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Chapter 48: The Final Fireworks

The world turns once more.

Miss Vilyric’s consciousness has returned to reality.

Although she had been engaged in a fierce battle with Ya Zi in the spiritual realm, the Priestess remained vigilant, leaving a part of her awareness to guard her body against any possible changes or attacks.

Fortunately, everything remained normal during this time; even though she had been severely rebuked and even mocked, the West Saint, Yuan Qianqiu, didn’t seem to hold a grudge or attempt revenge.

While Vilyric was locked in mental combat with Ya Zi, she merely turned to whisper something to the two girls, Ling Feng and Bai’er, behind her. Though most of her energy was focused on the battlefield, she could tell they were getting along well enough over there.

Speaking of which, Ling Feng and this West Saint, Yuan Qianqiu… they have a lot in common. Descendants… what exactly is their relationship?

Never mind, this is something that can be slowly looked into later.

Seeing the three girls in the back notice the situation and hurriedly wrap up their conversation, Miss Vilyric turned her gaze back to the front.

The seven silver chains and the giant pillar were now devoid of any beast.

This was what Vilyric had envisioned as the quickest method to free Ya Zi without destroying the Seven Stars Evil-Binding Seal.

—To sign a pet contract with it.

The principle is quite simple, so simple it hardly merits mention. After signing the contract, she could collect Ya Zi into pet space, the so-called divine realm, and then summon it again. Consequently, the shackles would naturally fall away with its disappearance.

Of course, not every space transfer method works; the Seven Stars Evil-Binding Seal and most sealing abilities always consider such trickery and counteract it when they are established.

The key to the success of this technique lies in the strength of the pet contract signed by the Priestess herself, and it’s a miracle that can only be realized by beings at or above the level known as the “Domain of the Gods.”

Feeling the new connection coming from her thoughts, the black-haired girl lifted her hand and called out.

“Contract Summon: Little Tooth.”

Cough! Please don’t make fun of this somewhat ridiculous name.

After all, “Ya Zi” is just too unwieldy and not particularly pleasant sounding; although this nickname is rather simplistic, it feels much more endearing, more in line with a pet vibe, don’t you think?

This was a name that Miss Vilyric had agonized over for quite some time, so no objections allowed.

Light shone in the familiar golden summoning magic circle. Unlike Xiao Guang, who was temporarily unable to approach due to space restrictions, Ya Zi, as a native creature of the Ancient Spirit Realm, appeared smoothly from its center.

“Roar…”

It emitted a deep and gentle growl, no longer bound by chains, its front limbs folding up and lying down before the girl to show its submission and friendliness.

【My Master, thank you for liberating me from a thousand years of imprisonment. Ya Zi here swears an oath that until the moment your life reaches the end, no matter how long, I am willing to give my all to serve you.】

Vilyric gently stroked the beast’s lowered fluffy head and nodded with a smile.

“Yes, yes~ I look forward to working with you in the future. But when we go out, remember to call yourself Little Tooth, okay? You wouldn’t want people to know you’re the terrifying Ya Zi and get stared at everywhere you go, right?”

“Roar…?”

Ignoring the confused growl from the ferocious beast, the Priestess turned to the two girls, Ling Feng and Bai’er, as well as the West Saint who had come to her side.

“With this, the matter is basically resolved. Although I didn’t originally plan to accept your conditions, since Little Tooth is willing to follow of its own accord, I won’t be callous enough to refuse. So, I’ll take it away from here right now, is that alright?”

“Yes, that is most preferable, but… what’s with that name…?”

“Cough!”

Deliberately ignoring the near confusion displayed by the West Saint regarding the pet’s nickname, Miss Vilyric forcefully shifted the topic.

“Now that this issue has been resolved, I plan to go meet that Qilin up above. Do you want to come with?”

As she slowly withdrew her gaze that had been fixed on Ya Zi, Ling Feng shook her head.

“There’s a more pressing issue…”

“Rumble rumble rumble!!!”

