The waterside pavilion was quiet and elegant. Su Miaoyin, who was only sixteen years old, returned to Youtan Jingzong again. She stood in front of a courtyard, letting the morning wind blow on her face with the hazy water vapor, washing away the dust on her body. However, what could not be washed away was the dry coldness brought by Kunlun Mountain.
"I need to bask in the sun more," Su Miaoyin thought.
At this time, a clear voice came to her ears. "Junior Sister Su, you're back?"
A young girl who was about the same age as her skipped over. This girl had a round face and big eyes. She was her Senior Sister Zhou Miaojie. Zhou Miaojie took her hand and said intimately, "When did you come? I missed you so much. When you were in Kunlun Mountain, I was so bored that I almost fell sick. "
Su Miaoyin said, "I just came, waiting for Master to summon me."
"Master studied medical books until very late last night and just fell asleep. He probably won't wake up for a while. Tell me first, is there anything fun in the Wanxiang Heavenly Palace?" Zhou Miaojie lowered her voice, but still couldn't suppress the excitement in her words. Her big eyes were full of curiosity.
At this time, a soft but dignified voice came from the room in the courtyard, "Morning bell and evening drum, morning and evening lessons, we practitioners can't forget for a day. Miaojie, what about you? The morning lesson is about to start. Do you still want to play here? "
Zhou Miaojie immediately became silent. She stuck out her tongue and silently mouthed, "I'll find you later." Then she shrunk her body and walked away quickly.
"Miaoyin, come in," the voice said again.
Su Miaoyin followed the voice and entered the room. She felt warm all over, and the chill accumulated in her bones melted away like snow melting.
She saw her sun.
Inside the room, a woman was tying up her hair. Although she looked a little tired, she was extremely beautiful. However, no matter who saw her, they couldn't help but overlook her beauty and be deeply attracted by her otherworldly temperament.
Kind, warm, peaceful, and quiet, like an elder sister, like a loving mother, and like the morning sun. She warmed all things and shone on all living beings.
The woman had a name that matched her temperament — Goddess Xi.
She was the Goddess of the present age, Su Miao Yin's master, and the sun in her heart.
Goddess Xi tied up her hair and bent over to tidy up the bed like a housewife. She did everything herself and said, "I taught you to visit the Myriad Celestial Palace this time and get to know people your age. What was the result? Look at the next generation of Wanxiang Heavenly Palace, who do you think can be the one to carry the cauldron? "
Su Miaoyin was already used to Goddess Xi's behavior. She only said, "Kunlun Mountain is indeed the origin of Daoism. The disciples of Wanxiang Heavenly Palace are all outstanding, especially Li Wuqi, who has a profound cultivation base and is calm and capable. He can be regarded as the pillar of the younger generation. If nothing unexpected happens, the position of the next Palace Master of Myriad Phenomenon Heavenly Palace will fall on him. "
"If there are no accidents?" Goddess Xi raised her eyebrows slightly, sensing the hidden meaning in his words. "Then, do you think there will be any accidents?"
Su Miao Yin carefully considered her words, then slowly said, "I got to know a new disciple in the Heavenly Palace of Ten Thousand Nature. In the eyes of the other people in the Heavenly Palace of Ten Thousand Nature, he doesn't cultivate Dao, and spends all his time watching the wind and admiring the clouds. His behavior is strange, and his imagination is wild. Everyone says he's an idiot with a good appearance …"
"Then what do you think?"
Su Miaoyin lightly shook her head. "Disciple can't see through him. Perhaps no one in the world can see through him. But disciple feels that sometimes, a person that no one can understand and the world can't tolerate might be because he's unparalleled in the world!"
Goddess Xi lightly laughed and praised, "Unparalleled in the world. Ha, this evaluation is worthy of the name Wei Wushuang."
"Master knows his name?" Su Miaoyin was slightly surprised. She didn't directly say Wei Wushuang's name just now.
