone was filled with resolve, “The Vajra Arrow never harms others; it can only harm oneself, just as we never intend to harm those we love.”
Jiang Hong: “Well, that’s not necessarily true. I feel like the more people love each other, the more they end up hurting each other.”
Yao Ji: “Would you hurt him?”
Jiang Hong: “No, never. Okay, will it really appear?”
Looking at his right hand, Jiang Hong lacked confidence. Yao Ji then gently touched his hand, saying, “Alright, I entrust it to you. Go.”
Jiang Hong: “???”
“After everything ends, come see me at the Goddess Peak,” Yao Ji said, making a ‘flying’ gesture. She then spread her arms and transformed into light particles, disappearing into the air.
Jiang Hong was stunned for a moment before coming back to his senses, and he hurriedly ran towards the door.
“I’m going to see Lu Xiu!” Jiang Hong called out to the group of pandas waiting at the door.
“Ah?” Da Wan was startled, “Your Highness! Are you serious?”
Jiang Hong kept glancing at the palm of his right hand as if confirming Yao Ji’s touch was still there, then climbed onto Da Wan’s back, saying, “Let’s go, aren’t we heading for a duel with Lu Xiu?”
“Uh…” Da Wan seemed panicked, its eyes darting around. A perceptive panda nearby said, “Your Highness, it’s dangerous! You can’t go! Once it's done, let's hurry down!”
Jiang Hong reassured them, “Just take me to the entrance of the main hall. I don’t want to summon him; I need to see him with my own eyes.”
Outside the corridor, a crane’s cry rang out, and He Jian appeared.
“Everyone is safe!” He Jian reported to Jiang Hong before flying off again.
“Wait!” Jiang Hong called, and Da Wan took him to a hanging window outside the corridor. Jiang Hong shouted, “Do me a favor! He Jian! Xiting! Take Old Sun down first! Then quickly inform Teacher Xuan He Zhi!”
Deep in the main hall, Keda and Feng Li were separated and locked in two cages. Feng Li remained in fox form, covered in blood, while Keda was back in human form, forced to hunch over due to the small cage, his face bruised.
Lu Xiu sat on the main throne, with Lu Chaoyang standing beside him. Several demons were also present in the hall.
An intangible dark aura surrounded Lu Xiu, and Lu Chaoyang respectfully said, “Liu Heng has personally taken action. We'll soon capture Jiang Hong. The beast clans have been completely subdued, and the birds, aquatic creatures, and beasts are all under your command.”
“Now, only the Ghost King remains,” Lu Chaoyang added, “I will deal with the Ghost King shortly for you.”
Lu Xiu remained silent, idly observing Keda and Feng Li.
“Pathetic,” Lu Xiu remarked.
Feng Li responded with a cold sneer, her snow-white fox muzzle curled up, dried blood staining her mouth. Keda, gazing at her, extended his finger through the cage bars, gently hooking her furry paw.
The white fox remained motionless.
Lu Xiu continued, “You shouldn’t have rashly come here, but that’s your temperament, acting recklessly.”
Keda retorted, “At least we're together till death, which is far better than you, alone and miserable.”
Lu Xiu seemed instantly infuriated by Keda's words, standing up from the throne, black flames erupting around him.
However, a sly, sinister smile appeared on Keda’s lips.
“Now,” Keda said coldly.
In an instant, Keda transformed into a fearsome beast, his body covered in glowing runes. Suddenly, the palace, mountains, everything vanished, replaced by an endless night illuminated by an eerie lunar eclipse.
Surrounded by blood-red markings, the grey wolf howled, the sound spreading like a storm. The cages imprisoning the grey wolf and the nine-tailed fox burst open. Dark Lu Xiu quickly drew symbols in front of him.
“Foolish, thinking you can fight a dragon…”
The grey wolf’s attack was a self-destructive move, causing the space to collapse. Dark Lu Xiu, under the power of the lunar eclipse, hesitated to confront him directly. The main hall exploded under the colossal force of the dragon and wolf’s clash!
“Keda!” the nine-tailed fox broke free from the cage.
The grey wolf, bloodied and battered, was guarded by the nine-tailed fox. Feng Li released a golden light, lifting Keda into the air. Dark Lu Xiu, half his body dripping with black blood, flew into a rage, preparing to ruthlessly eliminate the wolf and fox once and for all.
However, in the next second, a voice rang out.
“I’m here!”
