AVL Chapter 101

Sheng Jiao didn’t “cherish” Tianyan Pearls.

 

One hundred eight Tianyan Pearls formed layered thunder sigil barriers, blocking the tribulation.

 

Dual thunder roared earth-shattering.

 

As the incense dwindled, Tian Dao seemed to scream through thunder, intimidating audacious humans.

 

Pearls exploded one by one, forming a solid barrier shielding Sheng Jiao. Tribulation passed halfway, true Great Ascension spiritual power finally seeping from his body.

 

The more tribulations Sheng Jiao endured, the closer his cultivation neared true Great Ascension—even his “artifact” for tribulation was Tian Dao’s gift of Tianyan Pearls.

 

If Tian Dao had a body, it would surely be spitting blood.

 

The final stub of incense nearly burned out.

 

The last thirty bolts coalesced into one unprecedented, monstrously powerful thunder, brewing a mere instant in the sky, as if to split the heavens, shaking earth and sky.

 

Only one last Tianyan Pearl remained, inscribed with “Zhuo”—Sheng Jiao’s life-bound pearl. Face grim, he gripped it, unafraid. Winter Melt Sword hummed with sword intent, towering against the colossal thunder.

 

Yan Jianlan grasped Tian Dao’s intent, flying forward urgently: “Sheng Jiao!”

 

Before reaching the thundercloud, Sheng Jiao’s cold voice rang out: “Don’t come near.”

 

Yan Jianlan froze midair.

 

In a flash, the giant thunder struck.

 

Black thunderclouds still snowed thick flakes. Even without ear ornaments, Yan Jianlan heard utter silence among all things, then a deafening clash high above, two spiritual powers colliding across the sky, a black silhouette at the center sending shockwaves radiating outward.

 

Buzz—

 

The sonic boom echoed the thunder’s hum, spreading waves of oppressive force in all directions.

 

Yan Jianlan in midair was thrown violently downward by the shockwave. The effect of “Abandoned Immortal Bone” finally faded like a receding tide, his meridians suddenly burning with acid and pain, unable to steady himself.

 

Had Rang Chen not caught him, he’d have face-planted into the ground.

 

Yan Jianlan’s heart raced, struggling to stand and look up.

 

“Sheng Jiao…”

 

Rang Chen already knew the outcome from Yu Tuishan, murmuring: “He’ll be fine.”

 

Yan Jianlan stared blankly.

 

Sheng Jiao withstood the final thirty bolts, his meridians nearly burned to ashes, instantly rebuilt. His heart, stubborn as stone, unmoved by the sky’s wrath.

 

Dying and reviving countless times in thunder’s ashes, when the final bolt struck his inner palace, his spirit, tempered by thunder, stood firm, letting the bolt rage through his meridians.

 

Suddenly, the last “Zhuo”-inscribed Tianyan Pearl emitted faint thunder sigils.

 

Just as the bolt was about to destroy Sheng Jiao again, the pearl spun into a twisting vortex, devouring the thunder with tiger-like ferocity.

 

Spiritual power wove a new black robe around Sheng Jiao. His eyes opened slightly, revealing cold, emotionless black orbs.

 

Thunder raged with unwilling fury, but could do nothing more.

 

Sheng Jiao had truly entered the Great Ascension, next step of enlightenment and ascension, no longer bound by Thirteen States’ Tian Dao.

 

In the instant Sheng Jiao’s inner palace changed, the incense in the Tianyan shrine finally burned out. The last ash drifted into the burner on the breeze.

 

“Abandoned Immortal Bone” fully activated, countless Tianyan veins and sources converged above Xi clan’s Tianyan shrine, like a star hanging high in the sky.

 

All Tianyan in Thirteen States was drawn away. Yan Jianlan’s expression turned grave, rushing toward Xi clan’s earth vein.

 

His meridians screamed, nearly destroying his body, but Yan Jianlan paid no heed, staggering up the steps.

 

Just like his first meeting with Xi Jue at thirteen.

 

The empty Tianyan earth vein held no spiritual power, only Yu Tuishan’s figure still seated there, wearing the coronation robe made by Madam Zong. He’d grown much taller, the robe now too small, sleeves only reaching forearms.

 

He gazed into the void, long hair fanning out like vines.

 

Yan Jianlan paused, softly: “Brother?”

 

Yu Tuishan could no longer move limbs, breathing dusty air, coughing, then suddenly chuckling.

 

Yan Jianlan stepped forward, kneeling slowly before him.

 

The scars on Yu Tuishan’s wrists and ankles were from daily struggles in the Tianyan earth vein for eight years—Tianyan couldn’t heal them all. He seemed not to feel pain, smiling as if casually greeting: “Didn’t I tell you not to come? So fond of crowds?”

 

Yan Jianlan lowered his head, not answering.

 

Yu Tuishan chatted casually, eyes smiling: “Linger, your joint wedding ceremony—I’m afraid I won’t get to drink the wine.”

 

Yan Jianlan stayed silent.

 

“Why are you still angry?” Yu Tuishan tsked. “Such a temper—must be spoiled by someone.”

