The White Lotus

"By the way, San Xiong, you weren't surprised to see Yu Shixiong." Duan Xia, who was close to San Jie, asked while they were all divided into groups and engaged in short chats. "Have you seen him without the mask?"

San Jie nodded as if to confirm it. "Luo Cheng wasn't even surprised." Duan Xia smiled gently. "That's his way. No one knows whether he's sad, happy, or surprised. Even so, his eyes dimmed when he realized that person was Yu Shixiong. So, was he surprised, right?"

San Jie stared at Duan Xia for a while. "You look at everything, don't you Duan Shimei?" Duan Xia did not answer.

"Meng Li Shimei," Wu Xuan called. "They knew I was coming. He Jin was the only one who knew me. But that was about five years ago. So how...even the lowest servant knows how I look like?"

Hong Li, who was sitting aside, raised her head. "About three days ago we received a drawing of you and a warning of your presence," she said.

"Three days ago? Did they know from the beginning? But how could they be sure I would definitely come?"

Hong Li shook her head. "I don't know. We were ordered to kill you..and they wanted Lingyu alive."

A mocking smile appeared on Wu Xuan's mouth. "Hmm, I see. That means you knew Lingyu was coming from the beginning, right?" Hong Li shook her head at his question and answered yes.

"You mean, Shen Ming's confrontation at the market was pre-planned? But how did they know we were coming to the city on the exact same day?" San Jie asked.

"Jian Yu said he didn't send the warning to the sect. And Murong Meng is the one who got the news. Hmm, it was Murong Meng who asked you to go to the city, am I right?" Wu Xuan said with sarcasm and slight anger. San Jie's eyes narrowed. "Is Murong Shixiong suspicious? He asked us to buy sweets."

"Why would he ask Yu Xiong's apprentices for help when he has his own team?" Yu Yi asked, leaving San Jie at a loss for answers. "I-I don't know that."

"Did Murong Xiong plan this from the beginning? He knew our Da Shixiong would help Yu Xiong when he was in trouble. And he used you as bait from the beginning." Yu Yi said with a puff of anger.

"Don't jump to conclusions." Yu Lingyu said slowly as everyone's attention turned to him. What time did he wake up? "This may be a trap to set up Murong Shixiong."

"Haha, Yu Shidi believes that much so I won't say anything. Even so, how do you explain the 'keep Lingyu alive' piece to me, Yu Shidi?"

"Think I'm an accomplice?"

Wu Xuan smiled as he shook his head. "Oh, not—" He tried to say anything else, but a sudden tremor shook cave mouth. Several rolled over and tried to cover their ears as a deafening roar rose. "Cultivator, please save us." Ordinary people begged. "please!!"

"What a burden," Wu Xuan said to himself as he glared at them.

"He's back, I wondered why he was so quiet." Yu Lingyu said as he stood up on shaky legs, looking at the blood-red clouds gathering outside the cave. "He bought time to be fulfilled."

Wu Xuan glared at Hong Li. 'Die!' That's what he meant. She was shaking and tears were gathering at the corners of her eyes. No one really wants to end their life. Her eyes rested on Yu Lingyu. But if she was him, then what would she do? Yu Lingyu often gave up his life for his loved ones.

"Lingyu-" She tried to say something, but his gaze stopped her. "Don't say that." He said. "I don't want to sacrifice anyone."

"Y-Y-Did you know about me?"

He filled his face with his usual gentle smile. "From the beginning, I knew." The tears that Hong Li was barely holding back flowed down her cheeks.

"Well then, I have nothing to do but intervene." Wu Xuan said as he extended his swords to Hong Li. Everyone else seemed to be trying to figure out what was going on.

But at the same time, another sword appeared, crossing Wu Xuan's sword. "Don't force me, Wu Shixiong," Yu Lingyu said. The Tianxing in his hand was glowing with a gloomy hue.

"What if I do?" Wu Xuan did not want to accept defeat. As Yu Lingyu's eyes narrowed in anger, he kicked away Wu Xuan's sword and stood in front of Hong Li, covering her.

"Yu Shidi!"

"I'm sorry Wu Shixiong. But I can't let you use Hong Li."

"Hmm?"

Everyone else was feeling the pressure between the two of them. But unlike before, even Luo Cheng seemed to have decided not to intervene. "Look around you Yu Shidi. Are you really going to let everyone die?"

"Will you sacrifice one and save everyone? Or will you die here with everyone? You decide, Yu Shidi." Wu Xuan said as he walked toward the mouth of the cave. He had decided to fight Xul'goth alone. "But remember, I'll kill her if I get the chance."

