With the Spirit Pearl lost and subjected to a fierce explosion, Bai Yanshu, Shang Xie Zhuo, and Madam Yaoguang all collapsed powerlessly to the ground. Though not dead, they had completely lost their cultivation, rendering them practically useless.
The Great Emperor Haotian was no better, falling into a long slumber once more, his body returned to Shang Xie Shaoqing.
Xing Tian seemed to sense their presence and began walking towards Bai Yanshu.
"Hey, ugly monster, I'm here! Come kill me!"
Suddenly, an urgent voice rang out.
Su Luo's gaze shifted, and she saw Lu Jixing's head emerging from a vast rift in the ground ahead. He was struggling to cling to the edge, shouting loudly. It was clear he was severely injured and almost fell in, destined to be buried alive.
Xing Tian heard Lu Jixing's voice, abandoned the more distant Bai Yanshu, and turned towards him.
In no time, it would be stomping on Lu Jixing's head.
"Third Senior Brother, hurry and dodge!" Su Luo cried out, urging him to escape.
But it was too late. Xing Tian's foot was already descending.
A figure flashed past, lightning-fast, grabbing Lu Jixing's hand from in front of Xing Tian and pulling him into the air. With a thunderous crash, a massive, thick leg came down, crushing the rift into a deep pit.
It was Li Tianjue!
At the critical moment, he saved Lu Jixing, but the commotion alerted Xing Tian. It swung an arm, reaching for the two in mid-air.
From afar, everyone watched with anxious hearts, but their injuries were too severe to even shout, "Quick, dodge!"
Xing Tian flailed its arms, relentlessly grabbing at Li Tianjue and Lu Jixing. Though it could no longer see, its senses remained sharp.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Xing Tian grabbed massive rocks and hurled them at Li Tianjue. The rocks shattered in mid-air, exploding like a barrage of sword energy.
At the eleventh hour, Su Luo was desperate.
She flew out, disregarding everything, and rapidly approached Xing Tian, intending to use the Fengshen Jue to seal Xing Tian's power, even for a moment. Earlier, she had wanted Abu to carry her closer to Xing Tian, but failed.
Everyone saw Su Luo's action, but no one could warn her anymore.
All lay on the ground, barely clinging to life.
One hundred Zhang!
Eighty Zhang!
Fifty Zhang!
The distance rapidly closed, and Su Luo was approaching Xing Tian.
It was still pursuing Li Tianjue and Lu Jixing, swinging its remaining four intact arms, having descended into madness.
Fengshen Jue!
Su Luo's gaze turned cold as she unleashed her ultimate skill on Xing Tian.
In an instant, she felt her life force rapidly draining, and an overwhelming fatigue washed over her, almost causing her to fall. After managing to stabilize herself in mid-air, she had no idea if it had worked. Xing Tian continued its rampage, relentlessly chasing Li Tianjue.
Crushed stones flew, sand and gravel whirled, and the world was shrouded in darkness.
Xing Tian's colossal body was like a towering mountain. With every swing, powerful gusts of wind swept out, and potent energy surged.
Even Li Tianjue, with Lu Jixing, could only evade its onslaught, constantly dodging left and right. Any slight delay would mean certain doom.
Fengshen Jue!
Su Luo cast the spell again, finally within the full casting range.
Ahead, Xing Tian suddenly froze in place, motionless. Its arms were raised high but did not descend, and the booming footsteps also ceased. It remained in an odd posture, as fierce winds raged and debris struck its body, as Li Tianjue and the other retreated.
Having flown several dozen Zhang away, Li Tianjue sensed something.
Xing Tian's movement… seemed to have lessened?
He looked back and immediately understood. It was Luo Luo. It was her!
Su Luo had cast that spell again.
This was a golden opportunity. Li Tianjue quickly put down Lu Jixing, giving a hurried instruction, "Hide far away quickly, I'm going to help Luo Luo." With that, he left Lu Jixing behind and turned back towards Xing Tian, swift as lightning.
The Zhulong Sword in his hand transformed into a dark shadow, flashing once to pierce Xing Tian's maw and emerge from behind its head.
