Outside, everyone was counting Zhong Shan's cycles. The ninety-fifth reincarnation, surpassing Di Xuansha's ninety-four reincarnations, was a significant feat. Seeing the overwhelming resentnt, everyone knew how arduous Zhong Shan's journey through reincarnation had been.
The three empresses clenched their fists, never taking their eyes off the entrance to the Hundred-World Cavern.
"Please, let him be safe. Please, let him be safe," the three won silently prayed.
Suddenly, the sky filled with resentnt dispersed, vanishing as mysteriously as it had appeared.
"Clay Bodhisattva, what's happening?" Bao'er imdiately asked.
"I don't know, but it looks like His Majesty might have defeated the heavenly demon," the Clay Bodhisattva whispered.
"Might? What about the other twenty percent? What could the other twenty percent be?" Bao'er pressed.
The Clay Bodhisattva remained silent, and everyone felt a sense of foreboding.
"Sister, I need to go in. Let go in!" Tian Ling'er pleaded, on the verge of tears.
Just then, a wooden-faced Zhong Shan slowly erged from the cavern.
"Zhong Shan! It's Zhong Shan! He's okay!" Tian Ling'er exclaid joyfully.
"Your Majesty!" the Da An officials called out.
Zhong Shan seed oblivious to their calls, stepping out of the Hundred-World Cavern, and took to the sky.
"Huh?" Everyone was puzzled by His Majesty's behavior.
"Hey, wait for ! Where are you going?" The voice of the phantom woman echoed from within the cavern.
As Zhong Shan ascended into the sky, the phantom woman reached the entrance. Strangely, despite her presence and loud shout, no one noticed her or heard her voice.
Everyone's attention was on Zhong Shan, but it was still odd that no one sensed her.
The reality was as it seed. The woman stepped out of the Hundred-World Cavern, but those around her could neither see nor hear her. It was as if she were invisible.
Zhong Shan flew upwards, with the phantom woman following closely behind, but she remained unnoticed by everyone.
Seeing Zhong Shan's unusual behavior, everyone expressed their surprise and followed him.
The Hundred-World Cavern valley was heavily guarded, with strict protocols for anyone entering or leaving. But who would dare to stop Zhong Shan? He was allowed to fly out of the valley without question.
Zhong Shan continued to fly, seemingly wooden and detached. No one dared to intercept him. This was Da An, the entire realm was Zhong Shan's, who would dare to block his path?
After flying for the duration of an incense stick, Zhong Shan arrived at a desolate mountain area.
This was a silent, barren mountain, yet it seed like the most important forbidden zone in Da An, with nurous guards stationed outside. Inside, there was nothing but mountains and a small lake.
The lake, nad Cuihu, was filled with crabs and had no special features. However, the level of security rivaled that of the Longevity Hall in the royal palace.
This was the place where Wei Kui'er had died.
Zhong Shan descended from the sky.
"Greetings, Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!" The guards respectfully bowed, allowing Zhong Shan to walk in step by step.
Outside, the Da An officials also landed.
Seeing Zhong Shan walk in with a wooden expression, everyone was stunned. Zhao Suoxiang was about to step forward.
"Don't move, no one should disturb the master!" Bao'er suddenly commanded.
Bao'er stopped everyone. This place was Zhong Shan's heart's grave, his deepest scar. No one was allowed to step inside, not even Zhong Shan himself dared to co here.
Others may not know this place, but Bao'er knew well. This was Wei Kui'er's resting place, the reverse scale of the dragon.
Why had her master suddenly co here?
With Bao'er's intervention, everyone waited outside, while the phantom woman followed Zhong Shan inside.
"This is where Wei Kui'er died?" the phantom woman mused to herself.
Not far from Cuihu Lake was an unremarkable mound of earth, where Zhong Shan's subordinates had built a small grave after he was knocked unconscious. This was the grave of Zhong Shan's heart.
Standing before the small mound, Zhong Shan closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. He recalled many mories, and finally, as a tear rolled down his cheek, he opened his eyes.
Zhong Shan walked forward, removing the weeds from the small grave and tidying it up.
Finally, Zhong Shan took out a stone tablet and placed it in front of the grave. Using his finger as a blade, he inscribed:
"The Grave of My Beloved Wife Wei Kui'er"
He then gathered flowers from around and placed them in front of the gravestone.
A gentle breeze blew Zhong Shan's robes, the cool air flowing around. Zhong Shan took a deep breath, his expression becoming much calr. He exhaled deeply, as if he had gained so profound insight.
The phantom woman beside him showed a look of obvious astonishnt.
What had happened to Zhong Shan? Why did he now exude a different aura? It seed as if he had let go of his longing for Wei Kui'er, but from his previous determination, it was clear Zhong Shan wouldn't give up.
What was this aura? A sense of liberation? A lightness as if all shadows had been dispelled? What was this?
