Breaking through the illusion of the mortal world

Chapter 182 A Lament for the Heroes

The restoration work on the mountain and river spiritual veins is still ongoing, and most of the Fuyou Holy Land has gradually returned to its former appearance, while some formations are still being improved.

The fellow disciples who perished in the great battle remain a deep and unforgettable pain in everyone's hearts.

Once the battlefield is cleared and the cemetery is properly arranged, the Holy Land of Fuyou will select an auspicious day to hold a memorial ceremony in the Valley of Heroes to commemorate the disciples who bravely sacrificed their lives in this great battle.

Nestled among mountains, the Valley of Heroes is a flat and open valley with a huge monument standing in it.

This is a sacred place, passed down through the ages, specifically for burying those who died for their faith.

In the past, the valley was filled with the fragrance of immortal herbs and the lingering scent of spirits. Now, rows of new tombs stand in neat rows, with blue stone tablets erected on them, engraved with the names and life stories of the deceased.

Before each tombstone, clusters of white guardian flowers quietly sprout, their petals as thin as cicada wings, their hearts gleaming with a faint, ethereal light.

This flower grows before the tomb of heroes, nourishing their lingering souls and accompanying them as they forever guard the mountains and rivers.

On the day of the ceremony, cultivators from the Fuyou Holy Land and the Dao Academy gathered here, all dressed in plain clothes and with solemn expressions.

Elder Chongming stood solemnly on the altar with the Holy Lord of Fuyao and a group of other Fuyao Elders.

A mountain breeze swept through the valley entrance, and the entire valley was so quiet that only the sound of grass and trees swaying gently could be heard.

The ceremony was presided over by Bixiao. She slowly walked up to the high platform, her gaze sweeping over the continuous rows of tombs below, then looking at the guardian flowers blooming all over the valley. Her voice echoed throughout the entire valley:

"This time, Tianling led the Dao Protection Alliance to invade, and the flames of war spread throughout Fuyao. Many disciples of Fuyao fought to the death to protect their sect and uphold their lineage."

"Now that the formidable enemy has retreated, those who once stood shoulder to shoulder with us now rest in peace here. Today, we offer this sacrifice, wishing all your heroic souls a peaceful rest."

As soon as he finished speaking, several disciples on one side of the altar began to pluck the strings of a spirit zither and play the jade flute, and the music slowly began to play.

Then a special person stepped forward to the front of the stage, played an ancient tune, and recited a mournful song for the soul. The words were sincere and the atmosphere was desolate.

The immortal mountain is desolate, and the cold autumn wind rises; the bustling war breaks the fleeting beauty of youth.

Wielding swords with righteous indignation, they drove away the wicked invaders; their heroic bones lay buried in the sand, guarding their homeland.

The spirit veins meander, a lament for the passing waters; the frost and wind brush the tomb, a mournful lament for the lost chapters.

Though the body perishes, the Way endures; the heroic spirit soars into the azure sky.

The majestic green mountains are the abode of the loyal and brave; their spirits burn brightly, ensuring a peaceful life.

The singing, accompanied by the sounds of the qin and xiao, echoed in the valley and lingered for a long time.

The Guardian Flower emitted a faint, ethereal light, its petals swaying to the rhythm of the melody before drifting to the monument and then dissipating into specks of light.

Looking at all this, Lu Ming felt a heavy weight in his heart, and his eyes stung slightly.

Many of the people I once knew, though we weren't particularly close, are now buried in tombstones...

The crowd gazed at the guardian flowers swaying gently in the wind before the grave, their pure white petals shimmering and their delicate fragrance lingering around the tomb.

It's as if the souls of fallen heroes truly linger here, looking back at the sacred land and homeland they guarded their entire lives.

Many of the young disciples had tears in their eyes and couldn't help but cry.

My dearest friend, with whom I once practiced and lived, is now separated from me by death. Scenes of our past friendship and understanding flash through my mind.

Even those who cultivate themselves are still human; how can they be without feelings?

They remembered their fellow disciples charging forward despite knowing they were outmatched, remembered the wounded holding off the enemy, and remembered the figures standing guard at the mountain gate until the very last moment.

Lu Ming stood silently with his head bowed. Although he was not a disciple of the Fuyao Sect, he had fought alongside others in the bloody battles over the past few days and witnessed countless people risking their lives to protect this land.

