Chapter 274: Perishing Together, No More White

Lingxiang limped her way to Chiyanzi, but seeing Chiyanzi in such a dying state, she was immediately alarmed; disregarding the pain in her own body, she hurried to his side.

However, although Chiyanzi looked terrifying and had many wounds on his body, his life was not in danger; he had merely fainted. But the ribs in his chest seemed to be broken, which was a bit troublesome.

Lingxiang was extremely anxious, yet she had no good plan for the moment. But with Chiyanzi critically wounded, he urgently needed treatment; if left unattended, there would be danger. Yet now, surrounded by demons, and with this being a high hillside, and with Xiaobai and Bai Wuchang not far away, how could she perform treatment?

Forget it, forget it, let's just hold on for a moment or two first; it's better than watching Chiyanzi waste away his life just like this!

Thinking of this, Lingxiang hurriedly took a pill from her waist, pinched Chiyanzi's cheeks, and stuffed it into his mouth.

This was a Dingyang Pill, which Lingxiang had stolen from Wuji Hall. It could be considered a posthumous work of Tumi Xianzi; after all, this pill was a remnant of the Life-Prolonging Pill she had refined. Although it did not have even half the efficacy of the Life-Prolonging Pill, it could cause one to fall into a state of suspended animation.

What is called suspended animation is when the body's Qi pulses stagnate, so there will be no consumption, looking just like one is dead.

But this method was only a stopgap measure. If a person were to remain in a state of suspended animation for too long, the physical body would inevitably be unable to withstand it, and as time passed, there would still be a threat to their life.

Having fed the pill to Chiyanzi and carefully laid him flat, Lingxiang was just about to simply treat his wounds when she suddenly sensed movement behind her.

She hurriedly turned around to look and saw Bai Wuchang revealing a demonic beast form. That surging Evil Qi and ferocious appearance made her feel a chill even from far away.

Oh no, oh no!

Bai Wuchang was using his full strength. Not to mention that she did not know how Xiaobai's cultivation truly stood, but now that he was constrained by her, he would certainly be unable to defeat him!

Even if she were to break the Spirit Contract now, it would be too late, not to mention whether Bai Wuchang would give them that chance.

Just as Lingxiang was filled with mixed emotions, Xiaobai took a palm strike, but he was no match; he was instantly shaken with internal pain and knocked a dozen feet away by Bai Wuchang.

Bai Wuchang felt strange in his heart, feeling that the gap between the two should not be like this.

Although he had held nothing back, judging by the few moves they had just exchanged, this person should have been on par with him. Why did it feel so effortless now?

Bai Wuchang scrutinized the Xiaobai before him, then followed his gaze and saw Lingxiang, who had a look of concern on her face. He immediately understood and let out a cold laugh.

"To actually form a Spirit Binding with a mortal, you have truly disgraced the Demon Race!"

The reason Xiaobai had led Bai Wuchang away from this place was that he wanted to stay far from Lingxiang; one reason was to protect her, and the other was because of the Spirit Contract.

As a demon, his cultivation could be considered profound, yet he had formed a Spirit Contract with a half-baked person like Lingxiang. Once a Spirit Contract is formed with a mortal, one becomes constrained by that person's cultivation, though if they are far apart, this influence can be somewhat eliminated.

Since Xiaobai had formed the contract with Lingxiang, he had only discovered this in the last few days, and he hadn't had time to explain it clearly to Lingxiang. Lingxiang herself seemed unaware of this point, yet he hadn't expected Bai Wuchang to discover it.

"Hmph!" Xiaobai wiped the blood seeping from the corner of his mouth and sneered: "A dignified member of the Demon Race, aren't you also chasing after a little mortal girl? You act as if you orthodox demons are so noble and unattainable, but aren't you just the same?"

Hearing this, Bai Wuchang laughed wickedly: "You have a glib tongue, but I want to see how much longer you can be arrogant!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Bai Wuchang flashed and instantly arrived in front of Xiaobai. His massive beast claws gripped his neck, and then his hind hooves kicked repeatedly at his chest.

Xiaobai could not break free for a moment and endured all of Bai Wuchang's moves, which left his vision dimming. It was only when he heard Lingxiang's cry that his consciousness suddenly cleared. He let out a roar, and a stream of Qi burst forth, knocking Bai Wuchang back violently. However, having suffered that series of moves from Bai Wuchang, he was also wounded and finally, lacking the strength to continue, he fell from mid-air.

Xiaobai had used all his strength for that burst of Qi. Bai Wuchang, not expecting him to suddenly attack, was also shaken and injured, falling to the ground. However, he was not as severely hurt as Xiaobai; he just clutched his chest and braced his body to stand up.

But just as Bai Wuchang moved, he discovered that his back was in excruciating pain.

Bai Wuchang frowned and looked at Xiaobai, who was also sprawled on the ground, lost in thought.

He had originally thought that this person was constrained by the little girl's cultivation and unable to respond with full force, but he hadn't expected that he had just triggered that person's latent power.

Bai Wuchang looked at Lingxiang in the distance and began to weigh his options.

