As time went by, Bu Tianhan realized that Gu Xiyu didn’t care whether he hit him accurately or not, or whether he swung at him to cause damage, it was as if he really just wanted to show him how far he had come in his cultivation.
[[Target’s risk value is now 95.]]
With this notification, Gu Xiyu also swung out the 17th level of the techniques just in time. It was unknown if Bu Tianhan was lucky or intentionally avoided the attacks, but for some reason, the damage he received after such a huge shower of spiritual energy was not fatal.
Compared to the calm white-clothed Daoist, whose robe wasn’t in the least bit messy, the great demon was covered in cuts, and the long hair messily draped over his body looked a little downcast.
The great demon slowly rose from the sandy ground with tremendous effort.
Gu Xiyu held his sword in his hand, its body still shining with a dazzling white-gold stream of light, its spiritual energy obviously still coalescing with his hand movements. This meant that the seventeenth level was not the end, and he was planning to swing his sword again. However, he did not move immediately; instead, he deliberately paused and locked eyes with Bu Tianhan, who was looking at him in a dazed manner.
After a long silence, Bu Tianhan asked gloomily, “Gu Xiyu, have you really not had any feelings for me?” The hysteria underneath his voice was almost impossible to hide.
But Gu Xiyu smiled silently again and continued his movements.
[[The target’s risk value is now 96.]]
[[The target’s risk value is now 97.]]
The risk value rose by one point with each deeper move he made.
[[The target is now at 98.]]
If there were people around the mountain at this moment, they would have seen the legendary 18th level of the fusion of the two main techniques of the emotionless Dao, and seen what it was like.
Instead of the sharpness of the first seventeen levels, the spiritual energy was melted into soft waves of water, making the body feel as if it was being caressed by soft, flowing clouds. The dots of gold floating in the white light were particularly similar to the clouds of light that covered the entire mountain when Gu Xiyu made his breakthrough that day.
This was undoubtedly the kind of energy that orthodox cultivators liked the most—pure, flawless, and serene—and what demon cultivators hated the most.
Bu Tianhan’s eyes went wide as he watched the light flying from Gu Xiyu’s side. His heart hurt as if it had been pierced by a sharp claw, and it was even dripping blood.
Anyone who realizes that all the efforts they have put in for so long turned out to be nothing would feel heartbroken. What’s more, as a demon cultivator, all the desires in his heart are magnified countless times by the demon techniques he practices, so the backlash would naturally be more vicious than that of ordinary people.
The figure of the man In white was blurred by the auspicious energy, and Bu Tianhan’s eyes were bloodshot as he stared in that direction. No tears fell, and he was like a puppet waiting for the final judgment.
[[Target’s risk value is now 99.]]
The glow of spiritual energy soon spread in all directions, blending with the clouds enveloping the mountain to form beautiful haze clouds, it was a dream-like scene.
The scene was indeed like a dream, but it was a nightmare for Bu Tianhan, who touched his chest as his heart sank to a low level and broke beyond recognition. He was about to let out a cold laugh, but his voice caught in his throat when his eyes finally saw Gu Xiyu.
As the light dissipated, Gu Xiyu’s slender figure became clear again. The sword he should have been holding in his hand was plunged deep into the ground at his feet, as if it were the only way to hold his body up. His long, black-as-ink hair had turned to a silvery white that was the same color as the snow. Countless blue-white glowing lights the size of glass beads emerged from his body and gradually drifted into the air before dissipating.
From a distance, he looked like he was surrounded by blue, glowing fireflies.
As a cultivator, Bu Tianhan immediately knew what it was. It was the spiritual energy that had accumulated in Gu Xiyu’s body, and for some unknown reason, it was now draining from it.
This meant that Gu Xiyu’s half-immortal body was in a state of degeneration and death, and when the spiritual energy is completely gone, he will be reduced to a mortal.
But because the dao is broken, his body will decline further, and then he will die.
