In ways the Tianji Sword did not know, its love for Princess Ruyi had penetrated to its very core. Even in its current agitated state, it remained mindful not to harm Bai Shengyi, whom it mistook for Princess Ruyi.
Bai Shengyi found the Tianji Sword truly pitiful.
It waited, expending all its might, for someone who would most likely never return. It was like a moth drawn to a flame, passionate and obstinate, yet oblivious to the fact that its wings were already burning.
She carefully chose her words. "Actually, she always regarded you as her best friend. She never knew of your affection. Moreover, even if you continue to confine Xuan Qing's soul in an ice coffin, you will never be able to wait for her. She… is no longer in this realm. Tianji Sword, let go."
As her words fell, a blinding white light suddenly exploded in Bai Shengyi's mind. Countless more vivid and solid images flashed through her consciousness at lightning speed, as if memories from a past life had just been unlocked.
Before she could examine them closely, she heard the Tianji Sword cry out with a sudden burst of sorrow!
"Wah!"
A flash of sword light appeared, changing the very heavens and earth. The Tianji Sword transformed into its true form and shot towards the sky.
"I don't!" it cried with a tearful voice. "Aren't you her? If you are here with me, then she is! Little junior sister, wouldn't it be good if we stayed here together forever?"
Amidst the pouring rain, the Guoshi's mansion, the Observatory Tower, the beast-fighting arena, the wonton stall, and so on, like a faded painting, began to disappear bit by bit from the world, revealing dark, oppressive clouds and stark, solitary mountain peaks.
The raindrops fell densely, soaking Bai Shengyi's clothes in moments. The chilling sensation seeped into her mind, causing her to shiver violently.
This was the Divine Realm, the true Divine Realm of the Tianji Sword.
"No! I do not wish this!"
Bai Shengyi vehemently refused. Before the Tianji Sword could even anticipate it, she suddenly lashed out, overturning the ice coffin!
"Little junior sister!" the Tianji Sword's voice became piercingly sharp, and a menacing sword light swooped down!
But before it could reach Bai Shengyi, she moved with all her might to block it.
In that split second, the ice coffin burst open, exposing Princess Ruyi and Xuan Qing to the air. Xuan Qing transformed into an ethereal phantom, while Princess Ruyi disintegrated into fragments, disappearing into the air piece by piece.
"No!"
The Tianji Sword let out a tremendous cry and transformed into a human figure, charging forward!
It wore a blue robe, possessed long blue hair, and its hand emitted a blue spiritual light as it attempted to preserve Princess Ruyi's physical form.
"Little junior sister… Ayi, please don't leave…"
"Crack…"
The Tianji Sword's mind was in turmoil, and its Divine Realm could no longer be sustained, shattering little by little.
Before long, a stream of emerald spiritual light rapidly shot in.
The Reincarnation Brush furiously exclaimed, "Tianji! If you want to die, fine, but why drag so many people down with you? Are you not selfish? Even Princess Ruyi, if she knew, would surely regret letting you live back then!"
The Tianji Sword looked up in astonishment. "Nine Revolutions Reincarnation Brush? You… you're still alive?"
The Reincarnation Brush shielded Bai Shengyi and snorted, "I am still alive, but you, I fear, will not survive!"
As its words fell, beams of heavenly light suddenly pierced through the rifts in the Divine Realm.
The moment those heavenly lights descended, the scenery constructed by the Tianji Sword within the Divine Realm began to vanish bit by bit, signifying that the Tianji Sword's spirit had suffered irreversible damage.
This was the punishment of the Heavenly Dao upon the Tianji Sword for disregarding the cycle of cause and effect.
The Tianji Sword's actions, however, did not change in the slightest. It continued to channel its internal power into Princess Ruyi's body, attempting to preserve her.
On the other side, Xuan Qing, who had been floating in mid-air, suddenly drifted towards Bai Shengyi.
He smiled as he glanced at Bai Shengyi, his voice even more gentle and clear than the spirit had previously mimicked.
"Little junior sister, it has been a long time."
