Chapter 114: The Great Defeat of the Netherworld

The Dark King, realizing he could not defeat Master, feigned an attack and swiftly retreated back into the Netherworld. With a wave of his blade, a rain of arrows from the Netherworld shot toward Master and the great formation.

"Han Qing, dodge!" Lu Xue shouted.

But Master remained motionless.

"Move aside quickly!" Lu Xue leapt in front of Master, using her body to shield him.

As the arrow rain approached, in a moment of desperation, I summoned the Mystic Crystal Sword, transforming it into a crystalline shield to protect the two of them from behind.

Yet, the arrows halted before the shield, frozen in place. Master glanced at Lu Xue with a slight smile. "I need not dodge, nor do you need to summon that."

With that, he waved his hand, and the arrows abruptly turned around, flying back in perfect formation! Master’s Condensing Cloud Boundary was indeed formidable; it seemed I had overestimated the threat. The Netherworld suffered a second severe blow from this unexpected reversal of the arrow rain.

The Dark King swung his blade to set up a boundary. A breaking-arrow pierced his arm. Furious, he yanked it out and flung it aside, raging like a tempest.

"Han Qing, take this," Lu Xue said softly.

"Very well." Master transformed the Mystic Crystal Shield into a bracelet and placed it on Lu Xue’s wrist.

"That… that belongs to me…" I wanted to protest but held back. It was always Lu Xue’s. His expression conveyed that he entrusted himself wholly to her—let alone a mere sword. So be it; as long as he lives, I need nothing else!

The Dark King, hair bristling with fury, saw Master and Lu Xue exchanging tender glances and kisses before the formation, utterly ignoring his presence. Enraged, he cast aside the Obsidian Soul-Slicing Sword and summoned a copper cauldron the size of a palm. Within it, the cosmos spun, radiant with myriad auspicious lights!

"The Infinite Cauldron!" I immediately recognized it as the very cauldron used by the Scarlet Flame Demon Star to reforged heaven and earth! To think it was in the Dark King’s hands! The Dark King was the Scarlet Flame Demon Star!

"Yun Xiao! You forced me to melt the Heavenly Realm with the Infinite Cauldron! Heaven and earth shall belong to me, the Demon King!" the Dark King roared as he activated the cauldron.

"What does the Infinite Cauldron do? What should we do?" Lu Xue asked anxiously.

Master smiled faintly and pulled Lu Xue into his arms. "That is useless."

"The Dark King is the true Scarlet Flame Demon Star reforging the world! While the Heavenly Realm melts, you two still have time for romance!" I seethed inwardly.

The Dark King surged with Nether Flames and channeled all his strength to strike the Infinite Cauldron. Divine power erupted from within, which he frenziedly devoured… I summoned the Deer Antler Bow, nocked an arrow, but felt a sharp pain in my heart. The arrow wound split open—I was injured and could no longer shoot… Desperately, I looked toward Master, who was still gazing at Lu Xue.

The Dark King drained all the divine power, his form and visage gradually aging amidst the Nether Flames. He howled madly, "What’s happening! What’s happening!" as the Nether Flames consumed him.

"Han Qing, has the Dark King been devoured by his own Nether Flames? Are we going to win?" Lu Xue asked Master.

"Yes," Master replied.

"Han Qing, it’s so good to have you here!" Lu Xue said, overwhelmed with emotion. Embracing her, Master and Lu Xue shared a loving look, about to kiss before the Great Jade Clear Formation.

"You two! Do you have any regard for others?" Watching them, my heart’s tears swiftly turned into a raging flood of jealousy.

The Dark King roared within the flames as the Infinite Cauldron melted away. Suddenly, he transformed back into a youthful form and lunged fiercely at the pair. Sensing danger, I quickly summoned my bow and imbued the arrow with the full power of true fire, shooting directly at the Dark King.

With a thunderous explosion and blinding fire, the blazing flames engulfed him. The crimson fire intertwined and battled with the eerie blue Nether Flames like two serpents tearing at each other. The Scarlet Flames boiled over, consuming the Nether Flames completely. The Dark King screamed in agony, his soul shattered, dispersing into the Thirty-Three Heavens.

