A full hundred puppets, the weakest already at the Seventh Heaven realm, and the strongest being masters of the Ninth Heaven. No one knew how Fang Zhentian managed to train so many puppets, but while these puppets were inferior to true masters in many aspects, they possessed a capability that even the Ninth Heaven experts dared not ignore: they had no consciousness of their own. As long as Fang Zhentian willed it, they could choose to self-detonate without hesitation.

Self-detonation meant the explosion of their very soul. Once they exploded, all trace of their existence in this world would be erased; there would be no possibility of survival, nor even reincarnation...

This was the most terrifying technique, and also the most potent one.

One person self-detonating was nothing; even if they were a Ninth Heaven master, the resulting blast was merely a threat in the eyes of these great figures. But here were over a hundred of them! Their simultaneous self-destruction was not a simple matter of one plus one equaling two; it would create a chain reaction, multiplying the power of a single Ninth Heaven master's self-detonation by at least a thousand times...

That wasn't a threat; that was absolute annihilation...

Both Fang Zhentian and Feng Yan understood that if they relied on their own strength to forcibly break through the Twelve Sky Witches Extinction Array, they would expend a colossal amount of energy. By then, forget about dealing with Ye Jingyu and the others—even escaping would likely prove difficult.

Now, they depended on the power of these puppets' self-detonations to blast open the array, giving them that slim chance to survive...

While pulling Fang Zhentian upwards, Feng Yan manipulated the Heaven-Flipping Seal in one hand and retrieved a golden brick with the other, hurling it towards Ye Jingyu.

The golden brick, initially only the size of a palm, immediately expanded to several zhang across as soon as it left his hand, instantly hurtling toward Ye Jingyu's face.

At this moment, Ye Jingyu's Eastern Emperor Bell was occupied subduing the Immortal-Slaying Sword, completely unable to be deployed, just like when he dealt with the Immortal-Slaying Sword previously. However, Ye Jingyu was truly ruthless; he merely tilted his head and used his bare shoulder to meet the incoming golden brick...

With a sharp "crack...", Ye Jingyu's powerful shoulder bone instantly shattered, sending a wave of intense pain through him. His airborne body was smashed straight down, but the golden brick was also knocked flying away by the impact.

Seeing Ye Jingyu actually use his flesh to resist his golden brick, a clear look of surprise flashed across Feng Yan’s face. This was not a brick he had smelted himself; it was one he had found in an ancient ruin, at least a Congenital Spirit Treasure. Even if its grade was lower than the Heaven-Flipping Seal Ye Jingyu had deployed earlier, it certainly wasn't something a common Immortal Artifact could block. How could Ye Jingyu withstand it? Had his physical body truly become that formidable?

However, in that moment, he didn't have time to dwell on his surprise. He retrieved the golden brick and continued to charge upward...

At this time, the puppets had reached the edge of the great array, and their entire bodies exploded outwards...

A series of crisp roars—"Rumble, rumble, rumble..."—followed, as streaks of light continuously erupted, slamming violently against the Twelve Sky Witches Extinction Array...

The savage energy mercilessly destroyed everything in its path. The array shook violently under the bombardment, and the dense dark clouds were blasted apart...

Not only that, but the rampant energy spread outwards from the array's vicinity. The lavender fields on the ground were instantly ground to dust, and the occasional small hills were flattened. Mushroom clouds rose one after another, resembling countless nuclear bombs detonating simultaneously.

The energy swept forward with incredible speed. Those survivors who had managed to escape the immediate aftermath of Fang Zhentian’s group had no time to react before they saw the blinding light rushing toward them.

Ye Jingyu, slammed to the ground by the golden brick, struggled to get back up. The Twelve Sky Witches Extinction Array had been ripped open, and the entire formation was shaking violently. Zhu Rong, Han Ba, and even the ten shadowy figures trembled incessantly. Liang Xiaoke, Xiyang, and the others were also thrown into disarray by the sudden explosion. They were lucky to have the protection of the array; otherwise, the blast's power would have been enough to severely wound or even obliterate them...

The injury on Ye Jingyu's shoulder was rapidly healing. Seeing Feng Yan and Fang Zhentian burst out of the array, the muscles in his face twitched. He absolutely could not let these two escape like this...

But the power within him had been excessively depleted. How could he possibly pursue them now...

"Jingyu... catch this..." Liang Xiaoke's voice echoed at that moment. Ye Jingyu watched as Liang Xiaoke deployed the Haotian Bead...

Streams of pure energy poured into Ye Jingyu's body. Instantly, he felt his entire being surging with power...

Returning the Haotian Bead to Liang Xiaoke, silver light shimmered beneath his feet, and his body transformed into a streak of light shooting toward the sky. Wind is the symbol of speed; what could be faster than the wind? Perhaps only light...

Without pausing for a moment, Ye Jingyu burst out of the array, intent on intercepting Feng Yan. However, his gaze suddenly snagged on a streak of blue-green in the distance...

It was a woman clad in a flowing gown of cyan and green gauze—who else but Qin Yuting? At this critical juncture, her eyes, like twin moons, were fixed directly on him. A faint smile graced her lips—a smile tinged with relief, a hint of helplessness, and a subtle bewilderment...

Memories flooded his mind without invitation: the first time he met Qin Yuting, scenes from the White Cloud Manor, and every little moment they had shared over the years...

Why? Why did he notice her at this precise moment?

A sharp ache bloomed in Ye Jingyu's heart, an ache overlaid with intense fury—fury directed at Feng Yan. To ensure his own escape, Feng Yan completely disregarded his own daughter's life...

He twisted his body, ready to rush towards Qin Yuting. Even if he didn't harbor deep romantic feelings for her, he didn't wish to watch this woman, who loved him so deeply, fade away into nothingness...

Qin Yuting seemed to perceive Ye Jingyu's intention. A radiant smile suddenly blossomed on her face—a smile of sheer happiness...

So, she did still hold a sliver of importance in his heart. At the very least, he was willing to temporarily set aside his chance for vengeance for her sake. Wasn't that enough?

"Junior Martial Brother, thank you for your consideration. Having this feeling from you is satisfaction enough for me..." Qin Yuting's lips moved slightly, but her figure directly faced the fierce, surging energy rushing toward her...

She did not want her presence to cause Ye Jingyu to miss this vital opportunity...

"No..." Ye Jingyu roared in despair, but Qin Yuting's body was instantly swallowed by the tidal wave of energy, leaving Ye Jingyu no chance whatsoever to save her...

Green robes flew, black hair danced, bright eyes closed, threads of affection severed...