The Mirror of Startling Beauty: Her courtiers are everywhere

"etc……"

Upon hearing this, Feng Zhuo's eyes instantly turned red.

"You clearly said that Wuchi could save him! You clearly said that this is the real Wuchi..."

"It's not something he can decide to do."

Tang Xixue spoke up.

Her gaze remained fixed on Chu Qiao in the pool. On that face, which had once been as pale as paper and devoid of any color, a faint trace of color seemed to have finally returned.

But the blood was too pale, as pale as a drop of cinnabar falling into a lake, so pale that it would disappear into the shimmering water at any moment.

Wu Chi didn't know how to receive his soul.

Tangxi Xue spoke.

"Then I'll answer it for him."

After she finished speaking, before anyone could react, she stepped into the pool.

"Ah Xue..."

Feng Zhuo roared, his eyes bloodshot, and he was like a maddened beast, ready to charge forward without regard for anything.

His foot had already stepped out, and his hand had already reached out, as if he wanted to use his body to pull her back.

But as soon as he moved, Mu Liang grabbed him tightly.

Mu Liang's hands gripped his arm like iron clamps.

There was worry and heartache in his eyes, but even more so, an almost obsessive trust.

"You can't go in!"

"Don't cause His Highness any trouble."

Mu Liang would unconditionally stand by Tang Xixue's side as long as it was something she wanted to do.

Regardless of the reason, the cost, or the outcome.

This has always been the case from beginning to end.

"Ranzhi, keep watch outside."

Tang Xixue gave a word of advice.

The pool water reached above her ankles and then above her knees.

She felt that excruciating pain strike again, a thousand times more intense than when she touched it with her finger.

That was the power of Wuchi tearing at her soul.

The reason it is called Wuchi (meaning "no pool") is because it can wash away all attachments and memories, stripping away everything that does not belong to the origin of life.

The deeper one's obsession, the more intense the suffering one endures in the pool of nothingness.

Because those obsessions etched into the bones and soul are like thorns deeply embedded in the body.

The pain was excruciating, as each strand was pulled out one by one by the force of the pool.

As long as the thought of resistance arises and one is unwilling to give up their obsession, one will continue to experience suffering.

But she didn't stop.

She continued walking forward, step by step, venturing into the deeper water.

The white robes spread out on the water's surface, like a lotus quietly blooming in the deep blue sea.

Her steps remained firm, as if the terrifying pain was nothing more than a storm she had to weather.

"The deeper one's obsession, the more intense the suffering in the void."

The voice of the Xuan Tian Pavilion Master came from behind her, filled with undisguised heartache.

The feeling of helplessness when you watch the most important person in your life walk into the abyss and you are powerless to help them.

He wanted to go forward and pull her back, but he couldn't.

His hands were maintaining the operation of the ancient forbidden array, and all his power was being used to fight against the Lord of Guixu Palace.

If he loosens his grip, the wall of light will shatter instantly, and everyone will die here.

He could only call out to her.

"Come back soon!"

"You couldn't have helped much in the past!"

"That's not necessarily true."

The pond water was up to the waist of Tangxi Xue.

The excruciating pain reached its peak at this moment, as if every wisp of soul was being burned on the most intense flame.

Her face was as pale as paper, and fine beads of cold sweat appeared on her forehead.

But her voice was incredibly steady, as if the pain didn't exist at all, or wasn't enough to shake her.

How will you know if you don't try?

She raised her hand and took out the Heart of Azure Snow from her bosom.

The crystal-clear sapphire radiated a soft and holy glow in her palm.

That light possessed a power sufficient to penetrate all darkness and all despair.

That is a priceless treasure passed down through generations of the Tangxi lineage, a sacred object that carries the obsession and beliefs of countless generations.

"Heart of Azure Snow, heed my command."

There was an irresistible certainty in that voice, the kind of certainty that placed all hope on this one moment, yet still chose to believe.

"With my unwavering conviction as the guide, and with the heart of Cangxue as the bridge, I will call him back."

The light of the Heart of Azure Snow suddenly burst forth.

Like a bright moon falling into the deep sea, illuminating the entire Wuchi Lake with crystal clarity.

The light pierced through Chu Qiao's frost-covered body, reaching deep into the cracks in his soul.

Then, a miracle happened.

The light, like the finest golden thread, weaved back and forth among the fragments of the broken soul, picking them up, joining them together, and stitching them back together.

With each ray of light that passed through, a fragment of the soul was gently drawn back into its place.

Feng Zhuo stood by the pool, looking completely frozen in place.

