A terrifying force struck Tang Zhaoxue from afar, shaking her meridians to the point of bursting, blood uncontrollably spewing from her mouth.
She staggered backward with each step, leaving behind a circle of eerie crimson mist in midair.
The gap in cultivation was like an insurmountable chasm; no matter how exquisite her technique, it appeared utterly feeble and laughable under the overwhelming power.
The Heavenly Demon didn’t even bother to glance at her anymore, deeming her broken body somewhat useful—better to refine it into a Ferocious Nightmare.
Its crimson eyes locked onto Jiang Huai on the ground, raising its hand again as destructive energy wildly gathered, the target unmistakably clear.
Kill this Foundation Establishment Period seedling with the Yin-Yang Body!
Though Jiang Huai was only at the Foundation Establishment Period, the Heavenly Demon instinctively felt a surge of fear upon sensing his Yin-Yang spiritual power.
As if encountering a natural enemy, a physiological dread washed over it.
It must kill him!
At the moment the fatal strike was about to be unleashed, a resolute determination flashed in Tang Zhaoxue’s eyes—ready to burn everything to ash.
She abandoned all defense and evasion, transforming into a burning scarlet meteor, recklessly throwing herself onto the Heavenly Demon, her arms clamping tightly around its body.
“Get lost! You insignificant ant!” The Heavenly Demon was caught off guard, roaring furiously as it tried to shake off this sudden restraint.
But Tang Zhaoxue seemed to have nailed her entire life to it, the brief power from her burning essence allowing her to hold on firmly.
The Ferocious Nightmare’s anger and rage intensified; its fist as large as a rice bowl, wrapped in corrosive black mist, smashed heavy blows onto her back and shoulders.
The sound of bones shattering was gut-wrenching, and Tang Zhaoxue kept coughing up blood, warm droplets sizzling against the Heavenly Demon’s cold body.
Her consciousness began to blur, yet her arms only tightened their grip.
“You… shall not harm him.”
“He is the last one I want to protect…”
Even if he was not from this world, this protective heart was her last obsession as the Da Zongzhu and as a woman.
Yet her exquisitely beautiful face was stained with blood, and her delicate body was now almost unrecognizable.
Like a candle flickering in the wind, a withered lamp in the rain.
The Heavenly Demon grew increasingly frenzied, finally gathering all its strength to deliver a crushing palm strike.
“Foolish mortal!”
That palm completely shattered the last flicker of life in Tang Zhaoxue, instantly dispersing the binding power.
She fell like a wingless bird, powerless from the sky.
Dizzy and spinning, Tang Zhaoxue felt as if she were a mere mortal plummeting into the abyss of death.
At last, her final mission was complete.
Countless faces flashed before her eyes like a revolving lantern—those fellow disciples who had sacrificed themselves resisting the Xie Tide, ultimately lingering on her own.
But the expected shattering impact upon hitting the ground never came.
She fell into a warm, trembling embrace.
Jiang Huai caught her broken body steadily, lowering his head to look at her bloodless face.
“Why aren’t you running…?”
“What if I don’t?”
Tang Zhaoxue struggled to open her eyes, attempting to raise a hand to hit him for not escaping, but she had no strength left, only mustering her last breath to whisper, “I don’t want you to die…”
Before Jiang Huai stood Zhu Siyao, bow in hand, her red armor flickering with uncertain flames.
Facing the terrifying Heavenly Demon, her face was pale but she did not retreat an inch.
The Ferocious Nightmare descended slowly, step by step closing in, eyes locked on Jiang Huai, voice dripping with mockery: “Young master, you really are lucky.”
“No matter where you go, there are foolish women protecting you.”
“Qin Qingyue, Zhu Siyao who has always clung to you in the Secret Realm, and now even Tang Zhaoxue who is desperately defending you.”
“This time, let’s see who else can save you?”
“The Yin-Yang Body must die! Your very existence is the greatest mistake!”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Huai suddenly lifted his head, glaring fiercely at the Heavenly Demon, killing intent blazing.
That look caused the demon to instinctively take a step back, an indescribable fear swelling deep within.
