The Young Lady Only Wants to Cultivate Immortality Chapter 112

The raging torrents of spiritual energy seemed to halt abruptly in an instant, and the clamor of roars and growls vanished from the vast heavens and earth.
Thick, dark clouds that obscured the sky were cleaved apart by streaks of golden light, allowing the daylight to pierce through, and Mystic Crane Mountain gradually brightened.
Before they could even react to the sudden change, amidst the sounds of shattering silver bottles, everyone realized that the barrier trapping them overhead was cracking apart piece by piece.
Within the shattered, shimmering light, the slender figure suspended in mid-air appeared colossal, stretched by the play of light and shadow in this peculiar scene, capturing everyone’s gaze with awe.
Though she wore the white robe with a gold collar common among disciples of the cultivation sect, on her, it exuded the grandeur of an immortal’s attire. Her face was taut as she stared at a point in the sky, and everyone’s gaze involuntarily followed hers.
It was at this moment that everyone realized the villainous Dao Rong was gone. Where he had stood, only a ball of light blades, flashing silver, white, pale green, and dark red, was gradually dissipating.
Also vanished were the two remaining bone arms suspended in mid-air.
“Those are Dao Rong’s hands, he’s dead!”
Someone, finally grasping the immense joy, couldn’t help but roar.
Following her cry of celebration, the two bone arms vanished from sight, shattered into dust by the peculiar light blades, scattering without a trace in the air.
Just as there was no longer any sign of them, mournful cries filled the air, following close behind the explosions.
In the blink of an eye, the fierce mystical beasts that had been rampaging moments before were now exploding like watermelons, one after another, in waves, detonating all over Mystic Crane Mountain.
Everyone quickly formed defensive shields, dodging the spray of blood mist.
“Wonderful! Dao Rong is dead, and the mystical beasts are finished too. We’ve won!”
The excited cheers of the crowd mingled with the sounds of explosions. Cultivators and demons alike wept, casting aside their allegiances and factions, embracing those near them.
Having narrowly escaped death in desperation, the overwhelming joy after extreme panic made everyone present forget their past identities. Like children, they simply released their emotions.
Jin Quecong didn’t even realize she was hugging the Peak Master of Mystic Crane Mountain, and Ye Bingfeng never expected to be joyfully celebrating their survival with a demon.
Amidst the cheers and jubilation, a panicked shout rang out, so jarringly out of place that everyone stopped celebrating and turned towards where the person was pointing.
“Shi Qingqian, no, the Demon Lord of the demon race, she looks dead!” the person pointed towards Spring Water Peak in the air.
Everyone looked up simultaneously. A’Ling had seemingly vanished at some point, and was now descending on her sword from Spring Water Peak, holding Shi Qingqian.
At this moment, the great demons, still immersed in the happiness of their survival, realized that the [Demon Lord’s Eternal Covenant] within their bodies had also disappeared.
“Demon Lord…”
Jin Quecong, in an instant, seemed to understand. She let go of Ye Bingfeng, her smile freezing on her face. She looked up at Shi Qingqian in the air, who appeared to have no trace of demonic energy on her, her expression one of alarm.
The [Demon Lord’s Eternal Covenant], as its name implied, was eternal, unless the master herself perished…
Now, she truly couldn’t feel the contract’s existence within her…
As if to confirm her suspicion, she heard the woman holding the Demon Lord speak from mid-air.
“To slay Dao Rong and prevent him from harming the world further, Shi Qingqian sacrificed herself. Now…”
Everyone’s hearts skipped a beat in unison with A’Ling’s words. She seemed unable to complete the sentence, tears streaming down her pale face, causing everyone’s hearts to ache.
She only uttered, “There is no Demon Lord in this world anymore,” and then, with eyes red-rimmed, she flew away on her sword, carrying Shi Qingqian.
Upon hearing her words, the demons were struck like a thunderbolt. They could hardly believe that their Demon Lord had died so easily. They had only just gained a Demon Lord, and she was already gone.
But they had all seen Shi Qingqian, held in A’Ling’s embrace, devoid of any demonic energy. No matter how hard they tried to disbelieve, they had to accept the fact of the Demon Lord’s demise.