Jiang Hong stood on the spacious platform directly in front of the throne, speaking coldly: “I’m here.”
Feng Li exclaimed, “Jiang Hong! Run away!”
Lu Xiu’s expression changed instantly, his brows slightly furrowed, as if trying to confirm whether this was indeed the real Jiang Hong, while he cast Feng Li and Keda aside.
“What do you want to explain to me?” Jiang Hong said, signaling Feng Li with his eyes to leave quickly.
In a flash, Feng Li, carrying Keda, turned into a golden meteor and flew out of the hall.
“Come here,” Lu Xiu said, seeing Jiang Hong appear, no longer entangled with Keda and Feng Li.
Jiang Hong asked, “What did you want to say?”
Lu Xiu looked at Jiang Hong, and suddenly, Jiang Hong felt his gaze become familiar, as gentle as the old Lu Xiu, quietly watching him.
He often felt such gazes when they laughed together boisterously. Sometimes, they would suddenly fall silent, smiling at each other, and that’s when Lu Xiu had such a look in his eyes.
Sometimes, while he was studying, doodling in his notebook, and occasionally looking up, he would meet Lu Xiu’s tender gaze.
During meals, walking side by side on the road, in the classroom, when Lu Xiu accompanied him in class... It was the silent communion after the world suddenly quieted.
“Give me the Book of Everything,” Lu Xiu said. “Leave behind all the past, I promise you, everything you want, I will give you.”
Jiang Hong quietly watched Lu Xiu, who slowly walked towards him, extending his hand.
Jiang Hong stepped back, saying, “No, this isn’t the real you.”
“It is me,” Lu Xiu said. “Otherwise, who would have the patience to play with you until now?”
“No, it’s not,” Jiang Hong replied. “But that doesn’t matter.”
Lu Xiu's gaze held a familiar doubt, but Jiang Hong smiled and said, “Want the Book of Everything?”
“Come and catch me then—!” Jiang Hong shouted, then leapt over the railing of the suspended platform.
Lu Xiu rushed to the railing, only to see Jiang Hong riding a crane, spiraling up into the air, and swiftly flying away.
“You can't escape,” Lu Xiu stated coldly, leaping into the Wu Mountain range, transforming into a black dragon in mid-air, letting out a dragon’s roar as he chased after Jiang Hong!
He Jian flapped his wings, yelling, “You're too heartless! How can I possibly fly faster than a dragon!”
Jiang Hong retorted, “I didn’t ask you to fly far! We’re almost at the lower area!”
In the lower area, vines shot out explosively, and the lush greenery, like the mythical tree spirits from "Shan Hai Jing", spurred by powerful magic, lashed out their tendrils towards the sky, entangling the black dragon!
Xuan Hezhi hovered in the air, wielding dual swords – one pointed towards the sky, the other towards the earth. The spiritual energy from the heavens flowed through him in a straight line, fuelling the mountains with its essence.
Fang Yifeng floated in the air, holding his staff behind him and forming hand seals with the other, summoning the silhouette of a stone giant deity behind him. The deity's eyes sparkled like lightning, shooting towards the numerous vines. More stone giants rose from the ground, converging on the mountainside.
The Ghost King led tens of thousands of his ghost cavalry to form a line of defense against the incoming tide of monsters.
The black dragon roared, spewing dragon fire, clearing the entangling obstacles, but in just a second, more wild plants surged up again.
“Still resisting!” roared the Dragon King.
The nine-headed serpent clung to the front of the Sacred Land’s pavilions, its nine heads spewing flames, frost, poison fog, thunder, floodwaters, sweeping wildly towards the lower area!
The black dragon soared again, each scale shimmering with an eerie light. The river began to surge violently, and on the other side of the mountain, a thunderous flood approached!
“Where is Jiang Hong?!” Lian Jiang shouted.
Xiao Pi, transformed into a pixiu, carried Lian Jiang swiftly. They weaved through the front lines of monsters, with Lian Jiang wielding his giant sword to create a wall of wind, clearing the monsters breaking into the lower area.
“Hurry!” Xuan Hezhi yelled, “Jiang Hong! We can’t hold on much longer!”
On the other side of Wu Mountain, a massive flood reached its peak, instantly scaling the mountains and sweeping over the wilderness, crashing down into the valley!
Lian Jiang exclaimed, “I’ll try to use wind to block it.”
Xiao Pi exclaimed, “This is madness! Run! We can’t hold it back!”