"Soon, everyone in the world will know his great name." Goddess Xi explained, "You came back late and didn't receive the latest news from Kunlun Mountain. In the sect's competition, Wei Wushuang, who entered the sect less than half a year ago, has already defeated Li Wuqi and monopolized the first place of Wanxiang Heavenly Palace."
Su Miaoyin was startled. She was surprised, but not as surprised as she thought. It was as if, in her subconscious, she also felt that it was only natural that the youth could do this. But no matter what, she still felt sincerely happy for that new friend.
But very soon, this happiness was washed away. Goddess Xi then said, "Your eyes are like a torch, able to discern people's talents. Master is quite gratified that you have such knowledge, so I can leave with peace of mind."
"Leave? I just came back and Master is leaving again? "Su Miaoyin blurted out. She no longer had the calmness she had just now.
Goddess Xi lightly nodded and said, "As a goddess, I should help the world. Now that there is nothing important in the sect, I should also enter the world and travel. I will do good and give medicine along the way, pacify the injustices in the world, and save the people in the world who need saving."
Su Miaoyin asked, "When are you leaving?"
Goddess Xi said, "Now, after the morning lesson, I will leave."
"Why are you in such a hurry? I still want to talk to you more. You only love the people in the world, don't you love your disciple?" Su Miaoyin pouted unhappily. Only then did Goddess Xi remember that no matter how intelligent she was, Su Miaoyin was still a sixteen-year-old girl.
Goddess Xi was angry and amused at the same time. She pretended to flick Su Miaoyin's head and said, "You have no conscience. Doesn't Master dote on you normally?"
"Can't I dote on you a little more? A little more than you love the people in the world … "Su Miaoyin shrunk her neck back, trying to avoid Goddess Xi's" flick on the head ", but she still fought back unwillingly.
"You can't." Goddess Xi's smooth finger touched Su Miaoyin's forehead, but it was just a light flick on the bridge of her nose. "The Buddha said that all living beings are equal."
After saying that, Goddess Xi picked up her medical box and bag, stepped through the door and left. From the corner of her eyes, she saw that the corners of Su Miaoyin's eyes were glistening, and she seemed to be crying.
But she didn't stop. Separation was necessary for growth. She believed that Su Miaoyin was a smart child and would be able to adapt.
But she didn't expect that Su Miaoyin's growth would be far beyond her imagination.
- =
"The Buddha was wrong. All living beings are not equal." The seventeen-year-old Su Miaoyin stood in front of Goddess Xi. She was as dignified as a crane and didn't cower in the slightest.
This was another separation. The Udumbara Pure Sect had a grand ceremony that required Goddess Xi's participation, so Goddess Xi returned. After the ceremony, Goddess Xi only stayed for half a month before leaving again.
But this time, Su Miaoyin blocked her way and didn't let her leave easily.
"Oh?" Hearing Su Miaoyin's slanderous words about the Buddha, Goddess Xi raised her eyebrows slightly and waited for her to continue.
Su Miaoyin said, "Master has blessed the people and saved the world. Every time you save someone, you have to bear the weight of one person's life. Over the years, you have already carried the lives of ten thousand people. One person is related to the safety of the world, so how can you say that they are equal? Since Master bears the weight of a mountain, it is appropriate for you to oversee the Udumbara Pure Sect and stabilize the people's hearts. If you act rashly, it is like throwing a mountain into the pugilistic world. The pugilistic world was originally peaceful, but because of you, a great uproar has arisen. "
Goddess Xi shook her head and said, "That's because the burden is different, but it doesn't mean that there is a difference in status. You can treat me as more important than others because of the difference in relationship, but I can't think that I am superior to others. Moreover, the weight of a mountain is formed by accumulated sand. Saving the lives of ten thousand people starts with saving one person in front of you. If I have a lowly heart and can't treat you as equal, how can we have the fate of master and disciple today? "
Su Miaoyin was silent. Actually, only a few people knew that she was originally a beggar girl who had lost her relatives because of the flood of the Yellow River. If Goddess Xi hadn't brought her back to the Udumbara Pure Sect to raise her, that fallen kiln might have been the best place for her to return to.
