Transforming into a stunningly beautiful fox spirit, leaving a scar on the heart of a prodigy.

Outside the capital city, the snow was falling heavily.

The wind whipped up snowflakes that cut my face like knives.

A red fox, hundreds of feet tall, ran wildly across the wasteland.

Nine crimson tails spread out behind it, like nine red-hot iron fans.

Wherever the tail swept, those monsters that crawled out of the cracks in the ground turned to ash without even letting out a scream.

The red fox's claws dug into the frozen ground, leaving four deep pits with each strike.

Gu Xiang lay on the broad back of the red fox.

His hands gripped the long fur around the red fox's neck tightly.

The bright red wedding robes were no longer recognizable as their original color; they were covered in dark red scabs.

The wind blew his hair.

Her once jet-black hair was now completely white.

That's the price of overdrawing one's vitality.

His heart, sharp and discerning, beat deeply and slowly in his chest.

thump.

thump.

With each jump, Gu Xiang's face grew paler.

Su Qing sensed it.

She didn't dare to turn around.

She was afraid that if she turned around, she would lose all her strength.

A thick, inky black fog was rolling in from the horizon behind them.

That's the direction of Ghost Cry Valley.

The monster that had possessed the monk's body was staring intently at them from across the vast void.

The oppressive aura pressed down on Su Qing's spine like a mountain.

The red fox let out a low growl and increased its speed by another third.

Ahead lies a canyon.

Countless blood-red runes suddenly lit up on the mountain walls on both sides.

Hundreds of monks dressed in black robes emerged from the snow.

They held bone banners in their hands and had strange patterns painted on their faces.

It is heretical cultivation.

A puppet controlled by "Phoenix".

"Stop them!"

The leading evil cultivator roared and waved the bone banner in his hand.

Countless wronged souls and vengeful ghosts rushed out from the banner, transforming into a black wall that blocked the way.

Su Qing did not stop.

There wasn't even a slowdown.

Her crimson-gold vertical pupils held only icy killing intent.

"roll!"

A fox's cry shattered the swirling snow.

The red fox opened its mouth.

A burst of crimson-gold flame erupted.

That was no ordinary demonic fire.

That was the Red Lotus Karmic Fire, which had burned the essence and blood of the Heavenly Fox.

The flames fell on the black wall of wronged souls.

There was no explosion.

All that could be heard was a sickening sizzling sound.

The black wall melted away instantly.

The flames continued their relentless advance, engulfing both sides of the canyon.

"ah--!"

The scream was cut off almost immediately.

Hundreds of evil cultivators, along with the bone banners in their hands, vanished into nothingness in that instant.

The hundred-mile-long canyon was reduced to scorched earth.

Before the snow even hit the ground, it was evaporated into white mist by the high temperature.

The red fox leaped out of the canyon, its feet treading on the scorching rocks.

Gu Xiang on his back stirred.

He struggled to open his eyes, his vision somewhat blurry.

He saw the sky ablaze with fire.

They also saw beads of blood seeping from Su Qing's neck.

That was the backlash from burning the source.

"My wife..."

Gu Xiang's voice was very soft, and it was easily dispersed by the wind.

"If it doesn't work, put me down..."

Su Qing's body trembled slightly.

She didn't stop; instead, she ran even faster.

"Shut up."

Su Qing's voice reached Gu Xiang's ears.

With a slight tremor, but more so with determination.

"Gu Xiang, listen carefully."

"You'll never abandon me again in this lifetime."

Even if it means death, I'll drag you down to the underworld with me.

"When the time comes, I will accuse you of abandoning me after starting a relationship, even before the King of Hell."

Gu Xiang grinned, wanting to laugh.

But when he twitched his mouth, blood flowed out.

He pressed his face against the red fox's warm fur.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, wetting the red fox's fur.

"good……"

"Don't abandon..."

We've arrived at Luofengpo.

This place was originally a vibrant grove of sycamore trees.

But now, all I see is black.

Thick black fog enveloped the entire hillside.

That enormous phoenix tree was now completely bare, all its leaves gone.

Countless black chains were wrapped around the tree trunk.

The chains dug deep into the tree bark, oozing golden sap.

That is the blood of the sacred tree.

Every drop of juice that fell was greedily devoured by the black mist.

The red fox stopped at the edge of the black mist.

Su Qing could sense that great terror was hidden within this black mist.

That was a method left behind by "Phoenix".

Just then.

The soil beneath their feet suddenly churned up.

A large radish head covered in green hair popped out.

It is an earth spirit.

Gu Xiang had promised to bestow divine status upon him after his wedding, but plans can't keep up with changes, so he can only use his powers to a limited extent now.

The guy looked disheveled at the moment, his official robe of the Earth Virtue True Lord was tattered and covered in mud.

When it saw the red fox, tears instantly welled up in its tiny, bean-sized eyes.

"Big sister!"

"You're finally back!"

The earth spirit scrambled over, grabbed the red fox's paws, and began to howl.

"Those damned monsters locked up the sacred tree!"

"I risked my life to protect the earth's veins from being severed!"

Su Qing glanced down at it and praised it with a smile.

"here you go."

Tu Ling shuddered and immediately stopped crying.

He pulled a broken seal from his pocket.

That was given to it when Gu Xiang conferred its title upon it.

Tu Ling took a deep breath and slammed the seal onto the ground.

"open!"

Rumble!

The earth began to tremble.

A path of light, yellowish-brown in color, extends from beneath the red fox's feet, leading directly to the core of the sacred tree deep within the black mist.