The demons who had been saved by Shi Qingqian from the mouths of the mystical beasts all wept. They had finally gained a Demon Lord with such compassion, only for her to be lost like this.
The disciples of Mystic Crane Mountain were even more heartbroken than the demons. After all, the demons had not known Shi Qingqian for long, but the disciples of Mystic Crane Mountain had all met her at some point before.
They hadn’t expected that the one who ultimately saved Mystic Crane Mountain would be a traitorous disciple who had fallen into demonic ways. Shi Qingqian had sacrificed herself to save everyone.
Shan Lei’s heart was filled with complex emotions. She should be happy. One of the culprits who had caused Shan Xinci’s death was now dead along with Dao Rong, and her revenge was complete.
However, Shi Qingqian had arrived in time to protect Summer Shadow Peak, which Shan Xinci cherished the most, and now she had died to kill Dao Rong. Shan Lei truly couldn’t bring herself to hate Shi Qingqian.
She shouldn’t have died. She was a good person.
Shan Lei sighed, her expression mournful, and watched A’Ling depart.
Gu Jingyang slowly regained consciousness, clutching her chest which was throbbing with pain. The first words she heard were A’Ling saying Shi Qingqian was dead. How could this be!
She refused to believe it, yet the fear in her heart kept telling her it was true.
Aside from A’Ling, she was perhaps the person who understood the most about why Shi Qingqian had died.
She had been controlled by Dao Rong and unable to move. Just as her Golden Core was about to be extracted, an incredibly powerful force, one that made her heart tremble, surged forth. She saw A’Ling emanating killing intent, her Little Wandering weapon carrying the might of a thunderclap.
At that moment, Gu Jingyang knew something was wrong. This was not the power A’Ling possessed, and Little Wandering was not its former self. Her purple-gold light had been completely replaced by other auras.
If it weren’t for that strangely powerful force attacking Dao Rong, she would have already had her Golden Core taken and her cultivation stolen.
Gu Jingyang’s heart ached. Was A’Ling wielding ancient divine power? But if she had that ability, then Shi Qingqian…
No, she had to find A’Ling. Gu Jingyang pushed herself up again, mustering all her strength to rise from the ground.
Just then, a hand pressed down on her trembling body.
Lan Fushang knew what Gu Jingyang was trying to do, but her own condition was too dire. Moreover, they didn’t even know where A’Ling had taken Shi Qingqian.
“Don’t rush. Tend to your wounds first. If A’Ling needs us, she’ll find us,” Lan Fushang tried her best to suppress her grief, making herself appear as normal as possible.
When A’Ling had left with Shi Qingqian, Lan Fushang had been tending to Gu Jiangxue’s injuries. Gu Jiangxue was in even worse condition, her abdomen having been cut open by Dao Rong. Fortunately, A’Ling had saved her in time, and her Golden Core had been rescued at the last moment before it could be taken.
She had been tending to Gu Jiangxue and couldn’t attend to Gu Jingyang. Now, as she was about to treat Gu Jingyang, seeing her insistence on going to find A’Ling, she could only persuade her, “Since A’Ling didn’t seek us out, perhaps she also wants to spend some time alone with Shi Qingqian…”
Towards the end, Lan Fushang’s voice choked up. A’Ling was truly… after they had finally come this far with Shi Qingqian, this was the outcome…
Hearing this, Gu Jingyang, who had been about to stand, slumped back down. Indeed, A’Ling probably wanted to be alone with Shi Qingqian.
“A’Ling must be heartbroken…”
Gu Jingyang’s eyes suddenly turned red. She knew more than anyone else that the journey A’Ling and Shi Qingqian had taken to reach this point was not easy. She also hadn’t expected Shi Qingqian to leave so suddenly.
She really wanted to accompany A’Ling during this difficult time, but Lan Fushang’s words also made sense; perhaps A’Ling wanted to be alone with Shi Qingqian.
No one on Mystic Crane Mountain knew where A’Ling, who had used spatial transfer techniques, had taken Shi Qingqian. The mountain was now in disarray, urgently needing post-disaster reconstruction.
The demons had no intention of helping Mystic Crane Mountain rebuild. Their Demon Lord had just died, and many demons had also perished in this disaster. After the ecstasy of survival, an endless sorrow followed.
