Ye Tianchen was taken aback. He hadn't anticipated another voice emerging from the stone coffin. This voice sounded so beautiful, immensely pleasant, devoid of any vicious aura or killing intent. This left Ye Tianchen stunned. Suddenly, he recalled something and couldn't help but say, "Young lady, you've endured so much suffering, it's time for your liberation!"

"Thank you for saving me, young master. After I died by jumping off the cliff, this Black Wind Old Woman occupied my body. She preserved a thread of my spiritual sense to deceive kind-hearted people, harming them when they lowered their guard. I've always wanted to escape but lacked the strength. Now it's over; I won't hurt anyone anymore. Thank you, young master!" The woman inside the stone coffin expressed her gratitude.

"No need for formalities, young lady. Allow me to recite a Buddhist Sutra for you, so you can leave without a trace of sorrow!"

After Ye Tianchen spoke, he sat cross-legged. This was the first time he was reciting a Buddhist Sutra, solely for this woman's kindness and generosity. Honestly, anyone who had suffered such great tribulations in a previous life would be filled with resentment and wouldn't rest until they blamed the heavens for the unfairness. But this woman didn't; she accepted her fate willingly, which Ye Tianchen found commendable.

Once the recitation of the Buddhist Sutra was complete, the stone coffin disintegrated into ashes. Ye Tianchen nodded. There are too many people in this world suffering. Everyone has their own inner pain, and if it's not well addressed, it can form devils like the Black Wind Old Woman, ultimately leading to a tragic end.

"Amitabha Buddha!" Ye Tianchen said earnestly.

Meanwhile, outside the large solitary grave, Xiao Ling and her mother found some relief in their emotions after a session of crying and venting. They were no longer as agitated. Xiao Ling's mother glanced at Xiao Ling and said, "Xiao Ling, I think that young lad is a good person; you shouldn't treat him that way."

"Mother, you... you don't know, this guy, this guy bullied me..." Xiao Ling blushed and said.

"Bullied? He..." Xiao Ling's mother paused, seemingly recalling something before asking.

"I... Alright, mother, just don't interfere in this matter!" Xiao Ling interrupted her mother.

"Xiao Ling, how can I not care? You are no longer young, you've lived alone for ten years. Is there anything you can't tell your mother?" Xiao Ling's mother asked earnestly.

In the end, Xiao Ling told her mother the whole story of how she met Ye Tianchen and ended up sharing a bed with him at night. This left Xiao Ling's mother stunned, and she then looked at Xiao Ling seriously and said, "Actually, when I saw this young lad, I knew he was a good man. He didn't bully you; instead, you've been bullying him. You shouldn't behave like this!"

"Mother..." Xiao Ling said, somewhat playfully.

"Xiao Ling, I... Ah!"

Just as Xiao Ling's mother was about to speak, she suddenly felt intense pain all over her body, collapsing to the ground and trembling violently. Xiao Ling was terrified, not knowing what to do; tears flowed down as she shouted, "Mother, mother, what's wrong... What's wrong?"

"Xiao Ling, run, do not come near me... Run!" Xiao Ling's mother pushed Xiao Ling away, preventing her from approaching, as if afraid Xiao Ling might get implicated.

"Ah..."

Xiao Ling's mother suddenly showed signs of emitting black energy all over her body. Her body was slowly melting, and the agony was evident. Wherever the black energy touched, be it vegetation or rocks, everything vanished. This devouring force was incredibly strong, no wonder Xiao Ling's mother desperately pushed Xiao Ling away, preventing her from touching her.

"Mother, mother..." Xiao Ling cried out, shouting and screaming, rushing towards her mother regardless. Even if it meant dying, she wanted to die with her mother; that was her thought.

But when Xiao Ling rushed forward recklessly, Ye Tianchen appeared before her, grabbed her firmly, not letting her get close. No matter how Xiao Ling struggled, Ye Tianchen didn't release her, because Ye Tianchen knew this was very dangerous.

"Ah, let go of me, let go of me, bastard..." Xiao Ling cried and cursed Ye Tianchen, tears streaming down. Ye Tianchen turned his head away, not looking at Xiao Ling. He could feel her inner pain but was helpless.

"Your mother has had her blood absorbed by the Black Wind Old Woman for years, her body is filled with Yin Sha energy, and now it's erupting, so..." Ye Tianchen was stunned for a moment and said.

