Chapter 201: Have You Attained Enlightenment?

The gray mist roared, wanting to restrain its own collapse.

But no matter what efforts it made, it was all to no avail.

Its own collapse was continuously intensifying, the degree of disintegration growing ever more severe.

Death, following like a shadow!

"No, no, no, no!"

"How could I die in a place like this!!?"

"I have endured for so long, how could the result be like this?"

Even when I was already gasping for breath, having weakened to this point before daring to show my face, by what right are you still alive?

It was furious.

Was all my previous forbearance, that feigned death, all for nothing?

Ah!!?

"Shouldn't you have died long ago? By what right are you able to live until now!?"

It did not understand.

Is this possible?

All things in the world have an end.

Even for an Immortal, there is a limit to one's lifespan.

It even felt fear.

"By what right!!!"

"You old ghost!!!"

But no matter how it roared, it could not stop its own decline.

At the same time, a blurred image appeared before its eyes.

It tilted its head back and saw a palm that blotted out the sky and sun appearing above, slowly approaching it.

!!!

Its body trembled uncontrollably; it even forgot to resist.

"You..."

It felt as if it had returned once again to that Bronze Lamp that had trapped it for tens of thousands of years.

Powerless.

Feeling itself growing weaker day by day.

Those days were so soul-crushing.

But it persisted.

No matter how maddening that feeling was, it persisted.

Because it still had hope!

Because it knew that the old ghost who trapped it absolutely could not outlive it.

As long as that old ghost died, it could still escape!

As long as it escaped, it would launch a frenzied revenge.

Everything related to that old ghost, whether person or matter, it would thoroughly destroy.

It would make that old ghost regret it in the underworld!

Regret!!!

Whenever it was truly about to be unable to hold on, it would repeatedly revise its plan, adding new content.

It is no exaggeration to say that the revenge plan, revised countless times, had long since become the spiritual sustenance that kept it going.

Revenge and hope supported it until now.

But now, hope had collapsed.

The major premise of that revenge plan was that this old ghost was already dead.

As long as he was still alive, then everything was in vain.

Now, that old ghost was not dead; he was still living perfectly well.

"Hehe... Hahahaha!"

In the eyes of Baihu Daoshen, who did not understand, the collapsing gray mist suddenly laughed bleakly, the laughter filled with sorrow.

"Hahahaha!"

"In this world, there is actually such an absurd thing! Hahahaha!"

"Heavenly Dao is unjust!!!"

His Dao Heart was completely shattered.

The gray mist gave up resistance, letting the collapse spread.

Crack, crack, crack...

The illusory gray mist actually emitted a cracking sound, revealing its true appearance.

It was a haggard old man who looked to have messy hair, even his beard looked disheveled and completely gray-white.

But even though he looked quite decadent overall, he was wearing a brightly colored robe.

Gazing at the approaching large hand, looking at those fingers as smooth as jade, and feeling the vibrant life force radiating from them.

It was as dazzling as the rising morning sun.

He lowered his head and looked at his own hands.

The skin was full of wrinkles and yellow-black spots, emitting a heavy aura of death.

Could it be that the flow of time inside and outside that Bronze Lamp is different?

"Heh..."

He let his head hang in dejection, the last remnants of fighting spirit within him dissipating along with it.

Having endured through time, he had ultimately been defeated by his enemy.

He was defeated.

From the moment he did not choose to self-destruct at the very beginning, from the moment he began to live in ignominy and endure, he had already been defeated.

He was dead.

When he allowed the other party to strip his tendons and peel his bones, using his soul to boil oil and light the lamp, he had already died.

And now, it was merely continuing a process that had been delayed for a very, very long time.

"So many years have passed, and I have had enough."

Sitting high in the sky with his head bowed, the old man slowly closed his eyes and said dejectedly:

"If you want to do it, then come."

And while he waited for death, a calm voice reached his ears, asking:

【Have you realized it?】

Realized it?

... Heh, realized what?

You hypocritical old Ghost!

Although he wanted to roar in anger in his heart, he seemed to think of something and slowly opened his eyes.

"At this point, what else do you want to say?"

【Regarding the events of the past, have you ever repented?】

"... What if I repent, and what if I do not?"

"I have already become what I am now; do you really think everything can be undone?"

The calm voice asked in return:

【Why not?】

【If you truly repent, everything is still not yet determined.】

"... Heh, fine."

Curling his lips in disdain, he stood up and said to the palm that was still slowly approaching:

"Let's just say I have repented, how about that?"

"You hypocritical old Ghost, could it be that you would actually spare my life?"

【Come forward.】

Come forward?

Narrowing his eyes, he looked at that giant palm, his heart feeling a faint sense of unease.

But recalling the tales of the past that were praised as fine stories, he regained some confidence.

It was hard to say for others, but if it were this old Ghost, perhaps it might be true!

"As long as I live, there is still a chance."

"Endure! As long as I survive this weakest moment, I can make that old Ghost regret it!"

Do you think a few words can be of any use?

When the time comes, he would make that naive fellow understand what regret is...

Puchi.

"Hmm?"

What was that sound?

The confusion lasted only for an instant.

The next moment, he saw the truth.

The moment he approached the palm, that slowly moving giant hand suddenly accelerated.

And then, it crushed his body without the slightest hesitation!

!!?

The shocked and furious old man roared in despair:

"You lied to me—"

Having suffered such an insult, he could no longer endure and prepared to self-destruct.

Even if he died, he would make the other party pay a price!

It was just a pity.

This realization of his came far, far too late.

Just as he was about to explode, a white fox slipped behind him silently.

Then, it bit off his head in one gulp.

Swoosh—

With something in its mouth, the Baihu Daoshen, having finished its mischief, chose to flee on the spot, hiding into the entire world in just a few steps.

【...】

In the wooden house.

Skeleton:?

It looked at Ren Yidao in confusion.

Ren Yidao:?

And he looked at the skeleton with equal confusion.

Why are you looking at me like that?

Did I do something wrong?

Ren Yidao blinked at the skeleton that was staring blankly at him, and gave an honest, simple smile.

"Oops! It was just a reflex, a reflex."

"Who told it to hide its malice so shallowly? I just reacted instinctively by accident..."

Besides, what era is this? You're still talking about edification here.

"You have to pull out the weeds by the roots! Don't you agree?"

Ren Yidao asked sincerely:

"Master, have you attained enlightenment?"