Crimson_Lore
patreon
Chapter 57: Blank
🕑 Added 2025-04-07 09:18:18 +0000 UTCGu Baiyi's voice was soft, her gaze calm.
Yet beneath this serenity, her back remained straight as a sword. Though her eyes were fixed on Mei Lixue, it felt as if she were looking past her, gazing into the vast sky beyond.
From within the black clouds, a crack split open, unleashing a blinding golden light. It resembled a vertical pupil, cold and imperious as it surveyed the world below.
Ji Rong followed Gu Baiyi’s gaze and lifted her head, staring up at the sky where light and shadow intertwined.
For some reason, a strange sense of familiarity washed over her.
Just then, Mei Lixue shook her head and said indifferently, "There is no reason. If the Heavenly Dao decrees that you should not exist, then you simply should not exist."
Gu Baiyi smiled slightly. "So I should just accept my fate and walk to my death without resistance?"
"And what else could you possibly do?" Mei Lixue looked down at her from above and spoke in a low voice. "Do you actually think you can defy the Heavenly Dao?"
"I have no intention of defying it. But if the Heavenly Dao demands my disappearance, I refuse to comply. I exist for myself, not to live or die by its will."
Gu Baiyi’s voice remained tranquil as she slowly declared, "If the Heavenly Dao does not accept me, then I will forsake it and embrace the demonic path."
"If I do not follow the Heavenly Dao, how can it destroy me?"
Her words sent shockwaves through the training grounds.
Disciples from both Xiaoyao Sect and Tianyin Division stared at her in stunned disbelief.
She must have a death wish.
Even the previous Demon Lord, Chu Changli, a figure reviled for countless sins had never dared to utter the words "forsake the Dao and embrace the demonic path" before the righteous sects.
Ji Rong stood still, watching the lone figure beneath the platform.
Gu Baiyi was utterly alone, a lamb seemingly awaiting slaughter.
Yet her expression remained eerily composed, as if she had long transcended life and death. In that moment, she did not seem like a condemned demon awaiting judgment, but rather the one passing judgment on the Heavenly Dao itself.
A long silence followed, and then Mei Lixue smiled.
Her smile was neither warm nor beautiful, but her voice was soft. "You... are quite brave. A pity this is as far as you go."
As soon as the words left her lips, she raised her sword and slashed down at Gu Baiyi without hesitation.
That strike carried the radiance of the heavens.
Golden light flooded the inscribed blade, cascading down like a torrential downpour upon Gu Baiyi.
Ji Rong’s pupils contracted as she recognized the technique.
Mei Lixue’s strike was "Holy Light Rain," a purging technique of the Divine Sect. Harmless to ordinary cultivators, but lethal to those on the demonic path.
Ye Yizhou furrowed his brows, preparing to draw his sword, but Gong Yu snapped at him, "Elder Ye, are you truly willing to defy the Heavenly Dao for a forsaken one? Do you not fear losing all your martial arts and becoming a cripple?"
Ye Yizhou’s expression remained unchanged. He replied coldly, "Even if I become a cripple, I refuse to be a puppet of the Divine Sect."
With that, he leapt into the air and swung his sword down at Mei Lixue, only for his strike to be blocked by a whisk.
An elder with a head of silver hair stood solemnly before him—Shen Mingyun. Though his cultivation was lower than Ye Yizhou’s, the sheer force of the attack made him cough up blood. Yet he merely shook his head and said, "Yizhou, you mustn’t."
He did not mean that Gu Baiyi couldn’t be saved, but that they could not go against the Heavenly Dao.
Those who defied it never met a good end.
"Elder Shen, you—!" Ye Yizhou seethed with rage, but it was too late. He could only watch as the golden light descended upon Gu Baiyi.
She looked up at the radiant flood, unflinching.
Gold light poured down like a waterfall.
Within the dazzling brilliance, a crimson lotus mark surfaced on her neck, and a flicker of red gleamed in her eyes.
Gu Baiyi raised her demon-tainted hand, forming a defensive seal, only to be abruptly tackled by a blur of white.
She froze, staring in shock at Ji Rong, who had thrown herself into her arms. The red glow in her eyes gradually faded.
The dark aura around her hands surged violently, burning the delicate silk robes upon contact.
Light rained down like scattered fireflies, reflecting off Ji Rong’s robes like countless shattered stars.
The woman in her arms looked indifferent, yet her brow furrowed slightly with anger as she spoke in a cold voice. "Gu Baiyi, are you trying to die?"
Gu Baiyi had lived two lifetimes but had never seen a shooting star in daylight.
She gazed at the falling light, parted her lips, and murmured a seemingly unrelated question. "Senior Sister, do you know what I was just thinking about?"
Ji Rong was stunned. Of all the absurd things, so many people were trying to kill her, and she still had time for idle thoughts?
Gu Baiyi continued, "I was thinking... even if I had died just now, I wouldn’t have had any regrets."
