CH 117 If You Do Not Leave, Then I Will Not Abandon

The High Priest let out a soft sigh and raised his hand, pointing a single finger forward.  

In the blink of an eye, he exchanged several blows with Ji Yunlai. At their level, the battle was one of intent and the true understanding of the Dao. "Heaven collapsing and earth overturning" was no mere phrase—it was a reality.  

In an instant, nearly all living creatures in the Witchlands fled far away. Senior Brother Yang decisively pulled Feng Qingxiu to safety. The High Priest had placed no restrictions on him—or perhaps, around the High Priest, restrictions or the lack thereof made no difference.  

Feng Qingxiu watched the distant battlefield nervously, his urge to rush forward and assist nearly overwhelming.  

"Should we leave?" Yang Fuyin grabbed Feng Qingxiu's arm. "We’re only a burden to Master if we stay here."  

"But Master is just a spirit fragment!" Feng Qingxiu was utterly anxious. More than anyone, he knew that his master’s main body remained in Kun-Lai. Facing an apex-level Human Immortal here was merely a spirit fragment, attached to a talisman paper no larger than his palm. For cultivators, unlike mortals, a captured spirit fragment could be used in countless ways to harm the main body.  

"Do you have a plan?" Yang Fuyin asked.  

Feng Qingxiu gritted his teeth, defeated. "No."  

"Then stop wasting time." Yang Fuyin dragged him along. In his anxiety, he failed to notice the faint black mist flickering in his junior brother’s eyes.  

Meanwhile, the battle ended swiftly.  

Ji Yunlai’s sword energy had been extraordinarily sharp at first, while every move of the High Priest was like a gentle stream of water, soft and rippling, entirely devoid of mundane touch. But as the exchanges continued, that sharpness and dominance gradually faded, replaced by a timeless, tranquil profundity, as if spanning from ancient times to the present, unaffected by life or death.  

Though the water remained gentle and flowing, its countless variations were all encompassed within the passage of time.  

In an instant, Ji Yunlai broke through the endless water ripples, piercing the High Priest's chest with a sword strike.  

Celestial demon transformations, the myriad Dao of time—the secrets of the High Priest's Dao intent had already been automatically deciphered in mere moments of combat. Ji Yunlai’s comprehension was terrifyingly high. Yet…  

The High Priest sighed lightly. “Why didn’t you show this talent back when you were in the Yun State?”  

Had he known back then, the plans of that year might not have unfolded the way they did.  

Sword energy spread, sprouting countless decayed dark flowers at the wound. Ji Yunlai’s expression turned mocking upon hearing these words. “Luo Qingxiao, what truly matters to you?”  

The High Priest’s expression softened with nostalgia. “At first, it was my master’s command. Then, it was Great Xuan. Later, it was Yin Yanxiu. And after that… perhaps freedom. Cultivating for a thousand years, you see mortals as ants, fleeting in their existence. Those you have known vanish one by one. When you see summer flowers bloom brilliantly, you enjoy them. But when needed, you pluck them without hesitation or regret.”  

His meaning was clear, as though he were saying, you were just a flower I plucked.

After a moment’s thought, he added slowly, “One day, you too will become like me. As those around you disappear one by one, it’s like a butterfly breaking free from its cocoon—the world gained is incomparable to that of a caterpillar.”  

“Ridiculous! A butterfly breaking free—is it not still an insect?” Ji Yunlai sneered coldly. “Stop deluding yourself. If what you say is true, why did you stoop to such disgraceful acts?”  

“Because the butterfly is not just me,” the High Priest replied, watching as the dark decay crept up his neck. He smiled faintly. “What a pity. If it was your main body here, I would not be able to defeat you.”  

As he spoke, an ethereal melody resonated through the Endless Void. A white lotus bloomed serenely, its faint fragrance wafting into the air, appearing beneath both their feet.  

Ji Yunlai’s gaze narrowed. He knew well that as a mere spirit fragment, he could not perform excessive power. If he directly used his true essence to break the lotus’ seal, the talisman housing this spirit fragment would be obliterated, leaving only his spirit behind. In that case, his options for action would be severely limited.  

Even so, he stared coldly at the High Priest. Did the man truly believe he had no means to counter this?  

The High Priest gave a slight nod. “Yun Lai, cease your hand.”  

“To utter such words—you truly are the same Luo Qingxiao from back then.” Ji Yunlai sneered.  

