Volume One: Hidden Depths of the Azure Abyss Chapter Fifty-Nine

Geng Yuan felt as if his entire body was about to be torn apart, a feverish heat burning at his brow. The crimson robe upon him gradually transformed into silver battle armor.

Then, as he slowly raised his head, the divine mark between his brows caught the demon god’s eye. A flicker of surprise flashed in those demonic pupils; that mark made the demon god regard him with greater seriousness.

“The Divine Mark of the Ninefold Emperor. Interesting. If I devour you, I will consume the power of the Ninefold Emperor as well. When that time comes, all six realms shall fall into the Path of Sorrow and be buried with Tianyu!”

“Never.”

The longbow was once more in his grasp, his assault fierce and relentless. Watching the demon god retreat step by step, Geng Yuan swiftly extended his hand and pressed his fingers together. “Buddha’s End, seal all demons and monsters—bind!”

Golden divine light turned into chains, winding around the demon god like venomous serpents.

“Suppress!”

“Thorn!”

At that moment, the demon god let out a chilling smile. “Little merman, are you poisoned?”

With a slash of the Xing Tian Sword, the demon god severed the divine chains. In a blur too swift to see, the sword pierced straight through Geng Yuan’s shoulder, sending them both hurtling out from the depths of the Weak Water.

The immortals on the shore, seeing this, were startled, and together unleashed beams of five-colored celestial light, shrouding both figures.

The demon god moved as swiftly as a shadow.

Just then, a voice echoed from the Divine Realm: “Now! Do it now!”

Geng Yuan stowed his longbow, hands forming graceful seals over his chest. As he closed his eyes, a rune flared upon his chest.

The demon god lunged, intent on devouring him. Geng Yuan’s eyes snapped open, his lips reciting an incantation. Instantly, golden radiance burst forth, dazzling all who beheld it, and the black shadow was gradually consumed by the golden light.

As the final seal was completed, the golden light abruptly dissipated, and the powerful shockwave knocked the immortals on the shore off their feet.

The sky, a pure and flawless blue, stretched above. Geng Yuan, like a drifting willow catkin, bloodied and disheveled, his hair crown fallen, gazed at the sky washed so clean and bright. All around him was silence. Contentment filled his heart as he slowly closed his eyes.

At last, he had changed the fate of Jin Li, who, as the Divine Maiden, was destined to sacrifice herself for all living beings.

His beloved A-Jin had survived. Now, she would see all the world’s beautiful sights, and thankfully, she would finally be free of him...

A faint smile lingered on the man’s lips, his gaze flickering as the brilliant blue sky and soft, pure white clouds shimmered above. The day was as fine as when he had first met his A-Jin in his youth.

The girl’s clear eyes seemed to see straight into his soul, though, sadly, at that time, the young man’s heart had not yet made room for her.

The God of Memory watched with gentle sorrow in her eyes as Geng Yuan’s immortal form began to fade, her heart heavy with pain.

In the end, she granted Geng Yuan’s last request. A single tear fell, and as she opened her hand, amethyst starlight rained down upon the earth, showering all six realms. This was the erasure of memories.

Thus, in this world, aside from the Twelve True Gods, no one would remember him ever again. There would be no trace of a man called Geng Yuan.

He had once yearned to defile the divine, to claim his goddess as his own.

In the war-ravaged lands of the Xi Kingdom, Xiao Ze slowly drew forth a treasure from his palm—a mirror. He smiled in relief. “Perhaps it’s time I fashioned a dream of my own.”

Three days later, a certain gentleman in the Xi Kingdom quietly vanished from the Pavilion at the Heart of the Lake. No one knew where he had gone. Some said they glimpsed that otherworldly gentleman leading a donkey, wandering the world; others claimed he returned alone to the immortal mountains, where he met his end in solitude...

Jin Li awoke in the mountains of Jiuyi.

When she opened her eyes, she sat quietly upon her bed—neither crying nor making a sound. She was as still as a statue.

No one knew what she was thinking, nor what she had been through. All that was known was that when Li Qingmo rose in the morning, Jin Li was already sleeping in the Nine Brooks Pavilion, a blanket draped over her, her crimson robes exchanged for another garment, not a single wound upon her body.

Li Qingmo looked at her and shook his head helplessly. He thought to himself that it was the first time he’d seen this little girl so lost, as if her soul had departed.

Jin Li lowered her gaze to her hands, feeling an inexplicable emptiness and a pain she could not place. There ought to be something on her finger. Her clothes should not be plain, but crimson, embroidered with a lifelike phoenix.

She should not be here.

Thoughts tumbled one after another in her heart, yet inside she felt nothing but a hollow ache.

Why did her heart hurt so much—so much that she could barely breathe?

Jin Li sat there in a daze for an entire day without eating or drinking.

At times, her fingers touched the necklace at her neck—a string of lustrous pearls stained with phoenix blood. When had she come to possess such a necklace?

“Master, about the demon god...”

