Chapter 242: A Millennium of Daoist Transformation, Finally Reaching Enlightenment

Seeing his first strike fail, Huiwu hurriedly followed up with another, and this strike was even more ruthless than the last. A sudden chill rose all around; even though it was late spring, frost began to condense on the flowers, grasses, and leaves.

The sharp claws were wrapped in the fierce wind of Demon Race energy, and as they were about to reach him, Ajin seemed not to notice, only calling out to Zhao Wuyang with an anxious face.

Zhao Wuyang's eyes were unfocused, as if he had lost his soul; no matter how Ajin shouted or shook him, he could not be awakened.

Lingxiang saw this and shouted a warning to be careful, but Ajin acted as if he hadn't heard; yet, Huiwu's sharp claws were nearly touching his hair, and the sound of the claw-wind was audible to the ear!

Just as Huiwu grinned, thinking he was about to succeed and feeling infinitely smug, Ajin turned his head, glared with his golden eyes, and a blast of energy instantly surged toward Huiwu, knocking him a dozen feet away to crash against a large rock, where he remained unable to recover for a long while.

Seeing this, Bai Wuchang frowned; he had been traveling the mortal world for a hundred years, yet he did not recall such a person who could possess such power with just a single glance.

Such cultivation was certainly not shallow!

Looking at Huiwu again, he was propping himself up while clutching his chest, his expression dull, looking as if he had been frightened out of his wits.

Bai Wuchang gave a disdainful snort: "Useless thing!" He then flashed to Huiwu's side, picked him up, and with another flash, they vanished without a trace.

Once the two had left, the wolf-headed one also covered his face with his sleeve, retreated into the forest in a few leaps, and then concealed his form and disappeared.

"They've finally left!"

Banxia let out a long sigh and walked out from his hiding place, but Liu Xia had no reaction at all, just standing in place with his head lowered, motionless, not even sheathing his sword.

This was somewhat strange; Banxia stepped forward to look and saw that Liu Xia was holding a Pouch in his hand.

The Pouch had pine-smoke colored pleats with a cord threaded through them, and the body of the bag was cloud-mountain colored, embroidered with a white orchid on top.

Liu Xia turned it over to look, and there was actually an "Orchid" character embroidered on the back of the Pouch!

Watching the changes in Liu Xia's expression, Banxia was greatly puzzled; could this Pouch have some sort of history? Just as he was confused, he heard Liu Xia ask Xin Yi:

"Your reaction just now—it seems you recognize that person? Do you know his name?"

Xin Yi shook his head; regarding his entanglement with the Demon Race, only Lingxiang and Long Qi had ever known. According to Lingxiang, to avoid unnecessary trouble, this matter must not involve too many people.

Seeing Xin Yi like this, Liu Xia frowned but did not press further; he knew Xin Yi must be hiding something, perhaps for some unspeakable reason.

But this did not matter; he had roughly guessed a thing or two. This Pouch...

"Wuyang! Wuyang!"

Just as the two were lost in their own thoughts, they heard Ajin's call, and the three hurried toward where Long Qi was.

After some Needle Acupuncture, Lingxiang had managed to stabilize the spread of the Miasma Poison in Long Qi, but this method was not a long-term solution; a master would still need to perform a cleansing technique to ensure safety.

Zhao Wuyang had also been struck by Huiwu, and now Lingxiang was performing Needle Acupuncture on him, but his reaction was worrying.

To avoid the suffering of the Miasma Poison, Lingxiang had used acupuncture for Hypnosis on Long Qi, but no matter how Lingxiang twisted the Sleep Point, Zhao Wuyang kept his eyes wide open, showing no intention of falling asleep.

"This..." Lingxiang was also helpless; she did not know what was wrong with Zhao Wuyang. Could his soul have been snatched away?

"Wuyang! Wuyang..."

"Wuyang... Wuyang..."

Zhao Wuyang lay on a rocking chair, eyes closed, recalling scenes from his childhood, when a hand stroked his eyes.

"How can you fall asleep here?"

The voice was like a clear breeze, warm and gentle; it was the voice from his longing!

