"Xiao Yan, I hate Gu Zhong, you should hate me, that's all."
Seemingly sensing her confusion and struggle, the Black Fox made the decision for her. The golden thread in its hand slowly rose, transforming into a slender sword, extending an invitation to battle.
"Xuanhu, you know you can't possibly beat me."
Feeling guilty, Gu Zhong's tone softened involuntarily as he tried to persuade Xuan Hu to stop the pointless fighting.
She wasn't underestimating the Xuanhu, but the Shura clan was inherently warlike. If they hadn't been tricked and corrupted by the God Emperor, how could they have been so easily wiped out?
How will you know if you don't try?
Xuanhu chuckled lightly, and his slender sword flew swiftly towards Gu Zhong.
Gu Zhong, however, held his sword horizontally in front of his chest, in a blocking stance.
"What? Is the God of War looking down on me?"
A crimson glint flashed in Xuanhu's eyes, and the golden slender sword in her hand transformed into countless afterimages, rushing towards Gu Zhong at breakneck speed. Black and red mist emanated from her body, carrying an unsettling chill—she genuinely wanted to kill Gu Zhong.
The ribbon flew out of Lingyan's hand, suddenly opening in the air to become several times its original size, covering half of the hall and blocking the golden rain pouring down like a storm.
With a flick of her wrist, Lingyan caused the white ribbon to shrink instantly, and the golden light and shadow merged back into one, finding an opportunity to escape back into Xuanhu's hands.
Despite being repelled, Xuanhu was not discouraged and charged forward again with his sword.
This battle is one of life or death; no one can escape it.
Ultimately, the Xuanhu clan cultivates a method of controlling people's minds with Gu poison, which is indeed of little use in direct combat.
Ling Yan broke through the illusion she had created, and failed to kill Gu Zhong as she had intended. She had already lost her chance of winning, not to mention that she was fighting two against one and always held back against Ling Yan.
After only a few exchanges, Xuanhu was already struggling to defend herself. Lingyan's ribbon knocked the golden sword out of her hand and slashed sharply and swiftly toward her heart.
Xuanhu watched helplessly as the ribbon drew ever closer, unable to dodge in time. If nothing unexpected happened, she would perish here today.
Just as the white ribbon was about to touch the black fox's clothes, a colorful light screen suddenly bloomed, stopping the fatal blow.
The boundless mist and starry sky come together, and they stand on the river of time. Lost memories and fragments flash before their eyes one by one, and in an instant, they have seen a lifetime.
The black and white phantom started moving slowly but faster, becoming increasingly blurry, gradually turning into white light, from faint to bright, until it was too bright to look at directly. After a moment of blinding light, it finally returned to nothingness.
As everything faded away, they still stood atop the divine palace in the heavens, but countless memories surged through their minds, interrupting the battle.
"This is... the Sumeru Illusionary Realm?"
Lingyan was the first to come to her senses, looking around at the Nine Heavens Palace, which was now the deepest part of her memory. Even the patterns on the bricks and stones were exactly the same.
The Sumeru Illusion can replicate all the memories deep in a person's mind, constructing a void illusion where it is difficult to distinguish between reality and illusion.
Their experiences over the past ten thousand years were nothing but a grand dream, a mere reenactment of Ragnarok.
Perhaps there were some slight discrepancies—
"This ending is quite different from what I imagined. It's such a pity..."
Xuanhu was no longer in a sorry state and had regained her free and easy demeanor. She looked at Gu Zhong and sighed softly.
"You almost succeeded."
Gu Zhong looked at Xuan Hu with complicated emotions. Death in the illusion was also real death. She was just one step away from truly getting revenge and making Ling Yan's efforts of ten thousand years go to waste.
"Xuanhu, the God Realm has been destroyed for ten thousand years! Lifetime after life, haven't you chased after Gu Zhong for so long enough?!"
Lingyan recalled the scene just now, feeling quite angry and fearful. Ten thousand years ago, she had accidentally killed Gu Zhong because she was possessed by the Xuanhu's demonic influence, and now she almost repeated the same mistake.
"How can one life be considered equal? Of course, it needs to be hundreds or thousands..."
The voice of the Black Fox seemed to come from the deepest hell, filled with endless hatred. Time cannot erase everything; ten thousand years of wandering had made the hatred even purer.
"Then your life isn't enough to repay me!"
Lingyan felt a surge of anger. She knew that the gods owed Xuanhu, Gu Zhong owed Xuanhu, but Xuanhu also owed her. However, she remembered even more the genuine friendship they had shared back then.
She had thought that everything had come to an end ten thousand years ago with the fall of the divine realm.