Xing Tian shuddered violently, seemingly about to break free from the Fengshen Jue's control. Su Luo dared not delay, casting Fengshen Jue once more. This single action almost completely depleted her spiritual energy, her life force vanishing as an invisible force.
Su Luo could no longer hold on and began to fall.
"Luo Luo!"
Little Su…
Not good!
Countless people watched the figure falling from the sky, like leaves in a dying wind, broken and gentle.
They wished to go forward and save Su Luo, but their strength failed them. Every movement brought waves of pain that threatened to make them faint. They were barely holding on, anxious as ants on a hot pan, yet utterly powerless.
Just then, a large hand reached out, catching Su Luo in mid-air.
It was a giant who had happened to fall to the ground.
"Eldest Senior Brother, don't worry about me! Kill… kill Xing Tian, quickly!" Su Luo, utterly exhausted, collapsed into the giant's palm but still urged Li Tianjue to act swiftly. If the opportunity was missed, Xing Tian would never be killed.
Not far away, Li Tianjue hovered in the air, holding the bloodstained Zhulong Sword, wishing he could rush to Su Luo's side immediately.
But reason held him back.
Looking at the frozen Xing Tian, Li Tianjue knew he had to seize the moment. If it passed, not only would Luo Luo have wasted her mental and spiritual energy in vain, but he and everyone else would perish here.
Luo Luo, Master, everyone… you must hold on!
He silently uttered this thought, then Li Tianjue, hovering motionless, suddenly erupted in a bright glow, enveloped by blazing flames. In the sky, crackling lightning appeared, striking down one after another.
From afar, everyone watching Li Tianjue was startled.
Enlightenment!
Li Tianjue had actually achieved enlightenment at this critical juncture.
Such a rare opportunity was elusive, often encountered only once in a lifetime, yet he had attained it in a moment of life-or-death crisis, causing his cultivation to soar, his practiced techniques to become more potent, and allowing him to comprehend the profound mysteries of the universe and the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth.
Boom! Boom!
Flames raged, and thunder swept through the desolate plain, a terrifying power rapidly spreading.
As if sensing the danger, and perhaps as the effect of the Fengshen Jue began to wane, Xing Tian slowly stirred.
Boom!
Streams of purple lightning struck Xing Tian, crackling and spitting sparks as they coursed through its body.
Xing Tian cried out in pain and swung a hand, about to form a terrifying hurricane. Seeing this, Su Luo mustered all her strength and silently chanted, "Fengshen Jue!"
Absolutely must not let it move.
Even if it meant exhausting her life force, she could not let Xing Tian continue its rampage and let their efforts be in vain.
Endless lightning descended, striking Xing Tian repeatedly. Flames spread from its legs, engulfing its entire body. Xing Tian stood like a lifeless stone carving, unmoving, yet gradually its skin split open and its flesh tore, its body becoming blackened and charred.
The entire desolate plain seemed to have turned into a purgatory.
The fire burned for three hours, and the lightning struck for three hours. The Life and Death Chasm was completely transformed, bearing no resemblance to its former state.
Xing Tian finally became a black charcoal mountain, standing tall on the devastated land.
"It's dead… it's finally dead?"
Su Luo struggled to open her eyes, wanting to confirm if Xing Tian was dead. But she was so tired, completely devoid of strength. Her life force was almost depleted. If she hadn't consumed the last of the refined Spring of Life, she would have surely perished.
By the time Li Tianjue picked up Su Luo, she had already closed her eyes.
"Luo Luo! Luo Luo!" He exclaimed in alarm.
…
For three full days, Su Luo did not wake up, and everyone was extremely anxious.
Xing Tian was finally dead. Although everyone was severely injured, some even having lost all their cultivation, they had at least survived.
Only Su Luo remained unconscious.
The crisis on the Xuanhuang Continent was averted. The earth-shattering battle that took place at the Life and Death Chasm slowly spread. Other factions only realized the terrifying crisis that had occurred afterward. If not for the resolute efforts of the sect leaders of Changsheng Palace, Liuyu Cult, and Qingxu Heaven, as well as the intervention of an Emperor-level figure from tens of thousands of years ago, everyone would have perished.