Zhao Wuyang sat up abruptly, but looking around, he did not see a single figure, only the old locust tree in the courtyard rustling with the breeze.

"Mother! Mother! Is that you, Mother!"

Zhao Wuyang shouted loudly, but no one responded; he could not help but feel a bit despondent. Just then, a wind rose, and following it was the crisp sound of a bell.

Looking toward the sound, it was coming from the locust tree; the old locust tree, which had been covered in clusters of white locust flowers, had now turned into full, plump locust seeds.

Just then, a voice sounded in his ear again.

"Look forward, do not look back..."

It was still that gentle, yet it seemed full of strength.

At this very moment, the gate of the small courtyard opened suddenly, and a gust of wind blew toward Zhao Wuyang, seemingly blowing away the confusion in his heart along with it.

That's right! He must look forward!

Zhao Wuyang smiled self-deprecatingly, then walked firmly toward the outside of the gate.

"Wuyang! Wuyang!"

Zhao Wuyang seemed to hear Ajin's urgent calls, closed his eyes and then opened them abruptly, then grabbed his sleeve and asked, enduring the pain with all his might:

"I have heard that the Xishan Cat Spirit can grant people's wishes; is that true or not?"

Seeing Zhao Wuyang awake, Lingxiang finally felt relieved, but her heart hung again because of this sentence; yet Ajin, standing to the side, was very calm, only looking at Zhao Wuyang with eyes full of concern.

"That is indeed the case," Ajin said calmly.

"Can any wish be granted?" Hearing Ajin's answer, Zhao Wuyang asked next.

Ajin nodded: "Any wish can be granted."

"Even seeing Mother one more time can be done?"

Ajin nodded again: "As long as it is Wuyang's wish."

"Then..."

Seeing Zhao Wuyang speak, Lingxiang was just about to stop him, but was held back by Xin Yi: "Trust him!"

Xin Yi certainly did not know what had happened, but granting a person's wish would surely not be an easy thing; one could tell from Lingxiang's reaction, but for some reason, he felt that Wuyang would certainly not make a rash decision.

Looking at the determined Xin Yi, Lingxiang hesitated for a moment before holding back.

"Then..." Zhao Wuyang closed his eyes slightly and said with a sigh: "My wish is for you to grow your Ninth Tail..."

In an instant, the surroundings became so quiet that a pin drop could be heard; time seemed to freeze, as if only Zhao Wuyang and Ajin remained in the world.

"You... what did you just say?" Ajin widened his eyes, as if he could not believe what he had heard.

And at this moment, Zhao Wuyang could not even feel the pain, and said word by word: "My wish is for Ajin to be able to grow his Ninth Tail!"

As the voice fell, the stars shifted and the scenery all around changed continuously, and along with these changes, so did the body of Ajin.

One could see Ajin surrounded by golden light, robes fluttering, dark hair ethereal, and even the face appearing hazy and dazzling.

Before long, a burst of green light struck the eyes, and a giant cat with golden eyes, brimming with divine aura, sat upright before Zhao Wuyang; behind the giant cat were nine fluffy tails, moving without wind, just like a deity.

No, this, this was a deity!

Zhao Wuyang was stunned for a moment; he had never seen such magnificence and could not help but reach out his hand, while the giant cat, eyes full of doting, closed those golden pupils and lowered its head, allowing Zhao Wuyang to stroke its forehead.

Ah! It is Ajin, it really is Ajin!

Tears welled up in Zhao Wuyang's eyes; he could not tell if he was happy for Ajin or saddened by the impending separation he knew was coming, and he choked up, unable to say a single word.

Although they looked at each other in silence, Ajin understood.

A divine aura enveloped Zhao Wuyang, lifting him up slowly, and one tail scratched his head; Zhao Wuyang felt this softness, and then smiled through his tears.

One must look forward after all!

Seeing Zhao Wuyang like this, only then did Ajin rest assured and gently set him down.

At this moment, a voice rang out beside Zhao Wuyang's ear:

"Wuyang, remember, my name is Xuanji!"