Chapter 121: The End

"Nonsense!" Luo Changfeng said sternly, "There must be another way! Didn't we agree to find the antidote together?"

Luo Changfeng's gaze suddenly turned complex; he stared dead at Shi Ran, his voice so low it was almost inaudible: "You're sure... this is the only way?"

Shi Ran blinked frantically to signal him, but then saw Luo Changfeng suddenly reveal a bitter smile. He turned to Nu Tong, the heterochromatic-eyed witch who was looking at him with an expectant gaze.

"Fine." Luo Changfeng suddenly said, "I accept the wager and admit defeat."

A flash of pleasant surprise crossed Nu Tong's eyes, but she immediately grew wary: "You're truly willing to honor the bet?"

Luo Changfeng didn't answer; instead he strode toward Shi Ran. Before anyone could react, he violently seized Shi Ran's wrist and dragged her toward the secret door at the side of the grand hall!

"Stop them!" Hui Ying roared in fury.

Nu Tong's face changed drastically and she gave chase at once. But Luo Changfeng's speed was shockingly fast; in the blink of an eye he had brought Shi Ran to the cliff edge deep in the Demon Palace — the entrance to the Demon Abyss, where a pitch-black vortex churned with terrifying demonic qi.

"Luo Changfeng, what are you doing?!" Shi Ran struggled in terror, but he clamped her wrist in a death grip.

Luo Changfeng's eyes held an unprecedented strangeness; he leaned close to Shi Ran's ear and whispered: "Since you insist on saving Master... I have a way too — trade your life for his."

The words barely left his mouth when he abruptly exerted force, shoving Shi Ran into the Demon Abyss!

"Ah—!" Shi Ran didn't even have time to react before she was flung down by Luo Changfeng!

Hui Ying seized Luo Changfeng by the throat in a towering rage: "Who allowed you to push her into the Demon Abyss?!"

Luo Changfeng met his gaze without a trace of fear: "Isn't this exactly what you wanted? Her life in exchange for Master's."

"Foolish!" Hui Ying slammed him hard onto the ground, "The Demon Abyss devours all living beings, including the protective sword qi inside her! You think doing this can save Ling Xiao?!"

Nu Tong stood to the side with a complex expression, her violet pupils gazing vacantly at the Demon Abyss. She had never understood humans, never understood why a person's heart could change from morning to evening. She had made a bet with Luo Changfeng, but had never known he would strike so ruthlessly without hesitation: "Luo Changfeng... isn't she your junior sister? How can you be so heartless...?"

Luo Changfeng gave her a cold sidelong glance: "Wasn't this what you've been hoping for all along? Now I can't make sense of this expression of yours, Saintess!"

Back then Nu Tong and Luo Changfeng had formed a blood pact: as long as Shi Ran did not hand Luo Changfeng over, even if Luo Changfeng won, Nu Tong promised to send the group out of the Demon Realm; otherwise she would throw Shi Ran into the Demon Abyss. Now Luo Changfeng had accepted the wager and admitted defeat, yet Nu Tong's expression was thought-provoking.

However, everything was still under control. Luo Changfeng had long since discovered that Nu Tong remained moved by his one-meal kindness, so he deliberately displayed weakness, pretending to fall into her trap. In reality, he had been searching for a way to rescue Shi Ran all along.

"The Demon Abyss is the only place that can block your sensing." Luo Changfeng wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, "As long as Shi Ran is not in your control, Master has a chance of survival."

Hui Ying laughed from extreme anger: "Good, good, good! You cultivators are all so self-righteous, thinking you're so clever, aren't you! Too bad—" He abruptly raised his hand; a streak of black light shot straight at Luo Changfeng's chest, "You'll never see them again!"

At the critical moment, a streak of snow-white sword light descended from the sky, precisely scattering that black light!

"Who?!" Hui Ying looked up in shock.

The grand hall's dome suddenly shattered; a white-clad figure stood in midair. That person's features bore a seventy-percent resemblance to Hui Ying, yet exuded a completely different cold and clear temperament. Most shocking of all, the originally ferocious demonic patterns on his brow had actually transformed into elegant golden lines!

