Yun Chuxue approached Yun Ziqi with her sword, while Yun Ziqi, clutching his bleeding wound, stared straight at her without any intention of resistance.
"Yun Chuxue, don't kill him."
Yun Chuxue turned around and saw Shen Yueru approaching. She smiled and said,
"He once taught me the Profound Yin Scripture. I promised to spare his life."
As she turned back, she felt a sudden pain in her abdomen. Widening her eyes, she saw Shen Yueru holding a silver needle.
Yun Chuxue immediately sat down cross-legged.
Yun Ziqi shouted, "Shen Yueru, what are you doing?"
Kneeling beside Yun Ziqi, Shen Yueru said with tearful eyes,
"He killed Silence, who was my only friend... I..."
Yun Ziqi, feeling helpless and angry, said, "Yueru, you... sigh."
After recovering her breath, Yun Chuxue found it extremely difficult to circulate her spiritual energy.
"What poison is this?"
"Hundred Flowers Powder, the most potent poison from our land. The afflicted cannot circulate their spiritual energy and will die within a year."
Listening to Yun Ziqi's explanation, Yun Chuxue smiled faintly. Just as she turned to leave, Yun Ziqi stopped her.
"Yun Chuxue, you're not going to kill me?"
"It's meaningless. You're already disabled. Why should I bother?"
"Can you sit beside me? I want to talk to you about a few things."
Yun Chuxue considered. After all, he was a dying man. Let's see what he had to say.
Yun Chuxue sat down beside Yun Ziqi, who asked,
"Do you know why I taught you the Profound Yin Scripture?"
"Didn't you say it was for a fair duel?"
Yun Ziqi shook his head. "Do you know my strength back then? If I wanted to kill you, why would I nurture a threat?"
"Well..." Yun Chuxue couldn't recall.
"Yun Chuxue, have you ever wondered why you obtained the Four Divine Artifacts so easily?"
Yun Chuxue thought for a moment. Indeed, obtaining the Four Divine Artifacts had been remarkably easy. Perplexed, she asked,
"Why?"
"Let me start from the beginning. I wasn't originally from this continent. I lived on another continent. One day, a man in black arrived at my sect, whose master was my father. My father asked me to meet that man. The man in black told me to go to the Tianling Continent and find someone named Yun Chuxue. He instructed me to train her, teach her the Profound Yin Scripture, and help her grow rapidly."
"So, you've been helping me all along? Then why did you cripple me after I reached the Spiritualist Realm for fifty years?"
"After your grandmother died, I couldn't find your whereabouts. At that time, you were too arrogant, not caring about anyone, so I intervened to temper your pride."
"Was it also the man in black who mentioned taking away Yu Shi's soul?"
"Yu Shi is dead?" Yun Ziqi exclaimed.
Shen Yueru's eyes filled with sadness. He was someone she had loved!
Yun Ziqi regained his senses and shook his head. "No, that should be their own decision. When I saw the spacetime array activated, I knew it must have been my father's intention."
Finally understanding Yun Ziqi's intentions in founding the Demon Sect, she rose slowly and said to the two of them,
"Both of you, return to the Spiritualist Mansion."
Yun Ziqi exclaimed in surprise, "But Shen Yueru just treated you like that. Why spare us?"
Yun Chuxue smiled faintly, "My children are dead, Yu Shi is gone. I have no relatives left in this world."
As she finished speaking, Shen Yueru realized her mistake. She left with regretful tears.
The three returned to the main tent at Qingyun Pass. Shen Yueru was treating Yun Ziqi's injuries and found that his foundation was damaged, unlike her wounds.
"I crippled myself."
This statement shocked both Yun Chuxue and Shen Yueru.
"Why would you do that?" Shen Yueru asked.
Yun Ziqi smiled, "My mission is complete. I no longer need strength. Having you is enough."
Yun Chuxue felt helpless about his decision.
At that moment, Yu Ke walked in and drew his sword upon seeing Yun Ziqi and Shen Yueru. Yun Chuxue calmly said,
"Don't worry, they have surrendered. Yu Ke, you will now oversee the Spiritualist Mansion. It cannot be without a leader."
"Yes," Yu Ke said, looking at Yun Ziqi and Shen Yueru.
"Stay at the Spiritualist Mansion."
"Alright."
Yun Chuxue and Yu Ke left. Before leaving, Yun Chuxue instructed,
"There are things prepared for me at Nangong Luo's place. Tell them that if I don't come back, they should execute the plan as needed."
"Okay."
Just as Yun Chuxue was about to leave, Yu Ke continued,
"If it's about Ya..."
"I'll go see her later."
"Alright."
On the city wall, Gongsun Yuyan lay half-asleep, his lips dry, and his face pale. Soldiers stood guard over him as Yu Ke approached.
"Commander, what should we do with him?"
Yu Ke was displeased with the title 'commander' and glared at the soldier, saying,
"Chop him up and feed him to the spiritual beasts."
"Yes."
"Spread the word. From now on, no spiritualists are to harm the spiritual beasts. The territories of the other three major empires are to be annexed by the Spiritualist Mansion. Have the elders and city lords each send people over to guard them. Any riots are to be suppressed mercilessly."
"Yes."
In a side military tent, Tang Ruoyu lay on her side with an expressionless face, her eyes vacant.
Yun Chuxue walked in and sat beside Tang Ruoyu, embracing her.
"Ruoyu."
"Mom... sob..."
Tang Ruoyu cried bitterly in Yun Chuxue's arms. When she learned of Shen Zixuan's death, she had been sitting here ever since, finally releasing the grief in her heart.
After a long time, Yun Chuxue asked,
"Ruoyu, don't be sad. I believe Xiaoxuan is still alive."
"Mom, please don't joke."
With that, Yun Chuxue took Shen Zixuan's body out of the spatial ring. It had shrunk to the size of a palm.
Tang Ruoyu picked it up sadly and asked,
"Mom, is he...?"
"He's not dead. You just need to take care of him every day, and he'll wake up when he grows up."
"Really?"
"Yes." Yun Chuxue looked at her tenderly.
Tang Ruoyu carefully placed him on the bed and lay down, smiling as she looked at him.
After leaving, Yun Chuxue coughed, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.
It seemed the Hundred Flowers Powder was taking effect.
"Yun Chuxue, give me some time."
"No need. Thank you for reviving Shen Zixuan earlier."
"He was originally a spiritual beast turned human, so he has a chance to revive once. It will probably take a long time."
"Let's hope so."
With that, she took off towards Falling God Valley.
Yun Chuxue arrived at Old Man Jing Shui's residence, leaning against the door with dry lips.
She wiped the blood from her mouth, adjusted her expression, and walked in.
"Grandpa, are you there?"
"Who is it?"
Old Man Jing Shui slowly came out, seeing Yun Chuxue running towards him happily, almost stumbling. Yun Chuxue hurried over to support him.
"Grandpa, be careful."
"It's okay, it's okay. You're back?"
"Yeah, I won't leave again."
"Good, good, that's great." As he spoke, he casually checked Yun Chuxue's pulse, his face turning serious for a moment but quickly returning to his previous cheerful demeanor.
"Come, come, sit down."
After Yun Chuxue and Old Man Jing Shui sat down, the old man asked with concern,
"How's everything? Is it done? Did you get hurt?"
"It's done, I got hurt, but I'm fine now."