Moon Shadow Awakening

Yue Ruling's throat felt searing and choked with emotion, and the familiar yet strange name hovered on her lips, unable to be voiced.

Her hands trembled as she touched Qingyuan's cooling face, soaked in his blood. All the past confusions and complexities she had once noticed in his eyes now made sense. She finally remembered everything about their past lives and the feelings they shared in the mortal realm.

Yue Ruling had been raised in the Liao Yin Immortal Realm, under Qingyuan's care. That's why she called him "Master" instead of "Teacher." He had been her mentor, her guardian, and this one title encompassed it all.

Memories of their two lives interwove, bringing with them a bond that shattered Yue Ruling's heart into pieces.

"Ah~!!!!" With a heart-wrenching cry, she pulled Qingyuan close, staring at his familiar face as if only by doing so could she express her immense pain.

Yue Ruling held onto Qingyuan, watching his face until the last bit of warmth faded from his body. Then, she slowly lifted her tear-filled eyes.

"Master, this time you didn't keep your promise!"

Her pale face, stained with the blood of battle, her dark hair clinging to her cheeks, and the anger and hatred blazing in her eyes told of her anguish. The black armor she wore began to glow with magical energy. She grabbed Qingyuan's sword, stood up, and prepared to confront O Shinan with all her might.

"Sister! Watch out behind you!"

Just as Yue Ruling stood up, she felt a sharp pain in her back. Looking down, she saw a sword had pierced deep into her body. With a swift motion, she decapitated her attacker but then collapsed to her knees from the loss of strength.

Mi Xingzhe crossed his arms in front of his face, creating a golden bell that trapped Tuluo inside with a resounding clang.

"Sister! No, this can't be! Master, please, no, this can't be happening! Sister, don't sleep!"

Mi Xingzhe crawled to Yue Ruling's side, his mind filled with terror and sorrow, his words stumbling out in a broken mess as he repeatedly called her name. Yue Ruling's hand weakly reached out, touching Qingyuan's arm.

Mi Xingzhe, choked with emotion, cried out desperately for Li Luoning's help as he tried to move Yue Ruling closer to Qingyuan.

Her fingers traced the pattern on Qingyuan's sleeve, remembering the first time she had seen it and how she had teased him about his rough carving skills.

Her hand fell, and she closed her eyes quietly, a tear rolling down her cheek, unable to convey her life's unfulfilled desires.

Li Luoning finally broke free and rushed over. He knelt beside them, trying to comfort Mi Xingzhe while his own eyes filled with tears. His voice trembled as he spoke,

"Nian'er." Li Luoning placed a hand on Mi Xingzhe's shoulder.

Mi Xingzhe turned to look at him, his eyes dark and filled with unsteady emotion. Recognizing Li Luoning, he broke down completely, unable to form words, his tears flowing uncontrollably.

Li Luoning, eyes brimming with tears, gently opened his hand. From Yue Ruling and Qingyuan's bodies, two lingering souls emerged, intertwining as they floated into his palm.

"Life's threads are hard to untangle, celestial spirits are bound by fate. Meeting in this life was our fortune," Li Luoning whispered, as if bidding farewell to two dear friends. He released the souls, watching as they spiraled away together.

Mi Xingzhe, kneeling on the ground, watched through tear-filled eyes as the souls departed, the blood of Yue Ruling still warm on his hands.

O Shinan observed with cold satisfaction, a smug smile playing on his lips. "Still not giving up? How many more must die for your Moon Shadow Pill? My patience is wearing thin," he said, his tone now filled with the bloodthirsty anger of a beast.

"Since you aren't entertained enough, let me show you my gift," O Shinan said, spreading his hands. Dark purple threads extended from his palms, each controlling a small figure.

"The lives of ten thousand celestial soldiers are in your hands," he threatened, a manic smile stretching across his face.

"Arrogant to the extreme!" Li Luoning shouted, summoning his sword and charging at O Shinan.

"Today, you die for my sister!" Mi Xingzhe joined him, leaping forward.

Despite their efforts, the master and disciple were unable to hold their own against O Shinan's relentless assault for more than a hundred rounds. Li Luoning's counterattack was easily dodged, and before he could react, he was struck in the shoulder, losing his balance. O Shinan's next kick sent him sprawling to the ground, sliding several feet before coming to a stop, where he coughed up blood.

Mi Xingzhe fared no better. His sword was knocked from his hand, and a blow to his back sent him crashing to the ground near Li Luoning.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. The Moon Shadow Pill is wasted on you. Even with the rare Floating Light Golden Seal, you can't harness its true power," O Shinan taunted, leaning over them.

"If I'm not mistaken, you haven't fully integrated with the Moon Shadow Pill. Your current cultivation and the pill's energy are at odds, unable to truly merge. What are you afraid of?" O Shinan asked, his eyes narrowing as he toyed with the fiery power in his hands, scrutinizing Li Luoning.