Goddess Xi was her sun, but the sun didn't belong to her alone. Instead, it spread its radiance to all things equally. She was saved because of Goddess Xi's equal heart, so how could they stop her from imposing this equality on others?
However, Su Miaoyin still stubbornly said, "Then let's at least make an agreement. Outside the sect, there are ten thousand people waiting for you to save them, and inside the sect, there are also ten thousand disciples waiting for you to teach them. Let's count from the time Master saved me. After you save ten thousand people, you can go back to the sect and teach us. Otherwise, if you save people and don't teach them, won't you only save half of them?"
Goddess Xi couldn't help but laugh because of her almost shameless logic, but there was still a bit of truth in her shamelessness, so she nodded and said, "That's fine, but why should it start from the time I saved you?"
"Because I want to be the first person to be saved by Master." Su Miaoyin held on to her last persistence, and then once again sent off Goddess Xi with her eyes.
Her gaze was firm and clear. No one would have thought that not long after, that pair of bright eyes would become a dark abyss that even Goddess Xi's radiance couldn't shine into.
- =
"Knock knock knock!" When the night turned dark, there was a series of knocks on the door. It was Goddess Xi, who had returned once again, gently calling the door.
"Miaoyin, we just came back, and I heard that you locked yourself in the dark room for more than ten days. Did something happen?" Goddess Xi didn't get a response, so she softly said, "Are you asleep?"
After a moment, a weak voice came. "I'm not asleep. Master, come in."
Goddess Xi pushed the door open and entered. There was no light inside, and it was pitch black. Nothing could be seen. However, Goddess Xi still recognized Su Miaoyin's position.
Because Su Miaoyin's eyes were even darker than black.
She sat in the corner, hugging her knees. Her face was haggard, but her eyes were like black holes, bottomless, and unpredictable, swallowing the darkness around her.
Goddess Xi was secretly surprised, and said, "Miaoyin, you've been sitting here all this time without lighting a light?"
Su Miaoyin raised her eyes and said, "I'm fine, I just want to get used to this darkness … When did Master come back? And when do you plan to leave? "
"I just came back, and I'll leave in seven days. I've been delayed for a long time this time. The White River Village in northern Shaanxi suffered a disaster two years ago, and the local big families took the opportunity to annex the land. The common people had no work, so they went up the mountain to become bandits. Coincidentally, the big family got sick, so I gave him medicine in exchange for food seeds. I also opened up a wasteland with the common people. This year is a bit tight, and next year should have a good harvest. " The Goddess reached out to touch Su Miaoyin. Her originally smooth palm was actually rough from opening up wasteland. "However, I haven't forgotten the agreement with you. There are three hundred and five people in the village, and only two hundred and thirty-three people survived the winter. Count it as me saving two hundred and thirty-three people this time."
"How many people does the big family have?" Su Miaoyin asked.
"A total of seventeen people, including the servants, there are forty-three people," Goddess Xi said.
"Including these forty-three people. If the common people become bandits, the first target will be the big family. They kill the big family and steal the food, but they lose their virginity and don't dare to farm. They either sit and eat, or go to plunder more villages. No matter what, they will be wiped out by the soldiers, and everyone will die in the end. It's you who saved these people from death. " Su Miaoyin said calmly. Her eyes were dull, and even her voice seemed hollow. "But this is still not the way to save more people. Master, why don't you kill the seventeen members of the big family, distribute their wealth and food, and divide their land? In this way, the common people can go back to farming, and they don't need to open up wasteland again. Also, no one will die because they can't survive the winter of food shortage."
Goddess Xi was frightened, and said, "Miaoyin, when Master wasn't here, what did you experience?"
