Bai'e stared at Li Zhiyi, then at the phantom of the Saint Breaking Tree behind him.
His mouth opened. Instinctively, he wanted to roar.
But at that moment, he saw Li Zhiyi's blood-red eyes.
Then those cloudy, remnant eyes turned toward the vast Human World.
He saw Flowing Light weaving through the sky, and martial artists charging to their deaths without hesitation. He heard cries of grief mingling with rousing songs of courage.
In that moment, he grew calm.
For the first time in a hundred thousand years, he was truly calm.
The hatred and madness of a hundred thousand years ebbed away like the tide, revealing the long-battered heart beneath.
So this was what calm felt like.
So this was it.
He seemed to understand something.
Boundless struggle surfaced in his eyes.
"I... what am I... to the Human Race?"
Bai'e's voice was hoarse and trembling, as if he were using the last of his strength.
He looked at Li Zhiyi beside him. In his blood-red eyes, golden-red flames flickered, along with the reflection of his own gaunt, ghostlike face.
His remnant eyes slowly widened as he looked at his outstretched hands, dry and charred black.
"What am I, Bai'e... to the Human Race?"
Boundless pain filled his eyes, as if he dreaded Li Zhiyi's answer.
"No... don't tell me."
He reached out, shaking his head slowly.
But Li Zhiyi gazed at Bai'e.
"Master, you bore witness to the Human Race's suffering, and you were the kindling for its rebirth."
Bai'e stared blankly. He slowly turned toward Li Zhiyi, bewilderment and confusion in his eyes.
"Master, you are great!"
Li Zhiyi spoke.
"Master, you were the founder of the Mind Power Path, and the true founder of the three auxiliary martial paths: the Elemental Path, the Formation Path, and