Dust to dust, ashes to ashes, leaving it to future generations for tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions of years, and perhaps no one will even know those past events that have drifted away with the wind.
"You may come and get it again."
Xuanhu frowned, his gaze shifting to Lingyan with an air of indifference.
"···"
Lingyan was annoyed by her nonchalant attitude.
Ten thousand years ago, after Gu Zhong died, she personally ended the life of the culprit before her.
However, after the hatred and anger in their hearts were vented, only endless emptiness and confusion remained.
If it weren't for a fortuitous encounter that led her to find a way to revive her lover and the belief that she could rebuild her life, she would probably have already vanished into thin air.
At that moment, she let go of all the hatred in her heart and focused solely on finding Gu Zhong's soul.
In the past, it was difficult to distinguish right from wrong, and everyone had their own standpoint.
So-called hatred is nothing more than the belief of those who have no love.
With love, hate becomes useless.
"Come--"
Gu Zhong raised her sword, knowing that further words were useless; Xuan Hu, who had nothing left, was completely unpersuasive.
If it's war, then let's fight.
This endgame is nearing its end.
Before Lingyan could react, and Xuanhu couldn't even see Gu Zhong's movements, a seemingly simple sword strike had already pierced Xuanhu's body.
The sword's force penetrated the body without diminishing, pushing the Xuanhu's soul out of its body and embedding it precisely in a cluster of black and red crystals at its heart.
"police--"
The thing called the system let out a sharp whistle before it completely lost its life, suddenly exploded, turned into powder, and gradually dissipated into the air.
This is the true power of the gods, capable of breaking all laws with sheer force; no strange or unpredictable thing can withstand a single blow.
Gu Zhong drew his sword and pulled the black fox back into her body.
The moment her soul returned to her body, a large amount of blood began to gush from her mouth, and her entire body visibly deteriorated.
"Xuanhu!"
Lingyan took two steps forward, seemingly wanting to rush to her side to check on her injuries, just like when they used to meet. Then, remembering something, she abruptly stopped in her tracks.
"At least you are free now."
Gu Zhong lowered his eyes, concealing the sorrow within them.
Xuanhu was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. Gu Zhong even remembered her casual remark from a past life: killing the system also killed her.
Indeed, who can truly tolerate someone constantly worrying about their life?
"What a hypocrite."
She snorted coldly, showing no appreciation.
Freedom—what an ironic word, something she pursued her entire life, only to truly obtain it on her deathbed.
She collapsed to the ground, staring at the shimmering dome, yet felt a surprising calm within her; such an ending seemed to be deserved.
Driven by hatred, she schemed and betrayed too many people throughout her life, but she never had a way out and could only move forward relentlessly.
If everything could start over—
I would still make the same choice.
Life was slipping away, the black fox's soul was gradually dissipating, and its consciousness was becoming increasingly blurred.
In a hazy vision, it seemed as if someone was standing in front of her, as if they had been waiting for her for a long time. Upon seeing her arrival, they smiled and gently took her hand.
The only thing I regret in my life... is you...
——
As the black fox completely lost its life force, the sturdy hall began to crack and became precarious, as if it were a sign of the illusion collapsing.
Gu Zhong took Ling Yan's hand, preparing to lead her away from this dangerous situation.
However, Lingyan grasped her hand instead and shook her head slightly.
"Ayan?"
Gu Zhong asked, puzzled.
"This is the scene of the fall of the divine realm that day."
Lingyan spoke softly, her tone filled with sorrow.
"The divine realm shattered only after Xuanhu's death?"
Gu Zhong suddenly realized that the order of things seemed to be wrong.
"The God-Slaying Array, eternally silent. This is a deliberately set array, and Xuanhu herself is the array's core? Has she gone mad!?"
"She would do something like offering her soul as a sacrifice to overthrow the divine realm. Perhaps it's because my father has committed too many evils and is too guilty, or perhaps it's because I'm not skilled enough and too cowardly, but I don't have her courage to seek revenge at all costs."
At this moment, Lingyan felt a little ashamed, as she could hardly be considered a person who was loyal and filial.
Sometimes, being too fixated on something only leads to self-inflicted trouble.
Gu Zhong gently rubbed her head, his words filled with emotion.
They stood silently, watching the glorious god shatter and fall into the abyss.
The spiritual energy transformed into shooting stars, scattering throughout the myriad realms, presenting a thriving and prosperous scene everywhere.
The boundless light gradually faded, and the pure darkness howled and dissipated. Ragnarok, the gods and demons were all destroyed, leaving only a silent chaos, unchanging since time immemorial.
Lingyan took Gu Zhong's hand, their fingers intertwined, and held on tightly.
"Ayan, I'm here."
The person turned their head and smiled gently.