Xing Yuan could grasp Xing Yue's true meaning, but it was difficult to achieve. After all, she was not a creature truly belonging to this world.
Since she had received the complete inheritance, she had foreseen her own end. Like all the previous Ying Tian beasts, her ultimate fate was annihilation.
In fact, she didn't really care about it. Death was just another form of existence, and besides, she had plenty of time.
But when Xing Yuan's gaze fell upon her elder sister, whose eyes were filled with worry, her heart couldn't help but tremble. Perhaps she truly wanted to stay with her forever, even knowing it was impossible.
Xing Yue lowered her gaze, looking at Xing Yuan, who had suddenly become very dejected, and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I just wanted to see you, elder sister," Xing Yuan shook her head, her fingers gently intertwining with Xing Yue's palm.
Xing Yue nodded, but her mind was occupied with other matters.
Now that she knew the truth of these matters and cared so much for the child she had raised, she naturally couldn't do nothing and just wait for that moment to arrive.
She searched through ancient texts and found a method that was barely feasible. Although its success rate was unknown, Xing Yue could only trust this method now.
She couldn't bear to watch this happen. Just thinking about it made her heart feel as if it would suffocate.
However, Xing Yue felt it was unnecessary to let A Yuan know about these things. She wished for her to always have the pure eyes she had when they first met, and for her face to always be adorned with a smile.
Therefore, after completing the preparations, Xing Yue decided to find a good reason to send her away.
One day, Xing Yue casually brought up a matter, "A Yuan, legend has it that in the extreme south of this continent, there is a flower called the Ice Feather Flower. It is said that the petals of this flower exhibit different colors in different places and even at different times, making it incredibly beautiful. I really want to go and see it!"
"Then let's go and see it," Xing Yuan said earnestly. "All of elder sister's wishes should be fulfilled."
"But in a few days, all the divine realm powerhouses on the continent will gather for a meeting, and I cannot get away," Xing Yue's eyes seemed to hold a hint of disappointment.
"Then, we can go later. No matter when, I can accompany you, elder sister," Xing Yuan promised.
"But by then, the Ice Feather Flower will have withered. It only blooms for a few days each year. If we miss these few days, we will have to wait another year. Why don't you go and pick one for me to see?"
Gazing at Xing Yue's expectant eyes, Xing Yuan became instantly agitated, her blood boiling with a sense of mission.
She immediately assured, "Don't worry, elder sister. I'll leave now and definitely bring back the Ice Feather Flower."
"Good!" Xing Yue's eyes were filled with reluctance. She gently placed a kiss on Xing Yuan's forehead and added, "I believe in you!"
Xing Yuan was so excited that she almost revealed her fluffy beast ears again, nodding repeatedly and saying, "Mhm, mhm."
"A Yuan!" As Xing Yuan turned to leave, Xing Yue suddenly called out to her.
Xing Yuan turned back in confusion, but Xing Yue wore a brilliant smile, "A Yuan, remember what you promised me, not to kill indiscriminately, and to strive to protect our home."
"Yes, I remember," Xing Yuan, though she didn't quite understand why Xing Yue suddenly brought this up, nodded firmly. Whatever her elder sister wanted, she wanted too, and she would only support her unconditionally.
Xing Yuan left, heading for the extreme south. It was an extremely special place, and even with Xing Yuan's speed, it would take several months to travel back and forth. This time was enough for Xing Yue to accomplish many things.
Relying on some formations recorded in ancient texts and her own research, she managed to restore the ancient Great Array of Spirit Return.
Of course, her own formation skills were mediocre, and her spiritual energy was insufficient to support the operation of such a grand array. However, if her power was insufficient, someone else's power would be enough.
When she told others that she had discovered a method to restore the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, everyone went mad.
If it continued like this, the spiritual energy of this world would gradually thin out and disappear, and the world would eventually head towards its demise. Therefore, even though the cultivators who knew the truth were aware that Xing Yue intended to use them, they still flocked to her.
For the Great Array of Spirit Return to fully manifest, it not only required the support of powerful cultivation but also the nourishment of blood. The blood of various races was a necessary condition for the array's construction.
Thus, during the so-called mortal world trials, Xing Yue had already begun to secretly find suitable candidates.
At this juncture, Xing Yue decisively handed over the list to the strongest individuals of each major power. Most of the people she had chosen had a history of misconduct and terrible character, having committed many heinous acts over the years.
After reading this list and understanding the private wrongdoings of these disciples, even if some of them were direct disciples of their sect's elders, no one dared to speak up for them.
Did their masters not know anything about their character? Moreover, with so many people knowing these matters, this disciple was finished. Even if they managed to survive this ordeal, this list might fall into the hands of others later, which would ruin the reputation of the entire sect.
Any cultivator who wished for their sect to develop for a long time would not want to see such a scene. Therefore, they could only send these individuals to their deaths.
"Wait, how is one of our sect's elders on this list?" someone exclaimed in disbelief. "Is she insane?"
To push a sect elder forward as a sacrifice to activate an array, even if it succeeded in the end, their sects would inevitably fall into enmity.
Soon, doubts began to arise one after another. Every sect had a few individuals with improper conduct, even if they were already elders.
But regardless of the elder's character or the mistakes they had made, they had some supporters within their own sect. Furthermore, this was an internal matter of their sect, and outsiders interfering would naturally make them feel that their dignity had been challenged.
Xing Yue raised an eyebrow slightly and retorted, "Then, esteemed sirs, do you think the reputation of an elder or even a sect is more important than the impending collapse of the world? You are all renowned powerhouses; you shouldn't be unable to grasp such a simple truth, should you?"
Xing Yue looked at the silent crowd and said gently, "Moreover, only those of us present will know about this matter, and we will naturally not spread it around. The Great Array of Spirit Return requires a great deal. The higher the cultivation, the greater the role played as a sacrifice. You should all consider this carefully!"