The Grand Conclave hall had never felt so heavy. As the delegation from the Azure Cloud Monastery presented themselves, an oppressive aura of profound, almost impenetrable serenity settled over the dais. Their robes, a pristine white, seemed to absorb all ambient sound, and their faces, meticulously calm, revealed not a single tremor of emotion. Leading them was Grand Elder Ling, the Pure Heart Abbot, a figure of such unwavering tranquility he seemed carved from ancient ice.
Long Hu stepped forward, his unique senses instantly overwhelmed. This was no ordinary spiritual emanation. It was a perfect, unblemished stillness, yet beneath it, screaming silently, was a vast, crushing reservoir of ancient, resigned grief. It felt like an entire realm holding its breath for centuries. This was the Devourer's ultimate feast: collective, unacknowledged sorrow.
The tribute was a single, iridescent "Purity Orb," supposedly condensed from pure spiritual energy. It pulsed with a soft, comforting light, radiating an aura of absolute peace. Long Hu knew, instinctively, that this orb was a direct conduit to the suppressed emotions of their realm.
He laid his hands over the Orb, his eyes closing. The peace enveloped him, threatening to pull him under, to soothe away his fears, his memories, his very defiance. It was a beautiful, seductive trap. But beneath it, he tasted the bitter tang of stifled tears, the ache of unmourned losses, the profound weariness of endless, imposed tranquility. This wasn't just a physical corruption; it was an emotional one, a spiritual prison of the soul.
He pushed, his mind straining, trying to peel back the layers of enforced serenity. Grand Elder Ling, standing perfectly still, subtly projected his own immense spiritual will, reinforcing the illusion of peace, subtly attempting to deflect Long Hu's intrusion. It was a silent mental duel, the Abbot trying to drown him in false calm. Long Hu felt the familiar 'thrum' of the Devourer, growing stronger, urging him to accept the peace, to allow the grief to be silently siphoned away.
He refused. He focused on the tiny discord, the faintest tremor of true emotion beneath the overwhelming tranquility. He let his unique essence, that pure, silver light, act not as an absorber, but as a catalyst, gently urging the suppressed emotions to surface, to be acknowledged. He felt a sudden, sharp pang of profound sadness, a flood of ancient losses, as if he were mourning the collective sorrows of a million souls. The mental strain was immense, threatening to shatter his fragile composure.
Empress Xianxia, watching from her throne, saw the subtle lines of pain on Long Hu's face, the flicker of emotional turmoil in his posture. He was taking on their grief. Her eyes narrowed, a fierce spark of resolve igniting within them. She subtly amplified the surrounding spiritual energy of her own throne, creating a ripple of profound clarity that gently nudged away the oppressive peace projected by the Azure Cloud Monastery, providing Long Hu with a sliver of mental breathing room.
With that subtle boost, Long Hu pushed through. The Purity Orb shimmered, its tranquil light wavering. A single, crystalline tear, pure and luminous, formed at its surface, then trickled down, dissolving into the air. It was a tear of collective, long-denied grief, finally released. The Orb now pulsed with a true, honest serenity, vibrant yet tinged with a quiet, acknowledged melancholy.
Grand Elder Ling's eyes, usually as still as a frozen pond, widened almost imperceptibly. A flicker of raw, unadulterated shock crossed his face, quickly suppressed, but not before Xianxia saw it. His perfect mask had cracked. He had understood.
"The Azure Cloud Monastery's tribute is now purified," Empress Xianxia declared, her voice ringing with clear, cold authority. Her gaze was fixed on Grand Elder Ling, a silent challenge in her eyes. "Its purity is now absolute, cleansed of any... lingering burdens. It reflects true serenity." Her words were a veiled indictment, acknowledging the deep sorrow Long Hu had just unveiled.
Grand Elder Ling bowed, his composure returning, but his hands trembled almost imperceptibly. "The Empress's apprentice is truly... insightful. We are enlightened." His voice was stiff, his eyes avoiding Long Hu.
Long Hu retreated, physically and emotionally drained. He had purified an orb, but he had also touched a millennia of suppressed sorrow. The Devourers were not just consuming; they were twisting cultures, encouraging the very emotional suppression that made their victims easier prey. This was a horrifying, systematic evil.
Xianxia met his gaze, her eyes reflecting the shared burden, the profound understanding that now bound them. The Azure Cloud Monastery was a testament to the Devourers' insidious mastery over despair. She clenched her fist, a cold, unwavering resolve settling deep in her heart. This cosmic predator would find no comfort in her realm, no despair to feed on. She would ensure it.
The Conclave continued, but for Long Hu, the lines between reality and spiritual truth had blurred. He was Xianxia's key, unlocking the hidden sorrows of realms, and with each raw revelation, their unlikely alliance deepened, drawing them irrevocably closer in a fight against an enemy that preyed on the very heart of existence.