Farewell

In a daze, Ji Jue seemed to return once more to that spiritual realm of endlessly burning scorched earth. Pitch-black scorch marks covered the ground, and scarlet rain fell from the sky. "Hello there." He raised his eyes and looked at the endless bones before him, looking upon their faces, solemnly telling them: "I have come to fulfill our promise." Eleven years ago, the soul that had fled this hell had returned to hell once more. Bearing a sword. Even an empire proclaimed to be eternal must eventually meet its end, and now, it was this endless hell's turn to be consumed by flame. Just as the wailing cries of countless souls had yearned for. The sword of Chunjun slashed down. Without hesitation! In that dreamlike daze, Ji Jue once again heard weeping and cries, even hysterical laughter and soft sighs of release. The flames were dying, and with them died the souls imprisoned here. Yet at the same time, another familiar voice seemed to wail and shout. Accusing him. "What in the world are you doing?!" In the reflection of the flames, a face identical to his own was burning, shedding tears of blood as it accused: "We were supposed to become one, to be truly completed, truly whole." "No, we never should have existed in the first place." Ji Jue smiled and answered him. Then, he severed his head. He stepped over his own remains. Never looking back. Just like a destined cause and effect. The present Ji Jue was forged by the Flame Tide Calamity of the past; having died amid disaster and hell, he had been reborn into this world. Yet the Flame Tide Calamity should never have existed, nor should the present Ji Jue. From the very beginning, this was an error. No matter how perfect the error, it remained an error—just as no matter how wonderful a hell might seem, it was still hell. Now, the time had come to correct this error. There was no room for hesitation. Even if what awaited him after hell ended was not paradise. Ji Jue swung his sword once more! This time, accompanied by countless converging sparks, wisps of agony spread from within his soul, stabbing deep into his very being. Yet he still did not stop. Forward. In his daze, he seemed to witness the vast span of time once engraved in the flames— The endless darkness beneath the Vortex, the grotesque, bizarre sights in the chaos, the gestation through boundless time, the first ember ignited where the Abyssal Depths and the Vortex overlapped, spreading without end... At last, amid hoarse laughter, answering the call, it ascended to the mortal realm, unfurling its body, dancing, reveling, following an outcome long preordained, blanketing all things. The world seemed on the verge of burning to ash. Yet within that burning world, a song began to sound, so very familiar. Gentle and calm. Calling to him. In a world filled with despair and frenzy, such calm and gentleness was like a hollow depression, drawing endless agony and resentment into itself. Innumerable scarlet ribbons danced, coiling around her, sinking deep into her marrow like barbed briars—the transmission of Great Sin began here. Ji Jue froze, halting his steps. He opened his mouth, but could make no sound. This was everything that had transpired in the past, the true nature of the calamity. The one chosen by the Flame Tide Calamity... had never been him at all. The sole fruit and crystallization of the calamity, the only hope and future, had descended upon her, yearning for coexistence and metamorphosis. Yet she had merely endured in silence, offering no response. She allowed boundless despair and wailing cries to flood into her soul. And then, she embraced that vital hope in her arms. Enduring and waiting amid the ceaseless burning, eyes cast down, gently singing. Thus, the vital ritual met with an unforeseen deviation; the seed of Great Sin that was meant to be passed down died in the womb. The creation meant to be brought forth chose to sacrifice her own life instead. Only to protect her child. Until the flames burned themselves out and the calamity came to an end. She lifted her head, as if gazing across time to see a phantom of the future; her hollow eyes seemed to light up once more, shining like stars. As though all the suffering and sacrifice had found their reward. A silent smile, lips parting. A final farewell. And the treasure she left behind was entrusted into the hands of someone Ji Jue would never have dreamed of. Lyu Yingyue. In the lingering echoes of that song, the exhausted woman lowered her head, looking at the child and the sword before her. She closed her eyes, unable to stop a self-mocking smile. She made her final choice. Draw the sword! She thrust it resolutely into the child's heart and soul with all her strength. She let the fire of the Sin Fiend crawl and writhe up the blade, scorching her arms, body, and face into charred black. Until the very last residue of Great Sin was completely excised. Bending down, she carefully gathered the treasure entrusted to her into her arms, turning and walking away without looking back. Just like that, she brushed past Ji Jue. Stumbling, she carried the child on her back, step by step walking out of hell. Toward the future. This was a sacrifice—a sacrifice that should have ended over ten years ago, yet the offering had turned its back on fate and stepped down from the altar. This was a ritual to pass on Great Sin, yet Great Sin had already been severed within the ceremony. The Sin Fiend that was meant to be born had chosen to give up everything, leaving the final hope to her child. And the person who was supposed to slay this remnant had abandoned her duty, severing his entanglement with the Flame Tide. Now, it was his turn