Su Jiu was somewhat surprised, for in that final instant, the soul had offered no resistance.
The fierce blue sword light fell alongside a strand of newly dawning light, and the Artifact Spirit began to dissolve within its radiance...
The Artifact Spirit gazed into the distance. He seemed sorrowful, as though reminiscing about something, and even time seemed to slow.
"Sorry!" Su Jiu's voice remained quiet. She lowered her eyes, withdrew her sword, and stood behind the Artifact Spirit, letting his soul unravel.
She might have sympathized with his plight, but she could not forgive him on behalf of those innocent lives.
Su Jiu heard him say, "I never wanted to make an enemy of the world. I simply hated too much. The instant Zheng Qilong returned to this world, I knew we had lost. Because by then, I could no longer contact it."
He seemed to recall something that made him happy, and the corners of his lips lifted slightly. "In life, I was Mo Yibai, Sect Master of the Heavenly Canon Sect. If you happen to meet any disciples of my sect, please tell them..."
"Forget it. Let it end here. Better not to tell them anything. After all... it was hardly anything glorious..."
"I only regret..."
Until his voice vanished completely, he never managed to say what he regretted.
Perhaps he had too many regrets and no longer enough time to count them all. Of course, perhaps he had simply decided he no longer wanted to speak.
The Heavenly Canon Sect was a sect that had long since disappeared into the river of history. Yet Mo Yibai seemed entirely unaware of this, which could only mean the False Heavenly Dao had concealed it from him.
And then there was Mo Yibai's final remark that he could no