"Wu Zhiqi, you have time to not hurry to escape, yet you insist on opposing me!?"

In the underground hall, although Sisi had once again repelled Wu Zhiqi with the Torrent of the Hydra's curved blade, the retreating intention in her heart became even stronger - even though she didn't know if Wu Zhiqi had been mentally injured from betraying his kin, even if Wu Zhiqi weakened, it didn't mean she became stronger!

However you put it, Wu Zhiqi is still at Moon Position in martial power, and she can barely contend with Wu Zhiqi with Star Position strength. Trying to reverse the odds from Star Position to Moon Position isn't impossible unless Wu Zhiqi fights her in the water!

Moreover, Sisi faintly felt that as the fight dragged on, Wu Zhiqi seemed to be getting fiercer, fighting more skillfully — if this continued, sooner or later she'd be caught off guard by Wu Zhiqi!

Le Yin didn't converse with Sisi at all, just charged at Sisi, leaving her no chance to escape. Below the underground hall was an underground river, Sisi could break through the floor to flee at any time. If Le Yin hadn't pressed her relentlessly, she would have run away long ago.

Actually, Sisi could escape right now, but her greed knows no bounds!

Besides disrupting Huiyao, Sisi's most important task was to collect Divine Weapons. With just the Water of Mutation she collected earlier, the Naga Clan could send a scholar masquerading as a human to learn human core technology and possibly even infiltrate the human upper echelons to influence state policies—then, the Naga Clan would truly be invincible!

And likewise, the Blood Essence Stone controlled by the Demon Race, which created the peerless smiles of a living immortal, also became the foundation for the first deceit strategy in history, 'Demonic Blood Mutation'... who wouldn't covet it?

Even though not every Divine Weapon has such power, who would turn down more? Moreover, some Divine Weapons might seem ordinary now, but maybe that's just because their true use hasn't been discovered yet; who knows what brilliance they might shine in the hands of the Naga Clan?

The seven sword sheaths seemed to all possess Divine Weapons, but they, with their equipment, were spoils for the Allied Forces of Different Races, and splitting them was planned for after it ended. With so many incidents, humans and the alliance were both losers, so Sisi rushed back to seize the spoils, making their Naga Clan the only winner.

Unfortunately, Wu Zhiqi appeared midway, and Sisi couldn't understand; why fight when they could just split the loot? This was human territory; a wild Cha Huan or a domesticated Xie Chenyuan could appear at any moment, and then no one could escape!

But just as a proper businessman fears Silver Blood Association members, those with shoes fear the barefooted, facing a Le Yin who couldn't be reasoned with, Sisi could only capitulate and abandon the spoils to flee.

However, like leaving a buffet always wanting one more bite, Sisi was unwilling to escape just like that. She glanced at the four sword sheaths, planning to randomly select a lucky sword sheath to take back for a prize draw.

Feng Lv was the first to be eliminated by Sisi—those impoverished Demon Races having a Blood Essence Stone was already fortunate, impossible to have a second Divine Weapon. Even if there was one, it absolutely couldn't be possessed by a half-demon like Feng Lv.

So it was up to the lucky three: Qin Le Yin, Cai Nu, or Mie Tangya. Without much hesitation, after fending off Le Yin, next to her was the stone coffin of Mie Tangya; she struck the ground with her right-hand curved blade and thrust at Mie Tangya with the left, intending to pack Mie Tangya up!

"Ah!"

A startled cry arose from the grass outside the pit, but neither Sisi nor Le Yin paid attention to the few little hamsters hiding outside.

However, before the curved blade could pierce the stone coffin, an arm, like a snake's kiss, struck out from the coffin toward Sisi, fingertips flickering with Liao Yuan's explosive light!

With the arm as the spear and the body as the pole!

Mie Tangya not only awakened but even had the ability to counterattack!

Although Sisi instantly used the Hydra's curved blade to unleash Torrent, shredding Mie Tangya's arm into mincemeat, this also cost her the chance to retreat intact!

"Ha!"

Le Yin released a thunderous shout for the first time in this battle, aiming to stun Sisi for a fleeting moment! With his feet on the Deceitful Path, the world turned into pitch-black night, only his hands glimmered like moonlight, seemingly cutting open the night sky!

Blood-drinking Eight Sheaves Flow · Ghost Step!