"I went to the Sunken Boat Pavilion, and saw the sect's history that was covered in dust and couldn't see the light of day. I also know what kind of burden Master, as a Goddess, is carrying … "Su Miaoyin looked at Goddess Xi, and said with a sad smile," If all living things are equal, then one side has seventeen people, and the other side has three hundred and five people. It's not difficult to choose. Master, in the thousands of years of our sect's history, hasn't our sect used this kind of great mercy countless times? "
Goddess Xi didn't say anything for a long time. After a moment of silence, she bent down and hugged Su Miaoyin, and said with distress, "Why did you go to the Sunken Boat Pavilion? You are still young, you shouldn't come into contact with these things …"
The Udumbara Pure Sect was established because of the Goddess, and it was their duty to protect the world. However, protecting the world was never a glorious thing. There were difficult choices, bloody sacrifices, and unavoidable schemes … These "costs" of protecting the world shouldn't be made public, but they couldn't be forgotten either. Therefore, the Udumbara Pure Sect established the Sunken Boat Pavilion, taking the meaning of "thousands of sails race beside the sunken boat", to record these unknown history.
Su Miaoyin returned to Goddess Xi's embrace, and the deathly stillness in her eyes finally showed some vitality. "I'm already over eighteen years old. If I don't come into contact with them, will I always let Master bear them alone?"
She looked up at Heavenly Maiden Xi, and her extremely black eyes were filled with Heavenly Maiden Xi's shadow. "Master, I've thought it through. Under the light, there will always be shadows. You are the light of the virtuous world, and I will be your shadow. Leave the darkness that you can't shine into to me. But this time, at least this time … can you accompany me for a few more days?"
Goddess Xi didn't say anything. She only hugged Su Miaoyin and patted her back like a gentle mother coaxing a spoiled child to sleep. Su Miaoyin, who hadn't slept for more than ten days, finally fell into a deep sleep.
The next day, when Goddess Xi woke up, she found that Su Miaoyin was no longer in her arms.
After that, he found out that Su Miaoyin had stepped out of her room to deal with the affairs of the sect. Su Miaoyin had always been extraordinarily intelligent, and all kinds of backlogged affairs were easily solved by her. It was as if she was helping Goddess Xi resolve her worries.
Goddess Xi also left seven days later, on the appointed day, and didn't stay for long.
Su Miaoyin didn't ask her to stay either, as if asking for more companionship had never existed.
Equality wasn't just universal love, it was also a kind of cruelty, cruelty to those close to her.
And Su Miaoyin had learned to be cruel to herself.
- =
Spring passed, and autumn came. Year after year.
Just like that, Heavenly Maiden Xi went back and forth. Every time she came back, she would bring back a number: 962, 1384, 2030 …
Her footprints covered the world, and the number of people she saved increased. Every increase in the number was a life saved.
But as she got closer and closer to her goal, the hope in Su Miaoyin's eyes, which had been deeply hidden, became more and more difficult to discern, until —
- =
"You're here? When do you plan to leave this time? "
This time, Goddess Xi returned to the Udumbara Pure Sect in the starry sky. She didn't want to disturb everyone's sleep, so she quietly returned to her room alone. However, she found that the room was brightly lit. Su Miaoyin had already received the news and was waiting in the room.
While waiting, she didn't forget to read the file, and when she sensed Goddess Xi's arrival, she asked the question on the file without raising her head.
"It's a little longer this time, a month." Heavenly Maiden Xi took off her luggage and started to organize her belongings as she casually recounted her experience. "This time, I traveled from the River East Path to the Longyou Path, and along the way, there was a plague, so I …"
"Just tell me the total number," Su Miaoyin interrupted, as if she didn't have time to listen.
Xi didn't mind this rude behavior. She smiled faintly and said, "Let's count it as 322 people."
"322 people, plus the previous one, a total of 2560 people." Su Miaoyin read the file without stopping, but she accurately reported the number, but then said, "Too slow, this childish agreement, how long do you plan to keep it?"
Goddess Xi smiled faintly. "You've run out of patience?"
Su Miaoyin said, "Almost. Staying in the Udumbara Pure Sect as a spiritual belief, gathering people's hearts, and guarding against accidents is the best way to save more people."
Goddess Xi shook her head. "You said the same thing a long time ago."
