The Shadow Fairy stood in the center of the ruins, black mist swirling around her.
Her gaze fixed on Tao Yao in front of her, a smug smile curling at the corners of her mouth.
"You overestimating fairy."
She said contemptuously, "You don't really think you can save them, do you?"
The Shadow Fairy extended her hand, and the black mist coalesced into sharp claws.
She slowly stepped forward, each step filled with confidence and intimidation.
"I have mastered the authority of two fairy flowers, and in front of me, you are nothing but ants."
Her voice brimmed with arrogance, "Now, obediently become a part of me."
Just as the Shadow Fairy was about to reach Tao Yao, an unexpected change occurred.
Five pink petals suddenly blossomed around Tao Yao, emitting a soft yet powerful light.
The Shadow Fairy's movements came to an abrupt halt,
Her expression shifted from smugness to surprise, and then to seriousness.
"This aura..."
The Shadow Fairy mumbled, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes, "Why does it feel so familiar?"
Tao Yao stood quietly in place, the pink petals swirling around her, forming a beautiful barrier.
The petals increased in number, soon filling the entire space.
That was a stunning sight.
Countless pink petals danced in the air, like a grand cherry blossom rain.
The gentle light enveloped the entire battlefield, creating a dreamlike feeling.
The Shadow Fairy's expression turned increasingly grave.
She felt a powerful and familiar force, an existence that instinctively made her feel fear.
"This is impossible..."
The Shadow Fairy took a step back, her voice trembling slightly, "This power... could it be..."
Before she could finish, Tao Yao launched her attack.
The pink petals coalesced into an elegant longbow, and Tao Yao gently pulled the bowstring, an arrow made of petals instantly taking shape.
"Whoosh!"
The arrow sliced through the air, accurately striking the Shadow Fairy's chest.
The Shadow Fairy let out a scream as her body instantly disintegrated into countless black shadows.
But Tao Yao did not let up; her attacks flowed like a stream.
Each arrow hit its target accurately, and no matter how the Shadow Fairy transformed, she could not escape Tao Yao's onslaught.
"You... you are Prim?!"
The Shadow Fairy finally recognized Tao Yao's identity, her voice filled with disbelief, "How is it possible... you have also awakened?"
Tao Yao did not respond, continuing to pursue the ever-shifting Shadow Fairy.
No matter how small a shadow the opponent turned into, it could not escape the arrows of Tao Yao.
"Prim! Don't you think you're quite ridiculous?"
The Shadow Fairy shouted while dodging:
"A fairy on the side of humans, yet despised by humans! Don't you know how much they loathe us?"
Tao Yao remained silent, her attacks not missing a beat.
Arrows made of petals fell like raindrops, driving the Shadow Fairy into a corner.
"Enough nonsense,"
Tao Yao finally spoke, her voice cold, "Tell me, where is the maid you saw before?"
The Shadow Fairy paused, then revealed a strange smile.
"A maid? So she is related to you? Is she your human companion?"
The Shadow Fairy's voice carried a hint of excitement, "What a surprise! But too bad..."
She deliberately dragged out her words, a cruel glint flickering in her eyes.
"I have already killed her."
Tao Yao's movements faltered for a moment, but soon returned to normal.
Her attacks became increasingly fierce, each arrow containing powerful energy.
"She was very brave before she died, just like most humans, small yet believing they could contend with divines."
The Shadow Fairy continued, her voice filled with madness,
"Little did they know... how laughable and pitiful they are in my eyes. Humans are nothing but ants beneath our feet!"
Tao Yao ignored the Shadow Fairy's provocation, her attacks growing faster and fiercer.
The arrows made of petals fell like a meteor shower, enveloping the entire space.
The Shadow Fairy's form was shattered; panic finally infused her voice.
"Prim! Impressive, I admit, I am no match for you right now."
The Shadow Fairy gasped for breath,
"But you won't kill me or devour me! As long as there are shadows in this world, I am an immortal fairy!!"
After finishing, the Shadow Fairy suddenly opened a rift door and quickly dove inside.
Tao Yao stopped her attacks; she did not pursue. Instead, she quietly asked the little Xiao Xiao in her heart:
"Xiao Xiao, how do we eliminate the Shadow Fairy?"
[Master, every fairy is hard to eliminate... ]
Xiao Xiao's voice echoed in Tao Yao's heart,
[Especially the Shadow Fairy; she is almost immortal because she is the embodiment of shadows, having no real body. Under normal circumstances, no one can completely erase a shadow.]
"I want you to answer my question," Tao Yao said impatiently.
[It's like this, Master.]
Xiao Xiao hurriedly explained:
[When the Goddess created the Shadow Fairy, she granted her a shadow world, which is her true power, and her fairy flower essence is hidden there.]
