And so, Yun Paopao bathed in lightning, concealed within the ominous storm clouds that gathered above Nandou.
“What in the world! How could it have breached the Xuan Guan?”
Rosemary stood before the Plum Blossom Mausoleum, her legs trembling uncontrollably. Despite the Xuan Guan’s seal remaining entirely intact, this terrifying demonic beast had still materialized above Nandou City.
This outcome was, in fact, far more dire. It suggested that the demonic beast clan might have mastered a technique to bypass the Xuan Guan’s barrier, allowing them direct access to this world.
“But that was arranged by Master himself…”
Rosemary murmured softly, and it was clear that even she was startled by her own conjecture. If this were truly the case…
Then she had to protect this place at all costs, to fulfill the mission entrusted to her by Lady Jasmine.
With that thought, Rosemary clenched her fists. She raised her magical pendant above her head, preparing to transform.
But the next moment, a deafening clap of thunder erupted behind her, sending a chill down her spine. Endless purple lightning then rent the air, distorting the spatial fabric around the Xuan Guan’s entrance portal.
This could only mean one thing: the Xuan Guan was on the verge of collapse.
****
After delivering her final strike, Bai Zhiqiu stumbled and collapsed into Yin’s arms.
“We need to leave! The Xuan Guan is collapsing!”
It all happened too suddenly! Just moments ago, everyone had been reveling in their triumph, and now they had to flee with haste.
“Quick! Little Jasmine… head back! Organize everyone’s evacuation!”
Motong, supported by Qian Moyu, anxiously urged Jasmine. Having been directly slain by An within the illusory world created by Yun Paopao, though her physical body remained, all her magical energy had been completely drained, and even her soul had suffered a degree of damage.
“Don’t talk here! Just go!”
Yin scooped Bai Zhiqiu into a perfect princess carry, deftly sidestepping Yan Qingzhu, who had instinctively reached out to take her. She sprinted towards the Xuan Guan’s exit with Bai Zhiqiu, knowing she had to reach it quickly.
Once this place collapsed, everything within would be annihilated!
Yan Qingzhu, seeing Bai Zhiqiu, had instinctively reached out to catch her. Little did she know, despite Yin’s small stature, she was incredibly agile, easily evading her grasp.
“Hurry and go!”
Qian Moyu supported Motong, but a moment’s thought told her this pace was far too slow. She simply swept Motong into her arms and soared towards the Xuan Guan.
Startled by Qian Moyu’s sudden movement, Motong swiftly wrapped her arms around Qian Moyu’s neck.
“Slow down!”
Qian Moyu’s wind-like speed made Motong’s skirt billow wildly. With her arms wrapped around Qian Moyu’s neck, Motong couldn’t use her hands to hold down her skirt, forced to endure as the wind whipped it wherever it pleased…
She wasn’t wearing panties…
“Quick! Everyone, hurry!”
Jasmine watched the last magical girl exit the Xuan Guan, then turned her head, gazing back at everything within.
Finally! It was finally over! They had vanquished the sword that had hung over Nandou City for so long.
“If the edges of the Xuan Guan were all like this, how terrifying must the true Spirit Realm be?”
Jasmine stood on the city wall, taking her last look at the place. But soon, a smile touched her lips.
“Who cares what lies at its end! As long as we can seal one, one day we will be able to seal all of the Xuan Guan!”
With that, Jasmine turned, the last to walk out of the Xuan Guan.
****
Fury had birthed a temporary strength, numbing the countless wounds that riddled her body.
But once that fury dissipated, the agony would undoubtedly assault her body.
Yun Paopao floated in the clouds, struggling to maintain her form by harnessing the wind’s power. Yet, this meager wind force was far from enough.
Moreover, the clouds here did not possess the magical essence found in those of the Spirit Realm.
“Farewell, Divine Sister! Father, Mother! I’m coming!”
Finally, Yun Paopao closed her eyes. Her body began to descend from the sky, growing smaller and smaller… sinking lower and lower…
Until, at last, she was no bigger than a rabbit.
****
“Tsk!”
