Chapter 67: Seeking Death

"Do the three of you share one body?" Ling Ji asked, watching Yunxiao approach her, blinking her clear, beautiful eyes.

"Yes," Yunxiao replied. As she spoke, a flash of light swept across, and the goddess, originally dressed in purple, transformed into a deity in flowing white robes, her entire face changing as well.

Yunxiao waved her sleeve, sending a pure, cold fragrance toward the unconscious Daoist on the floor. In the next moment, the previously still incense smoke began to move again, and Daoist Lü's complexion visibly improved.

Yunxiao took a step toward Ling Ji, about to speak, but was interrupted by an arm that extended horizontally in front of her. She looked up to see the grey-clad boy standing before her.

"Here," he said, extending his hand further. When she didn't take the offered item, he bit his lip, his face showing a mix of helplessness and confusion. "This is an offering to atone."

Yunxiao stared at the boy for a few seconds before smiling slightly, though her eyes remained cold. "No need."

The boy stubbornly shook his head and pushed the item forward again, but as he met her gaze, he froze.

The goddess's gentle smile and kind demeanor starkly contrasted with her indifferent eyes, which regarded him as nothing more than a fleeting wind or a passing rain, utterly insignificant.

The boy's hand stiffened, and the next moment, a gentle yet irresistible force pushed him aside. He looked up from his daze only to see her cold and distant back.

Lowering his head, the boy's fingers tightened around the item, his knuckles whitening. Silently, he returned to Daoist Lü's side and stood still.

Perhaps because of the boy's interruption, Yunxiao remembered the others in the room. "Shouldn't you go find that child? It might be too late if you wait."

A cold, ethereal female voice echoed, startling Madam Zhao and the others. They looked around but saw no one speaking.

Then the voice must have been…

"Hurry, call someone to rescue Yu Xi," Madam Zhao urged, snapping out of her reverence and fear. She grabbed her husband and brother-in-law, rushing toward the door.

Zhao Xiaobo stumbled but followed his sister-in-law. He glanced back and met Ye Jianghuai's gaze. "Go save Yu Xi first. I'll explain later."

Zhao Xiaobo didn't know what he was looking for, but Ye Jianghuai's words calmed his restless heart. Nodding, he followed the Zhao couple out.

With the non-essential people gone, Yunxiao turned to Ling Ji. "Can you do us sisters a favor?"

"Sure," Ling Ji replied.

"Kill us."

"Alrigh… huh?" Ling Ji's initial agreement turned into confusion. "What did you say?"

"Kill us," Yunxiao repeated, her expression serene, voice calm, and demeanor gentle, as if discussing a trivial matter.

Ling Ji turned to Ye Jianghuai, whispering, "Is she for real?"

Everyone cultivates to live longer, not to seek death. Could being bound by the God-Sealing List impair their sanity?

Ye Jianghuai lightly tapped Ling Ji's forehead, signaling her to stay quiet.

"Yunxiao, I understand your feelings, but it's not the time to give up. There may still be hope," Ye Jianghuai said, sighing as he faced the serene goddess.

Yunxiao's brow subtly lifted, surprised at his insight. "It's precisely because we've waited so long that we don't want to wait anymore."

She stepped back, folding her hands and bowing to Ling Ji. "Please, help us."

Ling Ji hopped behind Ye Jianghuai, avoiding Yunxiao's bow. "What should we do?" she whispered.

Ye Jianghuai shielded Ling Ji. "Yunxiao, she cannot agree to this."

"Killing a god is a grave sin."

Although these were post-God-Sealing deities and not ancient primordial gods, they were still recognized by the Heavenly Dao and protected by the world's fate. Besides, Yunxiao and her sisters were disciples of Tongtian Jiaozhu of Biyou Palace. Though the master had secluded himself, who knew when he might emerge?

If he discovered his beloved disciple's death at Ling Ji's hands, he might attack without waiting for an explanation. No matter how tough Ling Ji was, she couldn't withstand a sage's wrath.