 

Yan Jianlan suddenly lunged forward, arms wrapping tightly around Yu Tuishan—but he was too frail; even Yu Tuishan, who rarely left the earth vein, was hard to fully embrace.

 

Yu Tuishan was startled.

 

Yan Jianlan straightened slightly, gently circling Yu Tuishan’s back, warmth slowly passing through.

 

Yu Tuishan’s eyes slowly widened.

 

Hug me.

 

When I come out, Linger, hug me.

 

Yan Jianlan had refused before, but now gave him a gentle, tender embrace.

 

“Warm?” he murmured softly, soothing a child who had finally found home.

 

Yu Tuishan couldn’t return the hug. After a long daze, he gently rested his forehead against Yan Jianlan’s shoulder and whispered, “It’s very warm.”

 

Since he was twelve years old, Yu Tuishan had never been held so tenderly.

 

For a moment, the suffering of more than a decade seemed less significant. All things flowed over him like water, washing away his pain, resentment, and madness.

 

Yu Tuishan spoke again: “I am very tired.”

 

Yan Jianlan: “I know.”

 

“I want…”

 

Yu Tuishan seemed to want to say something, but froze after two words. He frowned deeply, thinking hard for a long time, yet couldn’t figure out what he actually wanted.

 

“I want nothing,” Yu Tuishan closed his eyes slightly. “I don’t want a next life either.”

 

Yan Jianlan laughed: “That’s not what you said before.”

 

Yu Tuishan and Yan Jianlan had talked about everything, even fantasizing about what they would do if they ever got out of Tianyan. Without exception, it was all trivial trifles—like eating osmanthus cakes made by Qin Banban personally, or going to Jiuxiao City to eat a table full of squirrel mandarin fish.

 

It was all about eating, terribly unambitious.

 

“Actually…” Yu Tuishan hesitated for a long while before whispering softly, “A divided soul… has never been able to taste anything when eating.”

 

Yan Jianlan froze, looking at him blankly.

 

Yu Tuishan only knew from his scant twelve years of experience that pastries must be sweet and make one happy, and wine must be spicy and choke one upon sipping. He hadn’t eaten Jiuxiao City’s squirrel mandarin fish, so he had to go eat it every day, trying to learn from others’ reactions what it probably tasted like, and then react accordingly.

 

He disguised himself as a normal person who knew how to eat, drink, and be merry, but ultimately, eating and drinking had no taste, and playing brought no joy.

 

This world was flavorless and dull.

 

Yan Jianlan stared blankly at Yu Tuishan’s face.

 

From the moment he knew Yu Tuishan would choose to die with Tianyan, Yan Jianlan hadn’t shed a single tear for him. But for some reason, when Yu Tuishan said his divided soul had no sense of taste, the sadness accumulated over years instantly burst like a dam.

 

“Wh…” Yan Jianlan’s eyes were full of tears, murmuring as if he couldn’t understand, “Why is it like this?”

 

Why did he never say?

 

Little Xi Jue seemed forever stuck on the day he was abandoned by his parents. Yan Ling was his future salvation, yet he couldn’t turn back time to save him from the abyss of memory.

 

Yan Jianlan couldn’t speak, only knowing to hug him tightly.

 

Yu Tuishan felt the warmth Yan Jianlan passed to him and murmured again: “Linger, so warm.”

 

“I don’t want to.” Yan Jianlan buried his face in the crook of Yu Tuishan’s neck, finally choking out the words he had wanted to say all these years. “I don’t want you to go.”

 

He once thought he understood Yu Tuishan’s actions, knowing he had no will to live, and thought that when the day came, he could send him off with a smile.

 

After all, only death was Yu Tuishan’s lifelong pursuit.

 

But at the very end, Yan Jianlan regretted it.

 

The two had depended on each other for so many years; it wasn’t something that could be let go of in a moment just by understanding the choice and being fully prepared.

 

He gripped Yu Tuishan’s sleeve tightly, pleadingly: “Don’t go…”

 

Yu Tuishan laughed loudly: “Even if I obey you in everything, I really can’t agree to this excessive request.”

 

Yan Jianlan looked up sharply, tears teetering in his eyes: “You!”

 

“What to do?” Yu Tuishan said grinning, “Why don’t you go get Sect Master Sheng to arrest me and take me to Xiezhi Sect?”

 

Yan Jianlan was so angry he couldn’t speak, his thin lips trembling.

 

Just then, a brilliant light came from overhead.

 

Yu Tuishan smiled and said: “Linger, look.”

 

Yan Jianlan raised his red-rimmed eyes slightly, looking up through the half-collapsed earth vein opening.

 

Wind swept the remaining snow, white flakes fluttering. All Tianyan condensed into a single point, concentrated above Yu Tuishan.

 

Like a game he had played with Yan Jianlan many times, a mischievous glint flashed in his eyes, and he opened his lips gently like a child.

 

“Pa.”

 

In an instant, that point of golden light exploded in the sky.

 

First came the unimaginably massive golden firework, and only after a long while did the deafening roar echo faintly in the ears.

