Chapter 275: Junior Brother Is Not Dead

Mu Wanxuan silently rode Ice Crystal through the passage between the Eighteen Levels of Hell. Her eyes reflected nothing but desolation and sorrow.

As enchanted power swirled around her, a gentle force pulled her forward, transforming her into a streak of radiant light. In the blink of an eye, she soared through the empty shaft and emerged in the Small Nether Realm.

Lady Meng, who now looked slightly different from three years ago, stepped forward, bowed, and smiled faintly. She now seemed capable of expressing some emotion.

𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"I'll escort you out," she offered.

Mu Wanxuan pressed her lips together and raised her hand to make a few gestures, as if she were inquiring about something.

Lady Meng nodded slightly. "There's no ghost left in this realm; I am the only one here. You are free to come and go as you wish, Fairy. If you ever wish to return, just call my name from Mount Pingdu. Please do not kneel or offer a grand bow again. I truly cannot accept such honor."

"Qian... lin..."

"

Mm.

" Lady Meng's gaze softened. A slight ripple of emotion stirred around her, but she quickly calmed it. She then gestured invitingly.

A gentle force enveloped Mu Wanxuan and carried her swiftly toward the Nether Gate. A moment later, they arrived before the gate.

Noticing Mu Wanxuan walking forward absentmindedly, Lady Meng frowned slightly. "Hua Qing, I have something I'm not sure if I should tell you, yet I feel I have to."

Mu Wanxuan turned around. With a weary expression, she looked at the immortal guardian of the Small Nether Realm and then nodded slightly.

"Forgive my boldness, but allow me to ask you this: have you noticed that over the past three years, the amount of primal qi in here has gradually increased?"

Mu Wanxuan nodded faintly. Of course, she had noticed.

"Then do you recall the sudden manifestation of heavenly might when the Earth Qi Seal had just been restored not long ago?"

Mu Wanxuan blinked in confusion. "

Mm?

"

"As I expected," said Lady Meng calmly. "Hua Qing, you must have been grieving Fei Yu so deeply that you overlooked these details. I cannot remain silent. Three years ago, heavenly might descended upon the Small Nether Realm and struck the space within the Earth Qi Seal."

Countless question marks seemingly appeared around Mu Wanxuan's head. "What?"

"Heavenly might is a warning from the Great Dao. If a cultivator violates a prohibition of the Dao, the Great Dao issues a warning. If they persist after three warnings, the Dao abandons them," Lady Meng patiently explained. "Something within that sealed place triggered the heavenly might. That was when I began to wonder if someone had defied the heavens.

"Soon after the heavenly might descended, the Earth Qi Seal began to release primal qi into the Small Nether Realm. Once it became saturated with primal qi, it started to seep into the mortal world.

"The descent of heavenly might and the steady loosening of the Earth Qi Seal both point to one fact: someone is orchestrating all of this from within the seal. All evidence suggests that Her Highness has not perished. She's probably in Fei Yu's Dao Body. Perhaps... they're both still alive."

Mu Wanxuan froze. Her eyes, once weary and burdened by years of sorrow, now shimmered faintly like stars appearing in the darkness of a long night.

She stepped forward and instinctively grabbed Lady Meng's arm. For a moment, Lady Meng smiled warmly, though she quickly brushed it aside.

"This is only my speculation, though. At the rate of the seal's dissolution, the primal qi within the Earth Qi Seal should flow through the Small Nether Realm and reach all the edges of the Mortal Realm in fifteen to sixteen years. By then, we can find a way to break the seal and search within."

Mu Wanxuan bit her lip as tears fell like rain. Lady Meng lightly tapped her shoulder. A profound ripple passed through her, instantly calming her turbulent Dao Heart.

At the peak of the Golden Core Realm, extreme joy or sorrow could destabilize one's Daoist realm. Though it could present a chance to break through to the Heavenly Abode Realm, it could also cause her cultivation to regress.

Once her Dao Heart had calmed down, Mu Wanxuan's spirit seemingly made a complete recovery.

Mu Wanxuan paced back and forth beside the Nether Gate, clenching her small hands and fidgeting with her fingers restlessly. Even though Lady Meng had already soothed her emotions once earlier, she was still restless. Had she not been calmed before all this, she would have likely started spinning in place.

Suddenly remembering that she had to deliver the good news to their master and to Wang Sheng's parents, she turned and ran toward the Nether Gate. However, she paused briefly to offer a deep bow to Lady Meng.

Lady Meng stepped aside, rejecting the grand gesture. She then extended a finger toward Mu Wanxuan's back. As Mu Wanxuan dashed through the Nether Gate, Lady Meng used her power to send her straight out of the underground formation.

***

At Mount Pingdu, where the Nether Gate had once stood, the old tombstone of Wang Sheng had been replaced with a new, three-meter-tall stone sculpture.

Wang Sheng's facial features were roughly discernible on the statue. Its Daoist robe and long hair were also sculpted with great attention to detail. At the hem of the robe, two lines were carved on either side.

On the right, it read,

Sword Immortal Who Willingly Sacrificed Himself.

On the left,

True Hero, Forever Remembered.

A group of people stood quietly in front of the newly completed sculpture.

Qing Yanzi was at the very front, staring at the statue's face. His eyes showed traces of sorrow, but they also seemed slightly at peace.

"Three years have passed. As your master, having you as my disciple was my greatest fortune."

Behind him, Gao Shixing from the Wudang Mountains and Fei Lianzi from the Shu Sword Sect sighed. Gao Shixing poured a cup of wine onto the grass, tilted his head, and sighed softly once more.

