The Shattered Dao Heart and a Mother’s Fury

As the teleportation array of the Dragon Shield Arena abruptly contracted and vanished, the last wisp of spatial runes quietly dissipated like a burnt-out candle wick, leaving behind only the dead stillness of depleted energy.

A figure was mercilessly expelled by the twisted space, falling with a creaking sound, much like a discarded, broken marionette. “Boom!” A dull thud echoed across the cold stone surface, kicking up fine dust.

As the light fully receded, Qiu Yue lay still. Just as when she had been teleported in, her clothes were intact, her hair undisturbed, and not even a crease in her robes had shifted; the mystic realm had erased all the stains and wounds from the battle.

Yet, those once pathologically fervent, chilling azure eyes were now utterly dim.

They were empty, lifeless, and utterly devoid of any spirit.

It was as if she were a meticulously carved jade statue, with only a perfect shell remaining, her inner soul having completely dissipated.

This was not merely the faint shadow of a clouded Dao Heart; it was the ultimate void, a Dao Heart utterly shattered and ground into dust.

“Yue’er—!” A desperate, heart-wrenching shriek, like a cuckoo crying blood.

A figure charged in, accompanied by a piercing howl that ripped through the air!

Wherever she passed, the closer disciples of the Xuan Nv Sect felt their blood churn, retreating in terror.

Qiu Jingwen no longer cared for decorum or status; her figure collided violently with the arena’s stone surface, and the bluestone beneath her knees instantly cracked and shattered under the raging spiritual power, fueled by grief and indignation.

Disregarding everything, her trembling hands, capable of world-shattering power, now, with an almost desperate tenderness, pulled her cold daughter from the ground into a tight embrace.

She called out to Qiu Yue again and again, her voice broken and hoarse. “Yue’er?! Yue’er! Look at your mother!” The intact body in her arms remained soft and warm, yet in the depths of those familiar azure pupils, there was nothing.

No response, no fear, no anger, no possessive light that she both loved and hated.

Only a cold void, utterly hollowed out and devoid of all thought.

The soul named Qiu Yue seemed to have already been lost with the light beam that marked the end, left behind on the scorched earth where ice and fire intertwined within the mystic realm.

“Xuan Nv Sect!!!!” Qiu Jingwen’s voice was hoarse and distorted, every word seeming to be imbued with poisoned blood. “You treacherous, despicable wretches! You set up this venomous trap, destroying my Yue’er’s foundation and shattering her Dao Heart! For this profound hatred, I, Qiu Jingwen, swear here and now: in this life and all lives to come, I shall never coexist with you!”

Boom!

The blinding purplish-black ball of lightning, condensed to an unbearable intensity in her palm, was about to unleash its overwhelming destructive power, poised to smash into the Xuan Nv Sect’s viewing platform!

This single strike, infused with all the power of a mother’s desperate fury, was enough to blast a corner of the high platform, along with all living beings upon it, into dust.

“How dare you!”

“You wouldn’t dare!”

But Qiu Jingwen, having lost all reason, cared for none of this.

In her eyes, there was no longer the Xuan Nv Sect, no longer any rules; only towering hatred and an impulse for destruction remained. Her well-maintained hand was now like a demon’s claw, containing terrifying power capable of tearing space apart, her five fingers splayed wide and imbued with the destructive force to shatter mountains and overturn seas.

This strike, unleashed in a fit of rage, held nothing back! It was determined to tear apart everything that stood in her way of taking her daughter, including this sect that had caused her such “utter humiliation.”

With Lin Ruoli now presiding over the Xuan Nv Sect, how could they allow such insolence?

A translucent phantom instantly tore through space, directly blocking Qiu Jingwen. The Profound Yin Qi swirling in her hand collided violently with the purplish-black lightning Qiu Jingwen unleashed in her fury!

“Boom—CRACK!!!”

Where the two palms met, a dazzling explosion of light erupted fiercely! Visible spatial ripples spread rapidly like shattering glazed tiles, and wherever they passed, the ground, hard as profound iron, cracked and collapsed inch by inch.

The violent shockwave, carrying Soul Transformation-level destructive energy, swept across the entire plaza like a raging gale and furious tide!

Upon the high platform’s throne, the Empress’s gaze suddenly sharpened. She swiftly raised a jade-like finger, and a spell, imbued with the fleeting images of sun, moon, and stars, emerged, instantly enveloping all the Xuan Nv Sect disciples below!

The barrier vibrated violently, its light patterns flickering like a candle in the wind, yet it protected the Xuan Nv Sect disciples, who were pale with fright.

And now, the silent Qiu Ku finally spoke.

“Cough…”

A subtle cough, light as the rustle of dry leaves, floated gently, yet seemed to contain the weight of a thousand thunders, instantly pressing down on the almost boiling martial arena and rendering it utterly silent.

A bony, withered finger, its nail curved like a hawk’s talon, carried a suffocating sense of ruthlessness and power as it idly tapped a spot in the empty space beside them.

There was no flash of light, no earth-shattering aura.

Just a simple tap.

“Thump!”

A dull thud, so profound it made hearts almost stop, suddenly exploded deep within everyone’s Sea of Consciousness and upon the “root bones” of the entire space!

In that instant, a power far deeper, far more ancient than Qiu Jingwen’s furious killing intent, descended out of thin air like a floodgate unleashing its torrent!

Yet its target was not Lin Ruoli—but Qiu Jingwen!