Su Miaoyin put down the pen in her hand and looked at Goddess Xi, her eyes as deep as the sea. "The same thing, but a different time."
"What time is it now?"
"The time when the world is about to fall into chaos."
Goddess Xi's expression turned serious. "Now that the four seas are at peace, although there are natural disasters and man-made disasters, the sea is still clear and the rivers are peaceful. Why would the world be in chaos?"
"Since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, there hasn't been a war in a hundred years, but how can there be a hundred years of peace in this world? I've recorded everything you've seen and heard in the past hundreds of miles. You should know that because it can be said to be peaceful now, arrogance has formed. Land annexation is increasing, people's hearts are corrupted, and people's status is clearly defined. Even us cultivators can't avoid it. This is a sign that the prosperity will decline, so we should be prepared for danger in times of peace. Chaos always comes unexpectedly, and it won't give us time to prepare, "Su Miaoyin said with a knife-like tone.
Goddess Xi fell into deep thought, and there was a struggling expression on her face. After a long time, she said, "But it will be summer soon, and I'm worried that if the weather gets hot, the epidemic in Hedong and Longyou will relapse, so I've bought two ships of medicinal ingredients and have to send them there." Before she spoke, she seemed to have loosened up because of Su Miaoyin's words, but there were still things she was worried about, so she couldn't stay in the sect.
Su Miaoyin said again, "Since that's the case, you should go early and come back early. Leave tomorrow."
Goddess Xi's eyes widened when she heard this. This was the first time that Su Miaoyin took the initiative to urge her to leave.
Su Miaoyin explained calmly, "Senior Sister Zhou Miaojie wants to compete with me for the position of Sect Master, so we're like fire and water. If you stay in the sect now, it will increase her desire, and it won't be convenient for me to take action." Between her words, it was obvious that the position of Sect Master was already in the bag.
Goddess Xi's expression darkened again. In the Udumbara Pure Sect, the Goddess was the spiritual leader, and the Sect Master was the secular leader. Generally speaking, the Goddess would choose the most outstanding person among the direct disciples to be the Sect Master, and after the Goddess died, the Sect Master would raise the new Goddess who reincarnated as a baby, and then raise the Goddess until she grew up, and so on. There was no difference between the Goddess and the Sect Master, but as the teacher, she usually had more authority.
The current situation was that Goddess Xi had already chosen Su Miaoyin as the Sect Master, but Su Miaoyin wasn't old enough, so she couldn't be appointed because of the sect rules. As long as there was no official appointment, the other disciples would have other thoughts.
Goddess Xi lowered her eyes and said faintly, "You and Miaojie have been together since you were young, and a few years ago, you were still good sisters who didn't hide anything from each other. How did you end up like this?"
"Because we've both grown up," Su Miaoyin said calmly. It seemed like nonsense, but it was filled with the helplessness of the world.
Goddess Xi thought for a while and said, "Before I leave, I'll appoint Miaojie as the Light Messenger."
The Light Messenger was responsible for finding the Goddess to reincarnate, and before the newborn Goddess developed enough to bear the power of her past life, she would temporarily take care of the Udumbara Heart Lamp that stored the power. She had a high position in the sect, but if she was given this position, it meant that she had no chance of becoming the Sect Master.
"One more life, 2,561. You saved Senior Sister Zhou just now." There was no joy or sorrow in Su Miaoyin's voice. After she finished speaking, she buried her head in the file again, as if what happened just now was insignificant.
The next day, Goddess Xi appointed Zhou Miaojie as the Light Messenger. Although she didn't appoint Zhou Miaojie as the Sect Master for the time being, everyone in the sect knew that the Goddess had her heart set on someone. From then on, no one formed cliques or took the opportunity to cause trouble.
The Goddess also left immediately. However, no one expected that the chaos that Su Miaoyin mentioned would come faster and fiercer than expected.
