Even though the truth had come to light and everyone knew Nan Zhi had been framed by Daoist Qinglong, some still suspected that the wicked treasure was on her person.
Yet, on that day, when heavenly lightning clashed with earth fire, even a Late-Stage Nascent Soul cultivator like Daoist Qinglong could not escape the fate of having his soul utterly extinguished under the heavenly lightning.
If Nan Zhi really possessed a wicked treasure that shouldn't exist in this world, how could she have obscured the heavenly secrets and escaped with her life under the divine lightning?
It was one thing for a Foundation Establishment cultivator without any sect inheritance to have some achievements in the path of formations, break the Two-Form Inversion Formation by chance, trigger the heavenly lightning, and slay a Nascent Soul cultivator across realms.
But if she also possessed a wicked treasure and still managed to survive the heavenly lightning completely unscathed, that would truly be defying heaven.
Therefore, without needing much explanation, everyone present unanimously agreed that the wicked treasure must still be with Huiyuan.
What?
Why would he still hunt down Nan Zhi if he already had the wicked treasure?
It must have been a deceptive play orchestrated by Daoist Qinglong and Huiyuan.
For now, Huiyuan had fled and his whereabouts were unknown. Although he might have already left the Great Song, there was no guarantee he wouldn't make a comeback.
It was naturally for the best that the Qingjing Sect's Ningxue Ancestor was willing to watch over the mortal realm.
The only fear was that another Daoist Qinglong would appear.
“Please rest assured, everyone. It was our Qingjing Sect's oversight in the past. Something like what happened with Daoist Qinglong will definitely never happen a second time.
Once the Northwest Circuit Demon Suppression Monastery is rebuilt, every six months, disciples from the Qingjing Sect will enter the mortal realm to temper their hearts, joining the Demon Suppression Division to do good and eradicate evil, thereby ensuring the peace of the mortal realm.”
Meifu smiled and said:
“As for that fallen immortal, our Qingjing Sect will also publicize his crimes and search for his whereabouts alongside our fellow Daoists from the Wuwei Sect.
As for that severely injured female Foundation Establishment cultivator...”
He paused, bowed to Nun Miaoyun, and said:
“Our Qingjing Sect has always cherished talent. We have heard that this young woman has remarkable aptitude. If the Demon Suppression Division is willing to let her go, she could try her hand at the Wenxian Platform during next year's sect selection.
Since she was able to break Uncle Mo's Two-Form Inversion Formation, she must have some achievements in the path of formations. Perhaps she might even hope to enter our formation lineage.”
“That will depend on her own fortune.”
Nun Miaoyun smiled slightly. She did not accept on Nan Zhi's behalf, giving only an ambiguous reply:
“She is currently severely injured...”
Meifu was quick-witted and immediately smiled. “Since this disaster was caused by our Qingjing Sect's oversight, we should naturally show our sincerity.
There is no need to report this to our Ancestor. My brother and I can make the decision to offer five hundred middle-grade spirit stones and various other cultivation materials to help this fellow Daoist recover well. How does that sound?”
Nun Miaoyun smiled and said, “I heard that the Miaoling Secret Realm will open next year. I wonder if this poor nun can be thick-skinned enough to ask for an entry token on her behalf?”
“Then how about we add a piece of high-grade Lightning Struck Spirit Marrow?”
Canzhi gritted his teeth and said, “Buddhist Master, you may not know this, but the Miaoling Secret Realm is a training ground agreed upon by the major sects for newly admitted disciples.
Although she has reached Foundation Establishment, she has not passed the Heart-Inquiry Stone, nor has she ascended the Wenxian Platform. She is not a member of our Qingjing Sect. Sending her to the Miaoling Secret Realm in the Ten Directions Mountains would truly go against the rules.”
“Rules are dead, but people are alive.”
Qiu Buguo immediately squinted and sneered mockingly, “If not for this female cultivator, who knows how much more evil karma your Grand-Uncle Qinglong would have accumulated? What, are a few cultivation resources too much? Can't you even afford to give a single entry token?
Ah, the Qingjing Sect is indeed not as generous as our Wuwei Sect.”
These words were meant to needle the two.
Although Qiu Buguo had nothing to do with that little demon suppressor, seeing the Qingjing Sect suffer a setback and speaking a few words in agreement with Nun Miaoyun wouldn't cost him anything.
Meifu and Canzhi indeed felt embarrassed. After pondering for a moment and weighing the pros and cons, they agreed.
—After all, she would join the Qingjing Sect eventually. Giving her the token in advance wouldn't result in any real loss.
Afterward, everything naturally proceeded in a harmonious and cooperative manner.
Shen Luohe and Hua Xijian, who had remained silent all along, stood on either side below, not even exchanging a single glance.
They behaved exactly like strangers.
...
Nan Zhi had no idea that a massive stroke of luck was about to land on her lap. She was currently standing on a hill outside Dingyuan, watching Nan Yi's coffin being buried from afar.