Crimson mist swirled around Wu Xuan, clinging to his robe like a hungry viper. But he slowly moved forward. A figure rested on the pulsing fleshy earth ahead of the red mist. It had no fixed appearance and changed from time to time into different forms. Sometimes the figure changed to San Jie, sometimes to Yuan Yu Yi, and finally to Wu Xuan. Regardless of who was in front, every pulse of its terrifying heart echoed within Wu Xuan's body and pulsated through the domain.

He put a sarcastic smile on his face as if to hide the fear that arose deep in his heart. Wu Xuan raised his hands, channeling his qi. Blue light streaming through the red earth momentarily pushed back the oppressive aura.

"Xul-" He tried to say something but at the same time, Wu Xuan winced as blood spat out from his mouth. A pain sank into his shoulder. A pain that bloomed through his flesh. Blood splattered like a waterfall. Wu Xuan's eyes widened. Xul'goth didn't lay a finger on him, But how could he be so badly injured?

Xul'goth screamed, the sound of ice cracking over a frozen lake. Wu Xuan raised his sword and resisted, but the impact caused shock waves to ripple throughout his body. His bones rattled in protest. He felt the blood running through his veins become as cold as ice.

"Your resistance is a charming, little cultivator." Appearing in Wu Xuan's form, Xul'goth's voice rang out in sad defiance. "But you don't deserve to fight with me." Xul'goth opened his mouth. His mouth was filled with thousands of tiny needle-like teeth that were innumerable. Blood flowed from them like the water of a river. It was the most unpleasant thing Wu Xuan had ever seen. More than that, it took his figure. At the same time, a stream of dark crimson energy burst out, targeting Wu Xuan's heart.

"Not yet!" Summoning all of his spiritual energy, Wu Xuan shouted. The blue lightning that rioted around him tore through the blood magic. The two forces collided with a deafening explosion, and the shock wave knocked Wu Xuan backward. His vision blurred, and he slipped on the blood-soaked floor.

He did not expect this. He wanted to check on Xul'goth. But now he was realizing that he had no chance of defeating the xul'goth in the first place. He could taste the metal tang in his own blood. "damn it,"

Spitting out the blood, he focused his remaining qi and wove it into a complex seal.

"Last technique...Thousand lightning!"

The air around him exploded with power. Violent explosions erupted almost everywhere, momentarily stunning even Xul'goth as bright purple lightning spread out engulfing the entire area. If it were a city, it would crumble to dust within seconds. But that wasn't enough at all!

"I'm impressed," said Xul'goth with a sneer. Even though he was disguised as Wu Xuan, those eyes were still bloody red. "Lord Xin has powerful allies, but little cultivator, that's not enough at all." As Xul'goth extended his hand forward, Wu Xuan's blood vessels burst, sending him crashing to the ground. Wu Xuan screamed in pain as blood gushed out from everywhere, from his eyes, nose, ears, and mouth.

Xul'goth slowly, taking his time, walked up to Wu Xuan. His hands were equipped with sharp claws and as he swiftly lowered them to Wu Xuan's neck, a blue lightning bolt tore through the red mist. It struck the xul'goth with the force of a comet and the oppressive aura dispersed, forcing the blood demon to take a few steps back.

"Yu Lingyu!" Wu Xuan shouted. "Get out of here!" His chest tightened. Yu Lingyu was not at a level where he could fight a Xul'goth. But Yu Lingyu stood beside Wu Xuan, his robes fluttering like flags blowing in the wind.

Xul'goth laughed out loud, an excited laugh. "Lord Xin, you never change," Xul'goth said excitedly, shifting from Wu Xuan's form to Yu Lingyu's form. Yu Lingyu ignored the devil's taunt. His gaze was fixed on Wu Xuan. "Get out of here, Wu Shixiong."

"Wait, Lingyu!"

Lingyu tightened his grip around Tianxing. Emerald energy streaked through his fingertips. Nor did Xul'goth stay any longer. Smiling menacingly, he launched a blood attack. The air rattled noisily with the clash of wind and blood.

Lingyu raised a hand, summoning a storm around him. The wind danced on his fingertips in its fiercest form and Lingyu was already tired. Although the wind obeyed Lingyu's command, Yu Lingyu was no longer Zi Feng. He was a mortal, and there was nothing he could do but take over the power of the wind by force.

Wu Xuan sensed that Yu Lingyu was pulling something. Whatever it is, it's not a good thing at all.

"No!" He shouted, but his voice was drowned in the din of battle. "Goodbye, Wu Shixiong!" Yu Lingyu said with a sad calm smile.

"Inner domain.....devouring lord's fiery wind!"