“Ugh—!” Qiu Jingwen was like an insect frozen in amber! Her stunningly beautiful face instantly drained of all color, turning ashen.

Her wildly dancing hair seemed to be seized by an invisible giant hand, forcibly freezing her in her furious posture.

The rampaging spiritual power within her, like an uncontrolled wild horse, was instantly reined in, its tendons and bones snapping, emitting sickening “crack-crack” sounds of muffled breakage!

“Pfft—!”

A large mouthful of scalding heart-essence blood violently spurted from Qiu Jingwen’s mouth.

Qiu Jingwen, like a skin deprived of all its bones, plummeted directly from mid-air. Her knees slammed heavily onto the hard, cold flagstones, emitting a bone-chilling crack. Her body convulsed violently and uncontrollably, and she could only barely manage to prop herself up with her arms to avoid collapsing completely.

She raised her head, looking towards the source of the power, her bloodied lips trembling, her eyes filled with endless agony and unspeakable humiliation.

“Old… Old Ancestor…?” Her voice was utterly shattered.

Qiu Ku showed no expression, merely withdrew her hand and slowly stood up, her movements as sluggish as if she were shifting a decaying mountain.

Qiu Ku’s voice echoed throughout the arena, still that dry, low rasp, like sand grinding against stone, so steady that no emotional fluctuation could be discerned, carrying the undeniable power of judgment. “Enough. My Qiu family children can afford to lose.”

“Bring Qiu Yue back.” Qiu Ku finally finished the latter half of her statement, the indifferent tone like stating a simple fact, such as “the tea has gone cold.”

Qiu Jingwen felt as if struck by lightning, the blood in her veins seemingly freezing instantly.

She abruptly looked up, staring at her Old Ancestor, her eyes erupting with incredulous shock.

A flicker of deep vigilance and solemnity crossed Xian Chengyue’s eyes.

Even Empress Ji Fengyi on the high platform, her twelve dangling pearls swaying gently, obscuring much of her expression, still revealed a fleeting trace of surprise and scrutiny, enough to convey her unexpected reaction.

“I apologize for startling everyone. The junior of my family was ignorant; I have already punished them. Please, for this old one’s sake, let this matter pass. Regarding the trouble the junior caused your esteemed sect, my Qiu family will provide appropriate compensation.”

From being aggressive moments before, this sudden generosity left everyone utterly bewildered.

Not only Xian Chengyue, but even the Empress frowned slightly, remaining seated. Behind the gaps in her pearl curtain, her gaze, calm as still water, locked firmly on Qiu Ku.

“Jingwen, if they’re not dead, bring them back.” The command, cold as falling ice, shattered in Qiu Jingwen’s ears.

Qiu Ku did not spare Qiu Yue another glance, merely giving the distant instruction before returning to his seat.

Qiu Jingwen moved her feet, embracing Qiu Yue. Was it reluctance? No, mere reluctance could not describe the fury brewing in Qiu Jingwen’s heart at that moment.

The farce abruptly concluded, and Lin Ruoli returned to the Xuan Nv Sect’s viewing stand.

“Master! Are you alright?!” Mu Qingli scurried over. With her Master present, she was no longer the aloof Sect Master who had to maintain a stern facade. “Are you hurt?!”

Many people gathered around, their eyes filled with concern.

Lin Ruoli merely shook her head, then fixed her gaze on Xian Chengyue.

“Aunt Yue, Qiu Jingwen’s power is somewhat peculiar. My spirit body is having trouble digesting it right now. Could you please take a look?”

This remark came as quite a surprise to Xian Chengyue.

After all, she had cultivated the Bright Jade Profound Yin, had some knowledge of the cultivation method Qiu Jingwen practiced, and was familiar with Qiu Jingwen’s personal style, having even offered guidance over the years.

However, she did not recall anything peculiar in Qiu Jingwen’s black lightning that even the Bright Jade Profound Yin couldn’t digest.

‘Perhaps…’

Xian Chengyue nodded. “Lin girl, come with me.”

Lin Ruoli immediately followed her footsteps.

Mu Qingli also wished to go along but was stopped by a slightly chiding glance from Xian Chengyue. She could only retreat sullenly to her original position, continuing to monitor the movements within the mystic realm.

At this time, although Qiu Yue and Lin Mo’s battle had concluded, the conflict within the mystic realm had not yet ended.

Xian Chengyue and Lin Ruoli avoided prying eyes and quietly made their way to a secluded corner.

“What happened?” Xian Chengyue was the first to ask.

“During our clash just now, Qiu Jingwen wasn’t merely attacking,” Lin Ruoli whispered, “she quietly gave me something.”

“Something?” Xian Chengyue was puzzled.

“She gave me a storage ring,” Lin Ruoli explained.

“A storage ring?” Xian Chengyue’s eyes flashed as she pressed, “What did it look like? What was hidden inside?”

“It was extremely small, like a tiny grain of dust,” Lin Ruoli raised her palm slightly, as if cradling an invisible treasure. “Right now, I’m carefully enveloping it with spiritual energy.”

“…………What is in there?” Xian Chengyue’s voice took on a hint of gravity and urgency.

Lin Ruoli’s tone paused for a moment. Then, her usually relaxed and easygoing face grew serious. “Only a letter, but on the letter, she wrote a few simple sentences. She asked me to meet her at a certain place, saying…” Lin Ruoli’s voice was almost inaudible, yet every word was clear. “She wants to tell me clues about my murder.”

“!”