The pain of losing companions needed time to heal. The longer they stayed in the place where their companions died, the more unbearable it became. Under Mu Ling’s leadership, the demons retreated from Mystic Crane Mountain.
Elder Zeng’s [Demon Corroding Golden Spirit Pagoda] had been given to Mu Ling before he sacrificed himself to attempt to take Dao Rong down with him. Now that the Demon Lord was also dead, the demon race was without a leader. With this item, Mu Ling had the prestige of an elder, and the demons listened to her orders.
Mu Ling led the demons away, but not back to the demon realm. Before A’Ling left, she had spoken to Mu Ling privately, giving her a map. It was the new place the Demon Lord had found for the demons before her death.
Thinking of this, tears streamed down Mu Ling’s face. Her Lord… had truly died just like that…
The Heavenly Dao was unjust! Mu Ling looked up at the sky, which had cleared and dissipated, and cursed the heavens in her heart for being so heartless as to let such a good person die!
However, if not for Shi Qingqian’s self-sacrifice, this catastrophe might have continued for an unknown length of time, and countless people might have died. The world itself might have been stained red.
After all her curses, Mu Ling was left only with sighs and sorrow.
This great catastrophe had passed. Apart from those who had lost loved ones and were still lost in grief, everyone else was revitalized and began rebuilding.
After a few days of recuperation, Gu Jingyang, on behalf of Mystic Crane Mountain, sent letters to the outer sects and the human world, informing them of the cause and effect of the events, and the crucial assistance from the demon race, as well as the sacrifice of Demon Lord Shi Qingqian.
Except for the unspeakable divine power, she truthfully informed the world of all that had transpired.
Upon learning that the mystical beasts had been eliminated and the evildoers were dead, the human world rejoiced, celebrating with great fervor. Wiping away their tears, they began rebuilding houses and roads, embarking on new lives.
The citizens of Longyin Town were filled with emotion upon learning the full story. Besides cursing Dao Rong, whom they had once respected, they also formed a more accurate opinion of the demons, whom they had previously held in prejudice.
If not for the demons’ help this time, how could Mystic Crane Mountain have been spared annihilation, let alone Longyin Town? After this incident, they no longer treated the demons in their town with discrimination.
They also understood that one should not judge a person solely based on their identity. Demons could be good people, and cultivators could be bad. One should not condemn everyone with a single stroke, nor blindly trust someone based on their identity.
After this incident, the cultivators, demons, and ordinary people in the town were united as never before, working together with one heart to restore Longyin Town to its former glory.
Everything began to move in a positive direction. Although the damage caused was immense, human vitality was a power capable of creating miracles. Soon, it seemed as if all the pain had passed, and people started new lives.
Except for A’Ling…
A month had passed, and A’Ling remained silent, neither eating nor drinking.
Although cultivators could abstain from food, Gu Jingyang knew how much A’Ling used to love to eat, and seeing her like this made her feel distressed.
Following A’Ling’s focused gaze, she looked towards the person on the bed. This person, too, after a month, still showed no signs of waking.
When she first learned that Shi Qingqian was not dead, Gu Jingyang had been terribly startled. But now, after a month, the person still hadn’t woken up, and her heart was filled with anxiety, worried that the person on the bed would never wake up.
What difference would that make from being dead…
Gu Jingyang suppressed the despair in her heart, but her words still held a hopeful lightness, “Don’t worry, she’ll definitely wake up.”
Gu Jingyang’s gaze fell upon Shi Qingqian’s closed eyelids. For the past month, she had countless times hoped for those eyes to open and to see how heartbroken A’Ling, who was faithfully guarding her, was.
How could she bear to see A’Ling so sad for her!
But she also knew that Shi Qingqian being alive at all was already a miracle. She still felt a sense of unreality.
She also hadn’t expected that A’Ling had deceived everyone; Shi Qingqian hadn’t died on Mystic Crane Mountain.
Lan Fushang withdrew the blue healing light from her palm, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and turned to A’Ling and Gu Jingyang, who were waiting nearby. She smiled slightly, “Alright, the Golden Core has been re-integrated.”
Afterward, she walked to A’Ling’s side and checked her again, “How are you? Does it still hurt?”
A’Ling returned a reassuring smile, “It doesn’t hurt. Your method is very effective.”
