The Radiant Star

Under the watchful gaze of the Buddha statue, Chang Jin and Mi Ling stood frozen in fear, their hearts pounding within their chests as the menacing Golden Palm advanced upon them.

Chang Jin and Mi Ling exchanged a brief gaze, their eyes conveying a mixture of determination and resignation. The weight of their impending demise pressed upon them like a heavy yoke, strangling any remaining flickers of hope. They felt the abyss of despair open beneath them, threatening to consume their spirits entirely.

But just as they were about to succumb to an inevitable fate, A radiant star emerged, its brilliance illuminating the entire area. The star seems to defy all logic, suspended in without any visible means of support.

Chang Jin and Mi Ling squinted against the luminosity, their hearts filled with happiness and relief, they looked up in astonishment as the looming Golden Palm halted in its tracks, suspended in time and space.

Within the star's ethereal glow, a figure gradually materializes. Cloaked in a celestial light and surrounded by a manifestation of starlight, the figure exuded an otherworldly aura.

He spoke with a voice that seemed to resonate from another world. "Cease the battle, There is no need for further bloodshed."

The monk replied with a mix of defiance and decisiveness. "I did not initiate this conflict. I merely sought to protect myself."

In an unexpected turn of events, another figure emerged from the sky above the monk, his form as spiritual as the starry figure before him. " Hmph I hope, you will bring justice to this matter. The junior monk was merely defending himself."

"My sincere apologies, brother Bi . I will ensure they are educated," he said calmly. "As compensation, we offer you the opportunity to travel with us to the Heaven Will Palace, Besides I am sure that with junior brother monk's incense, the journey will surely be smooth. As for the rewards, they shall be bestowed upon the fated."

Bi Tian nodded appreciatively. "As expected from you. You remain righteous as ever," he commented. "Since that is the case, we will take our leave now. Let the fellow cultivators in the city arrange the rest."

The two ethereal figures exchanged a final glance before a swirl of radiant light enveloped them. As the light grew brighter and more intense, it seemed to consume their forms, slowly swallowing them whole. Their celestial presence gradually dissolved into nothingness, leaving behind only a lingering trace of their profound energy.

As the brilliance faded, the air filled with a sense of emptiness, as if the very essence of their beings had been absorbed by the universe itself. The area where they stood seemed somehow less vibrant, as though the loss of their ethereal presence had dimmed the surroundings.

With their departure, the Buddha statue, which had stood as a silent witness to the unfolding events, seemed to lose its imposing presence. As if guided by an unseen force, the statue slowly crumbled into fine dust, carried away by a gentle breeze that whispered through the desolate land.

In the distance, the monk, now accompanied by Xue Ren, Zhang Shi, and his family, As they gradually disappeared into the night, their presence diminishing to mere shadows, leaving behind - Bai Shun, Li Yan, Chang Jin, and Mi Ling rooted to the ground, their faces etched with a mix of bitterness and dejection.

Bai Shun observed the scene silently before letting out a dejected laugh and departing on his own.

Witnessing Bai Shun's defeated stance, Chang Jin shook his head and remarked, "It appears that this battle has dealt a blow to his dao heart."

Li Yan let out a soft laugh, her purple hair swaying in the wind, as she expressed, "He should have been more careful."

Lost in thought, Mi Ling gazed at the sky for a moment before departing as well.

As each person left, the desolate land regained its stillness and emptiness once more. The wind whispered mournfully through the barren landscape, carrying an atmosphere of solitude and desolation. The remnants of footprints in the dusty soil were vanishing, erasing any trace of presence.

Ji Fang observed the unfolding scene before him with contemplation. His eyes were filled with both curiosity and a hint of nostalgia.

A flicker of relief crossed Ji Fang's face as he whispered in a voice barely audible, as if talking to the spirits around him, "Heaven Will Palace, to think that such a place still exists."

His thoughts momentarily shifted to a potential threat that he had narrowly escaped. "It's fortunate that I surrounded the area with the world energy the moment I arrived, or those two would have discovered me."

But his focus quickly shifted into the depths of his own predicament. "Now, I must seek ways to regain my cultivation," he muttered to himself.

With a small smile that lingered on his face, his figure dissolved into the air, as if merging with the surrounding landscape. His departure mirrored the fading footprints, leaving no tracks.

At a distance, a figure emerged from the foreboding darkness, slowly stepping into the dim light.

He knew he had narrowly escaped an imminent threat, yet the realization of the danger that lurked in the shadows left an indelible mark on his psyche.

"That was too close," he whispered, the words carried by a breeze that seemed to tremble in response. "I'm certain that if I had stayed for even one more second, I would have been discovered."

A few moments ago, while he was observing the battle, Yang Wu felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding. His intuition, honed through countless trials and tribulations, screamed at him to flee. The appearance of the radiant star in the sky served as an ominous portent, a harbinger of impending doom that chilled him to the core.

Trusting in his sharp senses, Yang Wu had acted swiftly, his instincts guiding his every move. Without hesitation, he abandoned all caution and sprinted through the darkness. In his haste, he even burned a few drops of his own blood essence to ensure his survival.

He couldn't help but curse under his breath, exclaiming, "That crazy old man! How could he possibly think of going against those freaks?"