The Death of Gu Yan, Becoming a Hero

Time passed swiftly.

The onslaught of the demonic creatures was fierce and rapid.

In mere moments,

layer after layer of defensive formations crumbled.

The martial artists fell one after another, overwhelmed as hordes of monsters surged forward. Yet, instead of killing them, the creatures bound their captives and herded them into prison carts like prisoners of war.

"Damn it!"

"They're not killing us—just locking us up and parading us around. This is humiliation!"

"Sigh... Even the Night King hasn’t shown himself, and we’ve already lost. What do we do now?"

"Without our leader, we stand no chance against the demonic army."

Meanwhile, residents hiding in apartment buildings were dragged out by the monsters and forced into the square.

Above the square, a projection screen flickered to life.

The same scene played out on every level of the underground city.

Crowds of people, herded into the open, stood bewildered and terrified under the watch of the surrounding monsters.

"Why have they brought us here?"

"Isn’t this a city-wide broadcast?"

"Could it be... the Night King?"

Leng Ling'er and the other martial artists were also transported in prison carts to the square.

The sight of them filled the ordinary citizens with despair.

"Even the Swordbearers have been captured... We’re finished."

"Where’s our leader?"

"Don’t tell me even Chief Leng has..."

"Don’t spout nonsense! The chief will come for us!"

Hidden among the crowd, Shangguan Miaoyin and her allies communicated silently through their team channel.

[Where is our master?]

[Unknown. His presence has vanished.]

[What about Gu Yan?]

[Gu Yan’s aura... has also disappeared.]

[Strange... Should we act now?]

[Not yet. Wait for the imposter Night King to show himself.]

Aside from Shangguan Miaoyin’s group, members of the "Light of Hope" faction—Shitou, Little Bai, and others—were also present.

They, too, exchanged hushed words through their private channel.

[The master’s presence is gone...]

[Leng Qingqiu’s aura has also vanished.]

[Why didn’t the master bring us along?]

[No idea... Once he appears, perhaps we’ll understand.]

Unease gnawed at everyone’s hearts. None knew what awaited them—

Would they be slaughtered? Or enslaved by the Night King?

Then—

BOOM!

A suffocating pressure descended upon the entire underground city.

In the next instant,

the Night King’s figure appeared on every screen across all levels.

The moment his image materialized, panic erupted among the masses.

"The Night King! It’s really him!"

"What does he want? To kill us?"

"I—I don’t know! Where’s our leader?!"

"Leader, save us!"

Yet no matter how desperately they cried out, no answer came.

Gu Yan ensured his presence was broadcast to every corner of the underground city, guaranteeing all eyes were on him.

[Silence.]

With a single soft command, an inexplicable force compelled every voice to still.

Trembling, the crowd stared at the screen as Gu Yan spoke, his voice echoing through the air:

"I have lost count of the years I have lived, yet in that time, I have witnessed tragedy after tragedy in this world."

"Every tragedy stems from the greed festering in human hearts."

"War, plunder, envy..."

"This world has been corroded by mankind’s insatiable desires."

"And now, at last, I understand the root of this corruption."

Here, Gu Yan raised his hand, and the camera panned upward—

revealing a blood-red moon hanging ominously in the sky.

An inexplicable dread settled over the crowd.

"What... what is that?"

"What kind of moon is that?"

"Is this the Night King’s doing?"

Swallowing hard, they waited for his next words.

Then, Gu Yan declared solemnly:

"I have realized that the power of martial artists is too great. The pursuit of cultivation accelerates the world’s decay."

"Thus... I shall first reclaim the power of all martial artists."

As his words faded—

HUMMM!

The crimson moon pulsed.

Every cultivator in the city immediately felt something shift within them.

"Ah—!!"

"N-no! My cultivation... it’s fading!"

"How is this possible?!"

Terror seized them as they realized—with each pulse of the moon, their strength was draining away.

