Xing Xiangwei merely looked into the distance with a faint gaze, the corners of his lips curving into a subtle, almost imperceptible smile, as if he already understood everything about the arrivals.
A massive black mist rose into the sky. Xing Rui furrowed her brows, her eyes fixed on the enormous cloud.
Seeing the shadow flickering within the mist, Xing Rui hesitated, her brows knitting tightly. Before she could speak, Xing Xiangwei suddenly burst into laughter.
"Hahaha, hahaha! I never imagined this day would come so soon! I have waited for you for so long!"
Xing Rui was utterly bewildered by his sudden change. She looked at her family's patriarch, full of questions.
Xing Xiangwei spoke as if to himself. "Five hundred years ago, when you stole the most evil and corrupt secretary under the pretense of protecting the people of the world, showing mercy for all beings, I already foresaw this day!
You could not resist its temptation. Your endless talk of benevolence and morality, of the people of the world, could never withstand its immense power!
You cultivated it! You cultivated it! Hahaha! Hahaha!"
Xing Xiangwei laughed nearly to the point of madness.
Xing Rui could not help but smile at his eyes, reddened from excitement. She immediately stepped forward, bowing respectfully. "Old Ancestor, the matter is settled. Even the old bald monk from Guan Fan Temple has fallen into the path of evil!"
Xing Xiangwei was particularly pleased with her obedience and laughed heartily. "Rui'er, look at this surging evil energy! Monks? Buddhists? They are no more than wolves in sheep's clothing!
Until today, I have finally torn away your false mask!"
The black mist gradually dissipated.
The smiles on Xing Xiangwei and Xing Rui's faces widened further.
In the corner, the severely injured Yu Weifeng heard their words. The last flicker of hope in his eyes vanished, leaving only despair and resignation.
A monstrous creature, far larger than expected, slowly emerged. White misty light separated from its body like smoke.
Xing Xiangwei's smile froze on his face.
Xing Rui exclaimed, "Old Ancestor, Master Yuan Kong has cultivated demonic power, lost control, and been counterattacked by the demonic beast?"
Xing Xiangwei: "..."
"Rui'er had a point. It seemed plausible…"
Take a closer look!
To cover his embarrassment, he cleared his throat.
"Yuan Kong, why not reveal your true form?"
"Awuu—" The ferocious beast Taowu howled toward the sky in response.
Xing Xiangwei frowned, feeling uncertain.
Looking at this demonic beast, it truly resembled the legendary ferocious Taowu to a tee.
Xing Rui shouted, "Old bald monk, stop pretending! Do you think we would be defenseless? When did people of the Buddhist sect become so despicable? Have the courage to show yourself and fight openly!"
Xing Xiangwei thought: Perhaps I misjudged…
Should he immediately stop Xing Rui's nonsense?
Elsewhere, the person everyone longed to see faced a mirror of water.
The mirror's surface was smooth. Slowly, dense white mist swirled around faint golden light, forming a barely discernible human figure.
Yuan Kong gazed through the water mirror. Seeing the scene before him, he displayed a compassionate expression and gently shook his head at the ignorant Xing Xiangwei.
"That evil scripture, this poor monk destroyed long ago. Not all the world's people are as you imagine. No wonder you mistook a ferocious beast for a human. Your eyes no longer distinguish between good and evil."
Mu Jialing pressed his thin lips, "How ridiculous."
Yuan Kong said, "Amitābha, Fairy Ranran's heart is pure, unbound by emotion. It is time for you to let go. Return; my presence here is enough."
Mu Jialing was slightly stunned.
His gaze remained fixated on the figure in violet.
As if wanting to unravel into countless threads, encasing her within his vision.
A Buddhist chant finally roused him.
Mu Jialing closed his eyes, folding his hands.
"This disciple will return to accept punishment, quietly reflect, and forget matters of the mortal world."
Yuan Kong: "Amitābha."
Yao Ranran, unaware of what had transpired, did not know this was the final encounter between her and Mu Jialing. She watched Xing Xiangwei and Xing Rui's comical display, realizing they thought Taowu had transformed from Yuan Kong.
"Their eyesight is awful! They cannot even recognize Taowu. Is the old ancestor of the Xing family really that clueless?"