Xuan Hezhi and Fang Yifeng pushed their magical powers to the extreme, and a towering wall rose from the ground. The black dragon released a jet of dragon fire, accompanied by a thunderous draconic chant. The combined fierce powers of dragon fire and language seemed to warp space itself. The wall crumbled but was instantly replaced by rising stone mountains, like swords of the earth piercing the sky.
Jiang Hong knelt on one knee at the peak of the highest stone sword, facing the boundless ocean. Many mountains had become isolated islands, and the water began to engulf the Sacred Land's pavilions.
Jiang Hong's heart raced as he faced the frantically searching, nearly frenzied black dragon.
He pressed a hand against the inverse scale on his chest and shouted, “Lu Xiu—!”
The world eerily quietened. The black dragon didn’t even turn back, but in just a second, it spun around, locating Jiang Hong, and rapidly approached him!
Eclipse Bow… Vajra Arrow… As long as you still love him… Jiang Hong raised his hand towards the sky, not even knowing what to shout, just letting out an unconscious yell.
In an instant, divine light from all around converged in his hand, materializing a massive longbow in the blink of an eye!
“I actually got it!” Jiang Hong could hardly believe his own eyes. Was this real?
The dragon's roar resonated, and Jiang Hong snapped back to reality, at that very moment!
No bowstring? Why was there no bowstring?
Yet, silently by his side, a golden light shone, revealing the ethereal figure of a beautiful young girl—
“Yao Ji!”
The girl smiled, resting her hand atop Jiang Hong's, guiding him to mimic the motion of drawing a bowstring, and the bowstring materialized!
Yao Ji then flew away, vanishing again. The bowstring, shimmering with intense light, was too bright for Jiang Hong to look directly at. He strained to draw the string, the bow forming a perfect full moon—
—In the radiance of that full moon, golden light converged again, as if summoning a deity. Heavenly chants echoed, instantly clearing the clouds, allowing the setting sun's afterglow to shine across the vast expanse of floodwaters.
The black dragon, bathed in the evening's glow, rapidly approached Jiang Hong.
The next moment, the Vajra Arrow materialized on the bow!
But just then, the black dragon sensed danger. Xiang Liu roared from behind, "Your Majesty—! Don't get close to him!"
Jiang Hong aimed the arrow at Lu Xiu, recalling his voice in his mind—
[You know well where my weakness lies.]
[Only you can summon me, and I will respond to your call anytime, anywhere.]
"Lu Xiu—!" Jiang Hong shouted again, his heart aching unbearably, tears filling his eyes, feeling as if his heart was being tightly squeezed.
The black dragon approached him once more.
As Jiang Hong's tears fell, unable to bear the heartbreak any longer, he finally aimed at the dragon's inverse scale as it circled towards him, releasing his finger from the string!
The moment the arrow was released, Jiang Hong felt as if his heart was being hollowed out, his life torn apart with the departure of the Vajra Arrow. But in just a second, a flame ignited within his heart, protecting his chakras.
Then, the Vajra Arrow, like a shooting star, soared into the sky, spinning with countless Sanskrit seals appearing all around, forming a vast river of stars converging at the tip of the arrow.
As the sun set behind the mountains, the Vajra Arrow transformed into a luminous body that illuminated the twilight, whistling away!
It was like a meteor pledged with eternal love, and like countless fleeting flashes of lightning in the dark night.
Resembling morning dew with myriad flowing lights, and akin to the first wisp of remembrance awakening from a dream.
Exorcism!
The flood receded towards the sky! The world was aglow with golden radiance!
Jiang Hong, tears unstoppable, watched this scene, but the black dragon somersaulted in the air in an instant!
The Vajra Arrow, aimed at the inverse scale, brushed past the dragon's neck and flew by!
Jiang Hong: "！！！"
The arrow had missed its mark, and all humans and demons on the ground watched this unfold in shock.
Jiang Hong, heartbroken and despairing, released his hand, and the Eclipse Bow vanished with a "buzz."
"I can't do it," Jiang Hong wiped away his tears and said, "I tried my best, Lu Xiu, I'm sorry."
"Jiang Hong!" Fang Yifeng, Xuan Hezhi, and Keda roared in unison, preparing to leap up to rescue him.
The black dragon was upon Jiang Hong in an instant, its jaws snapping to capture him.
However, the Vajra Arrow, as if defying reality, looped in the air and returned!