Although it wasn’t as effortless and painless as when Shi Qingqian had given her the Golden Core, it was far less harmful than the methods cultivators used to extract their cores.
Lan Fushang sighed softly. No matter how good the method was, it was still the extraction of a Golden Core; how could it not hurt? She knew A’Ling was just enduring it and said no more.
“Don’t worry, Shi Qingqian will surely wake up. After the Golden Core was integrated, I checked, and its circulation is normal.”
This was indeed good news, and A’Ling didn’t doubt Lan Fushang’s words at all.
“Yes, I believe she will wake up.”
Seeing her unwavering conviction that Shi Qingqian would wake up, Lan Fushang and Gu Jingyang both felt a pang of sadness. The two of them retreated outside the tower, leaving the space for A’Ling and Shi Qingqian.
Outside the Iron Pagoda, Gu Jingyang lowered her voice and asked Lan Fushang, “Can Qingqian really wake up? Is it really okay just because the Golden Core is circulating?” She had her demon soul extracted, equivalent to a human’s soul, or a cultivator’s Nascent Soul. Could it really be okay with just the Golden Core?
Lan Fushang sighed. How could she be sure? “I don’t know. It’s just that her spiritual consciousness is still here, and the Golden Core can be used now. Perhaps she can cultivate again, and if she forms a Nascent Soul, then there’s nothing to fear…”
Gu Jingyang sounded pessimistic, “Is that possible?”
Lan Fushang took a deep breath and forced a smile, “With A’Ling here, nothing is impossible.”
Gu Jingyang was slightly stunned for a moment at her words, then a genuine smile appeared on her face, “You’re right. She only cultivated for a short time and was already able to defeat the Saint Venerable of Mystic Crane Mountain. What is impossible for her?”
A’Ling, who heard this from inside the room, couldn’t help but smile. She didn’t know if her cultivation had already broken through to the Soul Transformation stage, influenced by that divine power. The muffled voices outside sounded as clear as if they were speaking next to her ear.
These two really thought highly of her. She wasn’t capable of everything. Right now, she wasn’t sure if Shi Qingqian would wake up.
She couldn’t think too much at the time; she could only gamble. It was the same as when she gambled that the demon core of the Tiger Head Spider could help her save everyone. This time, the idea had also flashed in her mind at that moment.
She hadn’t killed Shi Qingqian; she had only extracted her demon soul and molded it into flesh and blood, using her cultivation to protect her spiritual consciousness.
Fortunately, her gamble paid off.
Thanks to the scenes she had witnessed in the Corrupted Corpse Forest, she guessed that the essence of this legend was to erase the trace of the goddess’s existence in the mortal world. As for the divine power, it was likely just a small compensation.
With the immense sin Dao Rong had committed this time, the Heavenly Dao must have taken notice. The former Demon Lord Shi Yu had once said that the Heavenly Dao had many constraints, and A’Ling guessed it couldn’t directly interfere.
She gambled that the Heavenly Dao also wished for her to eliminate this calamity that sought to destroy the world, and would overlook her small personal consideration.
Perhaps it wasn’t a personal consideration, but a trace of life within it.
Shi Qingqian’s “strangeness” only appeared after she discovered that Shi Qingqian’s Nascent Soul was that ugly thing, which was when she realized her unusual “strangeness.”
And after she gave her Golden Core to A’Ling, her restored demonic form had no blood. Otherwise, Shi Qingqian wouldn’t have needed her blood to use [Demon soul Crimson Phoenix Art]. A’Ling guessed that perhaps her demon soul, like her Nascent Soul, had a physical form when injured.
All of this A’Ling only understood within this month. At the time on Mystic Crane Mountain, the situation was critical, and she had no time to think deeply about these matters; she had acted solely on instinct.
In a way, it was also thanks to Shi Qingqian.
A’Ling slowly bent down and kissed Shi Qingqian’s slightly dry lips. If Shi Qingqian hadn’t imprinted her demon soul with a master’s mark and engraved her name beforehand, A’Ling wouldn’t have been able to extract her demon soul.
Shi Qingqian had, in a way, exchanged her oath for her own life.
She had said she would always accompany her, and this time it was true. A’Ling gently touched Shi Qingqian’s pale face. However, she was greedy and didn’t want this person to accompany her in this manner.