Damn it—why did this race have a Yin-Yang Body constitution? It was born solely to be hunted down.
“Today, you will die here!” The Heavenly Demon raised its claws, howling, a dark aura surging to the skies.
“You are the one who should die,” Jiang Huai said coldly, word by word.
Then, suddenly raising his hand and pointing to the heavens with a sword finger, his voice pierced through the clouds:
“Qin Qingyue!”
As if answering his call, a dragon’s roar shattered the Nine Heavens!
A massive black dragon tore through the clouds, its scales shimmering with a cold light, bearing supreme dragon might as it descended with unstoppable force.
“Jiang Huai!” Qin Qingyue responded.
Zhu Siyao exhaled deeply, the tension in her chest easing.
Finally, reinforcements had arrived.
Boundless sword light swept across the sky like a fallen galaxy.
Wu Zhaohua, wearing flowing robes, stepped forward, gripping an ancient sword; with each step, her Sword Intent locked onto the Heavenly Demon.
She coldly stared at the demon before her, the Wenxuan Sword Intent swirling.
Tang Zhaoxue, cradled in Jiang Huai’s arms, opened her eyes with her last strength to witness a scene she would never forget.
Endless black flames intertwined with immeasurable sword light, forming an inescapable celestial net.
This awe-inspiring divine might was so powerful it seemed to dim heaven and earth, bombarding the Heavenly Demon from all sides.
The power was so immense, so grand, it made her feel as insignificant as dust.
Yet in the eye of this destructive storm, she and Jiang Huai remained unharmed, gently protected within.
“No! He must die! He cannot live!” The Heavenly Demon roared one final desperate, venomous scream, pointing at Jiang Huai.
Then, engulfed by infinite black flames and sword light, it was utterly obliterated, turning to ashes.
Its overwhelming hatred and fear dissipated without a trace.
The lesser evil demons melted like ice and snow under the radiant divine might, vanishing instantly.
“This…”
The remaining elder disciples of the Xuanxian Immortal Sect stared in stunned disbelief, as if witnessing a miracle, utterly at a loss.
Immortals? Were these four descended from the heavens?
“Jiang Huai!”
“I’ve missed you so much!” Qin Qingyue didn’t even take human form; she instantly shrank into a delicate, adorable little black dragon, darting onto Jiang Huai.
Her cool, smooth dragon body wound affectionately around him, nuzzling his cheek with her tiny dragon head, greedily breathing in his presence.
“You scared me to death! Why did you come? Why not protect yourself properly?”
“Who is this?” Qin Qingyue squinted her dragon eyes, looking at the barely breathing Tang Zhaoxue in Jiang Huai’s arms.
Jiang Huai gently stroked her small, exquisite dragon head, and Qin Qingyue immediately looked content, curling tighter.
“She is Tang Zhaoxue, Da Zongzhu of the Xuanxian Immortal Sect. She took this form to fight the Xie Tide and to protect me.”
“Can she still be saved?”
Hearing it was because she protected Jiang Huai that she was injured, Qin Qingyue’s expression grew serious.
With her dragon tail lightly swaying, she carefully examined Tang Zhaoxue’s injuries.
Anyone who protected her husband must never be underestimated.
“The injuries are severe, her essence is nearly burnt out.”
“She looks like she might… be dead?” Qin Qingyue tilted her dragon head uncertainly, her tail flicking in doubt.
“I’m no expert in this.”
“Bailu! Bailu!” she called out loudly, raising her head.
A pure white light flashed as a small white dragon of similar size but more delicate and elegant appearance gracefully arrived.
Her scales were exquisite and translucent, like carved ice and snow.
Her horns curved beautifully, even more refined than the Azure Dragon and more graceful than the black dragon.
An aura of cold tranquility radiated from her.
“Palace Master Qin, what’s the matter?” Bailu’s voice was clear as an icy spring.
“Is there still hope for this woman?” Qin Qingyue pointed her dragon tail at Tang Zhaoxue, barely clinging to life in Jiang Huai’s arms.
Bailu focused on the woman whose aura was nearly extinguished, a trace of solemnity flashing in her crystal-clear dragon eyes.