The Bitterest Farewell

Ji Ning nodded gently. “I won’t go.”

“Good.” Ji Jiuhuo swept his gaze across the group. “Everyone, return to your positions. Dilong, you will temporarily replace Ji Ning as the center of the Tail node. We will begin attacking with the Blackflame Dragon.”

“Understood.”

Dilong, Granny Shadow, Old Servant Axing, and Ji Liuzhen departed swiftly, heading to their respective positions.

…

Killing intent filled the air.

A coiled, snow-white flood dragon lay dormant. Within its body, Immortal Xu Li and the others were cautious. The earlier attack by Ji Ning had secretly alarmed Xu Li, but the other Zifu Disciples remained relaxed.

“That Ji Ning is a freak, but he’s just a Zifu Disciple. He’s no match for the master.”

“Compared to Master, Ji Ning is nothing.”

“The Ji Clan is doomed.”

The Zifu Disciples chatted casually, completely at ease.

Nong Zidao sat with his eyes closed, immersed in his formation calculations. Suddenly, from the dense miasma in the distance, a thunderous boom rang out!

Swoosh! A black dragon scale, a massive tail, swept across horizontally.

Boom!

It smashed into the coiled snow-white flood dragon, sending the entire beast tumbling backward. Xu Li, Nong Zidao, and the others remained inside the flood dragon’s body the entire time.

“A sneak attack.”

“They’re coming again.”

“Ji Ning already lost, and the Ji Clan still dares to ambush us?” Each of them was enraged. Even the flood dragon was sent rolling. Nong Zidao, who had been deep in his cultivation, was naturally roused.

From within the flood dragon’s head, Immortal Xu Li bellowed, “You’re asking for death!”

Swoosh!

The large seal in his hand shot into the air, expanding rapidly until it was a hundred zhang wide, and smashed directly into the audacious dragon tail.

Boom!! A massive explosion rang out. The dragon scales shattered, and the tail was blasted apart, the dissipating energy quickly vanishing into the miasma.

“Uncle-Master.” Nong Zidao frowned at the distant miasma. “Even Ji Ning is no match for you. The Ji Clan has run out of options. Now, they’re just trying to buy time, to hinder my formation-breaking.”

Xu Li nodded. “Zidao, just focus on your calculations. I was caught off guard earlier, but now that I’m prepared, I won’t let their distractions affect you.”

Swoosh.

Xu Li waved his hand, and a black rope shot out, rapidly extending to several hundred zhang, encircling the snow-white flood dragon. The large seal floated before him.

“The moment that dragon appears, I’ll shatter it,” Xu Li said.

Just a moment later.

Swoosh!

A phantom shot toward them—the dragon tail, attacking again.

Bang! The black rope lashed out. The strike from the Wanxiang Adept, wielding his Earth-ranked magic treasure, easily dispersed the tail.

Inside the flood dragon, Nong Zidao finally relaxed, closed his eyes, and resumed his formation calculations. The occasional ruckus outside barely affected him.

…

Halfway up Oxhorn Mountain.

Ji Jiuhuo, Ji Ning, Ji Yichuan, the Immortal Crane, and Uncle White were all there.

“The Blackflame Dragon alone won’t cut it.” Ji Jiuhuo shook his head. “Xu Li alone can disperse the dragon and keep Nong Zidao unaffected. We’ll need everyone to fight.”

The Blackflame Dragon was merely a coalescence of energy. Beasts and humans were alive; they could use tricks, unleash Dao talismans, and so on.

“Dilong!” Ji Jiuhuo sent a direct mental transmission. “You’re up!”

…

The blue-armored giant that was Dilong stared at the path parting before him in the miasma. A trace of bitterness flickered in his eyes.

“What a pity… what a pity…”

He recalled his life, and his heart was filled with sorrow.

When a beast was tamed and bound, its only hope was to encounter a good master. Otherwise, its fate was miserable. When Tongyu died, Dilong was forced to submit again, and now he was being forced to his death.

Even so, he didn’t dare resist. Dying now meant he could go to the Netherworld; as a Zifu-level great demon, his soul could easily become a ghost soldier. But if he resisted, he would be utterly annihilated, body and soul.

