As the saying goes, a life for a life is only natural.
However, Xilan's death was not unjust, and Feng Jing was also bewitched by the Heavenly Demon before he committed such evil deeds.
After much deliberation, the Divine Lord finally said in a deep voice, "Then Feng Jing's punishment shall be changed to exile to the Ancient Battlefield in the Southern Wilderness. This decision shall take effect immediately!"
In this way, he would not offend either side.
"No!" Yaohua rushed over frantically and shielded her brother. "I'm willing to take my second brother's punishment. The Southern Wilderness is a dangerous place. My brother's cultivation has stagnated because of his eyes. He will surely die if he goes there. Please, Divine Lord, show mercy and let me go in his place!"
The chieftain of the Zhuque Clan said indifferently, "Don't be so presumptuous. Your brother is pitiful, but isn't my daughter, who died unjustly, also pitiful? He should have paid with his life for my daughter, but now he's only being exiled to the battlefield. If you stop us again, I'll kill him on the spot!"
Yaohua was struck like by lightning. Yes, if her second brother stayed, there would only be more terrible consequences.
Feng Jing gently hugged her and said, "Sister, I brought this upon myself."
Then he said loudly, "Thank you, Divine Lord, for your kindness. Feng Jing is willing to accept the punishment!"
The celestial soldiers came menacingly, waving their chains to fasten his shoulder blades and seal his cultivation.
He let out a muffled groan, and blood gushed out from the wound, instantly staining his clothes red.
Dragged by the celestial soldiers, he walked away resolutely without looking back.
Yaohua slumped to the ground, watching her brother's receding figure, heartbroken.
She never thought this would be the outcome.
Chongming said with a complicated look, "Originally, although Feng Jing hated Xilan, he wouldn't have acted so rashly. It's a pity that he was bewitched by the Heavenly Demon. The Heavenly Demon can amplify the evil thoughts in living beings' hearts, and even the Phoenix Clan is no exception."
He wanted to take this opportunity to persuade Yaohua. "Your brother told me before he left that I must persuade you to stop and not get involved in the matter of the Heavenly Demon."
Yaohua watched her brother's figure gradually disappear. She raised her hand to wipe away the cold tears and said sadly, "Master, do you think I can turn back now?"
Chongming frowned, thinking about how to respond.
Suddenly, she looked up, her tearful eyes staring straight at him. There was clearly a raging fire in her eyes. "The Heavenly Demon has brought my brother to this state. Do you think I should back down and let them do whatever they want? Should I just watch my brother and father die one by one in front of me!"
"Yaohua, calm down." Seeing her so excited, Chongming's frown deepened. "If something happens to you, your father, your brother, and..."
He paused for a moment, then closed his eyes and said, "There are many other people who will be heartbroken. You are very important to them."
"Do you include yourself in these people?" Yaohua asked without hesitation.
Chongming didn't say a word. He just tightened his fist behind his back.
He watched as the red - clothed girl in front of him got up on her own, her eyes firm and determined. "I've said before, I can't turn back."
A blood - covered body was thrown beside her.
It was Jinghe.
The Divine Envoy Tu Yang looked at her with pity. "This Heavenly Demon never tells the truth. The Divine Lord has ordered that she be handed over to you for disposal."
Without hesitation, Yaohua drew her sword and beheaded Jinghe. Then she headed for the Qingyan Secret Realm.
Chongming stood on the clouds and shouted disappointedly, "Yaohua, if you continue to act recklessly, I won't protect you anymore!"
Yaohua twitched the corner of her mouth and said sincerely, "Then it's a deal. If you don't have to protect me, you'll have a much easier time, won't you?"
She was a proud phoenix. She would rather fight and die in the fire than cower behind the corpses of her loved ones.
In the secret realm, the Heavenly Demon Mansion still stood. She coldly threw Jinghe's head on the ground and then left.
Not long after she left, Zhao Yue's figure slowly appeared. Looking at Jinghe's head, he clicked his tongue. "This little phoenix has quite a temper. No wonder she has my stupid brother completely smitten."
After Yaohua left the secret realm, she transformed into her original form and spread her wings to fly away.
In the library, she once read that there was jade marrow that could purify evil energy in the Northern Region. It was the bane of the Paoxiao's spiritual power.
Unexpectedly, on her way, she encountered a mass of demonic energy.
She was already angry, so she rushed over fiercely, spreading the true fire of the phoenix around her.
The mass of demonic energy dodged in a hurry and fell to the ground, transforming into a human form.
She dived down, only to see Zhao Wu climb up from the ground, looking disheveled. His purple eyes were full of anger. "Do you want to murder your husband?"
"Why is it you?" Yaohua was annoyed at the sight of the Heavenly Demon. She said coldly.
Zhao Wu looked at her twice. "Why are you so angry all of a sudden? Who pissed you off, my little lady?"
His words were casual, but he took out a piece of crystal - clear jade marrow from his bosom.
The jade marrow emitted a clear light, and the evil energy in Yaohua's heart was actually dispelled a bit. She looked at it doubtfully. "This is..."
"The Qing Shen jade marrow you're looking for." Zhao Wu waved the jade around like he was showing off. "Your father told me that you're haunted by the Paoxiao's spiritual power. I suddenly remembered that this thing could resolve the evil energy, so I went to find it for you. Consider it a betrothal gift."
Yaohua originally wanted to take it, but when she heard the words "betrothal gift", she withdrew her hand.
Zhao Wu grabbed her wrist and squinted his eyes. "Why are you avoiding it? Don't you want to marry me?"
When he said the last two words, he even gritted his teeth. There was an undercurrent in his eyes, and he looked like a madman on the verge of the end of the world, ready to perish together with everything.
Normally, his madness was like a raging fire, wild and unruly. Now, suppressed by the jade marrow, it was like a cold flame frozen in ice. Once released, it would burn everything.
Yaohua needed this piece of jade marrow very much. She wanted to find another way to get it, but looking into Zhao Wu's eyes, she knew that he wouldn't listen to anything but her marrying him.
It seemed that she could only deceive him.
She averted her gaze and said in a low voice, "I'm not in the mood to think about this now because I'm going to die."
"What?" Zhao Wu didn't believe it at all. He gritted his teeth and laughed. "You really want to break off the engagement!"
"If you don't believe me, feel my pulse. I've been infected with the Heavenly Demon Seed and the Paoxiao's evil energy. I don't have much time left." Yaohua's eyes showed sadness, and she didn't struggle.
Zhao Wu panicked.
This little phoenix was always full of energy and invincible. Now, her sadness didn't seem fake. Something big must have happened.
"The Paoxiao's spiritual power can be solved with the jade marrow. As for the Heavenly Demon Seed, I can go and beg Zhao Yue!" He grabbed her wrist and was about to leave.
Yaohua's wrist hurt from being pulled, but she refused to move. "Don't go! Zhao Yue framed my brother. Begging her? I might as well just kill myself."
"How can you be so stubborn!" Zhao Wu glared at her angrily and stuffed the jade marrow into her hand. "You're my wife. No one can let you die without my permission!"
Yaohua immediately drew her sword and put it across her neck. "If you're worried about the contract seal, I can break it off with you right now. From now on, I'll die my own death, and you can continue to be a carefree Heavenly Demon."
After saying that, she quickly used the other hand to form a spell and touch her forehead.
Zhao Wu's eyes showed a fierce look. He grabbed her hand forcefully and said almost hysterically, "Then what do you want?"