But Lu Li was prepared. The moment she struck, he sidestepped.
“We couldn’t handle you alone, but with her help, things are different.”
Lingxu smirked, continuing to control Ye Ran as she attacked.
And indeed, Lu Li hesitated. He only dodged, unwilling to hurt her.
This was exactly what Lingxu wanted. His smirk grew wider. He waved at his disciples.
“Attack! Whoever captures the demon lord will be richly rewarded.”
Every person Lingxu had brought was his own. At his command, they swarmed Lu Li from all sides.
On his own, even at death’s door, Lu Li could have killed them all.
But with Ye Ran in the mix, he grew cautious.
Because Lingxu, hiding in the shadows, would use her to block his attacks whenever he was about to kill one of his men.
Slowly, Lu Li was pushed onto the defensive. He was struck several times.
Seeing that at this rate, Lingxu might actually capture him, Ye Ran grew frantic.
She tried to remember when Lingxu had taken control of her.
Then it came to her—back at Wanxian Sect, when Lingxu had summoned her and given her tea.
She hadn’t known his true nature then, so she drank it without suspicion.
He must have tampered with it.
But what could have been in the tea that was undetectable and could control a person?
Could it be a parasite?
The thought struck her as plausible.
Though she couldn’t control her body, she could still circulate her spiritual energy to check.
Focusing, she examined every part of herself.
Finally, near her dantian, she found the parasite.
It was deeply hidden. If she hadn’t searched carefully, she might have missed it.
Seeing how close she had come to hurting Lu Li, she used her spiritual energy to expel the parasite from her dantian.
Thanks to her recent cultivation, she easily forced it out of her dantian and along her meridians.
Soon, it reached her wrist. Just as she was about to expel it fully, Lingxu noticed.
His face changed. He made Ye Ran move away from Lu Li and toward himself.
Realizing he meant to take her hostage, Ye Ran acted faster. By the time she reached him, the parasite was out.
Back in control, she didn’t retreat. Instead, she drove her sword into his chest.
Lingxu hadn’t expected her cultivation to have risen so quickly. Caught off guard, he froze.
Seizing the opportunity, Ye Ran withdrew her sword and stepped back. Then she turned and shouted:
“Senior brother!”
The moment her voice reached him, Lu Li’s restraint vanished. In a few moves, most of the disciples lay dead.
Ye Ran rejoined him, helping to fend off the remaining attackers.
Seeing his forces nearly wiped out, Lingxu knew he was in trouble. He turned to escape through the Reflection Mirror.
“Senior brother, he’s getting away!”
Ye Ran spotted him first. She shouted a warning.
The moment she spoke, Lingxu slipped through the exit.
But it hadn’t fully closed. Lu Li rushed toward it with Ye Ran, barely making it out before it sealed.
“Lu Li, Lu Li. Did you think the Reflection Mirror was my only plan?”
Outside, Lingxu stood not far away, laughing triumphantly.
As he spoke, more disciples appeared, surrounding them.
These disciples were stronger than those in the mirror. Lingxu had come prepared.
“Did you think you were the only one who prepared?”
As Lingxu gloated, Lu Li’s calm voice cut through.
Lingxu froze, suddenly wary. But before he could react, Lu Li lifted Ye Ran and soared into the air.
All the formations on the mountain activated. Disciples fell one by one, torn apart before they could react.
As screams rang out one after another, panic finally seized Lingxu.
Seeing the formation beneath him activate, he had no choice but to charge at Lu Li, determined to fight to the death.
The surviving disciples followed, swords drawn.
Once again, Lu Li was surrounded.
As they shifted formation, attacks rained down on him.
But Lingxu had underestimated him. Before the attacks could land, Lu Li raised his hand and swept them all aside.
One by one, they fell into the fully activated formation. In an instant, the entire mountain became a sea of azure flames.
The fallen disciples were consumed—bodies and souls alike.
Ye Ran was startled.
Lu Li had promised not to use the Blazing Spirit’s power. So what was this?
Questions swirled in her mind, but dealing with Lingxu was paramount. She set them aside and flanked him with Lu Li.
Slippery as an eel, Lingxu realized he was outmatched and tried to flee, searching for any gap in the barrier.
But with only himself left and both Ye Ran and Lu Li in pursuit, he soon had nowhere to run.
