Wanxi Rebirth - Chapter 86

“Heh… how laughable.”

After a brief silence, Qiongqi suddenly laughed, “You really think I can’t tell you’re just ‘selling illusions’? Even if you now understand the basics of the Law of Principles and have the cultivation of a Tribulation-Transcending practitioner—and perhaps even receive favor from Heaven—your confidence in forming an alliance… to me, it sounds no different from the dreams of a fool!”

“You can’t even put up a proper wager, so why should I abandon thousands of years of grudges and gamble alongside you?! Moreover, you only promised that you’d try to reverse time, not break the seal on the Demon Realm. That’s completely different from what I intend to do.”

“And how can you guarantee that after eliminating these so-called world-threatening forces, you’ll still have the energy to interfere with the laws of space and time?”

Black-and-red intertwined resentment swirled around Qiongqi, as if in the next second, she might strike with full force, ready to fight them to the death.

Yet precisely because of her words, Yue Tingxi knew that she was already wavering.

The fact that Qiongqi, having been a ghostly cultivator for thousands of years, still wishes to return to the past meant that even with the high-level methods of a powerful ghost cultivator, she could not restore the innocent people of Qingning City to their original state. Only by going back to the very beginning and preventing the tragedy at its source could she reclaim “the past of Qingning City.”

However, Yue Tingxi couldn’t offer a real promise at the moment, which explained Qiongqi’s hesitation.

After all, no one wants to stake everything they have for a fleeting illusion.

“My stakes may not be enough to move you,” Yue Tingxi said, “but the path you’re walking will inevitably be condemned by the world before your wish is fulfilled. If you choose to break the seal of the Demon Realm while holding such ambitions, your enemies will only become more difficult to deal with.”

“My Dao companion and I are only part of the challenge. The World Consciousness has already informed the entire human realm of some of the truth. Now, whether it’s the guardians of the Eight Great Demon Mountains or the leaders of the various immortal sects, they are all prepared to defend to the death. Even if you could sweep the human realm with a horde of corpses and ghosts, the demons and monsters who have long harbored grudges will not simply let you cleanse them to feed on their power.”

“Assist me, and at least the World Consciousness’ debt to you will be partially repaid. You once said that the human realm would fall to demon rampages, and Qingning City would become a city of the undead. Those events are inseparable from the World Consciousness initiating disaster and provoking conflict between the two races. That is its debt to you.”

Seeing that Qiongqi still hadn’t acted, Yue Tingxi continued, “Since there is a debt, when the time comes for karmic reckoning, it must be repaid. Isn’t this also a ‘sliver of hope’? Both choices are gambles—why not bet on the one with a higher chance of success and less resistance?”

Qin Suoliu stood at her side the entire time, ready to allow Huige to resist any sudden attack from Qiongqi while attentively listening to every word Yue Tingxi spoke, ready to supplement if necessary.

If she were in Qiongqi’s position, after weighing pros and cons, she would probably agree. Going against the world alone is always weak. Even a Tribulation-Transcending Great Demon would face grim outcomes, as history from thousands of years ago in the Demon Realm has proven.

She had experienced a similar scenario in a previous life.

Doing so would only expand casualties and give malicious people leverage to persecute innocent demons, without bringing any positive change to the world, nor fulfilling one’s original wish of keeping those they care for safe.

Yet, as she was not the resentful, furious city lord of Chuiyin, she merely prepared for offense and defense, making no comment or suggestion.

“If you want to see what I went through… I can show you.” Yue Tingxi pointed to her forehead. “However, if deep down you don’t recognize my attitude and stance, there’s no need to look.”

Qin Suoliu suppressed the sudden surge of emotion and restlessness in her heart.

—She couldn’t even see the past reincarnation memories, yet Yue Tingxi was willing to show them to an enemy?

“Spare me. I have no interest in pleasant memories. Painful ones, no matter how tragic, are only useful as a bargaining tool to earn an opponent’s sympathy,” Qiongqi snorted coldly. “Even though our realms are similar, I was once a Great Ascendant cultivator. If I want to kill you later, Heaven may not even save you.”

She formed a hand seal, and her resentment slowly withdrew into her body. Before long, she regained her appearance—impatient, yet comforting at a glance.

“Still, you better think carefully,” Qiongqi warned Qin Suoliu, “I have deep enmity not just with your Dao companion, but also with your current allies.”

“The current state of the Ghost Domain wasn’t solely caused by the World Consciousness; I bear some responsibility as well. After all, if I hadn’t assisted It, I couldn’t have safely remained in Its territory, and the ruins of Qingning City would never have been preserved.”

“We understand. Once we deal with our common enemy, a life-or-death duel with you can wait,” Qin Suoliu spoke proactively this time.

