Chapter 334: Fragrance Departs, Dragon Leaves, Yuanqing Clears

Outside Wuji Hall, a little girl nestled beside an old man; one was meditating to regulate their breath, the other was playing with a hair ribbon. The two sat under the veranda just like that, leisurely and detached. The setting sun slanted low, spilling a pool of golden light, and under the reflection of the bluestone slabs, the Three Pure Ones statue in the hall was bathed in morning-like radiance.

"Senior Martial Brother Sect Leader clearly has exceptional natural talent, so why does he only practice the Qinghui Heart Method?" The little girl twisted her braids to herself, asking without much thought.

The old man smiled, patted the girl's head, and asked in return, "What does Little Junior Sister think is the reason?"

The girl looked at the old man, her large, bright eyes blinking again and again: "You adults' affairs, how would a child like me know?"

Hearing this, the old man smiled even more kindly, smiling until the little girl couldn't help but grumble inwardly—what is this, I really just don't know. People grow old and become cunning, their hearts unfathomable; how would she know what this old man was thinking?

Looking at the clever-looking little girl, the old man pondered for a moment before speaking: "Junior Sister has often gone to Langhuan Pavilion lately; have you ever read 'choking and digging a well, dying and seeking a doctor'?"

The little girl shook her head. She couldn't even finish reading all those strange tales and anecdotes; where would she find the time to look at such things?

"The Book of Songs says, 'Before the sky is overcast or rainy, bind round the roots of the mulberry tree, and tie fast the windows and doors.' The current days look calm and waveless, but we cannot be careless because of this. The saying 'It is precisely in the calm currents without danger that one often hears of sinkings' means that even if it looks like there is no danger, one must still tighten that string in one's heart. Only by taking precautions can one have peace for the rest of one's life."

The girl nodded as if she understood, then, as if thinking of something, asked with a giggle: "Is the 'seven-year illness seeking three-year mugwort' mentioned by the Sage the same principle?"

The old man was very gratified; while smiling and praising the little girl, he picked her up and walked toward the hall.

"Fourth Junior Brother, it seems only the two of us are left," Shangqing glanced at Qianyuan and Chengxin, who were heavily injured and unable to rise, then turned his head to speak to Donghui: "Are you willing to join your Senior Martial Brother in eliminating demons and defending the Dao?"

"What are you saying, Senior Martial Brother?" True Person Donghui smiled as he stood up. "Even if I meet death, I have no regrets!" As he spoke, he formed a finger seal. "Please allow this junior brother to go first!"

As soon as the words fell, a burst of Spirit Qi erupted from True Person Donghui's body, followed by golden lightning wrapping around him as he flew rapidly toward the Demon Lord.

True Person Donghui's approach was swift and fierce, but the Demon Lord did not appear flustered; he only gently pushed Lingxiang, who was still in a daze, sending her to the side of Ghost Face, then kicked off the ground and stepped onto True Person Donghui's shoulder.

"Good lad, you didn't waste your time reading the Xuantian Remnant Scroll."

As the Demon Lord spoke, he exerted force with his feet, intending to stomp Donghui into the ground, yet True Person Donghui let out a roar and forcibly withstood all of the Demon Lord's strength. It was also at this moment that the golden lightning around Donghui's body, like golden snakes, coiled up toward the Demon Lord's feet.

Seeing this, the Demon Lord leaped lightly with his toes and soared into the air, but those golden lightning bolts seemed to have eyes; no matter how high the Demon Lord flew, they continued to coil and chase after him.

This was the Roaming Thunder Golden Vine, the lightning technique True Person Donghui was most skilled at.

Bolts of golden lightning roared in pursuit of the Demon Lord, the witchcraft booming, the sound deafening and incessant. Yet the Demon Lord did not appear flustered; with a single flick of his finger, he scattered the rushing swarm of lightning.

As the lightning swarm dissipated, a person darted out from within the electricity, their fingers changing incessantly, and rays of spirit light gathered accordingly, like the bright moon in the night sky, cold yet gentle.

It was True Person Shangqing!