The High Priest’s expression softened with unexpected warmth. “I was never a virtuous man. Who could resist, when little Yun was so adorable back then? Bullying you was hard to stop.”  

Ji Yunlai was momentarily stunned by his shamelessness, rendered speechless.  

“The High Priest of Great Xuan has always maintained supreme dignity for thousands of years. I almost thought that was my true nature.” The High Priest leaned against the lotus, chuckling softly. “When Yin Yanxiu accidentally saw my real self, he lured me in countless ways, liking me at first, then turning against me when our politics clashed. Out of duty, I endured until he finally offered me the wine of certain death. Enraged, I beheaded him. That moment cleared my mind entirely. From then on, I’ve been unburdened by the affairs of this world. What you see as excess, I see as indifference. I have never personally targeted you.”  

Ji Yunlai studied him for a long while before speaking slowly. “Do you realize your actions have led you into the demonic path?”  

“So what? The Dao has no hierarchy; people have no inherent worth. We struggle on the path to seek truth, not to sacrifice for mortals.” The High Priest said plainly. “Besides, you, as an otherworldly soul—can you truly say you’re acting on behalf of these mortals?”  

Ji Yunlai gripped his sword tightly, his cold gaze locked on the High Priest.  

“Strange, isn’t it?” The High Priest gestured to the stream nearby and smiled. “Do you see the Three Paths River? It flows through the void and the realms of all living beings. When Ji Yunlai died at five years old, it was fate. If not for my need for a human Dao vessel to overcome tribulations, why would I have ventured beyond the Three Paths to capture a stray soul not belonging to this world? For your mortal body, I gathered no fewer than 100,000 souls before finding a match. Such a favor is akin to remaking you. Did you know that, Yun Lai?”  

Ji Yunlai’s anger surged. “So I should thank you?”  

“No need. Between us, there’s no need for gratitude.” The High Priest nodded with a smile. “Give me the Imperial Seal, and we’ll be even.” 

Ji Yunlai silently tightened his grip on the Formless Sword energy in his hand, remaining silent.  

The High Priest sensed that something was amiss. Just as he was about to press further, a cool, clear voice echoed: "Did I ever agree to that balance?"  

He looked up to see Ji Yunlai, dressed in dark robes, standing silently outside the lotus barrier.  

The High Priest glanced again at the Ji Yunlai identical in every way inside the lotus. A bitter taste arose in his heart.  

That was far too fast. The lotus had the power to block divine consciousness, rendering it impossible for even a spirit fragment to inform the main body. How had he learned so quickly?  

The High Priest couldn’t fathom it.  

Could it be that Ji Yunlai no longer cared about Kun-Lai's internet?  

These thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant, but his actions did not falter. In the blink of an eye, he abandoned the white lotus artifact and darted toward the end of the stream.  

Behind him, the ninety-nine petals of the white lotus scattered like snowflakes, forming a seemingly impenetrable barrier.  

But the Xing Dao Master merely raised a hand and pointed.  

Unlike the sharp and menacing sword energy of the spirit fragment, this sword energy carried no visible power. It was as gentle as a spring breeze brushing across one’s face.  

Yet under this seemingly gentle sword energy, the layers of petals disintegrated like fleeting illusions. The sword energy transcended distance and time, blurring even the boundaries between life and death.  

The sword struck its target with undeniable precision. The High Priest spat out a mouthful of blood but made no attempt to counterattack. Instead, he accelerated, plunging into the Abyss below and vanishing without a trace.  

Only then did Ji Yunlai lower his hand.  

The spirit fragment across from him nodded and suddenly transformed into a talisman, drifting gently into Ji Yunlai’s palm.  

Xiao Qing must have been terrified. It was best to check on him first.  

Just as Ji Yunlai focused his thoughts and prepared to leave, a strange sensation overtook him. He lifted his gaze.  

Amidst the darkness of the sky, a sinister demonic presence loomed, so oppressive that even Ji Yunlai felt its weight. Yet it was unmistakably familiar…  

The question barely formed in his mind when the overwhelming demonic presence coalesced, taking a shape so familiar it left him stunned.  

"...Qing?"  

He had barely spoken the name when the demonic figure charged forward like a storm, slamming him forcefully to the ground.  

"Qing?" Ji Yunlai cautiously asked again, but in the next instant, the figure leaned down and pressed their lips together.