Under Bai Ran's watchful gaze, he grudgingly began to recite the contract incantation.
As his recitation quickened, complex circular contract formations materialized around Mo Chenze.
The contract formations erupted in a brilliant glow, momentarily engulfing the dim tomb in blinding white light.
Bai Ran and the elder stood by, watching as the Soul-Driving Flute slowly levitated into the air, emitting a faint green spiritual energy.
Bai Ran's eyes narrowed slightly, and she secretly gathered spiritual energy in her sleeve, intending to destroy the Soul-Driving Flute the moment the contract was concluded.
The formations circled Mo Chenze, but suddenly, he looked up sharply, his aura surging uncontrollably.
The elder exclaimed in alarm, "Not good! The contract has stimulated Mo Chenze's cultivation bottleneck! He's about to break through!"
The spiritual energy in the air surged towards Mo Chenze's dantian.
At this moment, the previously timid Soul-Driving Flute began to cackle with rampant excitement.
"Little brat, didn't expect this, did you! The contract can actually boost strength!"
"When my master breaks through, I will carve you into a thousand pieces, you arrogant little brat!"
Bai Ran sighed softly, her gaze towards the Soul-Driving Flute filled with exasperation and utter disdain.
The green formations around Mo Chenze dissipated one by one. The moment the last formation vanished, Bai Ran had somehow appeared behind the Soul-Driving Flute.
A fiery red longsword was drawn from its scabbard. Before the elder could even register what was happening, the Soul-Driving Flute shattered into two halves in an instant.
The artifact spirit's laughter abruptly ceased as the Soul-Driving Flute broke, falling silent.
The elder stared at the scene, blinking in disbelief. While he knew the young girl was powerful, he hadn't anticipated this.
He hadn't foreseen how quickly the girl would react, or even how she drew her sword before the Soul-Driving Flute was cleaved in two.
"Continue, why aren't you continuing?"
A somber female voice echoed, and the artifact spirit coughed violently, seemingly startled.
Damn it… How is this possible…
The green spiritual energy surrounding the Soul-Driving Flute slowly faded, and with it, the artifact spirit's life began to wane.
Beside them, Mo Chenze's body stiffened, his pupils trembling, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Bai Ran paid no further attention to the fading artifact spirit and turned towards Mo Chenze, slowly crouching down before him.
Bai Ran gazed at him silently, her red eyes receding.
At this moment, she resembled a well-behaved child, patiently awaiting the arrival of her family.
The elder frowned, his heart aching as he looked at the quiet girl.
Even after the five layers of seals were broken, she only had a handful of memories of her parents.
This moment, he thought, must have been something the girl had longed for for a very long time…
"Why aren't you dead yet?"
The elder snapped back to attention, his heart filled with emotion, only to see Bai Ran holding her sword to Mo Chenze's neck, her eyes fierce.
Mo Chenze struggled to keep his eyes open, his gaze filled with a venomous hatred as deep as an endless abyss.
Bai Ran frowned, then stood up and walked back to the Soul-Driving Flute, giving it another kick.
"Crack—" A crisp breaking sound echoed as the Soul-Driving Flute was utterly destroyed.
Bai Ran pursed her lips and disdainfully wiped the sole of her shoe, as if the treasure that others would worship was nothing more than disgusting filth to her.
"Ran... Ran..."
She froze abruptly, her body stiffening terribly. A sourness welled up in her throat, forcing her to clench her teeth.
The elder severed the ropes binding Mo Huai'an, and the man staggered to his feet.
"Ran Ran..." The call came again.
Although Bai Ran's back was turned to Mo Huai'an, he recognized her instantly as his daughter.
Bai Ran sniffled, turned around, and managed a smile that was more like a grimace.
Even the elder could see she was suppressing her inner grievances and sorrow.
Mo Huai'an gazed at the tall, beautiful woman before him, his fists clenching, his body trembling.
"Our Ran Ran has grown so big…"
"So beautiful…"
Thousands of eloquent praises, a myriad of exaggerated words – Bai Ran heard them all, yet not a single ripple stirred within her heart.
But this single, ordinary compliment brought tears to her eyes, filling her with overwhelming joy…
"Yes, Ran Ran has grown up… and become beautiful too…"
Bai Ran's breath trembled, her words stuttering, laced with a heavy sob.
Mo Huai'an took a step towards her, his gait unsteady, yet he still reached out his arms and gently embraced her.
"It's all my fault for being useless and making you suffer."
Bai Ran, held in his arms, shook her head slightly and wiped the tears from her face. "It wasn't suffering at all."
The elder watched the two of them, his eyes welling up with tears, and quietly turned to leave.
After the elder departed, the two remained in the tomb for a full two hours.
Bai Ran chattered like a little sparrow, recounting her experiences over the years, the happy, the exhilarating, the regrettable, and the brutal.
Mo Huai'an gazed at her, his eyes filled with endless tenderness and love.
Suddenly, a series of bloody images flashed through his mind, causing his heart to skip a beat and his expression to change drastically.
"Ran Ran! Where is your mother!"
"Mother…" Bai Ran lowered her gaze, the light in her eyes dimming slightly. "She still lies in the coffin…"
"Damn it…" He had witnessed Mo Chenze control his body and stab Huan Yan with a sword, yet he had been powerless to stop it.
"It's all my fault… all my fault for being too weak to protect you both…"
Bai Ran shook her head slightly. "Mother can still be brought back."
As long as she cultivated the Clone Soul Condensation technique, she could use a clone to revive her mother. Everything was still within reach, nothing was too late.
"Are you telling the truth…?" Mo Huai'an's voice trembled as he looked at Bai Ran in disbelief.
"Yan'er really…?"
Bai Ran pointed to her forehead. Mo Huai'an looked and saw a half-black, half-white lotus imprint slowly emerge.
"Within this lies a wisp of Mother's clone. With the clone, her soul can be successfully condensed."
Saying this, Bai Ran stood up and smiled at Mo Huai'an. "Father, let's go see Mother."
See her…
'Mo Huai'an—! You will pay for this—!' Huan Yan's dying scream replayed endlessly in Mo Chenze's mind.
Bai Ze's kind and soft nature was inherited from him, while Bai Ran's decisive and tenacious character came from Huan Yan.
He feared he was now the person Huan Yan hated the most…