"Master...?" Luo Changfeng froze.

Ling Xiao descended slowly, his snow-white robes utterly untainted by dust. He looked at Luo Changfeng with an inquiring gaze: "What bet? What did you do?"

Hui Ying's face turned extremely ugly: "Impossible! The demon poison should have already..."

"The demon poison did flare up." Ling Xiao said calmly, "But what it awakened was not only the demonic nature, but also the sealed memories."

He raised his hand; a mass of energy intertwining golden light and black qi emerged in his palm: "Now, it's time to settle this."

Shi Ran's body fell through endless darkness; the Demon Abyss's gale winds sliced her skin like ten thousand sharp blades. Her clothes had long since been torn to shreds; fresh blood seeped from countless tiny wounds, drawing a miserable red line through the void.

"Luo Changfeng... you actually..." Her throat was choked by the howling gale; she couldn't even utter a complete sentence. Her mind kept flashing back to that moment — the strangeness and coldness in Luo Changfeng's eyes, and his motion of pushing her into the abyss without the slightest hesitation.

"Saying everything will be fine with Senior Brother... it was all a lie..." Her heart felt as if clenched by an invisible hand, so painful she could barely breathe. The Demon Abyss's darkness gradually swallowed her consciousness; her body grew lighter and lighter, as if about to dissolve into this nothingness.

Just as her consciousness was about to dissipate, a blinding golden light suddenly erupted from Shi Ran's chest. That light was like the first ray of sunlight at dawn, piercing the Demon Abyss's eternal darkness. She stared at her own hands in astonishment; familiar golden patterns surfaced on her palms — Ling Xiao's protective sword qi had awakened.

"Master..." Shi Ran murmured. Golden light formed a gossamer-thin shield around her, temporarily holding back the erosion of the demonic qi.

However, the Demon Abyss's power far exceeded imagination; fine cracks began to appear on the golden shield. Just as the shield was about to collapse, a seven-colored radiance burst forth from within Shi Ran's body, and a gigantic Fire Lotus Dharma Seal bloomed beneath her, steadily catching her falling body.

"This is... the Lotus Blossom Body-Protecting Dharma Seal?" Shi Ran touched the seal beneath her, flowing with seven-colored light, in surprise. She had thought the Seven-Colored Fire Lotus required constant spiritual power to nurture it; she never expected it would come out to protect her every time danger struck.

Golden light and seven-colored light intertwined, carving out a safe zone within the Demon Abyss. Shi Ran slowly landed in the center of the seal; her legs went soft and she knelt on the ground. She trembled as she stroked the dimmed golden patterns on her palm, suddenly understanding something — Ling Xiao had long foreseen this day would come.

"Master... did you know this would happen long ago?" Shi Ran raised her head; the entrance to the Demon Abyss above had already become a tiny speck of light. Luo Changfeng's figure could no longer be seen, but the pain of that one push was deeply engraved in her heart.

She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. Now was not the time for grief; she had to find a way to leave the Demon Abyss. Shi Ran looked around and discovered the seal was carrying her slowly toward the depths of the Demon Abyss.

"Strange, the seal seems to be guiding the way..." Shi Ran noticed the seven-colored light was exceptionally bright in a certain direction, as if lighting the path for her. She decided to follow the seal's guidance; perhaps she could find a way out.

As she went deeper into the Demon Abyss, the surroundings grew increasingly bizarre. Occasional crimson flashes flickered in the pitch-black demonic qi, like countless pairs of eyes peering from the dark. Shi Ran hugged her arms tight; the seal's light was her only reliance.

After an unknown time, the seal suddenly accelerated forward, carrying her through a layer of viscous demonic qi barrier. The view suddenly opened up — hidden in the depths of the Demon Abyss was an ancient altar, built of pitch-black demon stones, its surface covered in blood-colored runes.

"This is..." Shi Ran carefully stepped onto the altar; the seal's light resonated with the runes on the altar, emitting a low hum. A pitch-black bead, roughly fist-sized, floated at the altar's center, its surface entwined with blood-colored patterns, emanating a heart-palpitating fluctuation.

