Chapter 371

Chapter 371: A Worthy Life

“Let’s hold a funeral, everyone. Almost all the Dao Artifact wielders have died in battle, and many civilians have perished as well…”

“This hatred must be etched in our hearts; we will not rest until we achieve our goals!”

Yun Ye lifted Huo Yang in his arms and spoke to all the survivors.

His smile was strained, and everyone could see that this great genius had been deeply affected by the recent upheaval.

“Hu… Yes, Ming Waiyang, 2nd Level member, we will be counting on you next. The chief designated you as the successor, and we have no objections!”

“You are the only one who can lead us against powerful foes!”

The crowd replied, holding back their sorrow.

“Alright, please everyone… come to bid farewell.”

Yun Ye held Huo Yang close.

The cold air spread, forming an ice coffin that covered Huo Yang, freezing her forever at this moment.

He used his spirit energy to lift the ice coffin, not opening a spatial gate, but step by step, he walked toward the cemetery with Huo Yang, allowing everyone to witness this scene.

As a sacrifice, Huo Yang, along with the Dao Artifact wielders, deserved to be recognized for their contributions and earn the respect of all.

So, Yun Ye did not leave immediately; instead, he gathered everyone.

Then, centered around this moment, they began to sing a solemn song as they moved toward the cemetery.

The two Dao Artifact wielders behind him opened their mouths but ultimately said nothing. Like Yun Ye, they remained by the ice coffin and began to sing a hymn of remembrance.

They were newly promoted Dao Artifact wielders over the past few years, and when they attempted to make a sacrifice, Huo Yang had stopped them.

For them, it was just a matter of dying a few seconds later, so they did not decline.

But this brief moment of hesitation allowed them to survive as the last two Dao Artifact wielders from Tomorrow City.

They felt a deep sense of guilt; if they had not obeyed orders, this elder would not have died.

Clearly, Lady Huo Yang had fought for the Tomorrow Society for decades, establishing the prosperous situation it enjoyed now, yet in the end, she received no good farewell…

If they could, they would gladly take the elder’s place in death.

This was their way of thinking.

They did not know the relationship between Huo Yang and Yun Ye; everything started from the achievements of this elder.

They respected Huo Yang greatly and did not want her to die here, and this sentiment was sincerely conveyed to Yun Ye.

Such a thing had happened.

It was evident that they were not in the wrong.

“Alas…”

With the initial embrace of the entire city’s residents, Yun Ye and the others arrived at the Tomorrow Cemetery, a burial ground specifically for warriors, most of which were tombs of the honored dead.

The Tomorrow Society was in a perilous situation; those who had died rarely left behind any remains.

This time, the sacrifice of the Dao Artifacts was the same; they turned instantly into ashes, while only Huo Yang remained for the final sacrifice. She had merely died, without completely vanishing.

Every year, a large number of people visited the Tomorrow Cemetery to pay their respects; Yun Ye had also come to honor the classmates and comrades of Mingqi.

Every time Yun Ye came, he felt a heaviness.

The loss of a loved one brings sorrow, and how much more so when it is a sacrifice for the Tomorrow Society, when someone dies young?

Though people can empathize, they cannot truly feel it deeply. Yun Ye could feel the weight, yet usually, he could forget.

But this time, he could not escape; he truly felt the anger and pain.

For the past five years, he had received guidance from Yuexin, and because of her, he gradually got to know all the 1st members and all the Dao Artifact wielders.

In this life, he could visit Tian Jing’s home as Yuexin’s disciple and pay respect to Yang Shu as the Chosen One of Tomorrow.

This was happiness; even though the environment was filled with danger, everyone still enjoyed happiness far greater than before.

As long as they continued to work hard, they could welcome a beautiful ending—this was what he believed.

And so, after everything was destroyed, Yun Ye did not show it outside, but inside, countless emotions churned, to the point that until now, he had not spoken a word to Qi Lian… He was worried he might lose control of his emotions and harm Qi Lian.

Losing Qi Lian would not only weaken the Tomorrow Society further but also cause the already precarious Tomorrow Society to crumble even more.

While preparing to enter the coffin in the cemetery, a young man suddenly burst in, crying out loudly, “Not good, not good! Yang Shu the chief… he… he may not make it… Hurry, someone… Lady Waiyang, please save the chief!”

“What?” Yun Ye suddenly looked up, spreading his Spirit Sense, quickly finding Yang Shu’s location.

It was an ancient courtyard, resembling Yang Shu’s former home in Baishi Town, but now it lay in ruins, as if some aftershocks of power had shaken this place, though ultimately, they were blocked by Yang Shu and his wife.

Yang Shu lay on a recliner, his hair completely white, his complexion dull, quietly watching the fiery clouds in the sky colliding with unknown forces.

That was the residual force from Tian Jing’s self-destruct; no one had intervened, and it was enough to kill over half the city’s population. From the time that event ended, Yun Ye upheld the barrier, resisting the catastrophic change in the sky.

Shuzhu held Yang Shu’s hand, her face showing sadness, but also a sense of relief; every person must face death, saying goodbye to someone is unavoidable, isn’t it?

The two elders quietly gazed at the sky, watching the new generation of strong opponents fight against this cosmic phenomenon.

Yang Shu said, “Truly impressive… even stronger than Little Shi… As long as he is here, I can rest easy. —Waiyang, you heard that, right?”

“I heard it… Chief Yang Shu.” Yun Ye paused for a moment before replying.

“Ha ha, as long as you heard it, that’s good. In the future… in the future…” Yang Shu smiled, “Our dream… I will leave it to you!”

As the door opened—

Space ripples appeared before Yun Ye. He took a slow step forward, walking to Yang Shu. In that brief moment, he thought of many things.

He really wanted to kneel before Yang Shu and Shuzhu, to tell them that he was their son, that he was so sorry for not being able to protect them and ensure they could live comfortably in their old age; he wanted to plead for forgiveness.

But Yun Ye knew he could not do that. This was a world with True Immortals, and he had already left too many traces behind; he must never reveal that he was a reincarnator…

Yun Ye half-kneeled beside Yang Shu’s recliner, his eyes red, his voice hoarse as he said, “Chief Yang Shu, I’m sorry. I cannot save you!”

Even with the Force of Freedom, he could not save Yang Shu.

This was the law of this world; it could not be changed, and it was a privilege that belonged solely to him. Even he could not share it with others.

“I understand. My time is up; even if I switch bodies, it is impossible to live even one second longer. Just like that little girl Yuexin said, these are the rules of the world; mortals can only live for a hundred years. Every time one breaks through a realm, they can live an extra century.”

“I am weak, and I have never awakened a Dao Artifact. I am not a good seeker of the path… I just wanted to protect my wife, and I burned my lifespan for that. I’m sorry… I couldn’t save them… The only thing I could do was protect my wife. Perhaps you would look down on me… But I feel it was worth it. This life, truly worth it…”