After watching for a moment, she raised one hand. Star light swirled at her fingertips, piercing through the mist and striking the left hem of Xing Xiangwei's robe.
Xing Xiangwei was astonished.
"You shameless old thief! Hiding and using such sneaky tactics!"
Yao Ranran shook her head and stepped forward.
"Foolish old thief, look properly. The Fairy standing before you is who."
Xing Xiangwei frowned deeply.
Xing Rui glared, teeth gritted, wishing to tear her apart.
"Yao Ranran, you dare come alone. Your good days are over! Pay for my daughter's death!"
Yao Ranran shrugged fearlessly.
"Faced with death, and you still threaten me? You mistook a ferocious beast for Master Yuan Kong, just like your eyes. Blind fools!"
Villains are always killed by their own stupidity.
Xing Rui, furious, turned to Yu Weifeng on the ground.
"Old Ancestor, let us kill her together. Let Yu Weifeng witness his daughter's death!"
Yu Weifeng's face was bitter. This daughter was his only salvation. If she died, the Xing family would be the ultimate victor.
Xing Xiangwei, angered by Yao Ranran's words, immediately agreed.
"Fine. Old Ancestor will act alone. I will spare her for you to handle personally!"
Xing Rui smiled with satisfaction.
Yao Ranran nodded half in understanding.
"Good plan. I'll leave you enough to handle personally."
Xing Xiangwei's figure expanded dozens of times, shaking the surroundings.
A bloodthirsty smile stretched across his lips.
Xing Rui's eyes burned with hatred.
"This day has finally come!"
Yao Ranran nodded.
"Yes. I have waited long enough."
Spiritual energy rotated. Her wrist flicked.
Without drawing a weapon, she floated upward. Her fingers extended like orchids, pale light slowly radiating outward.
The light pierced Xing Rui's eyes painfully.
Xing Xiangwei's massive body instantly collapsed, corroding into dust.
He stared in disbelief, pupils leaking searing blood.
"This… this is the celestial being mortals worship?"
Bang!
Xing Xiangwei fell to his knees, head dangling.
Xing Rui turned at the sound.
A pristine neck split in two in that instant.
Her eyes filled with terror.
Her previous pride vanished completely.
Yu Weifeng lifted his head, ready to die.
Yet he saw the two people he feared kneeling before Yao Ranran in an utterly bizarre posture.
Seeing Xing Rui struggling, he woke from his nightmare in cold sweat.
"They're dead?"
"Not yet. One last breath remains. Your choice now."
Yao Ranran turned, leaving the scene as she rode Taowu, leaving only her words behind.
Yu Weifeng froze.
"Still alive? Then they will certainly take revenge!"
He staggered to his feet, palm gathering pale blue spiritual energy, a chilling smile on his face.
"Die!"
"No, no… husband, don't!"
Xing Rui gasped her last plea.
Yu Weifeng struck mercilessly, leaving no mercy.
Xing Rui closed her eyes in agony.
The ceramic jar shattered.
Xing Xiangwei unwillingly self-destructed.
Yu Weifeng laughed heartily.
Soft white smoke passed through his body, taking his soul.
"Father, we will always be a family!"
The voice of Yu Zhenyan echoed in the air.
Yu Weifeng never imagined dying at the hands of his own daughter.
The four souls dissipated into heaven and earth, never to appear again.
"Amitābha, all is fate."
Yuan Kong appeared, his hand brushing the azure smoke. Everything returned to calm.
-
Aftermath
Yuan Kong led many monks in worship of Yao Ranran.
Yao Ranran received extraordinary power and ultimately saved everyone in Shu Xi Palace.
The truth from ten thousand years ago emerged.
If cultivators violated the Dao, hoarding worldly resources for themselves or their sect, they would face heavenly punishment.
An Xiaolin, seeking to fully repay his sins, led Shu Xi Palace in cleansing all spirit realm cultivators who did not belong.
Yao Ranran enjoyed her peace.
Xiao Rong shook his short legs, laughing.
"Boss, you were already an immortal, weren't you?"
Yao Ranran smiled faintly without speaking.
In truth, she considered herself a god.