- =
That year, Di Lingtian appeared with the Six Paths of Evil Annihilation. Within seven days, he destroyed the Dao Sect's Virtue Hall, then the Confucian School's Correspondence Academy. Then, he changed the direction of his army and suppressed the Udumbara Pure Sect with the power to destroy the world.
Fortunately, Su Miaoyin first resisted the Six Paths of Evil Annihilation and led a surprise army to break out of the encirclement, attracting reinforcements from the Myriad Heavenly Palace. The Six Paths of Evil Annihilation, who had been attacking the Udumbara Pure Sect for a long time, was finally defeated. Di Lingtian was also killed by Wei Wushuang in that battle.
The Six Paths of Evil Annihilation was like a sudden clap of thunder, coming fiercely and leaving quickly. After Goddess Xi heard the news, she rushed back to the Udumbara Pure Sect at the fastest speed. However, when she arrived, the chaos had already subsided. She only saw the ground full of desolation and wailing, as well as Su Miaoyin who was waiting for her.
"Master, you're late." Su Miaoyin, who was dressed in white, stood at the broken and collapsed mountain gate. Behind her, there was endless blood and wildfire. It was like a magnificent scene from hell.
After a moment of dizziness, Goddess Xi fainted.
The first thing she did after waking up was to grab Su Miaoyin's hand and ask, "How many people died?"
Su Miaoyin said, "There were 620 disciples in the sect and 3,013 people living outside the sect. This is the current number of people who died."
"It's short … 11,180 people …" Goddess Xi's body trembled violently. The pent-up anger in her chest turned into blood and she vomited it out.
Su Miaoyin knew what Goddess Xi meant. The 10,000 people that Goddess Xi had agreed on with her was a number that she had slowly accumulated through many years of doing good deeds and saving people. Today, because of this battle, it was written off in one stroke. She had even deducted a hundred and eighty people. She counted the deaths of the people inside and outside the sect as her fault.
Counting was never a way to boast about one's achievements. Not only did she remember the kindness of saving lives, she also bore the responsibility of losing them. This was what Goddess Xi had to bear.
After Goddess Xi wiped away the blood, she got up from the bed without saying a word and went straight to "hell".
She used spells to extinguish the inextinguishable evil fire. She lifted 500-kilogram boulders to rescue people trapped in collapsed houses. She concocted medicine and distributed it to the injured. She infused her true energy to save the lives of the people. She sucked the poison out of the poisoned disciples and carried heavy wood to build simple residences …
Day after day, year after year, her figure ran back and forth. Apart from fainting from exhaustion, she didn't rest for a moment and didn't leave the sect again.
Su Miaoyin's wish was finally realized. However, no one had expected it to be in such a way.
The year-round exhaustion that lasted day and night quickly dimmed Goddess Xi's radiance. Just like her cracked skin and withered yellow hair, there wasn't the slightest bit of luster left in her.
Time passed quickly on her body. In just a few short years, she had already aged like an old woman and was infected with a body full of diseases …
After she woke up for the hundredth time, she found Su Miaoyin standing in front of her bed.
Su Miaoyin held a horsetail whisk in her hand and wore a high crown on her head. She had long since taken on the attire of a sect master.
Goddess Xi wanted to get up again, but she found that she was too weak to support her body. Su Miaoyin held her down and said, "Master, it's enough. It's already been 12 years. Those who can be saved have already been treated. The others can't be saved anymore."
"12 years? It's already been 12 years? " Goddess Xi's eyes showed confusion, but she quickly remembered that in the eighth year, she had become hysterical due to excessive fatigue. Since then, she often forgot the past and forgot the years. But soon, the confusion in her eyes dissipated. "But … it's still not enough …"
Goddess Xi remembered that she had been muddle-headed for the past few years. Perhaps this wasn't the first time such a conversation had happened, so she decided to do some more things while she was awake.
She followed Su Miaoyin's wishes and lay down, but she looked at Su Miaoyin and said, "There's a question I can't remember if I've asked you before … When the Udumbara Pure Sect was besieged, why didn't you immediately send me a letter?"
