At the same time, another sword light soared into the sky, trailing a brilliant arc of light, transforming into a hundred-foot-long giant sword that slashed down once more!
The sword energy shook the heavens and the earth. In the distance, the clouds raced and the winds howled, driven by the sword energy, as if the sky itself were collapsing, rushing and gathering to one side.
The once clear, azure sky now seemed as solid as a mirror, cracking inch by inch into fragments of light, swept away by the roaring hurricane, revealing the true world beyond the mirror.
Above the Crystal Palace, the water surged and churned. Meanwhile, the two figures locked in combat finally determined a victor.
With a burst of radiant sword light, Bai Ji'an and Li Langhuan directed their swords through the water curtain.
The two sword lights supported each other, piercing through and striking Xiao Lingbo's shoulder. The immense force sent her crashing into the palace gate, shattering countless pillars along the way, blood gushing from her mouth.
As Xiao Lingbo was injured, the Mirror of Shattering Illusions, connected to her by blood and spirit, also began to tremble violently.
The Mirror of Shattering Illusions was in motion.
Bai Ji'an and Li Langhuan both turned their gaze toward the mirror, which hung suspended in mid-air.
Xiao Lingbo's bones were shattered, her body drenched in blood as she knelt on the ground, her expression a mix of despair and cold fury, her eyes bloodshot and filled with hatred.
She had never imagined that after sending away Ling Chongxiao, whom she thought was her greatest threat, this white-clad youth and the green-robed girl could push her to this point.
"Xiao Lingbo is injured, and the Mirror of Shattering Illusions is trembling!" Li Langhuan, who was also severely injured, tightened her grip on her sword, her expression as sharp as ever. She looked up at the mirror and frowned, "Fellow Daoist Ling must have sensed this from within the mirror and is trying to take this opportunity to break through the illusion!"
Of the three, Bai Ji'an was the most severely injured, his white robes nearly completely stained red with blood.
Even though they were outside the mirror, their situation was no better than that of Xia Lianqiao and Ling Chongxiao inside. Xiao Lingbo was no easy opponent, and despite their prolonged battle, they had yet to defeat her.
In this critical moment, it was Bai Ji'an who realized the technique of controlling the sword with energy, dividing it into yin and yang, and with Li Langhuan's assistance, managed to turn the tide.
Li Langhuan said, "The dragon demon is heavily injured. I will hold her off."
Bai Ji'an also looked up at the trembling Mirror of Shattering Illusions and nodded, "I will assist Fellow Daoist Ling."
Despite his severe injuries, Bai Ji'an felt no exhaustion. Having just entered the Mingdao realm and experiencing such a fierce battle, he felt his blood boiling with excitement, his killing intent surging, and his spirit soaring.
Li Langhuan was slightly taken aback as she watched Bai Ji'an leap into the air, his sword light flashing as he sent a flying sword toward the mirror.
From their time together, she had come to realize that Bai Ji'an was not a kind-hearted person.
Having endured a harsh and turbulent childhood, suffering countless hardships and cold shoulders, his heart had grown cold and ruthless. The more he fought, the colder and more frenzied he became.
A faint sense of unease stirred within her.
Had it been right to lead Bai Ji'an onto the path of immortality?
-
The biting wind felt like knives against Xia Lianqiao's face, forcing her to close her eyes. Yet, the shock in her heart was like a tidal wave.
Her mind kept replaying the scene of Ling Chongxiao's decapitation on a loop.
What kind of twisted scene was this?! She had no idea Ling Chongxiao could be so extreme!
The image of the beheading was too bloody and shocking, leaving Xia Lianqiao's thoughts as scattered as a broken record, unable to process what had happened.
Did Ling Chongxiao really just cut off his own head?!
Her throat felt clogged. Although she knew how proud he was, and that this was all just an illusion, she never imagined Ling Chongxiao could be so fiercely resolute.
