The cultivators stopped dwelling on the previous topic and turned their attention to the Heavenly Emperor Mirror. At this moment, Chu Yang and Yaoguang stood at the foot of the mountain where their five years of companionship had begun and would now come to an end.
Yaoguang's heart was filled with mixed emotions. She sighed deeply, despite her immense reluctance, and said, "After this farewell, we shall find it hard to meet again."
As she finished speaking, tears shimmered in her bright eyes.
She desperately hoped the man in front of her would say, "Don't go…"
If Chu Yang had said those words, Yaoguang would have stayed by his side no matter the cost, always accompanying him.
But she waited and waited.
The man before her never uttered those words.
His face remained as indifferent as ever, as if their five years of companionship meant nothing to him.
It could not compare to the path of humanity he pursued.
Yaoguang's heart was filled with sorrow, and her face reflected her sadness.
She wanted to ask the man in front of her, did she hold no place in his heart at all? She couldn't help but recall that moment years ago.
Chu Yang had risked everything to save Bai Xiaoqi, even willing to abandon the path he had been pursuing for her.
Yaoguang felt bitter and envious of Bai Xiaoqi, who had truly entered his heart.
The two stood in silence, gazing at each other for a long time, neither speaking.
They seemed like the closest of strangers, so near yet so far.
Yaoguang's lips moved several times, but she still couldn't voice her thoughts.
Even though she was unwilling, she felt helpless.
Perhaps a person's life is filled with regrets and sorrows.
Perhaps their paths were never meant to cross.
Perhaps it was all just her own wishful thinking.
Chu Yang looked at the conflicted expression on the young woman before him and sighed softly, "Take care!"
With that, he turned to leave.
"Roar!"
Suddenly, a mournful roar pierced the sky, reaching the heavens.
Terrifying demonic energy enveloped the land, and the immense pressure caused the void to tremble, with tiny cracks spreading like spiderwebs in all directions.
A ferocious great demon shattered a mountain.
The ground shook as if in an earthquake.
The demon had menacing horns and emitted a dark glow, with dreadful demonic energy like invisible claws, destroying everything around it.
The demon roared and charged towards a familiar village.
Yaoguang's face froze, her expression turning pale.
However, seeing Chu Yang's indifferent expression, her gaze grew colder.
Chu Yang, who had been about to leave, suddenly halted and resolutely turned back towards the village.
But the village was populated by mere mortals; how could they resist such a great demon?
What had once been a peaceful and harmonious village had now become a living hell! The straw hut where they had lived for five years was now burning, and the village was engulfed in flames.
Amidst the flames, familiar figures appeared and disappeared!
Walking on the muddy path, Chu Yang saw corpses everywhere, severed limbs scattered around.
A pair of red lanterns caught Chu Yang's attention.
This was a separate courtyard, but now the people inside were long dead, leaving only a pair of lanterns swaying in the wind.
He couldn't help but hear the voices from the past echoing in his ears.
"Brother Chu, I won't lie to you, having a son is really exhausting. It feels like half my life has been worn out. This time, I hope it's a girl; otherwise, with two naughty boys, I'll be driven crazy every day!"
"It's a boy, but let's hope he's not as mischievous as the last one."
A middle-aged man once confided in Chu Yang. However, anyone could see that, despite his words, he couldn't hide the smile on his face when he learned it was a boy.
"Uncle Chu, can you guess why I'm looking for you this time?"
"Uncle Chu, you're truly amazing!"
"Uncle Chu, don't forget to come to my house for the feast!"
…
Now, everything had changed. The red lanterns remained, but the familiar faces were gone.
Chu Yang's mouth was filled with a bitter smile.
It seemed like a cycle. He left his village because his blood relatives were killed, struggling his way out.
But now, after settling in another village for five years, the same tragedy occurred.
In the face of such calamities, human strength seemed insignificant.
Mortals were like ants, too fragile to withstand such forces.
Yet, from ancient times, there has been a saying passed down among the people:
"Man can conquer nature!"
Even though mortals were like ants before the Dao of Heaven, and the Dao of Heaven could wear down the human body, it could not break their iron will.
As long as one had an indomitable will, human belief would endure.
This was why the human race could survive and thrive despite the great forces against it!
This was the Dao of Humanity, a legacy passed down through generations!
At the same time, a terrifying pressure rose to the sky as the horned great demon approached Chu Yang step by step.
Its eyes were filled with bloodlust.
For no other reason than the fact that this demon recognized who Chu Yang was! If not for this man, their Heavenly Demon Mountain would not have fallen to this state, with all the demon clans fleeing like lost dogs.
The terrifying killing intent turned into sharp blades, enveloping Chu Yang in boundless cold, trying to make him kneel and submit!
Yaoguang trembled slightly at this scene, feeling a hint of despair.
But Chu Yang remained as if in deep meditation, ignoring the killing intent around him.
He stood there, as if everything around him had nothing to do with him.
The Dao of Heaven could not make him bend; a mere great demon could not shake him either.
Outside the Heavenly Emperor Mirror.
The cultivators' faces changed dramatically upon seeing this unparalleled great demon.
They had placed themselves in Chu Yang's perspective, feeling the pain of seeing the village they had lived in for five years and the people they had been with for five years being destroyed.
The terror of this great demon also struck fear in their hearts.
A quasi-Supreme level great demon!
They felt despair for the Emperor. With his cultivation lost, how could he possibly fight such a terrifying being?
Ye Fan sneered, "It seems the Emperor has abandoned the Yaoguang Empress and fled on his own!"
Everyone nodded, thinking the same.
Perhaps the Yaoguang Empress survived by relying on her identity.
Only the Yaoguang Empress herself remained calm.
She already knew the truth, and her heart was as still as an ancient well.