Su Miaoyin said, "The Six Paths of Evil Destruction besieged the Udumbara Pure Sect with the intention of finishing it all in one go. If they don't see you, they won't be able to complete their mission. They will always be wary. If you don't appear, it will instead be a greater deterrent to the Six Paths of Evil Destruction."
"What else?"
"You are alone, so it's difficult for you to help. If I don't see you, the defending disciples still have hope, but if you are lost, everyone's faith will collapse, and they will collapse without a fight."
"What else? Cough, cough, cough … "Goddess Xi suddenly coughed violently. In the first year, she had forcefully used her true qi to prolong someone's life and injured her heart meridian, leaving behind symptoms of coughing blood. Su Miaoyin wiped the blood away for her, but she weakly grabbed Su Miaoyin's hand and said," I'm still clear-headed now, you can't hide it from me. "
Su Miaoyin closed her eyes and didn't look at Goddess Xi's gaze. "Also, I was afraid that you would walk into a trap. I didn't want you to be in danger … You taught me that all living beings are equal, but I didn't do it. Everything is my fault. At that time, I couldn't equate you with others …"
Goddess Xi let out a long sigh and said, "No, maybe you're right, and I'm wrong. All living beings are not equal, and people like me shouldn't leave their positions so easily. They should be in a more important position, bear more responsibilities, and only then can I save more people …"
Goddess Xi was silent for a while and looked at Su Miaoyin. Her eyes that had long since burned out and had only ashes left now bloomed with light. "Your inequality, and my equality, it's hard to tell right from wrong. Both cause and effect, creating an irreversible past. But fortunately, we can still change the future … as long as you help me."
Su Miaoyin seemed to be burned by this gaze. She opened her eyes again and said, "I've already helped you."
All these years, Su Miaoyin had always been silently behind Goddess Xi, like her shadow. She worked day and night, racking her brains to heal the devastation after the disaster. But Goddess Xi said —
"It's not enough. You know how to help me."
Su Miaoyin's pupils slightly shrank, but they fell into Goddess Xi's eyes. Su Miaoyin had always been good at seeing through others, but today, she was repeatedly seen through by Goddess Xi. Therefore, Goddess Xi continued, "You said that chaos always comes unexpectedly. Last time, I was powerless. If there is a next time, the current me will also be powerless. This won't do …"
Goddess Xi curled up the corner of her lips as if she was mocking herself, mocking her current body. Her meridians had withered, she was exhausted and injured, and the old diseases were adding on to the new injuries. This body was like a building that had been eroded by insects and ants. It would collapse at the slightest touch, but she still looked at Su Miaoyin expectantly.
"Only you can help me get out of this helpless predicament. So, while I'm awake now …" Goddess Xi's eyes were warm, and she smiled amiably at Su Miaoyin. Her right hand stretched out from the edge of the bed, and a crystal clear magical lamp appeared in her palm — the Tanhua Heart Lamp.
Because she had absorbed too much poison from other people's bodies, Goddess Xi's right hand had been corroded by the poison in the third year, and her hand had always unconsciously trembled. But now, her trembling hand was still firm. She handed the Heart Lamp to Su Miaoyin, and there was encouragement, expectation, and even a little pleading in her eyes. She said the words that Su Miaoyin feared the most.
"Miaoyin, help me. This time, we'll treat each other equally, okay?"
The coolness of the jade filled her palm, and it penetrated Su Miaoyin's mind. Su Miaoyin only felt a chill spread from her spine to the top of her head. This chill made her whole body tremble, as if she had fallen into an ice cave, but it also forced her to calm down and stay awake.
She knew how to "help" Goddess Xi, she had always known.
In the quiet night, Su Miaoyin just stood there silently, as if she was taking a long examination. Ever since she had become the sect master, every time she had to make a difficult decision, she would be like this.
But there had never been a decision that took as long as this one. Goddess Xi didn't rush her. She just lay there quietly and looked at Su Miaoyin.
She just looked at her until Su Miaoyin's eyes once again blended with the deep night, like a bottomless abyss, without the slightest emotion.
