Great Demon - Chapter 117 Part 2

Golden light flooded the Mortal Realm, dispelling the devilish energy. The devils scattered, fleeing in all directions.

Immortal Zhiying released a tense breath. “It’s not working—still not working!”

Immortal Piaomiao watched Changying fall in shock. 

“Divine Venerable!”

Just as the scattered immortals began to despair, a crimson beam of light suddenly pierced down from the Nine Heavens.

A phoenix, its feathers blackened and scorched, descended with a mournful cry.

The Vermillion Phoenix ignited with phoenix fire once more. Though her body was covered in wounds, the oppressive power she radiated was no weaker than that of Obsidian Dragon. With a sweep of her four wings, she suddenly landed atop the Devil-Suppressing Tower.

At the tower’s peak, the phoenix stood firmly. Her long tail feathers swayed slightly, and her body seemed to absorb the tower’s brilliant golden divine light.

Neither a god nor a devil, the Vermillion Phoenix appeared to stand between good and evil. Her crimson eyes lowered as if she were judging the Mortal Realm.

Immortal Zhiying froze, staring at the figure on the tower’s peak with tears welling in her eyes. For a moment, she was afraid—

Afraid that the Vermillion Phoenix would turn her back on Nine Heavens.

“It’s her…” Immortal Piaomiao was also stunned, holding her breath.

The Vermillion Phoenix tilted her head back and let out a piercing cry that shattered the clouds. In a sudden burst, she spread her four wings wide. The weakened phoenix fire on her feathers surged several feet higher, engulfing the charred black plumage, making it seem as though her feathers were still as crimson as blood.

At that moment, the eight gates at the base of the tower swung open with a heavy thud, the sound ringing like a massive bell struck with force.

Joy flickered across Immortal Zhiying’s face as she rasped, “She really came…”

Perhaps not for Nine Heavens, but—

She had come.

As the tower gates opened, a violent storm howled, and all the devils were reduced to devil mist, swept into the tower by the fierce winds.

Even the hidden devil gates beneath the dragon veins dissolved into ash and were drawn inside. The mortal souls trapped in the devil mist were finally freed. They drifted aimlessly, as if they had lost all memory.

The devil mist transformed into countless black threads, pulled toward the base of the tower. Bathed in divine light, the golden radiance solidified into intricate runes, sealing the devil mist and leaving it no escape.

The cries of the devils filled the Mortal Realm, but in moments, those wails were swallowed entirely by the Devil-Suppressing Tower.

With a resounding boom, the tower’s gates slammed shut, cutting off the agonized screams— And silence fell.

The Mortal Realm grew eerily quiet. No trace of devilish energy remained in sight.

Beneath the Vermillion Phoenix’s claws, the Devil-Suppressing Tower began to shrink until it was no larger than a palm.

Zhuyou loosened her grip, letting the tower fall. She bent her body and spread her wings again, diving downward. She was no Slayer God—when it came to eradicating devils, she could not compare to Changying—but controlling the Devil-Suppressing Tower was well within her power.

A century ago, she had twice destroyed the Devil-Suppressing Tower, yet now, she had wielded it herself.

The dark clouds over the sky gradually dispersed, and sunlight slanted down upon the human world.

The immortals and gods could not directly fight forces from beyond this realm, but fortunately, these devils had only exploited a gap in the boundary—they were not truly recognized by it.

As the four-winged Vermillion Phoenix descended, the wind and sand swirled violently. The phoenix fire on her feather tips dimmed, revealing the charred black plumage beneath.

When Immortal Zhiying saw the Devil-Suppressing Tower falling from the sky, she feared it might shatter. She hurriedly raised her arms, attempting to catch it.

But the Vermillion Phoenix flicked her wings. Mixed with phoenix fire, her spiritual power turned a deep blood-red and wrapped around the tower—

And the tower vanished.

Immortal Zhiying knew it must have been stored within a spatial pouch. She lowered her hands and called out to Vermillion Phoenix in a loud voice, “Zhuyou—”

But the moment she spoke, she regretted it. She was unworthy of addressing her so intimately. If anything, she should have called her “Your Divinity.” She quickly closed her mouth, watching as Vermillion Phoenix drew closer, her dazzling flame nearly blinding her.

