"It feels cruel at first, but it gets better afterward."
95
"It'll be alright after that, does that mean things will take a turn for the better later?"
"It'll be fine after that" means you'll get used to it, and once you do, it'll be fine, right?
Keke was speechless for a moment.
Sitting on a branch extending from the World Tree, the enormous branch is just a branch, the dense leaves are just leaves, the unseen twigs are just twigs, and the tiny Keke is just Keke.
No world exists on this branch; Keke is hidden among the lush leaves.
Gazing at the enormous World Tree in the distance.
At a glance, there are countless branches, countless leaves, and countless worlds.
An endless Infinity.
No one knows how many worlds there are, because the World Tree is an endless Infinity.
It's hard to imagine that my former home was born in such a colossal place.
Even more unimaginable is the sheer Infinity of this infinity.
They were all engulfed by the purple flames.
A colossal, endless World Tree, and a tiny figure that swallows it whole.
Extreme misalignment can sometimes give Keke absurd illusions.
The cool breeze below rippled with dappled sunlight.
Looking up, the Magical Kingdom was actually in complete chaos.
After Shion used her body to carry out a great purge in the Magical Kingdom, the Magical Kingdom has actually been in a state of chaotic revelry ever since.
Because Shion only ever destroys, never builds.
Her solution to all problems is to destroy everything.
After destroying everything with violent flames, let the remaining ruins give birth to new life.
It is brutal and efficient, but also highly unstable.
Just like the Magical Kingdom, since its destruction, coupled with the chaos of the New World, the entire Magical Kingdom has been corrupted by Filthy Magic Power. Now, even the Sacred Beast have turned into Calamity Beast, wreaking havoc.
When the headquarters brought the survivors in, they were surrounded by a large number of Sacred Beast. After burning all the Sacred Beast Keke death, they searched the entire Magical Kingdom, but the magical girls and Incubators from before had also disappeared.
All she could see were ruins and the Sacred Beast.
So Keke burned all the way from the Bear Country to the Wolf Country, gazing at the raging fire and the roaring, shrill Sacred Beast within it.
But all I felt was utter exhaustion.
She used to think that she was different from Shion- sensei. She thought that with her newfound power, she would choose a different path and not be as reckless as Shion- sensei. She would use gentler and more compassionate methods to help and save others.
But when something urgent comes up...
Keke discovers that she is actually no different from Shion.
She will only destroy everything, and then wait for the ashes to build a castle that can hold everything.
However, after everything was burned down, the headquarters was able to settle down.
Keke didn't know what to do for a moment.
The trials of the Seven True Disciples and Shion will eventually end, and then it will be their turn.
But now, what can we possibly do?
"So, you still haven't given me the final answer. Do you want to start over? Everything is already beyond repair. You don't really want so many people to die because of you, do you? Or can you really accept this kind of world?"
Another part of her mind kept reminding her.
"Remember, Keke, they all died because of you. You had the power to save them, but you did nothing; you could have changed everything, but you chose to run away; you watched everything happen without doing anything! All the misfortunes in this world are caused by your indifference!"
That's why we have to start over.
Countless times.
It doesn't matter what I become, or even what the final outcome will be; it doesn't matter either.
I need to do something to undo everything I've destroyed.
To save more people, to create more happiness, even if it has nothing to do with me, even if it will ultimately destroy me, I cannot stop.
Because Magical Girl Liuli was born to give everything for this.
The past she clung to, the memories she absolutely could not let go of, all the beauty that was born because of her and destroyed because of her—if there had to be a price, then that price should be paid by her alone.
It's fine if she's alone.
"But----"
Keke tried to explain herself as she listened to her other self scolding her.
But in the end, he couldn't bring himself to say it.
We must move forward eventually.
There are some things that others can say, but you would never say to yourself.
Because she was born with original sin, she vowed to herself to atone for that mistake through her own efforts and miracles, but now—
You seem troubled?