“You need to wake up soon. I said I wouldn’t wait for anyone. If you don’t wake up, I’ll find another Dao companion.”
As A’Ling spoke, she seemed to think of something amusing and chuckled softly, “At the cultivation ceremony, believe it or not, I’ll bring you along to witness my vows being repeated to others. You won’t die of anger then, will you?”
Thinking of Shi Qingqian’s reaction if she were awake and saw such a scene, A’Ling felt a pang of regret. She reached out and gently touched Shi Qingqian’s slightly cold face, “Just kidding. I only want you. Wake up quickly. You’re not a demon anymore. When you wake up, we’ll form a pact and become Dao companions.”
A’Ling hadn’t expected that the conversation she had with Shi Qingqian under the moonlight in front of the Dust Spirit Array before would come back to bite her.
She remembered Shi Qingqian’s exact words at the time: “A’Ling, can you wait for me? If a hundred years isn’t too long, can you wait for me?”
How had she replied then?
She remembered saying, “I’m not waiting.” “These hundred years, I’ve decided to focus on cultivation, perhaps I can break through to the Soul Transformation stage. Then I’ll see if there’s anyone suitable to be my Dao companion and cultivate together.”
A’Ling sighed deeply. Now, not only had she waited for a hundred years, but her cultivation had also reached the Tribulation Period of the Soul Transformation stage. She hadn’t found a Dao companion and intended to continue waiting for someone who might never wake up.
Although she had known that cultivation years passed in the blink of an eye, the hundred years spent bickering with Shi Qingqian hadn’t felt long at all.
The hundred years, while not fleeting, had seen the stars shift and time fly. Mystic Crane Mountain had now recovered its former vitality.
After a hundred years of recovery, the disciples of the Three Peaks and Twelve Caves surpassed their previous numbers and quality.
Gu Jingyang and Lan Fushang, just as in A’Ling’s past memories, one became the Peak Master of Spring Water Peak, and the other became the Peak Master of Summer Shadow Peak.
Today, the two of them came to the Qiongdian Peak together to invite A’Ling to watch this year’s disciple selection.
Ever since A’Ling had returned from the Demon Realm’s Iron Pagoda with Shi Qingqian to face the lightning tribulations, she had remained in seclusion.
In these hundred years, only Gu Jingyang and Lan Fushang had visited her on the Qiongdian Peak from time to time.
A’Ling, with the same reason as countless refusals before, said, “I’m not going. What if she wakes up and is scared when she doesn’t see me?”
Gu Jingyang was not surprised by A’Ling’s repeated excuse. She hesitated, not wanting to shatter A’Ling’s hope, but also not wanting her to live like a living dead person, so quiet and alone, so pale.
As usual, Lan Fushang checked Shi Qingqian’s body. There were still no changes. It seemed everything was normal, yet this person just wouldn’t wake up.
Hiding the disappointment in her eyes, Lan Fushang smiled slightly and repeated the same words as always, “Shi Qingqian’s condition is getting better and better. Perhaps she’ll wake up soon.”
This “soon” had been said for three hundred years, during which A’Ling had endured three more lightning tribulations.
Those nine heavens’ divine lightning seemed intent on killing her, each one more severe than the last. This time, A’Ling endured it with great difficulty and returned to the Qiongdian Peak, her body battered.
Lan Fushang quickly went up to help treat her injuries, “A’Ling, why don’t you rest? Don’t be in such a hurry to face the tribulation.”
Before A’Ling could speak, Gu Jingyang cut in, “I know you’re doing this for Qingqian, but you have to think about yourself first!”
A’Ling forced a smile. The physical pain made her smile look more like crying.
She couldn’t wait any longer. Although Shi Qingqian had a Golden Core, she hadn’t woken up yet, let alone broken through. Her lifespan was at most a hundred years. Her survival now depended entirely on A’Ling using her cultivation to sustain her life.
If A’Ling didn’t advance quickly to replenish Shi Qingqian’s lifespan, she was worried that Shi Qingqian would die of old age before she could wake up.
She had already seen a strand of white hair on Shi Qingqian.
Lan Fushang looked at the angry Gu Jingyang and the stubbornly disobedient A’Ling, understanding their respective intentions. She sighed heavily, could only pray in her heart that Shi Qingqian would wake up soon.