True Person Shangqing held his finger seal, and a beam of Qinghui shot out urgently, pointing straight at the Demon Lord in mid-air. But the Demon Lord did not dodge; he merely smiled, as if very satisfied, and let the Demon-Extinguishing Qinghui pass through his body.

As True Person Shangqing landed and stood firm, the Demon-Extinguishing Qinghui gradually dissipated, yet the Demon Lord suspended in mid-air remained completely unharmed.

"You have indeed improved quite a bit." The Demon Lord smiled and drifted down lightly.

True Person Shangqing frowned deeply and exchanged a look with True Person Donghui—it really was ineffective.

Yet at this very moment, the Demon Lord suddenly flashed and disappeared without a trace. True Person Shangqing and Donghui were greatly alarmed, and just as they were about to turn around, two rays of spirit light pierced through both their bodies.

It was the Qinghui Finger again.

Shangqing and Donghui were struck; their Spirit Power dissipated and their strength was gone. The two old men knelt halfway on the ground, unable to rise for a time, looking very haggard. And the Demon Lord did not seem to intend to let them go.

The Demon Lord looked down from above, gathering Spirit Qi in his hand once more, about to cast the Qinghui Finger again. If this finger struck the two True Persons again, it would damage their longevity.

Forcibly dispersing spirit energy while one's Spirit Power is already dissipating carries a risk to one's life.

Yet at this moment, the Yuanqing Disciples, who had just recovered due to Lingxiang's Spirit Fragrance Technique, raised their swords in unison and stabbed toward the Demon Lord. The Demon Lord merely grinned, flipped his hand, and a blast of air erupted, knocking all those disciples flying.

It was also at this moment that the skin on the Demon Lord's hand, which had been ruddy, gradually became dry and wrinkled. Seeing this, Ghost Face muttered: "Has the effect of the medicine worn off..."

Hearing these words, Lingxiang seemed to understand something; she broke free from Ghost Face's restraint, gathered her courage, and stepped forward to say: "Aside from the Qinghui Finger, do you not know any other moves?"

Hearing this, the Demon Lord hurriedly hid his hand in his sleeve, but Lingxiang did not stop her steps: "Your goal for this trip has already been achieved; why stay here any longer? Are you showing off your profound cultivation?" Lingxiang said with a scoff: "I think not! From start to finish, it's just one set of Qinghui Finger; everything else is just a wanton waste of Spirit Power. Even someone with low cultivation like me wouldn't squander it as recklessly as you."

"Is Xiang'er questioning her father?" Demon Lord Mo Zun Boyan turned his back and looked toward the north.

"You say you are my father, but to me, you don't look like one." Lingxiang walked to the Demon Lord's side and looked into the distance just like him.

"My father is a gentle and kind person. Let alone his own disciples and grand-disciples, he would never kill even a stranger to the last. Yet you today have dealt such ruthless blows; how can you expect me to believe you?"

Seeing the Demon Lord remain silent, Lingxiang sighed: "No matter who you are, you have repeatedly invaded my Yuanqing; what exactly is your intention? And why did you forcibly seize the Dust-Peering Mirror this time?"

The Demon Lord did not answer her question, but only took a deep breath: "The Soul Summoning Technique, can you perform it?"

Hearing this, Lingxiang was stunned. For her, the Soul Summoning Array was something she could perform with ease. Every year, on the night before the anniversary of Tumi Xianzi's death, she would inevitably perform it once at her grave, but what did this have to do with the Demon Lord?

"It has likely never succeeded, has it?" The Demon Lord looked at Lingxiang with a faint smile: "The tomb is empty; how could it ever succeed?"

"You... how do you..." How did he know she was performing the Soul Summoning Technique?

Lingxiang frowned, then her eyes widened: "Could it be!?"

The Demon Lord looked toward the north again: "Are you willing to go to the Demon Realm with Father?"

Hearing this, Lingxiang's brow furrowed even tighter. She pondered for a moment and was about to agree, but before the words could leave her mouth, she was interrupted by Long Qi.

"Lingxiang!"

Lingxiang turned to look at Long Qi, and Long Qi was shaking his head desperately.

Although Long Qi's personality was a bit reckless, he was not someone who didn't understand the situation; he had heard of the Demon Realm. If Lingxiang went to the Demon Realm with the Demon Lord, she would likely never be seen again in this lifetime.