Keke reacted instinctively, then swung her wand, and a violent flame instantly engulfed the place where the sound came from!
The branches bent slightly, but the flames did not spread; instead, they gradually died out.
Amidst the flames, Qianye stretched out her arms, her bare feet treading on the tree branches, swaying as if walking on a balance beam, the bells on her ankles ringing out melodiously.
The flame licked her fingertips before finally disappearing into thin air.
"There's nothing we can do about it. After all, with your power, defeating Shion is far too difficult. Although the World Tree chose you as its savior and can temporarily erase your record, giving you the possibility of surpassing Shion, it's only temporary. The record will never disappear."
It's not a source of distress.
Keke bent one leg, stepping on a branch, and tilted her head to look at the other person, her confusion and hesitation gone, scrutinizing them with indifference and judgment. "But I can't make decisions for others."
Wow.
Qianye tilted her head, a slightly ambiguous smile on her face. "That expression is exactly the same as Shion's. Truly worthy of being master and disciple."
The original grandeur of Keke room was somewhat diminished.
no way.
She became a magical girl because of Shion, and as she grew stronger, she chased after the magical girl she dreamed of becoming.
It has always been Shion.
Shion is her brother's lover, the senior she admires, and also her teacher.
This is where Keke's journey as a magical girl Qidian.
Perhaps unknowingly, many places are learning from and imitating Shion.
It's like how this guy likes to imitate so-called online novels.
There's no reason why, and there's nothing wrong with it.
Human growth begins with imitation and learning, starting with imitating parents, then teachers, and then those we like, care about, admire, and look up to.
He learns a little here and a little there, and then modifies what he learns here and there to suit his own taste.
Then a new person was born.
Childhood experiences and memories shape a person's fundamental character.
Ultimately, however, a person must constantly integrate the external things they receive into themselves in order to become a true adult.
Humans are born to be Frankenstein's monsters.
Just like myself, just like my older brother.
So now, I'm more like the older brother.
Or does it resemble Shion more?
Aren't you curious about where your brother went?
"We'll know once we kill Shion."
Hearing Keke's almost immediate answer, Qianye yanked on the chains and sat down on the tree branch. "How did you know?"
"That's what my brother said."
Aren't you afraid he'll lie to you?
Keke want to think about this too much.
Rather, the biggest problem that made it difficult for Keke to take that first step when those other issues piled up was precisely this:
If my brother is already dead.
Should I abandon my brother and move on?
Abandoning all the dead, seeking the possibilities of the future, and constantly moving forward----
For Keke, sacrificing herself is not a difficult thing.
But sacrificing others to move forward is an insurmountable abyss for her.
Especially since there was an older brother among them.
She knew what she should do, and she knew what she had to do.
But the price she would have to pay forced her to ask herself this question.
Do they deserve it? Do they have the right to make decisions for others and risk their lives?
On one hand, there is the torment of constantly negating and persisting.
On the other hand, it's just a small button.
The temptation to change everything, start over, and never have to think again—just press the button.
Boasting without a clear purpose is meaningless.
Only when a close friend dies before your eyes, when your brother's lifeless face gradually becomes clear in your mind, when the sight of the world's destruction comes into view, and when countless tragic deaths are right before your eyes...
Only then can one truly grasp the weight of those grand pronouncements.
Only then can one truly understand the meaning of not seeking the future or the past, but only seeking the present.
It is the unwavering determination to keep moving forward, no matter how painful, no matter what sacrifices and deaths we witness, no matter how many people plead and cry for help.
Zero points.
Keke suddenly raised her head, looked around, and found that Shion was not there.
However, the self-assessment I gave myself back then still echoes in my ears.
Have you figured it out?
Qianye shook the chains on her hands. "Do you need my help? Although I'm no longer a magical girl, I was once the source of magical girls, so I have quite a bit of experience in defeating them. I can help you defeat Shion."
Keke looked at her, "What should we do?"