 

The power of Tianyan’s origin exploded into a dazzling brilliance in the sky.

 

Sheng Jiao descended from the sky where thunderclouds had dispersed, face grim as he watched the dark mass of Tianyan fragments scattering over hundreds of miles.

 

Once the shockwaves of that scattering Tianyan hit the ground, they might level the entire Central State, perhaps even the Thirteen States.

 

No living being would be spared.

 

Sheng Jiao, face dark, gripped Winter Melt Sword. Just as he was about to forcibly use spiritual power to stop it, Rang Chen suddenly said: “No need.”

 

Sheng Jiao frowned and looked back.

 

Rang Chen looked up at the massive, dazzling “firework” and said softly: “No need to stop it.”

 

As soon as the words fell, the dense fragments about to crash to the ground exploded again like real fireworks, crackling into colorful lights.

 

—That was a grand firework display made of exploding Tianyan.

 

It wasn’t a shockwave at all.

 

Countless spiritual powers fell like a gentle breeze and fine rain, mixed with the heavy snow, landing in every corner of the Thirteen States.

 

Rogue cultivators deeply affected by the “Abandoned Immortal Bone” poison smelled that rich spiritual aura, and the residual poison in their meridians slowly dissipated. Wherever the spiritual power landed, vibrant spiritual grass grew.

 

All things revived in the snow.

 

From then on, there was no more Tianyan in the Thirteen States.

 

The shockwave of “Abandoned Immortal Bone” was just a joke born of Yu Tuishan’s twisted sense of humor.

 

Thought to be impending doom, it was actually a beautiful, fleeting firework.

 

Sheng Jiao stared dazedly at the Xi family grounds, which had been leveled, now teeming with spiritual grass and endless spiritual power. He remained silent for a long time before slowly walking toward the Tianyan earth vein.

 

Yan Jianlan watched the sky full of fireworks, feeling the residual poison of “Abandoned Immortal Bone” slowly fading from his meridians. He reached out to grab Yu Tuishan’s sleeve, messily wiped his tears, and feigned coldness: “Get going, you.”

 

Yu Tuishan smiled: “That’s right.”

 

Due to Tianyan’s disintegration and the array’s disappearance, Yu Tuishan’s body also faintly emitted golden light, gradually becoming transparent like a divided soul.

 

Yan Jianlan bit his teeth hard, forcing his face to show no reluctance, but his hands clutched Yu Tuishan’s clothes and refused to let go.

 

Yu Tuishan leaned in Yan Jianlan’s arms, feeling the last warmth, and suddenly said: “I’m sorry.”

 

Yan Jianlan struggled to hold back, squeezing two words through his teeth.

 

“What?”

 

“I’m sorry for ruining your life,” Yu Tuishan said softly.

 

If only he had never existed.

 

Yan Jianlan’s tears hung on his lashes, about to fall but not falling, saying coldly: “Who said that? I’m still alive now, I want to live—my life isn’t ruined.”

 

After the two escaped the Xi family, Yu Tuishan had once apologized to Yan Jianlan.

 

At the time, Yan Jianlan only thought this fellow’s brain must have been kicked by something—how could he say such nonsense?

 

The sources of Yan Ling’s misery were numerous: unfortunate coincidences, heaven’s injustice, aristocratic greed, and treacherous hearts.

 

He could resent anyone, but couldn’t blame Yu Tuishan, who had been his companion through it all.

 

After Yan Jianlan fiercely scolded Yu Tuishan, he outwardly acted cheerful as if brushing the matter aside, but unexpectedly after all these years, his heart still couldn’t let it go.

 

“It’s not your fault,” Yan Jianlan held him tightly. “I’ve said it many times—it’s really not your fault. I don’t blame you—can you just trust me for once?”

 

“You really don’t blame me…” Yu Tuishan said, “Then I have no regrets.”

 

Yan Jianlan was left speechless by him.

 

Yu Tuishan’s body was already half transparent, as if it could vanish between heaven and earth at any moment.

 

Yan Jianlan just quietly accompanied him.

 

Everything they wanted to say had long been said.

 

Yu Tuishan felt the warmth of Yan Jianlan’s embrace, his consciousness gradually dimming.

 

Yan Jianlan grasped Yu Tuishan’s hand, watching those scarred, distinct fingers gradually become transparent, tightly clenching his jaw to hold back tears.

 

Suddenly, as if his consciousness had completely faded, Yu Tuishan’s black pupils scattered, and like a last burst of lucidity before death, he momentarily forgot where he was—even who he was.

 

“…”

 

His lips moved lightly, seeming to say something.

 

Yan Jianlan quickly put on his ear ornament and leaned in to listen.

 

“Mother.”

 

Xi Jue mumbled.

 

Yan Jianlan froze.

 

“Mother,” Xi Jue asked confusedly in a daze, “…when will you bring the pastries?”

 

After the last sentence, his thin figure transformed into a wisp of smoke and slowly dissipated, leaving only an empty, gorgeous robe that gently fell into Yan Jianlan’s arms.

 

**

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 (advanced chapters available on kofi)