Crossing the Cultivation Realm: Two Souls Coexist

Hu Qing and Gu Yang hovered in mid-air, tears mixed with cold sweat streaming down their faces, mingling with the still-wet blood and meandering down their faces.

The two stared blankly at the beach where the battle between gods and demons had just taken place, feeling empty inside, as if a piece of their hearts had been forcibly ripped out.

The wounds on my body healed slowly under the circulation of spiritual energy, bringing a slight tingling and itching sensation. However, this physical sensation was far less profound than the enormous emptiness and bewilderment in my heart.

The beach beneath my feet was a scene of devastation, with huge craters, charred marks, frozen areas, and thick blood splattered together, creating a chaotic and contradictory picture.

The seawater was murky and covered with ominous foam. Wave after wave crashed against the shore with a dull thud, creating a desolate elegy with the howling sea wind.

They simply couldn't believe that Senior Zheng Su, who always seemed somewhat aloof, would occasionally tease them, but was incredibly reliable in crucial moments, had simply vanished completely.

Gu Yang even had a fleeting feeling that Zheng Su would walk out from some corner with a smile, pat them on the shoulder, and say in that uniquely relaxed tone:

"You two silly boys, what are you spacing out for? Come on, I'll take you to find something good to eat to calm your nerves."

He subconsciously looked around, only to be met with the cold rain and howling wind, cruelly reminding him that it was nothing but a self-deceiving fantasy.

The sky remained a solemn golden hue, unchanged by the defeat of the alien demons and the retreat of the Holy Lord.

This golden radiance was solemn and oppressive, reflecting a golden sheen onto the surging sea, making it appear as if it were solidified holy blood.

That bright moon that brought ultimate destruction and purification has long since vanished, as if it were merely a fleeting breath in the universe.

Just then, a clear, melodious cry of a crane came from the horizon.

Flocks of white cranes, stretching their snow-white wings, graceful and solemn, pierced through the golden sky and circled above the beach.

They didn't seem to be just passing by; they were more like a silent honor guard, slowly flying around the battlefield, as if searching and welcoming.

Are we welcoming Senior Zheng Su?

But the predecessor had nothing left; his flesh and soul had been sacrificed to the "Eastern Inspector" token that represented his duty and beliefs.

The token disappeared along with the appearance of the bright moon.

Suddenly, a faint sound came from the depths of the sky.

At first, it was like a distant whisper, indistinct and unclear. Gradually, the sound became clear and grand, transforming into ethereal, solemn, and soul-cleansing chants.

This Sanskrit chant is not in any known language, yet it resonates directly in the depths of everyone's soul, carrying the power to soothe restlessness and calm grief.

"Om... Mani... Padme... Hum..."

The chanting of Sanskrit rang out again and again, like a clear spring flowing over scorched earth.

Hu Qing and Gu Yang, whose hearts were initially restless and bewildered due to the great changes and grief, gradually calmed down amidst the strange chanting.

Although the sadness remained, it had lessened the heart-wrenching madness and replaced it with a deep, almost numb calm.

The white cranes in the sky began to dance gracefully to the rhythm of the chanting, their movements coordinated and beautiful, as if performing an ancient ritual.

As they danced, soft, pure white specks of light, like snowflakes, fell from the flock of cranes and slowly drifted down to the earth.

Gu Yang subconsciously reached out his hand, trying to catch a speck of light.

The point of light, however, was like an illusory shadow, passing straight through his palm and continuing to fall without any obstruction, without bringing any tactile sensation.

The point of light landed on the ground, and something strange happened—

The stubborn, dark red blood stains on the beach seemed to have been purified, gradually fading and dissipating.

Hu Qing keenly sensed that these points of light, which contained boundless vitality and pure energy, seemed to be rejecting him and Gu Yang alone.

He turned to look at the city wall and saw the city's adjutant, Feng Yichen, and the surviving soldiers, their eyes closed and their minds focused, greedily absorbing the specks of light that drifted down around them.