At the unnoticed Xuan Guan altar, at the very moment the Xuan Guan was on the verge of complete collapse, the surroundings, save for the altar itself, had dissolved into a void. Even the altar was steadily disintegrating.
“I almost died here! Fortunately, I had a few more tricks up my sleeve! I never imagined they’d be so powerful! Not even An could defeat them!”
Flesh suddenly sprouted upon the Spirit Controller’s skeletal, withered body. Though still gaunt, he now exuded a faint spark of life.
“Thank the heavens the key is still with me! I can still continue! Next time, Nandou will undoubtedly face utter annihilation!”
“But for now, I should make my exit!”
With that, the Spirit Controller retrieved the key and tore open a portal in the void, at the end of which lay a pristine, white-sand beach.
“Phew!”
Dragging his emaciated form, the Spirit Controller passed through the portal and arrived on the beach. After only a few steps, his body gave out, collapsing onto the sand.
“Once I recover, I’ll make them pay dearly! Higanbana! The Magical Girls! And Gu Nian!”
Recalling how Gu Nian had gone back on her word, vanishing during the decisive battle, he wouldn’t be in such a sorry state now.
“And what about me?”
Gu Nian’s voice suddenly echoed from behind him. As he scrambled to his feet, Gu Nian’s foot lashed out, sending him sprawling to the ground.
“You… how are you here?”
The Spirit Controller’s eyes were wide with terror. He had never imagined that Gu Nian, that madwoman, would wait until the very last moment!
Another two seconds, and he would have been torn to shreds by the temporal currents.
“If I weren’t here, how would I get the key?”
With that, Gu Nian snatched the key directly from the Spirit Controller’s neck. He tried to struggle, but Gu Nian simply kicked him away.
“By the way, your god’s power seems significantly weaker now than it was a century ago!”
Gu Nian observed, a mocking smile playing on her lips.
“You! What are you planning to do?!”
Hearing her words, the Spirit Controller’s pupils constricted in horror.
‘Madwoman! She’s utterly insane!’
“What am I planning? To kill her, of course!”
With that, Gu Nian’s sword flashed… and a streak of crimson stained the pristine white sand.
“I’ll drag her from her divine throne! Only then can we truly be together!”
****
“It’s going to rain! Shuyao, be careful!”
“Got it!”
Lin Shuyao grabbed an umbrella, shouldered her backpack, and set off towards Bai Zhiqiu’s house. Her backpack was stuffed full of the test papers that had been handed out over the past few days.
“Honestly! No answer on the phone, no replies on QQ, and not even showing up for class! Now I have to deliver her test papers… Surely nothing bad has happened to her, right…?”
Lin Shuyao grumbled under her breath, yet deep down, she was incredibly worried about Bai Zhiqiu.
“Don’t be silly! Her life is tough! All those thugs couldn’t lay a hand on her!”
Lin Shuyao reassured herself. However, gazing at the sky, now completely shrouded in dark clouds, she silently quickened her pace.
She needed to get to Bai Zhiqiu’s house quickly… to see what on earth she was up to!
As she lost herself in thought, the bushes by the roadside suddenly rustled, catching her attention.
“It couldn’t be a snake, could it?”
Gathering her courage, Lin Shuyao walked closer. Suddenly, a peculiar-looking animal leaped out from the bushes!
A whale with wings? Yet, this whale was only the size of a rabbit.
As if guided by some unseen force, Lin Shuyao gently cupped the wondrous creature in her hands.
“Are you alright?” Lin Shuyao whispered softly.
‘Is this Divine Sister’s aura? It’s a bit faint, but it’s definitely there!’ Instantly, Yun Paopao’s eyes lit up.
‘I can’t believe I found a clue to Divine Sister so quickly! Good thing someone hung out a quilt below; I landed right on it and bounced here… Otherwise, I’d probably be Yun Paopao paste by now…’
Gazing at Lin Shuyao’s adorable, bewildered expression, Yun Paopao extended one tiny wing.
“Maiden! Sign a contract with me! Become a witch!”