Mo Lian’s face instantly paled: “Disperse your power and sever yourself? Su Xiaoxiao, have you gone mad?”

Not only Mo Lian was surprised; even Chi Hongyi and Han Qing were stunned into silence.

It was not unexpected that Su Xiaoxiao would guard against the Yuan Mo Seven Emotions Art that she practiced; they all anticipated as much.

However, those of the Demonic Path were inherently selfish and treasured their lives, with few exceptions. Su Xiaoxiao possessed the Wan Ling Yuan Tai physique, and with such a constitution, even if a supreme Yuan Mo held dissatisfaction with her, they would not take her life.

At most, she would suffer torment at Han Qing’s hands, and later, as the mother of the Demonic Fetus, she would still have a chance to pursue the Great Dao of Longevity.

Thus, the three found it almost unbelievable that Su Xiaoxiao would be so resolute, choosing to end her own life on the spot.

Through her death, she would sever the medium through which Li Biexue’s will descended.

“Am I mad? Perhaps I truly am.”

Su Xiaoxiao did not look at Zong Shou, chuckling deeply, “Lord Yuan Mo created the Yuan Mo Seven Emotions Great Method, and forged the Seven Emotions Essence Guiding Secret Art. But he likely never considered that after using this secret art, this humble servant would become so deeply obsessed with Protector Lang. It is truly strange; this Xiaoxiao already regrets it—”

By the time she uttered the final few words, her breath was already faint.

Zong Shou let out a muffled groan. The vast divine sense in his Sea of Consciousness suddenly became like a rootless tree, rapidly weakening, allowing him to finally gather a thread of intent.

Without hesitation, he hurled the Taishang Miedu True Scripture directly out.

—The Taishang Yingjie Illustrated Record!

The Miedu Scripture flying into the air rapidly flipped open to the third page. Then, it locked the void, and wisps of Dao marks spread from the Illustrated Record, crisscrossing the expanse of the sky.

It was overtly attempting to forcibly pull this entire region of space and time away—

Chi Hongyi’s eyes widened in alarm, knowing the situation was dire. Without hesitation, he thrust out another punch.

Chuxue, however, summoned her final reserves of strength and, at the critical juncture, clashed her Blood Moon Blade against the apex of the punch.

Then, riding the impact of the crushing force, she spun like a runaway top, hurled away.

With Chuxue’s protection lost, those blade lights instantly swept towards Zong Shou.

Zong Shou’s Sea of Consciousness was still suppressed by the remnant will of Li Biexue. Being able to activate the Taishang Yingjie Illustrated Record was already his limit. At this moment, he could only subconsciously pull the flung Chuxue back while simultaneously manifesting the Black Hole Dharma Body outside himself, desperately trying to devour the blade lights.

Millions of blade shadows were mostly annihilated, but quite a few escaped and forced their way through, riddling Zong Shou’s body with countless wounds!

Fortunately, just then, a black curtain unfurled layer upon layer, completely enveloping the three figures.

Chi Hongyi’s second full-power strike landed in empty space, causing his entire force to nearly go astray. The same fate befell the two Free and Unfettered Demonic Gods nearby.

Everyone present stared in astonishment at what lay before them. The space, about thirty feet wide, had completely vanished without a trace.

There was only a darkness that could not be seen into, nor probed by divine sense. It was as if a piece of this reality had been violently dug out.

Chi Hongyi slowly regained his composure, then a look of sheer horror dawned in his eyes: “Forming an isolated domain!”

Pulling that small section of space and time away, creating a world unto itself! Separating it entirely from this reality! What kind of divine ability was this?

And those wisps of thread just now—they seemed to be Dao marks? What magical treasure was that scripture in Zong Shou’s hand?

Madam Mo Lian remained frozen on the spot. The scene unfolding before her left her completely bewildered.

At the same moment, Zong Shou spat out a mouthful of blood. The wounds all over his body were gushing out bloody plasma.

The full-force strike from a Venerable of the Saint Realm had brought him to the very brink of death; even this physical body, equivalent to that of a Divine Realm cultivator, was nearly disintegrated.

Since beginning his journey with ‘Tan Qiu’ and enduring countless battles, he had never once fallen into such a wretched state!

But now, he could not concern himself with his own condition. Zong Shou clutched Su Xiaoxiao with one arm, his consciousness struggling desperately to repel the residual divine thought of Li Biexue. Then, all his soul consciousness power poured into the yet-unopened flower bud.

The Life and Death Epiphyllum, reversing life and death!

The pinkish-white petals opened one by one. A massive surge of vital essence power rushed out, flooding into Su Xiaoxiao’s body.

He would complete the resurrection! If Yuan Wushang, body and soul shattered, could be restored, surely Su Xiaoxiao, whose body was currently intact, could be saved?

As the vital essence power poured in madly, a hint of color finally returned to Su Xiaoxiao’s face, and her vitality slowly recovered.

She opened her eyes; they were like stars, or a clear, serene spring, yet imbued with deep bitterness.

“Your Majesty, please do not trouble yourself for this humble servant! Li Biexue was meticulous; the Yuan Mo Seven Emotions Art offered no loophole. This servant could only break it because I planted a life-ending talisman within my own Nascent Spirit Dao Heart during cultivation. Therefore, unlike Yuan Wushang, my Dao foundation is completely destroyed, and my Nascent Soul is extinguished. Forget only sixty percent of the Life and Death Epiphyllum; even the complete flower would surely mean my death.”

She looked closely at Zong Shou again, sighing, “This Yuan Mo Seven Emotions Great Method is truly malicious! Looking closely now, you, Zong Shou, are not so bad—you are just a bit prettier than others.”

Zong Shou remained silent. When the power of the Life and Death Epiphyllum finally ceased, the vitality recently restored within Su Xiaoxiao began to dissipate again.