"Because I couldn't save everyone by myself, I distributed my power. Everyone with the potential to become a magical girl will receive my power—"
As she spoke, Qianye took out a flower. "And some of these magical girls eventually fell, betraying the miracles and wishes of magical girls. I used this flower to reclaim their power."
The flower has numerous petals, and countless Miracle Seed can be seen in the central stamen.
"By simply placing the Miracle Seed inside, one can strip magical girls of their powers; no magical girl can escape it."
Keke looked at her. "Are you sure?"
Qianye: "I'm sure."
Keke: "What's the reason?"
Qianye: "That's how I gave up my identity as a magical girl."
That's certainly very convincing.
Keke held the flower and looked at it for a long time, confirming that Qianye was not lying.
This flower can indeed drain the magical girl's power; almost all the Miracle Seed have withered away.
But this flower doesn't possess much magic.
Keke looked at Qianye, "Will the power eventually return to you?"
"Because that was originally mine."
Qianye didn't hide anything, Keke.
Then, flames rose in his hand, engulfing the flower!
Qianye paused, glanced down at the flower that had turned to ashes, then looked at Keke. "What does this mean?"
"I will defeat Shion."
The ashes of the flower drifted away in the wind in her hand. Keke's tone was as calm as if she were eating or drinking, "After that, I'll kill you."
Even after understanding the weight and meaning behind it, she still spoke it with unwavering conviction.
Qianye scratched his head, looking helpless. "Are you awake?"
"I know that both you and Shion will probably treat this as a joke."
"No, I just want to defeat Shion with you."
"I'm not fighting to defeat anyone. If winning against Shion only creates a more formidable enemy, then it's pointless."
Qianye shrugged. "Well, as expected of his student, you're Return to Truth hard to fool. It's not just that you look alike. But it wouldn't have mattered otherwise. However, without my help, how are you going to defeat Shion?"
Just as she was asking, a magical girl flew over from the distant ashes and ruins, calling out, " Keke! Keke!"
Qianye turned his head to look at the magical girl named Qingluan, then disappeared.
The Qingluan, completely oblivious to the presence of others, flew straight towards Keke, saying, "We've made contact with the Holy Church!"
Keke gripped her wand tightly. "Let's go."
Even if you can't be sure if the path you've chosen is the right one, you still have to keep moving forward.
She was indeed hesitant, and sometimes wavered.
However, that doesn't stop us from moving forward.
They will find their answer in the final battle.
" The Prince said that if we want to cooperate, we'll have to pay more—"
"What time is it?!"
boom!
Just as the two were rushing back, the Magical Kingdom began to shake violently, and cracks appeared in the sky.
Keke's face turned extremely ugly, and she immediately grabbed Qingluan, "Let's go!"
With a single sword strike, the Magical Kingdom was cleaved in two. The sword energy left dozens of abysses on the land of the Magical Kingdom Magical Kingdom, causing it to tremble and begin to collapse!
"Are they Bai Mei and Shion?"
As Qingluan spoke in astonishment, the sky was continuously cleaved open by the sword energy, like building blocks. Clear yet terrifying sword energy splashed and spread wantonly, and soon the entire Magical Kingdom was completely destroyed by this sword energy!
Qianye leaned against the World Tree, staring expressionlessly at the sword energy scattering everywhere.
Branches were constantly being chopped off from the world, each sword strike possessing the power to pierce through the universe in an instant, even turning it into utter dust.
A single sword's light chills nine thousand realms!
The Dragon Lord's roar clashed with sword energy at the roots of the World Tree, then surged upwards towards the treetop.
The trunk of the World Tree was almost split open from the middle!
In the vast expanse of the universe, only a single glint of sword light remained!
It can be said that -
Sword energy crisscrossed, illuminating the heavens!
Inside the Holy Church, the Prince gazed down at the sword energy that had casually divided the Holy Church into four sections with just two sweeping motions.
Gazing upon the sword energy and dragon breath, which undoubtedly touched upon the level of the multiverse, the World Tree began to creak and crack.
