Chapter 218: The Tianyuan Affair Concludes

“Alas, who would have thought that even with the five of us pursuing together, we still let that cunning Sky Demon escape.”

Chi Heng sighed, his aged face trembling slightly.

“Forget it. Although the Sky Demon escaped this time, his physical body was destroyed by us. He’ll likely lie dormant for a long while again. The matters that follow probably won’t require our concern anymore.”

Xuan Rou had already put her veil back on, and the black patterns on her forehead reappeared—they turned out to be runes sealing a certain power.

“Let’s return to Tianyuan Star first. We can discuss the Sky Demon matter further later.” Liu’er looked thoroughly frustrated. “That Sky Demon truly enjoys heaven’s favor. Once he hides, not a trace of his aura can be found.”

Liu’er looked toward the man in red flying at the forefront. “Hong Luo, what are your plans from now on?”

“Plans? Hahahaha, what’s it to you!”

Hong Luo still seemed resentful about what he had done with these four, speaking without any courtesy. With a shudder of his body, the space ahead tore open, and in moments, he appeared above Heart Origin City.

The others descended one after another.

However, upon seeing the ground littered with wreckage and corpses, the scene utterly devastated, each of their faces turned unsettled.

“Who did this!”

……

……

“Why are you five looking at me like that?”

“Last night, I was clearing out remnants of the Anti-Sect Faction in City No. 26. By the time I rushed to Heart Origin City, it was already like this. If I hadn’t exerted great effort to drive away the Sky Demon, the entire Tianyuan Star might have been destroyed.”

Hong Luo ignored these explanations, striding forward a few steps to glare at Xiao Chunwei.

“Do you really think everyone here is a fool? How can such an excuse absolve you of responsibility? Fine! I originally thought you were different from those people, but it seems I misjudged you!”

Xiao Chunwei wore a faint smile. “The five of you chased after a single Sky Demon and still failed to capture him, yet you left me alone on Tianyuan to confront the Sky Demon. Now that things have come to this, you’re blaming me?”

“Senior Brother, in the past, the Martial God taught us a move or two. It’s only because you entered the sect earlier that I call you Senior Brother. Now, with such suspicion directed at me, do you think I released this Sky Demon?”

Xiao Chunwei’s blue robe billowed, his silver hair flowing. A green formation condensed beneath his feet, and within the ten directions of heaven and earth, countless green lights rose. Killing intent surged, and endless sharpness filled the entire area.

“Want to fight? That suits me just fine!”

Hong Luo’s Qi and blood surged violently. His true form materialized behind him, his supreme physical body threatening to burst through this formation.

“Enough!”

The other four Martial Gods acted simultaneously. Under their combined suppression, the formation shattered, and even Hong Luo’s true form staggered a step.

Xuan Rou stepped between the two, speaking calmly:

“The Sky Demon’s methods are unpredictable and ever-changing. At the time, we were indeed fighting a Sky Demon in the star domain. Who could have imagined there was another one that slipped through the net here on Tianyuan Star?”

“Alright, let’s not speculate wildly anymore.”

Chi Heng stroked his beard, speaking leisurely. “That Sky Demon must have used some doppelganger technique to toy with us like this. If we continue to fight among ourselves here, wouldn’t we be falling right into that Demon Lord’s scheme?”

The others remained silent, seemingly weighing the pros and cons.

“Alright, I’ve fought for so long, this old man is a bit tired.” Chi Heng showed signs of fatigue.

“Ah, this is how it is when one gets old. These bones have been around for ten thousand years; they ache all over with just a little exertion.”

Chi Heng’s expression shifted imperceptibly, a cold sneer flashing across his face, though he showed no outward sign. He casually waved a hand at the others.

“Alright, alright, I won’t tease you youngsters anymore. This old man will go into seclusion to recuperate and await the opening of that realm.”

With that, he vanished without a trace.

That realm…

Upon hearing these words, everyone’s expressions shifted between light and shadow, yet no one spoke a word, as if weighing something in their minds.