In the momentary pause of the black dragon, the Vajra Arrow flew in from the side, striking its heart!
Jiang Hong's eyes widened in shock as the black dragon, hit squarely by the arrow, tumbled wildly in the air, letting out a ferocious howl that abruptly cut off. A burst of black flames scattered, and the dragon transformed back into a man!
Instinctively reaching out, Jiang Hong found his hand grasping another amidst the flames.
That hand pulled him in, enveloping him in an embrace as Lu Xiu emerged from the flames.
"Thank you," Lu Xiu gently set Jiang Hong atop a mountain peak, then turned and plunged back into the black fire!
The black flames converged, revealing Dark Lu Xiu clutching his chest, gasping for breath, and roaring in defiance.
A unified shout erupted from all the demons and humans!
As if nothing had happened, Lu Xiu hovered in the air, steadily approaching the black fire, stopping just tens of meters away from Dark Lu Xiu.
"Why...?" Dark Lu Xiu, one hand over his heart and the other tremblingly pointing at Lu Xiu, uttered in disbelief, "Foolish... foolish..."
Lu Xiu slowly raised his right hand, drawing a gleaming silver Western sword from thin air.
Jiang Hong watched this scene in awe.
The moment the sword appeared, the dim world brightened once again, a sea of light radiating from Lu Xiu, engulfing everything like eternal daylight.
"I'm going to dispel you now," Lu Xiu declared, swinging the sword in a mighty arc.
A torrent of brilliant light flashed across the mountains like a sunburst, accompanied by the wild cheers of the onlookers, who had to shield their eyes.
The black fire was instantly dispelled, and even the last wisp of dark mist vanished. Dark Lu Xiu was incinerated without leaving a single word!
Lu Xiu drew a circle in the air with his sword, its light shimmering with the glow of moonlight.
Silence enveloped the world as everyone looked up at the figure soaring in the sky.
"Lu Xiu!" Jiang Hong was the first to shout out.
Lu Xiu glanced at Jiang Hong in the distance, about to fly towards him, but suddenly remembered something. Gracefully spinning in the air, he drew a smooth arc with his Western sword, directing a blaze of light towards Xiang Liu.
Xiang Liu roared, "I won't..."
The bright light exploded once more, cutting off Xiang Liu's voice abruptly. The nine-headed serpent was utterly incinerated under that effortless stroke, powerless to resist.
Everyone was stunned; the first sword brought a tsunami of sound, while the second was met with utter silence.
If the first sword represented exorcism, with its immensely powerful force; then the second, a demon-slaying stroke, demonstrated Lu Xiu's absolute and overwhelming strength.
"Ghost King, take over, restore the Sacred Land," Lu Xiu sheathed his sword, his voice still calm. "Rewards for those who helped, forgiveness for the rebels."
As the floodwaters receded, trees on the mountainsides toppled. Jiang Hong stood on the summit, watching Lu Xiu approach, bathed in moonlight.
"This Vajra Arrow and Eclipse Bow came without a manual. If Yao Ji hadn't taught me how to use them, I couldn't have managed!"
Jiang Hong yelled from a distance: "I was scared to death just now!"
Jiang Hong opened his arms wide, as did Lu Xiu. Under the full moon, atop Mount Wu, they embraced tightly.
Chapter 99: Exorcism
“I remember many things,” Yao Ji looked up, her golden mask facing the desolate sky, “I remember that man, another version of myself, who gave up everything for him…”
Jiang Hong didn’t interrupt her, simply listening quietly, while inwardly praying she would recall something about the Vajra Arrow.
“I recall that I was merely a stray thought abandoned by Yao Ji…” Yao Ji said, “I was once a part of her. What kind of betrayal did she suffer to cast me aside?”
Yao Ji seemed lost in thought for a moment, and Jiang Hong whispered, “You… are you her inner demon?” while thinking to himself: Could the Vajra Arrow be inside her?
“No,” Yao Ji answered, turning to Jiang Hong, “I am the love for this world that she abandoned.”
Jiang Hong: “!!!”
Yao Ji continued, “A goddess must love every blade of grass, every living being, every person, every demon in this world. But in the end, she abandoned me, choosing to retain only endless anger and hatred.”
Jiang Hong: “Yao Ji… you…”
Yao Ji softly said, “Those are all things from the distant past. I should have entered the cycle of reincarnation long ago, but someone still clung to hope that I could exist.”
