At this moment, iron-clad brutes and scholars frantically retreated.
Hiding in the shadows, Su Yao was incredulously staring at the copper bell floating in the palm of the youth.
But all these movements, these various scenes,
froze the moment Liang Hui's slightly bent fingers gently tapped the bell.
Dong!
The ancient and heavy bell sound spread around the temple.
The iron-clad brutes and scholars who had just fled the temple fell to the ground without any struggle.
Soldiers on the outskirts, regardless of strength, also fell like harvested wheat.
And even those lurkers who had survived numerous slaughters outside the temple, all collapsed.
In the blink of an eye, lifeless bodies littered the ground encircling the temple, the earth nearly soaked red with blood, its iron taste continually emanating.
Under Jiao Yue's silvery moonlight, the youth's face was pale, his head tilted slightly, looking at Su Yao who appeared again in the temple.
The girl's laughing face had turned serious, her eyes complex as they fixed on the damaged bell in Liang Hui's hand.
In the memories of a possible future, she too had once used this bell to topple the beings of the great world.
"So it is true, then. Is such a glorious future even possible for us? Divine Emperor Your Majesty," she said.
"Who knows?"
Liang Hui whispered, but his gaze remained focused on the girl's movements, for he now had absolutely no trust in her.
The reason he hadn't struck at Su Yao with that blow was not only because he didn't want the Demon Spirit Sect to chase him at all costs, but also because he wasn't certain he could kill the girl completely.
After all, the ways of the Demonic Path are strange and unpredictable, and the Demon Spirit Sect, being among the best, undoubtedly possessed techniques of substitution and evasion.
The girl sensed the caution in Liang Hui's eyes.
She chuckled lightly, the complex emotion in her eyes dissolving, replaced by a lively spirit.
Without hesitation, she turned around and walked out of the temple, stepping over the bloodstains until she vanished from sight.
A single sentence reached the youth's ears.
"My master, as well as that senior sister, will be arriving very soon."
Her words scattered with the wind.
Only Liang Hui remained nonchalant, seated atop the Buddha's head, as his extended hand slowly withdrew, and the sacred yet damaged copper bell retreated into the recesses of the youth's mind.
Giving a glance to Liang Si, who had seemingly fallen asleep on the ground without notice, he withdrew his gaze.
Feeling his body grow weaker and more fatigued, he resisted the waves of drowsiness.
At this time, resting was not an option. For if he slept now, he might never awaken again.
The moonlight was bright and pure, and the trees stood tall.
A graceful figure stood on the branch against the moonlight, gazing at the dilapidated temple and the bloodstained land.
Suddenly, a figure in white dashed swiftly, leaving a trail of afterimages on the ground as it approached the temple.
The moment it entered the temple, the figure turned its head towards the tree.
Eyes met, interlacing—one lively and sly, the other veiled in a misty haze, indistinct.
Then, the figure in white entered the temple.
'Such a beautiful goddess indeed, to the point where even I am tempted,' the girl mused with a shallow laugh, her shoulders shaking slightly. Under the moon's glow, her skin, like jade, seemed even more enticing.
Only then did her figure completely vanish from the spot.
Inside the temple,
the stench of blood was pervasive, a figure in white approached over the stained ground, her black hair cascading down, an air of transcendence about her.
Her face was veiled, her eyes misty, stirring the hearts of those who saw her. Her lips, as red as blood, were strikingly beautiful, and on her wrists, she wore shimmering silver bracelets.
Her steps were graceful, the clinking of the bracelets crisp and pleasant, their holy radiance cleansing the blood within the temple.
At this moment, the woman seemed even more ethereal.
In an instant, the blood stains disappeared, and the woman closely examined the frail, nearly dying boy before her.
His physique was thin and dark, wearing homespun clothes seldom donned by commoners, with only a pair of eyes that could be called bright.
Such an ordinary boy, in those memories that seemed to foretell the future, had actually achieved such great feats, accomplishing the ideal pursued by generations of his sect—transcendence and ultimate unity.
Although in those memories, the boy had killed countless people, joined the Demonic Path, and even struck down her, destroying the sect she belonged to, the Yang Qi Sect.
But at this moment, none of that had happened yet.
The woman's red lips parted slightly.
"Liang Hui, Divine Emperor, Demon Immortal."
"Cough... cough, be it Divine Emperor or Demon Immortal, I just want to live, Divine Lady."
In a low cough, Liang Hui responded intermittently.
Just as he said, all he wanted at this moment was to keep living.
"Divine Lady." The woman chuckled, her bright eyes adding a layer of light to the temple.
"In the memories, that's how you addressed me as well. Yet in the end, you resolutely rang the death knell for us!"
"My teacher, elders, companions, along with all those dear to me and myself were buried in the dust of history by you."
Her words, though softly spoken, carried a bone-chilling intent to kill.
"I've never done any of that, I am just a farmer's son named Liang Hui from Huaiyuan Town, never a Divine Emperor or a Demon Immortal."
"I just want to live."
Liang Hui murmured softly.
As his words fell, the temple sank into silence.
Only the sound of Liang Hui's coughing continued, growing softer and deeper.
After a long while, the woman in white beckoned, and light poured over the boy's nearly depleted body, visibly improving his condition.
Feeling his body mending, Liang Hui breathed a sigh of relief, knowing the crisis was averted.
In the end, he had bet correctly; this Divine Lady of the Yang Qi Sect had the same character as in those memories.
For her, the Way was the priority, all else secondary.
And the Way that this Divine Lady sought was the transcendence and ultimate unity pursued by the predecessors of the Yang Qi Sect.
This was also the shortcut he had planned for joining the Yang Qi Sect. As for joining the Demonic Path indicated by those memories—
Let's not joke about that now. After those memories suggesting the future spread, he had immediately discarded the option of joining the Demonic Path.
He knew all too well what the Demonic Path of this world was like—it was filled with madmen, perverts, and delusionals.
With his current status, going there would surely result in being skinned and deboned; even his soul might end up being used as a lamp.
Even possessing a powerful weapon like the Flowing Light Bell wouldn't help.
On the other hand, a righteous sect like the Yang Qi Sect was different. Although there were still sordid affairs within the sect, at least the people were sane.
They could feel fear, could be wary, and thus, communication was possible, as was seeking a way to live.
Therefore, heading to a righteous major sect was the best choice.
As these thoughts passed through his mind, the woman in white slowly approached Liang Hui. A cyan jade bottle appeared out of nowhere in her fair palm, handing it over to the boy.
"Minor Yang Qi Pill, a Holy Medicine for treating internal injuries and replenishing vital energy."
"Divine Lady, I thank you."
Liang Hui spoke softly, without any hesitation he took the jade bottle, poured out a pill, and swallowed it.
The pill melted upon entering his mouth, turning into warm streams that flowed towards his organs.
Mm...
His agonized organs, under the effect of the warm flow, felt as comfortable as if they were being massaged, making Liang Hui involuntarily cry out.
At the same time, the Flowing Light Bell, which had been vibrating in his mind to prevent accidents, also calmed down.