Read Novel Full Chapter 1979: Farewell
Chapter 1979: Farewell
[AN; Previous chapter is fixed.]
—
Wu Hong looked at Gu Chang'an. "Any last words?"
"W-Why? Why you?"
"Isn't it obvious?" she replied, but after observing the man's eyes, she realized he was that stubborn, that prideful — that oblivious. Wu Hong sighed. "Despite how much I despise your very existence, you were a great cautionary tale for my Dao. So, I'll answer your question.
"I don't know what happened after I jumped into the abyss, but I can guess quite accurately what happened to you. You either spent the rest of the trial trying to analyze and understand the abyss with no success, or you eventually gritted your teeth and jumped. Still, after reaching the million-meter mark, you lost your mind at the prospect of losing all your knowledge. Which one was it?"
Gu Chang'an remained silent.
"My money is on the former. You would never have the balls to face the unknown. So, am I right? Based on your reaction, it seems I'm right. Now, did that answer your question?"
"My…path…is…not…wrong."
"If you still believe so, you can die at peace; that's more than most people can say — including Lady Ai and her sister."
Gu Chang'an opened his mouth, but suddenly stopped. After mulling it over, he decided to stop talking and accept his fate.
"Would you like to do the honor?"
"You'd allow it?" Lady Ai asked.
"Why not?"
She manifested next to Wu Hong, who handed her access to the Omnicube without any hesitation. Lady Ai received it with trembling hands, trying to rein in her rampaging emotions. Gu Chang'an's expression turned ugly; he could reluctantly accept his death at Wu Hong's hands, but never at this loser.
"Why…do you…want…to…humiliate…me?... Kill…me…yourself."
"Have you ever given the people you've defeated the choice of how they die? Losers have no control over their fate," Wu Hong calmly stated. Gu Chang'an opened his mouth to say something, but Lady Ai didn't allow it; with one thought, the cube released a seal that shut his mouth.
"Gu Chang'an, oh, Gu Chang'an: you have no idea how long I've waited for this day — how much I've dreamt about it," Lady Ai said with a gentle smile. But the next second, her expression twisted into pure hatred and disgust.
"You could not fathom the different types of horrific tortures I've meticulously prepared for you. You have no idea how I long to hear your scream, to watch your worm in agony. But I won't do any of that. No, no, I won't do that. Vengeance has consumed me, and before, I was perfectly fine with that.
"But during your fight with little Wu, it dawned on me how much of a loser you are. And something tells me if I continue to let my hatred consume me, I'd become just like you."
Lady Ai stopped briefly before shivering.
"The very idea that I would be like you brings me so much shame and disgust that I want to erase my mind every time the thought pops into my head. I would rather die than live in a world where I'm anything like you."
Gu Chang'an's face turned red as he tried to fight the seal, trying to say something to that damn loser. Unfortunately, in front of a third-step artifact, and with his collapsed Dao Heart, he was basically useless. Gu Chang'an couldn't accept such a shame; he could accept losing, but not to someone like her.
"So, I won't torture you. In fact, I'll make your death swift and painless. So, go in peace." Lady Ai raised the cube, and with a single thought, Gu Chang'an turned into dust that scattered with the wind. Lady Ai stood in the same position without moving; without realizing it, tears began to drip down her face.
"Sister, I've done it — I've avenged you."
"Is it really too late?"
"Gu Chang'an used more than a dozen cube pieces to kill her, so even if I become a Grand Dao Saint, it's impossible to revive her."
"Then become a transcendent. If you can reach that realm, nothing is beyond your desires."
"...You really think I can do it?"
"You won't know until you've tried," Wu Hong replied. "Plus, you've made it so far. Who says you can't go further?"
Lady Ai thought briefly before closing her eyes. Two golden crowns manifested above her head, followed by small purple auspicious clouds. Five minutes later, these visions entered her body, turning it a bit less transparent.
"Thank you," Lady Ai said, her eyes clearer and firmer than before.
"No problem. But what's your current state exactly?"
"I'm technically not dead. Most of my [Existence] collapsed under Gu Chang'an's wrath, but I preserved a small piece of my soul. I then used my obsession to preserve that small piece to continue fighting."
"So, you still returned to your peak?"
"Yes, but it will really take a long time."
"Maybe this can help." Wu Hong sent her a copy of the Nirvana Mind Sutra, and Lady Ai swiftly scanned the contract.
"What an interesting technique. I can probably use it to create a technique that uses the power of obsession to accelerate my healing journey."
"I'm glad it can help. Let's start with separating you from the court." Now that the battle was over, Lady Ai no longer needed to remain as the court's artifact spirit.
"No need."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Do you know what my Dao is?"
Wu Hong paused. "Honestly, I have no idea." They've fought together, but until now, she had no idea. Of course, it's because Lady Ai only used the power of obsession and her experience during the battle.
"Assistance Dao."
"Really?"
"My Big Sister was everything to me, and the only thing I wanted in life was to help her."
Wu Hong nodded. She finally understood how Lady Ai could communicate with her, help her connect to the Omnicube, and eventually become its master.
"Now, I want to assist you."
"Are you sure about this?"
"My Dao needs someone else as an anchor, and there is no better choice than you."
"I respect your decision, but you don't have to stay as a spirit to help me."
"I know, but this state is conducive to my recovery."
"We can find other ways to help you."
"I forget you primordial beings have a thing against artifact spirits."
Wu Hong said nothing more and immediately separated Lady Ai from the court. "Do you want to keep the scar or remove it?"
"Let's remove it, but before that, you should hurry. After Gu Chang'an dies, his Book World will collapse. Go and save the library."
"Damn it, why didn't you say something sooner?"
Wu Hong teleported out of the cube dimension, returning to the Book World. As Lady Ai stated, the Source World was rapidly collapsing. Wu Hong rushed to the center where the library was located. Her heart began to bleed as she saw how much was already destroyed. So, without wasting a single moment, she used the cube to swallow everything that remained.
"What a crime," Wu Hong muttered. So much knowledge, and it's all lost. Her heart ached every time she thought about it.
"The cube has an even more complete and perfect record. It's not that much of a loss."
"As much as I despise Gu Chang'an, I still want to learn about his experience and perspective so I don't make the same mistake."
"That's a fair point. My bad. I really didn't think he was so valuable."
Wu Hong sighed. "Forget it; what's done is done. Plus, as you said, the cube has an even better record."
The omnicube manifested in her hand once again as she prepared to solve Lady Ai's issue.
"Let me do it. You should reduce the number of times you use this artifact before you sanctify."
"Alright."
Lady Ai took a deep breath before activating the cube; a terrifying power descended on her face and instantly crushed all remnants of Gu Chang'an's Saint Will. Lady Ai's body paused as she felt the pain disappear, and her face rapidly regenerated. She slowly touched her face for a few seconds, feeling the smooth, jade-like skin. Lady Ai wanted to condense a mirror to look at it, but every time she thought about it, something held her back.
"Here: let me help you." Wu Hong held the mirror for her, and Lady Ai was instantly mesmerized. How long has it been since she saw her true face? The last time was the day her sister died. Tears once again dripped down Lady Ai's face. Illusions can fool others, but not her. As such, for most of her life, mirrors were something she hated with a passion.
"Little Wu, thank you."
"For what?"
"Without you, I would never be here. Forget about enacting my revenge; I would have become Gu Chang'an's nourishment."
"No problem. And don't call me Little Wu."
"No can do."
Wu Hong was immediately speechless. What's with the people of this timeline and their lack of respect for names or ways of addressing people? "Forget it," she thought. Now that everything was over, Wu Hong needed to deal with the aftermath before returning home.