"No, no, please, save my mother, please save her, aren't you really strong? I'm begging you!" Xiao Ling cried like a tearful child, pleading with Ye Tianchen.

Ye Tianchen shook his head, he was powerless, which is one of the sad truths for a Martial Artist. Though they seem capable of flying and escaping, there are times when they are helpless, like now. Ye Tianchen was saddened, but what could he do? There was no way to help. He understood how painful Xiao Ling's situation was. She had waited ten years, grew up, barely survived stealing the Eight-Armed Evil Dragon's egg, hoping to save her mother. Today, ten years later, Xiao Ling finally met her mother, but hardly any time had passed, and her mother was about to die again. Who can endure such a blow? The agony in her heart is unimaginable.

"Ah, mother..." Xiao Ling fell to the ground with tears streaming down her face, desperately trying to run over, but Ye Tianchen held her back. The years of accumulated Yin Sha energy, not to mention Xiao Ling, even he, Ye Tianchen, would be completely annihilated upon contact.

"Xiao Ling... don't come over, don't be afraid. You must live strongly from now on. I believe you are a strong child. Mother will always bless you, always love you..." Xiao Ling's mother struggled painfully, loudly speaking to Xiao Ling.

"Mother, mother..." Xiao Ling knelt on the ground, crying loudly, pouring out her sorrow. She knew she could only watch her mother die, who can comprehend such pain? Knowing your loved one will die, yet being unable to help, who can bear such torment?

Xiao Ling's mother was in extreme agony. Over the past ten years, the Black Wind Old Woman drained her blood daily, filling her body with Yin Sha energy. Now that the Black Wind Old Woman was dead, she could no longer control that energy, which erupted, consuming Xiao Ling's mother whole, causing a painful death.

"Young brother, I have a request. Could you please agree?" Xiao Ling's mother, lying on the ground in pain, gritted her teeth and looked at Ye Tianchen.

"Please, tell me!" Ye Tianchen nodded and said.

"Xiao Ling is alone and helpless. She is a strong and sensible girl. I know you are compassionate, young brother. I wish to entrust Xiao Ling to you. Could you take care of her?" Xiao Ling's mother gritted her teeth and said persistently.

Ye Tianchen paused, then said, "Rest assured, as long as I'm alive, Xiao Ling will be safe!"

"Thank you, young brother, you're a good person. I can die in peace now..."

Xiao Ling's mother died, consumed by the vicious Yin Sha energy, turning completely black and slowly dissipating into the air. However, she died with a smile, because she knew someone strong would care for her daughter and felt content, able to die peacefully.

"Xiao Ling, take good care of yourself. Mother will bless you!" Xiao Ling's mother smiled and said.

"Mother…" Xiao Ling cried uncontrollably, collapsing to the ground, her voice already hoarse. The heart-wrenching pain was unbearable.

Ye Tianchen released his hand, and Xiao Ling knelt on the ground, step by step, moving to where her mother had died. Overwhelmed with sorrow, she covered her mouth, trying not to cry out loud because she had promised her mother to be strong. Reaching out her right hand, she picked up the jade bracelet left by her mother as if it were a treasure, holding it tightly in her hand. It was the only thing her mother left her, her only remembrance.

"Let's go, this isn't a place to linger, we'll discuss more when we return!" Ye Tianchen said to Xiao Ling.

Xiao Ling stood up, stubbornly nodded, without saying much, and followed Ye Tianchen towards the underground wooden house. At this moment, Xiao Ling was strong and resilient. Her mother was dead, and she had no family left in the world, but her mother had told her to live well, and she would do so. She had promised herself, and she had promised her mother.

Meanwhile, in the mountains of "Penglai Fairy Island", at a Sect towering atop the mountain, a half-destroyed Martial Artist dragged his injured body back to the Sect and knelt in the central hall, reporting to the person seated high above, "Sect Master, something terrible has happened!"

"What happened?" The person seated high above asked calmly.

"The egg of the Eight-Armed Evil Dragon has been stolen, and we were ambushed by the Eight-Armed Evil Dragon. Only I managed to return alive!" The Martial Artist left with half his body bloodied said through gritted teeth.

(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you're welcome to vote for recommendation votes and monthly tickets on Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)

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