Zhu Xian: The way of heaven collapses, and I only have one sword!

Chapter 78: Soul Broken in the Sky, Engagement from the Ghost King Sect?
"I succeeded..." Lu Xueqi murmured to herself, raised her eyes to look at Chen Qiye, her eyes red again, "Husband, thank you, if it weren't for you, I..."

Chen Qiye pulled a smile from the corner of his mouth, raised his hand and gently stroked Lu Xueqi's cheek, "Qi'er, now that you have condensed the three flowers of the Heavenly Dao level, you will be able to protect yourself even if I am not around in the future. Just consider it as a guarantee I leave for you."

Tears welled up in Lu Xueqi's eyes. Just as she was about to speak, she saw Chen Qiye stagger, his face growing paler. Her heart sank, and she quickly reached out to support him, anxiously asking, "Husband, what's wrong with you? Is it..."

Chen Qiye forced a smile and shook his head, "Don't worry, it's just too much energy consumption." In fact, he knew in his heart that he had very little time left, and every inch of his body was sending out warnings of collapse.

Although Chen Qiye said this, he felt a strong sense of dizziness, which almost made him lose his balance.

Lu Xueqi hugged him tightly, her eyes full of panic, and cried out in a sobbing voice: "Husband, stop talking, sit down and rest."

Seeing this, Taoist Master Daoxuan hurried forward, extending his hand to rest on Chen Qiye's wrist, his brows instantly knitted into the shape of the Chinese character "川". The vitality in Chen Qiye's body was rapidly fading like a stream about to dry up. After enduring the impact and consumption of the power of the Heavenly Dao, his body was on the verge of collapse.

"Qi Ye, your body..." Taoist Master Daoxuan hesitated to speak, his eyes full of reluctance and helplessness.

Chen Qiye gently pushed Lu Xueqi away, forced himself to cheer up, and bowed slightly to Taoist Master Daoxuan: "Master, I am fine." He turned to look at Lu Xueqi with a gentle gaze, "Qier, take advantage of this last bit of time and go with me for a walk."

Lu Xueqi nodded vigorously and held Chen Qiye's arm tightly. The two of them walked slowly along the path of Tongtian Peak, walked out of Yuqing Palace, stepped onto the Rainbow Bridge, and soon arrived at Qingyun Square below Tongtian Peak.

Taoist Master Daoxuan and the other abbots also stood quietly not far from the two. At this moment, they could only sigh, an indescribable feeling of powerlessness filling everyone's heart.

The two of them paced slowly across Qingyun Square, each step seeming to weigh heavily on the hearts of the crowd. In the sky, the dark clouds that had been dispersed by Lu Xueqi's breakthrough now gathered again, growing ever thicker and more oppressive, as if the entire heavens were mourning Chen Qiye's impending demise.

Lu Xueqi clung to Chen Qiye, tears streaming down her face. She could feel Chen Qiye's breath growing weaker, each breath a final struggle against fate.

Chen Qiye shook his head slightly, raised his hand and waved it, and the Nine Heavens Divine Weapon Qiu Shui Wuhen appeared in his hand. "I leave Qiu Shui Wuhen to you, as a memory for you."

Lu Xueqi took Qiu Shui Wuhen with trembling hands, tears bursting out like a dam breaking. She held the sword tightly in her arms, as if it was Chen Qiye's last warmth.

Chen Qiye gently wiped away her tears, but his vision gradually blurred. He knew that the final moment was approaching.

"Qier, don't cry. Remember, no matter when or where, I am always by your side and I have never left."

With every word Chen Qiye spoke, his body became more and more illusory, like the shadow of a candle that could be blown away by the wind at any time.

Lu Xueqi widened her eyes in horror and held him tightly with both hands, her nails turning white from the strength, but she could feel that the person in her arms was disappearing from her palms bit by bit.

Chen Qiye used up his last bit of strength to gently cup Lu Xueqi's face. He leaned forward slightly, his breath gently brushing against her face, carrying the last of his warmth. Lu Xueqi closed her eyes, and their lips lightly touched. As the kiss fell, Chen Qiye's body gradually transformed into tiny specks of golden light and began to dissipate in the wind.

Lu Xueqi, however, seemed oblivious, her eyes still tightly shut, feeling the gradually fading warmth and breath. After a long moment, Lu Xueqi slowly opened her eyes, only to see the Autumn Water Sword clutched tightly in her hands and the golden light scattered across the sky. She stood there blankly, tears welling up again as she stared at the fading light, muttering, "Qi Ye, I will wait for you. Whether it takes ten years, or even longer, I will wait for your return."

"Ha ha ha ha……"

"I, Chen Qiye, am the only one in the world..."

"The world is happy! I am happy too!"

Chen Qiye's remaining voice resounded throughout the world, echoing for a long time, as if expressing his unwillingness, and as if declaring that he had been in this world.

Lu Xueqi stood there in a daze, tears streaming down her face. She clutched the Autumn Water Without a Trace in her hand; it was the only memory Chen Qiye had left her. The surrounding Qingyun Sect disciples bowed their heads in silent mourning for the passing of this legendary figure, their hearts filled with grief and reluctance.

Taoist Master Daoxuan raised his head and sighed deeply, his eyes filled with desolation. He murmured to himself, "Qiye, now that you're gone, there will be no more such a brilliant and talented person in the world."

Meanwhile, Bi Yao, far away in the Ghost King Sect, seemed to sense something. She abruptly stood up and looked toward Qingyun Mountain, her eyes filled with worry. "Chen Qiye..." she whispered, a strong sense of unease welling up in her heart.

Just as she was about to get up and head for Qingyun Sect, the Ghost King appeared behind her and sighed softly, "Yao'er, Chen Qiye has disappeared..."