[Only there can we completely eliminate the Shadow Fairy.]
[But the problem is, only the Shadow Fairy can enter there; if she doesn't actively pull you... ]
Xiao Xiao's voice gradually lowered, failing to continue.
Tao Yao fell silent for a moment, understanding Xiao Xiao's implication.
She was currently a five-star Prim Fairy with great power.
Given that the opponent knew she couldn't win against her, there was no way they would voluntarily pull her into the shadow world.
This also meant that it would be difficult for her to find the opportunity to seize the Shadow Fairy's fairy core.
Thinking of this, Tao Yao sighed helplessly.
Her gaze fell upon the unconscious Hiyakura not far away.
Perhaps compared to her, Hiyakura was more suited to eliminate the Shadow Fairy.
Forget-Me-Not gently embraced the unconscious Hiyakura, looking up at Tao Yao, her voice filled with concern:
"Mommy Tao Yao... did she run away?"
Tao Yao turned around, a gentle smile on her face:
"It's okay; we'll chase her later. Little Forget-Me-Not, I need to go check out the underground dark river now; you watch over Hiyakura for me."
Forget-Me-Not nodded, her eyes full of determination:
"Don't worry; I'll take good care of Mommy Hiyakura."
Tao Yao nodded in satisfaction and turned to leave.
At that moment, Forget-Me-Not suddenly asked:
"What if Mommy Hiyakura wakes up in the meantime?"
Tao Yao's steps paused slightly; she turned her head, still wearing a gentle smile:
"Let's see what she thinks. If she wakes up and I'm not back yet, and she wants to find me, just bring her to me."
Finishing, Tao Yao deftly jumped into the underground dark river according to the map Pearl had given her earlier.
...
The cold water instantly enveloped Tao Yao's body, and darkness cloaked her vision like a curtain.
The world of the underground dark river was a space completely different from the surface,
There was no sunlight, no warmth, only eternal silence and darkness.
After adapting for a while, Tao Yao began to swim in the water.
Her eyes gradually adjusted to the dark, allowing her to see the surrounding environment clearly.
The rock walls of the dark river were covered with strange patterns, natural art formed by many years of water erosion.
Occasionally, luminescent moss dotted the surroundings, adding a faint light to this dark world.
The water flow alternated between turbulent and calm, and Tao Yao had to remain vigilant at all times.
Her body gracefully navigated through the water like an elegant fish.
As she ventured deeper, the dark river widened, forming underground caverns.
These caverns were filled with peculiar stalactites and stalagmites.
Over a long period, these had accumulated into various strange shapes.
During her exploration, Tao Yao encountered some Disaster Beasts eroded by poison.
These creatures had completely adapted to the dark environment, their eyes reduced to two hollow cavities.
But their other senses had become unusually sharp.
Their skin was pale, almost transparent, allowing one to see the writhing veins underneath.
These Disaster Beasts sensed Tao Yao's presence and immediately launched an attack.
Their speed in the water was astounding; they used sound waves to locate their targets.
But Tao Yao's reaction was even faster as she skillfully dodged their charges while releasing razor blades formed from petals, accurately hitting the vital spots of each Disaster Beast.
Along the way, Tao Yao continued to delve into the dark river, searching for Shiro's trace.
She passed through narrow passages, swam across wide underground lakes, and climbed steep underwater cliffs.
Each time she encountered a fork in the road, she would carefully discern the direction to ensure she wouldn't get lost in this complex underground maze.
Finally, in a huge underground cavern, Tao Yao found the maid Shiro.
There was a small crack at the top of this cavern, with dim light filtering through, making the entire space appear exceptionally mysterious.
Shiro lay on a protruding rock, beside her was a peculiar creature.
It was a fish-like Disaster Beast, large in size, with a crocodile-like mouth and sharp teeth.
It was covered in green toxins, a signature mark of the Poison Fairy.
Clearly, this Disaster Beast had once been Shiro's opponent.
Not far away, a black flower bloomed quietly.
That flower emitted an ominous aura, and Tao Yao immediately recognized that the Shadow Fairy must have resurrected from here.
Tao Yao swam to Shiro's side and carefully checked her condition.
Shiro's complexion was as pale as paper, her lips an abnormal bluish-purple.
Her breathing was weak, almost undetectable.
Her maid outfit was tattered, her skin marred with wounds and bruises.
Tao Yao examined her, then sighed in relief.
"Still alive..."
She murmured.
However, looking at the state Shiro was in, it was clear she had sustained severe injuries, standing on the brink of death.
Tao Yao could sense that Shiro was poisoned; it was the corrosive toxin of the Poison Flower.
