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The blurry black shadows attached themselves onto Yang Qing. However, it seemed that Yang Qing’s destructive aura did not affect the black shadows at all.

As the black shadows attached themselves onto Yang Qing, the sight before Yang Qing appeared to morph as different images started to form in front of him.

The black watery figure, which Yang Qing had taken on, started to tremble as the expressionless look on his face started to regain certain semblances of being human again.

As with the change on his face, Yang Qing also shedded away his watery figure and returned to his original human form.

His soul and cosmic form appeared to have suffered some damage from Shen Qifeng’s Samsara Song.

However, it seemed that Yang Qing was oblivious to all of these as he stood dazed at where he was. His eyes appeared to glisten as though many thoughts were streaming across his mind in a chaotic fashion.

Yang Qing muttered, “Is it the Curse of the Fear-Consuming Ghost?!”

Back in the time before the fateful war, Wang Lin had sparred with King Wuguan, Sikong You and had tasted the power of Sikong You’s Curse of the Fear-Consuming Ghost. And hence following which, Wang Lin shared about the curse with the rest of the people in the Celestial Sect of Wonders. Hence, Yang Qing could immediately recognize that he had become the victim of Sikong You’s curse.

The immensity of the curse lay in how it could grow from the mind. It was more like a seed planted in a person’s soul than any other common magic spell. Hence, it was unable to be repelled using any common magical means.

It was extremely mystical and did not possess any offensive power on its own. Its sole usage was to uncover the biggest fear of the person in which it was implanted and then to feed on the fear.

And during the process, the curse would grow in strength from feeding on the victim’s fear. Upon reaching a certain level of strength, the curse would fuse with the soul of the victim. And once Sikong You removed the curse from the victim, the victim would die.

The images that were fleeting across Yang Qing’s eyes struck fear deep in Yang Qing’s heart.

All these memories which Yang Qing had tried so hard to forget started to tumble out from the deepest and darkest corners of his minds as they flashed themselves before him.

The Cloud Water Cave which was reduced to rubble, the charred and unrecognizable remains, the long-awaited but disappointing reunion with Fang Ting as well as the figure who disappeared in the sea of vicious flames…

After Lin Feng’s years of coaching and mentoring, as well as the training from many challenges, Yang Qing’s mental resilience was already formidable. Any sign of cowardice was no longer detectable.

Yang Qing was no longer fearful of death, of any danger or hardship. He would not be hesitant in the face of such obstacles nor overly anxious and impulsive when facing impending danger. He could always handle the matter in the most appropriate manner with the right amount of confidence and maturity.

The inferiority complex and restlessness from his past had also vanished. What replaced them were the firm belief and confidence in his own ability to vie for the honor and prestige of his Master and his Sect.

To always remember one’s Sect but to not rely or depend on it. To be responsible for the Sect’s successes and failures yet to never become a burden to the Sect. Yang Qing knew the way ahead and was willing to assume responsibility for his own actions.

Till today, Yang Qing had gone through an incredible metamorphosis. He was now very much determined. Even though the Curse of the Fear-Consuming Ghost continued to excavate all the previous fears buried deep in his heart, it was very much futile as all of its materials had already become things of the distant past.

However, as the images before him continued to morph, the final scene shocked Yang Qing.

That was the thing which he really did not want to face. It was the last stand. It was the fear buried in the deepest and darkest corner of his heart, and it was the biggest fear in his life.

It was the disintegration of the sand particle which sealed the last fragment of Fang Ting’s soul. It was the scene at which the sand particle turned into ashes and no longer existed. It was not the only thing that was gone with the wind. All hope was lost.

This frightening and hopeless scene sent chills down Yang Qing’s spine.

A figure appeared in front of him. One that was undeniably familiar yet strangely foreign at the same time.

It was her junior, Luo Qingwu.

Luo Qingwu formed a hand sign using her left hand as she extended her right index and middle finger as though they were the tip of a sword. Following which, a bright yellow sword radiance emerged from the tips of her right index and middle finger. The sword radiance was about three feet or so and did not possess any belligerence. Instead, it radiated an aura of vitality.

The name of the sword was Virtuous Earth Sword of Life. Boundless vitality was at the tip of the sword. The Virtuous Earth Sword of Life extracted the natural energy from the world around it before converting them into powerful sword will. It also refined the Central Wutu Divine Light within the swelling earth into the divine light of the Virtuous Earth Sword, giving it the ability to nurture life and enhance vitality.

However, Luo Qingwu shook her head and dispelled her sword brilliance after examining the sand particle which had turned into ashes. She looked at Yang Qing before apologizing, “Senior, I’m sorry. I am truly at my wit’s end.”

Another figure donning a white robe appeared. It was none other than Zhu Yi. Zhu Yi formed a hand sign and the bright shrieking sound of the phoenix could be heard from deep in the void.

Streaks of light convened to form the light projection of a phoenix before Yang Qing. The phoenix continued to revolve in the sky above Yang Qing as the flames on its body continued to burn strongly.

Within the fearsome flames on its body, one could feel the powerful and mystical energy from the phoenix which arose from its ability to respawn from fires. However, despite having flew around the sand particle for a short period of time, there was no sign of revival from the sand particle. Hence, the light projection faded into emptiness after a few moments.

