Family Cultivation: My entire family are Villains

Chapter 317: 174, Final Chapter: Death of the Blood Demon

A heart-wrenching cry echoed between the still heavens and earth.

The sorrow in Hou Yuduan's voice moved everyone present.

Only the Southern Medicine Master and Wuxin the Taoist Master, floating in mid-air, were different from the others, and it was unclear whether they were accustomed to such scenes or if their immense power rendered them devoid of ordinary human emotions; their eyes showed little emotion.

"A third-rank demon, its physical body indestructible. Years ago, when Mo Yunzi supposedly slew the Blood Demon, it was merely by using the Divine Dynasty's seal to suppress its body and imprison its soul. Mo Yunzi must have known that the Blood Demon would eventually return, which is why he took the Blood Demon's thousand-year-old heartwood to forge the three Spirit Swords: Xue Zhao, Xue Yang, and Blood Shadow, all for today."

"Over thirteen hundred years ago, Master Mo Yunzi could foresee this day, his heart concerned with the world, a figure both admirable and lamentable indeed!"

"Thinking back to those venerable ministers of the Divine Dynasty, each and every one dedicated themselves to the grand schemes of the Human Race, toiling until their deaths... And now, alas..."

As Wuxin sighed, he cast his gaze toward the Demon Sect's powerhouses behind Master Fanyin, attempting to discern their expressions, but unfortunately, their black robes hid their faces completely.

The focus of the entire assembly, Hou Yuduan, was at that moment holding Maiden Hong, watching her life force drain away from wounds inflicted by the three Spirit Swords, his eyes filled with shock and dread.

He frantically directed his own vital energy, continuously infusing it into Maiden Hong's wounds as if trying to sustain her life force, but his own cultivation level was only at the Gathering Malevolence stage—how could he resist the life force draining away from a third-rank demon?

Beyond the initial cry of "No," Hou Yuduan said nothing else, merely shedding silent tears, relentlessly trying to save Maiden Hong.

Even though he knew his efforts were insignificant, even though the loss of his vital energy caused his Martial Arts Level to fall from the Gang Qi Realm to the Body Opening Realm, even though Maiden Hong's true form, a massive tree extending thousands of miles, was gradually turning to ash along its countless vines...

Although he clearly knew that all his efforts were in vain, he still refused to give up as the vast vines withered from a thousand miles to eight hundred... five hundred... four hundred... two hundred... a hundred...

The shrinking of the true form made Maiden Hong's aura even more feeble; Hou Yuduan, holding her, shook uncontrollably due to the terror in his heart.

He was afraid...

Maiden Hong gently reached out to wipe the tears from Hou Yuduan's cheeks. There was not a trace of fear of death on her face, but rather, seeing Hou Yuduan's anxious and frightened expression sparked a slight sense of pride in her heart, and her lips even curled into a sweet smile.

"Jade Gentleman, didn't you say you wanted me to resolve my obsessions and quell my grievances?"

Her expression was as mild as water and her eyes filled with serenity as she gently caressed Hou Yuduan's face and spoke in an extremely soft voice.

"Jade Gentleman understands that demons are born from the grievances of all beings in the world and likewise perish when those grievances dissolve. If my heart harbors no obsessions or grievances, how can I exist.

In the half year since we've met, Jade Gentleman has comforted me time and again, hoping I would calm my mind and turn to goodness. Jade Gentleman, do you know, your actions are no different from killing me."

Maiden Hong recalled the times she spent with Hou Yuduan, his tireless efforts to persuade her to abandon her hatred and embrace righteousness, and her lips curled into a beautifully bitter smile.

Upon hearing this, Hou Yuduan's mind went blank, his heart flooding with guilt as he looked down at Maiden Hong in his arms, choking back silent sobs.

"Actually, the moment I fell in love with Jade Gentleman, my heart was already free of hatred. Yet, to stay by Jade Gentleman's side, I had to continue to hate..."

Hou Yuduan's pale face turned a shade of deep red as intense emotional turmoil caused the scant energy in his body to surge, leaving him even more frail, his expression filled with sorrow, and his body unstable, swaying in mid-air.

The millennial locust tree, Maiden Hong's true form, gradually disintegrated until only her human body remained. Moments later, her strength completely dissipated, and her body began to change back to that of Tian Honglu.

Her face began to crack, the fissures spreading to her neck and other parts of her body, like a porcelain doll about to shatter, creating a horrifying yet strangely beautiful sight.

"Jade Gentleman, I wish... one last time... to hear you recite \\"Beifeng·Jigug!"

"Alright, alright, I'll read it, I'll read it now."

Watching Maiden Hong's body begin to fall apart, Hou Yuxiao resisted the urge to hold her tight, daring not exert too much force and only gently embraced her, trembling.

"Life and death have brought us apart, yet we agreed upon everlasting love.

Hold your hand in mine, and let's grow old together.

Alas, I lament our separation, no longer part of this life with you..."

From the moment he started speaking, Hou Yuduan's voice was already utterly hoarse. After speaking three lines, he realized that half of Maiden Hong's body within his embrace had turned to ash. He broke down in tears, unable to continue reading.

Maiden Hong waited in vain for the final line until her body completely turned to ash. Her right hand still tenderly lingered on Hou Yuduan's cheek.

"Alas, truly......... you do not believe...... me..."

A sigh echoed between heaven and earth. Hou Yuduan felt Maiden Hong's hand vanish from his cheek, his body jolted, realizing she had completely disintegrated, and his pale face flushed with an abnormal red once again.