“Li’er, I know I was wrong. Please, spare me this once.”
Without principles, Lingxu begged shamelessly.
Lu Li had no interest in his pleas. Before he could speak again, Lu Li struck him down.
Lingxu plunged into the flames. Before he could struggle, they consumed him.
When the fire finally died, nothing remained. The once lush mountain stood bare, only scorched earth left behind.
“Senior brother, what’s going on? You said you wouldn’t use the Blazing Spirit.”
The moment Lu Li brought her back to solid ground, Ye Ran pressed him.
He cupped her face, his eyes filled with reluctance.
“Only the Blazing Spirit could destroy them completely. But ever since I forcibly merged with it, it’s been slipping out of control. The longer it goes, the more restless it becomes. I can barely suppress it now.”
“Why have you never told me this? What are you going to do?”
His words filled her with dread. She stared at him, afraid of what she might hear.
“The cultivation world cannot withstand the Blazing Spirit’s power. I will seal myself in the void beyond the three realms. When you return, forget about me.”
The last words came out with difficulty.
But Ye Ran couldn’t accept it. She grabbed his arm, tears streaming.
“Why? You promised to come with me, to meet my grandmother. Why are you breaking your word?”
“I’m sorry.”
Pain flickered in Lu Li’s eyes. He kissed her lips, then pulled his arm free.
“No! Lu Li, don’t go!”
Ye Ran tried to stop him, but found herself frozen. She could only watch as he walked away.
A tear opened in the void behind him—an expanse of endless darkness.
Lu Li looked back at her one last time, then stepped into it before the Blazing Spirit could break free.
Ye Ran watched as darkness swallowed him. When she could move again, the tear had closed.
She collapsed, staring in disbelief at where he had vanished.
She couldn’t accept this.
Just yesterday, she had been dreaming of their life together. Now, in a single day, she had lost him.
“Host, the mission is complete. We can go back.”
The system came over and tentatively nuzzled her arm.
Ye Ran looked at the system as if it were a lifeline, her voice urgent.
“System, is there any way for me to go to Lu Li?”
“I’m sorry, host. There isn’t. The void can only be opened once.”
Her gaze dimmed. The system continued, “The Blazing Spirit is now beyond control. Even if you could enter, its power would kill you. The villain trapped himself there so that you could live. Host, you must accept this.”
“Will I never see him again?”
Ye Ran kept staring at where Lu Li had vanished.
The answer was obvious, but the system couldn’t bring itself to say it. It lowered its head in silence.
Only when the main system urged it to take Ye Ran away did it look up again.
“Host, time is running out. You need to go back. May we meet again if fate allows. I will miss you.”
As the system spoke, dizziness washed over Ye Ran. Then she lost consciousness.
…
The night was cool. A gentle breeze stirred.
Ye Ran stood on her balcony, gazing at the star-filled sky, her thoughts drifting.
Two years had passed since she left the cultivation world.
In that time, she often wondered if her journey into the book had been nothing more than a dream after her car accident.
And Lu Li, merely a figment of her imagination.
But the bracelet he had given her remained on her wrist, real and tangible—proof that those events truly happened.
Yet the bracelet had never glowed again. No matter how many times she touched it, only silence answered.
She raised her wrist and looked at the still-translucent bracelet. Her eyes grew moist.
Lu Li, I miss you so much.
This time, as if hearing her heart, the bracelet—which had always been unresponsive—lit up.
Brighter than it ever had in the cultivation world.
Ye Ran’s eyes slowly brightened. Then, as if sensing something, she turned.
A familiar figure stood quietly behind her, holding a large fat cat in his arms.
She couldn’t believe her eyes. She stood frozen.
In the early days after her return, she had hallucinated him countless times. Afraid this was another illusion, she didn’t dare move forward, unwilling to be disappointed again.
“Host, we’re back!”
The system’s voice reached her. Only then did she realize—this wasn’t an illusion.
“Senior brother!”
She rushed to him and threw her arms around him.
Feeling him there, solid and real, she finally believed.
“Senior brother, it’s really you!”
Her voice broke with emotion. Tears spilled from her eyes, releasing two years of pent-up longing.
And Lu Li, as he always had, took out a handkerchief and gently wiped her tears.
“Yes, I’ve returned. I’ve come to keep my promise to you, junior sister.”
(End of Main Story)
Leave a Reply