Seeing how the Rebirth of the Phoenix Spell was unable to help, Zhu Yi sighed before moving towards Yang Qing as he mumbled, “Junior, take care.”

Then, a tall and handsome youth emerged beside Zhu Yi. His long and matte black hair hung behind his back as a brilliant glow was emitted from the center of his eyebrows. The brilliant glow appeared to encompass the answers to the mysteries of the universe.

The brilliant glow appeared to possess the ability to transform everything which it came into contact with to its original state.

However, it seemed that despite basking under the brilliant glow, the sand particle was unable to return to its previous undamaged state.

“Senior, I’m really sorry.” The tall youth was none other than Shi Tianhao as a worried expression hung on his face.

A youth robed in black and a youth with white long hair appeared on the left and right of Yang Qing respectively. They were none other than Xiao Yan and Wang Lin.

Both of them walked forward and went to the two ends of the sand particle before facing one another.

Both Xiao Yan and Wang Lin released a low bellow before activating their formidable mana to generate flames and water onto the sand particle. Countless mystical white rings of light formed wherever the water and fire convened.

However, no matter how hard they tried, there seemed to be no changes to the state of the sand particle.

Xiao Yan and Wang Lin remained silent as a worried look appeared on Xiao Yan’s face. Hope appeared to have vanished from Wang Lin’s face as well.

Yue Hongyan and Li Yuanfang’s figures appeared in front of Yang Qing right at this instant. They too, along with Xiao Yan, Zhu Yi, Wang Lin, Shi Tianhao, Luo Qingwu and the rest, stood quietly as they stared solemnly at the sand particle.

Then suddenly, the seven of them raised their hands in unison and pointed towards the void with their index fingers. Immediately, a colorful streak of light appeared in midair. The colors convened to form a red-gold phoenix, which had many different colors glittering around it.

Other than the red-golden color, there were five other diagrams carved onto the body of the phoenix. For those that were familiar with these diagrams, they would be able to tell that it was none other than the Phoenix Grand Sage which was at the Vipralopa Stage.

Xiao Yan and the rest paid their respects before requesting in unison, “Could we request for help from you, our respected elder?”

The Phoenix Grand Sage released an elegant long shriek before the area around its eyes started to show signs of bleeding. The warm phoenix blood unleashed an unbelievable amount of vitality as the void started to burn up. It was very much similar to Zhu Yi’s Rebirth of the Phoenix Spell, but it was much more complex and stronger.

The burning phoenix blood wrapped itself around the disappearing sand particle, but it seemed as though it was useless when it came to changing the outcome.

Seeing how it appeared to be futile, the Phoenix Grand Sage shook its head to express its helplessness.

A look of helplessness appeared on the faces of the rest before they got their spirits up again as they formed a similar hand sign before slamming their hands onto the ground. A dark glow started to radiate from the ground as a figure started to emerge. The figure appeared to be less than 20 years old. From the look of the figure’s dark pupils, it was none other than the reborned Emperor of the Dead.

However, it seemed that the purple clouds around the Emperor of the Dead had restrained him.

The Emperor of the Dead took a good look at the sand particle before shaking his head and laughed. “The soul is already splitted and scattered. Even I would not be able to save her. In this world of ours, from the past till now, no one would be able to do so.”

Everyone glared at him, but the Emperor of the Dead gave a small grin as he remained silent.

It was at this moment when the purple clouds suddenly rippled as a youth entered into the scene with his powerful strides.

Xiao Yan and the rest acknowledged the person’s entrance as they bowed down, “Master.”

Yang Qing stood there in dazed state as he stared at Lin Feng without the ability to respond in anyway.

Lin Feng moved to the side of Yang Qing and ejected a streak of purple clouds which enveloped the sand particle. However, despite the injection of mana into the purple clouds, the destroyed sand particle was unable to be restored.

“Yang Qing, just as what the Emperor of the Dead had said, no one in our world will be able to save Fang Ting. Even I myself will not be able to do it.” Lin Feng said with much regret before continuing, “I might have once told you to keep the sand particle for the slim chance that we might be able to save her one day. But it seems like there would be no turning back already.”

The Emperor of the Dead gave a loud laugh, “Even though I was able to be reborned, I had never landed myself in such a state before. This lady isn’t dead. Her soul is basically broken apart and scattered. She had completely disappeared from our world. Never to be found in the realm of the living or the dead!”

The light in Yang Qing’s eyes vanished as he stared at the empty space in front of him with immense melancholy.

The Yang Qing, who was in the real world, was also rooted to the ground as thousands of different shades of sadness engulfed him.

Shen Qifeng was not much better either. After getting hit by Yang Qing’s Solitary Rest of the Grand Moon, his immortal soul avatar was slowly disintegrating and nearing death.

Suddenly, a weird runic symbol appeared from the Brahmā Magic Pearl. As the symbol flickered, a light projection of a human figure was emitted from the Brahmā Magic Pearl. The light projection gradually turned solid and the human figure broke free from the Brahmā Magic Pearl. It was none other than Shen Qifeng.

“I was lucky that his spell was unable to stop my Samsara of Life and Death technique. If not, I would really be dead.” Shen Qifeng’s face was pale as he stared at Yang Qing. Sikong You smiled, “It must have been tough on you. But I will get a brilliant zombie from Yang Qing. One that would be better than Zhang Lie! In fact, better than any of my previous ones!”