A’Ling knew they were concerned about her, so she endured it. After Gu Jingyang and Lan Fushang left, she finally allowed herself to weep uncontrollably.
She curled up tightly on the bed in pain, clutching her chest that felt like the lightning tribulation had entered her heart, enduring the burning pain that followed the tribulation.
After a slight recovery, A’Ling began to curse, “Damn lightning tribulations! If you have the ability, kill me! You just wait, I’ll tear you apart sooner or later!”
She was in so much pain that she was somewhat dazed, tears streaming down her face, blurring her vision. Shi Qingqian, lying on the other side of the bed, was still lying there, oblivious.
A’Ling’s heart filled with grievance, and she cried even louder, “You! Why haven’t you woken up yet? Are you just watching me in so much pain?!”
“Look, I didn’t have time to dodge, and that lightning bolt skinned me!”
“It hurts so much, Shi Qingqian. Can you wake up and hug me? It really hurts so much…”
A’Ling didn’t know how many times she had cried “It hurts” to Shi Qingqian. After the pain numbed her nerves, she finally felt drowsy.
Perhaps it was because she was tired from crying. A’Ling hugged Shi Qingqian’s slightly cool arm, and her consciousness gradually blurred.
Just before she lost consciousness, she thought she heard a very, very faint voice say, “Stop crying.”
The voice was too faint to wake A’Ling from her daze. When A’Ling woke up from a jolt of panic, the sky outside was already bright.
A’Ling clutched her chest and took deep breaths. She had had a nightmare. She had dreamed that Shi Qingqian woke up and didn’t recognize her, asking who she was and why she was imprisoning her.
She was terrified. A’Ling clutched her racing heart with one hand and reached for Shi Qingqian beside her with the other.
Huh? A’Ling fumbled around and stretched her arm, but couldn’t reach Shi Qingqian’s arm.
She opened her sleepy eyes and turned to look. Where was she?
Where was the person who should have been lying beside her?
Who had taken Shi Qingqian while she was asleep?
A’Ling scrambled out of bed in a panic, hastily throwing on clothes to go find her. In her confusion, one arm wouldn’t go into the sleeve. She didn’t bother to put it on properly, half-buttoned, she stumbled outwards.
With every step she took outwards, the panic in A’Ling’s heart grew. The panic she felt earlier subsided as she realized they were on the Qiongdian Peak now. Who would dare, and who could possibly take Shi Qingqian? Then another possibility dawned on her.
Once that thought arose, she remembered the faint voice she heard yesterday saying, “Stop crying.” She had thought it was a hallucination born of her deep obsession.
Perhaps? Could it be? Is it possible?
That wasn’t a hallucination?
Could it be, could it be…
A’Ling pressed her neck hard, finding it difficult to breathe. This possibility should have made her happy, but she didn’t dare to believe it.
She was afraid this was just her wishful thinking, afraid it would all be for naught.
With every step she took outwards, it was as if A’Ling’s body was losing a part of its strength. Every step required all her effort.
By the end, she stumbled out of the room and saw the familiar figure standing with her back to her in the rising sunlight. She had no strength left and couldn’t utter a single sound.
She collapsed onto the ground, gazing at the figure not far away. She tightly clenched her palms, feeling the real pain, telling herself forcefully that she was not dreaming.
Through her tear-blurred vision, she saw the figure, as if hearing the movement behind her, slowly turn around in the gentle sunlight.
A’Ling curved her lips upwards, tears falling amidst her smile. She saw her most beautiful dream come true under the radiant sunlight.
As her tears were wiped away, A’Ling finally saw Shi Qingqian’s eyes filled with longing and the boundless affection within them.
She heard the gentle, heartbroken “Stop crying” once more.
Nothing was a dream. All the waiting had found its eternal value at this moment.
The morning sun was brilliant, and golden rays of light fell upon the Qiongdian Peak. The night had finally passed.
A’Ling smiled brightly at the person and suddenly lunged forward, embracing the beautiful, dreamlike figure before her!
She wouldn’t cry anymore. From now on, she only wanted to spend her days smiling with the person before her.
May the years be forever thus, and may they never be separated by life and death again.