Far from being moved, Ji Rong wanted to slap her awake. Wake up, beauty! This is not the time for dramatics!
You might not want to live, but I certainly do!
With an exasperated huff, she snapped, "Enough nonsense. If you're still alive, then live properly."
Gu Baiyi chuckled and nodded.
Watching their casual exchange, Mei Lixue’s expression darkened with irritation.
She finally lost her patience and snapped at Ji Rong, "Where did you come from? How dare you defy the Heavenly Dao?"
"The Heavenly Dao?" Ji Rong had long found this second-hand-pocket-watch-wearing woman insufferable. She smiled and asked, "Why is it that disagreeing with you means defying the Heavenly Dao?"
"You help a demon. Is that not defiance?"
Ji Rong shook her head and slowly said, "Then by that logic, you could call me a demon as well."
Mei Lixue’s expression remained unreadable, failing to grasp her meaning.
Ji Rong merely smiled and added, "If anyone you call a demon is a demon, doesn’t that make the Heavenly Dao look rather weak?"
A hush fell over the training grounds.
Then, somewhere among the crowd, a disciple let out an uncontrollable snort.
Laughter rippled through the audience. Some even disregarded the elders' warnings, openly mocking, "The Divine Sect’s Saintess sure has some nerve. Does she think the Heavenly Dao follows her whims?"
"Hah! No kidding. If I ever offend her, will she just declare me a demon, too?"
"So the Heavenly Dao takes orders from the Divine Sect now? What an eye-opener!"
As the ridicule grew sharper, Mei Lixue’s face darkened.
She had long withdrawn from worldly affairs, never realizing how ignorant mortals had become.
Ji Rong exhaled slowly. The tide was turning. Victory seemed within reach.
But just as she thought the situation was improving, a deafening crack of thunder echoed through the mountains.
Lightning roared like a collapsing sky, striking down toward Gu Baiyi.
These bolts carried an unstoppable force, locking onto her with pinpoint accuracy.
In a desperate move, Gu Baiyi activated "Vanishing Moon," shifting to the far end of the platform to shield Ji Rong from the blast.
But the lightning, as if sentient, twisted in pursuit, unrelenting.
With no escape, Gu Baiyi lifted her sword and unleashed "Three Paths to Forgetfulness."
Hellfire surged toward the lightning, only to be effortlessly crushed.
The heavens howled, the storm bearing down upon her.
For the first time, Gu Baiyi felt her soul being torn apart.
Ji Rong's mind went blank as the system’s alert blared in her ears.
[Warning! Warning! Detected a 99% chance of the heroine's death—]
"Damn it, why didn't you bring it?"
Ji Rong was on the verge of breaking down. Damn this heroine. Damn this storyline. How the hell was the villain supposed to survive at this rate?
Blood trickled from Gu Baiyi's lips, yet she only whispered softly, "Because... I never planned to live."
"As long as Senior Sister holds me one last time... I'm already happy."
Ji Rong couldn't take it anymore. "Shut up! Just tell me where the pendant is!"
She was speechless. Who the hell starts spouting nonsense at a life-or-death moment? Just because you're the heroine doesn't mean you have to mimic those awful TV tropes! Say something useful, damn it!
"...It's at Kuaixue Residence."
Kuaixue Residence was at the peak of Tianji Peak. Ji Rong knew the route like the back of her hand; she didn’t even need to use her divine sense to navigate.
Without hesitation, she leaped onto her sword and commanded, "Qinghe, move!"
Mei Lixue snapped out of her daze and saw Ji Rong carrying Gu Baiyi while soaring through the air. Without hesitation, she stepped onto her own sword and chased after them.
Ye Yizhou frowned and was just about to take off after them—
But Gong Yu stepped in his way, blocking his path. In a calm voice, she said, "Elder Ye, if you want to save Gu Baiyi, you'll have to get past me first."
...
Ji Rong had never flown this fast in her life.
She felt like she was turning into a streak of lightning, yet Mei Lixue was still relentlessly pursuing her from behind.
Just as Ji Rong reached the peak of Tianji Peak, a sword strike came at her from behind.
She twisted mid-air, holding onto Gu Baiyi as she narrowly dodged the slash.
But Mei Lixue immediately followed up with another strike. Ji Rong had no choice but to push Gu Baiyi away and stand her ground to evade the attack.
Gu Baiyi was sent flying by the force of Ji Rong’s push. She managed to avoid the strike, but the impact nearly sent her over the cliff. Half her body dangled off the edge as she coughed up a mouthful of blood.
On the other side, Mei Lixue remained emotionless as she launched a barrage of strikes at Ji Rong.
Ji Rong couldn't dodge them all. She raised her sword and forcefully blocked, but the impact drove her to her knees.
Mei Lixue had struck first, leaving Ji Rong with no chance to counter. The force was unbearable, her palms were covered in blood, and Qinghe Sword was knocked from her grasp.