"Okay."
Su Miaoyin took the Heart Lamp and turned it upside down.
It pierced into Goddess Xi's chest.
The upside-down Tan Hua Heart Lamp was like a diamond awl. As soon as it pierced into Goddess Xi's chest, blood gushed out.
The Holy Daughters of each generation would absorb the power of the previous generation from the Udumbara Heart Lamp, and when they were about to pass away, they would return the power they had absorbed and cultivated to the Udumbara Heart Lamp. However, not every Holy Daughter of each generation could complete this ceremony calmly.
Just like the current Goddess Xi, she was sick and couldn't take the initiative to return the power to the Udumbara Heart Lamp. But since the line of Goddess had been passed down for a thousand years without being severed, they naturally had other methods to deal with this kind of situation.
That was the bloodiest method, and it was also the method Su Miaoyin was currently implementing.
The blood-stained Udumbara Heart Lamp shone brightly like a blooming flower, hungrily absorbing nutrients.
Goddess Xi's True Essence and life force continuously poured into the Heart Lamp, causing her cheeks to turn red, showing the radiance of a setting sun.
Thus, she stretched out her hand and placed it on the back of Su Miaoyin's hand, helping Su Miaoyin exert force.
Su Miaoyin had already made the most rational decision, but Goddess Xi knew the weight of this decision, so even in the end, she still shared the burden with her disciple.
The warm blood soaked under the Udumbara Heart Lamp, and the temperature of their hands touching each other reminded Su Miaoyin of when she was still a starving little beggar girl. It was Goddess Xi who didn't mind being dirty and held her hand, becoming the first ray of light that illuminated her life. And now, she was strangling this light.
Perhaps this ceremony didn't need to be carried out in such a hurry. Although Goddess Xi was plagued with illness and pain, she was still a cultivator after all. Moreover, she was still young and could still live for at least twenty years. However, a bedridden Goddess with an unclear consciousness couldn't save the people of the world, let alone deal with the unpredictable future. Therefore, the earlier she died, the more time the future Goddess had to accumulate her strength.
"Don't … be sad …" Her chest had been pierced through, so Xi's voice sounded like a broken bellows, but her eyes were still gentle. "After me … there will be new … Holy Maidens … You and I … will meet again …"
"There will be a new Goddess, but it won't be you anymore," Su Miaoyin said calmly. She had long since become the Youtan Pure Sect's Sect Master whose wisdom was as deep as the sea. Pain and struggle were all unnecessary emotions. Her hand was still firm and powerful as she pressed the Udumbara Heart Lamp against Goddess Xi's chest again and again …
"It's not me anymore, it's the better Heavenly Daughter …" Blood splattered onto Heavenly Daughter Xi's face, but she smiled for the first time in many years. "The lives I owe … I can't … pay them back … find the next me … teach her this equality, this injustice … let her become … a better Heavenly Daughter … to save even more people …"
Her words ended, and the warm smile was forever fixed on the Goddess's face.
Su Miaoyin buried her head deeply and kissed Goddess Xi's forehead. Perhaps death was the only equality in the world, and she had already given it to her master.
When she looked up again, she saw that the night outside the window had ended, and the rising sun had risen, sprinkling the world with the first rays of dawn.
Her sun, however, had been extinguished.
Thus, Su Miaoyin got up and pulled out the Udumbara Heart Lamp from Goddess Xi's corpse. The Udumbara Heart Lamp, which was soaked in blood, absorbed a vast amount of True Essence. The originally closed petals bloomed, emitting a holy radiance.
And Su Miaoyin, who was also soaked in blood, opened the door and called her disciple over. She ignored her disciple's extremely shocked expression and ordered indifferently, "The Goddess has already died. Pass down the order to 'Lamp Messenger' Zhou Miaojie, order her to hold the Heart Lamp and search for the Goddess to reincarnate."
The next Heavenly Maiden would be very different.
She would make a huge difference to the next Sky Fairy!
Absolutely!
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