Chapter 735
Ren Xue
"How do we awaken it?" Bibi Dong asked, while fighting off a monster.
“Use what he cares about most… memories, feelings, promises… anything is fine…”
Qian Renxue understood.
She withdrew her sacred domain and, disregarding the danger, rushed towards Tang Wulin.
"Wu Lin! Wake up!" she cried, grabbing his arm. "You said you'd keep him under control! You said we'd go back together! You said no one would die! You promised me!"
Tang Wulin paused.
A crack appeared in the indifference in his eyes.
“Qian…Ren…Xue…” he said the three words with difficulty, as if he had used up all his strength.
"Yes, it's me!" Qian Renxue cried, "Look carefully, it's me! And Bibi Dong, Dai Chengfeng, we're all here! You said you would protect us, you said you would close this door together, you can't break your promise!"
More memories flooded my mind.
Shrek Academy, the Sea God's Fate, the wedding, the birth of the children, and the minutiae of the divine realm...
Those warm, beautiful, and precious memories.
"I..." The gold in Tang Wulin's eyes faded, and human reason returned.
But the Golden Dragon King's instincts made him unwilling to accept it.
"No! This body is mine! I will destroy everything! Devour everything!" It roared in Tang Wulin's sea of consciousness, trying to regain control.
Two opposing forces are in fierce conflict.
Tang Wulin's body trembled, sometimes intensifying his dragon transformation, sometimes reverting to human form. His expression was contorted, switching between pain and rage.
“Wu Lin, listen to me.” Bibi Dong suddenly spoke, her voice calm but carrying a certain magic. “You are the most foolish person I have ever met. There was an easier path, but you insisted on choosing the most difficult one. But you are also the most reliable person I have ever met. You will always do what you promise. Now, you promised to close this door, so do it. Don’t make me look down on you.”
“In the name of the wind.” Dai Chengfeng said only one sentence, but it contained all his trust.
Tang Wulin's trembling stopped.
He slowly raised his head, his eyes a mixture of gold and black, finally settling on a deep, dark gold. It was no longer the pure color of the Golden Dragon King, nor the pure color of a human, but a fusion of the two.
“I understand,” he said, his voice calm but carrying unparalleled authority. “I am who I am, Tang Wulin. The power of the Golden Dragon King is my power, but my will is under my own control.”
He raised his hand and placed it on the trunk of the Tree of Life.
"In the name of the Dragon God's successor, by the power of creation and destruction, by my blood, my soul, my strength—"
The Dragon God's wings fully unfurled, the golden wings on the left radiating the light of life, while the dark red wings on the right released waves of destruction. The two forces intertwined and merged, flowing into the Tree of Life.
"Purify the abyss, rebuild the seal!"
Golden and crimson light flowed down the tree trunk, infusing the roots. Wherever it passed, the black roots began to fade, and the viscous crimson liquid was forced out, evaporating in the light. The Tree of Life trembled, emitting joyful groans; its polluted parts were being purified, and its eroded parts were regaining life.
But the abyss will not sit idly by and wait for its demise.
"Roar--!!!"
From behind the Abyss Gate came an angry roar. It was the will of the Abyss itself, sensing a threat. It would crush this insect that dared to provoke it.
Endless darkness surged out from behind the door, transforming into a gigantic hand that blotted out the sky, and slammed down on Tang Wulin.
"Don't think about it!"
Qian Renxue, Bibi Dong, and Dai Chengfeng attacked simultaneously. Sacred fire, the aura of death, and the blade of wind—three forces intertwined to meet the giant hand.
"boom--!!!"
The shockwave from the collision sent everything flying, even the Tree of Life trembling. Qian Renxue and the other two coughed up blood and were sent flying backward, crashing heavily to the ground, unable to stand up for a moment.
Although the giant hand was weakened, it still slammed down.
Tang Wulin did not dodge.
He didn't even look at the giant hand, focusing solely on purifying the Tree of Life. The purification had reached its most crucial moment; if interrupted, all previous efforts would be in vain.
Just as the giant hand was about to strike him, a figure blocked his way.
It is Isis.
Her illusory image solidified, and she opened her arms as if to embrace the giant hand.
"My mission is coming to an end," she said softly, then turned and smiled at Tang Wulin. "Thank you, Child of Prophecy. Thank you for letting me see hope at the very end."
She transformed into a ray of light and merged into the Tree of Life.
The next second, the Tree of Life burst forth with unprecedented light.
The light was pure, warm, and full of life. It dispelled the darkness, purified the pollution, and even the giant hand of the abyss melted away in its light.
On the treetop, the translucent abyssal embryos shattered one by one, dissipating into specks of light. The darkness in the roots was completely eradicated, and the entire tree was reborn. White trunk, golden veins, emerald green leaves, and a pure white flower blooming at the top of the crown.
“That is…” Qian Renxue struggled to stand up.
"Isis's final gift," Tang Wulin said, withdrawing his hand as the purification was complete.
The Tree of Life has recovered, and is even more powerful than before. Rooted in this land, it uses its life force to fight against the abyss, forming a permanent seal. Although the gates to the abyss are not closed, they are firmly sealed by the Tree of Life and can never be opened again.
But at the cost, Isis's consciousness dissipated.
She merged into the tree and became a tree spirit, but it was no longer her; it was a newly born consciousness.
Tang Wulin's body swayed slightly.
The power of the eighteenth seal began to backfire, and his body was collapsing. The characteristics of his dragon form were fading, but his life force was also rapidly draining away. He could feel his lifespan burning, his power dissipating, and even his soul beginning to become unstable.
"Wu Lin!" Qian Renxue rushed over and helped him up.
"I'm fine..." Tang Wulin said weakly, but the blood spilling from the corner of his mouth betrayed him.
“You’re lying.” Bibi Dong came to his side and examined his condition. Her expression grew increasingly grim. “Your life force is less than ten years left. You’ve lost all your divine power, and your Golden Dragon King bloodline… has been completely sealed. The backlash from the eighteenth seal, coupled with the consumption of purifying the Tree of Life, has turned you… into a mortal.”
"Being a mortal isn't so bad," Tang Wulin forced a smile. "At least we're still alive."
Dai Chengfeng looked at the Tree of Life regaining its vitality, at the sealed Abyss Gate, and at the land around him gradually returning to normal, and let out a long breath.
"ended."
"No, it's not completely over yet." Tang Wulin looked at the Gate of the Abyss. "The gate is only sealed, not closed. The Abyss itself is still on the other side of the gate, and it will find a way to break the seal sooner or later. But that's a long time from now, long enough for us, or our descendants, to find a way to completely close it."
He looked at Qian Renxue, his eyes full of tenderness.
"Now, let's go home."
Qian Renxue nodded vigorously, tears streaming down her face. (End of Chapter)