This meant that as long as this poison remained, even if the Poison Fairy was eliminated, the other side could use Shiro's body to resurrect again.
Tao Yao furrowed her brow, falling into deep thought.
...
Hiyakura slowly opened her eyes, her blurred vision gradually sharpening.
The first thing that caught her eye was a familiar little face, Forget-Me-Not, who was watching her with concern, her eyes filled with worry and anticipation.
"Mommy Hiyakura, you finally woke up!"
Forget-Me-Not said joyfully, her voice infused with a sense of relief.
Hiyakura blinked, her consciousness gradually returning.
Suddenly, the scenes of what had happened before surged into her mind like a tide.
The fierce battle with the Shadow Fairy, the despair of impending defeat, and those crucial pink petals shielding her in the nick of time...
"The pink petals!"
Hiyakura sat up suddenly, her mind instantly clear. She anxiously scanned her surroundings, her voice urgent and tense:
"Tao Yao? Where is Tao Yao?"
The surroundings were in ruins, littered with debris from the fairy's powers.
Amidst the broken walls, all sorts of shattered stones and damaged building materials were scattered across the ground.
However, in this dilapidated scene, there was no sign of Tao Yao.
Hiyakura's heart raced, her breathing becoming rapid.
She had just confirmed that Tao Yao was alive, yet now she couldn't find her trace, causing Hiyakura to feel a wave of panic and unease.
Realizing Hiyakura's anxiety, Forget-Me-Not quickly explained:
"Mommy Hiyakura, please don't worry. Mommy Tao Yao went to the underground dark river to save someone; she said she would be back soon."
"I want to see her!"
Hiyakura almost shouted, her face filled with urgency, "I need to see her now!"
Forget-Me-Not nodded, ready to lead Hiyakura to follow Tao Yao's footsteps.
Suddenly, a figure leaped out of the water.
It was a pink figure dressed in white robes, with a fox mask obscuring the upper half of her face.
She cradled an unconscious person in her arms, water droplets dripping from her robe and shimmering softly in the sunlight.
Her movements were light and elegant, as if unaffected by gravity.
Hiyakura froze, her eyes fixated on the familiar figure.
Her lips trembled slightly as she softly called out:
"Tao... Tao Yao?"
Tao Yao gently laid Shiro, whom she was carrying, on the ground and then turned to Hiyakura.
Her voice was gentle and soft, like a breeze brushing by:
"It's me."
Hiyakura's emotions burst forth like a tide.
She was both excited and nervous, her voice quivering:
"That's great... you're okay? I... I always wanted to find you."
Tao Yao smiled gently, her voice still soft:
"Little cutie, fairies are not easily killed. As a human, I have already died, but as a fairy, I am still alive."
She paused, her tone carrying a hint of regret,
"Sorry to say this, but I tricked you again; my true identity is the enemy of humans..."
Hiyakura was stunned; her gaze roamed over Tao Yao, from that familiar yet strange fox mask, to the flowing white robes, and finally to her pink hair.
Her heart was filled with complex emotions, both with joy at their reunion and anxiety in facing the unknown.
"A fairy... huh?"
Hiyakura muttered, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes.
But quickly, her gaze became resolute. She took a deep breath and slowly said:
"Regardless of whether you are human or fairy, to me, you will always be Tao Yao. I'm so happy to see you alive; I am truly glad?"
Saying this, Hiyakura stood up and walked towards Tao Yao.
Though her steps were somewhat unsteady, her eyes were filled with determination.
She reached out her hand, seeming to want to touch Tao Yao, but then hesitated in mid-air.
"Tao Yao... can I see your face?"
Hiyakura asked cautiously, her voice carrying a hint of uncertainty.
Tao Yao sighed gently upon hearing Hiyakura's request.
A trace of helplessness flickered in her eyes, but more so was tenderness and understanding.
"Little cutie, are you really sure you want to see?"
Tao Yao asked softly, her tone laced with hesitation, "The way I look now may make you feel uneasy."
Hiyakura nodded firmly, her gaze filled with anticipation and concern.
Tao Yao smiled slightly, slowly raising her hand, gently removing the fox mask that covered the upper half of her face.
As the mask was lifted, Hiyakura's eyes widened.
What greeted her was not a strange face,
But that incredibly familiar and beautiful visage belonging to Tao Yao.
Those bright eyes, the straight nose, the elegant lip line—everything was so familiar.
However, on this beautiful face, there was an exceptionally striking scar.
Extending from beside her right eye down to her cheek, there was a noticeable burn mark, as if licked by fierce flames.
Though the scar had healed, it remained clearly visible, contrasting sharply with the surrounding fair skin.
Hiyakura couldn't help but gasp, pain and guilt flooding her eyes.