Blinded by the pain of unrequited love and resentment, the Tianji Sword failed to realize that the little junior sister it had been searching for would indeed reunite with it one day. It was just that this reunion was not as it had wished.
Bai Shengyi nodded faintly, her emotions muted.
"Senior brother."
Xuan Qing shook his head with a smile, saying nothing further. He cast one last glance at Bai Shengyi before flying towards the brightest area of the heavenly light.
Following him, many familiar figures emerged from the Divine Realm – the King, Old Man Zhang, Old Man Li…
"No, woo woo… you can't do this…"
The Tianji Sword's spirit watched as Princess Ruyi's body vanished even faster with the departure of these souls, crying like a fool. It didn't even care about its own backlash and reckoning.
It offered no resistance, allowing its Divine Realm to shatter, and soon it could not even maintain its human form.
"Tianji!" The Xuanjing Tiger, flapping its wings, flew from a distance, looking at Bai Shengyi in astonishment. "Shengyi, what did you do?"
Before Bai Shengyi could speak, the Reincarnation Brush huffed, "Little tiger, please look carefully. Shengyi did nothing!"
Bai Shengyi spread her hands. "Indeed. I did nothing."
"Little Yu'er, the Tianji Sword has imprisoned you in this Divine Realm for so long. Have you never considered that your parents would worry about you?" Bai Shengyi said faintly, "Although you can understand the Tianji Sword's actions, I am sorry, but I cannot. I wish to leave."
"The Tianji Sword is very pitiful, but whether it be Shengyi Xuan Qing, or the others from the Great Sheng Kingdom, no one owes it anything. Why should it confine everyone in its Divine Realm?"
Chuiyu actually regretted speaking as soon as the words left its mouth.
It did not blame the Tianji Sword, but what right did it have to dictate to Shengyi? Hearing Bai Shengyi's words, the Tianji Sword regretted its actions even more.
Shengyi was right; this was where the Tianji Sword truly erred.
"Little beast, get out of the way!" The Tianji Sword suddenly emitted a spiritual light, pushing the Xuanjing Tiger aside.
The spirit's voice was hoarse and weak. Its sword tip pointed at Bai Shengyi, and it sobbed, yet asked with utmost seriousness, "Are you really Shengyi? Shengyi did not turn to ash, did he?"
It clearly felt Shengyi's aura on Bai Shengyi.
Bai Shengyi smiled enigmatically. "And what of it?"
Yes, what of it?
Whether it was Shengyi or Shengyi, it had arrived too late.
Especially Bai Shengyi, who never considered herself to be Shengyi or anyone else. She was herself, uniquely Bai Shengyi.
In other words, if the Tianji Sword wished to treat her as a substitute for Shengyi, then no, she was unwilling!
"Zheng!"
The Tianji Sword suddenly let out a ringing sound, its sword light instantly dimming. The previously bright heavenly light vanished, and the damp raindrops returned with renewed force.
"Divine artifact falls, the heavens grieve."
"Tianji has committed suicide."
The Reincarnation Brush and Chuiyu exclaimed in shock.
Bai Shengyi looked at the Tianji Sword falling into her hands. In the blink of an eye, the blade was covered in rust spots, and the sword body cracked slightly, turning it into a piece of scrap metal.
All illusions before her dispersed, and in an instant, she found herself once again in a world of ice and snow. On the snow lay a broken chessboard, which suddenly crumbled, appearing even more dilapidated.
"Huh? Isn't this the broken chessboard from the beast-fighting arena? How did it get here?" Chuiyu had a strong impression of this chessboard.
Because the chessboard was so tattered, like discarded junk, it seemed out of place with the arena's decor. Yet, the Tianji Sword cherished it dearly, often meditating upon it when it had nothing else to do.
The Reincarnation Brush, however, was startled. "It's the Tianxing Chessboard! This one is real!"
"Shengyi, put it away. Within it lies a wisp of the Tianji Sword's spirit. Perhaps, one day, when the Tianji Sword is repaired, its spirit can be reborn."
Bai Shengyi frowned slightly, formed a hand seal, and put the chessboard away.
"Will the reborn spirit remember the past?"