Zanxing (Retranslated)

Chapter 171 - The Withered Tree Blooms (2)

Before the Panhua Staff was split in two, one piece had already turned to dust, while the other was held in Zanxing’s hand. Originally, it was an iron rod, with exorcism symbols carved into its pitch-black body. However, now it looked like a shriveled, dried branch, devoid of all moisture, appearing dim and lifeless next to the Serpent Staff in front of it.

Yet, from this dry, branch-like rod, a green bud sprouted.

This tiny, fragile green bud stood trembling at the branch’s tip, and with just this little bit, everything suddenly blossomed with new vitality.

Vitality was hope.

The Snake Shaman’s staff came rushing towards her with great force. Zanxing gripped the Panhua Staff tightly, as if she saw a girl walking alone in the desert. Everything was about to dry up, and the traveler in the desert, upon seeing a beautiful mirage, was actually seeing hope in a desperate situation. The Snake Shaman’s mirages made people lose their way; the greedy were consumed by their endless desires, but many innocent, ordinary people died from their hopes.

The Snake Shaman wanted to extinguish all hope, but Zanxing was determined to bring life back to this place.

“Qing’e Flower-Picking Staff, Third Form – Blooming of the Withered Tree.”

In an instant, the pitiably weak green bud rapidly sprouted leaves. It grew strong and lush, continuously blossoming with flowers, quickly covering the desolate land. The withered rod seemed to come to life. Zanxing felt a continuous flow of vitality pulsating in her hand. She saw the vast desert in a giant map expand before her eyes. She saw countless souls trudging alone in the desert, their beautiful dreams lost in the wind and sand, wandering in circles. The traces of their wandering quickly shrank and then expanded in her mind until they merged with the wind of the staff.

A sharp screech echoed as the giant snake crashed into her staff and was violently rebounded. The Snake Shaman couldn’t dodge in time and was slammed against the stone wall with a loud bang. The next moment, Meng Ying’s longsword flew from behind, and Mu Cengxiao gripped the God-Slaying Sword, slashing fiercely from top to bottom at the Snake Shaman’s head.

All was silent.

First, there was a deathly stillness, followed by a sizzling sound, like water trickling slowly. The Snake Shaman’s beautiful face still bore a terrified expression, but her exquisite, luxurious garments began to gradually turn into black sand, followed by her body, and finally her eyes, until she completely disappeared.

Nothing was left behind.

“…Turned to ashes,” Zanxing murmured.

Mu Cengxiao’s God-Slaying Sword was capable of vanquishing even ghosts and deities. The Snake Shaman’s power wasn’t truly formidable; she relied on her illusions to act with impunity. Once the illusion was broken, her cultivation level was not comparable to the others.

“Senior Uncle!” Men Dong’s tearful shout came from the side. Zanxing turned around and saw that Gu Baiying’s white clothes were almost entirely stained with blood. He weakly waved his hand, his voice still impatient, “Keep it down. What are you fussing about?”

“Your spiritual veins, your spiritual veins…” Men Dong was so anxious he was about to cry. “How could you be so severely injured?”

Meng Ying turned back in astonishment. No one in the sect had told her about the damage to Gu Baiying’s spiritual veins. Seeing his pallor now, the situation was likely worse than she had imagined.

At this moment, Mimi suddenly jumped up from the ground. Following its gaze, Zanxing saw that while the Snake Shaman had vanished, her ornate Serpent Staff remained. From the gemstone embedded at its tip, a layer of white mist gradually emanated. Tian Fangfang took two steps back, asking in confusion, “What’s this…?”

“It should be the souls imprisoned here,” Gu Baiying replied.

“Souls?”

“With the Snake Shaman’s death, all the illusions she wove are shattered. These souls, lost in the illusions, are now free.” Gu Baiying wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, “They are liberated.”

“Really?” Tian Fangfang scratched his head, “Then we’ve done a great deed, haven’t we?”

Was it a good deed? Zanxing was uncertain. For some souls, accepting the harsh reality while awake or being immersed in a beautiful illusion—which was truly happier? No one could give an answer.

“Huh?” She heard Men Dong’s voice, “What’s this…?”

From the white mist, a person’s figure gradually emerged. Unlike the souls that turned into points of light, this one had a complete form. Initially, it was indistinguishable due to the mist, but as it dissipated, her silhouette became clearer.

She was a frail woman, dressed in a pitch-black cloak that hung down to her feet, embroidered with dark silver runes. A thin black veil covered her face, revealing only her eyes. Unlike the Snake Shaman’s endlessly charming and radiant eyes, these eyes were plain and ordinary, seemingly unremarkable. Yet, when she stared at someone, it felt as if she could see through them entirely, inspiring awe.

“Who are you?” Tian Fangfang asked.

The woman in black did not answer him. Instead, she looked at Zanxing, and despite this being their first meeting, it felt like reuniting with an old acquaintance. She spoke in a calm voice, “We finally meet.”

Zanxing felt a sudden realization and blurted out, “You are the Snake Shaman of Wufan City!”

The woman nodded.

Zanxing was enlightened.

This was the true owner of the Serpent Staff, the shaman who once protected the people of Wufan City but died at their hands. After the Snake Shaman’s staff was taken by the Mirae Woman, her soul was imprisoned in this artifact, and her spiritual power was exploited for malicious purposes.

“Have you seen me before?” Zanxing asked hesitantly.

It was their first meeting, so why did the shaman’s expression and words seem like she had been waiting for her?

“You have a mermaid scale on you,” the shaman said calmly. “Years ago, a mermaid made a deal with me and I foresaw that we would meet today.”

“Are you the Snake Shaman who made a deal with Yin Li?” Zanxing asked in surprise. Years ago, when Yin Li met the Snake Shaman, Zanxing had not yet arrived here. She never expected to come to this place, yet the Snake Shaman claimed to have foreseen today’s encounter. What extraordinary ability did this Snake Shaman possess to foresee even this “deviation from the heavenly path”?

As this thought crossed her mind, she heard the Snake Shaman speak, “But there is one thing I don’t understand. Why are you the variable?”

Variable?

Zanxing’s heart skipped a beat. Before she could respond, an icy finger touched her forehead. She looked up, meeting the Snake Shaman’s plain eyes. In that moment, it felt as if she saw her past, present, and future through those eyes. It was as if her entire existence, her fate, had turned into flat words on a page, being scrutinized line by line.

The finger left her forehead.

The Snake Shaman withdrew her hand, looking at her with a peculiar expression, and uttered two words: “How strange.”

She continued, “I can’t see anything.”