Chapter 159

Chapter 159: The Strange Messenger of the Underworld

"Every cause bears its consequence!" The man continued flatly, appearing indifferent to Qiu Yao’s crumbling composure. "She knew she couldn’t achieve the Great Dao in this lifetime, so she defied fate by transferring all her Merits to you. Your ascension to godhood came through her sacrifice, while she incurred this calamity."

"Merits?!" Qiu Yao stared blankly at his trembling hands before bursting into bitter laughter. "So… my divinity was built on her Merits… All along, it was Master who… but I…" But I used this very power to destroy her soul.

Bloody tears streamed down his face as overwhelming grief consumed him. "Why reveal this now? Had I known earlier… had I only known…"

The Messenger tilted his head slightly, his monotonous voice tinged with genuine confusion. "The Nether Realm deals only with wandering souls, not the living. Your knowledge or ignorance holds no consequence to me. What difference would earlier knowledge have made?"

Qiu Yao froze, the crushing weight of realization deepening his despair.

Even with foreknowledge, could he ever have accepted Master’s departure? Her reincarnation had been his sole purpose for centuries – the driving force behind his ruthless pursuit of divinity. Regardless of timing, he would have walked this damned path.

"I mention this because two souls depart today – hers and another." The Messenger’s empty gaze fixed on Qiu Yao. "Are you prepared to become a wandering soul?"

When met with silence, he added without inflection, "If unprepared, I can wait." He stepped aside, assuming formal waiting posture.

You You: "…"

Feng Rong: "…"

Yuan Qi: "…"

Was this underworld agent mentally deficient? Who openly announces they’re waiting for someone to commit suicide?

Before they could intervene, Qiu Yao erupted in laughter bordering on hysteria. "Yes… yes!" His bloodshot eyes burned with manic resolve as he addressed the Messenger. "I destroyed Master’s soul – what right have I to live? I’ll join her!"

The self-inflicted palm strike shattered both skull and divine soul instantly. Glowing particles reminiscent of Qin Yan’s dissolution flowed into the Messenger’s hand, forming a second faint soul sphere.

You You watched grimly. While Qiu Yao’s crimes warranted endless punishment, the tragic obsession binding him to Qin Yan evoked reluctant pity.

The Messenger stored both souls before turning toward their group. Ominous shadows clung to his dark robes, raising instinctive wariness. Even Yuan Qi and Feng Rong tensed – this entity who’d manipulated Qiu Yao’s suicide remained an enigma.

Halting three paces away, the Messenger’s pallid face abruptly contorted into a ghastly grin. "Noble Lady," he rasped, executing a jerky bow, "Long time no see."

"You know me?!" You You recoiled.

"Ah… forgotten me, have you?" The grin widened unnaturally. "No matter. Duty calls – but do visit when leisure allows." Another stiff bow followed.

"Visit where? The underworld? Hey, explain!"

Ripples erupted beneath their feet as he vanished, daylight restoring with his departure.

——————

The battle’s aftermath revealed Wushan’s devastation – every phoenix tree destroyed, even the white Sacred Tree cleaved in twain. Its glow extinguished, the final wisps of vitality faded.

Feng Rong stared at his clan’s shattered symbol, expression unreadable. After prolonged silence, he moved toward Feng Yu’s bloodied form.

A pulse check darkened his eyes. "Yuan Papa…" You You’s prompting sent Yuan Qi forward, but his headshake confirmed their fears.

"Too late."

Feng Rong waved Feng Yu’s remains into storage. "He’ll return to Feng Qi." However strained their history, proper rites demanded this.

The day’s blows – betrayal, arboreal annihilation – visibly weighed on Feng Rong, muting his usual fiery demeanor.

You You tugged his sleeve awkwardly. "This wasn’t your fault."

He gripped her hand tightly, gaze lingering on the Sacred Tree’s ruins.

"Let’s establish a contract now?" she blurted. "Want an orange?"

A startled snort escaped him, familiar exasperation replacing melancholy. "Using sacred pacts as comfort?!"

"Well… if it works?"

"Hmph!" He glanced at the broken trunk, resolve firming. "First, accompany me somewhere."

Following his gaze, she guessed instantly: "The Sacred Tree space?"