However, fate is unpredictable. The one with the greatest potential to become an immortal or a deity was ensnared by love, driven by a foolish devotion to a woman named Gu Junshi.
The moment his death was learned, the entire Wu Shang Mansion was struck by a devastating blow.
In their utter despair, they all wished they could die alongside Gu Junshi.
Thousands of years of hope, anticipation, and waiting had ultimately turned to ash. No one could tolerate or forgive such a betrayal.
Yet, this person they hated so fiercely had now become the variable that determined their small world's survival.
Their feelings at this moment were indescribably complex.
Heaven's will had initially chosen Liu Jiangfusheng, a descendant of their divine race, to save the world.
As the Demon God's perspective now controlled this small world, every place touched by a demon, every wisp of demonic energy, was His "eye."
Therefore, as long as He willed it, He could display everything that was happening to all the realms.
And indeed, He did so, merely to let everyone witness firsthand that opposition to Him always resulted in only one outcome.
The myriad of beings—humans, demons, monsters, and beasts—now surviving, needed only to look up to clearly see everything unfolding in the Fengdu Ghost City of the Twenty-Eight Heavens.
"Does anyone know what this 'cleansing snow' is?"
The Demon God's subsequent words caused everyone to panic. Why was He mentioning the 'cleansing snow' that Gu Junshi had brought down? This world was about to become her battlefield for annihilation.
What was she planning to do now? What was she doing?
A beggar monk in grey robes extended his hand, catching a single flake of white snow.
These snowflakes appeared like earthly snow at first glance, but upon landing in his palm, they did not melt into water like ice crystals upon contact with warmth. Instead, they directly permeated his palm, as if melting into bone and blood the moment they touched his skin, leaving no trace.
"This old monk does not know what 'cleansing snow' is, but these falling snowflakes seem to possess the efficacy of purifying souls. Yet, why do the living still feel so profoundly cold..."
"It's so cold..."
Others gasped, rubbing their numb arms to try and warm themselves.
Since their cultivation had advanced, they had shed their mortal flesh. Their senses of heat and cold had long since dulled. But now, they were using their spiritual energy to create a protective shield around themselves, yet they were still unable to stop the pervasive chill that burrowed into their pores.
Roar—
What was that sound?!
The sudden roar, trailing a long, terrified cry, like fingernails scraping across a blackboard, sent shivers down their spines.
"Heavens, look! What is that?!"
The demonic beasts battling the undead legions were experiencing more than just cold.
When the seemingly light, powerless snowflakes landed on them, they initially paid no mind, not even bothering to give them much attention.
However, the consequences of this negligence were immense.
Soon, great misfortune descended upon them.
Their demonic energy had no resistance whatsoever. The moment the cleansing snow touched them, it was like corrosive lava poured onto fragile skin, violently scarring them with countless pits and holes, causing them to cry out in agony.
The rampant, tearing wounds destroyed them without any mercy.
"W-what's happening? Why are they reacting so intensely?"
A strange, foul odor, like scorched blackness, soon wafted through the air, gradually covering the previous heavy scent of cold iron rust.
In a very short time.
Before everyone could observe closely and vaguely comprehend the unfolding events, everything had changed drastically.
Those monstrous beings, which they had perceived as powerful and ferocious, were thus pitifully and helplessly purified by the 'cleansing snow,' their demonic powers completely stripped away.
Finally, their entire bodies melted into a pool of black liquid, spreading far and wide. Like a lake or river vaporizing in extreme cold, it atomized into mist.
That thick, grayish-white mist enveloped their vision, and with a gust of wind, it dispersed without a trace.
"..."
No one dared to believe what they were witnessing.
The snow continued to fall quietly, spotlessly pure.
The twenty-eight heavens, the mortal realm, the demon realm, and the immortal cultivation realm were all swept clean. In that eternal dark night, besides the bone-chilling cold, the demonic beasts that had caused the bloody commotion had all vanished.
The black skeleton legions welcomed the cleansing snow, but in the next instant, they audibly shed their armor. Stripped of their black crystal armor, their stark white skeletal frames scattered across the ground, ultimately turning to ash and smoke.
They felt as if they were trapped in darkness, unable to hear anything, unable to see anything.
Though the immediate threat had been thoroughly eliminated, no one cheered. No one expressed surprise or excitement.
They felt even colder.
Clenching their chattering teeth, their bodies stiffened.
As the snow fell upon them, the weakening of their souls was visible, causing them to fade rapidly.
Their blood drained away, and as a gentle breeze passed, their hair and eyebrows, tinged with gray, thrived amidst the darkness. Their lives began to drain away at an alarming rate.
They collapsed to the ground, having lost the strength to stand.
Bewildered and uncomprehending.
The cultivators with Nascent Soul or higher cultivation managed to remain standing. After the various shocks and astonishments, their minds had finally sharpened. At this moment, they suddenly grasped the true meaning of the Demon God's words.
"You brought down this cleansing snow, which purifies souls and obliterates spirits. While it can annihilate the demonic hordes I command, this world will become your battlefield for slaughter."
So... this 'cleansing snow,' descended in the name of justice, was actually an indiscriminate slaughter!
Those who did not understand why Gu Junshi had acted in this manner were now filled with resentment and anger, their hearts festering with hatred.
However, many who understood the extreme difficulty of fighting the Demon God were able to grasp Gu Junshi's reasons for choosing this path.
To prevent them from perishing at the hands of the demons commanded by the Demon God and ultimately becoming a source of power for Him, adding to His strength, their very souls and bodies were to be completely freed from confinement. It was better to purify and annihilate the existing hidden dangers together.
They had been too naive.
They had thought that because Gu Junshi stood against the Demon God single-handedly, she was naturally saving the world, saving them.
They never expected that the enemy of an enemy is not necessarily a friend; they could also be two warring enemies.
Was this not akin to gods fighting, causing disaster to the fish in the pond?
No matter what, they were doomed to be caught in the crossfire.
...Now they felt even more despair.
Their only hope seemed to have betrayed them.
Gu Junshi, as if sensing their thoughts, paid them no mind. In fact, she further hammered home their fear and resentment, adding weight to their despair.
Her eyes were clear and deep as she sighed sincerely, "If I possessed the ability to strike down the Demon God in a single blow, I would not need to resort to such desperate measures that harm a thousand enemies while hurting eight hundred. However, alas, please forgive me."
"..."
Everyone was instantly struck by lightning.
This was truly a devil!