Ruoyun, standing beside her, clenched her fists, her whole body tense, murmuring, "Teacher----"
[WARNING: The Main God Space is under repair. Please lead the Holy Church away from the combat zone immediately.]
Ruoyun suddenly noticed that the momentum, power, and even the range of the sword energy were still increasing!
The Prince System, which had been speaking slowly, suddenly emitted a sharp, piercing sound:
[Warning: Abnormal magical energy fluctuations detected from the magical girl codenamed Bai Mei. The abnormal magical energy level has increased from 93,000 to 129,600 during the Mid Bud Mid Bud. ]
[Revised, upgraded to Early New Sprout, 259,200 revolving points.]
[Revised, Early Full Blossom, 518,400 revolutions.]
[Revised, Early Lush Leaves, 1,038,600 revolutions.]
[Revised, Early Branching, 2,073,600 retweets.]
[Revised, Early Wheel and Sea, 4,147,200 cycles.]
[Revised, Peak Wheel and Sea, 12.96 million revolutions.]
[Purple Alert! Evacuate immediately! Evacuate immediately!----]
The Prince took a deep breath.
She gazed at the terrifying sword energy and dragon breath raging across multiple universes, and thought of how she had once stood opposite these two and escaped unscathed.
A sense of pride welled up within me.
The Azure Cloud Sect is not bad.
I, Yitaen, am not necessarily inferior to them.
Until the World Tree began to shake, its massive roots were devoured by the frozen Golden Calamity Dragon King.
The dragon's breath suddenly overwhelmed the sword energy, completely engulfing its source in an instant!
Ruoyun stood up abruptly and practically lunged forward!
"Teacher Bai Mei!"
When Bai Mei was little, she liked to lie on the edge of the table and listen to Jiang Si tell stories about swordsmen.
She would always pester Jiang Si to describe, over and over again, what those swordsmen did, what they looked like, what they dressed, or what their quirks and habits were.
Finally, after much pleading and cajoling, she managed to persuade her master to make her a real immortal sword.
That was the wooden stick she used when she first defeated the Calamity Beast; it was an excellent stick.
--
It had no flaws whatsoever; it was straight and the perfect length, which even made Jiang Si want to own it.
"This precious treasure is a waste in the hands of you youngsters. Not only is it gathering dust, but it's also easy for others to covet it. Why not give it to me and make a good connection? I'll buy you a sausage or a small cake; that would be a blessing for you. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
Bai Mei cried after her wooden stick was replaced by a sausage.
However, unlike other children, she wouldn't wail and cry. Bai Mei knew from a young age that crying out loud was annoying and could even lead to being beaten.
So when she was sad, she would just bite her lip and secretly wipe away her tears, not letting anyone see.
In the end, it was only after Bingtang Tang Tan Ren intervened and spoke to her in a very kind and gentle manner that her master finally returned the carved wooden sword to her, along with a sausage cut open.
Later, the master found another tree branch and forged it into an even more perfect wooden sword.
He often boasted to her, implying, "It was your honor to have your sword back then; I can get my own sword if I want one."
Bai Mei actually knew that her master wasn't particularly interested in these things.
Whether it was her wooden sword or his own, it didn't take long for his master to pay much attention to them anymore.
Although Master is incredibly devoted to exercise and online novels, displaying an unbelievable persistence, he tends to lose interest in other things after only a short time.
The same applies to practicing swordsmanship.
Bai Mei didn't learn much swordsmanship from her master, but in reality, once she mastered sword energy and sword intent, that was about enough.
But in reality, she truly learned swordsmanship when she received the sword that her master had carved for her.
At that time, she felt that she was the greatest swordsman in the world, and the sword in her hand was the most precious sword in the world.
The blind swordsman later had a new sword recarved by his master. He was later beaten badly by his master, but Bai Mei never regretted being blind.
But after moving from Beihai to Jiangming, the sword suddenly disappeared.