Yunxiao seemed to understand his concerns. "Killing a god might be a sin for others, but not for Zhulong. She has golden light of merit, so the Heavenly Dao won't punish her severely. As for my master, he's been in seclusion since the God-Sealing War. If he emerges and seeks retribution, give him this. He won't trouble her."

Yunxiao handed over a crystal-clear cloud, intertwining white, green, and purple, shimmering with divine light.

Ye Jianghuai grew more cautious. "Keep your essence, Yunxiao. We cannot fulfill your request."

Yunxiao looked past him, directly at Ling Ji. Though separated by a person, Ling Ji felt as if they were face-to-face. "What does Zhulong say?"

Ling Ji peered out from behind Ye Jianghuai. "I agree with him."

Yunxiao's eyes narrowed, her calm gaze showing a flicker of emotion. "You listen to a mortal?"

Yunxiao's disdain was clear, even to the often oblivious Ling Ji.

"Yes, I listen to him." Ling Ji frowned at Yunxiao's attitude. "To me, he is not just a mortal."

Of all beings, only Ye Jianghuai had her complete trust and loyalty.

Yunxiao likely didn't realize that her contempt for Ye Jianghuai had drastically diminished Ling Ji's initial goodwill toward her.

"Elder sister, stop wasting time," a familiar female voice interjected. "Kill these mortals, and she'll have no choice but to act."

"Zixiao," Yunxiao chided disapprovingly.

"Elder sister, she has golden light of merit and stands with the mortals. She won't stand by if we attack. I'm tired of waiting."

As she spoke, a gale swept through the room, shaking furniture and scattering small items. In moments, the tidy living room was a chaotic mess.

When the wind rose, Ling Ji moved to shield Ye Jianghuai, Xing Miao, and Jin Hong.

"Stop," Ling Ji commanded, and the wind halted. But Zixiao, enraged, summoned her Hunyuan Golden Bucket. The air still under its pressure.

"Are you picking a fight?" Ling Ji advanced, rolling up her sleeves. Her eyes began to glow with concentric rings of gold, changing as the light intensified.

One eye turned increasingly white, the other ever darker.

"Wait!" Yunxiao hastily retracted the Golden Bucket upon seeing the eyes. "My sister is impetuous. Please forgive her."

Ling Ji's battle intent was abruptly thwarted, leaving her flustered and red-faced.

"She's young? I'm younger! Why not ask her to forgive me?" Ling Ji grumbled. "I don't care if you want to live or die, or kill as many as you want, but one thing." She met Yunxiao's gaze. "Don't touch my people."

"Or I'll make you… wish you were dead!"

Ling Ji's serious threat left her silently pleased with her own cleverness.

Daoist Lü, barely conscious, shut his eyes tightly upon hearing Ling Ji's bold words, biting his lip to stay silent.

This girl was too audacious.

Did she know who she was speaking to?

Feigning death too quickly, he missed seeing Ling Ji's unique eyes and thus missed a crucial clue to her identity.

"No matter." Yunxiao's indifferent smile appeared as her form faded. "This is my apology. Until we meet again."

With those words, Yunxiao vanished, leaving a faint scent of camellia in the air.

"What's that?" Jin Hong spotted something shiny on the floor, recognizing it from earlier.

"It's Yunxiao's essence, Yunhua," Ye Jianghuai said, picking it up and handing it to Ling Ji. "Keep it. It might come in handy."

Yunxiao's parting words hinted at something significant. Known for her divination skills, she might have seen something critical.

Though things seemed calm, a storm was brewing, and he had to be prepared.

Meanwhile, atop a distant skyscraper, countless birds gathered—sparrows, magpies, pigeons, bees, butterflies—chirping around a figure in green.

"Found it," the figure muttered, a sharp glint in her eyes. In the next moment, she disappeared.

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