Nangong Yantian gazed at the array barrier overhead, his eyes distant. Memories flooded back.
Three hundred thousand years ago, upon returning from his travels, he discovered none of his senior ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) brothers or sisters remained in the Divine Alliance. First he sought out Senior Sister Xie Buyu to ask what had happened, but she had already retreated into seclusion and would see no one. Left with no choice, Nangong Yantian questioned each disciple in turn, but none knew anything.
Finally, he entered the side hall and found Dongfang Yelai. Yelai told him that several senior brothers had gone traveling, been mind-controlled by a mysterious force, and that when Senior Sister Xie Buyu arrived, she had slain them all. Perhaps out of mercy, she had only broken his legs and allowed him to live.
Hearing this, Nangong Yantian’s fury erupted. Why kill them outright? Why not seek a way to restore their minds? Senior Sister, you have changed—ever since ascending as leader of this stinking Divine Alliance, you have become completely different!
Seething, Nangong Yantian dashed to the entrance of her meditation chamber and demanded to know why she had not first tried to control her fellow disciples and find a cure for their mind control, but instead killed them outright. Yet Xie Buyu did not emerge to face him; she simply struck him aside with divine power.
From that moment on, hatred took root in Nangong Yantian’s heart. The gentle, considerate Senior Sister he once knew was gone—now she was a cold Divine Alliance leader. Since taking her position, she had changed too much. Slaughter her own disciples? Only Xie Buyu could commit such an act. She had forgotten her former self.
Nangong Yantian swore to himself that he would one day overthrow Xie Buyu from her seat in the Boundless Hall and personally slay her to avenge his senior brothers and sisters. For all these years, he had worked toward that goal, convinced he was entirely in the right. Even if he perished and went to see Master, he would stand firm that he had done no wrong.
But in the end, he became merely another blade in Dongfang Yelai’s hand—and a dull one at that. Fortunately his dullness spared Senior Sister’s life. Yet recalling how he had treated her over the millennia, he felt the absurdity of it all. He laughed aloud, and as laughter turned to tears he cried out, “Senior Sister, I’m sorry!”
Seeing Nangong Yantian’s tears, Xie Buyu sighed softly. “There is something I’ve carried in my heart for far too long, something I intended to take to my grave. But I cannot bear this injustice to Master in secret—I must speak, even if it displeases you.”
Ye Yu raised an eyebrow—he had suspected there must be more to the story. Dongfang Yelai sneered, certain nothing useful would be revealed. Other Divine Race members clustered, some curious, others hiding their ears—high-level secrets were not meant for lowly ears, and they feared later retribution.
Xie Buyu raised her hand, and a massive battle axe over two meters long materialized. Dongfang Yelai’s eyes lit up. “The Xuanba World-Devouring Axe!”
This artifact had become his lifelong obsession. Xie Buyu’s eyes glowed faintly red as she spoke quietly, “Junior Brother, do you know why I sequestered myself for three hundred thousand years? It was because I feared I could not control myself—and would split you in two with a single swing! But you are Master’s only flesh and blood; I could not do that.”
Her final words were barely audible, yet they struck Dongfang Yelai like lightning. He barked, “You lied to me!”
Xie Buyu began to relate past events. On the day Master Yan Yong fell, he had dismissed all disciples except Xie Buyu himself—to entrust his legacy. He wept and begged her to forgive his favoritism. At first she did not understand, until he revealed the truth:
The Xuanba World-Devouring Axe was indeed a superior-grade artifact—and the greatest curse upon the Hall of Fortune. Though few knew its name, it had drawn endless attacks. As time passed, Master felt his strength waning. He resolved to die in order to deceive others into believing the axe had been lost, so they would cease their assaults on his disciples. Then, in secret, he would pass the artifact to Dongfang Yelai.
But fearing that some would not be fooled and would still target Dongfang Yelai, he ultimately chose, after much deliberation, to publicly hand the Xuanba World-Devouring Axe to Xie Buyu. That way, any danger would fall upon her, not upon Dongfang Yelai.
It was a selfish act, but Master had no choice—Dongfang Yelai was his illegitimate son. His wife had died young and entrusted her care to him. To ensure Dongfang Yelai’s safety, he gave him his mother’s surname and concealed their relationship, so that if Master died, his enemies would not search out his child. “Please forgive this selfish master,” Xie Buyu said, sadness in her voice.
Though heartbroken, Xie Buyu nodded firmly as she watched Master Yan Yong’s final breath. He passed the Xuanba World-Devouring Axe to her, charging her never to give it to Dongfang Yelai. “This child is narrow-minded and unforgiving. If he wields it, disaster will ensue. In the future, no matter what he does, spare his life—and do not seek vengeance for me.”
Even then, Xie Buyu felt something amiss. Why would Master forbid her from avenging him, and insist she spare Dongfang Yelai under all circumstances? She never had the chance to ask before he died.
Afterward, Xie Buyu led her junior brothers and sisters through the Divine Realm. Yet she ignored Master’s final instructions—blood debt must be repaid with blood. Though she never located Gou Langtu, she founded the Boundless Hall and strove to build a great Divine Alliance.
It was at this time she at last learned news of Gou Langtu: not only was he still alive, but he was hiding within the ruins of the Hall of Fortune.