Mei Lixue looked down at Ji Rong, indifferent. "Gong Yu forbids me from killing you, but if you dare to stand in my way again, I’ll cripple you."
Ji Rong gasped for breath as she lay on the ground. Hah. Did this brat think she was scared? She was a villain determined to survive until the end!
Mei Lixue saw Ji Rong’s mocking expression and shook her head. Without hesitation, she raised her sword, preparing to strike Ji Rong down and shatter all her meridians.
Just as she swung—
An arrow, tipped with feathers, sliced through the air and struck her in the back.
Paralysis spread through her body. Mei Lixue’s face twisted in disbelief.
As she collapsed into unconsciousness, she turned to see who had attacked her—
A flash of red entered her vision.
Her last thought before darkness consumed her: How could it be him…?
…
Ji Rong finally saw the person standing behind Mei Lixue.
Dressed in crimson robes like flowing blood, the newcomer slowly lowered a poisoned sleeve arrow and smiled. "Senior Sister, are you alright?"
Ji Rong was stunned. What the hell? Why was Xie Bai here?
Xie Bai seemed to read her thoughts. He smiled mischievously. "Senior Sister must be wondering why I'm here and why I saved you, right?"
He approached her, crouching down with a troubled expression. "Ah, well, it’s not that I wanted to. I was simply fulfilling someone else's request."
Without waiting for her reaction, Xie Bai turned to Gu Baiyi. He raised his sword, chuckling. "Senior Sister Gu, I apologize in advance."
Then, with a smile still on his face, he drove his sword toward Gu Baiyi’s heart.
Ji Rong was too late to stop him. All she saw was red splattering through the air.
Xie Bai watched as Gu Baiyi's body trembled violently in pain, yet his expression remained unchanged. He said lightly, "The elder was right, one strike won’t be enough to kill you. Looks like I’ll have to try a few more."
He lifted his sword again, but this time, Qinghe Sword blocked his strike.
Xie Bai’s gaze darkened as he looked at Ji Rong standing protectively in front of Gu Baiyi. With a frown, he struck her with his palm.
A surge of true energy hit Ji Rong, knocking her away. Blood trickled from her lips. This… This wasn’t a power that someone in the Spiritual Communication Realm should possess.
Xie Bai gazed at her with pity. "Ah, I forgot to tell you, Senior Sister. I’ve been alive for decades. I reached the peak of the Riding the Wind Realm long ago. I only suppressed my cultivation to play along with you all."
His smile deepened. "I’ve been waiting for this moment for too long. Don’t waste your strength, Senior Sister. Just watch quietly."
Ji Rong’s face remained expressionless, but inside, she was seething. Damn that game designer! Did they write this plot with their feet?!
Xie Bai ignored her and turned back to Gu Baiyi, raising his sword once more.
Just as he was about to strike, a calm voice spoke behind him.
"Junior Brother Xie, who said I was going to help Gu Baiyi?"
Xie Bai paused mid-step. His brows lifted in intrigue as he turned toward Ji Rong.
Oh? This was getting interesting.
Gu Baiyi, covered in blood, also looked up at Ji Rong through a haze of red.
Ji Rong’s expression was indifferent as she slowly stood. "Gu Baiyi poisoned me before. You think I’d save her?"
Xie Bai blinked, then laughed, clapping his hands.
"Interesting. Then, what exactly do you want, Senior Sister?" He smiled playfully. "I’m all ears."
Ji Rong’s voice was slow, filled with arrogance. "I brought Gu Baiyi here because I didn’t want Mei Lixue to finish her off too easily."
"Stabbing her to death would be too kind. I want her to be torn to pieces, leaving no remains behind."
Gu Baiyi stared at Ji Rong, searching for any hint of hesitation.
But all she saw was cold arrogance and hatred. Nothing else.
"Oh?" Xie Bai’s smile grew. "So you truly hate her to the core?"
"Of course."
Xie Bai chuckled, his gaze unreadable.
Then, he sheathed his sword. "I understand that feeling. So, Senior Sister, I’ll let you have the honors."
He stepped aside.
Gu Baiyi, covered in blood, looked straight at Ji Rong.
Ji Rong approached, meeting Gu Baiyi’s gaze.
Her eyes were beautiful, filled with shattered yet defiant light.
Ji Rong didn’t have a particular fondness for such things. She only saw… calmness.
If she followed the game’s script, pushing Gu Baiyi off the cliff wouldn't necessarily kill her. The heroine had a Phoenix Totem protecting her.
But if she fell into Xie Bai’s hands… If he failed to kill her outright and handed her over to that so-called "Elder"—
Then Gu Baiyi would be truly dead.
Seeing Ji Rong hesitate, Xie Bai’s smirk deepened.
Ji Rong gritted her teeth, steeled herself, and without a trace of hesitation—
She kicked Gu Baiyi off the cliff.
![blue[k]nights from fantia](https://patrefans.com/kistorage/49226.jpg)
