Amidst the raging snowstorm, a group of people trudged arduously through the snowy terrain, fleeing desperately.
Every second was a race between life and death.
"Don't look back!"
The Moon Princess stumbled deep into the snow, her petite stature proving to be a disadvantage. Even though her proportions were flawless, the snow had already engulfed her thighs. Luckily, she possessed Divine Speed Force, and her movements were swift.
Lu Zijin gritted her teeth and refused to glance back. She knew that if she did, she might lose her will to move forward. She'd abandon her opportunity to ascend and break through, constrained by her emotions.
But such an action would accomplish nothing, as the Ether Association's reinforcements were still en route.
Even if she regained her strength, it wouldn't change the situation.
It would only make that person's sacrifice futile.
To be honest, she didn't even like that man. Lecherous, greasy, dramatic—a complete lack of charisma.
By comparison, she preferred someone younger, colder, and more dependable.
Xiao Gu fit the ideal perfectly.
But why did this feel so painful? She clenched her teeth, her palms almost breaking under the pressure of her grip.
"Let me go! Let me go back! That's my brother! Let me go back to him! He's my brother!" Lin Wanqiu broke down in desperate tears. This woman, who had been resolute as stone since stepping into the ice field, finally crumbled, sobbing like a child who'd lost everything. Her hair was in disarray, her dazzling beauty long gone.
Lu Qingqing carried her without a word, determined not to let this helpless woman take unnecessary risks.
It was then that the others understood her true reason for venturing into the Sea of Eternal Life.
She was here to protect someone precious to her.
In that moment, those who had once doubted or misunderstood her couldn't escape the pangs of remorse in their hearts.
Ji Xiaoyu carried two alchemists ahead of the group.
She suddenly recalled something her grandmother had said once.
In this world, some people were hopelessly foolish.
Always ready to lay down their lives for someone else—why bother?
Back then, she'd thought her grandmother was mocking such foolishness.
But the elder's sigh that followed carried another weight.
—Everyone envies those who still have the privilege to be foolish.
Chen Qing looked back for a fleeting moment.
The terrifying muffled roar sounded like thunder!
As a Sixth Rank Domain King, Zhang Xuzhi's displayed strength was beyond comprehension. Like a cannonball, he burst through the blizzard, his surging Qi Force roaring like a tsunami as he launched a devastating punch.
That single punch was enough to reduce anyone to pulp!
But Lin Lan flashed before him, tattoos of boys and girls covering his body silently roaring, as though transforming into dragons, granting him incomparably formidable physical strength. His Extraordinary Ability surged to its peak!
The clash of blade and sword resonated like the roar of thunder.
Each strike ripped through space with Dimension Slashes, countless Flying Swords snapping in half as fragments scattered wildly!
His spirituality evaporated wildly, and his stamina was depleting rapidly.
"How long can you last?"
Li Hanting spoke indifferently.
Accompanied by Elemental Turbulence of earth, wind, water, and fire, the Heavenly Master named Zhou Hanye dove toward him!
Lin Lan teleported again, his blade trembling mournfully as if weeping, while countless resentful souls from the depths of Hell roared!
Soul Blade Sound!
Zhou Hanye's spirituality was disrupted, and the Elemental Turbulence collapsed violently, forcing him to retreat using Telekinesis.
He even unleashed terrifying psychic thoughts, trying to destroy the troublesome man in front of him!
Bam!
Lin Lan spat blood as he fell onto the snowy ground, planting his blade into the earth to halt his decline.
His muscles alternated between relaxation and tension, the steam rising from his body diffusing into the icy landscape. His presence felt like a taut drawn bow or a tiger calmly facing danger.
He had intercepted countless attacks from the enemies by now. Facing a Sixth Rank and two Fifth Rank elites—resilient warriors not reliant on drugs or sheer luck—victory wasn't even a consideration. He simply aimed to delay them.
When Xiao Gu shared recent events with him, Lin Lan had already suspected something.
The air reeked of conspiracy.
After all, as a member of the Night Watchers, he'd seen the intrusions within Ether Association's factions.
Zhang Xuzhi had come today with murder on his mind.
Even if he didn't succeed, he'd collect enough evidence to destroy Minister Lu beyond salvation.
That outcome was already inevitable.
Lin Lan's priority was simply ensuring the women weren't killed on the spot.
"Run, hurry up and run!"
He leaned against his blade, glancing back at the snowstorm that had swallowed their figures.
That was his white moonlight from youth.
And his sister, who had been his sole companion for years.
How could he let them suffer after reuniting after such a long time?
Lin Lan raised his blade, roaring fiercely as his figure vanished once more!
Boom!
His Qi Force tore through the storm like raging waves.
Lin Lan's blade shattered under a powerful attack.
Flying Swords descended from heaven, only to be sliced apart. His broken blade revealed terrifying cracks.
The monstrous Elemental Turbulence was severed with a single slash. His cherished Tachi, the blade that accompanied him through countless battles, crumbled into mere fragments!
His body flickered wildly, wounds erupting all over him, spilling blood.
The strain wasn't just from the Penglai Ascension Array.
Even his mental fortitude was nearing its limit, teetering on the brink of deformation!
Qi Force surged around Zhang Xuzhi, who was both shocked and angry. Despite his three-against-one advantage, so much time had passed, and he still hadn't broken through the defensive line. Yet he dared not forcefully charge forward.
Because his opponent was on the Ghost Slayer Path.
The ability to instantly kill was too potent.
Even in a self-sacrificing gambit, Lin Lan could take at least one of them down!
"This man is at his limit—kill him now!"
