Batian Martial Soul

Dao Sha slowly turned around. His weathered body appeared somewhat frail in the shadows of the ruins, yet it exuded an indescribable resilience.

He refocused his gaze steadily on Lei Ling and Lu Ling, his eyes like a candle flame quietly lit in the cold night, revealing a hint of gentleness and concern that was not easily detected.

In this devastated and cruel ruin filled with the aura of death and despair, it seemed as if the whole world had been swallowed by darkness. Only Lei Ling and Lu Ling, like faint stars twinkling in the night sky, became his only solace and the ray of light he desperately sought in this endless darkness.

He opened his mouth slightly, his voice as gentle as a spring breeze, and slowly asked, "Lei Ling, Lü Ling, how have you two little ones been these past few years?"

This voice was completely different from the previous low, desperate tone, as if the burden of fate was suffocating him.

At this moment, his voice carried a unique affection and care that an elder has for a younger generation, like the warm sun in winter, gently shining on the hearts of Lei Ling and Lü Ling.

Lei Ling and Lu Ling, who were immersed in the sorrow brought by the surrounding ruins, couldn't help but tremble slightly when they heard Dao Sha's warm words.

The feeling was like being suddenly struck by a warm and powerful current on a cold winter night, as if every cell in the body was awakened and filled with vitality.

Their gazes slowly rose, meeting Dao Sha's deeply affectionate eyes.

At that moment, time seemed to stand still. Their eyes flickered with complex emotions: nostalgia for the beautiful past, heartache for the ruins before them, and surprise and emotion at reuniting with Dao Sha.

As if they were telepathically connected, the two nodded in unison.

This simple action, seemingly ordinary, seems to contain a thousand words and is full of many indescribable emotions.

The force of their nods seemed to be telling Dao Sha about their experiences over the years—the laughter, the tears, the perseverance, and the confusion.

Lei Ling's lips curled up slightly, and the previously taut lines finally softened a bit.

He gave a slightly bitter smile, a smile like a cup of bitter tea, full of bitterness at first taste, but with a hint of sweetness upon closer tasting.

In that smile, there was both deep emotion for the past years, with the laughter and tears, successes and failures flashing through his mind like a movie; and joy for reuniting with Dao Sha, as if he had finally found a guiding light in this dark world.

His voice was somewhat excited and trembled slightly, as if he had a thousand words stuck in his throat but didn't know where to begin.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down, and then slowly said, "We... are doing alright, but we often think about this place, about the times we used to live here."

Back then, we fought side by side, striving together for the glory of the Twin Fiends Sect. Those days, though filled with danger and challenges, are the most precious memories of my life.

Tears welled up in Green Spirit's eyes, like shooting stars in the night sky, shimmering with captivating light.

She gently bit her lip until it turned slightly white, trying her best not to lose control of her emotions.

She knew that they could not wallow in grief amidst these ruins; they had to face the future with strength.

Her voice was slightly choked with emotion: "Yes, so many years have passed, I never thought I would see you again."

We are also very saddened by how things have turned out here.

This place was once our home, the cradle of our growth, where we spent countless wonderful days.

But now, everything has changed, becoming so unfamiliar, so desolate.

In these ruins, their memories came flooding back.

Those laughter and tears, those days of fighting side by side, all seem to be right before my eyes.

They seemed to see again the once vibrant and energetic Shuangsha Sect, to see their comrades training and fighting together, and to hear their resounding slogans and laughter.

Today, things have changed, and these ruins stand there quietly, witnessing their growth and the rise and fall of the Shuangsha Sect.

It's like a silent old man, quietly telling stories of the past.

Dao Sha stood silently amidst the devastated ruins, oblivious to the howling wind that whipped at his tattered clothes.

After a long while, the corners of his tightly pursed lips slowly curved into a very faint, almost bitter smile. That smile was like a shooting star streaking across the night sky, fleeting yet full of endless vicissitudes and helplessness.

"However... their luck has not run out."

He murmured to himself, his voice so soft it seemed a gentle breeze could carry it away, yet it sounded remarkably clear amidst the deathly silence of the ruins.

Lei Ling stood quietly beside Dao Sha, its bright eyes fixed on Dao Sha with concern and doubt in them.

Hearing Dao Sha's words, it tilted its head slightly, hesitated for a moment, and then mustered up its courage to ask, "Master, is the Source of Devouring truly indescribable?"

Its sound was crisp and melodious, like a clear spring flowing in the mountains, but at this moment it carried a hint of caution, as if afraid of touching the sensitive nerve in Dao Sha's heart.

Dao Sha shook his head slowly again, the movement slow and heavy, as if each shake would exhaust all his strength.

His eyes were filled with a weariness that seemed to have seen through everything, a weariness like a thick layer of haze that shrouded the depths of his eyes and could not be shaken off.

"It's not that it can't be spoken of, but that speaking of it is useless."

He sighed deeply, his voice filled with endless desolation, "This land... all living beings have withered away..."

He paused here, staring blankly at the desolate scene before him, as if he could see countless lives struggling and dying in this world.

He paused, as if trying to calm the turmoil in his heart.

After a long while, he slowly raised his head and looked at the distorted void at the end of the ruins.

That void was like a giant black hole, exuding an eerie and terrifying aura, as if it concealed countless unknown secrets.

He said softly, "Little ones, you probably know about that sanctuary, right?"

His voice was deep and hoarse, as if it came from a distant place.

"Sanctuary!"

These two words were like a thunderclap, exploding in everyone's ears.

Ling Xiao's pupils suddenly contracted, his eyes filled with shock and fear. He blurted out instinctively, "The Temple of Annihilation?"

His voice trembled slightly with nervousness, as if the name itself possessed a powerful magic, inspiring awe. (End of Chapter)