Chapter 362: The Purple‑Clothed Woman

The might of the An Ying Zhu is far beyond what Lin Rumeng alone can contend with.

You must hurry over to help her.

The Zi Yi Nü before you stands like a towering mountain, blocking your view, impossible to get past.

What unsettles you even more is that you feel countless lives fading away.

Cultivators campaigning against the An Ying Zhu world have begun suffering massive casualties; the Jing Tu world is likewise on the brink, and even the Guardians are starting to fall.

For the Guardians, this is already the final battle; regardless of life or death, they are destined to dissolve into the world.

Yet their deaths still make your heart uneasy.

You still cannot breach the Zi Yi Nü's defenses; it completely suppresses you, preventing you from taking a single step forward.

"How am I supposed to win?"

You keep pondering, as if you cannot get past this hurdle.

In this moment, you feel profoundly powerless.

The Zi Yi Nü stands there coldly, watched by it, and your mood grows ever more unsettled, as if under some suppression.

……

At this moment, Lin Chuan's emotions are exceedingly complex.

He naturally recognizes who the Zi Yi Nü is—it is his sister Lin Yangyang.

The worst outcome he had imagined has still materialized.

Sangyu, Jiao Jiao, Xiao Qingmei, Xue'er are all gone from the future world, and even his sister cannot escape the fate of being devoured by the An Ying Zhu.

Moreover, the blindfolded swordsman who guided him to thrust that sword is none other than Xia Zi the Sword Immortal.

Speaking of talent, from the unformed Primordial Age of the Nine-phase World to today's Jing Tu, among the most gifted cultivators there must be the titles of Yang Zu and Xia Zi the Sword Immortal.

Perhaps Jing Tu's existence is already the result of their hard-won efforts.

A hope of reversal!

Now, the An Ying Zhu life that Yang Zu has become blocks before all beings.

The Reincarnation body 'Shu' cannot cross this threshold.

But!

Lin Chuan can!!

This is Yang Zu, and also his sister.

"Even Xia Zi left a final measure; sister surely has a preparation, I can do it."

Lin Chuan without hesitation reactivated the opportunity of 'Major Event Interaction'.

With absolute trust, he makes the next decision.

……

【You still cannot breach the Zi Yi Nü's defenses, you decide to take a risky gamble.】

【You must gamble once.】

【Perhaps the Zi Yi Nü, like that Great Sword Immortal, has already left a back‑up move.】

【You walk toward the Zi Yi Nü.】

【This time, you abandon all defenses, staring fixedly at its eyes.】

【The Zi Yi Nü's expression is fierce, not wavering at all, terrifying power gathers on her arm.】

【This strike is enough to annihilate your spirit and soul.】

【Your body instinctively wants to resist, but you suppress that impulse firmly.】

【You must awaken that sliver of hope with your life.】

【"Dodge! Quickly dodge!!"】

【The instinctive will to survive echoes in your mind.】

【"If we lose! It's over completely!!"】

【"You bear the mission of all beings; your life is not yours alone! You cannot be so willful!!"】

【"If we lose! You become the greatest sinner since eternity! The chief cause of heaven and earth's destruction."】

【The will of all beings disturbs you.】

【Your steps, however, remain steady.】

【You don't even know why you're so willful, but from the moment you decided, there is no retreat.】

【The Zi Yi Nü draws ever closer to you.】

【Endless starlight swirls in its palm, terrifying stellar power makes every part of your body tense.】

【A shadow of death envelops you.】

【It seems a great hand of fate has already clutched your throat.】

【You begin to feel suffocated.】

【"Still not dodging? If you don't dodge now you'll truly die!!"】

【You clench your fists tightly, yet still do not counterattack.】

【The star‑radiant palm comes before you.】

【Three zhang! Two zhang! One zhang!】

【Three chi! Two chi!】

【Within a short distance】

【You seem to see yourself annihilated, and at that moment you simply close your eyes.】

【Dong!】

Your palm slapped your chest, but it wasn't the intense pain you imagined—just a light touch.

In the next instant, a bit of warmth appeared in the cold Dark Shadow World.

You opened your eyes and met Zi Yi Nü's gaze.

The pupils of Darkness had, at some point, turned purple, shifting from a cold, emotionless start to pure tenderness now.

It actually embraced you in its arms.

You fell into bewilderment, letting it hold you.

It gently stroked your head, like a mother caressing her child, hot tears streaming down your cheek.

You didn't even know who it was, but the intense, inexplicable affection made you unable to hold back tears.

It, too, felt the same.

"Dark Shadow life? It can also shed tears?"

In that moment, you were deeply shaken.

Zi Yi Nü shattered your understanding of the Dark Shadow World.

Its embrace was so warm that, in this cold Dark Shadow Space, it illuminated everything about you like light.

For a moment, you forgot all your worries.

You even greedily wished time would freeze right here.

But you know you still have a road ahead.

That person has passed; the living are as such.

The hope that crosses this threshold includes not only those still alive, waiting for you to save them.

All the souls that have already passed are also watching you.

"Go ahead."

A gentle voice sounded by your ear, "From now on, the road truly depends only on you."

"This parting is forever."

"I know there will never be another life, but I hope that if there truly is a next life, we will still be family."

"I still want to be your older sister."

Every word felt like countless sharp blades stabbing your heart.

It seemed an extra memory surfaced in your mind.

It was a babbling child clinging to a girl's back, wanting a hug; the girl, with a helpless expression, would pick you up and pinch your cheek.

Time caused countless silhouettes to overlap.

Yet the earliest ones always linger, never fading from the heart.

In a daze, the Dark Shadow's power began to ripple again; Zi Yi Nü opened her arms, stepped back a few paces, spread her arms wide, and smiled at you.

It is the gentlest smile in Shi Jie.

Even the sharpest sword in your hand is covered by such gentleness, losing its edge.

You wept, stepping forward step by step.

You closed your eyes once more.

Puff—!

The Ling Sword, which gathered the power of a pure world, still thrust forward.

When you opened your eyes again, Zi Yi Nü was gone, leaving only the ever‑echoing, unforgettable smile lingering in your memory.