“You may have temporarily suppressed the Bodhi spirit, but with your own spiritual power, it’s impossible to refine it. You used dark magic.” Fan Yue frowned; this was not a question but a statement of fact.
“Indeed. Since the path of the immortals has denied Miao Miao any way forward, what harm is there if I descend into darkness and demonry? The three realms have no true rules—strength alone makes the law!” Song He’s eyes held no trace of compassion or immortal dignity, only a stubborn resolve.
“Stop trying to glorify yourself. You talk of doing it for the immortal sect, but it’s just selfish desire. As far as I know, ever since the two Phoenix Emperors took over the Celestial Palace, they’ve gifted the blessed realms of the Eastern Sea’s eighteen islands to the immortal clans. Miao Miao simply couldn’t cultivate great paths, so you shifted the blame to the Phoenix Clan…” Fan Yue let out a cold scoff. “People say immortals are all hypocrites preaching righteousness. Watching you twist the truth like this truly broadens my horizons.”
Fan Yue rarely spoke, but when he did, his words could pierce like knives. Hearing this from a demon only made Song He’s remaining anger boil over.
“You—!” Song He trembled in rage, his face twisted with indignation, yet he had no rebuttal. Perhaps in the beginning, he’d concealed his intentions to refine the Bodhi wood for Miao Miao’s sake. But as he feigned death and turned to darkness, draining the Eastern Sea’s life force and even sacrificing his disciples and Bai Shuo, it was driven solely by his own stubborn and dark desires.
Fan Yue had no patience for further talk. The silver chain in his hand rattled menacingly. “Listening to this filth sullies my ears. Enough talk—I’ll send you on your way.”
The silver chain flew from Fan Yue’s hand, aimed directly at Song He. Already weakened, Song He’s only remaining protection was the faint power of the Bodhi’s heart, and without Er Yun as his hostage, he had no chance of survival.
He closed his eyes, ready to dissolve into oblivion, but suddenly, a flash of sword light cut across his vision. Chong Zhao’s astonished voice echoed beside him, “Senior Sister!”
It was Er Yun. She had been silent since Song He began to speak, but now, she used all her strength to intercept the silver chain’s strike. She was only a minor immortal, and had Fan Yue’s demon power been at full force, even a glancing blow from the chain’s light would have crushed her true essence. The chain paused as she blocked it, coming to rest just an inch from her forehead.
“Yun’er…” Song He’s eyes opened and softened at the sight, and he started to move out of the Bodhi heart’s protection to intervene.
“Don’t come any closer! Just leave!” Er Yun, sensing his intentions, didn’t look back, her eyes filled with tears as she shouted, “Father! I beg you, stop harming others. Go, leave the Eastern Sea, and never return!”
With her face wet with tears, Er Yun summoned her golden core and hurled it toward a sliver of light above the cave, creating a small crack in the ceiling.
“Go, Father!”
Exhausted from fighting to give Song He one last chance to escape, Er Yun didn’t dare meet Chong Zhao’s or Bai Shuo’s gaze. Song He had fallen to darkness and committed atrocities against his own, leaving the heavens no choice but to reject him. Even Miao Miao would now consider him a renegade and a traitor. Yet, as her father, she could not simply watch him die before her eyes, even if it defied the code of the immortals.
Without further hesitation, Song He took the Bodhi heart and flew toward the opening.
“You seek death.” Seeing Song He attempt to flee, Fan Yue let out a cold snort, his patience exhausted, and prepared to strike down with the silver chain.
“Lord, please, don’t!”
“Stop!”
Bai Shuo and Chong Zhao hurriedly intervened, but Fan Yue waved his hand, creating a barrier that blocked them. Bai Shuo, somehow, felt the area she hit to be soft, as if the barrier had cushioned her, while Chong Zhao collided with it as though striking solid rock, sending him reeling and tumbling back to the ground.
Fan Yue paid them no mind, merely raising his fingers, and the silver chain glowed with a deadly light, aimed straight at Er Yun’s forehead.
The demonic weapon pierced flesh, blood sprayed, staining the barrier red. Bai Shuo couldn’t bear to watch and turned her head away.
“Father!”
A cry of grief echoed through the cave as Bai Shuo turned and saw that Song He’s body was now shrouded in a dark, protective shield, covering Er Yun. The silver chain had pierced his chest instead.
The chain passed through his heart, carrying the Bodhi heart back to Fan Yue’s hand.
“Lord of Hao Yue Hall, everything that happened today was solely my doing. The Bodhi heart has returned intact. Miao Miao is but a remnant of the Eastern Sea; I beg you to spare Miao Miao’s people.”
Song He, trembling, cast Er Yun’s golden core back into her body as his form began to fade, growing transparent.
“Father!” Er Yun flew to him in tears. Song He lifted his hand as though to caress her face. “Child… I… I was wrong…”
Before she could touch his outstretched hand, Song He disintegrated into ashes.
“Father!” Seeing her father’s soul dissipate, Er Yun spat blood and began to fall. The barrier around Chong Zhao vanished, and he quickly flew up to catch her as she fainted.
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