Divine Abilities · Butchery!

Water Moon Battle Technique · Midnight!

Sisi saw it with bulging eyes; during the fight just now, she had exposed that her Hydra's curved blades needed a cooldown period before unleashing the "Torrent" Secret Technique on a large scale. Now, having used "Torrent" with her left-hand curved blade to counter Mie Tangya, she could only use the right-hand curved blade to utilize "Torrent" to resist Wu Zhiqi.

But having both Hydra's curved blades in cooldown meant Sisi had no means to contend against Wu Zhiqi. Thus, after repelling Wu Zhiqi this time, she must immediately retreat into the underground river and leave, without further thoughts!

Though unwilling, to save her life, Sisi wouldn't hesitate—

Swish.

Following the sound of a blade piercing flesh, Sisi was shocked to see Feng Lv gripping her right wrist. Not only that, Feng Lv even voluntarily pushed his body toward the curved blade, using his full weight and flesh to lock her right hand!

"You—"

Sisi immediately activated "Torrent," shattering Feng Lv's body. But in the skirmish between martial pillars, a moment's delay can mean centuries missed, and slowed by Feng Lv, Sisi could no longer fend off Wu Zhiqi's full butchery!

Crash!

Sisi bore the brunt of Le Yin's two beams of midnight moonlight, her body spewing two cross-shaped blood marks, scales shattered all over the ground. She released the Hydra's curved blades as if spent, hopelessly kneeling on the ground.

"Cough!" Sisi coughed up turbid blood with fragments of viscera, struggling for breath like a fish flung onto land, crawling towards the narrow hole she'd just made—

Thud!

Le Yin squatted down, his broad ape-like hand tightly clutching Sisi's throat. Sisi glared at Le Yin with resentful eyes, her breathing heavy like a broken bell, saying word by word: "When this day ends, you and I shall both perish!"

Le Yin expressionless: "Send my regards to Qianmian."

And with that, Le Yin crushed Sisi's throat bone.

Naga Clan Star Position Martial Pillar · Sisi, deceased.

After confirming Sisi was completely dead, Le Yin tossed her into the underground river and turned to glance at other living beings.

Mie Tangya had a severed arm, barely able to sit in the stone coffin; Feng Lv had been bisected by "Torrent," his upper body revealing a mess of intestines and organs, yet somehow still clinging to life.

Noticing Le Yin's gaze, Feng Lv could even muster a feeble smile: "Master Wu Zhiqi, have you truly betrayed us? ...Can I still trust you?"

"Who knows, even I can't trust myself," Le Yin replied.

Feng Lv smiled faintly, suddenly raising his voice: "Qing Yun Palace, come over here..."

The grass outside the pit shook slightly, and Ming Qingyun soon manifested. She glanced at Le Yin with trepidation but then resolutely leapt into the underground hall.

"Consultant of Wu Zhiji... Do not harm her." Feng Lv's voice trembled, full of pleading.

Le Yu glanced at him: "Did I guess wrong, or were you just seeking your own death?"

"Some stories are doomed from the start, and can only be punctuated by death." Feng Lv's expression was desolate: "I cannot obtain, nor can I let go, and I cannot speak... I can't betray everything for her, nor betray my feelings for the tribe. Now I've used my life to repay the tribe's kindness, and the remaining time, let me use it to repay Qingyun Palace's trust."

Le Yu said: "Your feelings for the Sword Master are merely the twisted product of the Holy Sword's mark. It's false, unreasonable, and pathetic."

"No, it's not." Feng Lv shook his head: "Consultant Wu Zhiji you might think I've been brainwashed, but I know very clearly... the Holy Sword's mark isn't that powerful, it just provides a bridge, a shackle, an excuse."

"In life, one just wants to find a peer they can completely trust. The Holy Sword's mark forcibly connects us, but mutual trust is voluntary... When you have a companion to share secrets with, you are human, otherwise, you're just a beast hiding in your cave."

Just then, Ming Qingyun walked up to Feng Lv. When she saw Feng Lv's state, she couldn't help but burst into tears, squatting down and gently cradling Feng Lv's head. Feng Lv sighed: "Sorry, Qingyun Palace..."

