Chapter 193: The Fall of the Soul Moon, Lingering Power
The oppressive crimson aura that had enveloped the Lunar Valley vanished.
The blood-red wall that had separated the battlefield dissolved, revealing the figures of the Ninth Elder and the others in the distance.
“…”
The First Elder opened her eyes, the blood-red glow fading from them. She touched her forehead, her expression a mixture of confusion and regret.
With the Soul Moon shattered, she felt her emotions calming, the turbulent desires and ambitions that had consumed her fading away like smoke, replaced by a sense of peace.
So she had been manipulated by the Soul Moon all along…
“—It wasn’t you who brought disaster upon the Lunar Valley, First Elder.”
Lin Tianlu sheathed his broken sword and looked at the dejected woman sitting on the ground. “It was those restless spirits from the past, those remnants of the Moon Soul Sacred Sect, who tried to force their ambitions upon you.
From the moment it was created, this Soul Moon was meant to consume and control, like a dark shadow cast over the Lunar Valley, a constant reminder of your tragic past.”
This thousand-year-old hatred and resentment, like a potent poison, had been festering within the Lunar Valley, passed down through generations.
And now, it had finally manifested, seeking a perfect vessel to inhabit.
The First Elder lowered her hands, her voice soft. “You… you knew I was being influenced by the Soul Moon?”
“I sensed something strange about you from the moment we met.”
“No wonder… with your power, you could have easily killed me. But you always showed restraint.” She sighed, her voice filled with shame. “In the end, you were the merciful one.”
Lin Tianlu chuckled. “How do you feel now?”
“…It’s strange.”
The First Elder looked up at the starry night sky, her eyes distant. “The obsession that drove me, the desire for revenge… it’s gone. My mind is calm and peaceful.
Looking back, my actions were reckless and foolish. For a fleeting moment of glory, I was willing to sacrifice the Lunar Valley, to abandon my family, to destroy everything we’ve built over the centuries.”
She bit her lip, her face filled with regret.
She knew about the tragic events of a thousand years ago, and she truly wanted to revive the Moon Soul Sacred Sect.
But like the Second Elder, she had never intended to harm her family or her fellow disciples, to plunge them into a senseless war.
Yet, she, the First Elder, responsible for their safety and well-being, had almost condemned them to a fiery abyss.
She took a deep breath and turned to Lin Tianlu. “I’m responsible for this. I’ll accept any punishment.”
“Your tone and demeanor have changed quite a bit.” Lin Tianlu chuckled. “I almost thought you were a different person.”
“After being beaten and humiliated, shouldn’t I show some humility?”
The First Elder chuckled wryly. “I can’t exactly throw a tantrum and cry like a child. I would lose all my dignity as an elder.”
Hearing her self-deprecating tone, Lin Tianlu was relieved.
She was a wise and experienced woman, her mind strong and resilient.
The First Elder sighed and summoned a carved dagger, its blade gleaming. “But I’ve committed a grave error. I must—”
“Aunt Gong, stop!”
The Ninth Elder suddenly appeared, her face filled with alarm as she grabbed her wrist. “Please calm down! Don’t do anything reckless!”
Lin Tianlu was also surprised, and he stepped forward to intervene.
“Wait, what are you doing?”
The First Elder looked at them, her expression confused. “Did you think I was going to… kill myself?”
The Ninth Elder and Lin Tianlu were stunned.
“It’s good to know that you care, Jingyun.”
The First Elder chuckled and tapped her nose playfully. “But don’t worry, I’m not that fragile.
I’m just sealing my cultivation, so you can imprison me. Just in case I lose control again.”
“Aunt Gong, you’re not thinking about…”
“According to the rules, I should be confined to the Moon Soul Prison for fifty years, right?” The First Elder chuckled. “But I’m quite fond of life. I still want to live for a few more centuries.”
Lin Tianlu couldn’t help but chuckle.
“You have a good attitude, First Elder.”
“No, I’m still quite upset.”
The First Elder glared at him and rubbed her backside. “When you subdued me earlier, you pulled my tail so hard, I almost lost my soul! That was quite brutal. It still hurts. I can barely stand.”
The Ninth Elder’s expression turned strange as she looked at Lin Tianlu.
Lin Tianlu’s smile froze.
He hadn’t known that her tails were real. He had thought they were just manifestations of Yin energy, annoying appendages that kept getting in his way. He had just wanted to pull them off.
This Moon Shadow Secret Art was truly strange.
“You should be thanking him, Wu Lei.”
A deep and raspy voice echoed through the hall.
They turned to see the Second Elder approaching slowly, her steps unsteady.
“Second Elder, your injuries…”
“It’s fine. I just had a little spar with the Third and Fourth Elders. Just some minor injuries.”
The Second Elder’s lips curled into a cold smile. “I gave them a good beating. They’re being treated by the disciples now. They’ll probably be bedridden for half a month.”
Lin Tianlu: “…”
This elder was even more formidable than he had imagined.
The First Elder’s face was filled with concern. “Were any disciples injured?”
“That’s why I told you to thank Lin Tianlu. Thanks to him, there were no other casualties. Just a few injured elders and some damaged buildings.”
The Second Elder said in a deep voice, “Otherwise, the Lunar Valley would have suffered a devastating blow. If any disciples had died, you would have regretted it for the rest of your life!”
The First Elder bit her lip and bowed her head respectfully.
“Thank you for saving the Lunar Valley, Tianlu. And thank you… for saving my life.”
Lin Tianlu didn’t say anything, simply nodding in acknowledgment.
The Second Elder walked towards her, a dark light gathering in her palm. “I’ll seal your cultivation for now and confine you. We’ll decide on a proper punishment after the valley has recovered. Do you have any objections?”
“No objections.”
The First Elder smiled, her expression serene, and closed her eyes.
“This is the Gong Wu Lei I know.” The Second Elder sighed and pressed her palm against the First Elder’s chest.
But as soon as their skin touched, her expression changed drastically. She stumbled back, her hand smoking. “This…”
“What’s wrong?”
“How is this… possible—”
The Second Elder’s face was filled with shock. “Wu Lei, your cultivation… it’s terrifying!”
Her Yin technique had backfired upon contact, almost sealing her own power.
The First Elder was startled.
She touched her chest, sensing her calming aura, her expression bewildered. “My cultivation… it hasn’t returned to the Savage Realm? And why is there this warmth within me…”
Then she looked at Lin Tianlu, her eyes wide with disbelief. “This scorching energy… did you infuse it into me, Tianlu?”
Lin Tianlu flexed his hand, his expression strange. “I just wanted to dispel the evil energy within you, First Elder.”
“I never imagined you possessed such power.”
The Second Elder stared at him intently, then glanced at the Ninth Elder, whose expression was surprisingly calm. She looked back at the First Elder and said in a deep voice, “We’ll discuss this later.
Wu Lei, since I can’t seal your cultivation for now, Jingyun and I will keep an eye on you. Tell us where you’ve hidden the Valley Master, so we can rescue her and restore order to the Lunar Valley.”
“There’s no need to trouble yourselves. I’ll bring her back.”
Lin Tianlu smiled and looked towards…
…the altar, still intact amidst the ruins.
“The Valley Master has been there all along.”
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