“Hate!”

The blue-armored giant shifted, transforming back into his true form—a massive, clawed Dilong. The enormous beast moved across the mountain, swiftly heading toward Xu Li along the path opened by the miasma.

Moments later.

Dilong saw the distant snow-white flood dragon and the figures within it.

Swoosh!

He charged.

Swoosh!

He was upon them in an instant. Inside the flood dragon, Nong Zidao was deep in formation calculations. The other Zifu Disciples were watching, and Xu Li was ready with his treasures.

“It’s Dilong.”

“Dilong?”

The Zifu Disciples recognized him instantly.

Roar! Before Xu Li’s treasure could even strike, Dilong raised his head and let out a furious, anguished roar that shook the heavens.

Then, a terrifying fluctuation began to emanate from within Dilong’s body. Xu Li’s face changed. “Watch out!”

Boom!!!

As a Zifu-perfect divine beast, Dilong’s Zifu Lake was far vaster than a human Zifu Disciple’s, holding an incomparably surging torrent of Yuan power. In terms of raw reserves, this divine beast’s Zifu Lake rivaled even a Wanxiang Adept of the early stage.

In that instant, the Yuan power he had accumulated over endless years was detonated. The cataclysmic explosion instantly tore apart Dilong’s body, then erupted outward in all directions.

“Block it!” Xu Li hurriedly sent the great seal flying forward, using it like a city wall.

Rumble…

The terrifying explosion, spreading in all directions, flipped the Earth-ranked treasure ‘Earth-Suppressing Seal’ over. But as the seal was overturned, the shockwave aimed at the snow-white flood dragon was already halved. By the time it struck the flood dragon, the beast merely tumbled a few times, unharmed.

“What happened?” Nong Zidao opened his eyes.

“It was a self-detonation.”

“A Dilong self-detonated,” the Zifu Disciples said.

Nong Zidao was stunned. “Dilong? That was Senior Apprentice-Brother Tongyu’s Dilong.”

Xu Li’s pupils contracted as he stared at the massive gouges in the ground. “That Dilong was a divine beast among the Yao. Its Zifu Lake held immense Yuan power. This self-detonation… its power was truly frightening.”

…

On the mountainside, Ji Jiuhuo looked at the white-robed woman, the Immortal Crane. “Dilong is dead. Immortal Crane, you’re next.”

“Yes.”

The white-robed woman didn’t hesitate. She immediately departed along the path opened by the miasma.

Just a few breaths after she left.

Boom!

An explosion rang out. The aftershocks were faintly visible even from a distance.

“So fast?” Ji Yichuan frowned.

“She didn’t go to Xu Li’s side.” Ji Jiuhuo’s voice was low. “This Immortal Crane… she was Nong Zidao’s mount. Her bond with him is likely very deep. I forced her to self-detonate, but she did it halfway there, never even reaching Nong Zidao.”

Ji Ning shook his head gently.

Once a beast was bound… it was absolutely obedient to its master. The Crane did this because her feelings for Nong Zidao were truly profound.

“Nong Zidao!” Ji Jiuhuo bellowed directly into the distance. “The Immortal Crane, your former mount, I ordered her to attack you! But she self-detonated halfway, never even reaching your side. It seems your bond with that beast is deep indeed.”

…

The voice carried far into the distance.

Xu Li and the others fell silent. They all looked at Nong Zidao. Nong Zidao stared into the distance, his eyes filled with pain. “Crane… Crane…”

When he fled, he only had one Minor Teleportation Dao Talisman, so he couldn’t take her.

He had dissolved their master-servant contract, hoping she would live on… but now, his Crane had self-detonated far away, just to avoid affecting him.

“Crane.” “Crane.” Nong Zidao tried to forget, but the scenes of their past rose in his heart, shaking his Dao-heart, unable to control himself.

“Disciple-Nephew Zidao.” Xu Li bellowed. “This is the Ji Clan’s scheme. You cannot be affected by it. Focus on breaking the formation.”