Bu Tianhan didn’t understand the cause and effect of all this, but his body instinctively ran towards Gu Xiyu and held the slender body, which was about to lose its footing, becoming its new ‘support’.
Gu Xiyu didn’t refuse his embrace and even let go of his tense body as he was held by him, smiling at Bu Tianhan again.
Bu Tianhan’s heart tightened, and he asked blankly, “…… What did you do?”
His voice was tinged with an uncontrollable tremble, and he even stretched out one of his hands to try to retrieve the spiritual energy that kept draining out of Gu Xiyu’s body. But those blue-white points of light disappeared even faster after being held in his raised hand.
“You are suspicious by nature, all thanks to past experiences, I don’t blame you.” The person in his arms finally spoke.
Gu Xiyu used the little strength he had left to try to stay awake and say: “I know that even if I gave you countless answers and promises, you wouldn’t believe them. If you can’t get past that knot in your heart, you will always have that trace of suspicion towards me, and my mission in this world will not be completed.”
Bu Tianhan’s fingers twitched, and he subconsciously asked, “What mission?”
Gu Xiyu replied very calmly, “The one written on the system panel, you can see it, can’t you?”
Bu Tianhan did not expect Gu Xiyu to be so generous as to admit the existence of the system to him. He thought that everything was well hidden and asked back in shock, “…… When did you know?” When did you know that I could also see the panel?
Gu Xiyu’s eyes reflected the haze clouds that had not yet completely dissipated around him, and he replied in a soft voice, “I don’t know, I probably found out a long time ago.”
Bu Tianhan thought that Gu Xiyu was referring to the time he had just arrived in this world.
However, Gu Xiyu had already discovered this as early as a few worlds ago, but he could not remember exactly which world it was. Many coincidences and the system’s odd reactions and conversations were suspicious. Besides, which mission executor really goes on a relationship strategy with the great demon?
The bound Intelligent system actually had background coding settings for emergencies, and as long as he used these permissions, he could always fix the accident where the subsystem was bound with the mission target as well. Then the soul fragment would be reincarnated through the control of the world consciousness, the mission could be started all over again, and everything could be put back on track.
But in the end, he subconsciously ignored these flaws, not even knowing why he was doing it.
Perhaps the subconscious mind hadn’t wanted to sever this link between them then.
After a few moments of contemplation, Gu Xiyu added: “I’ve thought about it for a long time, about the best way to answer your question.”
Bu Tianhan paused and quickly realized that his so-called question was the one he had asked in desperation: whether he had no feelings for him.
Sensing the growing weakness of the man in his arms, Bu Tianhan hugged him in a crouching position so that he could lean against him more easily.
As the hem of his clothes spread out on the ground, Gu Xiyu looked up at him, his eyes as calm as ever: “This is my answer.”
Gu Xiyu had returned to the Tiansu Immortal Sect because he wanted to study the 18th level of the Emotionless Dao, after all, he had been stuck there for a long time. He remained in seclusion for a long time and finally discovered that the seventeenth level of these two techniques was already the limit and that the so-called eighteenth was just a small continuation of the seventeenth.
The reason for the legend that the 18th level was the true completion was because it was the final test of success or failure. A cultivator who can complete the emotionless dao must have given up all feelings and desires in his heart.
The eighteenth level requires the cultivator to cut off the last attachment to this world. To Gu Xiyu, the Great Demon was the only being who could prevent him from completely completing the dao. If he could kill him, then he could become a true immortal, break through this cultivation world, and directly ascend to higher dimensions.
Conversely, if he gambled everything he had cultivated earlier and still could not cut off his attachment, then he would lose all his previous achievements, break off the emotionless Dao, lose all his cultivation and spiritual power, and die the moment all his spiritual power dissipates.
His answer to Bu Tianhan’s question was clear, and the blood on his face faded as he understood his actions.
Gu Xiyu was still saying, “It was me who attacked those people in the cultivation world these few days, they bullied you before.”