“I said you have good fortune. The Twelve True Gods combined their power to activate the Demon-Sealing Formation. The demon god is sealed and won’t trouble us for some time.”

Hearing this, she continued her questioning. “And me? Where was I? Why do I have no memory of the demon-sealing?”

“I always told you not to drink my medicinal wine, but you never listened. This time, you got drunk. The wine’s effects are strong; it’s quite normal you haven’t fully recovered.”

Jin Li believed him.

She threw off the blanket, intent on leaving, but Li Qingmo asked, “Where are you going so late?”

“To the Divine Realm. I was absent during the demon-sealing. I must go and beg forgiveness.”

Li Qingmo could not stop her, watching as Jin Li dissolved into mist and departed.

The Divine Realm.

Jin Li passed through the sea of clouds, gazing from afar at the Holy Domain, now dim and lightless. Once, divine light had shone there. Since the disappearance of the Ninefold Emperor, the gods had scattered, and the divine radiance had long since faded.

“Little Phoenix? Why have you come?”

The Rain Goddess had just returned from spreading rain and chanced upon Jin Li.

She smiled. “Aunt Rain Goddess.”

“Come, let’s visit the Divine Realm. It’s been so long since you returned.”

Jin Li nodded.

The Twelve True Gods of the Divine Realm were cultivating, preparing for the upcoming Divine Assembly.

When Jin Li had once lived in the Divine Realm, she had attended such assemblies, but ever since she left for Lotus River in search of freedom, she had not participated.

The God of the Universe opened his eyes and, seeing Jin Li, rose and in a flash appeared at her side, smiling warmly. “Little Phoenix, what brings you here with such leisure?”

She smiled. “It’s been a long time—I came to admit my fault.”

He glanced at the other gods nearby. “They are still deep in meditation. Why not come to my place for a while and tell me the real reason for your visit?”

Before the Rain Goddess could turn back, Jin Li and the God of the Universe had vanished.

The God of the Universe, Ye Ming, poured a cup of tea for Jin Li. After they sat down together, Jin Li spoke with great guilt. “The demon-sealing was my fault. I stole some of Master’s medicinal wine and could not come to help you. I’m sorry. Surely you all suffered great losses in your cultivation.”

Ye Ming’s hand froze mid-lift of his cup, his expression stiffening as the image of a certain young man flashed through his mind.

“No, this demon-sealing only strengthened the seal. It cost us little cultivation.”

Jin Li was relieved at his words. That was good, then.

Ye Ming continued, “I heard you encountered a demon fetus in the mortal realm recently?”

Jin Li recalled the night she had met the demon fetus and nodded. “He is no different from an ordinary child. I have temporarily sealed the demonic bone’s power within him. When he comes of age, the bone can be extracted, and the demon god will have no chance of resurrection.”

“The demon god’s power stems from the demon fetus he nurtures. As long as the demon bone within the fetus endures, there will always be a chance the demon god breaks free. Then, the six realms will be in peril.”

Jin Li nodded in agreement. She had entrusted the demon fetus to her elder brother, though she wondered if her brother could wait until the child grew up. When the time came, the demonic bone could be extracted.

Just then, the God of Thunder arrived. “Ye Ming! Ye Ming!”

His voice was always loud; after stepping inside, he finally noticed Jin Li. Only then did a smile break through his fierce, intimidating features, though his hard efforts still left people faintly uneasy.

“Little Phoenix, you’re here?”

“God of Thunder.”

With great enthusiasm, he waved his hand. Ye Ming asked, “What do you want this time?”

“The Mark of Time. Lend it to me.”

Ye Ming lifted his handsome face, his gaze burning as he stared at the tall god, intimidating even such a giant. Then, he resumed his calm, sipping his tea.

“The Mark of Time is not something you can wield.”

“There you go again—just lend it to me. You gave the Mirror of Worlds to Little Phoenix last time. Why not the Mark of Time to me?”

At these words, Jin Li recalled that she had indeed once asked Ye Ming for the Mirror of Worlds. But why had she needed it?

Ye Ming gave the God of Thunder a meaningful look, but the big fellow was oblivious, chattering on until Ye Ming quickly hushed him, smiling with a warning in his eyes. “Didn’t you have storms to tend to today?”

“I did. Just got back.”

At last, the God of Thunder realized his mistake, hastily clapping a hand over his mouth and casting a furtive glance at Jin Li.

Little Phoenix, lost in thought, did not notice the silent exchange.

Ye Ming: If you let her know, everything will have been for nothing.

God of Thunder: Don’t worry. The God of Memory’s magic is still effective.

Ye Ming: Be careful.

The God of Thunder nodded quickly, then said, “I’ll take my leave.”

Jin Li nodded in response. Ye Ming awkwardly stretched out his leg, stealing a glance at her and asking, “What are you thinking about?”

“...I’m wondering if it’s because I drank the medicinal wine—I feel like I’ve forgotten many things.”

A flicker of panic darted through Ye Ming’s heart.