Before she could finish, another violent tremor came from all directions, even felt clearly within this crystalline palace beneath the deep sea, causing the Priestess to frown slightly.

“Wait, could it be that Ya Zi’s true purpose is actually…?”

Seemingly already aware of what was about to happen, Yuan Qianqiu cast a gentle and benevolent gaze over the three girls and the ferocious beast, smiling slightly.

“To witness the resolution of my long-cherished wish, along with the good news that Ling Kingdom continues to thrive, has been more than enough.”

“You all go ahead. I’ll take care of things here. Don’t worry, once everything settles, that girl named Yuan Zhi will return safely too; I won’t let anything happen to her.”

“Ancestor? You…”

“Go on, it’s your time now. Protect Ling Kingdom, guard the Ancient Spirit Realm. We old folks… will watch over your future from the Three Paths below.”

After a brief silence, Ling Feng took a deep breath and nodded seriously.

“I won’t let you down.”

She exchanged glances with Vilyric, who understood and nodded knowingly toward Yuan Qianqiu, then re-entered pet space with the now-quiet Ya Zi, stepping out alongside the two girls.

Watching their figures disappear outside the now vacant crystalline palace, the first generation West Saint, descending as a descendant, once again bore a smile.

“Hehe… just as you predicted, it’s exactly as you said, the Holy God of the Spiritual Fox…”

“With this, my Yuan Qianqiu’s story can finally reach its conclusive end. Ya Zi, look, I truly did not deceive you… you have indeed gained your freedom as promised, haven’t you?”

Muttering to herself, crimson-gold flames erupted around her, burning even more fiercely than before, dazzling.

Yet that fire did not harm the borrowed physical body; it seemed as though… it was fueled by something even more ethereal and ancient.

The solar fire roared, transforming into seven beams of light that surged into the giant pillar standing alone in the central palace, expanding and rising, completely breaking through the crystal palace’s dome, soaring into the dark and sinister deep sea, climbing skyward.

“Boom boom boom boom boom boom boom boom!!!!!!!!!!”

The ground shook, the millennia-old prison collapsed with a resounding crash.

But the girl transformed into flames soared along with the seven pillars, floating alone in the deep sea, taking the place once held by the ferocious beast, using all her past, wishes, and soul as fuel to make the seven towering pillars ever more brilliant!

“Radiant Divine Might! Burn all evil demons!!!!”

The supreme blazing flames spread across the deep sea, transforming into waves of heat, intertwining with the ocean water, creating the final fireworks—an elegy for the end of a generation of saints.

Countless evil demons nurtured by Ya Zi’s sinister energy over the millennia were ignited at this moment, instantly turning their evil forms soaked in seawater into fiery orbs, like a sky full of stars blooming in the deep sea, burning bright.

“Bang bang bang bang bang bang bang!!!!!!!!!!”

The seven giant pillars burst through the water’s surface, striking the silver barrier that supports all living beings on land, reinforcing and holding it up.

This was the final form that the Seven Stars Evil-Binding Seal would ultimately achieve.

“……”

In the center of the deep sea surrounded by seven pillars, the girl with fiery red hair raised her head to gaze at the three figures that had already ascended above the water’s surface.

The starlight in her eyes gradually dimmed; the spirit and power that had been preserved until now through secret arts were finally reaching the end of their dissipation.

But she smiled in delight.

“I didn’t expect, I didn’t expect that the Spirit-Sealing Immortal sought after by countless people all their lives, the Spiritual Fox Priestess, exists in such a way. To see the true form of the immortal in the end, I suppose I, Yuan Qianqiu, can die without regrets.”

“Heh… the grand world, the grand world, people revere it, anticipate it, fear it, yet how many understand the true meaning of this grand world… Haha… Hahahahaha!!!”

“May the Spirit Kingdom be blessed… may my Ancient Spirit Realm be blessed…”

As the fireworks ceased, they fell silently.