It was like a pocket riddled with countless holes; no matter how much was poured in, it would leak out.

A surge of violent rage unknowingly filled his chest. Tears welled in Zong Shou’s eyes, yet he could not weep. Anger churned in his mind, yet he had no outlet.

He could only gather the pure radiance emanating from the Nine Apertures Life Essence Stone, concentrating it all, trying to maintain the faint beating of Su Xiaoxiao’s heart meridians.

Frenzied, unwilling to watch Su Xiaoxiao die before him.

“Stop spouting nonsense! Do you want me to live with guilt for the rest of my life?”

“Why not? This humble servant detests the thought that after I die, no one in the world will remember me.”

Su Xiaoxiao offered a faint smile upon hearing this, revealing two dimples. This caused Zong Shou to lapse into a daze. He knew Su Xiaoxiao was beautiful, exquisitely alluring. But he had never truly paid attention before; only now did he realize how incredibly captivating the girl in his arms was.

As she finished speaking, Su Xiaoxiao touched Zong Shou’s chest with her slender, pale fingers.

“It’s this thing! Named the Zeng Xuan Holding Dharma Wings. Back then, Lu Wushuang, having just reached the Saint Realm, relied on this to traverse the world. It repelled all boundaries, achieving unmatched victory! Just as Jing Shi Yin said, this is an object capable of elevating one to heaven in a single step; used in swordsmanship, it can connect one to the divine; used in spiritual arts, it can reach the supreme realm. If you wish to become a Buddha, you can inherit the position of the Present Buddha. If you wish to be a King, you can dominate all realms. If you only desire cultivation, it points directly to longevity. That is why Lord Yuan Mo coveted it; with this item, one could reach the Half-Step True Realm, and perhaps even the Unification of the Nascent Spirit with the Dao would not be impossible—”

“However, I do not know how to use it either! I only know that the artifact spirit of this item is self-sealed; it simply needs to be awakened. This time, Zong Shou, if you manage to escape alive, you can seek out Xiuguan to awaken the spirit for you. This divine treasure, besides being unsealed by oneself, requires one to be on the same level as Lord Yuan Mo before it can be neutralized.”

Zong Shou’s face was grim. Su Xiaoxiao’s heart meridian was nearly stopped now. Even the Nine Apertures Life Essence Stone was powerless.

Why was this Su Xiaoxiao saying so much? Was this her final testament?

He was utterly helpless, forced to watch Su Xiaoxiao’s body slowly growing cold.

For the first time, regret seized him, filling him with self-hatred. If only he had spent more time studying the Yuan Sheng Ling Xi Art; if only he hadn't exchanged so much of the Creation Nether Spring before; if he hadn't tried and wasted that Life and Death Nether Flower. Or, if only he had treated her better while she was alive—

Su Xiaoxiao seemed indifferent to life and death: “This servant already said it, I always felt something was wrong back then, I should have left your side.”

Zong Shou shook his head slightly. Since Li Biexue intended to use the Seven Emotions Essence Guiding Secret Art as a medium, Su Xiaoxiao leaving his side was useless. As long as Su Xiaoxiao remained within the bounds of this underground palace, he could directly assault his Nascent Soul.

And how could those few—Chi Hongyi and the others—allow that?

But this Demonic Path technique was truly perverse. If everyone practiced the Yuan Mo Seven Emotions Great Method, wouldn't anyone be killable?

He immediately realized that Li Biexue, seeking to deal with whom, needed such a complicated method? Only he made the Lord so cautious. And the Yuan Mo Seven Emotions was not something anyone could cultivate successfully.

He intentionally stirred up countless distracting thoughts within his mind, trying to divert his attention and avoid being overwhelmed by the emotion of sorrow.

Yet, he could not succeed. He felt as if countless ants were gnawing at his heart—hateful and furious!

Yet, his expression became wildly deranged, and he began to laugh instead.

Mo Lian, Chi Hongyi, Han Qing, Yin Han, Li Biexue—names flashed through his mind one by one.

These people had truly angered him, branding themselves onto his memory!

However, this hatred was far eclipsed by regret. Reflecting deeply now, it need not have come to this. He wished he could stamp his feet and pound his chest, slap himself hundreds of times.

His gaze grew hazy, and Zong Shou slowly began to experience hallucinations.

He was still kneeling on the ground, holding a woman of incomparable beauty in his arms.

He wore armor of shining silver, now riddled with holes and stained crimson with blood. He held the Square Heaven Halberd, but it felt unnaturally heavy; his hands were weak, unable to lift it.

The woman in his arms was breathing her last.

Zong Shou looked out before him and saw, not far off, banners fluttering in the wind. Among the vibrant command flags, the characters Cao and Liu could vaguely be discerned.

Behind him were thousands of riders, all soaked in blood, utterly exhausted.

The endless regret, the endless pain, washed over him like a tide. Along with it, a raging inferno of fury!

Zong Shou suddenly froze, and then a single thought flashed across his consciousness.

Lu Wushuang, Diaochan—

The black iron wings on his chest were suddenly searingly hot, radiating a red glow beneath his clothes.

Could this be the lingering imprint of a divine artifact? Projecting the final scene of its master from millennia ago, casting it before his eyes?

Then—

Zong Shou violently shook his head. How could he possibly focus on such matters at this moment?

There must be a way, he absolutely must find a way to let Su Xiaoxiao live!

Outside the Imperial Palace, west of the Epang Palace, Mingri Xuan stood contentedly amidst a stretch of ruins, clutching a necklace. Suddenly, he let out an exclamation of surprise and looked up at the starry sky.

“What is this? The Dragon Devouring Formation, but why is it the Dragon Devouring Formation? The Hegemon appears! What exactly has happened in this Qin Emperor’s tomb?”