Chapter 1248: A Dream of Huang Liang

In Zhongyu Shengshen Tian, Kyoto.

The sky above the bustling city suddenly tore open, and a vaguely shaped giant ghost beast burst out from the massive rift.

The group of red-clothed guards stationed at the front of the interdimensional space rift were instantly thrown into chaos.

"Sheng Li!"

"This is Sheng Li!"

"The Bai Wei Gongzhu of Xu Yue Hui Gong has reached the Sheng realm!"

"This is beyond our capabilities. We must ask the hall master to intervene."

"Indeed, call the hall master!"

All the red-clothed guards stood at attention in unison.

Throughout Kyoto, every spirit refiner looked up at the sky, their expressions grave.

Each person placed their right fist over their left chest and, in a single voice, chanted together:

"Qiancheng Zhuyuan, Qing Jiang Yan Shen!"

"Zhuxie Chue, Suchu Buren!"

A beam of sacred light descended from the heavens.

The colossal ghost beast couldn't even evade it and was obliterated in an instant. Witnessing this, all the spirit refiners finally breathed a sigh of relief, as if a great burden had been lifted.

"Thank goodness, with Bai Zhuo dead, there will be no more ghost beasts in the world."

"This world can finally return to peace."

At Gui Zhe Sheng Shan.

A sword light streaked across the sky, and two figures landed.

Panic-stricken cries erupted, filled with endless fear: "You Tu!"

"The foremost of the Seven Sword Immortals, You Tu!"

"And Ba Zun An?"

"Heavens, Ba Zun An has also reached the Sword Saint realm?"

"These two are attacking Sheng Shan?"

"Run! Run now!"

The two lone figures brought boundless terror to Sheng Shan.

The people of Sheng Shan seemed to be reliving the fear they felt on that day when they were dominated by You Tu.

But now, it wasn't just You Tu—even Ba Zun An, with all his power unleashed, had come to attack.

"Report!"

"Gou Wuyue has been defeated, Rao Jian Sheng has been defeated. Sheng Shan's ancient sword cultivators are no match for You Tu and Ba Zun An!"

"Report!"

"Ai Cangsheng has been defeated, Dao Qiong Cang has been defeated, even Yu Lao has been defeated. The council sent out six members, but they still couldn't stand against those two ancient sword cultivators!"

"Report..."

"There's no way to handle this. It's an enemy we can't defeat. We have to ask the hall master to step in."

"Yes, we still have the hall master, our final line of defense!"

Only then did everyone seem to remember, standing solemnly at attention and thumping their chests with their hands.

"Qiancheng Zhuyuan, Qing Jiang Yan Shen!"

"Zhuxie Chue, Suchu Buren!"

Boom! Boom!

Two beams of light descended from the nine heavens.

The light was so swift that even ancient sword cultivators in the Sword Saint realm couldn't react, piercing and obliterating the two figures in an instant.

"Is... is it over just like that?"

Everyone stared in stunned disbelief.

Afterward, Sheng Shan erupted in thunderous cheers.

"Thank goodness, the dark forces led by You Tu have been purged."

"This world is finally on the path to true peace." One figure after another landed on Gui Zhe Sheng Shan. After the great battle, some time passed before the Ten-Person Council convened once more.

This time, everyone arrived promptly, not daring to delay or slack off in the slightest.

Once the nine figures were seated around the round table, a beam of light descended from the sky.

The light was dazzling and radiant, accompanied by laughter, and then Yan Wuse strode out confidently.

"Yan Lao!"

"Yan Dianzhu!"

"We greet you, Yan Lao!"

Everyone rose to their feet in greeting, showing utmost respect.

Yan Wuse nodded lightly and briskly passed by Dao Qiong Cang, who was seated at the end, without so much as a glance, stopping next to Yu Kunpeng.

"Yan Lao, is there something the matter?"

Yu Kunpeng trembled nervously, not even daring to pick up the fishing rod at his feet, and began reflecting on whether he had done anything to outrage heaven and disrupt peace recently.

"Nothing, what did you call me?"

"Yan Lao..."

"Hmm, very good. Let's begin the meeting."

Yan Wuse laughed heartily and took his seat at the head, waving his hand. "Dao boy, analyze the current situation on Yan Shen Continent for us."

Dao Qiong Cang stood up, bowed, and spoke with hands clasped: "Ever since Yan Lao achieved godhood, the interdimensional space rifts have ceased opening on their own."

"Now, the ghost beast forces led by Bai Wei of Xu Yue Hui Gong have been judged by the Yan Shen light."

"From here on, no new ghost beast forces will emerge on the continent."

"The mission of the red-clothed guards is complete!"

