“Master!” Chong Zhao staggered forward, catching Song Feng as he fell.
Jin Yao swiftly appeared at Song Feng’s side, reaching out to examine his spirit core.
"Get away!" Chong Zhao unleashed a burst of celestial power, a wave of rage aimed at Jin Yao, and protectively placed himself between Song Feng and the Celestial Lord, his eyes blazing red.
The meager energy of Chong Zhao’s attack was, of course, no threat to Jin Yao, who brushed it aside effortlessly.
“Zhao’er… do not… be disrespectful.” Blood poured from Song Feng’s mouth as he weakly but firmly held Chong Zhao back.
“Master!”
“Help me… stand up, Zhao’er.” Chong Zhao, trembling with fear, carefully supported Song Feng to his feet. Despite his mortal wounds, Song Feng’s bearing remained as dignified as ever, his gaze free of resentment.
“My disciple has acted rashly… I implore the Celestial Lord to forgive him.”
“Sect Leader Song Feng, what has happened…?” Jin Yao, naturally, harbored no anger toward Chong Zhao, but was visibly shaken by Song Feng’s condition, now that his spirit core was shattering and his energy was completely depleted.
"Several days ago, I underwent a tribulation over the Eastern Sea. My spirit veins were shattered by lightning, and my celestial essence has scattered," Song Feng explained.
Chong Zhao’s hand, holding onto Song Feng, trembled. No, these injuries of Song Feng’s were because of him. After Chong Zhao returned from Yicheng with spirit veins damaged from battling the evil dragon, Song Feng had exhausted his own energy to heal him, worsening his old injuries.
"Then why would the Sect Leader still take on Chong Zhao’s thirty-six lashes?" Jin Yao began, then fell silent in realization.
Song Feng had done it for Chong Zhao. Chong Zhao’s spirit veins had already been damaged; had he taken the lashes, he would have lost any chance of pursuing the path of an immortal. This was a master’s love, sacrificing his own life to protect his disciple’s future.
Jin Yao said nothing further, his expression filled with sorrow.
Song Feng, however, merely smiled calmly. “I’m sure the Celestial Lord already knows my intentions. There’s no need for me to elaborate.”
“Your kindness, Sect Leader, surpasses my own,” Jin Yao sighed deeply, as, far across the hall, Fu Ling clenched her fists, her gaze tinged with bitterness.
“Celestial Lord, may I consider my disciple’s punishment fulfilled?” Song Feng’s weak voice was filled with hope.
“Of course.”
“And my disciple’s crime of attempting to kill the Ziwei Star…”
“Now that the punishment has been carried out, it will no longer be mentioned within the celestial realm.”
“Good… good.” Song Feng whispered “good” twice, then looked toward Chong Zhao. It seemed he wanted to say something, but it was too late. With a faint smile, he closed his eyes.
Old turtle, you and your shell have never spoken falsely. If my fate was meant to end this way, it’s worth it if it means I’ve granted my disciple a new beginning.
“Second Uncle!” “Sect Leader!”
Er Yun and the Miao Miao disciples surged forward in grief but stopped, unsure of what to do.
The thin figure beneath the daoist robes slowly disintegrated, and before all the gathered immortals and demons in the hall, Song Feng dissolved into dust.
In an instant, all that remained in Chong Zhao’s hands was a blood-stained, empty robe, fluttering in his grip.
“Master.”
Immortals falling from grace was not unheard of, yet the passing of a sect master in such a tragic manner was rare. Chong Zhao’s cry of “Master” was filled with indescribable sorrow.
For a time, silence reigned in the hall as the crowd of immortals looked on with solemn expressions, hearts laden with unease. Fu Ling stood to the side, eyes red and teary, utterly at a loss.
A heavy sigh broke the silence as Jin Yao turned to the assembly, his voice steady but tinged with sorrow.
“Song Feng’s passing was due to my oversight. Although I had previously rescinded Chong Zhao’s title as the champion of the Wu Tong Martial Tournament, I have decided that, once the three-year mourning period for Master Song has concluded, I shall allow Chong Zhao entry to the Celestial Palace to receive his spirit blessing.”
“Your Grace, this must not happen!” Xi Yun’s expression darkened as he urgently interrupted.
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