Leng Ling'er, isolated in her prison cart, watched in horror as the energy around her visibly dimmed.

THUD.

Clutching her chest, she braced herself on one hand, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Her cultivation was gone. She couldn’t even summon a wisp of qi anymore.

How...?

Leng Ling'er had always been acutely sensitive to the energy around her. Yet now, it was as if the very air had turned barren.

Shangguan Miaoyin and her companions paled.

How could this be?

Since when did the imposter Night King possess such power?

Shitou and Little Bai exchanged stunned glances.

Even their cultivation—bestowed by their master—had been stripped away.

Yet unlike the others, they harbored no resentment.

After all, their strength had come from him in the first place.

And then—

The figure in the scene continued, "But even if we don’t become warriors, can this hopeless world truly regain hope?"

"The answer... is wrong."

"Only by creating a world truly filled with hope can we completely eradicate despair!"

"So..."

"I shall forge a new world, and all of you... will fall into a dream, becoming its inhabitants!"

As the words faded—

Hum!

The crimson moon emitted a faint glow.

Every person who saw its light froze, their consciousness beginning to scatter.

A drowsiness crept over them, threatening to pull them under.

And this was merely the faintest glimmer of the moon’s radiance.

Despair gripped them all.

"Falling into a dream... how could this be...?"

"Would we still be ourselves...?"

"Chief... Chief, save us..."

"Don’t hope... even the Chief might already be..."

A heavy silence spread through the crowd.

Each person felt the overwhelming urge to sleep, yet they resisted.

Hoping someone would emerge to end this nightmare.

The figure in the scene declared solemnly, "Sleep. You shall awaken to a new life!"

Just as everyone was on the verge of succumbing—

Boom!

"A false dream is no ideal world."

A cold, clear voice rang out, followed by a massive sword aura slicing through the scene, aimed straight at the Night King.

Hum!!

Instantly, the drowsiness lifted.

All eyes turned to the scene, alight with excitement.

There—

Leng Qingqiu’s figure streaked across the night sky like a meteor, her sword aura cutting through the darkness like the first light of dawn, unyielding and powerful, directed squarely at the Night King.

At this sight—

Hmm, the script begins.

Gu Yan smirked, his form flickering as he evaded the surging sword aura.

Then, like a shadow, he stood firm in the sky.

Leng Qingqiu mirrored him, the two now facing each other in midair.

Twenty-nine blades of psychic energy hovered behind her.

Perhaps due to advanced technology, the spectators found the viewing angle impeccable.

"The Chief!"

"The Chief is here!"

"This is amazing!"

"Go, big sister!!"

"Defeat the villain!"

Even the children cheered excitedly.

On Gu Yan’s side—

"To think you resisted my power drain."

"Leng Qingqiu, you truly are exceptional."

"But why reveal yourself now? Hiding would have been wiser."

His tone carried surprise, but it was soon replaced by icy detachment.

He raised his hand, and a black sword formed from the Power of Night materialized in his grip.

Leng Qingqiu tightened her hold on her psychic blade, her expression cold and composed. "Hiding won’t kill you."

"Hah."

"Kill me? Do you even know what you’re facing?"

"My divine power is beyond your reach."

Gu Yan scoffed, and a torrent of dark energy erupted from him, striking fear into all who felt its might.

Yet—

"Hmph!"

Leng Qingqiu merely snorted, unleashing a surge of pure psychic force in retaliation.

Boom! Boom! Boom!!!

The Power of Night clashed with psychic energy, the deafening collisions shaking the underground city.

The very ground trembled as if the apocalypse had arrived.

"Interesting. With you dead, no one can stop me."

"Then try."

With that exchange—

Boom!

Black and white figures collided in a flash of blades.

Bang! Bang! Bang!!!

Leng Qingqiu’s form left afterimages in the air, each swing of her sword summoning gales, her sword aura pouring down like a storm.

Gu Yan met her blow for blow, his dark energy surging like a tidal wave, intertwining with her relentless strikes.

