Zhuohua stood behind him, Flame Flowing around his body, yet his face was even paler than before.
He had cultivated for two thousand nine hundred years, was at the Deity Transformation peak, a Fire Attribute cultivator, and was the oldest among Shouxian Pavilion's Grand Elders.
Two thousand nine hundred years—the upper limit of a Deity Transformation cultivator's lifespan. He had already reached the end.
Even without this battle, he would only have a hundred years left to live. A hundred years was very long for a mortal, but for a Deity Transformation cultivator, it was no more than the flick of a finger.
He looked at Xuanqing's back, fell silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled.
That smile was not a bitter smile, nor was it self-mockery, but a kind of release.
"Xuanqing," Zhuohua said, his voice calm. "This Old Man has lived for two thousand nine hundred years. Two thousand nine hundred years, from the Qi Refining stage to the Deity Transformation peak, from a kid to a Grand Elder of Shouxian Pavilion. In this life, this Old Man has killed countless enemies, and saved countless people as well. It was worth it."
Xuanqing's face changed. "Elder Zhuohua, what are you saying?"
Zhuohua did not answer. He looked at Ming Yan, at Lu Jianqiu, at Li Chengjie, at those fellow disciples still fighting drenched in blood, and smiled faintly.
"Sealing the Gate of the Netherworld is up to you, Xuanqing." After he finished speaking, his figure moved, turning into a streak of crimson-gold escape light that shot straight toward Asura.
His speed was unbelievably fast. In the blink of an eye, he had already passed Xuanqing, passed Ming Yan, passed Lu Jianqiu, and rushed into the ranks of the Netherworld cultivators.
Asura was urging on the Purple Gold Banner