"It’s all over..."
Yu Changsheng let out a long breath, his eyes filled with complex emotions. He looked at the surrounding Purple Bamboo and shook his head gently.
Everything that had happened in the ruins felt like a dream, yet it was all too real. His newly advanced cultivation was the best proof of that.
It was just...
Yu Changsheng swallowed hard. His expression darkened at the thought of the Sui Xian Sword Spirit.
"Enough. Don’t be so sad. This was his choice," the Profound Turtle said in a heavy voice.
"Mm."
Yu Changsheng shook his head gently and took out the fragments of the Sui Xian Sword. After a moment’s thought, he glanced around and spoke to the Purple Child Sword in his hand.
"This is your domain. Could you find a quiet, suitable place?"
The Purple Child materialized from its sword. It blinked its innocent eyes, meeting Yu Changsheng’s gaze, and nodded. After a moment of thought, its small hand pointed in a certain direction, and it began to walk ahead.
"Come with me."
Yu Changsheng quickly followed. The Purple Child was heading toward the deepest part of the Purple Bamboo Forest. The farther they went, the denser and taller the surrounding Purple Bamboo became, soaring so high that they eventually blotted out the sky.
The threatening aura emanating from the surrounding Purple Bamboo grew increasingly palpable. Even with his current level of cultivation, the swaying of the leaves made Yu Changsheng’s heart skip a beat.
Fortunately, with the Purple Child clearing the path, the Purple Bamboo stalks automatically parted for them. Wherever the Purple Child went, the bamboo bowed gently as if in worship, showing no malice toward Yu Changsheng.
The bamboo leaves danced, suffused with a purple glow. Yu Changsheng swallowed, a flicker of curiosity in his eyes as he gazed at the Purple Child’s back.
After a short while, about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the Purple Child stopped and spoke in a childlike voice,
"This place... it’s very safe and very quiet. No one will bother you here except for Daddy."
"Daddy?"
Yu Changsheng paused, then took in his surroundings. The area was a relatively open clearing, devoid of any Purple Bamboo. A single shaft of light slanted down from the canopy, reflecting off a small, babbling brook and making the water sparkle.
"Mhm! Besides me, no other Spirit Beasts or anything come here. Don’t worry," the Purple Child nodded, patting its chest in a gesture of absolute assurance.
Yu Changsheng smiled at the Purple Child’s words and ruffled its little head.
"Alright. Thank you for your help."
He planned to bury the fragments of the Sui Xian Sword here, creating a cenotaph of sorts for the Sui Xian Sword Spirit.
"Little Purple, do we have a guest?"
A soft voice suddenly echoed around them. Yu Changsheng froze. He turned to see that a tall figure had appeared behind them at some point, unnoticed.
This figure was clad in purple robes, exuding an air of nobility. His purple hair fell casually over his shoulders. He stood straight as a bamboo, a handsome, middle-aged man with a serene expression and striking purple-tinged features. He was a head taller than Yu Changsheng, and his gaze was indifferent until it fell upon the Purple Child, at which point it filled with fatherly affection.
As this figure appeared, the swaying Purple Bamboo forest fell silent. Every leaf froze as the stalks bent in a deep bow toward him. It was a much deeper bow than the one they had given the Purple Child, and their reverence was palpable.
It was as if they were greeting their true king, making the Purple Child seem like a Crown Prince in comparison.
"S-Senior... greetings! This junior apologizes for the intrusion."
Yu Changsheng stood frozen, suppressing his utter shock as he gave the figure a deep bow.
Though the figure made no deliberate display of his power, the faintest wisp of his aura subjected Yu Changsheng to immense pressure. According to Yu Changsheng’s Perception, such oppressive might was far beyond the Purple Mansion realm. This had to be a Divinity Transformation expert!
The man’s identity was now perfectly clear. If the Purple Child called him "Daddy," then he must be the effective emperor of this expanse of Purple Bamboo—the Purple Bamboo King.
"Daddy!"
As soon as the Purple Bamboo King appeared, the Zi Ling Emperor—the Purple Child—still in its child-like form, rushed over joyfully and threw itself into his arms.
"Heh, you haven’t been naughty, have you?"
The Purple Bamboo King held the Purple Child and lovingly tapped its nose, then gave Yu Changsheng a meaningful nod.
The Purple Child seized the opportunity to start chattering away to the Purple Bamboo King, explaining the whole story with animated gestures. Finally, it blinked and looked up at the Purple Bamboo King expectantly, its voice bright and clear.
"So, Daddy, can my friend lay Uncle Jian to rest here?"
"If that’s what Ling’Er wants, then of course you can."
The Purple Bamboo King chuckled and gently flicked the Purple Child’s nose. He then turned to Yu Changsheng, nodded, and said calmly,
"Since Ling’Er has asked, you may do as you wish. Rest assured, as long as I am here, no one will dare set foot in this place."
As he spoke, the Purple Bamboo King paused. A trace of melancholy entered his eyes as he shook his head gently. "I just never thought that old fellow Sui Xian would end up like this. I suppose that makes you a lucky one, kid."
Yu Changsheng was silent for a moment, then bowed to the Purple Bamboo King. "Thank you, Senior."
He set to work digging a hole in the ground. He solemnly placed the fragments of the Sui Xian Sword inside and filled the hole. After a moment of thought, he retrieved a Stone Token from his Storage Pouch. Stroke by stroke, he carved the name "Sui Xian" onto it, then planted it in the earth above the grave.
With that, it was all finally over, and a weight lifted from Yu Changsheng’s heart.