As the wind began to subside, Xia Lianqiao quickly opened her eyes, hearing a familiar, almost otherworldly voice calling out, "Lianqiao! Fellow Daoist Ling!"
A figure in green robes rushed toward her, revealing Li Langhuan's anxious yet relieved expression.
Xia Lianqiao blurted out, "Fellow Daoist Li!"
Li Langhuan quickly checked her over before asking, "Lianqiao, are you alright?"
Oh, my daughter cares about me, she really does! Xia Lianqiao's heart warmed at the sight of Li Langhuan's sincere concern, and the gruesome image of Ling Chongxiao in her mind began to fade.
But to her surprise, Li Langhuan wasn't alone. Following her were two others—a man and a woman. The woman had a slight bulge in her abdomen and a gentle demeanor, while the man had a haughty expression, his face pale and his eyes cold.
Xia Lianqiao was momentarily stunned before recognizing them, "Madam Zheng? Daoist Zheng?"
These two were the Zheng couple, whom she had briefly met at Chen Manor.
Li Langhuan explained, "Madam Zheng and Daoist Zheng arrived shortly after you and Ling Chongxiao were pulled into the mirror. Thanks to their help, especially Madam Zheng's care for Chen Chifeng, we were able to focus on dealing with Xiao Lingbo."
Madam Zheng stepped forward and nodded gently, "I apologize for our late arrival. Are Fellow Daoist Xia and Fellow Daoist Ling unharmed?"
The Mirror of Shattering Illusions shattered.
A beam of light shot out, and Ling Chongxiao stood atop the clouds, his aura calm and composed, his demeanor as cold and detached as ever.
The young man's gaze fell on the evil dragon before turning to Bai Ji'an, who was approaching through the air. He spoke indifferently, "Fellow Daoist Bai."
Bai Ji'an smiled faintly, standing beside him on the clouds.
In terms of pride, Bai Ji'an was no less than Ling Chongxiao, but due to the gap in their cultivation, he had never shown it before.
Now, having broken through to the Mingdao realm and mastered the art of cloud-riding, he felt the weight in his heart lift, no longer willing to be subordinate.
Ling Chongxiao's gaze didn't linger on Bai Ji'an for long, quickly shifting to the heavily injured Xiao Lingbo.
The young man, dressed in white, stood with a sharp sword aura, his expression calm but his words cold, "Evil dragon, it's my turn to face you."
From the moment Bai Ji'an's sword pierced her shoulder to Ling Chongxiao's sudden emergence from the mirror, everything had happened too quickly. Xiao Lingbo exclaimed in disbelief, "How did you break free from the Mirror of Shattering Illusions?!"
Ling Chongxiao replied, "The mirror trembled, and with the combined efforts of Li Langhuan and Bai Ji'an from the outside, we managed to shatter it."
"No, that's not it," Xiao Lingbo's voice was hoarse, almost frantic, "What else did you do?!"
She muttered, "You killed yourself?!"
"You killed yourself?" At this point, Xiao Lingbo had already guessed, her voice nearly hysterical.
The young man's expression remained indifferent as he finally spoke, "That's right."
Hearing this, Xia Lianqiao began to vaguely realize that Xiao Lingbo's inner demon seemed to be tied to "Chen Xuan's death."
Ling Chongxiao's pride made him prefer self-destruction over the despicable act of killing his wife to prove his Dao. At the same time, he had also sensed the nature of Xiao Lingbo's inner demon.
And just as the Mirror of Shattering Illusions trembled, to be safe, Ling Chongxiao left behind a strand of sword energy, coordinating with Bai Ji'an and Li Langhuan to forcefully break through the mirror's constraints, even at the cost of damaging his foundation.
Now, no matter how much hatred Xiao Lingbo harbored, she was truly at the end of her strength.
Ling Chongxiao was well aware of this, his expression indifferent, choosing not to engage with her.
Xia Lianqiao couldn’t help but take a step forward, her gaze fixed on the figure in white robes floating in mid-air.