Shi Ran gasped: "Demon Core!"

She had once read in the Floating Dream Sect's records that the depths of the Demon Abyss concealed a Demon Core left by an Ancient Demon Venerable, containing the purest primordial demonic power. If Hui Ying obtained it, his strength would be unmatched. But strangely, a ring of golden seals surrounded the Demon Core, their aura identical to Ling Xiao's sword qi.

"Master's seal? Could he have been here long ago?" Shi Ran's mind was full of doubts; she hesitated over whether to touch the Demon Core.

Just as she hesitated, the altar suddenly trembled; the blood-colored patterns on the Demon Core's surface began flashing wildly. A powerful suction force erupted from the Demon Core; Shi Ran was caught off guard and pulled toward it!

"Ah!" She cried out in alarm, instinctively raising her hand to block, but her fingertips accidentally brushed the Demon Core's surface.

In an instant, a vast flood of memories surged into her mind like a breached dam —

She saw a young Ling Xiao standing at the edge of the Demon Abyss, white robes stained with blood, the Dragon Chant Sword in his hand flashing with cold light. Opposite him was a dying Hui Ying.

"You are ultimately my son..." Hui Ying coughed blood, his smile twisted, "Kill me, and you too will suffer the demonic nature's backlash, forever sunk in depravity!"

Ling Xiao was silent for a moment; his sword tip pressed against Hui Ying's throat: "I won't kill you."

"Cowardice!" Hui Ying roared.

"But I will seal you." Ling Xiao raised his hand to form seals; golden sword qi turned into chains, dragging Hui Ying into the depths of the Demon Abyss, "Until your obsession dissipates."

The scene shifted; Shi Ran saw Ling Xiao standing alone before the altar, personally sealing the Demon Core. He murmured to himself: "If one day I can no longer suppress the demonic nature... this seal will be the final resort."

"So that's how it is..." Shi Ran finally understood everything. Ling Xiao had long anticipated he might lose control, so he left a back-up plan; and the Demon Core's seal was the last barrier stopping Hui Ying.

The flood of memories gradually receded; Shi Ran returned to reality, discovering her hand still pressed against the Demon Core. Even more shocking, the golden seals on the Demon Core's surface were gradually crumbling under her touch!

"Bad!" Shi Ran hurriedly tried to pull her hand back, but it was too late. As the final seal shattered, the Demon Core erupted in piercing black light; violent demonic qi surged out like a tide, instantly engulfing her.

Agony swept through her entire body; Shi Ran felt every inch of her skin being eroded by demonic qi. The protective sword qi and Lotus Dharma Seal automatically activated, clashing fiercely with the invading demonic qi. Three forces warred within her, bringing heart-rending, lung-splitting pain.

"Ah—!" Shi Ran dropped to her knees, fingernails digging deep into her palm. She could feel the demonic qi reshaping her body; the boundary between spiritual power and demonic power gradually blurred.

Just as she teetered on the verge of collapse, a gentle power suddenly welled up from deep within her body, balancing the conflict of the three forces. Shi Ran discovered to her surprise that it was the Chixia Pearl — originally the Immortal Realm's Harmony Master — now striving to reconcile the collision of the two powers.

"As expected, no treasure is absorbed for nothing!" Shi Ran felt the three forces gradually merge under the action of the harmonizing mark. The pain slowly lessened, replaced by an unprecedented sense of power.

She slowly stood up, discovering that her spiritual power had undergone a qualitative change — no longer pure cultivation spiritual power, but a brand-new energy fused with the demon core's power. Raising her hand, golden-black-red intertwined light emerged in her palm, both sacred and evil.

"So this is... the fused power?" Shi Ran clenched her fist, feeling the surging energy within her body. She looked toward the space above the altar, the direction of the Demon Palace, her gaze turning resolute.

"Master, Senior Brother, I'm coming."

Shi Ran closed her eyes, sensing the newborn power within her body. The fused energy rushed through her meridians, enabling her to perceive every fluctuation of the Demon Abyss. She discovered to her surprise that she could now control a portion of the demonic qi, as naturally as breathing.