Jiang Hong quickly said, “Yao Ji, I need the Vajra Arrow! Lu Xiu has been assimilated by his inner demon, and only the Vajra Arrow can save him.”
Yao Ji replied, “You will have it. Go, as long as you still love him, both the Vajra Arrow and the Eclipse Bow will respond to your call.”
“What… what?” Jiang Hong said, “I don’t understand. Shouldn’t the Vajra Arrow be in… in some place?”
“The Sword of Wisdom represents the 'anger' to purge demons, the Binding Rope is the 'joy' to restrain malice, the Great Sun Wheel signifies the 'happiness' of the cycle of life, the Demon-Subduing Pestle embodies the 'evil' of subjugating all things, the Eclipse Bow symbolizes the 'sorrow' of inconstancy, and the Vajra Arrow embodies the 'love' that pierces through worldly distractions,” Yao Ji joyfully explained, “The six emotional whirlpools are like oceans from which beings cannot escape, immovable as mountains, this is the 'Unmovable Clarity'."
“As long as you love that person,” Yao Ji said, “the Eclipse Bow and the Vajra Arrow will answer your call. When you need them most, just reach out your hand towards the sky.”
“I,” Jiang Hong added, “I’m afraid of hurting Lu Xiu…”
Yao Ji's tone was filled with resolve, “The Vajra Arrow never harms others; it can only harm oneself, just as we never intend to harm those we love.”
Jiang Hong: “Well, that’s not necessarily true. I feel like the more people love each other, the more they end up hurting each other.”
Yao Ji: “Would you hurt him?”
Jiang Hong: “No, never. Okay, will it really appear?”
Looking at his right hand, Jiang Hong lacked confidence. Yao Ji then gently touched his hand, saying, “Alright, I entrust it to you. Go.”
Jiang Hong: “???”
“After everything ends, come see me at the Goddess Peak,” Yao Ji said, making a ‘flying’ gesture. She then spread her arms and transformed into light particles, disappearing into the air.
Jiang Hong was stunned for a moment before coming back to his senses, and he hurriedly ran towards the door.
“I’m going to see Lu Xiu!” Jiang Hong called out to the group of pandas waiting at the door.
“Ah?” Da Wan was startled, “Your Highness! Are you serious?”
Jiang Hong kept glancing at the palm of his right hand as if confirming Yao Ji’s touch was still there, then climbed onto Da Wan’s back, saying, “Let’s go, aren’t we heading for a duel with Lu Xiu?”
“Uh…” Da Wan seemed panicked, its eyes darting around. A perceptive panda nearby said, “Your Highness, it’s dangerous! You can’t go! Once it's done, let's hurry down!”
Jiang Hong reassured them, “Just take me to the entrance of the main hall. I don’t want to summon him; I need to see him with my own eyes.”
Outside the corridor, a crane’s cry rang out, and He Jian appeared.
“Everyone is safe!” He Jian reported to Jiang Hong before flying off again.
“Wait!” Jiang Hong called, and Da Wan took him to a hanging window outside the corridor. Jiang Hong shouted, “Do me a favor! He Jian! Xiting! Take Old Sun down first! Then quickly inform Teacher Xuan He Zhi!”
Deep in the main hall, Keda and Feng Li were separated and locked in two cages. Feng Li remained in fox form, covered in blood, while Keda was back in human form, forced to hunch over due to the small cage, his face bruised.
Lu Xiu sat on the main throne, with Lu Chaoyang standing beside him. Several demons were also present in the hall.
An intangible dark aura surrounded Lu Xiu, and Lu Chaoyang respectfully said, “Liu Heng has personally taken action. We'll soon capture Jiang Hong. The beast clans have been completely subdued, and the birds, aquatic creatures, and beasts are all under your command.”
“Now, only the Ghost King remains,” Lu Chaoyang added, “I will deal with the Ghost King shortly for you.”
Lu Xiu remained silent, idly observing Keda and Feng Li.
“Pathetic,” Lu Xiu remarked.
Feng Li responded with a cold sneer, her snow-white fox muzzle curled up, dried blood staining her mouth. Keda, gazing at her, extended his finger through the cage bars, gently hooking her furry paw.
The white fox remained motionless.
Lu Xiu continued, “You shouldn’t have rashly come here, but that’s your temperament, acting recklessly.”
Keda retorted, “At least we're together till death, which is far better than you, alone and miserable.”
Lu Xiu seemed instantly infuriated by Keda's words, standing up from the throne, black flames erupting around him.