Nong Zidao nodded. “Yes.”

He understood the logic, but a bond of centuries with the Immortal Crane could not be easily forgotten. How could his heart be still? The effect of the Crane’s self-detonation was far greater than Ji Ning’s earlier assault.

Halfway up Oxhorn Mountain.

Ji Ning was filled with anxiety and worry. He looked at his father beside him. According to the plan set by the clan leader, after Dilong and the Immortal Crane, it was his father’s turn.

“It’s been the time it takes an incense stick to burn.” Ji Jiuhuo spoke suddenly. “The Crane’s self-detonation should have shaken Nong Zidao. Now that the incense has burned, he’ll be calming down soon. Yichuan… it’s your turn.”

Ji Yichuan nodded.

“You must do everything you can to disturb Nong Zidao’s formation calculations,” Ji Jiuhuo said. “Dilong and the Crane were newly tamed, not fully loyal to the Ji Clan. They could only use the most desperate method—self-detonation. The time they bought is limited. It’s up to our Ji Clan members now.”

“I understand.” Ji Yichuan nodded. “Leave it to me. But before that… Ji Ning!”

Ji Yichuan looked at his son.

Ji Ning looked up at his father.

“You can leave now.” Ji Yichuan looked at his son, his voice direct. “You’re useless here. Staying any longer will only invite trouble. Leave, now.”

“Leave now?” Ji Ning’s eyes went wide. His father was about to fight to the death, and he was supposed to leave now?

“Go.” Ji Yichuan barked.

Ji Ning saw the expression on his father’s face and understood instantly. His father had always been a proud man. Even as he faced death, he didn’t want his son to see it.

“Ji Ning.” Ji Jiuhuo, understanding Ji Yichuan’s intent, also spoke. “Go. Hurry.”

Beside him, Uncle White walked over, looked up at Ji Ning, his eyes filled with reluctance and love.

“Uncle White.” Ji Ning stepped forward and embraced him.

This time… everyone, including Uncle White, could not escape. The sealing formation outside blocked them all. Only Ji Ning could escape.

“Father. Uncle White.” Ji Ning held Uncle White, looking at his father, tears welling in his eyes.

“GO!!!” Ji Yichuan roared.

Ji Ning’s heart ached.

He didn’t want to go! He truly didn’t want to go!

The truth was, he wanted to stay and fight to the death with them!

“It takes courage to choose a glorious death.” Ji Jiuhuo looked at Ji Ning. “But choosing to depart alone takes even greater courage. Ji Ning… don’t let our hopes down.”

Uncle White gently nudged Ji Ning with his head, urging him to leave.

Ji Ning looked at his father, at Uncle White, at the clan leader…

“I’ll go.” Ji Ning’s voice was hoarse.

He turned and walked out along the parting path of miasma.

Inside, his heart was screaming. He really didn’t want to leave. He wanted to stay by his father’s side, by Uncle White’s side, and fight.

But his reason told him he had to go. Otherwise, the clan leader and the others would all die with their eyes open, unable to rest in peace.

…

The sealing light barrier covered the sky, its surface shimmering like clear water. Everything was sealed.

“Break.”

Ji Ning activated the Lesser Thousand Sword Formation, unleashing his Northsea Swords, but he couldn’t even scratch the seal.

“Why. Why.” His heart screamed in agony. If he could break this sealing formation, he could take his father, the clan leader, Uncle White, and the others and retreat! But the Blackflame Dragon Prison Formation was some distance away. Without its augmentation, the Lesser Thousand Sword Formation’s power dropped by several levels. He didn’t even have the strength to fight Tongyu anymore.

The Northsea Swords were a bit stronger, but still far from breaking the seal.

“Xu Li! Nong Zidao! Snowdragon Mountain!” Ji Ning turned to look at the coiled Blackflame Dragon in the sea of miasma behind him. “I, Ji Ning, swear this oath: I will erase every last one of you from existence!”

The Ten-Thousand-Mile Trace-Away Talisman appeared in his hand.

Swoosh.

Spatial ripples swirled around him, and Ji Ning vanished without a trace, already far away.