The white jade statue brewed the heavenly demon, and the phantom woman was the spirit of the white jade statue, capable of creating the heavenly demon. The heavenly demon could evoke the most subtle emotions in people, an innate understanding. Yet, the phantom woman couldn't comprehend Zhong Shan's emotions at this mont.
What was going on?
The phantom woman didn't understand, but Bao'er did. She looked at the gravestone with a face full of admiration. Zhong Shan's feelings had transcended, from 'little love' to 'great love,' a deep love for Wei Kui'er.
This great love was truer than anything. When love reached its depths, it broke through and transford into great love!
"Kui'er, today I finally ca to see you," Zhong Shan exhaled, his face free of sorrow, as if his beloved were still alive.
"Bao'er, Ling'er, Qingsi, co here!" Zhong Shan called out, taking a deep breath.
Hearing Zhong Shan, Bao'er imdiately pulled Ling'er and Bei Qingsi over.
Standing behind Zhong Shan, Tian Ling'er wanted to say sothing, but Bao'er pulled her back. Tian Ling'er looked at Bao'er in confusion, but Bao'er shook her head, signaling her not to speak.
"This is Bao'er, Ling'er, and Qingsi. Qianyou isn't here today. I brought them to see you!" Zhong Shan said, looking at the gravestone with a glint of affection in his eyes.
"Sister, we will take good care of the master!" Bao'er stepped forward and said.
The other two won followed Bao'er, looking at the gravestone.
Although Ling'er didn't fully understand, she knew it wasn't the ti to speak.
Zhong Shan nodded in satisfaction, sighing slightly as he looked at the three won. "I made you all worry."
"It's nothing, as long as you're alright!" Bao'er said affectionately.
"Hmm!" Bei Qingsi, though rarely speaking, had emotions in her eyes that spoke volus.
"Zhong Shan, are you really okay?" Tian Ling'er asked worriedly.
"I'm fine. You all go back and rest. I need to return to the Hundred-World Cavern," Zhong Shan said.
"Uh?" The three won were taken aback.
Not just them, but even Di Xuansha, the Clay Bodhisattva, and others were stunned. Why was the Emperor returning to the Hundred-World Cavern? Was he planning to complete the remaining five cycles of reincarnation? Could that even be possible?
Nobody stopped Zhong Shan as he headed back to the Hundred-World Cavern, followed by the phantom woman.
The phantom woman observed everything, from start to finish, yet she couldn't understand Zhong Shan. For the first ti, she felt baffled by him. What did he an by all this? Who exactly was he?
Inside the Hundred-World Cavern.
"You, what did you an just now? You said you wouldn't give up, but did you? Did you give up?" the phantom woman asked, her tone genuinely confused.
"I've already said it, I will never forget Kui'er in this life," Zhong Shan replied solemnly.
"But..." The phantom woman looked at Zhong Shan, clearly not understanding.
"Human emotions are quite mysterious. Perhaps you will understand soday. But let's not talk about that now. Let's talk about you. Who are you?" Zhong Shan asked, looking at the phantom woman.
As Zhong Shan looked at her, a strange light flickered in his eyes. It was bizarre that no one else could see her. Moreover, every movent, every expression she made carried an inexplicable allure. If it weren't for his spiritual elevation due to Kui'er, even his strong will might have succumbed.
When he first entered, he had unknowingly lost himself, entering the world of reincarnation. But now, after his spiritual elevation, he saw through much more. Entering the Hundred-World Cavern again, the previous illusions no longer affected him. The cavern had lost its hold over him and could no longer force him into reincarnation.
His spiritual state had unknowingly reached a transcendent level.
"? I don't know who I am!" the phantom woman shook her head, a look of confusion flashing in her eyes.
"Oh?"
"I rember being called the 'Source of All Evil'," the phantom woman recalled, frowning.
"The Source of All Evil?" Zhong Shan's expression turned peculiar.
"Yes, that was before I could take shape, when I was just in my original form," the phantom woman said.
"Oh? Your original form? The white jade statue?" Zhong Shan asked.
"Hmm."
"I can't stray far from my original form. When I went out with you earlier, I felt a lot of my energy draining away. I almost collapsed!" the phantom woman rembered.
"Why can't others see you, only I can?"
"I don't know either!"
"When did you take this form?"
"When the Hundred-World Cavern was ford."
"Oh?"
"My original form absorbs countless resentnts, evil qi, emotions, and other things from the world. It also purifies and releases heavenly demon energy into the surroundings, maintaining a balance. But when the Hundred-World Cavern was ford, my original form only absorbed and didn't release. It's as if the Hundred-World Cavern has a power that binds , preventing my energy from leaking," the phantom woman explained.
"Oh? So, as long as the Hundred-World Cavern exists, you can continue to grow?" Zhong Shan asked in surprise.
"Hmm!" The phantom woman nodded.
"Who called you the 'Source of All Evil' then?"
"I don't know. It's sothing my original form instinctively recorded. It seems this na was used a lot. So people also called the Heavenly Demon Pool, but I don't like either na."
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