The mournful song evoked countless emotions within me. While some seek immortality through cultivation, there are always those who are willing to sacrifice their lives to uphold their principles; such integrity commands our utmost respect.

Qin Feiyu patted Lu Ming on the shoulder: "If I also die for my cause in the future, remember to bury me in Qinghe Village and pour me more wine."

Upon hearing this, Lu Ming turned around abruptly: "Feiyu, what nonsense are you talking about!"

"After decades of fighting, so many old friends have fallen before me... If I could go down and accompany them, I wouldn't have any regrets," Qin Feiyu said with a smile.

Qin Feiyu spoke casually, as if he had long since disregarded life and death.

"No, you won't die, and neither will we!" Lu Ming said stubbornly, looking at Qin Feiyu.

"Don't worry, I'm tough as nails. I was just joking," Qin Feiyu replied, but his expression showed no sign of joking.

Lu Ming remained silent, his mood growing even heavier.

The once sunny, cheerful, and carefree Fei Yu has changed beyond recognition amidst the ups and downs of the chaotic world.

But as time goes by, who can remain the same as before?

A mournful song was sung three times on the altar, and then the music gradually faded away.

Bixiao raised her hand and led everyone in bowing deeply three times to the continuous cemetery.

After the three bows, the memorial ceremony officially came to an end.

As everyone rose one by one, many disciples of Fuyao lingered in front of the grave, whispering softly, or sprinkling spiritual wine and placing spiritual fruits to bid farewell to their deceased friends.

The guardian flower trembled gently in the wind, its faint glow flickering, as if responding to the thoughts of the living.

After everyone's emotions had calmed down a bit, Bixiao's voice came from the altar again.

Bixiao's gaze swept over the crowd below, and she said loudly, "In this great battle, many young people remained calm in the face of danger, fought bloody battles, and shouldered the heavy responsibility of defending against the enemy with their meager bodies."

"Today, let us publicly acknowledge our achievements and encourage the noble deeds of us cultivators!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the commendation ceremony officially began.

The first to be summoned were the outstanding disciples of the Fuyao Holy Land, but only those with Nascent Soul cultivation or below, and Xia Yufei was not among them.

Xia Yufei is the Holy Maiden of the Fuyao Holy Land, and has all the resources she needs, so there is no need for further rewards.

The Nascent Soul stage cultivators, being the core of the Holy Land, naturally did not need to compete with the lower-ranking disciples for this honor.

After the disciples of Fuyao had finished receiving their rewards, Bixiao's gaze fell upon the Dao Academy, and she called out, "Lu Ming of the Dao Academy!"

Lu Ming was slightly taken aback, then stepped out of the crowd and walked to the open space in front of the altar, where he stood with his hands clasped in front of him.

"Although Lu Ming is not a member of my Fuyao Sect, he turned the tide several times during the great battle, saving no less than a hundred Fuyao disciples."

Bi Xiao's tone was full of praise, and the audience below the stage were convinced. Most of them had witnessed the miracle created by Lu Ming.

"You single-handedly held off enemies several times stronger than yourself, protected the lives of many cultivators around you, and after the battle, you used your own blood and energy to heal the seriously injured. All your deeds are evident to all."

All eyes in the room were on Lu Ming.

After days of fighting, everyone had witnessed that Lu Ming had always been at the forefront from the start to the end of the battle, displaying unparalleled combat prowess.

After the war ended, he went among the wounded, offering help regardless of his own losses.

A person who displays bravery on the battlefield and treats his comrades kindly has won the approval of everyone in Fuyao.

Elder Chongming sat on the high platform, looking down at Lu Ming, nodding slightly, his eyes full of satisfaction.

The boy who disappeared in the land of immortal ruins returned after more than thirty years of trials and tribulations. Not only had his cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds, but his character and conduct were also impeccable.

Qin Feiyu in the crowd seemed even happier than Lu Ming.

As the sun began to set, the memorial and commendation ceremony in the Valley of Heroes came to an end.

The disciples of both sects gradually dispersed, with some continuing to participate in the restoration of the spiritual veins and immortal mountains.

Some people took a break to recuperate and conserve their energy.

As Lu Ming and Xia Yufei passed each other, they exchanged a smile.

Lu Ming then found Qin Feiyu, and the two walked out of the Valley of Heroes side by side.

Behind us, the valley is covered with blooming flowers, their pure white petals reflecting the setting sun with a soft, ethereal glow.

The souls of the heroes who rest here can now find peace, and the living can continue on their journey.