Master and Lu Xue’s moment was interrupted as everyone turned to look at me, but they saw nothing. I had poured all my strength into that arrow and collapsed, vomiting blood, revealing my true form as a White Sparrow. In the blaze’s bright light, someone swiftly took me into their sleeve and fled.

Within the Thirty-Three Heavens at the Palace of Myriad Appearances, the Nameless Supreme Deity fanned himself with a spotted bamboo fan, gazing at my unconscious form with a sigh: "Little disciple, you have seen all the great sights of the world, yet there remains one place you do not look at with your heart, and naturally, it will wound you."

In my unconsciousness, I seemed to return to the Pursuing Immortals Cliff, standing hand in hand with Lu Xue amidst the flying snow. The two of them turned and smiled at each other, passing me by... Watching their retreating figures, I stood silently in the snow.

The Nameless Supreme Deity approached. "Little disciple, with your current appearance, your master no longer recognizes you."

I touched my white hair and replied quietly, "The one in his heart is her; naturally, he pays me no mind."

The Nameless Supreme Deity smiled, "Look within yourself—do you see yourself clearly? Can you see him?"

I shook my head.

"I govern the appearances of all beings. You must know, appearances arise from the heart. No heart, no form; no form, no heart," the deity explained.

"My icy, snowy visage is but the reflection of a heart grown cold and disillusioned," I said.

"You once gifted me a spotted bamboo fan, which I treasured. I have countless faces here. This time, I will not give you a mask, but a beautiful visage—how about that?" the deity offered.

"It’s better to give that face to someone who needs it. His love is for Lu Xue, not a false mask," I replied coolly.

"The one I speak of is not Yun Xiao. Enough said. I’ll give you a face to tide you over," the deity said, suddenly waving his hand before me, startling me.

My body jolted, falling from a branch. I fluttered my wings hastily to steady myself and transformed into human form. I had apparently lain unconscious in the forest by the West Sea’s edge all night. Stretching, the arrow wound on my back was completely healed, as if it had never been.

The West Sea was calm and peaceful, the air fresh and serene, with no sign of recent battle. I was dazed, unsure whether I was awakening from a dream or entering one.

"Supreme Deity Yun Xiao is so handsome!" A shell by the shore transformed into a beautiful maiden.

"Yes! With him around, there’s nothing to fear!" Another conch turned into a lovely maiden.

I thought to myself, "Even in my dreams, you’re surrounded by admirers! With Lu Xue not enough, now these little immortals fancy you too."

I approached and greeted them, "Ladies, did you see Supreme Deity Yun Xiao last night?"

"Yes! Oh! Where did this fairy come from? So beautiful!" the two tiny immortals exclaimed in admiration.

"Beautiful?" White hair often caused me to be mistaken for an old woman, but this was the first time anyone had called me beautiful at first sight. I instinctively brushed my hair and was shocked to see it jet black! Hastily, I conjured a mirror. The reflection revealed the visage of a stunning beauty—a complete stranger.

"That's not me! I’m not like this!" I cried to the mirror.

The two little immortals giggled and whispered, "So pretty but such a silly girl, she doesn’t even recognize herself."

"Nameless Supreme Deity, am I dreaming? Or are you playing tricks on me again? Why give me another false face?" I stood dumbfounded on the beach.

I took a Transformation Pill, but it had no effect! Another pill, still no change. I neither grew young nor small, nor did I regain a male form. After much effort and no solution, I decided to set aside the false face for now and find the Nameless Supreme Deity later. First, I had to see Master!

Arriving outside the central military tent, I saw Spring Breeze rushing in like a gale, immediately shouting, "Where is Great Sound True God? Who said she died? And you! How come you quietly survived!"

"When Great Sound True God fought Nether Minister, she was pierced by a breaking-arrow and swallowed by a saber-toothed shark, leaving only a few feathers," Tian Cheng explained.