Yet the Vermillion Phoenix was not coming for her. She was heading straight for the Obsidian Dragon.

With a snap of her beak, Zhuyou seized Changying as if she were a mere worm, not sparing a glance at anyone else.

Return. 

Her voice echoed in the hearts of those present.

The one hundred thousand demon soldiers, now freed from the demon seal’s control, scattered from the Mortal Realm. Meanwhile, the immortals and gods busied themselves with repairing the collapsed beams and filling the deep chasms, though their efforts felt painfully slow.

High above, the Vermillion Phoenix suddenly halted mid-flight. Her tail feathers quivered as she spread her four wings wide, releasing a cascade of feathers toward the Mortal Realm.

As the feathers drifted down, they transformed into brilliant crimson light. In an instant, the collapsed buildings were restored, and even the imperial tomb, where the dragon veins had been hollowed out, was buried again.

No shattered stones. No jagged fissures. Even the bloodstains on the ground were wiped away.

The mortals, frozen in place, slowly regained their senses. They blinked in confusion, looking around as if waking from a dream. There was no trace of the dark mist or black smoke—Had the rain already passed?

When they lifted their heads, the Vermillion Phoenix was nowhere to be seen—she had already concealed her form.

The immortals rose into the sky after her, only then remembering that a phoenix was the embodiment of auspiciousness—

And a four-winged Vermillion Phoenix was unparalleled in the world.

Even if she no longer belonged to Nine Heavens.

Above Nine Heavens, the Immovable Buddha suddenly rose from his Sumeru seat and walked out of the collapsed main hall. Fingering his prayer beads, he looked up and saw the Vermillion Phoenix carrying Changying as she descended onto the clouds.

With deliberate care, the Buddha performed a respectful Buddhist salutation. Whether the Vermillion Phoenix noticed him or not, he took a step forward and disappeared beyond the hall.

Zhuyou transformed back into her human form, leaning against the wounded dragon. Though she was weak, Changying had transferred half of her spiritual energy to her.

When she saw the Immovable Buddha approaching, she suddenly remembered—this Dharma King had not left Mount Sumeru for a long time. It must have been the upheaval across the Three Realms that finally brought him out.

Immovable Buddha stopped a short distance away, his feet resting on drifting clouds. He held one palm upright before his chest, his expression as calm and cold as water.

Zhuyou rested for a while before sending out a wave of spiritual energy, helping Changying return to her human form.

The massive Obsidian Dragon shrank suddenly, turning into a slender and long-legged beauty. Her skin was like polished ice, though her complexion was too pale. The dragon scales on her cheek remained, appearing like a patch of scars—yet in the divine light, they shimmered brilliantly, too radiant to resemble mere blemishes.

Changying’s eyes remained tightly shut, blood staining her shoulders and hands. It was unclear whether she still felt pain in her unconscious state.

Zhuyou ignored the Immovable Buddha for the moment and instead examined Changying’s spiritual core. She found that Changying’s soul remained intact, and the horrifying wound in her palm had finally stopped bleeding. Yet, it seemed…

She did not wish to wake up.

After withdrawing her divine sense, Zhuyou finally turned toward the Immovable Buddha and asked, “Does the Venerable Buddha have something to say?”

Immovable Buddha gave a slight nod, his gaze falling on the unconscious Obsidian Dragon. In a calm voice, he said, “Within the Divine Venerable’s heart hangs a golden bell—only the Vermillion Phoenix can unbind it.”

Zhuyou frowned, puzzled by his words.

Immovable Buddha continued, “The Divine Venerable takes the burden of karma upon herself. Yet, if you trace the cause to its origin, it leads back to the chaos—but she has not realized it.”

“What do you mean?” Zhuyou was not one for riddles. Her thoughts were heavy, concerned only with waking Changying.

Immovable Buddha shook his head slowly and said, “She only needs to hear one word from you, and the confusion in her heart will be dispelled.”

Zhuyou thought this Buddha was as cryptic as ever—just as he had been centuries ago. With a flick of her hand, a golden tower appeared in her palm, its radiant light dazzling to the eyes. She was just about to toss it over when the Immovable Buddha spoke again.