The current situation was likely difficult to handle, but today's opportunity was truly hard to come by. If he could take that little girl away, perhaps it would help him achieve his goal.

Escaping his demon body was his long-cherished wish!

But...

While Bai Wuchang was struggling to decide, Xiaobai was also lost in deep thought. He looked at Lingxiang in the distance, who had an anxious expression, and recalled the words Ajin had once said.

"Lingxiang is indeed a good girl, but she is not someone you can covet. Even if she is safe and sound now, her fate is one of nine deaths and one life, and that only path to survival is one you cannot give her."

A fate of nine deaths and one life...

Xiaobai couldn't help but sigh. He recalled the scene from his dream when he first met Lingxiang.

"So that's how it is. Neither ghost, nor demon, nor human. According to records, the last time someone like you was seen was a hundred years ago." Lingxiang looked at Wu Yuan, her expression unreadable.

"What? Are you pitying me?"

"How could I? In the end, this is your Dao. Since ancient times, there have been those like you who have achieved great things; there is nothing to pity. Unlike me, I have worked hard for over a decade, yet I remain stagnant. Now my life is almost gone; I fear I will stop here in this life."

"Hmph! Do not feign a posture. Although I hate women, I have never harmed a life. Put away those thoughts of yours!"

"Ha~ I've been found out!" Lingxiang raised an eyebrow. "Any cultivator who has taken a life will carry some Evil Qi, and your Witchcraft is pure, so I guessed you had some past. Sure enough."

"I count as a cultivator?"

"That is natural. As it is said, the Dao produces One, One produces Two, Two produces Three, and Three produces all things. It is just that your Dao and mine are different. Although all things have Adao, all things return to the Dao, and all things move toward the Dao. Since you exist, it is reasonable. If you trust me, once the Witchcraft is undone, ask clearly about the cause, resolve your inner knots, and I hope you can cultivate with focus and let go of the past."

"Heh!" Wu Yuan lowered his head and sneered, "I have done these things and hurt you to this extent; can you let it go?"

"Old matters are all like this, the past is all like drifting smoke, just like boiling tea overflowing a cup; there is nothing that cannot be let go," Lingxiang said lightly: "Do not judge others' faults, but discuss the future. Looking back is all a dead end; only the front is the righteous path."

Wu Yuan was stunned and looked at Lingxiang, and she was also looking at him, her face calm and frank.

The girl before him was slender and small, yet her heart was so strong.

He suddenly felt that those sordid things no longer seemed important.

Recalling that time, having been a demon for so long, it was truly not as bright and clear as a girl!

Xiaobai smiled bitterly.

Since I am not your path to survival, then let me become the stepping stone for you to enter your path of life here!

Suddenly, he unleashed all his strength, and the seven fox tails behind him fluttered, their brilliance fully revealed.

Lingxiang was alarmed at the sight and struggled to run over, calling out loudly, but Xiaobai seemed not to hear her at all.

He was going to break the Spirit Contract!

"So what! Although we are both demons, I do not walk the same path as you! I, Wu Yuan, having gained such a friend, have no regrets in this life!" Saying this, he revealed his true form, leaped up, and charged toward the demon, unleashing the full power of his seven tails.

Seeing this, Bai Wuchang was greatly alarmed; he hurriedly raised his Qi and lifted his claws, intending to use Witchcraft to resist the surging onslaught.

"Ha! Even if you exhaust your cultivation to kill me like this, not to mention whether you can withstand the Thunder Tribulation, you yourself will suffer the total depletion of your True Essence and will not survive! Is it worth it for a woman!"

"You are not a fox, how could you know what a fox worries about!"

The Witchcraft of both sides collided; after a moment of stalemate, a surge of energy erupted, snapping all the trees and scattering flowers and leaves.

The dust settled, and there was a deathly silence.

Bai Wuchang was finally dead, his bones and tendons shattered, with no trace of life left.

Xiaobai was also stained with blood on his white clothes, lying to the side, his breath as thin as a gossamer thread.

He struggled to turn his head, looking at Lingxiang, who had been knocked unconscious by the Witchcraft not far away: Such a wonderful woman, yet one I cannot have; if I could have reached you a step earlier than him and been with you every day, perhaps you would have fallen in love with me; oh well, oh well, as long as I can keep you safe and sound, I am content.

……

"If you yearn for the human world, then travel across the rivers and mountains and experience the dust of the world; if you feel the human world is not worth it, then strive to cultivate and go to the place of ascension; there is always somewhere to go."

"Look at you in your white clothes, and you are a white fox, so from now on I shall call you Xiaobai."

"We can be considered to have become friends through a fight; although you are a demon, you are a very close friend of mine, so how could I not care about you?"

"I have seen you use this move many times; isn't it exactly the Hungry Fox Pounces on Prey!"

"Xiaobai, if my cultivation in this life is truly destined to be this way, then I shall entrust my feelings to the mountains and rivers and become someone who has cast aside worldly troubles; that would not be bad either."

……

If you truly wish to entrust your feelings to the mountains and rivers, I am afraid I will be unable to accompany you; to be like this is truly a bit of a pity.

"Ah! This, it must be about to enter autumn! Why is it so cold..."

……