Spring Breeze grew anxious, "Yun Xiao, you just watched her face the Nether Minister alone? You lived, yet let her die! How can you face Little Crow..."

He was about to say "Little Crow," but I quickly rushed in, grabbed his arm, and said, "Little Bai’s grandmother died; we’re all heartbroken. Supreme Deity, please accept our condolences."

"What are you doing?" Spring Breeze, not recognizing my changed appearance, pushed me away with disdain.

"I came looking for the Supreme Deity. The beauties of Hundred Flowers Island worry about her safety, fearing she’ll be taken by villains," I told him.

Spring Breeze’s eyes lit up, then he suddenly embraced me tightly. "Wife! Great Sound Grandma died in battle. With the battlefield in chaos, if anything happened to you, what about me and Little Bai! Just stay with me as my beauty; stop running around!"

I was stunned by Spring Breeze’s unusual perception and reaction. I had intended to pretend to be a flower fairy from Hundred Flowers Island, warning him not to let the secret slip, yet now he called me his wife!

He held me tightly as I pushed him aside and stood next to him. Master sat at his desk, expressionless.

Lu Xue smiled beside him, "So you’re Big Brother’s wife? Truly a loving couple, right, Han Qing?" Her hand rested on Master’s shoulder.

"Indeed," Master said, taking Lu Xue’s hand, the Mystic Crystal bracelet on her wrist. They exchanged a knowing smile as he looked at Lu Xue with a gaze that ignored all others.

"He must have discarded my ridiculous Heart-Link Feather," I thought.

Spring Breeze scowled at their affectionate gaze, frowning sharply. "We’re loving, but we don’t kiss and cuddle on the battlefield!"

"Senior Uncle got married without telling us; none of us went to celebrate," the eldest senior brother quickly changed the subject, with others nodding in agreement.

"I’ve never followed rules. If I’m pleased, that’s enough. Why inform you? No need for your approval. Now that I tell you, it’s not too late. She! Bai Fei! My wife! Little Bai’s mother!" Master declared.

"The 'Fei' from ‘Rain and Snow Flutter’," I hurriedly added, inwardly resenting Spring Breeze’s interference.

"Unlike some Supreme Deities who act low-key, dying with a bang and coming back with a bang, wanting the Three Realms to know who they love..." Spring Breeze glared at Master, then at me, "and who they do not."

"I never expected that the shock in the Thirty-Three Heavens was Master’s soul rebirth! I was there, even met Senior Uncle and Grandma. We burned… many… things for the junior brother…" The eleventh senior brother’s voice trailed off as Lu Xue glared at him.

So that was it. My desperate weeping in the Thirty-Three Heavens, shedding rebirth tears upon Mount Sumeru, had somehow drawn Master’s soul back together!

"Han Qing’s resurrection, the Netherworld returned to the Heavenly Realm’s control—such joyous days, no need to mention other things. Isn’t that right, Han Qing?" Lu Xue asked Master.

"If you say it’s good, then it is," they smiled at each other.

Watching them, tears welled in my eyes but fell back into my heart. The Yu Fei who had leapt across the Milky Way, the "Seventh Princess" of the Netherworld Yu Fei married, had become the one they dared not even mention on such a joyous day...

"Why can’t they mention it? You have an incorruptible body; you lived again! Do you know what happened to Little Crow?" Spring Breeze said.

Lu Xue defended, "He died with Master, and the Heavenly Palace has already conferred upon him the title of God of Loyalty, Filial Piety, and Benevolence. Besides, Spring Breeze, you know better than anyone how Master’s disciple truly is. Fei’er, you might not know there was another Fei before you..." Lu Xue’s words were cut off by Master.

"The Heavenly Palace has posthumously honored him. I have done my utmost. There is nothing more to say," Master said coldly.

"Master..." the eleventh senior brother was about to speak but was held back by the fifteenth senior brother.

Silence filled the tent, the atmosphere awkward.

"My wife knows very well! Wife! I just love you, this ‘Fei’er’! Let’s go home!" Spring Breeze angrily pulled me out of the central military tent.