"The demon core gave me the ability to control the Demon Abyss..." Shi Ran tried raising her hand; the surrounding demonic qi instantly responded to her summons, forming a passage leading to the Demon Palace. Without the slightest hesitation, she stepped onto this bridge woven of demonic qi and sped toward the brightness above.

Meanwhile, the battle inside the Demon Palace's main hall had entered a white-hot stage.

Ling Xiao and Hui Ying's figures intertwined in midair; sword qi and demonic qi collided, erupting in deafening roars. The entire Demon Palace trembled on the verge of collapse, cracks covering its walls and pillars.

Luo Changfeng was blown back by the battle's aftershocks, crashing heavily into a wall and spraying a mouthful of fresh blood. He struggled to his feet, gaze locked on the aerial battle. Ru Tong appeared at his side at some unknown time, complex light flickering in her purple pupils.

"Do you regret it?" Ru Tong asked in a low voice, her voice nearly drowned by the battle's thunderous noise.

Luo Changfeng wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his gaze resolute: "As long as I can save Little Junior Sister and Master, I'm willing to do anything."

Ru Tong fell silent for a moment, then said softly: "Human emotions... are truly hard to understand."

In midair, Hui Ying suddenly burst into wild laughter: "Ling Xiao, you think you can win? The demon core's power ultimately belongs to me!" He abruptly raised his hand; demonic qi condensed into a gigantic demonic claw, striking straight for Ling Xiao's chest!

At the critical moment, a piercing golden light exploded from the direction of the Demon Abyss, instantly enveloping the entire Demon Palace! Hui Ying's movement abruptly froze; he turned his head in disbelief: "This power... impossible!"

Within the golden light, a slender figure walked out step by step. Golden-black intertwined energy surrounded her; with every step she took, the demon stones beneath her feet blossomed into seven-colored lotuses.

"Shi Ran?!" Luo Changfeng cried out involuntarily, his eyes full of surprise and disbelief.

Shi Ran did not respond immediately; her gaze fell on Ling Xiao first. The moment their eyes met, she saw a trace of relief and worry flash through Master's eyes. She smiled faintly and said softly: "Master, I've come."

Ling Xiao's eyes flickered slightly, as if holding a thousand words, yet in the end they turned into only a soft sigh: "... You."

Hui Ying's face turned extremely ugly: "How could you possibly return alive from the Demon Abyss? And absorb the demon core's power?!"

Only then did Shi Ran turn toward Hui Ying, pity showing in her golden eyes: "Because there is no obsession or hatred in my heart, the demon core chose me, not you."

"Nonsense!" Hui Ying flew into a rage; the entire Demon Palace began to collapse. "The demon core belongs to the successive Demon Lords, it belongs to this seat!"

Shi Ran calmly raised her hand; the fused power gathered in her palm: "Hui Ying, your obsession... should end now."

"Boom—!"

Golden light and demonic qi collided; heaven and earth trembled! Hui Ying's demonic claw was like waste paper before the fused power, instantly shattered. The energy aftershocks swept the entire main hall, blasting Hui Ying heavily backward.

When the light dispersed, Hui Ying was half-kneeling on the ground, demonic qi dissipated, his face aged considerably. He stared blankly at his own hands, murmuring: "I... lost?"

Shi Ran walked before him, her voice calm: "What you lost to was not power, but the human heart. You have been blinded by hatred for too long, forgetting the power of love."

Hui Ying fell silent for a long time, discovering that the face of that green-robed woman in his memories could no longer be recalled clearly. He finally gave a bitter smile: "Perhaps..."

Ling Xiao stepped forward slowly, sword tip lightly touching Hui Ying's brow center: "This time, I will completely sever your obsession."

Hui Ying closed his eyes, offering no resistance. Ling Xiao's sword qi turned into gentle golden light, merging into Hui Ying's body. With a soft sound, the demonic source within Hui Ying was purified; his features gradually grew peaceful, and finally he dissolved into specks of light that scattered into the air.