[Vol. 6] Chapter 253: The Final Chapter
They talked for a long time, discussing many things.
Some of the topics were things that Violet could understand, but many others were just memories between the Spirit Fox Shrine Maiden and the Supreme Sacred Fox God, Dawn and Konghen. They were memories built over millennia, like a tower constructed brick by brick.
Violet didn't feel impatient. She just listened quietly, as if a memory that wasn't hers, but should have been, echoed in her mind, bringing an inexplicable stir of emotions.
In the end, the white fox girl reached into the air and brought out an ancient zither.
"It's almost time. Before I leave, let me play a song for you. This is a new piece I... composed myself."
Hen didn’t speak, simply nodding as she continued to gaze at the sky.
Ding~ ding ding~
She silently strummed the strings.
The sound of the strings rose into the air, like a farewell, or perhaps a lament.
"Endless rivers and mountains, the sacred path, no better than a song."
"A melody of immortals begins, dreaming of lost glass for a thousand years."
"With a smile as radiant as flowers, you like the warm breeze of spring."
"Walking along the river, walking along the river, the years pass by in a moment, and countless flowers... bloom for whom?"
"Our fates met in the mortal world, parting at the edge of the sky."
"Sigh, a thousand years gone by with just a glance."
Tick-tock, tick-tock...
"Sigh... the mortal world."
A few crystal tears splashed onto the grass. Violet wiped away the wetness from her eyes, stretching out her hands to silence the last lingering note on the zither strings.
The silver-haired girl leaning against the tree had long since disappeared. During the song, the fox-eared girl had changed into a black-haired, white-robed figure. The only thing left was the ancient zither hanging from her knees, with a fox-shaped jade pendant, still emitting a faint sense of loneliness and sorrow.
This zither had been a gift from Shangguan Qiuyue, specially prepared for Violet at the end of the [Four Saints' Immortal Selection Ceremony].
The priestess didn't know why this item was in the hands of the Eastern Saint, but it was said that for centuries, no one had been able to pluck its strings. It was an item of immense power and mystery, a divine object that could not be controlled.
Because this was the zither of the Spirit Fox Shrine Maiden.
Its name was [Mortal World].
She gently brushed the curve of her chest, feeling a surge of emotions and longing unlike anything she'd ever experienced.
"Is this... her feelings?"
Violet felt it, everything from her past life. It surged within her heart like a tidal wave.
The cycle of life and death, the eventual end of all things, but some things are immune to death and endings. They are powerful and precious, able to transcend time and causality, passing on to future generations.
Blood-red flowers bloomed on the grass where tears had once fallen.
One by one, they bloomed, spreading endlessly across the land. The heavens tilted, and the sounds of morning bells and evening drums rippled across a river, whose source was unknown. The ghostly flowers swayed, releasing waves of inherited fate and karmic debt.
They gathered once more into something known as [Divinity].
Each ghostly flower was the remaining shade of a dead world. The Spirit Fox Shrine Maiden watched over the graveyard of worlds, walking the river, guiding the souls of the dead toward rebirth. And with each soul’s journey, more karma piled up, giving rise to new life, forming miracles that were never meant to exist.
This was [Reincarnation].
The flower-like light and shadow were not dazzling, much like the dark, heavy world on the edge of the underworld.
But that was fine, that was good enough.
Because in this world, there would always be shores where the light could not reach, and some things, some duties, must always be carried out by someone.
However, this flower was still incomplete. Part of it had been scattered across various corners of the world that needed protection.
“Buzz~ Buzz~ Buzz~ Buzz~ Buzz~”
Surrounded by white light, the god named Kong, suddenly looked up, her gaze directed at the trembling Immortal Island.
“...Are you crying too? Crying for her departure, crying for her return? Yes, we've waited a thousand years, finally waiting for this day, waiting for the moment when the Spirit Fox Shrine Maiden would return... but the price, it's so heavy.”
Nine splendid tails slowly floated up, sending unparalleled will to the heavens and earth.
"Guardians of the Seven Stars, I declare in the name of the Supreme Sacred Fox God, she has returned! The end has come!!!"
The divine consciousness spread far and wide in an instant.
Feeling the long-awaited call, seven figures across the world simultaneously turned their gazes toward a single point.
One wore bright red armor, exuding immense power, with eyes that blazed like fire.
Another donned white robes, holding a feather fan, radiating an ethereal aura.
Some were hidden in mountain forests or bamboo houses, lounging in relaxed ease.
Others had already stepped onto the battlefield, fighting and spilling blood against monstrous enemies.
Finally, the girl with black twin braids, anxiously waiting under the towering shadows of the Immortal Island, blinked in realization and smiled knowingly. Wherever they were, they all simultaneously bit their fingers, drawing different blood symbols in front of them.
"The [Void Prison], unlocked!"
Above the Ancient Spirit Realm, several white streaks of light shot up into the sky, speeding toward Immortal Island!
In just a moment, they converged, rushing into the deity’s glowing figure, disappearing without a trace.
Outside [Mirror Valley], on the battlefield of the Four Nations’ allied forces.
“Clash... Clash, clash, clash…”
Ling Feng extended her wrist, catching several drops of deep red blood that suddenly fell from the sky, her face solemn.
“Blood-colored... rain.”
In Xiyuan City, Eastern Kingdom’s capital, at the main fortress of the Holy Sect.
“When the sky rains blood, and the silver branches break through the earth, will Destruction once again descend...”
The Eastern Kingdom Saint, Shangguan Qiuyue, stood with his hands behind his back on the high platform, gazing at the entire city and land shrouded in blood rain. His eyes finally landed on the massive floating object above the thickest of the silver “branches.”
"The so-called prophecy really has come true... Spirit Veil Immortal Island... what exactly are you planning?"
"Your Holiness! Urgent military report! A large number of demons and monsters have suddenly appeared, at least three times the number we've seen before! They’ve already broken through the gates and entered the city. The Eastern Kingdom Guard is requesting reinforcements. Please make a decision quickly!"
The Saint glanced at the urgent messenger, but his expression remained calm.
"Send all the Holy Sect disciples to the front lines to assist with the city’s defense. We must do whatever it takes to stop the enemies from reaching the civilian areas. Which area is facing the most serious situation right now?"
"Uh... it should be the western part of the city... Your Holiness? Your Holiness! Where are you going?!"
............................................
On Spirit Veil Immortal Island.
Beep beep beep beep beep!!!
A rapid alarm rang from the small space in Xiao Kong’s arms. She quickly withdrew her gaze from the figure in front of her and took out a device from her chest, examining it closely.
The indicator on it, which had previously been under one-third, had now risen to over two-thirds, and it continued to climb, causing the alarm to grow louder and more urgent.
"So it’s starting... well, with two divine powers returning to their rightful places and the partial opening of the [Seal of Heaven and Earth], even if one were in a deep sleep, it’s bound to stir... Looks like it’s time for me to step in."
The Fox God extinguished the indicator light, putting it away. She then took a final, lingering glance at the young girl still sitting on the ground, radiating an increasingly powerful divine aura. She smiled lightly.
"Don’t worry. You and Hen have given so much for this plan, for the salvation of our homeland. I won’t take a step back now, not at this final stage..."
"I will protect you and this world."
She turned and left the hall. With an elegant and stunning movement, the nine-tailed giant fox howled toward the sky before vanishing into the silver light.