I looked coldly at Senior Sister Liu, whose panic could no longer be concealed. Her eyes flickered, and she stepped back in a flurry. "What... what do you want? I'm warning you, I am..."
"You are what? An inner sect disciple? Outstanding in talent?" I pressed forward step by step, undisguised mockery in my tone. "You dare not own up to what you've done. What right do you have to talk about any of this?"
"I..." Senior Sister Liu turned pale, still putting up a futile struggle.
"There is no need for further sophistry," said Qu Chen, who had been silent all this while. The pain and struggle in his eyes had vanished, replaced by firmness and resolution. "Senior Sister Liu, what you owe me, and what you owe Youran—let us settle it all today!"
As his voice fell, Qu Chen summoned his magic sword, pointing it straight at Senior Sister Liu. At the same time, Linger and Xuanfeng appeared behind me, having readied themselves for battle.
"Attack!" At my command, battle broke out instantly.
The Back Mountain Forbidden Area was suddenly flooded with sword light and surging Spiritual Energy. Qu Chen, Linger, Xuanfeng, and I joined forces, surrounding Senior Sister Liu tightly.
"You... you can't treat me like this! I am Master's most cherished disciple..." Panicking, Senior Sister Liu tried to dodge our attacks, but her footing was already in disarray.
"Hmph! If Master knew that you colluded with a Demonic Cultivator and harmed your fellow disciples, he would surely purge the sect!" Linger rebuked angrily.
"Shut up! You bunch of traitors! I am the one who has been wronged!" Senior Sister Liu shrieked hysterically. Yet her defense was pale and feeble, appearing utterly ridiculous in the face of ironclad evidence.
Right at that moment, a powerful wave of Demonic Qi suddenly swept in from afar, accompanied by a deafening roar: "Who is it? Who dares to touch my people?"
Not good! A Demonic Cultivator! My heart tightened. It seemed the decisive battle today was unavoidable!
"Quick, finish this!" I shouted in a low voice, the light on the dagger in my hand growing even brighter as I aimed it straight at Senior Sister Liu's chest.
"Ah!" With a scream, Senior Sister Liu crashed to the ground, her eyes filled with resentment and grievance.
"Youran, Chen'er, what are you still standing there for? Hurry and join me to fight the Demonic Cultivator!" Elder Qingyunzi suddenly appeared, his hair and beard bristling, clearly prepared for a fight to the death.
"Yes!" Qu Chen and I exchanged a glance and joined the battle against the Demonic Cultivator without hesitation.
The scene before us was like a living hell; Demonic Qi soared to the skies, and screams echoed endlessly. Qu Chen and I fought side by side, our swords cutting down countless demonic entities, yet more poured in wave after wave, seemingly endless.
In my heart, I knew that today's battle meant one of us would die!
"Ah!" With a cry of pain, Linger was struck flying by a Demonic Cultivator's palm, crashing heavily to the ground.
"Linger!" My eyes split with rage, a raging fire burning in my heart as the divine sword in my hand emitted a dazzling light, pressing straight toward the leader of the Demonic Cultivators—a ferocious-looking monster exuding a nauseating stench.
"You think you can hurt me with just that?" The Demonic Cultivator leader laughed arrogantly, wielding his giant axe as he charged straight at me.
I dodged sideways, the light on my divine sword surging violently as I pointed it directly at his chest... I put away my divine sword, walked over to Linger, and gently helped her up. "Are you alright?"
Linger shook her head and looked at Qu Chen and me, a gratified smile blooming on her face. "I'm fine. It's enough to see that you two are okay."
Qu Chen walked over to my side, took my hand, his gaze gentle yet resolute. "Youran, we..."
However, before he could finish, he was interrupted by a sudden spatial fluctuation. The scenery before our eyes began to distort, and a majestic voice echoed in our ears... "Youran, we..." Qu Chen's voice was interrupted by a sudden spatial fluctuation, and the world before my eyes resembled a distorted canvas, colorful yet blurred. In my ear, a majestic voice came as if from beyond the nine heavens, deafening yet ethereal.
Before I could react, Qu Chen and I were sucked into a spatial rift by a powerful force.
When I opened my eyes again, I found myself and Qu Chen standing upon a peaceful sea of clouds. Beneath our feet lay the familiar yet unfamiliar Cultivation World—mountains, rivers, pavilions, and towers all appearing so wonderful and serene.
"Where are we..." I looked at Qu Chen in confusion, only to see that he too wore a blank expression.
