In the empty hall, Lord Lao walked slowly, his steps unsteady and faltering.
He tilted his head slightly, gazing at the floating Heavenly Dao Stone, staring at the two intersecting cracks etched upon its surface.
One of the cracks, previously motionless, was now slowly healing, shrinking bit by bit.
The wound had gradually shrunk to a manageable size. Slowly, the vanished radiance reappeared on the Heavenly Dao Stone. Countless tiny, ant-like glowing characters floated in the air, circling the stone.
Lord Lao smiled, a smile that held relief, bitterness, and above all, resignation.
“So be it. At least I have not failed the little girl’s last request.”
But in the end, was he the one controlling the Heavenly Dao, or was the Heavenly Dao controlling him?
A beam of golden light shot skyward from Tusita Palace, instantly scattering the surrounding clouds and mist, like a second sun in the heavens.
The radiance gradually spread outward.
All of Heaven gazed upward in stunned terror.
......
On the mountaintop, Monkey howled in helpless agony, pounding the ground as he stared blankly at Belle’s figure gradually fading before him.
The densely packed ranks of a million soldiers all chose silence at this moment, watching in stunned stillness as their king wailed in despair.
Clouds in the sky rolled slowly overhead.
With a long sigh, Zhenyuan turned and flew toward South Heaven Gate.
......
Inside Crescent Star Cave, Elder Gale was already sobbing uncontrollably, pounding his fists against the floor again and again.
Master Sage Subhuti stroked his long beard, quietly watching Elder Gale, and sighed helplessly.
Supporting himself on his knees, he slowly stood up and walked out of the hall into the wind.
The sky was growing darker by the minute.
The wind swept up fallen leaves, scraping past his body. Overhead, the clouds gathered and churned, and within those cracks, flashes of white light flickered.
In the next instant, thunder boomed, shaking heaven and earth.
For reasons he could not fathom, he thought of that junior he once faced in the Hall of Silent Meditation, and of her silhouette fading into the distance.
“Cast him into death, and only then will he live.” He sighed softly, then managed a slow, bitter smile.
......
On Spirit Mountain, a pair of eyes that had been closed for a century slowly opened.
......
Amid the lightning and sobs, the Soul Token discarded to the side trembled faintly. A streak of spiritual light shot out, striking the sphere, and for an instant, a weak glimmer flared up.
Staring at that fleeting spark, Monkey froze for a moment.
In the next instant, he surged forward, charging straight at the sphere.
Everyone was stunned—even the faint consciousness remaining in Belle inside the sphere could not help but be dazed.
He crashed into the sphere, howling like a madman.
In that instant, wild lightning swept across the entire mountaintop, blinding everyone with its glare.
Taking advantage of the blinding light, General Lee and his men quickly broke out of the demon army’s encirclement.
But at this moment, no one cared about them anymore.
Belle stared blankly, her eyes wide, watching Monkey step toward her through the blazing light as if walking through the heart of the sun.
"You want me to forget you... heh, how could I... how could I... Even if I die, I won’t agree..."
Lightning, like a flood, engulfed him entirely. His armor was torn to shreds, every strand of fur stood on end, and his body blackened as if cast into raging fire.
Yet he clenched his teeth, eyes fixed, forcing himself onward, step by agonizing step, with all the strength he could muster.
"Monkey, you can't... you'll die!"
"What’s so frightening about death... heh, have I ever feared dying?"
"No... you should forget me, forget me..."
"My memories are mine... and you are mine, all of it, all of it belongs to me... Who gave you the right to abandon them—! You have no right, no right to abandon anything—!"
His flesh slowly split and burned under the searing heat, fresh blood evaporating in the air. The pain was terrifying, striking every corner of his body—yet it was nothing compared to the agony in his heart.
He opened his mouth wide, baring his fangs, and howled with every ounce of strength.
His mind was already battered and confused, yet in the torrent of lightning, he continued to stagger forward.
His hand, from beginning to end, reached for Belle.
"Heh... if you want me to forget you, I’d rather vanish with you." he laughed hoarsely.
Belle stared in a daze, watching Monkey howl and sob, clawing at the ground.
In that instant, her will faltered.
The lightning vanished. The sphere vanished. The formation vanished. Everything vanished in an instant.
......
In Tusita Palace, the healing glow atop the Heavenly Dao Stone faded away.
Lord Lao’s face froze entirely.
......
Her already shattered body slowly fell, caught by Monkey’s outstretched arms.
On the charred ground, Monkey held her tightly in his embrace.
Everyone watched in stunned silence.
The last hint of color in her blue eyes was slowly fading away.
"Monkey... I'm sorry... I... dragged you down again..."