To the west of the valley, the sounds of battle roared, and lightning flashed.
The tremors from the intersecting Formations even shook the mountains on the east side.
At this moment, deep within the secluded forest on the east side, Ye Qingyun, Li Guangrui, and Shou Lao had seized the opportunity to quietly escape the edge of Wangchen Village, speeding towards the hidden passage they had prepared.
As Ye Qingyun ran, the overwhelming Battle Intent from the west side still seemed to echo in his ears.
His Heart-Nature was heavy, but his steps did not falter.
"Senior, they..." He gritted his teeth, emotions churning in his eyes, but ultimately, he said no more.
Shou Lao silently watched Ye Qingyun's resolute yet pained back, his own Heart-Nature filled with mixed emotions.
How could he not understand Ye Qingyun's feelings at this moment?
Those friends who had accompanied him for nearly his entire life, for Ye Qingyun's sake, had chosen to fight to the very end without hesitation, and their outcome was almost predictable.
Shou Lao's Heart-Nature also felt as if a thousand-pound boulder was pressing down on it, incredibly heavy.
But he had no choice; he bore the countless hopes of Fire Lotus City. He had to nurture Ye Qingyun, this last spark, so that Fire Lotus City would not lose its Legacy.
As for the Jiang Clan?
He truly couldn't bear to see such a talented young sprout continue to be an enemy of the Jiang Clan because of the hatred from their previous generation.
"Qingyun..."
Shou Lao spoke softly, his voice ancient and calm: "Ultimately, all of this is the Karma created by us old fellows."
"Old Village Chief, Old Mo, and the others, they chose to die in battle rather than live ignobly. It was our own choice, so don't take it to Heart-Nature."
He paused, looking at Ye Qingyun with deep and complex eyes: "But you are different."
"You are still young, with a fierce determination and a sense of responsibility, and you shouldn't have to bear all this."
"But if you get entangled in an insoluble feud too early, you will only walk a dead end."
Ye Qingyun was startled by these words, a hint of confusion appearing in his eyes.
Shou Lao continued: "You must understand that things in this world are not just about absolute right and wrong. We old fellows can only say that we were unlucky and had conflicting ideals, which led to such deep-seated hatred with the Jiang Clan..."
"Having come to this, you don't need to dwell on the grievances of our older generation. Walking your own Dao is the most important thing."
Ye Qingyun's mind was shaken, and he was speechless for a moment.
Beside him, Li Guangrui, though heavily injured, had a clear Divine Sense. Listening to Shou Lao's words, his Heart-Nature was not at peace, and he spoke: "Senior Shou Lao, although that is true, at this point, Brother Ye and I are already deeply entangled."
"That Divine Son of the Jiang Clan, Jiang Ye, is a ruthless and cold-blooded fellow who kills without batting an eye. How could he allow us to live? Even if we let go of our hatred, he wouldn't let us go!"
Ye Qingyun was silent for a moment, a flicker of resolute light in his eyes, and finally spoke slowly: "Senior Shou Lao, there is no need to worry. I have my own Dao to walk, and no matter how difficult it is, I will persevere."
Shou Lao frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping over Li Guangrui, a hint of indescribable coldness appearing in his eyes.
He sighed inwardly.
Although Li Guangrui had courage, he was too impulsive. If he couldn't temper his Heart-Nature in the future, he might instead become an obstacle on Qingyun's Dao.
Just at this moment.
Buzz!
A wisp of snow-white light suddenly appeared in the Void Realm, like a flash of lightning piercing the night, and then vanished.
The next moment.
Li Guangrui couldn't even let out a scream before he turned into dust in the white light, his Primordial Spirit annihilated, leaving no trace behind.
This scene happened too quickly, so fast that even Ye Qingyun didn't have time to react.
He froze, instantly stiffening on the spot.
The Void Realm vibrated, and a figure slowly appeared.
The young man wore a Dragon-patterned black robe, with handsome features and an expression as cold as a god.
He clapped his hands, looking at Ye Qingyun and Shou Lao with an indifferent expression.
"Saint Li was right," Jiang Ye said, his tone carrying a faint smile and coldness: "Whether you let go of your hatred or not, the outcome is already sealed."
"Karma is not severed; fate is hard to erase."
"To oppose our Jiang Clan, only when everyone is dead will this grudge truly end."
"Ye Qingyun..."
"If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for standing with Fire Lotus City."
Shou Lao's pupils contracted sharply, his face changing in alarm.
He had thought that the entire area would be set with ambushes or Formations, but he hadn't expected Jiang Ye to come in person.
And he had seen through their hidden disguise so easily.
It was as if he had been waiting for them from the beginning.
"Jiang Ye..."
Ye Qingyun's fingers trembled slightly, his knuckles turning white.
He looked at that familiar yet cold figure, rage, grief, shock, and hatred churning within his Heart-Nature like thunder, indescribable.
Li Guangrui, his closest friend... just like that... died?
"Jiang Ye! You are so cruel and bloodthirsty, one day you will get your retribution!"
Ye Qingyun's eyes were bloodshot as he roared, his voice filled with deep sorrow and hatred.
However, he himself did not notice.
The moment Li Guangrui died, his Dao Heart trembled, killing intent and darkness quietly growing within his Heart-Nature. A faint demonic Qi aura silently rose, subtly showing signs of his Dao Heart being clouded and a Heart Demon taking advantage of the opening.
And in the distant Void Realm, Jiang Ye's expression remained indifferent, but a series of System prompts sounded within his Divine Sense.
Jiang Ye's expression was calm, but a playful, cold smile appeared in his eyes.
He knew that no one was perfect.
Even the most resolute Dao Heart, given sufficiently strong stimulation, would show cracks.
"Ye Qingyun, do you know why Li Guangrui died?"
Jiang Ye's tone was calm, yet it was like a cold knife piercing bone: "Because he helped you."
"Now, Li Guangrui's entire clan, as well as everyone in Bixia Heavenly Palace, has already gone before him. Now they are all reunited, neat and tidy."
"Do you know the real reason?"
Jiang Ye continued, his voice like a whisper from the depths of Hell: "There is only one real reason, and that is that Li Guangrui was your friend, and you, Ye Qingyun, are an enemy of the Jiang Clan."
Ye Qingyun was consumed by rage, almost losing control.
The System prompts kept ringing in Jiang Ye's mind, putting him in a great mood.
"You demon! You..." Ye Qingyun trembled all over, pointing at Jiang Ye.
Jiang Ye directly interrupted him, continuing: "Speaking of which, This Divine Son has investigated your background these past few days. You are a collateral descendant of the Ancient Ye Family, unpopular since childhood, but there was an adopted elder sister in your clan who took good care of you when you were young..."
"And during those years you traveled, you also made some friends..."
Jiang Ye's tone was like a sharp dagger, each sentence stabbing another inch deeper into Ye Qingyun's Heart-Nature.
The meaning was also very clear: anyone connected to Ye Qingyun would not be spared.
Thinking of this.
Ye Qingyun trembled all over, rage, regret, and pain intertwined, the demonic Qi growing denser, his Dao Heart teetering on the brink of collapse.
"Qingyun, steady yourself!"
Shou Lao suddenly spoke out, a sharp shout like a clap of thunder, startling the almost out-of-control Ye Qingyun awake.
"A dignified Divine Son of the Jiang Clan, yet his Heart-Nature is so malicious!"
"This old man doesn't know why you're saying these useless words..."
"Now that it has come to this, if you want to kill us, then just do it. What kind of man are you to provoke Qingyun with words?"