"Feng Li, Qu Chen, you have done well." That majestic voice sounded once more, carrying a hint of praise. "You have successfully safeguarded the peace of the Cultivation World, and your achievements will be remembered forever."
Qu Chen and I looked at each other, our hearts filled with confusion, yet not knowing how to ask.
"Child, you need not be alarmed," the voice softened slightly. "I am the Heavenly Dao, the embodiment of the rules of this world. What you see today is the Cultivation World a hundred years from now."
A hundred years from now? Qu Chen and I were struck by tumultuous waves in our hearts. Could it be that we had traveled through time and come a hundred years into the future?
Seeming to see through our thoughts, the Heavenly Dao continued, "The chaos of the Demonic Cultivators has been quelled for a century, and the Cultivation World has ushered in unprecedented peace and prosperity. And the names of you two have become a legend; your love story is chanted by thousands of cultivators..."
The description of the Heavenly Dao unfolded before my eyes like a scroll. I seemed to see the thriving scene of the Cultivation World a hundred years later, with the names of Qu Chen and me carved upon the monument of history.
"What about Linger and Xuanfeng? Are they alright?" I asked eagerly, my heart filled with concern for my friends.
"They are well," the Heavenly Dao's voice carried a hint of a smile. "They forged a deep friendship in battle and decided to travel the Cultivation World together, helping more people in need."
Hearing this, I finally set my mind at ease. Linger and Xuanfeng were kind-hearted and eager to help others; I was sure they would become the most dazzling starlight in the Cultivation World.
"Heavenly Dao, then what about us..." Qu Chen stopped mid-sentence, seemingly wanting to ask why we had come here and where our future lay.
However, the Heavenly Dao did not directly answer his question, only saying meaningfully, "Child, some things require you to explore and realize for yourselves. Remember, the gears of fate have already begun to turn, and the future is in your own hands..."
As the voice faded, Qu Chen and I felt a powerful force wrap around us, and the world before our eyes plunged into darkness once more...
Waking up again, we found ourselves back in the familiar room. Everything was just as it had been before, except that the air still seemed to linger with the immortal Qi from above the clouds.
"Youran, look!" Qu Chen suddenly pointed at a scroll on the table and said.
I stepped closer and found a few graceful characters written upon the scroll: Qingyunzi's Journal.
"Master, he..." A bad premonition suddenly rose in my heart.
At that moment, the door was gently pushed open, and the figure of Elder Qingyunzi appeared at the threshold. He looked at Qu Chen and me, his eyes filled with paternal love and... a final farewell?
"Master..."
"Master..." My voice choked, and a strong reluctance welled up in my heart. Could this be the foreseen parting?
Elder Qingyunzi smiled kindly, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes resembling the marks of time, recounting endless stories. "Silly child, my lifespan is coming to an end; this battle was merely supported by a single breath. Now that the demonic scourge has been eradicated and the Cultivation World has welcomed long-awaited peace, it is time for your master to retire with honor."
He walked slowly to the table, picked up the scroll, and solemnly handed it into Qu Chen's and my hands. "This journal records everything I have learned throughout my life. I hope you will study it earnestly, practice wholeheartedly, and continue to safeguard this hard-won peace."
I accepted the heavy journal, feeling not only its weight, but also Master's heavy expectations. I nodded solemnly, secretly vowing in my heart that I would never fail Master's expectations and would protect this land.
Elder Qingyunzi looked at us with gratification, turned, and left. His retreating figure appeared lonely yet resolute, like a pine standing proudly against the wind, casting a long shadow in the setting sun.
Having seen Master off, Qu Chen and I stood on the mountain peak, looking out at the cheering crowds. Joy of victory bloomed on their faces, and hope for the future flickered in their eyes. Qu Chen and I intertwined our fingers and smiled at each other; everything went without saying.
"Youran, we won." A trace of trembling laced Qu Chen's voice, yet it could not conceal that excitement.
"Yes, we won," I repeated softly, though my heart was filled with a myriad of complex emotions. This victory had not come easily; we had lost so much and gained so much.
We stood shoulder to shoulder on the mountaintop, overlooking the land dyed red by the setting sun, feeling the gentleness of the breeze brushing across our faces as if all hardships had vanished like smoke.
"From this day forward, there are no more Demonic Cultivators in this world, no more strife, only..." My words stopped abruptly, my gaze falling upon a pile of spoils not far away, where a golden light appeared exceptionally glaring...