"You say that for us, spirits of flora and fauna to be born, we must rely on the essence of heaven and earth? And that you were born from the radiance of the moon?"
"To be born under the setting moon… perhaps you should be called Luo Yue?"
"Falling and Luo are not the same. The character 'falling' is not auspicious for you, but 'Luo' contains the element of water, which can nourish you."
"What is the meaning of a name? Naturally, so that others don't have to shout 'Hey, you!' when they call for you."
"You don't like it here? But it's dangerous outside. You would be captured. This place is safe. Why risk going out?"
"Luo Yue, though I may not fully understand, I feel that you are right. I will grant you your freedom. Go and do as you wish."
Luo Yue felt the long spear in his hand begin to grow heavy, yet the words in his ear became ever clearer.
That was the first [Master], a little girl who couldn't bear to part with him.
All his beautiful hopes for humanity stemmed from her.
Luo Yue wielded his long spear, straining with all his might to thrust it upward. A terrifying pressure swept forth.
But it was blocked by a transparent longsword.
Luo Yue raised his head to look at Chu Xingchen's calm, impassive expression, and that voice he detested so much echoed in his ear once more.
"Your name is Luo Yue… isn't it? For a spirit of flora to cultivate to the Integration Realm is no small feat."
"I've heard many stories about you. You want to protect the spirits from being captured, to give them a homeland of their very own?"
"The story is quite moving, but you must understand that moving does not mean it can be realized. There are countless displaced people in this world, so where is there any feng shui treasure land left to give to the spirits?"
"However, I am willing to give you this chance. How about a deal?"
"The Xuanqing Tianzong has a plan. Though we may not necessarily need you, we wish to have a backup. If this succeeds, I will grant you the land you desire."
"You are free to refuse. But do you understand how many of your kin have died under your leadership?"
"How many more of your kin must die before you get what you want?"
"How can you guarantee that? By the fact that if this succeeds, the Xuanqing Tianzong will be eternal!"
"The chance of success is less than thirty percent. But the great tribulation is a clear lesson from history. Without the heart to make a decisive choice, how can we protect our homes?"
"Since you have agreed, your current cultivation is still insufficient. Come with me, and I will help you ascend to the Great Perfection Realm!"
Hmph… The Xuanqing Tianzong will be eternal.
And yet, we spirits are to be without a homeland forever.
Liars! All of them are liars!
With a furious roar, Luo Yue's spiritual energy erupted chaotically, but the speed of his longsword increased yet again.
The long spear transformed into a pillar of light that pierced the heavens, its chilling aura permeating the sky.
Sword Intent surged forth, transforming into countless crystal-clear water-like swords, crashing down upon Luo Yue like a waterfall from the heavens, endless and inexhaustible.
"Your body is rooted here, concealing the heavenly secrets and spiritual energy of this place. This secret is vital to the Xuanqing Tianzong's final retreat."
"How long must we wait? Who can say? Just wait for my order."
"For the plan to succeed, someone will come. If it fails, someone will still come. If no one comes, it means the Xuanqing Tianzong no longer exists."
"Is it worth it… are you willing to abandon your physical body here, just to seek a homeland for your people? Is it worth it?"
"Hmph… If it is to be done, then it is worth it. The Xuanqing Tianzong has its reasons for doing all this."
"The number one immortal sect in the world has the mission of the number one immortal sect."
"May we meet again…"
Luo Yue ignored the incoming sword Intent, allowing the tide of swords to tear through his armor and pierce his skin, all for the sake of pushing his long spear forward one last time.
To meet again! Of course, we will meet again!
To ask about our homeland! To ask about our kin!
Luo Yue would use the long spear in his hand to ask.
"You have been defeated."
When the voice sounded in Luo Yue's ear, he came to his senses and found himself smashed onto the ground, his body too weak to move an inch.
The long spear was still in his grasp, but he could no longer lift it.
Luo Yue felt the spiritual energy maintaining his form dissipating, and slowly, he closed his eyes.
Hmph…
In the end… he had achieved nothing.
Chu Xingchen watched as the spiritual energy fled from Luo Yue, retracted all his power, and his gaze swept across the surrounding illusions.
A human girl, Luo Yue raising his spear, the Xuanqing Tianzong promising a homeland.
These were not Luo Yue's hallucinations, but everything within the illusion.
Compared to Chu Xingchen's calm poise, Luo Yue had no room for distraction.
In the next moment, the illusion shattered completely.
On the branches, the spirit's cabin, the flowers and trees, all dispersed. Every spirit that had appeared in the illusion vanished one by one.
The tender leaves withered, the smooth bark became dry and cracked.
Only the towering great tree remained, adorned with sparse, yellowed leaves.
This had been a dream from the very beginning, a dream unique to Luo Yue.
It was the homeland he dreamed of, and within it, the people he dreamed of.
Everything had now returned to dust.
Chu Xingchen turned to look at Xie Lingyu, and upon seeing she was safe, he gave a slight nod.
Xie Lingyu flew over, her gaze falling on the dissipating Luo Yue.
After a moment of thought, she spoke:
"We don't know much about what happened back then. Though you are my enemy, I will ask the Xuanqing Tianzong about the promise they made to you."
Luo Yue sneered, his voice calm as he asked:
"And what good would that do? If they don't honor their promise, what then?"
"In the end, it's simply the victors and the vanquished. The weak have no right to question…"
Chu Xingchen interrupted, his voice cutting through:
"Do you truly think that?"
Luo Yue instinctively wanted to agree, but found he could not speak.
Everyone knew that spirits of flora were born with a gentle temperament and disliked conflict.
But they had never spared those very spirits who disliked conflict.
A one-sided peace is not peace.
Luo Yue's voice grew low as he asked, "What can be done?"
In this world without a homeland, we drift with the wind.
A thousand years is far, far too long for a spirit.
As if a gentle breeze had passed, the yellow leaves of the great tree began to drift down.
The one holding the trump card had always been the Xuanqing Tianzong, not him.
From the very beginning, he had no room to struggle.
He had no leverage for negotiation, having left almost everything in his physical body.
From the moment of his birth, his fate had been in the hands of others.
Luo Yue had no leverage, so the only thing he could do was to fight one last time.
But just as before, he still could not win.
Luo Yue had gambled that the Xuanqing Tianzong would keep its promise, his hope resting on the [Master] from their first encounter.
She was so, so good, so good that Luo Yue would always hesitate…
Are there still good people in this world?
He lost his bet. The Xuanqing Tianzong did not keep its promise.
And there were no more good people left.
If that is the case, then let everything be destroyed.
Luo Yue opened his eyes, a brilliant light beginning to bloom from them.
But in the next moment, he stopped his action.
Xie Lingyu pressed a piece of white jade against Luo Yue's chest.
"What can be done?" Xie Lingyu answered. "That is a question for after we have done something!"
Hmph…
Luo Yue let out a soft laugh.
He had lost his bet again.
Perhaps there are still good people.
If he hadn't been deceived.
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