Tang Xiaoqi's silently flowing hero's tears didn't last long. The cool teardrops traced his cheeks, falling onto the clean ground beneath his feet, splashing subtle wet marks, also as if waking up his mind immersed in grief. He suddenly closed his eyes, deeply breathing in the pure but slightly cool spiritual energy in the grand hall, forcibly pressing the surging emotions back into his heart's depths.
Now was not the time to indulge in sorrow.
Although the Demonic Lord was destroyed, its core lair entrenched for a hundred years still remained with large amounts of pure demonic energy and filthy energy, especially those demonized earth veins. If not thoroughly handled, sooner or later this area would be polluted again, even breeding new evils. The allied forces outside were celebrating victory, but they didn't know the specific situation in this demon palace depths. The aftermath work must begin immediately.
He opened his eyes. The grief in his pupils was replaced by a calm determination. Wiping away the tear tracks on his face, he again sensed the power merged with the Green Lotus origin within him. Although his mind was greatly depleted, that vast purification power still flowed like a tame river, obeying his dispatch.
He slowly walked toward the grand hall's center. That was where the blood pool had been, also the area with the densest demonic energy. Even though the blood pool had been evaporated dry and the demon body dissipated, the ground and air still pervaded a deep-to-the-bone cold and filth. Ordinary cultivators staying here long would definitely be eroded.
Xiao Qi raised both hands, palms down, needing no complex spell formula, only a thought. The World-Purifying Green Lotus phantom behind him appeared again. Although not as brilliant as when it bloomed in rage, it still radiated gentle and firm green light. With his will, the Green Lotus phantom gently swayed, shedding even denser, more condensed green light rain, like sweet rain, precisely covering every corner of the grand hall, especially those core areas with residual demonic energy.
Sizzle sizzle sizzle—!
Even finer but continuous purification sounds rose. Those imperceptible demonic energy patterns on the ground disappeared in the green light as if burned away; that uncomfortable cold feeling in the air was rapidly dispersed, replaced by a warm vitality; even those most deeply demonized earth vein nodes, under the green light's continuous penetration, began to slowly shed their black color, faintly revealing the earth's original thick luster.
This was not the violent sweeping of the previous ultimate purification, but a more detailed, more enduring "cleaning" and "disinfecting." Xiao Qi was like a patient gardener, using Green Lotus power as a shovel, bit by bit restoring this deeply polluted land to its original pure appearance.
Just as Xiao Qi was focused on purification work, cautious footsteps and spiritual power fluctuations came from the destroyed entrance of the Demon Palace's grand hall.
First to step in was Eldest Senior Brother Mu Qingfeng. He still maintained his steadiness, but the barely concealed excitement and concern in his eyes showed his inner restlessness. Behind him followed several alliance elders and elite cultivators, as well as some fellow daoists skilled in arrays and medical cultivation.
The moment they entered the grand hall, they were shocked by the peaceful pure scene so different from the imagined demon lair, and even more attracted by that Green Lotus phantom hovering in the air, slowly shedding purification light rain, and that calm busy figure below the phantom.
"Xiao Qi!" Mu Qingfeng quickly stepped forward, his voice carrying an imperceptible tremor. His gaze rapidly swept over Xiao Qi. After confirming that although his breath was somewhat weak, there was no life-threatening danger, he slightly let out a breath. His sight then landed on the unconscious Liu Yun in the corner, the injured Zhao Tiezhu and others, his face immediately sinking. "Junior Sister Liu and the others..."
"Eldest Senior Brother." Xiao Qi stopped his purification, turning around, a tired smile squeezing onto his face. "The Demonic Lord has been executed. Its origin is permanently sealed in the great array at this place. But... father..." his voice paused, carrying a heavy astringency, "has already dissipated in dao and soul. Third Senior Sister burned her essence blood and sword soul to sever the Demonic Lord's control over father. Her injuries are extremely heavy. Iron Pillar, Crown Prince Ao Qin, Second Senior Brother all have significant injuries."
Mu Qingfeng hearing this, his body slightly shook, a flash of pain in his eyes, especially upon hearing the news of Xu Zhan's dao and soul dissipation, he heavily sighed. He patted Xiao Qi's shoulder, saying deeply: "You've worked hard, Xiao Qi. Uncle Xu's sacrifice, the alliance will never forget! Junior Sister Liu and the others' injuries, we will do our utmost to treat!"
He immediately turned, issuing orders to the medical cultivators and array masters who had followed in: "Quick! Prioritize treating True Lord Liu Yun! Stabilize Zhao Tiezhu and Crown Prince Ao Qin's injuries! Junior Brother Luo Feng's soul body needs rest. Set up the soul-gathering array! Others, assist Junior Brother Tang, thoroughly cleaning the residual demonic energy here, repairing the demonized earth veins! Must make this land show vitality again!"
With Mu Qingfeng's command, the allied personnel entering the core area immediately began operating efficiently. Cultivators skilled in treatment rapidly gathered around Liu Yun and the others. Various healing pills and nourishing arrays were deployed. Array masters began surveying the demonized earth veins, starting to set up purging and purifying arrays. Other elite cultivators, on the foundation of Xiao Qi's purification, further cleaned some edge residual demonic energy traces, and began searching for any overlooked demon beasts or dangers.
The originally dead silent Demon Palace's grand hall instantly became busy and full of vitality. Although the atmosphere still carried the post-victory heaviness and concern for the wounded, a positive, reconstruction-and-hope tone had replaced the previous despair and oppression.
Xiao Qi watching the busy scene before him, watching Eldest Senior Brother's steady commanding back, watching his companions receiving timely treatment, that cold void in his heart seemed injected with a faint warm current.
He took a deep breath, again turning around, continuing to channel Green Lotus power, even more carefully purifying this land that had borne too much pain and sacrifice.
The aftermath work had just begun. Making this cursed land be reborn was perhaps the best consolation for the departed.