“Heh… then I hope you live long enough to see that day.” Qiongqi let out another cold laugh, hovering in midair as she left the chamber.

Yue Tingxi and Qin Suoliu followed. They saw her stretch out her arms, scattering countless green lights into the surroundings, which fell upon the broken walls and ruins of Qingning City.

“These are my people,” Qiongqi said. “I have already refined their corpses, turning them into entities capable of reincarnation or gathering spiritual energy. This journey is extremely dangerous; do not bring them along.”

She could even hand out karmic tokens, showing her mastery of karmic principles.

Even if she ultimately lost, leaving behind this karmic link would allow the World Consciousness to guide the innocent but deceased citizens to safe places beyond the domain.

Suddenly, Qiongqi’s human body expanded, and after a black mist cleared, she transformed into a white tiger with twin wings, landing at a height Yue Tingxi and Qin Suoliu could leap onto.

Without a word, Yue Tingxi grasped Qin Suoliu’s hand, landing steadily on the tiger’s back.

“Remember to tell your allies to wait until we return to fight,” she said.

With that, Qiongqi flapped her wings and carried them toward the White Jade Flying Vessel.

“It’s time for us to meet the World Consciousness, right?” Yue Tingxi asked Xiezhi during the journey.

Though she wasn’t sure if persuading the Chuiyin City Lord to assist was part of the World Consciousness’ plan, she believed the real enemy ahead should be dealt with while minimizing expenditure of resources.

Once the external threat was dealt with and all dust settled, personal grudges could be settled later.

“Of course, but you’ll need to reunite with your companions first and then discuss where to go,” Xiezhi replied. “That place is extremely dangerous. Even Tribulation-Transcending Great Demons must travel light and cannot bring unrelated citizens along.”

Qiongqi, having located the White Jade Flying Vessel, did not reveal her identity as a ghostly Great Demon for the time being, instead giving her old name “Chuiyin” imprinted deeply in memory.

However, once she transformed into human form and stood in the main cabin, people who could read faces—Lan Fengqing, Fifth Elder Yang Heng, Sixth Elder Liu Shuanghan, as well as Luo Yansha and the keen-eyed Bifang—immediately realized she was no ordinary person.

Yet since she was willing to carry Yue Tingxi and Qin Suoliu back, at least for now, she was an ally they could fight alongside.

“Just tell me the result,” Chuiyin casually said, sitting in a corner, arms crossed in front of her.

The others in the vessel didn’t understand, so Qin Suoliu explained:

“We have now absorbed the resentment of the Ghost Domain. Next, we face the real threat. I hope all of you return, and preferably take any adventurers with you. No one can guarantee what dangers will arise during the final battle in the Ghost Domain and its surroundings.”

“…Are we really not qualified to accompany you?” Luo Yansha asked, though she had long suspected as much.

“Even I may not be willing to take you, Tingxi,” Qin Suoliu calmly reminded, “I am already an Out-of-Body cultivator with various means of self-preservation. You cannot know how many dangers lurk in that unknown area. It’s not about being unqualified; we just want you to survive.”

“At least I’m going,” Lan Fengqing said, “I must see for myself what force turned my brother into that state!”

While waiting, she also considered her choices during the final offensive.

Defending Qingxu Sect was important—it was her parents’ legacy. After being isolated from illness by Huige, she had worked hard to improve her abilities, aiming to one day be worthy of the sect leader’s position.

But she had personal grudges with the Book Management Bureau; if unavenged, they would affect her mindset. Additionally, she had developed new uses for Huige and possessed renowned medical skills, which increased her chances of survival.

“Then I’ll go too!” Qin Yingguang immediately agreed.

Luo Yansha held Bifang, hesitant, intending to say she would join as well, but Bifang blocked her with a wing.

“Return to Xishan! Yansha!” Bifang even spoke with human words in panic, fearing she might act impulsively.

“We won’t meddle either,” Fifth Elder said. “However, please take these talismans—they may help when necessary.”

He handed over a jade box with a narrow slit on top. Using spiritual insight, one could retrieve the most suitable talismans.

Sixth Elder frowned but nodded, murmuring to himself, “One must have self-awareness.”

Members of Zhaixing Pavilion were not skilled in combat. Previously in the Xuanshui Secret Realm, they relied on the three’s strength to achieve victory.

Thus, the group split. Luo Yansha took the White Jade Flying Vessel, while Yue Tingxi’s party entered the greatly modified Kaizi Ice Wheel.

It had undergone a major transformation; sitting in its illusionary cabin, identical to the vessel’s main cabin, Yue Tingxi even doubted whether her small artifact, crafted with spirit stones, could truly hold the power of a divine artifact.

“I will now take you to meet the World Consciousness,” Xiezhi said, tossing a golden weight into a spirit stone slot.

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