Backlit by the shimmering waves of the sea, he stood suspended, radiant and ethereal, resembling a deity.
She parted her lips slightly but then withdrew her step, pressing her lips together in silence.
She had initially thought she could maintain the detached mindset of an observer from start to finish, but seeing Xiao Lingbo in such a pitiful state—perhaps because she had shared a connection with her in the Mirror of Shattering Illusions—Xia Lianqiao couldn’t help but feel a twinge of compassion.
But what good would it do if she spoke up to plead for Xiao Lingbo now? It was already too late.
“Don’t fall into the trap of being overly sympathetic,” Xia Lianqiao repeated to herself in her mind.
Xiao Lingbo had to die. If she didn’t, what justice would there be for the innocent children like Chen Ying who had died unjustly?
Xiao Lingbo had truly killed them.
She was a pitiable villain, but her cruelty was undeniable. This was why Xia Lianqiao had refrained from voicing her opinions or attempting to intervene in the unfolding events.
Besides, even if she did speak up, would Ling Chongxiao really grant her that favor?
Looking back, the time they had spent together in the Mirror of Shattering Illusions now felt like a lifetime ago.
Xia Lianqiao tilted her head to gaze at the white-robed figure soaring into the sky.
She sighed. Just moments ago, they had been “pillow companions,” and now he was literally ascending to the heavens. She had never realized the vast chasm that separated her from Ling Chongxiao.
In the mirror, she could still treat him as a teammate, daring to tease him occasionally. But that was only within the mirror. In the real world, Ling Chongxiao remained the aloof and cold young swordsman who regarded everything with disdain.
He wouldn’t grant her this favor. In his eyes, she likely didn’t even register as someone worth considering.
However, even if she didn’t speak up, someone else would. Xia Lianqiao glanced at Madam Zheng beside her.
Just as Ling Chongxiao’s sword energy was about to descend, a figure in light purple robes predictably stepped in front of Xiao Lingbo, shouting, “Fellow Daoist, wait!”
Ling Chongxiao stopped his attack at the right moment, calmly looking at Madam Zheng.
“Dan’er!” Daoist Zheng, seemingly caught off guard by his wife’s sudden action, changed his expression and hurriedly transformed into a streak of light to follow her.
Madam Zheng nodded at Ling Chongxiao, then turned to Xiao Lingbo, her face filled with pity. “To be honest, Fellow Daoist, this evil dragon is an old friend of my husband. Could you spare her life—”
Not only were Daoist Zheng and Bai Ji’an surprised by Madam Zheng’s actions, but even Xiao Lingbo herself showed a momentary look of astonishment, which quickly turned into wild hope.
She didn’t recall ever knowing these two Daoists.
But when pushed to the brink, one would grasp at any straw. Xiao Lingbo’s mind raced, and a flicker of malice flashed in her eyes as she looked at Madam Zheng.
Why not take this woman hostage and try one last desperate move?
Immediately, she mustered all her strength, secretly pressing her fingertips downward within her sleeve, summoning a surge of dark blue water that rushed toward Madam Zheng.
Madam Zheng, completely focused on negotiating with Ling Chongxiao, was caught off guard when Xiao Lingbo suddenly attacked. Before she could react, she was enveloped by the wave and pulled into Xiao Lingbo’s grasp.
For some reason, Ling Chongxiao was unable to intervene in time, watching helplessly as Madam Zheng was swept away in a flash of water.
With her fingers gripping Madam Zheng’s pulse point, Xiao Lingbo hissed, “Boy, if you know what’s good for you, let me go, or I’ll kill her!”
“Zheng Lang!” Madam Zheng, realizing her recklessness, was terrified, her almond-shaped eyes filled with tears as she looked pleadingly at Daoist Zheng.
Bai Ji’an and Li Langhuan were also stunned by this sudden turn of events, immediately going on high alert.