The Youming Land is not a place just anyone can set foot in.

Lingxiang turned back to look at Long Qi, the emotions in her eyes unclear. She stared fixedly at Long Qi, and Long Qi was also in a state of panic.

"Fine! I will go with you!" Lingxiang said decisively, never looking away.

"Lingxiang!" True Person Fuyin was greatly alarmed; with just a flick of the Demon Lord's finger, he was sent flying.

Seeing this, Lingxiang shouted repeatedly to stop him: "If you want me to go with you, you must not hurt anyone here again, and tell your minions to retreat immediately!"

Although the Demon Lord was much taller than Lingxiang, Lingxiang's aura was overbearing and she did not retreat in the slightest, her gaze firm and unafraid.

The Demon Lord stared at the delicate little person before him for a long time, the two of them seemingly in a standoff. Just as everyone broke into a cold sweat, thinking the Demon Lord had become angry, the Demon Lord suddenly burst into wild laughter.

"Did you hear the Princess? Retreat immediately!"

The Demon Lord seemed very happy: "To have such an aura, you are worthy of being this seat's daughter!"

Lingxiang, however, gave a cold laugh: "I'm afraid you're happy too soon. Whether you and I are related is a separate matter, and it's not impossible for me to go with you, but you must agree to one condition."

"What condition?" the Demon Lord asked with interest.

"Recall all of the Demon Race in Chenjian, and from this day forth, never set foot in the human realm again!"

Hearing these words, Demon Lord Boyan narrowed his eyes; his handsome face turned inexplicably cold, radiating a dangerous aura.

Yet Lingxiang watched him coldly and calmly, showing no fear: "What? You disagree?"

Long Qi had never seen Lingxiang like this; he called out to Lingxiang in surprise, almost pleadingly, hoping she would return to her former self, but Lingxiang did not even glance at him, continuing to stand in a standoff with the Demon Lord.

Facing the pressure of the Demon Lord, Lingxiang showed no intention of retreating; the two stood like statues, yet their auras were pressing and imminent.

After an unknown amount of time, the Demon Lord finally compromised; he was seen pulling off his cloak and wrapping it around Lingxiang: "I agree to it!"

Hearing this, all the Elders frowned and sighed, and Long Qi was even more shocked, calling out repeatedly: "Lingxiang! Don't go!" But Lingxiang ignored him, following behind the Demon Lord on her own.

Perhaps feeling annoyed, the Demon Lord pointed a finger at Long Qi, and a powerful force struck him, slamming him against the stone railing, causing him to cough up a mouthful of blood instantly.

Even so, Long Qi was still unwilling to give up; he crawled and reached out his hand, attempting to grab Lingxiang, yet no matter how hard he tried, the two remained just inches apart.

Perhaps Lingxiang's heart softened; she pulled at her hood and turned her head, though she did not look at Long Qi.

"You and I were strangers to begin with, having only spent some time together; now our fate has reached its end. From here on, mountains high and waters long, we have no further connection!"

The hood obscured Lingxiang's eyes, revealing only her delicate face, and after finishing this sentence, she turned her head away with resolute determination.

All of this...

All of this was exactly the same as in the dream from that day!

"Lingxiang... Lingxiang..."

At this moment, Long Qi lay on the ground, his body already devoid of strength, but he still propped himself up desperately, struggling to reach out his hand, as if this could keep Lingxiang.

"Lingxiang!" Long Qi stared fixedly at Lingxiang's gradually receding figure and shouted, but it was all in vain. Lingxiang did not look back, following the Demon Lord into the black clouds, merging into the endless gloom of the sky.

One after another, demon monsters rose into the air, a dark, oppressive mass, vying to follow that cluster of black clouds.

A long time later, the black clouds dispersed. A sudden, deathly silence fell upon the mountain, devoid of all life, just like Long Qi's heart. He finally could not hold on any longer and collapsed, his consciousness gradually falling into Chaos. Even so, in the depths of his mind, Long Qi continued to call Lingxiang's name, though his voice was as thin as a thread, sounding like a delirious murmur.

"Lingxiang... Lingxiang..."