And Xili's situation was quite special.
For many years, Xili had always whispered to herself, “Everything before my eyes is merely the darkness that obscures my pursuit of hope. To see the brightest hope, I must first go through a deeper darkness.”
She understood the principle but had never set out to practice it, always repeating “pursuit of hope” on her lips, but the force suppressed in her heart was just that, repressed, never released.
She feared facing such a version of herself.
Just like Serum, he had always been afraid to take the step of “balancing the Black Classic, revisiting the laws” because he feared that after taking this step, the Black Classic might face dire outcomes. He feared losing the Black Classic, never to recover it.
Even though Serum knew that to progress further, the Black Classic had to take that step.
He understood the principle, but he was bound by various external factors, afraid to move forward, afraid of progression.
Xili was the same, always speaking of seeking hope, always saying, “Only after experiencing the deepest darkness can one welcome the most brilliant hope,” but she still dared not confront her past. Just like the previous duel with Cold-Eye Cat, Xili didn't think she would lose; but halfway through, she saw that person.
Not even having the courage to continue the match, she conceded and fled.
Xili and Serum may not have been cowardly people; they didn't fear death, they didn't fear scars. But as soon as it involved the softest, most treasured, and most feared aspects of their hearts, they withdrew.
And this match was actually an opportunity for them, a chance to reconcile with their past selves.
In the end, Serum had let go of his hesitations; he trusted the Black Classic and took a step forward.
The same went for Xili; the power of the Black Classic forcibly pulled her to confront her past, and when she reached her lowest point, it was also the moment she recognized and committed to her true self.
She whispered again, “To see the brightest hope, I must first go through a deeper darkness.”
This time, she did not just speak with her lips.
As her words fell, the force long suppressed in her heart was finally released.
All of a sudden, the darkness enveloping Xili faded away, and an extremely brilliant light radiated outward from her chest.
Darkness dissipated, light approached.
The power hidden in the deepest part of Xili's body was finally liberated. It was pure light, the hope Xili had always pursued.
Just as the Black Classic said, “The light from others cannot illuminate the deep recesses of an individual's heart.”
Hope should never be sought outside; it's always been within oneself.
When Xili dissipated the dark power and revealed the strength of pure light, the tide of battle changed once again.
The God of the Prison Codex, though mastering the rules of justice, in essence, originated from dark power. Light and dark have always intertwined yet constrained each other, and when Xili wielded the sword of hope-filled light, even the sturdiest cage shattered into fragments.
Xili's strength had already reached the pinnacle of an Apprentice, far surpassing Serum. Even though the power of the Black Classic was formidable, its master was after all Serum, still constrained by Serum's limitations.
When Xili used the light to conquer the darkness, the Black Classic was unable to resist.
After a burst of dazzling light.
Xili fell from mid-air to the ground.
Behind her, the sword in the massive hands of the God of the Prison Codex was cut into two, tumbling onto the ring.
Xili didn't make another move, because on the other side, Serum had already lost consciousness under the overwhelming power of light, lying unconscious.
And after the Black Classic's sword was cut, it finally bowed its head.
Following the judge's command, the match was over.
Xili, victorious!