She remembered that she always carried that sword with her; as long as she held that sword, she possessed boundless power and confidence.
Even when facing their master, they possess the confidence and courage to not lose.
In a daze, I crawled out of the ruins of some unknown place.
For the first time, Bai Mei's eyes, which were as bright as stars, dimmed slightly.
It looked as if it was about to go out.
In the eyes of the true disciples, she was the omnipotent Senior Sister Tan.
However, every time he was in front of his master, he was still the one whose wooden sword would be taken away.
A little girl who could only secretly wipe away her tears with a sausage.
Dragon Lord Shion slowly landed on the ground.
The sound of his footsteps landing was slightly unnatural.
The crisscrossing sword energy was so overwhelming that even the blind wielder, Shion, dared not take it head-on, having lost her ability to recover.
She couldn't stand even a slight touch.
Bai Mei is now like a hedgehog, making her seem impossible to approach.
A moment's carelessness can leave a fatal mark.
However, if Mental Image, one can still restrain Bai Mei and seal her Bai Mei energy, just like removing all the quills from a hedgehog, instantly rendering it harmless.
However, the Mental Image had already been taken away by Xiao Yumo.
Now, Dragon Lord Shion is forced to confront his eldest disciple head-on, using his dragon breath to counter the sword energy.
A porcelain mark on his neck was still slowly dripping blood; a slight misstep and Bai Mei would have beheaded him.
Therefore, even Shion dared not easily approach Bai Mei.
The apprentice Tan, who no longer needed to be assessed, was never fighting for the sake of assessment in the first place.
The blind envoy stood still, while the sword energy and dragon breath continued to collide.
The world around them continued to collapse, and the Infinity universe tore open cracks and climbed upwards towards the World Tree, splitting the World Tree with dense, intricate marks.
"Does Master still remember the sword he made for me back then?"
Although it was tricky, it was actually easier than the other true disciples.
Bai Mei's biggest disadvantage was that her abilities almost never exceeded her own expectations.
Because it developed exactly as I had initially expected.
Although he is my favorite brother.
But she wasn't the sister he had been hoping for.
Because it's just the same few moves over and over again.
Sword cultivators still lack sufficient techniques, which is why Shion wasn't interested in it in the first place.
It is still the same now.
Although many of the tricks surprised Shion, one of them even slashed her neck with a sword, nearly beheading her.
But in the end, it's still the same old stuff.
Everything was as expected.
"I don't remember."
The sword energy and dragon breath from all directions were at a disadvantage in their clash.
They ultimately suffered a complete defeat.
The blood-stained sword, radiating scorching sword energy, collided violently with the dragon's tail.
Amidst the violent tremors, countless universes were shattered.
The two stood amidst an endless void of destruction, with only the New World beneath their feet, sealed by the image of Bingtang's Mental Image, visible.
I'm tired of your sword.
With another burst of strength from the dragon's tail, the bow on it fluttered, and Bai Mei's sword snapped in two.
After boiling, the dragon's tail pierced through Bai Mei's chest.
"It was that wooden stick I used when I first became a magical girl. Later, my master whittled it into a sword, and Hai took it. But Sister Bingtang got it back for me, and then you, Master, sliced it upside down like a sausage—"
"Your sister Bingtang, gave it to me later."
Bai Mei laughed, coughed, and fresh blood splattered onto the dragon scales.
It's a pity it's not ketchup.
Bai Mei, looking somewhat regretful, said, "But I still remember, Master, really—"
"I lost it when I moved to Jiangming, but I've always kept that sword in my heart. If I had that sword, maybe I could have become incredibly strong."
Boiling Hand Bai Mei reached out and touched the dragon's tail, her movements as gentle as if wiping away mechanical marks. "But I've been searching for so many years, and I just can't find it no matter what I do."
A flash of sword light erupted, and golden dragon-shaped weapons splattered!