"No... no... Chen Qiye... Qiye won't die... He won't die... Oh right... Ji Zai... Dad, where is Ji Zai!" The Ghost King looked at his daughter's distraught appearance, his heart aching. He slowly said, "Ji Zai is in the peach forest in the back mountain."

Upon hearing this, Bi Yao was extremely anxious. She tapped her feet lightly and rushed towards the peach forest in the back mountain like an arrow. Along the way, the wind whistled in her ears, but it could not blow away the anxiety and uneasiness in her heart.

Entering the peach forest, I saw Chen Qiye's evil thoughts, Ji Zai, lying quietly under a peach tree. A breeze blew, and peach blossoms fluttered. Almost in the next second, a stream of light immediately penetrated Ji Zai's body.

Ji Zai's body trembled violently, and he slowly opened his eyes, a flicker of confusion in them. He subconsciously raised his hand, trying to prop himself up, but froze the moment his fingertips touched the ground. A gentle breeze blew, and a peach blossom landed on the back of his hand. His gaze followed the blossom upwards, and he saw a tree full of blossoms, petals dancing freely in the wind, like a dream.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew more petals toward him, sending his hair flying wildly. A few strands brushed against his cheek, giving him an itchy sensation. Ji Zai frowned slightly and reached out to tuck his hair behind his ear. Only then did he realize that his once long purple hair had turned a frosty, snowy color at the temples.

Bi Yao rushed into the peach forest and saw Ji Zai slowly standing up. Her heart suddenly tightened. Without thinking much, she took a few steps forward and looked at Ji Zai's long, silver hair that looked like frost and snow. In that moment, she seemed to see Chen Qiye and Ji Zai overlapped.

"Who are you? I feel like you look very familiar." Ji Zai looked at Bi Yao in front of him and said with some confusion.

Bi Yao looked at the bewildered Ji Zai in front of her. Her eyes instantly turned red, her lips trembled slightly, and she was speechless for a long time. She slowly raised her hand, as if wanting to touch Ji Zai's face, but stopped in mid-air, as if she was afraid that everything in front of her was just an illusion and would shatter if touched.

"I... I'm Bi Yao." Her voice was choked with sobs as she tried hard to suppress her inner excitement and sadness. "Don't you remember me? You are Ji Zai, and I was the one who brought you back to the Ghost King Sect..."

"Biyao, I seem to have forgotten a lot of things..." Ji Zai reached out to wipe away the tears from Biyao's face and said softly.

"Yao'er, maybe Chen Qiye hasn't completely left." The Ghost King's voice came from behind, and Bi Yao immediately turned her head.

The Ghost King slowly approached, looking at Ji Zai with a complicated expression.

"Dad, what do you mean?" Bi Yao asked anxiously, with a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

The Ghost King narrowed his eyes slightly, staring into Ji Zai's, as if trying to find the shadow of Chen Qiye in his eyes. "Chen Qiye's battle with the Heavenly Dao may have destroyed his body, but his soul will not dissipate easily. The changes in Ji Zai now may be a kind of sustenance for Chen Qiye's soul. In other words, he has reunited with his evil thoughts and now seems to be in a stage of awakening."

"Who are you?" Ji Zai looked at the Ghost King and asked softly.

"I am Bi Yao's father, and you, Ji Zai, are my son-in-law. You are going to marry Bi Yao soon." The Ghost King looked at Ji Zai and smiled slightly, then said.

After she finished speaking, Bi Yao looked at her father in disbelief. It was obvious that she did not expect her father to say such words at this time.

"Yao'er, you must know that Chen Qiye will come back sooner or later, and when he comes back, he will definitely return to Qingyun Sect. In this way, even if you like Chen Qiye again, you will not be destined to be together in the end. It is better for you to get married now and cultivate your relationship." The Ghost King transmitted a message to Bi Yao.

Bi Yao bit her lower lip, her heart mired in a fierce struggle. Her gaze shifted between the Ghost King and Ji Zai, the image of Chen Qiye constantly surfacing in her mind. Ji Zai could now be considered Chen Qiye, and her father's words were not without reason. After Chen Qiye's return, the line between good and evil, the grudge between Qingyun Sect and the Ghost King Sect, would not be easily crossed.

Tears welled up in Biyao's eyes, her heart filled with conflict and pain. She knew her father's words were true. If Chen Qiye returned, the obstacles between them would be numerous, and the road ahead would be thorny. But her feelings for Chen Qiye were already deep in her bones, and she couldn't just let them go.

"Dad, I..." Bi Yao hesitated, her voice trembling. She looked at Ji Zai. His ignorant eyes were unfamiliar, yet they held an aura that was incredibly familiar to her. This aura was left by Chen Qiye, the smell she longed for day and night.

"Yao'er, some things can never be recovered once they are missed. Ji Zai needs you now, and you also need a home." The Ghost King's voice was low and firm. He reached out and gently patted Bi Yao's shoulder.

Bi Yao took a deep breath. She understood that her father was thinking of her, not wanting her to sink into endless waiting and pain. She slowly raised her head, looking at the dancing peach blossoms in the sky, and seemed to have made a decision in her heart.

"Okay, Dad, I agree." Bi Yao's voice was soft, but it was full of determination. She turned around and looked at Ji Zai, a smile playing on her lips. "Ji Zai, let's get married."

Ji Zai was slightly stunned. He looked at Bi Yao, and an inexplicable emotion surged in his heart, as if something was breaking out from the bottom of his heart, but he couldn't grasp that vague emotion. He nodded gently and said, "Okay, I'll listen to you."

The Ghost King looked at the two of them, feeling slightly relieved. He raised his hand and waved, sending a spiritual message. Soon, the Ghost King Sect's disciples busied themselves preparing for this unexpected wedding.

(End of this chapter)