“Bu Mingfeng, who put you in such a situation, is already dead, so he has already suffered the consequences.”
“Lin Wuhen is annoying, so I whipped him before I came over and ruined his foundation, he will never have a chance to cultivate again. I also found the crystal Yue Jingfang had hidden away to make his evil deeds known to the world.”
He lowered his eyes, his long, thick eyelashes fluttering lightly against the wind, and whispered, “The revenge that the world consciousness does not allow you to do, I completed it for you.”
Looking at the spiritual power that was still draining out of his body, he said in a solemn tone once again, “This is my answer to your question.”
Bu Tianhan’s hands holding Gu Xiyu tightened, and he lowered his head and did not speak. The hair on his forehead and temples fell due to his movements, hiding the expression on his face at the moment.
Because he could not trust Gu Xiyu’s feelings for him no matter what he said and could not get past the knots in his heart, Gu Xiyu used this extreme method to prove it to him.
There was nothing more direct than this: because Gu Xiyu loved him, he could not keep his persona or complete the emotionless dao that required leaving everything behind and destroying any attachments.
Bu Tianhan didn’t say anything after knowing the truth, but the risk value that was so close to reaching the peak of 100 fell at an ebbing speed.
It fell all the way to 0 points.
[[Congratulations to the mission executor for completing the mission in this world, you can prepare to leave at any time.]]
Gu Xiyu’s mood did not fluctuate in the slightest, and he still had a calm expression, as if he had expected such an outcome.
The main system, which was far away in another realm, was shocked by his actions too, and only after a long silence did it calmly say, [[So you are the real lunatic.]]
Gu Xiyu smiled and replied, “I didn’t say I was a normal person either.”
The grief-stricken Bu Tianhan had lost his voice, and it wasn’t until Gu Xiyu felt something warm dripping down on his face, and he looked up that he realized that the proud great demon had lines of tears sliding down from the corners of his eyes.
Bu Tianhan opened his mouth, but he still seemed unable to make a sound; only the shattered look in his eyes declared the pain in his heart. He could only reach out and hold the person in his arms tighter, burying his head deep into Gu Xiyu’s shoulder, and was unable to calm down for a long time.
When Bu Tianhan finally managed to find his voice, the first thing he said was, “You hit me so hard.”
Some of the bruises on his body that Gu Xiyu had made had already started to scab over, while others were still dripping blood, and his body was filled with the strong smell of blood.
Gu Xiyu gave a light chuckle and said, “Aren’t you still alive?”
“I knew exactly what I was doing.”
However, the sadness that permeated Bu Tianhan’s entire being became even heavier when he heard his words.
“But you’re dying.” He sounded like a helpless child, racking his brains to keep him behind, only to find that he could do nothing at the moment.
He suddenly regretted It a little, wondering if his usual possessiveness toward Gu Xiyu was too strong or if the unease in his heart had accidentally caught up with him. If he needed to face such a result to get an answer that would give him such peace of mind, he would rather never know the answer.
“I don’t want answers, I just want you to be with me.” He said it through clenched teeth as he lowered his head.
The vitality of the person in his arms was getting weaker and weaker, and he seemed to be on the verge of running out of strength to speak. Sensing that this person was likely to leave this world soon, his tone became slightly anxious: “How do I find you? How do I get to see you again?!”
“Birth, old age, sickness, and death… just go through the normal process, and we will meet.” Gu Xiyu spoke in a light-hearted manner.
[[It is detected that the vitality of the mission executor’s body is reaching its limit, and the state of the soul is unstable. The central system has opened the emergency disengagement procedure from the world.]]
[[The disengagement procedure is ready, the teleportation of the mission executor will now begin.]
Gu Xiyu, who was in Bu Tianhan’s arms, suddenly raised his hand and hooked his neck, kissing him at the corner of his mouth before he could react.
This was the first time in all the time he had been with Gu Xiyu that he had seen him take the initiative to make such an intimate gesture, and a playful smile slipped through the beautiful eyes, causing him to freeze for a moment.