“Xiao Lingbo, release Dan’er!” Daoist Zheng, unable to catch up, could only watch as Madam Zheng fell into Xiao Lingbo’s hands. His expression darkened, and with a flick of his horsetail whisk, a stream of green smoke shot out.
Now that Madam Zheng was her lifeline, Xiao Lingbo had no intention of letting her go. “If I let her go, who will spare me?”
Daoist Zheng urged the smoke forward, “At this point, are you still so deluded?”
The green smoke surged, glowing with an eerie light, growing larger and heavier, pressing down on the dark blue wave, forcing it back bit by bit.
Xiao Lingbo was immediately crushed, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, yet she still refused to release Madam Zheng.
Li Langhuan, anxious and thinking quickly, shouted, “Xiao Lingbo! Madam Zheng pleaded for your life, and you repay her kindness with betrayal? She’s only at the Foundation Establishment stage. Release her, and I’ll take her place as your hostage.”
Bai Ji’an coldly interjected, “Langhuan, this dragon demon is inherently vicious. Don’t be naive!”
With her internal organs rupturing, Xiao Lingbo, drenched in blood, laughed maniacally, “What if I am inherently vicious? Blame this woman for being too foolish!”
Daoist Zheng lamented, “Dan’er pleaded for your life, and instead of repaying her kindness, you bite the hand that feeds you.”
Xiao Lingbo sneered, “Have you ever seen a venomous woman reform?” As she laughed, she gritted her teeth, resisting Daoist Zheng’s attack. Her feet sank into the ground under the immense pressure, yet she refused to show any sign of weakness.
“What old friend? I don’t know you or your wife. Why would you plead for me?”
At these words, Daoist Zheng suddenly pointed his finger, retracting the smoke, and wiped his face with his other hand.
The stiff, mask-like “face” was ripped away, revealing a pale, gaunt, and cold countenance.
In front of everyone’s eyes.
“Yaoniang,” Daoist Zheng—or rather, Chen Xuan—said, meeting Xiao Lingbo’s suddenly narrowed pupils. “It’s time to stop.”
Yaoniang.
This was Xiao Lingbo’s childhood name.
Witnessing this dramatic scene, Xia Lianqiao was momentarily stunned, feeling a sense of “it’s finally here” welling up inside her. A mix of complex emotions churned in her heart, impossible to untangle.
It was like the second shoe had finally dropped. The plot had inexorably reached this point.
This Daoist Zheng was none other than Chen Xuan, who had left after killing his wife to pursue enlightenment.
And the truth of the matter was even more brutal than the phrase “killing one’s wife to attain enlightenment” suggested.
After Chen Xuan killed his wife and left, he not only failed to attain enlightenment but also had his Dao heart shattered, wandering aimlessly through the streets in a daze.
Until one day, he met Madam Zheng. Her appearance profoundly changed Chen Xuan.
For the first time in his cold and detached life, Chen Xuan experienced the stirrings of emotion. Because of Madam Zheng, Chen Xuan regained his resolve, abandoning the path of heartlessness to cultivate the path of love.
Such is the cruelty of fate.
No matter how much Xiao Lingbo had humbled herself to please Chen Xuan in the past, all she ever received in return were his cold, indifferent glances. However, everything changed when Madam Zheng, the destined one, appeared. Chen Xuan abandoned his previous path and began cultivating the Dao of Affection, transforming into the tender and attentive husband he now was to his wife.
The two cultivated together as a couple, becoming renowned far and wide as a pair of chivalrous Daoist companions. Chen Xuan never returned to Chen Manor again.
A century later, by a twist of fate, the couple found themselves traveling near Chen County. There, they heard rumors of a vicious sea dragon wreaking havoc in the East Sea, demanding the life of a descendant of the Chen family every ten years.
It was only then that Chen Xuan realized the sea dragon might be Xiao Lingbo, and he hurried to settle this long-standing grievance.
Looking back at Xiao Lingbo's life, the word "love" was nothing but a source of heartbreak. The most agonizing pain of all was the unattainable desire for affection.