This is the power of the earth's veins.

Tu Ling has revealed all his secrets.

Without hesitation, the red fox stepped onto the path of light and rushed into the black mist.

Zizizi!

The black mist seemed to be alive, frantically eroding the yellowish-brown path of light.

Tu Ling lay on the ground, blood flowing from his seven orifices, pressing the seal tightly.

"Big sister, let's go!"

"The smaller one won't last much longer!"

The red fox transformed into a streak of red lightning, weaving through the black mist.

They were about to reach the foot of the sacred tree.

Sudden.

The black fog ahead churned violently.

A huge shadow emerged from the mist.

The shadow had no facial features, only a blurry human-shaped outline.

But Su Qing was all too familiar with that aura.

It is "Huang".

Or perhaps it is a projection of a remnant soul of the "Phoenix".

The shadow blocked the view of the sacred tree and let out a piercing laugh.

"Su Qing".

"You actually dared to come."

"When phoenixes unite, one must die."

"This is destiny ordained by heaven."

"Did you bring him here so you could personally send him on his way?"

The sound echoed in the black mist, causing Su Qing excruciating pain in his soul.

The red fox stopped in its tracks.

Nine tails danced wildly behind it.

Su Qing raised her head, her vertical pupils filled with madness.

"Screw fate!"

"My fate is my own to decide!"

"Gu Xiang's life is mine too!"

Roar--!

A mournful fox cry echoed through the sky.

The red fox stood upright.

The nine tails gathered together and transformed into a crimson spear.

That was all her demonic power, all her energy and spirit.

"break!"

The red fox crashed into it.

A crimson spear pierced the black mist.

boom!

A massive shockwave swept in all directions.

The shadow was pierced through with a large hole.

But it did not disappear.

Instead, a huge black hand reached out and slammed down on the red fox's head.

If this palm strike lands squarely, Su Qing will surely die.

At this critical moment.

Gu Xiang, who was on the red fox's back, moved.

He didn't know where the strength came from, but he suddenly sat up straight.

He raised his right hand.

The index finger moved rapidly through the air.

Fingertips cracked, blood splattered.

He is writing.

With blood as ink, and with righteous spirit as pen.

"town!"

A blood-red character for "town" took shape in the air.

The moment the words were written, a tremendous sound of reading aloud resounded throughout the world.

That was the classic texts that Gu Xiang had studied his entire life.

That was the path in his heart.

The words in blood were imprinted on the falling black hand.

Sizzle—!

A wisp of blue smoke rose from the black hand, and its movements abruptly stopped.

It only took this one meal.

The red fox had already rushed over.

Bang!

The red fox fell heavily at the feet of the sacred tree.

The immense impact caused Su Qing to lose her demon form.

A flash of red light appeared.

She transformed back into human form.

The red wedding dress was tattered and torn, and the exposed skin was covered with wounds.

Gu Xiang rolled off her back.

It fell onto the withered tree roots.

"Gu Xiang!"

Ignoring the pain, Su Qing crawled over on her hands and feet.

She held Gu Xiang in her arms.

Gu Xiang's body was frighteningly cold.

The white hair stood out starkly against the black mist.

His eyes were half-open, and his pupils were already somewhat dilated.

"arrive……"

Gu Xiang looked at the withered sacred tree above his head.

A slight smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"I'm home..."

Su Qing hugged him tightly and pressed her face against his forehead.

Tears flowed uncontrollably.

"Yes, I'm home."

"You idiot, hang in there."

"The seed of Nirvana is below."

"If we get it, we can survive."

The black mist overhead was still churning.

The scattered shadow is reforming.

"it's useless."

The voice from the shadows was full of mockery.

"The sacred tree is dead."

"The seeds of Nirvana have long since withered away."

"You're all courting death."

Su Qing suddenly looked up.

She stared at the shadow with a fierce look, like a wild beast guarding its prey.

"Shut your dog mouth!"

She held Gu Xiang with one arm and slammed the other hand against the tree roots beneath her.

"Open it!"

The demonic power was poured into the tree roots.

No response.

The sacred tree seemed truly dead, devoid of any life.

Su Qing didn't believe it.

She bit the tip of her tongue.

He sprayed a mouthful of his primordial blood onto the tree roots.

"Open it!"

"Please..."

"Open it..."

Her voice was choked with sobs.

That was a desperate plea.

Gu Xiang lay in her arms.

He could feel Su Qing's body trembling.

He reached out, wanting to touch her face.

But his hand fell down halfway up.

too tired.

I'm so tired.

My eyelids are getting heavier and heavier.

The surrounding sounds grew fainter and fainter.

"My wife..."

"Don't cry..."

"If... if it really doesn't work..."

"Just take your heart out..."

"I'm not in pain..."

Su Qing suddenly covered his mouth.

"Don't tell!"

"I forbid you to say it!"

"I won't dig!"

"In this life, the next life, and the life after that, I will never tear your heart out again!"

She poured her demonic power into the tree roots like a madwoman.

Even if the meridians are severed.

Even if the dantian is depleted.

Just when Su Qing was about to despair.

Gu Xiang's heart, so full of wisdom and compassion, suddenly pounded violently.

Boom!

The sound of his heartbeat traveled along Gu Xiang's body and reached the tree roots underground.

The withered tree roots trembled slightly.

A glimmer of golden light shone from deep within the tree roots.

The light was very faint.

But in this pitch-black wasteland, it was like the first ray of dawn.