Chapter 49: The Outcome Long Since Determined

Soaring out of the water once more, Miss Vilyric, alongside Bai’er who floated in the air thanks to her precious sword, and Ling Feng who maneuvered through the seawater with a magic symbol while concealing her hair color with a necklace, landed on the desolate island.

Glancing around, they noticed seven massive pillars rising skyward around the isolated island and the vision of what had almost turned into a sea of golden-red flames below.

“So this was the plan… Yuan Qianqiu, it seems I underestimated you.”

“Great Ancestor…”

Sensing the aura of something in the sea that was swiftly declining, having turned itself into fuel for the flames, Ling Feng couldn’t help but show a look of sorrow.

Bai’er gently patted her back from behind, comforting her quietly.

“Don’t say that. The Spirit Saint achieved what she sought; this is the outcome she chose for herself. We should be pleased that her wishes were fulfilled.”

“Huh? I didn’t realize you could say something like that, Bai’er, you’re so gentle!”

The guard girl blushed, glaring at the priestess who had said something strange.

“What occasion are we in, still joking around? I’m just trying to comfort Lord Ling Feng! You’re so heartless!”

Miss Vilyric innocently shrugged her shoulders.

“Weren’t you the one who said she achieved her wishes and should not be sad? Should I start crying instead?”

“You you you…”

“Pfft…”

“Alright, alright, can’t you see Vilyric is just teasing you to lighten the mood?”

With a helpless smile, Ling Feng gradually contained her sorrow and nodded.

“But you’re right, Bai’er. Our ancestor’s wishes were fulfilled, removing a huge threat that lingered in our Xiyuan Ling Kingdom for a millennium, and she has liberated herself. We should bless her and hope her spirit finds peace in the afterlife.”

“For now, let’s focus on the matters at hand.”

Following her gaze, the three women looked again at their surroundings on the isolated island.

Unlike the scene when Vilyric first arrived, there were now many people present.

Or rather, a fourth faction had appeared that was different from before.

Dressed uniformly in gray brocade robes, cloaked, and carrying long swords at their waists, they moved with a swift and imposing gait, all exuding an air of formidable strength.

Vilyric, of course, had seen this attire before.

—The Ling Wei Army, which was responsible for protecting Princess Ling.

When they had previously arrived at the Tidal Deep Valley, they had witnessed a defensive line organized by the Ling Wei Army on the inner slope of this area, but at that time, there had only been a bit over a hundred people, the advance guard hastened here after hearing news.

However, the Ling Wei Army currently present had nearly a thousand members, far exceeding the exploration team and the members of the Demon-Suppressing Sect by more than tenfold.

Thus, the battle had naturally long been settled with no uncertainty remaining.

Some formed a guard line outside the island, wary of potential threats emerging from the roaring flames of the inner sea, while others cleaned up the battlefield where the dust had settled, escorting a few captured members of the Demon-Suppressing Sect back and forth, or healing the members of the exploration team like Murong Yun who had fought until now.

Speaking of such a large number of Ling Wei… how did they even get here?

Never mind, it seemed irrelevant; as long as the problem was resolved.

Naturally, the sudden appearance of Vilyric and the others attracted attention from the Ling Wei Army, but perhaps because their leader recognized them as one of the first members of the exploration team that entered the valley, their attitude was not hostile, and they did not draw their weapons.

Among them was, of course, Murong Yun, the investigation team leader himself.

“Senior Vilyric! And Ling Feng and Miss Bai’er, what happened under the sea…?”

No wonder he was so anxious and curious. After all, Mr. Murong had been keeping watch over the Qilin, preventing the intruding members of the Demon-Suppressing Sect from interrupting the ceremony, so he must have seen Yuan Qianqiu resurrect through Yuan Zhi’s body and plunge into the sea alone.

Murong Yun might not know her identity as the first Xisheng, but given the powerful energy she exhibited upon awakening from the ceremony hosted by the Qilin, he could easily deduce that she was no longer Yuan Zhi and was of extraordinary origin.

But now, Vilyric and the others had not yet appeared with them, and drastic changes surrounded them, especially with Ling Feng’s fleeting moment of sorrow, which had already explained much.

Especially the young Yuan Hong, who had accompanied Yuan Zhi here and was evidently responsible for her protection, appeared particularly agitated.

Of course, what he was probably worried about was the true fate of Yuan Zhi.

However, Vilyric wasn’t in the mood for small talk with so many people; she left it to Ling Feng to decide what to say or not, simply giving her shoulder a reassuring pat and heading alone toward the Qilin, who was lying near the stone coffin in the center of the island and had deactivated its defensive barrier.

“Stop! Do not approach this area!”

A Ling Wei soldier responsible for protecting the Qilin raised a hand to block her, looking somewhat wary.

This wasn’t surprising, after all, even though Vilyric had joined the exploration team, just as the members of the Demon-Suppressing Sect could infiltrate it and take action, the other members of the investigation team couldn’t necessarily be fully trusted; at the end of the day, they were simply outsiders recruited from all corners of the world.

The priestess frowned slightly, about to say something when a deep, weary, yet slightly weak voice rang out from not far away.

【Let her come closer.】

“This…”

The Ling Wei soldiers turned to look at the Qilin, whose head was slightly raised. After exchanging glances, they could only move aside and clear the path.

Soon, Vilyric made her way to this strange creature known as the Sacred Beast.

The Qilin’s body was as grand and formidable as Ya Zi, and although it was merely curled up with its limbs resting on the ground, Vilyric still had to lift her head to make eye contact with it.

Compared to the latter, this beast appeared gentler and more beautiful overall; if Ya Zi were a terrifying and deadly weapon, the Qilin was more akin to a precious gem, smoothly rounded and alluring.

By the way, if Vilyric had to choose one of the two as a pet, she would actually lean more towards the elegant and beautiful Qilin…

Cough, she’d better not let Little Ya hear that.

The Qilin’s splendid yet slightly dim red eyes glanced at the girl, conveying a thought that only the two of them could hear.

【I can no longer sense Ya Zi’s seal. Instead, its aura surrounds you. Yuan Qianqiu has initiated this final transformation… Little girl, are you the destined one she has awaited until now?】

Vilyric nodded, then shook her head slightly.

“The destined one? That’s just a title you assigned without my consent. To me, I am who I am, an existence named Vilyric, and nothing else.”

“But Ya Zi has indeed been liberated by me and is by my side. Would you like to meet it?”

【Ya Zi…?】

The Qilin’s eyes flashed with a moment of surprise, but soon, it shook its head once more.

【Let’s skip that. It has never gotten along well with me; meeting would only lead to sarcasm. Plus, there are many outsiders observing.】

【Since Yuan Qianqiu has made her judgment, I will not interfere anymore. I just hope you can properly restrain Ya Zi and prevent its fierce aura from harming the world further. That would be enough.】

【You just mentioned your name is Vilyric. Is that your true name?】

The priestess nodded slightly, simply awaiting what the Qilin would say next.

【Vilyric, there is… one more thing I would like to ask of you.】

   

---