Leiyu Zidian ultimately did not dare to act.
Though he was ninety percent certain that the White Tiger Holy King was bluffing, even that ten percent risk was one he could not afford to take.
For if he gambled and lost, the entire Leiyu Family would face annihilation, a consequence he could not bear.
“White Tiger Holy King, I will report this matter to the Fire Phoenix Holy King, and she will seek justice for my Leiyu Family!”
Leiyu Zidian gritted his teeth, then glanced at Mo Fan lying motionless on the ground, snorting coldly, “You can protect him for a moment, but can you protect him forever?!”
“I have no interest in meddling in your grudges, but everything must be fair and just.
If you want to bully the weak with your strength, I won’t stand for it!
And I don’t need to protect him forever. If your Leiyu Family isn’t afraid of extinction, go ahead and try harming him!”
Bai Xiaosu spoke calmly, then paused before continuing, “As I said, if you insist on bullying the weak, there’s no need for the Leiyu Family to exist!”
“Hmph!”
Leiyu Zidian snorted coldly, saying no more, and instantly transformed into a bolt of lightning, vanishing into the sky.
When the thunderclouds above had fully dissipated, Bai Xiaosu knew the other had truly gone. Only then did he retract his techniques and divine abilities, all the phenomena around him returning to his body.
Bai Xiaosu took a step and vanished, reappearing beside Mo Fan.
“Senior…”
Seeing Bai Xiaosu, Mo Fan immediately tried to bow in gratitude for saving his life.
Bai Xiaosu raised a hand, pressing Mo Fan back down as he tried to rise, and asked, “How are you?”
“I’m fine, just some superficial wounds… cough, cough…”
Mo Fan gave a bitter smile, shaking his head, but before he could finish, he coughed violently, his face pale with weakness.
In truth, his body was in terrible condition, having lost nearly ninety percent of his strength, even dropping a minor rank in his cultivation.
This was the price of forcibly activating the Heaven-Swallowing Demon Bone’s power!
Had he not faced a terrifying demon like Leiyu Zidian, activating the Heaven-Swallowing Demon Bone would have made him fearless against any Demon King.
But against a mere Demon King, he wouldn’t have needed to activate it. Even if he couldn’t win, he could escape.
A Demon Ancestor, however, was different. They were too powerful. In front of one, he had no chance to flee!
After speaking, Mo Fan looked towards the direction Leiyu Zidian had fled, hesitating as if wanting to say something.
“Are you blaming me for not killing him here?”
Bai Xiaosu seemed to guess Mo Fan’s thoughts, looking at him with a half-smile.
“Uh… I wouldn’t dare.” Mo Fan gave a wry smile.
“Wouldn’t dare? So you did have that thought.”
Bai Xiaosu chuckled, hands clasped behind his back, sighing, “You know why I value you so highly.
But that doesn’t mean I’ll go on a killing spree for you.
The Leiyu Family may be overbearing, but for the demon race, they are indeed a significant force.”
Looking at Mo Fan, Bai Xiaosu continued, “Do you know how hard it is for us demon cultivators to reach the Demon Ancestor realm?
Do you know how much the human race fears each additional Demon Ancestor?
Our demon race is already weak. We may not yet stand united, but if our race faces extinction one day, a Demon Ancestor like Leiyu Zidian could bear a great calamity for all demons.
He is guilty, perhaps even deserving of death, but for the greater good, he must live!
Do you understand?”
Bai Xiaosu’s words left Mo Fan silent. After a moment, he nodded.
“In fact, Leiyu Zidian was right. In my younger days, if he dared speak to me like that, I’d have slapped him dead!”
Bai Xiaosu snorted, then gave a bitter smile, “But not now. Now, I’m just a wisp of a remnant soul, lingering in this world by force.
If we truly fought, I couldn’t protect you.”
“What?!”
Mo Fan’s eyes widened, unable to believe the truth before him!
The White Tiger Holy King before him was just a remnant soul?
“Senior… you…”
Mo Fan’s expression grew heavy, a trace of sorrow appearing in his eyes.
Though he had suspected that the White Tiger Holy King might have died after the battle with the Heavenly Being.
Facing this truth now, he still felt a pang of sadness.
His feelings towards the White Tiger Holy King were complex.
At first, he thought the Holy King was using him, but later realised that wasn’t the case.
There may have been some manipulation, but it was genuinely for his benefit.
Moreover, Mo Fan deeply admired the White Tiger Holy King, who was different from other demons, acting for the sake of the entire demon race.
In human terms, the White Tiger Holy King was undoubtedly a pioneer saint of the demon race!
To Mo Fan, he was also like an elder, likely watching over him ever since the battle with the Heavenly Being.
“Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m not necessarily dead.”
Seeing Mo Fan’s sorrowful expression, Bai Xiaosu rolled his eyes, then said thoughtfully, “This wisp of my remnant soul was formed when I became a saint, hidden within the Heaven-Swallowing Bone.
After the battle with the Heavenly Being, my true body obscured the heavens’ secrets, and I don’t know the outcome of that fight.
Later, when the Heaven-Swallowing Bone fell into your hands, I seized the chance to attach to a strand of your hair.”
At this, Bai Xiaosu looked at Mo Fan earnestly, “So you needn’t feel sad. Perhaps I’m soaring through the Immortal Realm right now!”
Mo Fan was stunned, silent for a long while before asking, “Really?”
“How would I know!”
Bai Xiaosu rolled his eyes again, then surveyed the surroundings, finally looking up at the sky with a trace of longing in his eyes.
“Senior Holy King?”
Seeing him fall silent, Mo Fan tentatively called out.
“Little toad, my time is running out.”
Bai Xiaosu sighed, then said, “Confronting Leiyu Zidian just now drained too much from this remnant soul.”
“All this time, I’ve been watching you, and you’ve truly surprised me.
In you, I see a value for friendship, care for your companions, and protection for the lesser demons under you.
In just over a year, you’ve transformed Blackwind Mountain into something entirely new.
This gives me hope!
So, do you remember what I told you before?”
Bai Xiaosu looked at Mo Fan, who nodded, “I remember!”
“Call it my selfishness!
Dragging you, a carefree little toad, into the vast ocean of the demon race’s fate.
I so desperately want to leave a hope for the demons of this world!
Whether I, Bai Xiaosu, exist or not doesn’t matter, for I am insignificant.
But the demon race cannot be without you, Mo Fan!
Because the Heaven-Swallowing lineage is the one with the greatest hope of breaking the deadlock!”
“I hope you don’t resent me, and I hope you understand everything I’ve done!”
As Bai Xiaosu spoke, he pointed at Mo Fan’s forehead, and in the next moment, vast energy surged into Mo Fan’s body.
When the dust settled, Bai Xiaosu’s form had become semi-transparent.
“Senior…”
Mo Fan’s face was filled with sorrow. His body had recovered, even his lost cultivation rank restored.
But he felt no joy, only worry and grief for the White Tiger Holy King.
“This path is full of thorns, but we must walk it. The demons of the world need someone to carve a path for them.
I couldn’t complete that path, so I’ve bet everything on you!”
“Hahaha… I, Bai Xiaosu, have no regrets for the demons of the world!!”
With that, Bai Xiaosu took a step and vanished from the spot.
“Blackwind Mountain’s treasure, Mo Fan, bids farewell to the White Tiger Holy King!!”
Mo Fan knelt, bowing deeply in the direction Bai Xiaosu had gone!
…
This part of the story has been revised repeatedly, yet I still feel it’s not quite right. So be it, I’m sorry for letting everyone down!
Farewell to the White Tiger Holy King!!
