Ye Luoli: The tides rise and fall, the moon whispers softly.

"What?" Xiao Tiandao was also taken aback by Shui Qingli's sudden determination.

"You sowed discord between me and Yuanming, plunging us into a millennia-long enmity; you manipulated my memories and emotions, making me the medium through which you bind the human world and the fairy realm; you turned me into a tool to help your chosen 'protagonist' fight against Yuanming..." Shui Qingli listed Xiaotiandao's evil deeds. At this moment, his anger reached an unparalleled height, and the eerie aquamarine flames on his body grew even brighter.

But his usual composure allowed him to continue speaking calmly, only this time with sarcasm: "I must say, every move you make is meticulously planned."

"But, you've always treated me like a pawn, did you ever imagine this day would come?"

"There will come a day when... the pieces will be out of control!"

"Are you insane?!" Xiao Tiandao exclaimed in horror, "If this continues, you will be annihilated, both body and soul!"

"Is death scary?" Shui Qingli's expression was inscrutable. A special golden light gradually appeared on his body, enveloping his entire being.

He raised his hand, and golden light gathered in his hand, forming a golden longsword.

Just as he expected, only at this moment could he mobilize the power of destiny that surpassed all other powers in the world.

Shui Qingli spotted Wang Mo, who was standing like a puppet, in the crowd at a glance. Before Xiao Tiandao could react, she plunged her sword into Wang Mo's chest.

This power does not cause any real harm to people, so it only caused the golden light on Wang Mo's body to dim considerably.

At the same time, the white light in the eyes of all the fairies dimmed and gradually regained some clarity, but they still could not control their bodies.

"Is that really so?" Shui Qingli murmured to herself, then asked Qianqian, "If I disappear, will the fortune belonging to the 'male and female protagonists' be returned to this world?"

"Yes, but..." The voice was soft, tinged with a sob, "But the price is complete annihilation, with no afterlife."

"It's alright, I already knew." Shui Qingli shook her head and smiled at Qianqian, saying, "Thank you for your help all this time. I'm glad to be your host. Let's fight side by side one last time..."

【…Okay!】 Her tiny paws clenched tightly. At this moment, she made a very heavy decision for herself.

"Since that's the case, then let me do one last thing for this world..." Shui Qingli said softly, her body radiating a bright light that resembled a blue sun.

"Are you... trying to bring about your own demise?" Xiao Tiandao was furious and recklessly charged towards Shui Qingli: "No! I cannot fail!"

However, at that moment, a voice suddenly rang in Xiaotiandao's ear: "Are you still stubbornly clinging to your delusions?"

The voice sounded calm and gentle, yet it carried unparalleled majesty, causing Xiao Tiandao to freeze in shock and vanish from the spot...

……

"In the name of the Lord of Water, I destroy the primordial spirit of water..." Shui Qingli's expression was resolute: "Return the power of water!"

At this moment, in this fairyland where the seasons never change, a sudden downpour began, the drizzling rain seemingly singing a farewell song for the ruler of water.

And Shui Qingli, in full view of everyone, transformed into countless points of light.

"Brother!" Having regained her senses, Bing Lixue immediately saw Shui Qingli about to dissipate. She collapsed to the ground, tears welling in her eyes: "Why did you do this?!"

Returning the power over water means that the water in this world will be completely free, and there will never again be any spirits capable of controlling water...

……

【Mutian Pavilion】

Atop the long steps, a throne has stood for centuries, proclaiming the absolute rule of King Yue Yuanming.

However, when Yue Yuanming returned from the Pure Water Lake in a daze, he finally saw that reassuring figure.

As if sensing something, Shui Qingli, who was sitting on the throne, also opened her eyes at the same time.

His voice, appearance, and smile were exactly the same as before, but he was just... a phantom formed from immortal power.

“Yuanming, you’re back…”

A single call separates us from past and present lives that have vanished like bubbles, from irreversible separation by life and death.

"Qingli, what... what exactly happened to you?" Yue Yuanming looked at Shui Qingli like this, and the answer was already obvious.

But he couldn't accept this reality, and in a state of near collapse, he asked, "Why did it turn out like this?!"

"Yuanming, I'm sorry, I still broke my promise... This is my choice, and my destiny." Shui Qingli smiled self-deprecatingly: "I changed our past, but I can no longer decide our future..."

Shui Qingli stood up, stepped over the stairs, and walked towards Yue Yuanming. Her originally ethereal figure became increasingly transparent, and her usually aloof and otherworldly face now held an expression of unprecedented ease.

"But sometimes I wonder, if we had given each other a little more trust back then, and given our relationship a little more trust, would there have been no misunderstanding, no ending like this?"

"Qingli, why won't you let me fight alongside you?" Yue Yuanming's face was full of sorrow, and even his words were somewhat incoherent: "It's my fault for not protecting you. If... would the ending have been different?"

"No, this ending is already the best ending. Sacrificing myself to ensure the future of all of you is my choice." Shui Qingli slowly walked up to Yue Yuanming.

At that moment, he seemed to see Yue Yuanming, who was about to disappear in his previous life, and he showed the same relieved smile.

"Qingli—!" Yue Yuanming reached out his hand to Shui Qingli, as if trying to grab his lover who was gradually disappearing.

Shui Qingli shook her head, and her illusory figure gradually dissipated. The moment Yue Yuanming reached out to touch her, she transformed into a gentle breeze, softly wiping away the tears from the corners of Yue Yuanming's eyes.

A brilliant aquamarine light shone from Yue Yuanming's body, and Shui Qingli's cool voice, unusually gentle, echoed in his ears—

"Don't be sad, I'll always be by your side..."

【to be continued…】

[TO BE CONTINUED…]