[Vol. 6] Chapter 242: Her Departure, Her Return
The sound of the [Apothecary]’s footsteps gradually faded into the shadows of [Mirror Valley]. Watching his solitary figure disappear into the distance without hesitation, Hen let out an almost imperceptible sigh.
“The pursuit of one’s true self… An obsessor chasing the flames of demise. We really are the same kind of existence.”
She did not stop the [Apothecary] from entering the valley. Even though she had the ability to do so, there was no need anymore. Or rather, letting him achieve his goal was an important and necessary part of the plan.
Leaving behind the already activated ritual formation, the girl turned in the opposite direction.
Inside the valley, the Spirit Guards, tasked with defending the inner sanctum, were still engaged in fierce battle against the invaders. The sounds of war, shouts, clashing weapons, and dying breaths, echoed through the air. Bodies from both sides lay scattered across the ground, some barely clinging to life, others already lifeless.
But Hen did not stop to look at them. She simply kept walking forward.
Like an outsider drifting beyond the world’s reach, she moved across the battlefield alone. Yet, strangely, the warriors meant to protect the Spirit Maiden, as well as the invading forces under the [Seven Heavenly Demon Lords], all seemed blind to her presence. It was as if she did not exist at all.
Finally, the Spirit Maiden arrived at a massive crater.
This was another entrance to [Mirror Valley], one of the invasion routes the enemy had chosen. It was also the source of the enormous explosion from earlier.
However, in reality, the enemy had not yet broken through. At least, not for the time being.
Above the sky, a majestic black dragon, spanning several dozen meters in length, soared freely among the clouds. The sky rumbled with thunderous explosions, like a storm brewing in the heavens.
This was none other than Black Cloud Sage, one of the masters of Cangyun’s Twelve Peaks, and one of the ancient spirit beasts left behind by the mysterious group [Blood of Origin]. He had been summoned by Spirit Veil Immortal Island specifically to serve as a deterrent.
And he was not the only one.
More than half of the Twelve Peak Lords had been persuaded to join this war. One that would determine the fate of the [Ancient Spirit Realm]. Thanks to a long-range spatial passage personally opened by Peach Blossom Sage, they had arrived directly on the battlefield, avoiding detection by the demon forces.
This was one of the hidden forces and backup plans.
Just as the remaining demonic forces and the [Seven Heavenly Demon Lords] had spent years scheming for this disaster, Spirit Veil Immortal Island had also been preparing long before they officially announced the upcoming [Four Saints' Immortal Selection Ceremony]. Even the Four Sovereign Lords of the major nations were unaware of the full extent of their preparations.
Of course, the most crucial factor still lay in the hands of Heaven's Chosen One.
Once Hen confirmed that only the [Apothecary] had entered the valley, she gave a small nod.
Her mission was now completely finished.
“Farewell. We will surely meet again. The dice of fate… are now in your hands, Dawn.”
With a final deep gaze toward the core array eye, where a blinding pillar of light shot into the sky, the silver-haired girl smiled faintly.
Her already fading figure grew more and more translucent, like a piece of colorless glass, gradually dissolving into the air.
Until… she vanished completely.
………………………………………….
At the same moment, deep inside [Mirror Valley].
“…Ah.”
A black-haired catgirl, who had been carefully maintaining the sealing barrier at the valley’s inner exit, suddenly froze. As if sensing something, she abruptly turned her head to look into the distance, her golden eyes flickering with recognition.
For a brief moment, it was as if her gaze met another gaze in the void. And then, an unreadable expression crossed her face.
“Already gone…? The rejection happened even faster than expected.”
“But that was within that person's predictions all along, wasn’t it? Leaving without telling her… Looks like even you can be stubborn at times. In the end… we really are the same, aren’t we?”
“Uh… Miss Kong, what are you mumbling about? If maintaining the seal is getting tiring, do you want me to take over for a while?”
Noticing Xiao Kong’s unusual expression, a fox-eared girl named Ming Lianxin tensed up slightly.
After all, the destructive energy that had been accumulating for a thousand years inside the valley was not something to take lightly. The fragments that had previously leaked out had already brought catastrophic damage to the [Ancient Spirit Realm].
If the fully condensed core of that energy were to break free…
It wouldn’t be impossible for it to give birth to yet another [Beast of Chaos]. One that could consume everything in its path.
Even for Spirit Veil Immortal Island, fighting against such a being would be extremely difficult. Not to mention, a battle like that would bring catastrophic destruction to the [Ancient Spirit Realm]. No matter what, even if it cost her life, she had to prevent that from happening.
However, Xiao Kong didn’t let the thoughts lingering in her heart affect her too much. She quickly pushed aside her fleeting emotions and shook her head at Ming Lianxin.
“No need to worry. Ever since Violet entered the inner valley, the destructive energy inside has clearly become more stable. It’s no longer leaking into the outside world as wildly as before. She’s probably locked in a fierce battle against it. As long as Violet hasn’t been defeated, nothing major should go wrong.”
After saying this, she added as of she was talking to herself..
“Besides, I’ve experienced her strength firsthand. Even if she has to face another Taotie…”
“Eh? I-Is that so…?”
The fox-eared girl swallowed nervously, her voice slightly shaky as she responded.
For some reason, she felt that something about Xiao Kong had changed, and it had happened at some point just now.
The girl standing before her, wearing those strange clawed gloves and resembling a cat in human form, suddenly seemed… different.
A heavy, indescribable pressure radiated from her entire being, something so overwhelming that even Ming Lianxin, a pure-blooded member of the Spirit Veil Tribe, instinctively wanted to lower her head in submission.
What was even stranger was that Xiao Kong gave her a vague feeling of familiarity. As if she had met her before.
But… that didn’t make sense.
The Immortal Envoy had never left Spirit Veil Immortal Island before. No matter how she thought about it, there was no way she could have known this person.
Even though both her elder sister and the elders trusted Xiao Kong and Violet, entrusting them with such a crucial mission, this inexplicable sense of unease left Ming Lianxin deeply confused.
Perhaps to dispel this strange feeling, Ming Lianxin, who had rested long enough to recover, took the initiative to strike up a conversation again.
“Um… Miss Kong…”
“Hm?”
“Well, I was just asking out of curiosity… Your transformed state doesn’t really look like a typical feline yokai. Your claws, for example, they seem almost like they were attached separately. Is there a special reason for that?”
“......”
Xiao Kong didn’t respond right away. Instead, she suddenly stared at the Immortal Envoy with an unreadable expression. Almost as if she was deep in thought or trying to confirm something.
Under her piercing silver gaze, Ming Lianxin felt an uneasy tension creeping up her spine. Instinctively, she lowered her head, pretending to inspect her own body, using it as an excuse to avoid Xiao Kong’s gaze.
But somehow… that only made her even more nervous.
“D-Did I say something wrong, Miss Kong?”
As if she had finally recognized something, the catgirl lifted her gaze slightly, releasing the now visibly uneasy fox-eared girl from her scrutiny.
She simply let out a light chuckle.
“It’s nothing. It’s just been a long time, so I had to take a moment to remember some things. No matter whether it's people or other beings… their thoughts always shift depending on where they stand.”
“…Ah, this rare peaceful vacation. Looks like it’s finally coming to an end.”
“?”
Ming Lianxin tilted her head in confusion.
She couldn’t quite understand what this mysterious yet undeniably powerful girl was trying to say.
But Xiao Kong didn’t explain further.
Instead, she lifted her head, gazing toward the sky. Where an ominous presence was steadily gathering. She muttered to herself.
“If my timing is right, it should be arriving soon. It’s time for us to move.”