So, he stood here.

He didn’t want this child to lose a father for the second time.

So he gambled with his own life.

Unfortunately, he still lacked just a bit of luck and time.

Gu Jianlin thought, so this is how it is.

"When I asked if you wanted to be my student, when you pushed my wheelchair facing the entire Order World, when you handed me the Eternal Bone, I was pleased to have a student like you. You are the legacy of my will, my proudest creation."

Huai Yin gazed into his eyes: "Whether you resent me or hate me, the teacher will stand by you. How does the saying go? Once a teacher, always a father. I have no children, so I don’t know what it’s like to be a father, but I wish... to make up for your life as much as possible."

He paused: "I’m sorry, ultimately, I didn’t make it."

The body of this king dispersed in the wind, leaving only a blurred face.

The time had come.

Gu Jianlin suppressed the sorrow in his heart and softly said, "Teacher."

Huai Yin did not answer.

"Becoming your student is something I’m very proud of."

Gu Jianlin clenched his fist and said seriously, "I don’t regret it, I thank you."

Thanks to the teacher for the protection and guidance during this time.

Thank you for choosing this path for me.

Huai Yin was not a qualified teacher.

His first student forever lost his love, his second student willingly fell from grace.

When Gu Jianlin appeared, this proud king actually became reserved.

He dared not come close to this student, and all he could do was protect from the shadows.

Even when teaching real skills, he let another of his students do it in his place.

For this, Huai Yin brought his Master to teach this student instead.

He reached an agreement with his junior brother.

Step-by-step guiding Thunder and Moon Princess to his side, they were the best girls in the world.

Though Huai Yin sacrificed himself, he couldn’t stop that outcome, but this child gained so much along the way, and at his saddest moments, there would be someone to protect him, right?

"It’s enough."

Huai Yin softly said: "The road ahead, the teacher will not be able to watch over you anymore."

Gu Jianlin’s palm oozed blood, and he bit his lips and responded with a sound.

"Remember, you are my student, one of us."

Huai Yin’s voice was distant, yet near: "Since you’ve grown up, don’t let others bully you anymore, whether it’s clenching Shi Tou, or... clenching your fists."

Gu Jianlin responded again with a sound.

But when Gu Jianlin looked up again, the teacher had turned into an expanse of ashes, like falling snow, the soul sinking into the night, no one to wake him.

Even with the power over life and death, Gu Jianlin couldn’t sense the teacher’s presence.

Suddenly, he seemed to realize.

The teacher had always been playing the role of a father, huh.

Though somewhat clumsy, the old man had always been trying hard to do it.

To make up for his shattered life.

The teacher taught him how to clench his fist, gave him authority and strength, also bestowed him with family and love, taught him the way of protection, letting him bravely face this cruel world.

Is this really not a qualified teacher?

Well, perhaps not.

Because this is a father.

The real father.

The pain Gu Jianlin felt now doesn’t seem to be due to the Vermilion Bird anymore.

But because he lost his teacher.

Today, he completely lost a father, yet gained a new one.

Though the farewell was rushed, it was enough to remember for life.

"Brother, farewell."

Jiang Yanli looked at the falling ashes, softly murmuring.

The warm ashes fell on Gu Jianlin’s face, and he silently bent forward, collapsing inch by inch, both hands digging deep into the ground, the scorching sunlight lighting up his silhouette.

As if being crushed by the unbearable heaviness of life.

Tang Ling was flustered like never before.

She was that kind of girl who was born proud and cold, protected well by a hard, indifferent shell for years, not knowing how to protect others. This was the first time in her life she wanted to use her life to care for someone, but there was a sense of bewilderment.

Whether it’s a hug, a kiss, or something else doesn’t matter.

As long as it could make him less sorrowful, she would pay any price.

But she could do nothing.

Watching his sad silhouette, her heart was also breaking.

With the tremors of dimensions, someone walked out of the void, hurrying steps.

Su Youzhu finally broke the dimension’s boundary, entered this desolate world in the form of the Third Law, and in the second before, her heart harbored a glimmer of hope that there was still time.

But when the sunlight hit her face, when she saw that high, mighty god, and that sad silhouette barely holding from collapsing, she heard the sound of the world crumbling.

Ultimately, it was too late.

"Shall we go home... is that okay?"

Su Youzhu knelt beside the young man, raising her hand to stroke his hair.

Tang Ling silently came to the other side, speaking not a word, the two of them actually not knowing what else they could do, only silently accompanying as they did last time in the Divine Ruins.

Don’t know how long it took, the Vermilion Bird Venerate watched this scene and stepped out.

"Can’t go back."

Gu Jianlin lowered his head and softly said.

At this moment.

His mind was filled with images of the teacher and Grandmaster, mom’s pained face cursed into slumber, Thunder’s forehead scar, Moon Princess’s chest flame.

In the end, when that truck came crashing, the man who hugged him tightly.

With a crashing sound.

That frozen scene shattered like a mirror.

In the midst of it, the phantom of Lian and Wang appeared in his mind, igniting that flame.

Boundless hatred and anger surged up, the desolate ground where his hands were embedded shattered loudly, crisscrossed intense cracks instantaneously penetrated the Ancestor Star!

With a boom, the Vermilion Bird Venerate’s finger fell, seemingly going to pierce through his skull.

And in this instant, Gu Jianlin looked up and grabbed his wrist.

The boy’s pupils glowed with blazing light, his shadow trembled mightily!

Then... it split!

In the sky-piercing Dragon Roar, the cry of the Vermilion Bird resounded!

A jet-black Qilin soared into the sky!

Sometimes a soaring Candle Dragon, sometimes a Nirvana Rebirth Vermilion Bird!