The underground city echoed with the thunderous impacts.

Their battle was like a clash of titans, every collision fracturing the space around them.

"This... this is insane..."

"Is this really a fight between humans?"

"The Chief... is incredible..."

The people below watched in awe, witnessing a battle beyond their wildest imaginations, the sheer force of it overwhelming.

In the scene, the two figures had vanished, replaced only by streaks of black and white light colliding.

Leng Qingqiu’s resolve hardened, her swordplay growing fiercer, each strike pushed to its limit.

She knew this level of power couldn’t harm Gu Yan—in fact, by the end, his movements felt almost like he was merely sparring with her.

The Night King sneered, his power seemingly boundless, each counter forcing Leng Qingqiu back.

Bang! Bang! Bang!!

The battle reached its peak, their forms weaving through the air, sword aura and dark energy painting a breathtaking spectacle.

[Qingqiu, that’s enough.]

Then—

Gu Yan’s voice echoed in Leng Qingqiu’s mind.

Her arm trembled slightly, but she quickly steadied herself.

[Understood.]

Her reply reached him just as swiftly.

The latter smiled faintly.

Then... it should end now.

He leaped into the air, and before the eyes of the crowd—boom!

He opened his palm, and a dagger appeared in his grasp!!

Someone watching the scene immediately jumped up in terror and shouted, "A dagger!!"

"The Night King's dagger is indestructible—it can cut through anything!"

"And this is the Night King's true form!! As long as the dagger remains, the Night King can revive endlessly!"

"What?!"

"Does the leader know about this?"

"Of course she does!"

"Go, leader! Go, leader!"

"Fight on, leader!!"

"Defeat the Night King! Shatter the dagger!"

Countless voices roared in unison.

On Gu Yan's side...

He gripped the dagger and smirked at Leng Qingqiu. "Leng Qingqiu, you are indeed strong. But unfortunately, even I cannot fully control the power of this next move."

"You'd better... be careful."

As his words faded...

He raised the dagger—boom!

A surge of the Power of Night erupted from the blade! Then—

Dark clouds gathered, and with a deafening roar—!!!

Countless black hands stretched out from the stormy sky, lunging toward Leng Qingqiu.

Leng Qingqiu took a deep breath.

Her expression remained calm, but a trace of sorrow flickered in her heart.

She knew... after this strike...

"Night King, it's time to end this."

Her voice was icy as she raised her spiritual blade.

Boom!

In an instant—hummm!!!

A sea of spiritual swords materialized, dense as a storm of blades.

"End? It's only the beginning!"

Gu Yan sneered, and the countless black hands surged toward Leng Qingqiu, while the strike in his grasp slashed forward.

Leng Qingqiu exhaled sharply. "Go!"

Boom!

The storm of spiritual swords clashed against the tide of black hands.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The heavens and earth trembled. Everyone watching the scene held their breath.

"Fight on!"

"Don’t lose to the Night King!!"

"Go, leader!!"

The crowd roared in encouragement.

As if responding to their cries—

Boom!

The countless hands were obliterated by the spiritual blades.

"No! Impossible!"

"How can you be this strong?!"

"But—you’ll never survive this next strike!!"

Panic laced Gu Yan’s voice as he poured even more Power of Night into his attack, amplifying its ferocity.

Leng Qingqiu inhaled deeply. Her spiritual blade suddenly expanded, slashing toward Gu Yan’s strike.

"Die, Leng Qingqiu!!"

Gu Yan forced a vicious grin, howling with feigned rage.

The two forces collided.

BOOM!!!

A deafening explosion erupted, white light blinding the onlookers. They covered their ears, and when the noise faded, their eyes widened at the scene before them.

Then—

They froze.

On the screen...

The sinister figure of the Night King... hung motionless in midair.

Before him, Leng Qingqiu stood calmly, her spiritual blade piercing through the dagger and straight into his heart.

"Cough!"