Zhang Xuzhi lowered his stance, channeling Qi Force into his palms, merging it with the swirling snowstorm. His demonstration of ancient Martial Arts Extreme Intent showcased masterful skill!
"Understood!"
Li Hanting gripped an Iron Sword, the concentrated momentum of the blade growing to its peak, ready to explode forth.
Zhou Hanye unleashed tidal waves of Telekinesis, echoing through the void!
The snowstorm churned violently under the pressure of Qi Force, Telekinesis, and an impending streak of sword light from above.
Kneeling in the snow, Lin Lan let his consciousness sink deep.
At that moment, his mind wandered.
If he completely lost control, his fighting strength would elevate dramatically.
By the time Xiao Gu arrived, he could collect Lin Lan's soul.
Lin Lan had always known he was destined to die—there was nothing to fear.
Yeah.
Everything Old Gu entrusted to him had been completed.
Everything else could be left in that boy's hands.
Just as he was about to embrace his fall, he heard a familiar cry echo through the storm.
Lin Lan instinctively turned his head.
Through the storm, he saw Lin Wanqiu, somehow having broken free from the others' restraints. Who knew how this Priest had summoned such strength? She ran through the snow, her tears freezing in the air.
Gone was the beguiling charm of her gaze; her blood-red eyes reflected her plunge toward collapse.
"No, no, no! Sis, don't come here!"
Lin Lan realized something, enhanced his Divine Speed, and rushed away.
Just then, the Ether Association's reinforcements arrived, countless helicopters hovering in the air. Many saw these siblings rushing toward each other, yet no one issued attack orders.
Some recognized them.
Some wished them death.
Others hoped they'd sprout wings and embrace.
For a brief moment, Lin Wanqiu's body began to shine with holy light. She burned her spirituality to the extreme, forming radiant matrices. It was the culmination of her years of tireless research—not a world-changing invention, but just enough to suppress deformation.
Her hair flew wildly, and her long legs trudged through the snow.
Like an ethereal spirit.
Now she brought her life's work to the man teetering on the edge of deformation before her.
"Sis, drop down!"
Lin Lan flung his arms wide, shielding his sister with his back as he heard the approaching roar!
Boom!
Explosions reverberated as piercing Sword Qi, raging Qi Force, and tidal waves of Telekinesis unleashed their fury.
A massive mushroom cloud erupted, scattering the snowstorm into oblivion.
Lu Zijin suddenly leapt off onto the snow, sprinting forward!
"Stop her!"
Lu Qingqing scrambled to grab her wrist but was swiftly shaken off.
Ji Xiaoyu jumped up, attempting a grappling hold in response.
"Wait!"
Chen Qing felt something, speaking softly.
The Moon Princess suddenly turned back, gazing down at the Stone Bead trembling violently around her wrist.
As the snow and smoke dissipated, Lin Lan and Lin Wanqiu embraced tightly, the holy light healing their bodies, forming a divine matrix that suppressed deformation.
The siblings were alive.
Because a colossal golden skeleton shielded them, its four grotesque, terrifying Ghost Hands covered in dark Spells. From the black smoke glimmered blazing golden vertical pupils, burning brilliantly.
It stood like The Immortal of Colossal Spirit, unyielding against the onslaught of destruction.
Even with shattered bones, they reassembled instantly.
"Impressive."
Someone stood atop the massive skeleton's shoulder, his long coat flapping in the wind.
Whether it was Lin Lan or Lin Wanqiu, he genuinely admired their resolve.
"I think I once called you a scheming girl. Now, I retract that comment and apologize, Captain Lin."
Tang Ling glanced at the tightly held siblings and said indifferently, "And you—well done."
Rumble.
Dark clouds amassed on the horizon, the red-haired girl's locks dancing in the wind.
Sharp as blade and sword, captivating like a rose.
For a moment, the snowy landscape sank into a deadly silence.
Li Hanting gazed at the siblings, his eyes flashing with something razor-sharp.
Zhou Hanye asked in surprise, "So it's you?"
Through the prolonged silence, Zhang Xuzhi finally smirked. Killing those siblings hadn't been his true intention, and his animosity toward Minister Lu had merely stemmed from childish spite.
The ones he truly intended to kill were the boy and girl standing before him.
Now, they had arrived.
"I've been waiting for you two for a long time."
He spoke gently, "You actually walked straight into my trap."
With the snowstorm came a swarm of Ether Association helicopters—reinforcements in unimaginable numbers.
Tang Ling hoisted the Extreme Thunder Great Sword high and pointed it at him, saying coolly, "Apologies, but this isn't a trap."
Gu Jianlin smiled quietly, "But rather our heroic comeback."
Within the storm, the boy's figure shimmered like mist, indistinct yet present.
Facing a Sixth Rank, two Fifth Ranks, and the army of Ether Association members, to most people, this would be suicide.
But today's true battlefield strength didn't rest with mortals.
Zhang Xuzhi narrowed his eyes and raised a brow, "What did you just say?"
In an instant, he froze.
Through the snowstorm, someone appeared and placed a hand upon his face—long, ink-stained hair flowing in the wind, wielding a blood-drenched Tang Blade brimming with a pungent stench, breaking through the blizzard.
A faint but terrifying Dragon Roar echoed.
The snowstorm swirled violently.
"Are you certain you can unleash your full strength?"
Gu Jianlin asked calmly.
Now stood his true form.
Jiuyin trembled faintly, hissing scornfully, "Do you doubt my authority?"
"That's all I needed to hear."
Gu Jianlin crazily absorbed the surrounding Ancient God's Breath and murmured:
"From this moment forth, I am… Candle Dragon Venerable."
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