Instantly, the storm surrounding Yu Lingyu was spreading further and spreading into an incandescent fiery wind. As Wu Xuan was flung back, its heat engulfed the air and destroyed everything in its path instantly. Yu Lingyu and Xul'goth were no longer in the Blood Domain as a semi-circular power clash dissipated.

Sensing the threat, Xul'goth tried to extinguish the fiery heart of the storm with its blood magic, crimson blood, but this was no longer his domain. Xul'goth unleashed his full power as the fiery wind stormed around them. The clash of forces exploded into the air.

Yu Lingyu's life was slowly fading. But he had no regrets. It was not like that he was interested in living anyway. His face was filled with a peaceful smile. He truly smiled as the golden glowing wind rippled around the dark environment. Then, with a final, earth-shattering roar, he unleashed the fiery wind. It swallowed Xul'goth.

It's over, in a moment!

But Yu Lingyu did not expect a blow from his back. With a mutter that pierced the uneasy silence, Hong Li kicked Yu Lingyu aside into his own domain. Her eyes were full of compassion. It took Yu Lingyu a moment to understand what was happening.

"No, Hong Li, wait!" Yu Lingyu shouted as the power of his fiery wind faltered. His form was also fading. Xul'goth was returning to his full strength.

"Live, Ah-Yu." She said with a teary smile. "This burden will be mine!" The lotus-shaped silver mark on her forehead pulsed with light.

Before Yu Lingyu could respond, Hong Li raised her hands and channeled her essence into a blinding white sphere of light. Lingyu's inner domain was shaking. As Hong Li released the orb of light it collided with the Xul'goth, sucking its flesh and forcing it back with a roar of pain.

But Hong Li pursued Lingyu, not xul'goth. Looking at his already fading figure, Hong Li placed her palm on his chest. But it didn't hurt him. He felt a surge of power, a transference of life force.

Hong Li was holding back his death. Yu Lingyu could do nothing but watch silently. Hong Meng Li was the White Lotus Spirit! She was a demon. That's why she was kicked out of Jun Peak. But at Wei Yunhe's request, Shen Guo was kind enough to exile her without killing her.

"Please, remember me Ah-Yu," Hong Li's voice echoed in his mind. "You are my only and last friend."

As Hong Li's form dissolved and a white lotus illusion appeared, it also turned into a silvery light in a moment and dissolved.

"Do not!!!" A primordial inferno flared up inside Yu Lingyu as Hong Li disappeared completely. "Hong Li!" His mortal shell was cracking. As the blinding light appeared, even only for a moment The True God of Wind slowly rose, engulfing the entire domain in a storm, completely engulfing Xul'goth, who was grasping his energy.

Zi Feng, Lord of the Wind!

"DIE!!! YOU DAMNED DEMON!"

Outside of Lingyu's domain, Wu Xuan covered his eyes, but the heat spread to his soul. A semi-circular barrier stretched out in front of him. It is the barrier that separates Lingyu's domain from the outside world. It was preventing Wu Xuan from entering. But its influence was spreading even outside. Strong storm winds were blowing through Xul'goth's domain. This power, Lingyu's final attack will destroy not only Xul'goth but Lingyu as well.

But what Hong Li had said upon entering his domain continued to haunt his mind. "Even after the storm, the wind whispers a new beginning."

The domain faded out of existence with a huge crack as a blinding light streamed through Xul'goth's domain.

BANG!

The storm slowly subsided. They were back in the collapsing underground hall as the dust storm around them cleared. San Jie rushed to Wu Xuan. Above them, the already cracked roof was spewing dust. At that time, the red mist that was holding in the center of the hall was completely scattered. In the middle of it lay someone. Dressed in tattered red clothes, he clutched a silver jade shell close to his chest.

"Yu Shixiong!" San Jie ran towards him.

Wu Xuan felt relieved but deep down he was broken. He realized how powerless he was. In the movement, Lingyu decided to give away his life, only Wu Xuan knew how he felt. He tried and tried, but the barrier prevented him from entering. It's like his entire life was fading away in front of his eyes.

San Jie lifted Yu Lingyu in his arms as Yu Yi helped Xuan up. It was only because Yu Lingyu stopped them, if he had not San Jie and everyone else would have prepared for battle against the Xul'goth.

"Get out!" Duan Xia shouted. "It's crashing down here!"

When San Jie was in front, everyone ran after him. Wu Xuan, who was seeking help from Yu Yi, turned to leave. Xu Jin searched for Hong Li, but Luo Cheng dragged her away as well. But near the exit, Wu Xuan suddenly stopped. Something caught in the corner of his eye. After sending Yu Yi away, he went to the other side. He saw no illusion.

Appearing golden in color, a divine rabbit with raised ears stared silently at Wu Xuan in the middle of the collapsing stone hall.

"Yu Lingyu?"