Chapter One Hundred and Twenty-Two: Fate Repeats

A surge churned within her, and she spat out a mouthful of congealed blood. Her gaze swept across the mountainside, where the words "Mount Jiuli" stood out prominently.

As the sky darkened, the red sun was obscured by clouds. Lightning flashed, winds howled, waves crashed, shouts echoed, and the clash of weapons resounded. Amidst the chaos, everything was clear and vivid.

Her blue robe stained crimson, she stood proudly on the earth. The towering mountains and verdant forests served as her backdrop, like a vast landscape painting, as she looked down upon her world.

"Where is Qingwu? The Celestial Fox is awake, and he doesn't plan to visit an old friend?" she sneered.

"Celestial Fox, you have roamed the mortal realm for three years, causing harm. Today, the will of heaven decrees your end. I, as the Celestial Emperor, will rid the world of this scourge on behalf of the heavens," declared the Celestial Emperor, standing tall on auspicious clouds, righteous and resolute.

"What is the will of heaven?"

With these words, her figure flashed, darting through the air like a bolt of lightning.

A blaze erupted, transforming into a giant dragon soaring through the sky.

As the Celestial Fox approached, the dragon opened its massive jaws and swallowed her whole.

In an instant, she was engulfed by the Nine Underworlds' Crimson Glass Fire, a searing sensation enveloping her...

Just when everyone thought it was all over, a qilin suddenly leaped out from the cliffside and plunged into the flames, soon devoured by the inferno.

Amidst the scorching heat, a fragrance lingered in the air.

Zisang jolted awake, pushing him away abruptly. "What are you doing? Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

But Junfeng simply smiled. "I told you I would be with you. My words are not empty promises."

She believed him, how could she not? But she didn't want to see him defy his own will.

She cried, but amidst her tears, she smiled. She had known all along that the Nine Underworlds' Crimson Glass Fire couldn't harm her. She had intended to survive and find him again, but she hadn't expected him to face life and death alongside her.

Wiping away her tears, she said, "Junfeng, thank you. To come to this world for just a short while and meet you, I have no regrets in this life."

While everyone's attention was focused on the flames below, an arrow suddenly pierced through the clouds and flew towards the blaze. In an instant, the arrow pierced the Celestial Fox's heart.

As she fell, a hand caught her, pulling her into an embrace. The flickering flames seemed to come alive, burning intensely. It was as if the flames were devouring her blood bit by bit.

Looking at the person before her with dilated pupils, a pallid face, and stars on obsidian turning misty and being covered by water, the droplets that fell on her face were scorching hot.

"Are those tears for me?" she chuckled softly. "It's good. I thought no one in this world would want to keep me. Zisang has many who love him, Yunsu has someone to protect her. Fortunately, I have you."

She smiled, but it evoked pity. "I am the Celestial Fox, you know! Don't forget me, alright?"

She pulled out a piece of white paper from her bosom, clutching it tightly in trembling hands. The paper turned into a beautiful flower.

The flower slipped from her hand, falling to the ground, along with her pale hand, powerless.

The pristine white flower was soon stained crimson by blood, like a blooming rose, yet it wasn't. It was truly being stained red by blood, just like the person in her arms, gradually consumed inch by inch by the flames, the flames gnawing at her skin bit by bit.

The person in her arms was clearly lifeless, yet they still couldn't let her go. Why? Why was it so difficult for him to protect someone?

"This is your last chance. If you persist in defending that demoness, defying my warnings, then don't blame me for disregarding our past friendship," the Celestial Emperor's words echoed in her ears, mingled with the admonitions of various immortals.

"...She's just a demon, an incarnation of chaos sent to deceive you..."

"...Don't ruin your future. If you defend her, you will be against the entire Six Realms..."