News spread like wildfire, with various versions circulating.
The reports of the deaths of Mo Luojia, the leader of the Demonic Sect, Shui Hanyi, and Duan Jinghong were the most shocking. In contrast, news about ancient demonic beasts like Xing Tian was far less prevalent, as no one had ever seen it or personally experienced its presence.
It was better not to know, lest it cause widespread panic, especially since the matter of the Divine Realm's entrance could not be revealed.
Those in the know unanimously chose to maintain secrecy.
Having gone through life and death, everyone was deeply moved, as if reborn, and their opinions were in complete agreement.
Qingxu Heaven…
The usually lively sect was now quiet, with even beast roars rarely heard.
All outer disciples were diligently practicing, living their lives, and taking on missions, just as usual. Yet, there was a distinct difference from before; their smiles were gone, and their eyes lacked their former brilliance.
Senior Sister Su had been in a coma for a month.
When would she wake up?
Everyone was concerned.
"Alright, alright, this old man has finally finished refining it!"
A joyful voice broke the silence of Qingxu Heaven. Great Emperor Haotian, in Shang Xie Shaoqing's body, rushed out of the room with a jade bottle, his face beaming.
Li Tianjue, his face covered in stubble, his eyes lit up, "Great Emperor, is it finally done?"
He had been waiting here for a month, anticipating Great Emperor Haotian's successful refining of the Spring of Life to awaken Su Luo.
Chu Tianshu, Lu Jixing, Zhan Li, Bai Qi, and the others gathered around, filled with surprise and joy.
"Excellent, Junior Sister can wake up now."
"Is it really effective?"
"Heaven protect us, may Sister Su awaken…"
"Thank you, Great Emperor!" Li Tianjue uttered, snatched the jade bottle from Great Emperor Haotian's hand, and rushed towards Su Luo's room.
In the serene bedroom, a maiden lay on the bed, exquisitely beautiful and ethereal.
Li Tianjue gently helped her sit up, bringing the bottle to her lips, his hands trembling slightly. However, the maiden's lips were tightly closed, and the Spring of Life could not be administered, even flowing down the corners of her lips.
"Luo Luo…"
Looking at the maiden's face, he took the Spring of Life into his mouth, leaned forward, and gently pried open her lips.
As their lips met, a radiant glow flowed.
The maiden's internal vitality grew rapidly like spring sprouts. Her pale cheeks gradually regained their rosy hue, her eyelids twitched, as if she were about to wake.
Li Tianjue held her tenderly, slowly transferring his spiritual energy to assist the Spring of Life's energy in filling the maiden's entire body. He felt her increasingly vibrant breath and heard the soft murmurs emanating from her throat.
"Eldest Senior Brother, Junior Sister she…"
Suddenly, the bedroom door was pushed open, and a group of people rushed in.
Upon seeing the scene, Chu Tianshu and the others were stunned, their eyes wide, staring fixedly.
"Eldest Eldest Eldest Senior Brother, you actually…"
"Junior Sister is awake?"
Everyone could hardly believe it. They had rushed in to check on Su Luo's condition, only to find their Eldest Senior Brother and Junior Sister… kissing!
They hadn't even separated when the others entered, as if they hadn't heard their voices.
The first to react was the Grand Elder, who pushed everyone out and then gently closed the door. Assured that the two inside were not being disturbed, he sternly lowered his voice, "Go, go, go, don't crowd around here, what does this look like?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he couldn't help but laugh. After one laugh, he quickly suppressed it.
"Did I see correctly? Su Ya Tou actually…"
"No, it was Tianjue who kissed her, it must have been. This brat has finally opened up!"
"He was told to deliver medicine, but he actually made a move on Su Ya Tou. Truly a beast!"
"What do you know? I think Tianjue did a great job…"
"Oh my, Su Ya Tou is awake, and Tianjue kissed her. Oh my, this time it's bound to be true, good things are coming to Qingxu Heaven, hahahaha…"
"Quick, quick, start preparing for the wedding!"
"I can't wait…"
(The End)