Her voice trembled, laden with deep remorse:
"Tao Yao, your face... this is... from then..."
Before Hiyakura could finish, Tao Yao gently interrupted her.
Seemingly having anticipated Hiyakura's reaction, she主动解释道:
"The rift is a very dangerous place. I encountered a powerful fire-type Disaster Beast there and was accidentally injured by it, leaving these scars and marks."
She gently touched the scar on her face and casually continued, "But don't worry; these scars are actually nothing. If I want, I can use fairy power to repair them anytime. It's just that fairy power is too precious; I don't want to use it for this right now."
Upon hearing Tao Yao's explanation, Hiyakura's eyes filled with guilt and remorse.
She lowered her head, her voice choking:
"I'm sorry... I ran away back then... if I had stayed..."
Tao Yao maintained her gentle smile, softly speaking in a warm tone:
"You don't need to apologize, little cutie. You had to leave; that was the right choice."
"You could barely withstand your flames back then; leaving that place was the safest thing for you."
Despite hearing Tao Yao's comfort, Hiyakura's expression remained filled with guilt.
She opened her mouth, seeming to want to say something,
But in the end, she just lowered her head and silently clenched her fists.
At that moment, the little Forget-Me-Not, who had been observing quietly from the side, suddenly spoke up.
Her gaze fell on Shiro lying on the ground, her tone filled with worry and urgency:
"Mommy Tao Yao, the poison on this maid..."
Forget-Me-Not carefully observed Shiro's severe injuries and the toxic aura emanating from her.
A look of panic and fear filled Xiao Xiao's small face.
She was well aware of what the corrosive toxin of the Poison Fairy meant.
It was a terrifying toxin that would certainly result in death once a human was infected.
She couldn't help but remember the fate of her biological mother, that pain and despair resurfacing in her mind.
Tao Yao turned around, her gaze landing on Shiro.
Her expression became serious, her tone taking on a grave note:
"I have used fairy power to protect her heart, which can temporarily prevent her from fully transforming into a corrupted monster. But this is only a stopgap; we must find the Shadow Fairy and reclaim the Poison Flower from her. Only then can we grant Shiro a new lease on life."
Hearing Tao Yao's words, Hiyakura snapped her head up, determination flashing in her eyes.
Without hesitation, she said:
"Tao Yao, are you going to find the Shadow Fairy? I want to go with you! I can't let you face danger alone anymore."
However, in response to Hiyakura's request, Tao Yao gently shook her head.
Her gaze became deep and far-reaching, as if peering into a distant future.
"Hiyakura, hunting fairies is a path I must take."
Tao Yao said softly, her tone carrying a weight,
"My past home was completely destroyed by fairies. But please believe me, this is destined to be a path with no foreseeable future."
She paused, gazing softly at Hiyakura, and continued:
"And you are different, little cutie. You are a newly born fairy; you have your own path to seek. You need to create your own story, to write your own chapter. Our paths are destined to be different."
After hearing this, a trace of reluctance and stubbornness flickered in Hiyakura's eyes.
She insisted:
"Are you worried I will drag you down?"
"Tao Yao, I am strong now! I will not drag you down. I can help you; I truly can!"
However, Tao Yao maintained her stance, gently shaking her head.
Her tone became softer but more resolute:
"Hiyakura, you must understand, I am the Prim Fairy and an evil fairy of the past civilization. But you are different, you are the fairy of this era; you..."
Before Tao Yao could finish, Hiyakura suddenly interrupted her.
Her eyes burned with flames of anger and unwillingness, her voice trembling slightly:
"Ultimately, you still don't believe in my strength! I am no longer the same as before!"
Just as her words fell, the surrounding temperature suddenly surged.
Hiyakura activated the power of the Fire Fairy once more, blazing flames swirling around her.
The air warped from the heat, and even the stones on the ground began to melt.
Seeing this scene, Tao Yao furrowed her brow, her tone becoming heavy and serious:
"Hiyakura, stop immediately! Your body is already overloaded; you absolutely cannot continue to use this power for a short time!"
Hiyakura was a fairy who had just gained control over her power.
And she still couldn't fully master it.
In the battle with the Shadow Fairy, her body had already reached its limit.
Now, she couldn't use fairy power any further, no matter what.
However, Hiyakura adamantly shook her head, the flames in her eyes growing stronger.
She stubbornly declared:
"I won't! I have already watched you leave once. If you don't agree to my request this time, then you won't leave!"
As Hiyakura's emotions surged, the surrounding temperature rose higher and higher, filling the air with a burning sensation.
Tao Yao was right in front of her,
No matter the cost, even if it meant using force.
She would not let Tao Yao leave!!