"Excellent." Yan Wuse nodded. "Then have Bei Huai stop all operations. It's pointless now."

"Yes."

"Continue."

"Yes, Yan Lao." Dao Qiong Cang went on: "The dark forces led by You Tu and Ba Zun An have finally been eradicated entirely."

"The two of them were driven to desperation and attacked Sheng Shan in an attempt to stir up chaos, but they too were judged by the Yan Shen light and have been slain."

"The rebellion of Yan Wang has been quelled."

"The dead followers, evildoers, and decayed corpses in Si Futu City have stopped their disturbances."

"The southern Sin Earth has been stabilized by the descent of the Yan Shen light, transforming into an orderly land."

"From now on, the continent will return to peace."

"The light of Yan Shen illuminates every place, leaving no dark corners, no injustice, no unfairness, and no lack of transparency."

Everyone around the table rose in unison, bowed with hands clasped, and said: "Congratulations to Yan Lao, our respects to Yan Lao!"

"Under Yan Lao's great achievements, Yan Shen Continent will enjoy long-lasting peace and stability!"

Upon hearing this report, Yan Wuse could no longer contain his joy and burst into laughter: "Ha ha ha ha!"

"As I once said, all injustices in the world will be eliminated by the light."

"Now, I have not broken my word. This success is due to all of you, not just my own efforts!"

Everyone's faces lit up with joy, and they laughed together heartily.

The laughter from the council hall echoed beyond Gui Zhe Sheng Shan, beyond Kyoto, and spread across the five domains of the continent.

All who heard it felt a sense of peace, their faces brightening, as if basking in a spring breeze and enjoying tranquility.

Meeting after meeting was held, and peace reigned throughout the four seas. Yan Wuse, with the light of Yan Shen, descended upon the earth, resolving countless troubles for the people of the five domains, great and small alike.

Finally, one day during another meeting, Dao Qiong Cang stood up: "Yan Lao, I have a matter to request your approval."

"Speak!"

"Yan Lao's disciple Chang Yi has grown strong and reached the Sheng realm. I request that the Ten-Person Council add one more member and allow Chang Yi to join. Is that possible?"

"This is wonderful news!"

Yan Wuse was overjoyed, as he had long harbored this intention.

Chang Yi was his disciple and one of the few light-type spirit refiners with notable achievements.

He had entered the Bai Yi order years ago and, by now, had undergone years of training. It was the perfect time to bring him in for further cultivation, then pass on his position, making Chang Yi the next hall master of Sheng Shen Hall, while he himself enjoyed retirement and traveled freely.

Just as he was about to gesture for Chang Yi to come, Yan Wuse's brows furrowed, and a stabbing pain shot through his mind.

"Yan Lao?"

"Yan Dianzhu?"

Darkness engulfed everything. When he regained consciousness, he was surrounded by worried faces.

Their expressions seemed detached from their bodies, oddly mismatched.

The environment around him felt illusory and ethereal, as if floating in the clouds, filled with unreality.

But soon, this dazed state faded.

Yan Wuse rubbed his forehead and realized it was all an illusion.

"I am fine. Let's continue. Summon Xiao Yi."

He recalled the meeting's topic, which had been interrupted by his condition, so he chose to proceed.

Business was paramount.

A beam of light descended from the sky.

Seeing it, Yan Wuse felt as if he were looking at his younger self and couldn't help but smile, rising to take his beloved disciple's hand.

"Xiao Yi..."

But the light hovered there, and the person inside did not emerge for a long time.

"Xiao Yi?"

Yan Wuse was stunned.

He walked to the front of the light, and inside, there was no one!

"Xiao Yi?"

"Where is Chang Yi?"

Yan Wuse whipped around, his eyes blazing with fury.

He glared at Dao Qiong Cang and roared: "Dao boy, where is my disciple!"

Dao Qiong Cang was also baffled. He had clearly brought Chang Yi, so how could the light be empty?

"Gou Wuyue!"

Yan Wuse suddenly turned, his eyes furious as he stared at Gou Wuyue: "I sent Xiao Yi to Bai Yi for training. Where is he?"

Gou Wuyue was dumbfounded.

Suddenly, his expression turned somber.

The entire council hall fell silent.

The scene shifted.

Gou Wuyue leaned on his sword, half-kneeling at the hall's entrance.

Yan Wuse realized he was no longer in the head seat but had been moved to a side position.

That Dao boy was now holding his Si Nan, standing at the head with a shifting, ominous demeanor.

Yan Wuse's mind was in turmoil.

He didn't correct the seating issue right away but focused on the key point, shouting at the person at the door: "Gou Wuyue, tell me, where is my disciple?"