However, a sly, sinister smile appeared on Keda’s lips.
“Now,” Keda said coldly.
In an instant, Keda transformed into a fearsome beast, his body covered in glowing runes. Suddenly, the palace, mountains, everything vanished, replaced by an endless night illuminated by an eerie lunar eclipse.
Surrounded by blood-red markings, the grey wolf howled, the sound spreading like a storm. The cages imprisoning the grey wolf and the nine-tailed fox burst open. Dark Lu Xiu quickly drew symbols in front of him.
“Foolish, thinking you can fight a dragon…”
The grey wolf’s attack was a self-destructive move, causing the space to collapse. Dark Lu Xiu, under the power of the lunar eclipse, hesitated to confront him directly. The main hall exploded under the colossal force of the dragon and wolf’s clash!
“Keda!” the nine-tailed fox broke free from the cage.
The grey wolf, bloodied and battered, was guarded by the nine-tailed fox. Feng Li released a golden light, lifting Keda into the air. Dark Lu Xiu, half his body dripping with black blood, flew into a rage, preparing to ruthlessly eliminate the wolf and fox once and for all.
However, in the next second, a voice rang out.
“I’m here!”
Jiang Hong stood on the spacious platform directly in front of the throne, speaking coldly: “I’m here.”
Feng Li exclaimed, “Jiang Hong! Run away!”
Lu Xiu’s expression changed instantly, his brows slightly furrowed, as if trying to confirm whether this was indeed the real Jiang Hong, while he cast Feng Li and Keda aside.
“What do you want to explain to me?” Jiang Hong said, signaling Feng Li with his eyes to leave quickly.
In a flash, Feng Li, carrying Keda, turned into a golden meteor and flew out of the hall.
“Come here,” Lu Xiu said, seeing Jiang Hong appear, no longer entangled with Keda and Feng Li.
Jiang Hong asked, “What did you want to say?”
Lu Xiu looked at Jiang Hong, and suddenly, Jiang Hong felt his gaze become familiar, as gentle as the old Lu Xiu, quietly watching him.
He often felt such gazes when they laughed together boisterously. Sometimes, they would suddenly fall silent, smiling at each other, and that’s when Lu Xiu had such a look in his eyes.
Sometimes, while he was studying, doodling in his notebook, and occasionally looking up, he would meet Lu Xiu’s tender gaze.
During meals, walking side by side on the road, in the classroom, when Lu Xiu accompanied him in class... It was the silent communion after the world suddenly quieted.
“Give me the Book of Everything,” Lu Xiu said. “Leave behind all the past, I promise you, everything you want, I will give you.”
Jiang Hong quietly watched Lu Xiu, who slowly walked towards him, extending his hand.
Jiang Hong stepped back, saying, “No, this isn’t the real you.”
“It is me,” Lu Xiu said. “Otherwise, who would have the patience to play with you until now?”
“No, it’s not,” Jiang Hong replied. “But that doesn’t matter.”
Lu Xiu's gaze held a familiar doubt, but Jiang Hong smiled and said, “Want the Book of Everything?”
“Come and catch me then—!” Jiang Hong shouted, then leapt over the railing of the suspended platform.
Lu Xiu rushed to the railing, only to see Jiang Hong riding a crane, spiraling up into the air, and swiftly flying away.
“You can't escape,” Lu Xiu stated coldly, leaping into the Wu Mountain range, transforming into a black dragon in mid-air, letting out a dragon’s roar as he chased after Jiang Hong!
He Jian flapped his wings, yelling, “You're too heartless! How can I possibly fly faster than a dragon!”
Jiang Hong retorted, “I didn’t ask you to fly far! We’re almost at the lower area!”
In the lower area, vines shot out explosively, and the lush greenery, like the mythical tree spirits from "Shan Hai Jing", spurred by powerful magic, lashed out their tendrils towards the sky, entangling the black dragon!
Xuan Hezhi hovered in the air, wielding dual swords – one pointed towards the sky, the other towards the earth. The spiritual energy from the heavens flowed through him in a straight line, fuelling the mountains with its essence.
Fang Yifeng floated in the air, holding his staff behind him and forming hand seals with the other, summoning the silhouette of a stone giant deity behind him. The deity's eyes sparkled like lightning, shooting towards the numerous vines. More stone giants rose from the ground, converging on the mountainside.
The Ghost King led tens of thousands of his ghost cavalry to form a line of defense against the incoming tide of monsters.