It felt like strong liquor had been poured into my eyes.

I even forgot to breathe.

Mu Liang stood silently to the side, still with that cold and hard demeanor, but a look of almost piety appeared on his face.

The Xuan Tian Pavilion Master stood at the very front, his back to everyone, his eyes glistening with tears.

The massive formation he had set up roared behind him.

The attack of the Palace Master of Guixu Palace had begun to shake the wall of light. Each strike was like the collapse of the sky and the cracking of the earth, causing the entire cave to tremble violently.

The golden energy surged like a raging torrent, crashing against the light wall and creating spiderweb-like cracks in the silver-white array patterns.

But the Xuan Tian Pavilion Master did not turn around.

In the pool water, Chu Qiao's finger twitched.

It was just a very slight movement, like the tremor of a harp string when the wind brushes against it.

Then, his entire palm began to warm up.

Then, his eyelashes twitched.

Those eyes, which had been tightly closed for who knows how long, finally opened slowly, little by little.

Clear, pure, without a trace of impurity.

It was as clean as a mountain morning after a rain.

He blinked.

Those eyes held a sense of bewilderment, confusion, and the disorientation of waking from a long slumber, a feeling of not knowing what day it is.

He was trying to figure out where he was.

Then he saw Tang Xixue's face.

The bewilderment and confusion in those eyes transformed into another emotion in that instant.

"elder sister……"

His voice was hoarse and weak.

"How did you... get into the water?"

As Chu Qiao spoke, his brows furrowed slightly.

Your clothes are all wet.

Tang Xixue looked at him, and the corners of her mouth curved slightly.

"Because you're in the water."

"So, your older sister has come to rescue you."

Chu Qiao was stunned.

"elder sister."

His eyes suddenly welled up with tears, and his voice trembled with sobs.

"I dreamt that you came to find me, that was wonderful."

"It's not a dream."

Tang Xixue gripped his hand tightly.

That hand was warm, with the pulse of life, no longer the despairing, bone-chilling cold of when it was covered in ice scales.

I've found you.

Chu Qiao looked at her, and then he could no longer hold back his tears.

It slid silently down her cheeks.

This was the first time he had cried in front of her.

He used to always laugh, always with a carefree grin, always hiding all his grievances and fears in his heartless laughter.

He didn't want anyone to see his vulnerability.

But at this moment, he could no longer hold on.

"elder sister……"

"I thought... I would never see you again."

Tang Xixue helped him up from the pool.

His body was still very weak, and he could barely stand. His legs felt as heavy as lead, and every movement required all his strength.

But she held his arm firmly, supporting him steadily, and used her shoulders to bear his entire weight.

"Let's go."

she says.

Just two words, as simple as they can be, yet incredibly heartwarming.

"Your sister will take you home."

"Um."

Chu Qiao leaned on her shoulder, tears silently streaming down her cheeks.

But the corners of his mouth were curved, and he was trying his best to make that smile.

"go home."

At the poolside, Feng Zhuo could no longer hold back.

He turned around and wiped his face hard with his sleeve.

Mu Liang remained silent.

He simply stood there silently, head bowed, sword in hand.

He said nothing, but his gestures were clearer than any words.

He was protecting, protecting the two people in the pool, protecting this moment of warmth and reunion.

Just then, the water beneath the pool suddenly surged.

A force surging up from the deepest part of the pool.

Several streams of light emerged from the bottom of the pool, clear and bright, like fish swimming upstream, converging towards Tangxi Snow.

"This is?"

"Fragments of the soul."

It is a fragment of her soul.

Those fragments hidden at the bottom of the pool, in this place closest to her, were drawn by the warm and unwavering light of the Heart of Azure Snow, and finally found their way home.

They surged joyfully and eagerly from the bottom of the pool, passing through the deep blue water, and disappeared piece by piece into the body of Tangxi Snow.

The Night Patrol, Refining Void, Embracing Sun, and Breaking Execution among the Seven Souls were all painstakingly collected by Guixu Palace over many years in the Nine Provinces. They were personally hidden at the bottom of Wuchi by the Guixu Palace Master, who used the water of Wuchi to isolate them from all senses.

No one could find or sense it; it was a perfectly secure hiding place.

But Tang Xixue herself walked into the pool without a trace.

Drawn by the power of the Heart of Azure Snow, and summoned by its master's strong will and obsession, they finally broke free from the shackles at the bottom of the pool and converged toward her.

At this point, all seven of Tangxi Xue's souls returned to their proper places.