to bring an end to it all! Ji Jue moved forward once more, step by step, heading straight into the collapsing, dying hell, walking all the way to its end, searching for the last soul imprisoned here. The final Fulcrum of the Flame Tide Calamity! Until he slowly turned his head. He saw the shattered carriage, and the child who still remained among the ruins. The child also turned his head to look at him. Across the distance of eleven years. That was the last person who had remained in that blazing inferno, unable to find release. "So you really were here, Ji Jue." He let out a soft, rueful sigh. "Are you alright?" The child silently looked away, making no move, merely staring at the center of the carriage—at that empty space where not even a trace of ash remained. The singing could no longer be heard. Ji Jue sat down beside him, accompanying him in silence. Until the child turned back and told him, "Mama is gone." "I know." "From now on, you have to be strong. You have to take good care of yourself. You can't be weak and run away anymore." "Mm." "Don't waste the rest of your life and the future she gave you..." The child said softly, "You have to make something of yourself." "I promise." Ji Jue nodded firmly, without hesitation. At that, the child smiled. He slowly stood up, facing him, and opened his arms. "Then, are you ready to accept this curse from yourself, Ji Jue?" Ji Jue reached out, embracing the smiling child, and made his vow: "With all my heart!" In that instant, the final sound of shattering echoed through hell. Past events and phantoms dispersed along with the flames, thoroughly brought to an end. Intangible spirits were annihilated into nothingness. Tangible forms crumbled like dust. The essence of the Abyssal Depths and Desolate Ruins quietly perished; the destruction that was supposed to reach completion was itself destroyed. What was clearly the negation and opposite of Sovereign Virtue was now negated and reversed once more. Like a paradox. Yet the opposite of the opposite was not the original front; the destruction of destruction was not birth. The Sin Fiend born of Great Sin had transcended Great Sin itself. When the Flame Tide Calamity was completely annihilated, Ji Jue should have vanished entirely along with it. Yet what remained here now? He slowly opened his eyes, lowering his gaze to his chest—to that profound fissure, the Hole. After the former fire within had completely died out, a brand-new flame ignited. So small, yet so pure. That was himself. The Abyss Seed that belonged solely to Ji Jue was completely realized! Yet this crystallization of sinister malice had no connection whatsoever to the Vortex. It stood proudly aloof outside the Vortex, looking down disdainfully upon all vile abominations. The Flame Tide had run its course. From the void of cold ashes, a brand-new fire surpassing all that had come before reemerged, using the soul of Ji Jue alone as its kindling. At this moment, as the blazing light completely dispersed, the final fragments of the Flame Tide Seed fell silently from Ji Jue's hands, dissolving into nothingness. Never to exist in the world again. And after the blaze composing Ji Jue's body completely died out, it rekindled from the dying embers once more! Instantly reconstructed, regenerated. Swirling flame swept across his entire body. After devouring the fire of Non-Fate, it converged upward. From within the scarlet brilliance, pitch-black crystals sprouted like living things, their sharp facets interlocking to form a savage, chilling Seven-Horned Black Crown! Like a manifestation of Great Sin in the mortal realm, fire rose from the mortal Hole in his chest. Yet it was utterly distinct from all other Great Sins; it had no connection to the Vortex, not even the slightest resonance. It did not submit to Great Sin, nor did it lead to the Vortex; transcendent and detached, standing independent on its own. A sin forged of self-nature, a fiend born and destroyed of itself! With my own body I achieve the sin of the mortal realm—thus, the sin is mine, the evil is mine, and the rise and fall are mine as well! What does it have to do with any of you?! At this moment, the Sin Fiend reborn in fire spread his arms wide and laughed toward the heavens. His wanton, mocking laughter echoed without end. Yet with his movements, the trembling of the Border Realm grew increasingly violent. Heaven collapsed, earth split! All things were immersed in destruction; the sacrificial temple wailed, and its fulcrums shook. The Vortex overlapping with the mortal realm expanded abruptly. The darkness of the Eye of Great Sin spread outward once more, threatening to engulf everything in its violent tremors. "Say goodbye, everyone!" Ji Jue gave a final bow, as if taking a curtain call, leading the Border Realm as it plunged down beneath the Vortex without the slightest attachment. "Thank you all for your hard work and wasted effort, crafting this crown and attire for me. "If you ever have the honor, let us meet again on the day this Sovereign establishes a Holy Dynasty and turns evil into righteousness! "Haha, hahahaha, hahahaha—" BOOM! As the Eye of Great Sin expanded, the moment the light of Tianlu dimmed and severed, a fissure appeared from the void. A torrent of enraged iridescent light surged out, intertwining into a colossal hand that reached toward the Border Realm! It effortlessly tore through the sacrificial temple's repulsion and the Border Realm's blockade, spreading five fingers toward the temple like an overwhelming deluge. Clawing downward! In an instant, an abrupt change occurred. Causing Tianlu's eyes to light up uncontrollably— At last, they took the bait!!!