“Xiao Chunwei, from now on, our ties are severed. It’s not the time for us to fight to the death now, but if we ever meet at that gate, I will surely challenge you!”

Hong Luo spat in disgust.

No one here was a fool. Today’s events were far too peculiar, and Xiao Chunwei’s actions were riddled with strangeness at every turn.

Yet, even so, these Martial Gods chose to turn a blind eye, and even Hong Luo, who loved to champion justice, chose to hold back.

It seemed as though something more important was restraining them…

As the crowd dispersed, Xiao Chunwei stood in place, his expression as solid as ice.

“Ah, this Sky Demon… so utterly unreliable…”

He rubbed his temples, a faint weariness creeping in. Looking at his own hand, he then cast a meaningful glance toward a certain space.

“You all can do it, so why can’t I, Xiao Chunwei? It’s all for the sake of taking another step forward.”

He flicked his sleeves and vanished from the spot as well.

…

“Why is it like this… why is it like this…”

Zhang Qianyue held the identity token of the Righteous Alliance in his hands, recalling the strange purge mission from last night, the cruel sight of bloodied corpses littering Heart Origin City upon entry,

and remembering… Jiang Yan’s parting advice.

“Sky Demon,” “Xiao Chunwei,” “Righteous Alliance,” “Heart Origin City,” “Jiang Yan”…

These words intertwined, forming the brutal image of the entire city’s destruction from last night.

That majestic azure figure surfaced in his mind.

“Was it Senior Xiao? No… impossible!”

The Justice Alliance identity token in his hand grew increasingly sinister and terrifying.

The more he thought, the closer he came to the truth, and the closer he came to the truth, the more terrified he became.

“I… I trusted him so much, why did it have to be like this?”

The Martial Gods were lured away by the Sky Demon, while Xiao Chunwei, the only one left in Heavenly Source, led a purge mission in another city.

Despite the Martial Gods’ powerful perception, they remained oblivious to Heart Origin City’s plight until the entire city had collapsed.

Upon careful thought, it felt as though a giant hand was gripping his throat, making it hard for Zhang Qianyue to breathe.

A conspiracy! It was all a conspiracy!

Zhang Qianyue had been nothing but a pawn from start to finish.

Last night.

“Senior, may I join the Righteous Alliance? I, Zhang Qianyue, also wish to be as righteous and just as you, saving the suffering, aiding the weak, punishing the wicked, and eradicating evil!”

“Good. You have contributed to the purge of the Anti-Sect Faction. Take this identity token.”

The deputy leader of the Righteous Alliance smiled at him as he spoke.

Bang!

The token was smashed against the wall, turning to dust along with those laughable memories.

Zhang Qianyue lay weakly on the bed, his eyes vacant as he stared at the ceiling.

“In the end, I couldn’t save anything…”

“Everyone… was their pawn. The fate of ordinary people is as insignificant as grass. So, from beginning to end, no one truly cares?”

He could no longer distinguish whether this world was real or false. Was the end of the Martial Way the clarity of the Dao Heart, or was it all deceit and treachery?

So, only the cunning and unscrupulous were qualified to survive to the end and attain the Great Path?

He had trusted Senior Xiao so much…

“Jiang Yan.” Zhang Qianyue murmured to himself. “If only I could be as free as him.”

“Hahaha, at least he had the decency to remind me before he left.”

Zhang Qianyue’s tear-streaked face broke into a faint smile.

“Selfish and self-serving, but—”

“Still far better than them.”

——

“Old Zhang, you’re quitting? Don’t do that. You’re still in your prime, and now that you’ve joined the Righteous Alliance, if you apply yourself properly, you might even advance further on the Martial Way.”

“No, I’m a bit tired. I want to spend time with my wife.”

“Ah, fine. Remember to keep in touch.”

His friend patted Zhang Qianyue’s shoulder, replying with regret.

Zhang Qianyue found his wife. Taking her along, he visited the tombstones of his parents and child.

He laid a flower and spent a while sharing his sorrows with his wife.

“Xiaoxue, let’s see them one more time. We won’t be able to in the future.”

He said with a smile.