Gu Xiyu whispered a few words in his ear, then the hand hooked around the back of his neck suddenly lost all its strength and fell back.
Bu Tianhan didn’t dare to look up and see the last of Gu Xiyu’s spiritual energy dissipate, and he could only keep his original position and hold the man tightly in his arms for a long time.
“Birth, old age, sickness, and death ……” he repeated these words, and out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly glanced at the sword that Gu Xiyu had inserted beside him.
“Death…”
The golden-white stream of light dispersed from the high mountain enveloped in clouds. A flock of immortal cranes fluttered their wings and flew into the clouds, then quickly flew out of them again as if startled, and leisurely flew in a more distant direction.
Lu Cheng, who wanted to find Gu Xiyu and ask him about what was going on, arrived late, and when he landed on the mountain, he only saw Bu Tianhan, who was holding the white-clothed daoist master, whose eyes were tightly closed and his body devoid of life. The Daoist master’s long sword had pierced Bu Tianhan’s body, and the blood that flowed from his body was soaked into his dark robe, so it was impossible to tell how much he had bled.
The most frightening thing was that the pupil of his right eye had lost its bright red color and turned to a white that was similar to that of the Daoist master’s robes. There was a trail of blood sliding down from it, drawing a long, bloodstain on his fair cheek.
When most people talk about the demon seed in Bu Tianhan, their first thought is that it is fused with his yuanshen or is in his dantian. The demon seed was hidden in his right eye, and aside from Gu Xiyu, he was the only one who could destroy it.
Lu Cheng was startled by this scene, and only after getting closer did he realize that Bu Tianhan was still alive, only his breath was weak, and he looked like he was dying soon.
The scene looked like two people had killed each other, but Lord Tai Ling had no injuries on his body, and he was snuggled in Bu Tianhan’s arms in an intimate manner, which confused him.
Lu Cheng’s face turned white, and his heart ached.
One was his beloved master, and the other was his beloved junior, how could he let them go in such a way? When he thought back to the good old days on the Immortal Peak, although there were only three of them, he thought that this peace and happiness would continue for a long time.
But the reality was so cruel.
Lu Cheng’s lips moved, but he didn’t know what to say at this time. He was even a little afraid of the dire consequences of startling Bu Tianhan at this moment.
But to his surprise, this great demon, whom everyone feared, suddenly opened his mouth and said, “Thank you, Senior Brother Lu.”
His mouth seemed to be filled with blood, so his voice sounded a little slurred and hoarse. Lu Cheng was stunned to hear this, and although he didn’t say anything, his eyes were red.
There was nothing left for Bu Tianhan in this world, a world that had been full of malice towards him not long after he was born, and there had never been anyone close to him. Lu Cheng was not like the people he had met, and he was not someone greedy for life and afraid of death.
His change was all due to Gu Xiyu, but there was no denying that he had been well looked after during the time he was Lu Cheng’s junior brother.
At least now, when he thought back, the world wasn’t entirely that bad.
The corners of Bu Tianhan’s lips curled upward very shallowly, the luster in his eyes dissipating as the last breath of his life dissipated. Gu Xiyu’s whisper before he left still seemed to be playing in his ears, deeply embedded in his soul.
He said, “Tai Ling is a qualified emotionless dao practitioner, but Gu Xiyu is not.”
Omg this was so intense!!! I hope Li Cheng won’t be too traumatized 😭
Thanks for the translation btw! It’s awesome and so are you 😀
OH YM GOD AYO WHAT HAPPEND IM SO CONFUSED LMFAO
omg this is random but ive been laughing at ur comments ever since i saw them lmao
im talking abt bread upstairs LMAO but thank you for the great translation <3
Aiyo QwQ the only arc for them to depart in a more tragic way. Poor protag 😭 master and junior brother gone and now part of the remnants of patching up the world. Even the demons lost their leader. Headless flies.
So mc knew system ml all along 😆
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