According to the local customs of Dingyuan, if someone suffered a violent death, their coffin had to be kept at home for seven days before burial. Otherwise, their soul might remain restless, preventing them from reincarnating after death.
“Toot, toot, toot—”
“Wulala, wuwuwula—”
There were not many people in the funeral procession. About twenty young men played wind and percussion instruments along the way, lowering the coffin containing Nan Yi's body into the ground. It was only when the yellow earth was shoveled over it and Chen Jingui's heart-wrenching wails rang out that Nan Zhi snapped back to her senses.
“My son!”
“My Brother Yi! How could you leave us behind and go like this!”
“You are so cruel!!”
The gray-haired Chen Jingui seemed to have aged ten years overnight. Her eyes were red, and she could no longer even shed tears, only able to wail hoarsely.
Nan Dazhuang had thinned down significantly. His clothes hung loosely on his frame, and a thick hemp rope was tied around his waist. The hastily made mourning clothes and shoes were brand new.
Their child lay inside the coffin.
The people around them tried to comfort them, but the couple turned a deaf ear, staring intently at the coffin, hoping that the baby-faced youth would return.
—Fearing that the existence of the Mayfly Wood would be leaked, when Nan Zhi brought Nan Yi's body back, she only claimed that he had died due to the disaster caused by Daoist Qinglong.
Hua Xijian had secretly told Nan Zhi that the Demon Suppression Division possessed pills that could make people forget, and many demon suppressors would give them to their families before their deaths.
She had refused.
Immortal Danxia's life was already full of tragedy. If even his incarnation as “Nan Yi” was forgotten, it would be far too sorrowful.
“Eldest Sister...”
Nan Ye, clad in mourning hemp, held onto a willow tree and softly called out to Nan Zhi:
“Eldest Sister, are you alright? Eldest Brother is about to be buried. Why don't you go and send him off? When we were young, he loved spending time with you the most...
Now, now that he's gone, I'm sure he would want you to send him off.”
“No need.”
Nan Zhi shook her head.
The one lying in the coffin was not Nan Yi, but merely a corpse covered in paper skin.
Nan Yi was no longer in this world.
Moreover, Chen Jingui and Nan Dazhuang probably did not wish to see her at this moment either.
On the day she brought Nan Yi's body home, Chen Jingui and Nan Dazhuang had immediately fainted. Upon waking, they were in a daze, still believing it to be a dream.
Since that day, the two had managed Nan Yi's funeral, washing their faces with tears daily. They refused to say a single word to Nan Zhi, and their eyes held a faint trace of resentment that perhaps they themselves hadn't even realized.
“Aren't you an immortal? Why couldn't you protect him?”
“Why didn't you send Brother Yi away with us back then?”
“Why is it that you returned, but your brother is dead?”
“Aren't immortals supposed to protect mortals? We have never done anything wrong in our lives, so why do we have to suffer this?”
Without them saying a word, Nan Zhi could easily guess their thoughts.
Human nature was complex. Although she could understand the couple's thoughtless words born of extreme grief, Nan Zhi could vaguely sense that:
A barrier had ultimately formed between them.
Yet, surprisingly, although she felt a sense of loss, she was not particularly heartbroken.
Perhaps from the moment she drove that needle in, Nan Zhi had already foreseen today's outcome.
“Eldest Sister, I know you're sad. Father and Mother didn't mean it, so please don't hold a grudge against them.”
Nan Ye shed tears as she took Nan Zhi's hand:
“I know it must have been incredibly difficult for you to send us away that day. That Temple Master Qinglong was so powerful that even the entire Demon Suppression Division combined was no match for him. For you to return alive is already a blessing from heaven.
How can we blame you for Eldest Brother's death? It's just that Father and Mother are currently out of their minds with grief, harboring resentment toward immortals, and grouping you in with them...”
“I have already arranged everything. The Demon Suppression Division has its assessments next year. If you wish to seek immortality, you can secure a position as a clerk and take things slow.
I know you are smart and reliable. The money and pills I left at home will be enough for you to cultivate to the Foundation Establishment stage, and there are also two self-defense dharma treasures. That should be sufficient for you.”
Nan Zhi gently embraced her younger sister and wiped away her tears:
“When I am not around, take good care of the family. If there is an emergency, go to the Demon Suppression Division. If there is a life-threatening crisis, crush the communication talisman I left behind.
Sister Ye, no one in this world is entirely reliable. Just remember one thing: the Grand Dao of cultivation lies beneath your feet. Only by walking through it and wading through it step-by-step can you truly possess it.”
“Eldest Sister, you're leaving? Where are you going? You're going to seek immortality, aren't you?”
Sensing something, Nan Ye's breathing quickened, and her eyes welled with tears:
“You... Eldest Sister... will you ever come back?”
Nan Zhi did not speak, only looking at her with a gentle and peaceful gaze.
After a long while, Nan Ye understood. Her lips trembled a few times, but in the end, she could not bring herself to ask her to stay.
No wonder everyone said that the Grand Dao was ruthless.
She watched from afar as Nan Zhi's figure vanished into the clouds, the tears on her face flowing even faster.
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