“No need to give it to me. I will have no time to guard the tower from now on.”

“Why?” Zhuyou asked, her brows furrowed.

“I must go to Shangxi City,” he replied.

Zhuyou froze for a moment, narrowing her eyes. “You don’t mean to seal the Endless Abyss by yourself, do you?”

Immovable Buddha inclined his head slightly. “That is precisely my intention. I did not act before—please forgive me, Vermillion Phoenix. This time, I will sacrifice myself to the Endless Abyss, moving Mount Sumeru atop it. With the power of the Buddha, I will suppress it. From now on, no being from beyond the realms will be able to intrude.”

His tone was indifferent, as though he were not speaking of his own impending death.

Zhuyou clenched her fingers, scrutinizing the Immovable Buddha in silence.

He remained composed, allowing her to observe him without flinching.

After a long pause, Zhuyou gave a slight nod. She lowered her gaze to the golden tower in her palm and, without a word, withdrew it.

The Immovable Buddha suddenly took out a plain brocade box and said, “Xuanqing and Kunyi’s heart relics are inside. I was safeguarding them on behalf of the Divine Venerable—but now, I must entrust them to the Vermillion Phoenix.”

Zhuyou extended her hand, and the brocade box floated gently from the Immovable Buddha’s grasp into her palm.

“Alright,” she responded curtly, as if there was nothing more to say between them.

Immovable Buddha bowed slightly, his fingers brushing over his prayer beads as he said, “Farewell.”

With that, he turned and departed, each step impossibly heavy, shattering the clouds beneath his feet.

Zhuyou narrowed her eyes, noticing a speck of earth clinging to his shoulder—unyielding against the wind. Upon closer inspection, it was Mount Sumeru itself. Carrying a mountain on his shoulders—how could his steps be anything but heavy?

She watched intently until his figure was nearly out of sight. Her lips moved, and finally, she spoke two words. “Thank you.”

The Immovable Buddha’s steps faltered slightly.

“I’m speaking on her behalf,” Zhuyou added in a cool tone. “If she were awake, she would have said it herself.”

He did not turn back, only bowed slightly once more before continuing forward.

***

That day, Mount Sumeru left the Nine Heavens. With the Immovable Buddha’s sacrifice, it descended upon Shangxi City, sealing the Endless Abyss. His physical body perished, his soul scattered, and his Buddha form merged with the earth itself.

Though the Nine Heavens rebuilt the main hall, Xuanqing and Kunyi were gone. The Divine Venerable remained in an unending slumber. The celestial beings could only place their hopes on the Vermillion Phoenix—yet she refused to even approach the celestial gates, staying by the Obsidian Dragon’s side without moving an inch.

Zhuyou lowered her eyes, silent. Bathed in divine light and having absorbed half of Changying’s spiritual energy, her wounds were nearly healed. When the immortals tried to approach, she merely said, “Do not bother me.”

Left with no other choice, they returned to the Heavenly Palace. Some transformed into birds, secretly watching from afar.

Zhuyou bent her finger and brushed the small mole on Changying’s nose—just as she had imagined doing while trapped in the Endless Abyss. She traced slowly down, pressing lightly against Changying’s pale lips.

After brushing her lips, her finger moved to graze the curve of her neck. Unfortunately, in her human form, it was impossible to tell where her reverse scale might be.

The scale, once cracked, had healed perfectly and now lay hidden beneath her collar—itching faintly.

Leaning close to Changying’s ear, Zhuyou murmured, “You once asked me—what are we, in the eyes of mortals? If you open your eyes, I will tell you.”

Yet Changying remained still, as if truly lost in eternal slumber.

Zhuyou frowned, not with anger, but with a restless frustration gnawing at her heart. She added softly, “Hanzhu and Huoshu’s whereabouts remain unknown. I’ve stayed with you long enough—perhaps it’s time I go and find them.”

No sooner had she spoken than she noticed a faint twitch of Changying’s eyelids.

At the same time, the strand of devilish energy trapped in Changying’s spine stirred to life—

And this time, it was not because of Zhuyou’s thoughts.

It was because of Changying herself.