The black dragon roared, spewing dragon fire, clearing the entangling obstacles, but in just a second, more wild plants surged up again.
“Still resisting!” roared the Dragon King.
The nine-headed serpent clung to the front of the Sacred Land’s pavilions, its nine heads spewing flames, frost, poison fog, thunder, floodwaters, sweeping wildly towards the lower area!
The black dragon soared again, each scale shimmering with an eerie light. The river began to surge violently, and on the other side of the mountain, a thunderous flood approached!
“Where is Jiang Hong?!” Lian Jiang shouted.
Xiao Pi, transformed into a pixiu, carried Lian Jiang swiftly. They weaved through the front lines of monsters, with Lian Jiang wielding his giant sword to create a wall of wind, clearing the monsters breaking into the lower area.
“Hurry!” Xuan Hezhi yelled, “Jiang Hong! We can’t hold on much longer!”
On the other side of Wu Mountain, a massive flood reached its peak, instantly scaling the mountains and sweeping over the wilderness, crashing down into the valley!
Lian Jiang exclaimed, “I’ll try to use wind to block it.”
Xiao Pi exclaimed, “This is madness! Run! We can’t hold it back!”
Xuan Hezhi and Fang Yifeng pushed their magical powers to the extreme, and a towering wall rose from the ground. The black dragon released a jet of dragon fire, accompanied by a thunderous draconic chant. The combined fierce powers of dragon fire and language seemed to warp space itself. The wall crumbled but was instantly replaced by rising stone mountains, like swords of the earth piercing the sky.
Jiang Hong knelt on one knee at the peak of the highest stone sword, facing the boundless ocean. Many mountains had become isolated islands, and the water began to engulf the Sacred Land's pavilions.
Jiang Hong's heart raced as he faced the frantically searching, nearly frenzied black dragon.
He pressed a hand against the inverse scale on his chest and shouted, “Lu Xiu—!”
The world eerily quietened. The black dragon didn’t even turn back, but in just a second, it spun around, locating Jiang Hong, and rapidly approached him!
Eclipse Bow… Vajra Arrow… As long as you still love him… Jiang Hong raised his hand towards the sky, not even knowing what to shout, just letting out an unconscious yell.
In an instant, divine light from all around converged in his hand, materializing a massive longbow in the blink of an eye!
“I actually got it!” Jiang Hong could hardly believe his own eyes. Was this real?
The dragon's roar resonated, and Jiang Hong snapped back to reality, at that very moment!
No bowstring? Why was there no bowstring?
Yet, silently by his side, a golden light shone, revealing the ethereal figure of a beautiful young girl—
“Yao Ji!”
The girl smiled, resting her hand atop Jiang Hong's, guiding him to mimic the motion of drawing a bowstring, and the bowstring materialized!
Yao Ji then flew away, vanishing again. The bowstring, shimmering with intense light, was too bright for Jiang Hong to look directly at. He strained to draw the string, the bow forming a perfect full moon—
—In the radiance of that full moon, golden light converged again, as if summoning a deity. Heavenly chants echoed, instantly clearing the clouds, allowing the setting sun's afterglow to shine across the vast expanse of floodwaters.
The black dragon, bathed in the evening's glow, rapidly approached Jiang Hong.
The next moment, the Vajra Arrow materialized on the bow!
But just then, the black dragon sensed danger. Xiang Liu roared from behind, "Your Majesty—! Don't get close to him!"
Jiang Hong aimed the arrow at Lu Xiu, recalling his voice in his mind—
[You know well where my weakness lies.]
[Only you can summon me, and I will respond to your call anytime, anywhere.]
"Lu Xiu—!" Jiang Hong shouted again, his heart aching unbearably, tears filling his eyes, feeling as if his heart was being tightly squeezed.
The black dragon approached him once more.
As Jiang Hong's tears fell, unable to bear the heartbreak any longer, he finally aimed at the dragon's inverse scale as it circled towards him, releasing his finger from the string!
The moment the arrow was released, Jiang Hong felt as if his heart was being hollowed out, his life torn apart with the departure of the Vajra Arrow. But in just a second, a flame ignited within his heart, protecting his chakras.
Then, the Vajra Arrow, like a shooting star, soared into the sky, spinning with countless Sanskrit seals appearing all around, forming a vast river of stars converging at the tip of the arrow.
As the sun set behind the mountains, the Vajra Arrow transformed into a luminous body that illuminated the twilight, whistling away!
