Chapter 1201: All spirits and ghosts, all four forms of life receive grace. The next day.
Mount Zhongnan lay shrouded in pale gray mist in the early morning.
The sky had yet to fully brighten.
Fine beads of dew slowly slid down the pine needles, and the damp mountain breeze swept across West Peak, stirring the white banners hanging at the cemetery entrance.
After a night of preparations, a plain pine coffin without any unnecessary ornamentation had been placed in the center of the West Peak cemetery.
Before the coffin stood a freshly carved Bluestone Tombstone.
The inscription made no mention of the outrageous trouble Chu Xuan had caused in the Imperial Capital.
Nor did it mention the humiliation and disgrace he had suffered at the end.
There was only a single line of small, simple lettering.
[Here lies Chu Xuan, disciple of the Celestial Master Sect.]
Dugu Linglong had changed into a plain white dress without any silver cloud patterns.
Her silver hair was tied behind her with a single white ribbon. Her delicate, unadorned face held less of its usual cool reserve and a touch of pallor she could not conceal.
She stood before the coffin.
Jiang Che stood several paces away, leaving her undisturbed.
Several members of the Shadow Guard stood on either side with their heads bowed. Not a single unnecessary sound disturbed the cemetery.
Dugu Linglong raised her slender fingers and lit the Soul-Guiding Talisman held between them.
A tiny flame slowly spread along the cinnabar markings.
Once the entire talisman had turned to ash, her cool, gentle voice softly rang out over the silent West Peak.
"By decree of the Supreme One, may your lonely soul be delivered."
"All spirits and ghosts, all four forms of life receive grace..."
Word by word, the Soul-Deliverance