The now-transformed Qing Ling, freed from past constraints, faced a frenzied Xie Mei. If she couldn't have Qing Ling, she would destroy her. She vowed to kill Qing Ling.
Slowly, Xie Mei's body was engulfed by malevolent spiritual energy. She extended her arms, her claws clenching. The dark energy coalesced on her claws, forming a dark sphere. A sinister smile spread across Xie Mei's lips as she hurled the sphere at Qing Ling.
Two black orbs streaked towards Qing Ling. Seeing this, Qing Ling waved her arms, conjuring a spectral orb from her ghostly energy. It shot forth, colliding with Xie Mei's orbs. The impact resulted in a burst of intertwined explosions. But it wasn't over. Xie Mei smirked, and the dark spheres suddenly opened like abyssal maws, swallowing Qing Ling's spectral orbs whole.
"Did you think I only knew the techniques of my clan?" Xie Mei taunted. "You're wrong. My true power lies in the inheritance of the Xie Ling clan. Perish by the Xie Ling balls!"
Qing Ling watched the approaching dark spheres. The orbs slowly expanded, engulfing her. Xie Mei watched Qing Ling being swallowed, a sense of relief washing over her. Within the Xie Ling balls, all beings were corroded into malevolent spiritual energy.
But then, the Xie Ling ball began to shake. Cracks spread across its surface, and white light erupted from them, culminating in a massive explosion. Qing Ling stood unharmed where the sphere had been.
"Impossible!" Xie Mei cried out. "How could you escape the Xie Ling balls? It's impossible!"
Qing Ling replied, "You, who have cast aside your humanity, how can you imprison me when my path is already laid out? Your path and mine are incomparable. The power within my heart allowed me to break your chains."
"Heh! If that move couldn't kill you, then I'll try another. I have countless ways to kill you and seize that constitution."
Xie Mei's contorted face and twisted smile uttered chilling words. Qing Ling responded, "A twisted soul will soon turn you into a monster. How pitiful. You can no longer control your own body."
Xie Mei, however, was deaf to Qing Ling's words. Her hands moved in a Tai Chi-like trajectory, and the rampant malevolent spiritual energy gathered on her claws. She crossed her claws, and from the gap between her arms, dark energy coalesced. A massive Xie Ling spear materialized above Xie Mei's head. Spikes grew from her arms, and the spectral image of the Xie Ling spear merged into her body. Xie Mei then pulled her arms apart, unleashing overlapping blade energy that surged towards Qing Ling.
Qing Ling raised her hands as the spiky blades approached, conjuring a spectral barrier. The blade energy struck the barrier, but Qing Ling held it back with one hand. With a slight clench of her fist, the blade energy shattered.
"Impossible!" Xie Mei exclaimed. "How can you be so powerful? Even with that constitution, you shouldn't be this strong."
"I am no longer bound by the past. I focus on the future, on the present. How can someone shackled by the past be my opponent?"
"I don't believe it!"
Xie Mei descended into a frenzy. "Ahhhh! My body! How is this possible? No, impossible!"
"Could it be... could it be that I was wrong? No, I don't want to become a monster!"
"Help... help me!"
Xie Mei looked at her hands, her voice laced with despair. "Why? You have no one you love, no one you wish to protect. Your life is destined to be alone. Why? Why couldn't I have lived until now? Why must I end up like this?"
Xie Mei's body was enveloped by malevolent spiritual energy, leaving her like a hollow shell. The rampant energy continuously covered her, condensing into black liquid that encased her form.
Qing Ling sighed sadly. "I didn't, before. But now I do. I want to protect the world I inhabit, the people I care about. You, with your twisted heart, once it becomes a monster within, the Xie Ling energy will run rampant. You are human at your core. Losing your heart is equivalent to losing your life."
Finally, Xie Mei was completely submerged in the black liquid. A colossal figure emerged before Qing Ling – a liquid being composed entirely of black fluid, its body like that of a giant. Within its fluid form, a facial imprint could be discerned.
Its arms were black claws, its hands fluid sickles. Liquid wings unfurled from its back, and its legs transformed into dinosaur-like limbs. Its head was a swirling mass of black liquid, its true form unrecognizable.
Qing Ling sighed, her eyes hardening. It was time to end this, this destined battle.
The black liquid giant swung its sickle-like arm, charging at Qing Ling. This time, Qing Ling didn't evade. She met the attack head-on, her hands gripping the colossal sickles, straining to hold them back.
Beside Qing Ling, a male figure materialized. He spoke in unison with Qing Ling, "You were always wrong. Let me, not us, free you!"
The voice echoed through the space. Within the black liquid, Xie Mei's face slowly emerged from the imprint, her essence struggling against the corrosive Xie Ling energy.
"So it was me who was always wrong," Xie Mei whispered. "Free me, sister. I'm sorry!"
Her face was then fully consumed by the black liquid. Qing Ling nodded, her gaze meeting the spectral man's. They nodded to each other, and the spectral man's form merged into Qing Ling's body.
Qing Ling's body erupted in light, a mixture of white and ghostly energy spreading outwards. The liquid monster began to disintegrate under the radiant light, emitting a mournful wail.
Soon, as the light faded, the black liquid monster was gone. A flash of light appeared, unnoticed by Qing Ling.
Qing Ling released her grip. Fragments of white light drifted into the sky. "Thank you," Qing Ling said. "I won't forget you. I wouldn't have reached this day without you. Luo Yang, thank you!"
Qing Ling then approached Xie Mei's side. Xie Mei's form was completely different now, bearing an identical resemblance to Qing Ling, though she was even more beautiful.
Seeing her sister restored, Qing Ling spoke, "Sister, don't worry. You won't die. I will find a way to help you."
Qing Xin replied, "There's no need, sister. Forgive me. My twisted heart caused all this, and I have accepted the consequences. Let me fade away."
"No, you won't die. As long as you are bonded with that person, you won't die, sister."
Qing Ling embraced her sister and turned to leave the space.