It was like a meteor pledged with eternal love, and like countless fleeting flashes of lightning in the dark night.
Resembling morning dew with myriad flowing lights, and akin to the first wisp of remembrance awakening from a dream.
Exorcism!
The flood receded towards the sky! The world was aglow with golden radiance!
Jiang Hong, tears unstoppable, watched this scene, but the black dragon somersaulted in the air in an instant!
The Vajra Arrow, aimed at the inverse scale, brushed past the dragon's neck and flew by!
Jiang Hong: "！！！"
The arrow had missed its mark, and all humans and demons on the ground watched this unfold in shock.
Jiang Hong, heartbroken and despairing, released his hand, and the Eclipse Bow vanished with a "buzz."
"I can't do it," Jiang Hong wiped away his tears and said, "I tried my best, Lu Xiu, I'm sorry."
"Jiang Hong!" Fang Yifeng, Xuan Hezhi, and Keda roared in unison, preparing to leap up to rescue him.
The black dragon was upon Jiang Hong in an instant, its jaws snapping to capture him.
However, the Vajra Arrow, as if defying reality, looped in the air and returned!
In the momentary pause of the black dragon, the Vajra Arrow flew in from the side, striking its heart!
Jiang Hong's eyes widened in shock as the black dragon, hit squarely by the arrow, tumbled wildly in the air, letting out a ferocious howl that abruptly cut off. A burst of black flames scattered, and the dragon transformed back into a man!
Instinctively reaching out, Jiang Hong found his hand grasping another amidst the flames.
That hand pulled him in, enveloping him in an embrace as Lu Xiu emerged from the flames.
"Thank you," Lu Xiu gently set Jiang Hong atop a mountain peak, then turned and plunged back into the black fire!
The black flames converged, revealing Dark Lu Xiu clutching his chest, gasping for breath, and roaring in defiance.
A unified shout erupted from all the demons and humans!
As if nothing had happened, Lu Xiu hovered in the air, steadily approaching the black fire, stopping just tens of meters away from Dark Lu Xiu.
"Why...?" Dark Lu Xiu, one hand over his heart and the other tremblingly pointing at Lu Xiu, uttered in disbelief, "Foolish... foolish..."
Lu Xiu slowly raised his right hand, drawing a gleaming silver Western sword from thin air.
Jiang Hong watched this scene in awe.
The moment the sword appeared, the dim world brightened once again, a sea of light radiating from Lu Xiu, engulfing everything like eternal daylight.
"I'm going to dispel you now," Lu Xiu declared, swinging the sword in a mighty arc.
A torrent of brilliant light flashed across the mountains like a sunburst, accompanied by the wild cheers of the onlookers, who had to shield their eyes.
The black fire was instantly dispelled, and even the last wisp of dark mist vanished. Dark Lu Xiu was incinerated without leaving a single word!
Lu Xiu drew a circle in the air with his sword, its light shimmering with the glow of moonlight.
Silence enveloped the world as everyone looked up at the figure soaring in the sky.
"Lu Xiu!" Jiang Hong was the first to shout out.
Lu Xiu glanced at Jiang Hong in the distance, about to fly towards him, but suddenly remembered something. Gracefully spinning in the air, he drew a smooth arc with his Western sword, directing a blaze of light towards Xiang Liu.
Xiang Liu roared, "I won't..."
The bright light exploded once more, cutting off Xiang Liu's voice abruptly. The nine-headed serpent was utterly incinerated under that effortless stroke, powerless to resist.
Everyone was stunned; the first sword brought a tsunami of sound, while the second was met with utter silence.
If the first sword represented exorcism, with its immensely powerful force; then the second, a demon-slaying stroke, demonstrated Lu Xiu's absolute and overwhelming strength.
"Ghost King, take over, restore the Sacred Land," Lu Xiu sheathed his sword, his voice still calm. "Rewards for those who helped, forgiveness for the rebels."
As the floodwaters receded, trees on the mountainsides toppled. Jiang Hong stood on the summit, watching Lu Xiu approach, bathed in moonlight.
"This Vajra Arrow and Eclipse Bow came without a manual. If Yao Ji hadn't taught me how to use them, I couldn't have managed!"
Jiang Hong yelled from a distance: "I was scared to death just now!"
Jiang Hong opened his arms wide, as did Lu Xiu. Under the full moon, atop Mount Wu, they embraced tightly.