Gou Wuyue lowered his head.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't protect him..."

A thunderous roar echoed in his mind, like a lightning strike.

Yan Wuse suddenly remembered—this scene, he had seen it somewhere before?

No, that wasn't right at all!

This was a memory from another timeline. How had it appeared here?

"Wh-what happened to Xiao Yi?"

Instinctively, following the memory, Yan Wuse asked aloud.

Gou Wuyue couldn't lift his head, propping himself up with his sword in one hand as he said in grief: "In the Eight Palaces, Chang Yi fell in battle, slain by Ba Zun An!"

"Ah!!!"

"Aaaahhh—"

Above the blood realm, Yan Wuse split in two, his roar of rage tearing through everything, as if to shatter the place entirely.

The long-sealed wound was ripped open...

All beautiful visions turned to nothing...

His final wish dissolved into the illusion of life and death, nearly grinding his spirit to dust!

He had lived a life that seemed absolutely perfect!

And at the end, someone quietly whispered to him:

"You were wrong."

"This life of yours was just a dream."

"A fleeting one, lasting only a dozen breaths, and once you wake, it's gone forever."

The dream ended with the death of his disciple, torn apart by the nightmare ghost.

How could this not drive him to despair?

In the blood realm, violent light exploded in all directions, rippling through the landscape of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, unrelenting.

It took Yan Wuse a while to rein in his out-of-control emotions.

He finally remembered—the most perfect world had never existed; it was merely his own delusion.

If Xiao Kongdong's cultivation hadn't reached the Sheng realm, that sword could have crossed time and space, taking him away for underestimating others.

There would be no semi-saint avatar to bear it, no one else to save him...

His spirit had immersed in the second world, even as his body's vital signs continued.

A person was as good as dead, with no chance of recovery!

"Xiao Kongdong..."

Yan Wuse pulled at his left half with his left hand and his right half with his right, struggling to bring them together.

In the end, his two halves merged, but left a deep, unhealable bloodline from top to bottom.

He tried to erase this bloodline.

But it was like the memories from the second world—like a mental brand etched deeply into his memory—it was branded into his body.

It was a mark of shame!

Unerasable!

"Xiao Kongdong..."

"I will kill you, no matter what!"

"Aaaahhh—"

On the Du Yuan, Xiao Kongdong collapsed as if drained of all energy, plummeting straight down.

Xu Xiaoshou's figure suddenly appeared, catching him to prevent him from falling into the chaotic energy below.

That could destroy an ancient sword cultivator's fragile body in an instant.

"Is he dead?"

The person in his arms looked peaceful and content.

His breathing was steady, but his consciousness and soul seemed to have entered another world, no longer in his body.

"He's not dead, but he's clearly overexerted himself..."

"How do we save him? His vital signs are fine; he could wake at any moment..."

Xu Xiaoshou slapped him across the face, but Xiao Kongdong didn't stir in anger. He slept soundly, as if unwilling to return. Maybe this was a side effect of the second world?

But Mei Yiren had emerged from Prajna Wuhou without issue, right? Oh, well, that was incomparable.

Considering how Feng Xiaoser's Great Red God's Fury could barely form, Xiao Kongdong's perfect sword strike had surpassed him by leaps and bounds.

This sword was extraordinary!

It shouldn't be compared to Mei Yiren's; among peers, Xiao Kongdong stood out with this alone.

Looking back, from Du Yuan to the south, a sword scar had been plowed through everything, unobstructed.

The scar was astonishing, cutting through mountains, rivers, forests, swamps...

It sliced through it all, leaving a bold mark on Void Island, as if splitting the sky city in two.

"Is this the second world?"

"It's completely reshaped Void Island's layout!"

Xu Xiaoshou was deeply shocked, taking a long breath. He noticed that the painting avatar he had sent to hold Xiao Kongdong hadn't drawn any attack from Yan Wuse.

He realized that, somewhere, Yan Wuse must be incapacitated after that sword strike.

At least, temporarily.

Xu Xiaoshou's true self quickly appeared, tossing Xiao Kongdong into his Yuanfu, then vanishing again.

He didn't know how to treat Xiao Kongdong.

But at least, he could keep him safe and hand him over to Ba Zun An later—maybe he had a way.

Thinking of Ba Zun An, Xu Xiaoshou felt a surge of irritation.

What was that guy waiting for? Did he plan to show up only after everyone was dead and all hope was lost?

If you can't walk, get the storyteller to carry you!

But before he could dismiss the painting avatar, a soft sound of surprise echoed from the horizon, laced with faint curiosity:

"Was this your sword?"