The person blocking Yan Tiandu was his daughter.
Yan You'er.
"No!"
Seeing this, Yan Tiandu was utterly despairing, his expression turning numb.
Facing that terrifying spatial blade, even he, with his Innate Realm strength, could not resist with all his might, let alone Yan You'er, who was only at the Origin Heart Realm.
Once hit, there was absolutely no possibility of survival.
Whoosh!
The silver-white brilliance streaked across the sky, the crescent blade carrying the terrifying power of space struck without incident, directly engulfing Yan You'er. The overflowing energy fluctuations spread madly outwards, and centered on Yan You'er, the area within a ten-mile radius became distorted.
As the impact of this power erupted, Yan Tiandu, who had been struggling to hold on, was also sent flying. However, this also allowed him to evade the spatial blade that was aimed at him.
He was, in a sense, saved.
But the price of this salvation was his daughter's life.
Yan Tiandu's body flew backward continuously through the air, blood gushing from his mouth along his trajectory, forming a blood-red trail. His entire face was a mixture of ferocity and distortion, revealing the most agonizing pain.
And this pain was not physical, but a direct strike to the soul.
Ultimately, he paid the price for his greed.
Bang!
After flying back nearly a hundred meters, Yan Tiandu's body slammed directly into a thick stone wall, and with the momentum, he became embedded within the stone, forming a human-shaped bloodied cavity.
Yan Tiandu's crushing defeat not only plunged the hearts of the Heavenly Pavilion disciples to the depths but also sent a chill down the spines of Li Hai and Zhu Youfu.
They had already realized deeply that they seemed to have come to the wrong place this time.
The terror of the young man opposite them had surpassed their comprehension. They feared that it wouldn't be long before Yan Tiandu's current plight would be their own fate.
But now, did they still have a chance to turn back?
High in the sky, Ye Ming gently lowered his hand, his gaze fixed on the center where his second spatial blade had detonated.
Yan You'er's sacrifice for her father was somewhat unexpected. It caused him to subconsciously retract some of his spatial power at the last moment.
But even so, it was still something Yan You'er could not withstand.
All in all, Ye Ming's mood at the moment was somewhat complex.
There was even a hint of annoyance.
So when his gaze fell upon the dying and unconscious Yan Tiandu again, it was filled with disgust and anger.
He hadn't died, yet his daughter had ended up taking the blow for him.
"Die!"
Ye Ming raised his hand, and another spatial blade condensed in his palm. The fury directed at Yan Tiandu made him completely murderous.
Just as he was about to make his move, an extremely weak voice suddenly came from afar.
"Young Master Ye... can... can you listen to me for a moment!"
This voice was, surprisingly, Yan You'er's.
Ye Ming turned around abruptly. In the distorted zone where his second spatial blade had exploded, a figure with a deathly pale face, soaked in blood, wavered and knelt in mid-air. The person's aura was like a campfire in a storm, ready to be extinguished at any moment.
This person was Yan You'er.
She was not dead!
Before her, a tattered black shield was still floating. Strange runes flickered on its surface, but the shining light had already faded to dust.
It was likely that the energy stored within had been completely depleted.
It was safe to assume that this small shield had played a crucial role in Yan You'er's survival.
But upon closer thought, Yan You'er, being a peerless prodigy of the Heavenly Pavilion, rarely seen in a thousand years, and having awakened the Saint-tier Primordial Force attribute, it was reasonable for her to possess a life-saving artifact.
Fortunately, with the protection of the sect, she managed to escape death this time, rather than perishing.
Of course!
If one were to consider the biggest reason for her survival, while the small shield was important, if Ye Ming had not subconsciously retracted some of his power at the last moment, the final outcome would likely not have changed.
In the end, it seemed Yan You'er was fated not to die.
"What do you want to say?"
Ye Ming looked at her calmly, his face showing almost no emotional fluctuation. However, his tone of voice was clearly more peaceful than before.
For a woman who dared to use her own life to save her father, regardless of their stance, Ye Ming chose to offer a measure of respect.
At the very least, such courage was not something everyone possessed.
Yan You'er shakily stood up, forcibly controlling the pained expression on her face. However, the small wounds all over her body still bled.
Observing her, Yan You'er exuded a sense of tragic beauty.
A fair maiden, yet bathed in blood. Who would not sigh at such a scene?
"Young Master Ye, the Heavenly Pavilion is willing to follow you. Will you accept us?"
Despite being covered in wounds, the determination in Yan You'er's beautiful eyes allowed no room for doubt.
At this point, this was the only way she could think of to save the Heavenly Pavilion.
Otherwise, everyone would die.
Including herself, who had just narrowly escaped death.
"What did you say?"
Ye Ming narrowed his eyes, a sharp glint flashing in his pupils. He seemed somewhat surprised by Yan You'er's sudden proposal.
Although he understood what she meant within a moment.
However, for Yan You'er, who had just returned from the brink of death, to have thought of this in such a short period was truly astonishing.
"Yan You'er is willing to lead the entire Heavenly Pavilion to follow you!"
This time, Yan You'er knelt on one knee, her voice ringing out loud and clear, reaching the ears of everyone present.
But this shout further aggravated her injuries. Blood flowed from the corners of her mouth again as she lowered her head.
"You cannot represent the Heavenly Pavilion!"
Ye Ming's voice remained indifferent, and he did not give Yan You'er the answer she desired.
"I can!" Yan You'er clenched her fists and said in a low voice, her head bowed:
"From this moment on, I am the new Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Pavilion!"
She was the leader of the Heavenly Pavilion.
With that, she suddenly looked up, her beautiful eyes fixed intently on the Heavenly Pavilion members in the distance. Her currently weak body seemed to exude an immeasurable pressure. Her pupils contained absolute majesty.
What she said now allowed no room for any objection from the Heavenly Pavilion members. It was as if anyone who dared to oppose her would be eliminated on the spot.
Under Yan You'er's piercing gaze, everyone lowered their heads, not daring to meet her eyes.
This was the gaze of a superior, and they could only submit.
Seeing Yan You'er's demeanor, Ye Ming saw dominance and resolve in her. At the same time, he felt a dimensional pressure unique to a leader.
This was someone born to be a leader. It would indeed be a pity for such a person to perish.
"Good! Congratulations on changing the fate of the Heavenly Pavilion!"
Ye Ming withdrew his gaze from Yan You'er, smiled faintly, and then looked at Li Hai and the others.
Upon hearing this, Yan You'er closed her eyes slightly.
The Heavenly Pavilion!
It was saved.