Shion retracted half of the dragon tail, glanced at the small half of the dragon tail still tied with Xiao Yumo's butterfly hair ribbon, and then gave Bai Mei a quick look.
They're really tough to deal with.
Shion Feikui said, "I'll make you a new one later."
Whether it's a hair clip or a wooden sword, it doesn't really matter.
You can just buy another one and make a new one.
"Master, you're always like this—"
Bai Mei murmured to herself, watching the dragon's breath gather once more within the Shion's slump.
Finally, she let out a soft sigh.
This is the final blow.
Master's intention to end things here was all too obvious.
Even the Golden Calamity Dragon King below, who was holding the New World, raised his head, Zhang Kui.
They locked onto it at the same time.
Sword energy, sword intent—everything I had ever understood about swords had lost its meaning.
Confronting Shion can easily lead to self-deception.
I am blind to my own abilities, I am blind to the meaning of my own efforts, and I am blind to the fact that the path I have taken is the right one.
Because under such intense pressure, everything that Xunzi himself did was wrong.
Occasionally, Bai Mei would act like this.
"Fortunately."
Bai Mei slowly closed her eyes, but looked at Shion with her bright and dazzling pupils.
"I just found the sword, Master."
She gripped the sword she had used as a child tightly in both hands and raised it upright.
It is not the starting stance for any sword move.
I've never even seen Shion.
It was the first time she had acted in the face of Calamity Beast with the body of a human.
Clumsy, immature.
But they seem to be omnipotent.
It carries with it Infinity illusions and possibilities.
Even Shion paused slightly for a moment at that movement.
"Did you find it?"
"Yes, I found it, Master."
"I didn't give you anything. The sword you're looking for never existed in the first place, did it?"
"Perhaps."
Bai Mei, without opening her eyes, raised her sword.
It is full of flaws.
This caused Shion to instinctively take a step back.
"It wasn't lost anywhere else; it's always been in my possession."
But it's all gone now.
Because so much time has passed, Bai Mei herself has almost forgotten about it.
She never lost the sword; she simply hid it.
It's hidden deep in my heart.
Nourish the sword with your body, and control the sword with your mind.
All the sword energy was merely a few branches that fell from that single sword strike.
She became one with the sword, instantly forgetting its existence.
When she was a child, she held the wooden sword her master had carved for her and thought she was the strongest swordsman in the world.
Later, after being crushed by his master and experiencing many other things, he realized that his pursuit of this empty fame was somewhat naive and laughable.
He doesn't seem like a sword cultivator.
Today, as she held the sword she had nurtured once more, she suddenly felt that she truly was the strongest swordsman in the world.
The sword, which may never have existed but had never disappeared from her heart, was held tightly in her hand.
Absolutely certain.
Just like her reputation as the greatest swordsman in the world.
She swung the sword down.
A fierce wind howled, a white-clad swordsman's smile was wild and arrogant!
Shion couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
How spirited and confident Bai Mei!
"This is: No Sword, no self."
The sword in his heart, which he held loosely but which was nothing, silently slashed across the surface.
The world is silent.
The wind blew through Bai Mei's fingertips, turning them into fine sand.
Then it began to spread throughout the body.
However, Bai Mei was not afraid at all and slowly opened her eyes.
His eyes, reflecting the starlight of the Baby's Breath, held the image of his master. The swordsman's last bright eyes rippled like spring water, and with a faint smile, he declared loudly, "Only with this sword."
Respect the common people.
A small cracking sound came from the dragon's horns.
After boiling, Shion tilted her head slightly, and at the same time, the dragon horn and dragon wing on her right side slid off her body.
The dragon's tail was neatly severed, and the giant sigh's sword wound pierced through the heart from the right shoulder, slashed down to the left hip, and finally landed at the base of the sigh's leg.
Golden light surged forth, bringing a sense of shattering.
"Boom!"
Shion turned slightly to the side and tilted her head back.
The World Tree was cleaved in two by this sword strike.
Half of the Infinity.
Suddenly annihilated!