Unable to hold back his tears, Fei Lianzi, the round-faced Daoist master, cried softly. He stepped forward, squatted before the base of the statue, and began arranging offerings.

Two disciples rushed over to help. They set up the offerings, poured wine, placed flowers, and lit incense.

"After you left, I didn't dare visit you, Fei Yu. I feared that if I saw you, I wouldn't be able to hold back my tears. Though we were from different generations, we became friends through our shared pursuit of the Dao of the Sword.

"Now... we're forever separated by life and death. It's already been three years! You deserved better!

Agh,

enough talk! I'll drink in your honor!"

Li Gufeng handed him a cup. Fei Lianzi drank it all in one gulp while Zi Ling poured another onto the ground.

They lingered for a while before Li Gufeng and Zi Ling gently urged him to step back. Zhang Zikuang, Yan Zhengnan, and a few other Daoist masters who had survived the Small Nether Realm expedition also stepped forward to pay their respects.

Not far behind stood Huai Jing, Liu Yunzhi, and Shi Qianzhang. They naturally wouldn't miss the third-year memorial. With them were Jingyun and Chi Wen, who clung to her master and cried nonstop.

Further back stood the visibly pregnant Mou Yue, along with several members of the investigation unit who had once worked with Wang Sheng. Dozens of young disciples from the Wudang Mountains and the Shu Sword Sect waited silently.

As Zhang Zikuang and the others stepped back, a streak of light suddenly flew toward them from the Hidden Earth Sect's mountain gate at great speed.

"It's Bu Yu!" Jingyun called out. "Bu Yu is here!"

Everyone present felt a jolt of surprise. This was Mu Wanxuan's first time leaving the Nether Realm in three years.

Qing Yanzi had worried that his eldest disciple was lost in grief. As the Hua Republic prepared to launch an all-out offensive against the cultivation world of Sakura Island, he had asked the Hidden Earth Sect to send a message to Lady Meng, hoping to persuade Mu Wanxuan to come lend her support.

Knowing his disciple well, he was certain that she wouldn't refuse. Today also happened to be Wang Sheng's third-year memorial, making it the perfect time to bring her out.

As he had expected, Mu Wanxuan answered his summons. Riding Ice Crystal, she flew straight toward them and landed a dozen meters away. She immediately jumped down and knelt before Qing Yanzi.

"No, Little Xuan. There's no need for that. Get up quickly," Qing Yanzi said firmly as he used his enchanted power to lift her. "My failure to protect you and your junior brother has made you suffer these past three years. From now on, I will help you through this difficult time. Little Sheng surely wouldn't want to see you... so lost..."

Mu Wanxuan raised her head. "Master!"

Her beauty was like a painting. Her eyes sparkled like stars, her skin was radiant and luminous, and her lips curved into a soft smile. She showed no trace of despair.

Qing Yanzi breathed a sigh of relief. "It's good that you've come out of the Small Nether Realm."

Mu Wanxuan gestured with her hands. "Master!"

Qing Yanzi watched for a while before understanding her. He unlocked the watch-like circular screen of his phone and handed it to her.

Clearly curious about her master's new phone, she tapped on the projection screen. She then typed a few lines.

Junior Brother is not dead! Lady Meng said so!

He and the female immortal are still alive! They will return someday!

Qing Yanzi froze. He then forced a bitter smile and sighed. "Little Xuan, we must face reality. Escaping it solves nothing. Is your Dao Heart still at peace?"

Mu Wanxuan blinked, feeling a little helpless. She quickly typed two more lines.

Heavenly might descended, and the primal qi in the Small Nether Realm keeps increasing!

Lady Meng has evidence! If you don't believe me, go ask her!

After reading them, Qing Yanzi shook his head again. "Don't do this, Little Xuan. Seeing you like this breaks my heart."

Zhang Zikuang sighed as he looked up. "If only I had a soulmate who would mourn my death with such madness and devotion. I would die with no regrets!"

Mu Wanxuan slapped her forehead in frustration and turned to Fei Lianzi.

"I'm so sorry for your loss. Zi Ling, Gufeng, spend more time with Bu Yu when you can," Fei Lianzi gently said.

Jingyun added, "The dead cannot return, Silly. Don't let this lead you down the devilish path. How about you skip the battle against the Sakura Island cultivators? Let Little Wen take you to Senior Xi Lian. She's been asking every few days whether you've left the Small Nether Realm."

Mu Wanxuan sighed and held her forehead. With a soft cry, she typed one last line.

He really is still alive... I think I heard him call my name...

Watching her with deep concern, Yan Zhengnan commented, "This is getting more and more unbelievable."

"Senior Sister!" Chi Wen, sobbing, ran over and hugged Mu Wanxuan. "I believe you! Senior Brother will be all right!"

However, Mu Wanxuan could tell it was only meant to comfort her. Clinging to a final shred of hope, she looked to Wang Sheng's three dearest friends.

"Fei Yu must be under Buddha's protection. By now, he has surely been reborn in the Pure Land.

Amitabha,

" Huai Jing said. He quickly shot a glance at Liu Yunzhi and Shi Qianzhang.

"You're right, Fairy Bu Yu," Liu Yunzhi said solemnly. "Fei Yu will live forever in our hearts!"

Shi Qianzhang traced a finger across his forehead. "By the infinite gods above, may Fei Yu always be with us."

The high-tech watch slipped from Mu Wanxuan's wrist and hit the ground.

Clack.

An embroidered shoe then crushed it.