Li Luoning had his concerns. He feared that if he fully integrated with the Moon Shadow Pill, he might lose control, allowing the resentment left by Li Minghan to take over. But he also knew that if he did not harness the full power of the Moon Shadow Pill, O Shinan would soon dominate the three realms.

[He's right. I have doubts about the Moon Shadow Pill, and there's a natural repulsion between its power and my cultivation. But if I fully integrate with it, its demonic power might overwhelm me, leading to atrocities. However, if he obtains the Moon Shadow Pill, the three realms will fall into chaos.] Li Luoning pondered, feeling the weight of his decision.

He glanced at Mi Xingzhe, his eyes filled with complex emotions. He didn't know what would happen if he fully integrated with the Moon Shadow Pill, but he knew he had no other choice.

"Nian'er, a lifetime of grudges in the Netherworld, two close ones in Zerenxi. Meeting you in this life is my fortune as a master. The three realms washed in blood, saving all beings is but a single thought."

Mi Xingzhe didn't fully understand the first part of Li Luoning's words, but he grasped the latter part. Just as he was about to object, he saw the long-missed gentle smile on his master's face.

"Nian'er, if I lose my mind and harm the innocent, you must kill me without hesitation. The Moon Shadow Pill is nourished by demonic cultivation and filled with Li Minghan's resentment. I'm afraid..." Li Luoning didn't finish, but he summoned the Immortal Spell, crushing it in his palm. Then he opened his final meridian, allowing the Moon Shadow Pill's power to flow through his entire body.

As the Moon Shadow Pill's power surged through him, Li Luoning's body began to glow with a black and blue aura, lifting him off the ground.

"Master!" Mi Xingzhe called out anxiously, unsure of what to do.

In an instant, Li Luoning's eyes snapped open, the corners tinged with crimson. A dark blue pattern glowed on his forehead, and his fingers slowly unfurled as a sinister smile spread across his face.

"Minghan?" That hand gesture was a habit unique to Li Minghan, a detail Shentu Zhajia recognized instantly.

Without further ado, Li Luoning raised his hand, and O Shinan was suddenly suspended in mid-air, unable to move.

"The strength of an ant, overestimating itself." Li Luoning's voice was different, a deep, gravelly tone filled with contempt.

With a flick of his wrist, he threw O Shinan far away, who struggled to stabilize himself.

"Boy, that Golden Seal is wasted on you." Li Luoning glanced at Mi Xingzhe, his tone unfamiliar. He raised his hand to extract the Floating Light Golden Seal from Mi Xingzhe's body.

Mi Xingzhe felt a powerful force draining his spiritual energy, rendering him immobile. Just as he tried to resist, his chest began to glow faintly.

"Ah? What's this..." Mi Xingzhe looked down in confusion, but the draining sensation suddenly ceased.

On the battlefield, Li Luoning was ruthless but not as vicious as O Shinan, who lacked Li Minghan's cruelty. Once the Moon Shadow Pill fully integrated with Li Luoning, it awakened Li Minghan's consciousness within it.

In a matter of moments, the power of the awakened Moon Shadow Pill allowed Li Luoning to easily subdue O Shinan, pinning him beneath his foot.

"Heh, hahaha, checkmate. You won, kill me! Go on, do it!" O Shinan taunted, blood at the corner of his mouth, his eyes crazed.

Li Luoning slowly knelt, grabbing O Shinan's chin and lifting him off the ground.

"You killed my foster father, lured me to kill my own father!" With a snap, one of O Shinan's ribs broke.

"You imprisoned my disciple, flayed him, and broke his bones!" Another rib snapped.

"Ugh!" O Shinan gritted his teeth, trying not to make a sound, his hands clawing desperately.

"You made me kill my blood relatives." Li Luoning broke both of O Shinan's arms.

"Ah!" O Shinan couldn't hold back the scream of agony.

"Master, that's enough. Stop." Mi Xingzhe tried to intervene but was immobilized by a spell from Li Luoning.

"Betraying friends, deceitful and violent, breaking promises, with a wolf's ambition, deserving the axe." Li Luoning's voice grew angrier with each word.

"Heh, heh, hahaha!" O Shinan laughed maniacally, despite his injuries.

"Li Luoning, you've won. But what of it? You've been consumed by the Moon Shadow Pill. You're nothing but a vessel for Li Minghan's spirit now. Even the pure-hearted apothecary couldn't escape his greed. You're about to fall into darkness. How can you judge me?" O Shinan's laughter was the last defiant act of a dying man.

Hearing O Shinan's words, Li Luoning hesitated. His grip loosened, and O Shinan fell to the ground.

Li Luoning felt dizzy, his mind a chaotic mix of two voices.

"Kill him, end it all. Unite the three realms and make them feel your pain."

"No, you can't. Wake up. This isn't you."

O Shinan, seeing Li Luoning's confusion, spat out a red-glowing object, which transformed into a dagger, silently flying toward Li Luoning's back.

Facing Mi Xingzhe, Li Luoning saw the fear in his disciple's eyes and read the danger.

"Master, watch out behind you!" Mi Xingzhe screamed.