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Chapter 253: The End

They talked a lot, for a long time.

Some topics Vilyric could understand, but more were memories that belonged solely to the Spiritual Fox Priestess and God Fox, Ming Xi, and Void Trace—a high tower built brick by brick over countless years.

Vilyric did not feel impatient; she just listened silently, as if memories not rightfully hers were echoing in her heart, stirring a sense of inexplicable emotion.

In the end, the White Fox Girl in the memory reached into the void and pulled out an ancient zither.

“It’s about time. Before we depart, let me play you a piece. This is a new composition I… created myself.”

Void didn’t say anything, just continued to gaze up at the sky, nodding slightly.

“Clang ~ clang clang ~”

She silently strummed the strings.

The melodic sound rose into the air, like a farewell, yet also a lament.

“Ancient rivers and mountains, sacred paths and teachings, would it be better to sing a song?”

“A melody to enlighten the immortal realms, dreams returning to a thousand years of lost glass.”

“A smile as beautiful as a cluster of brocade, like you under the warm breeze of early spring.”

“Walking on the river, walking on the river, fleeting years lose their moment, a myriad of flowers… for whom do they bloom?”

“You and I met in the mortal world, parting in the celestial horizon.”

“Sigh, looking back… it’s already a thousand years away.”

“Tick tock, tick tock…”

“Sigh… the mortal world.”

A few drops of crystal splashed onto the grass, Vilyric wiped away the wet traces that had appeared at an unknown time. She stretched her hands out to smooth the last lingering sound from the zither strings.

The silver-haired girl leaning against the tree had long since vanished. At some point, the Fox-eared Girl had changed into black hair and a white robe, only the ancient zither, hanging with a fox-shaped jade pendant on her knee, remained unchanged, radiating a hint of loneliness and sadness.

This zither was a gift Vilyric received from Shangguan Qiuming after the Four Saints Selection Tournament.

The Priestess had no idea why this item was in the hands of the Eastern Yuan Holy Monarch, but it was said that for a thousand years, no one had been able to pluck its strings; it was a divine object of great power and mystery, yet impossible to wield.

Because this was the zither of the Spiritual Fox Priestess.

Its name — “Mortal Dust.”

She gently caressed the subtly swelling curve of her chest, feeling an ebb and flow of emotions she had never known.

“Is this… her feelings?”

Vilyric felt it, all the sentiments from a previous life, surging up like a tide from deep within her heart.

The cycle of heaven and earth, all things eventually face death, but some things are an intense flame that cannot be quelled by death or the end; they are heavy and precious, capable of transcending time, crossing causality, and being passed down to future generations.

Blood-colored flowers bloom on the grass where tears once fell.

One bloom, then another.

They flourished, spreading endlessly, as the world tilted, and the sounds of morning bells and evening drums rippled over the unfathomable river surface. The Flower of the Other Shore swayed, spilling strands of causation and karma inherited from distant pasts.

Once again merging into something called the Divine Spark.

Each Flower of the Other Shore is a remnant of a dead world; the Spiritual Fox Priestess watches over the cemetery of worlds, walking on the river, guiding the deceased back to rebirth, while layers upon layers of karma accumulate into new life, transforming into miracles that should not exist.

This is — “Reincarnation.”

The light and shadow, like flowers, are not dazzling, just as the dim and heavy world at the edge of the underworld.

But this is good, this is just right.

Because in this world, there will always be shores that light cannot reach; some things simply must be done by someone.

Yet, this flower remains incomplete; a part of it is scattered in various corners safeguarding the world.

“Buzz ~ buzz ~ buzz ~ buzz ~ buzz ~”

In the presence of the girl surrounded by white light, the deity known as Xiao Kong suddenly looked up, gazing at the trembling Fairy Island.

“…Are you also crying? Crying for her departure, for her return? Yes, we waited a thousand years, and finally awaited this day, the moment when the Spiritual Fox Priestess and hope return… but the cost is too heavy.”

Nine magnificent long tails slowly floated upward, sending the supreme will toward heaven and earth.

“O guardians, seven stars, I proclaim in the name of the God Fox, she has returned! The end has come!!!”

The divine consciousness echoed, spreading in all directions.

Feeling the long-awaited call, seven figures in various locations across the world turned their gazes towards a certain point.

Some wore bright red armor, radiating an overwhelming presence, with piercing gazes.

Some donned white garments, wielding feather fans, floating with an ethereal aura.

One was hidden in a bamboo house amid the mountains, reclining comfortably.

Another had already stepped onto the battlefield, fighting fiercely against demons.

Until finally, the girl with a black tailcoat, anxiously waiting under the shadow of the towering Fairy Island, suddenly froze, then revealed a knowing smile. No matter where they were, they simultaneously bit their fingers, drawing different blood marks before them.

“Abyss,” unsealed!

On the earth of the Ancient Spirit Realm, several white streams of light leapt upward, hastening toward the Fairy Island!

In just a short night, they converged, rushing into the glowing figure before the deity, vanishing without a trace.

Outside the Mirror Valley, on the battlefield of the allied four nations.

“Clang… clang clang clang clang…”

Ling Feng extended her wrist, catching several drops of crimson rain that had suddenly begun to fall from the sky, her expression solemn.

“Blood-colored… rain.”

In Dongyuanzhi Kingdom, Xingyuan City, the Holy Sect’s fortress.

“When the skies rain blood, will the azure branches break through the ground, bringing forth destruction once more…”

Eastern Yuan Holy Monarch Shangguan Qiuming stood on a high platform, gazing at the city cloaked in blood rain, the entire scene, and finally settling his gaze on the thickest “branch” rising to the sky.

“It turns out the so-called prophecy really came true. Lingyin Fairy Island… what are you planning?”

“Your Majesty! Urgent military situation! A massive influx of demons has suddenly appeared from the outside, at least three times the previous numbers! They have breached the gates and entered the city; the Eastern Yuan Guard requests support! Please make a swift decision!!!”

Glancing at the anxious report from his loyal guard, the Holy Monarch maintained a calm expression.

“Deploy all the disciples of the Holy Sect to the front lines, assisting in the city defense. We must spare no effort to prevent the enemy from invading the civilian areas. Which area is currently facing the most severe situation?”

“Um, it should be the west of the city… Your Majesty? Your Majesty! Where are you going?!”

…

On Lingyin Fairy Island.

“Ding ding ding ding ding!!!”

A rapid alarm sounded from Xiao Kong’s embrace. She pulled her gaze away from the figure she had been closely watching and took out a finely crafted device from her arms, glancing at it for a moment.

The indicator had skyrocketed from less than one third to two thirds, and it continued to rise with each passing moment, intensifying the warning sound.

“Has it begun…? Well, with two Divine Sparks returning to their places and opening part of the ‘Heaven and Earth Seal’, even if they were deeply asleep, there should be some response… Looks like it’s time for me to take the stage.”

The God Fox extinguished the indicator light and looked deeply at the girl still sitting on the ground, exuding an increasingly strong divinity, smiling lightly.

“Don’t worry, you and Void have put so much into this plan to save our home. Now that we’re at the last step, I will not take even a half step back…”

“You, and this world, shall be protected by me.”

She turned and exited the hall, and the elegant and beautiful nine-tailed giant fox let out a long howl, disappearing into the silver light.

 

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