Gu Yan spat blood, his body hovering for a moment before slowly falling.

Then—

"ROAR!"

"ROAR!"

The demonic beasts wailed in agony, disintegrating into ash before the crowd’s eyes.

This meant...

"We won!"

"We’ve won!"

"The Night King has been destroyed!!"

"Leng Qingqiu is humanity’s hero!"

Cheers erupted like thunder.

On the screen...

Leng Qingqiu stood in the sky, raising her sword high. "The Night King is dead. From this day forth—we return to the surface."

Snap!

The transmission cut off.

And the people drowned in jubilation.

But unlike everyone else...

Leng Ling'er clutched her chest, replaying the scene in her mind.

The Night King... is dead...

So why did her heart ache so much? Why...?

Sister...

......

"Gu Yan! Gu Yan!"

The screen went dark.

Leng Qingqiu’s composed facade shattered. She rushed to the ground in panic.

There, she found Gu Yan’s body—already cushioned by her spiritual energy.

"Gu Yan!"

She sprinted forward, frantically gathering him into her arms.

Though she knew this was all part of the plan...

Her heart still twisted in unbearable agony.

Now, the Power of Night had faded from Gu Yan.

A trickle of blood escaped his lips.

Seeing Leng Qingqiu, he smiled weakly and reached up, smearing the blood gently at the corner of her eye. "It’s alright..."

"This... was the plan."

As his heart’s blood seeped into her...

Hummm!

Light gradually returned to Leng Qingqiu’s vision.

For the first time... she saw Gu Yan’s face.

Pale as death, yet his expression was infinitely tender.

Drip. Drip.

Tears streamed down Leng Qingqiu’s cheeks.

She bit her lip, stifling her sobs as she caressed his face. "I’m sorry... I’m sorry... I’m sorry..."

Gu Yan brushed her tears away, his voice faint. "I’m the one who should apologize..."

"After a million lifetimes, we still haven't defeated that damned Heavenly Dao..."

"But... this time... it won't be a problem."

"Let the Heavenly Dao... witness the bond between me and you, Qingqiu..."

As the words faded,

Gu Yan's gaze gradually dimmed.

"Gu Yan?"

"Gu Yan!"

Leng Qingqiu called out several times, but there was no response.

Only then did she realize—Gu Yan... was dead.

Grief and anguish surged uncontrollably in that moment.

Leng Qingqiu clutched Gu Yan's body tightly and broke into loud, heart-wrenching sobs.

Buzz! A gentle breeze swept past,

and Gu Yan's body turned to ashes in Leng Qingqiu's arms, scattering into the wind.

No one knew what Gu Yan had sacrificed—only Leng Qingqiu understood.

If he hadn't willingly lowered his defenses,

how could the Heavenly Dao Realm... have possibly lost to her, a mere Late-Stage cultivator?

......

....

Humanity returned to the surface.

Leng Qingqiu became a hero.

"Sis? You can see again?"

After the great battle ended,

Leng Ling'er finally relaxed when she saw Leng Qingqiu safe.

Leng Qingqiu nodded, glancing at Leng Ling'er before replying, "My cultivation breakthrough restored my sight."

"Yay! Brother-in-law would be so happy to hear that! Speaking of which, where is he?"

Leng Ling'er peered left and right behind Leng Qingqiu but couldn't spot Gu Yan anywhere.

"Your brother-in-law... has some matters to attend to. He won't be back for a while."

Leng Qingqiu reached out and ruffled Leng Ling'er's hair.

Leng Ling'er nodded, suppressing her doubts.

She smiled and said, "That's good then."

Hugging Leng Qingqiu's arm, she chirped, "Let's go home, sis."

"Mm."

Leng Qingqiu responded softly—then...

Her expression darkened. There was no time to mourn Gu Yan's death, because the most pressing issue now was...

"Ling'er, what happened to your hair?"

"And why do you have piercings?"

"What in the world have you been doing all these years while I was blind?!?"