With each point of light they absorbed, their aura grew stronger. Some soldiers who were stuck at a bottleneck even broke through on the spot, and their spiritual energy fluctuations increased significantly!

More specks of light drifted down beneath the city walls, onto the scorched earth that had been ravaged by various energies, leaving it barren and lifeless.

As the light spots merged into the soil, a tremendous burst of vitality erupted instantly!

Tender green grass shoots broke through the soil at a visible speed and spread rapidly, even dotted with a few unnamed, delicately colored wildflowers.

The once desolate and barren land is being rapidly restored by this sacred power, radiating astonishing vitality.

The solemn chanting of Sanskrit rang out forty-nine times.

As the last murmur of the chanting faded, a deafening yet clear and resonant bell rang out, seemingly from beyond the heavens, its powerful sound echoing across the land!

After the bell tolled, the chanting completely disappeared, and the world returned to silence.

The circling flock of white cranes let out a chorus of cries, then soared into the sky, transforming into streaks of white light that disappeared into the depths of the golden sky, like messengers who had completed their mission and returned to where they came from.

As the flock of cranes disappeared, the pure, bright light that filled the sky also came to an abrupt end, no longer falling.

The golden hue that had shrouded the sky for so long began to recede slowly like the tide, revealing the original sky color behind it.

It was a twilight scene that appeared particularly dark because of the impending heavy rain.

"Boom--!"

Several muffled claps of thunder rolled across the sky.

Immediately afterwards, large raindrops poured down like a torrential downpour from the heavens.

The rain fiercely washed over the beach and city walls, washing away all the remaining bloodstains and filth.

The vibrant greenery that had just been nurtured by the light and covered the dilapidated city walls appeared even more lush and verdant after being washed by the rain.

It tenaciously displays the power of life, forming a stark contrast with the surrounding ruins, full of contradictory yet awe-inspiring vitality.

Hu Qing and Gu Yang exchanged a glance, both seeing the heaviness in each other's eyes. They had no time to dwell on their grief, nor did they immediately go to talk to Feng Yichen and the others.

The two men moved swiftly, landing on the beach and silently began to move the bodies of the fallen soldiers.

They moved gently, as if afraid of disturbing the souls of these brave warriors who had died in battle.

The soldiers on the city wall finally snapped out of their daze, overwhelmed by the realization of their improved cultivation level and the series of miracles.

The surviving soldiers, regardless of the severity of their injuries, all jumped down from the city wall and silently joined the ranks of those carrying their fallen comrades' bodies.

No one spoke, only the heavy footsteps and the crashing rain against the world.

With the nourishment of the previous light and rain, Lin Feng finally broke through the bottleneck and officially entered the Dust-Severing Stage.

However, before he could even savor the joy of his improved cultivation level, his gaze fell upon the cold body of Commander Li Yan beside him.

Overwhelming grief instantly drowned out the slight exhilaration of his breakthrough; his eyes reddened, and the torrential rain pouring down from above blurred his vision.

Together with Feng Yichen, whose eyes were also red-rimmed, he carefully carried the remains of the three predecessors, Li Yan, Han Ce, and Yan Bing, and flew heavily toward the barracks.

Hu Qing and Gu Yang found several of the largest tents on the open ground next to the barracks, pieced them together, and temporarily used them as a resting place for the fallen soldiers.

The soldiers carefully carried in the bodies and arranged them neatly.

The tent was soon filled with silent sorrow and the scent of rain.

They knew that only after the sudden downpour subsided could they bury these heroes who had sacrificed their lives for the country in that solemn cemetery in the rear.

The torrential rain washed away the traces of the battlefield and also tried to cleanse the gloom in the hearts of the survivors.

Green life stubbornly spreads across the ruins, forming a complex and authentic backdrop to this devastated land together with endless sorrow.