Ming Qingyun shook her head and raised the back of her right hand: "In the name of Ming Qingyun, I command you... not to die! A Medical Officer will be here soon, I will take you to find Sima Huo, no one who finds Sima Huo can't be saved—"

"The Holy Sword isn't merciful to the point where it allows traitors to continue living, even without this injury, my spirit would weaken day by day with guilt. By comparison, dying like this, without leaving a corpse, is a comfort for me..." Feng Lv smiled: "Qingyun Palace, listen to me seriously—"

"Hey!"

"Put him down!"

"Put down Qin Le Yin!"

While Feng Lv and Ming Qingyun were chatting, Le Yu suddenly picked up 'Qin Le Yin' and ran. His speed was so fast that just as Le Yu's figure was about to disappear, Ming Shuiyun and others outside the pit reacted, but they were clearly unable to stop a Moon Position Martial Pillar from leaving, so they could only watch as 'Qin Le Yin' was taken away by this burly ape!

Ming Shuiyun staggered a step, unable to help but want to chase, but was quickly stopped by the nearby Ming Taolang and others: "Shuiyun, calm down!"

"How can you tell me to calm down!" Ming Shuiyun shook off her sisters' hands: "Qin Le Yin was taken away!"

"Perhaps he won't be harmed..."

Ming Shuiyun was almost in tears, but she couldn't catch up, so she could only kneel weakly on the ground: "How could nothing happen... didn't you see he couldn't even crawl, almost all his limbs broken? Would that savage treat him kindly? If the savage intends to kill, can he resist?!"

...

...

In a secluded, uninhabited place, 'Qin Le Yin' held the Netherworld Devil Sword, the blade pointed at Le Yu's throat.

If 'Qin Le Yin' pushed just an inch more, the long sword would cut Le Yu's throat, killing this enemy who had humiliated him!

Yet, if not for Le Yu tightly holding 'Qin Le Yin's hand, 'Qin Le Yin' would have already discarded the sword.

To outsiders, it seemed as if Le Yu wanted to use 'Qin Le Yin's hand to kill himself, while 'Qin Le Yin' was extremely unwilling, constantly exerting force, wanting to shake off the Netherworld Devil Sword!

This bizarre scene was incomprehensible to anyone but the two involved, who understood what 'borrowing the sword to kill' truly meant.

'Qin Le Yin's reaction also confirmed Le Yu's guess: just like Le Yu could gain others' memories through death, Wu Zhiji occupied Qin Le Yin's body and naturally could see Le Yu's operational records!

In other words, the one who understood Le Yu the most in this world was undoubtedly Wu Zhiji hidden in 'Qin Le Yin's body!

He knew all of Le Yu's secrets, knowledge, experiences!

He knew Le Yu's ability to substitute through death, even knew Le Yu came from another time and space!

Likewise, Le Yu knew all of Wu Zhiji's secrets, weaknesses, and regrets!

They knew each other's secrets and had even exchanged bodies!

They were the closest enemies, the most unfamiliar friends!

Throughout all ages, no two people's relationship would be as intimate, as resentful, and as bizarre as that of Le Yu and Wu Zhiji!

Therefore.

Only one of them could survive tonight.

In the end, it was Le Yu who was stronger, he firmly grasped 'Qin Le Yin's hands, letting 'Qin Le Yin' hold the Netherworld Devil Sword to pierce Le Yu's throat skin.

Seeing this scene, Wu Zhiji was utterly despairing. He wanted to say something, but his jaw was dislocated, and all he could do was drool.

"Why."

"Why."

In the final moments of life, Wu Zhiji finally used Qin Le Yin's body's 'Introductory Qi Harmony Combat Technique', creating sounds through air vibrations: "Why can someone like you, without purpose and empty... "

"Continue to survive... "

"While I must die?"

Sizz.

The Netherworld Devil Sword pierced through the Douzhanyao Yang's throat, drops of fresh blood were absorbed by the sword, the vast primordial energy of the demonic body flowed endlessly into the Red Hair White Snow Lord's body.

After an unknown amount of time.

Using the primordial energy to heal his injuries, Le Yu pulled out the Netherworld Devil Sword, turning it back into an iron bracelet. Wu Zhiji's corpse collapsed with a bang, and Le Yu squatted down, quietly gazing at those now-cloudy pupils.

After a long time, he began to answer:

"Yes... why indeed? Actually, I'm searching for the answer too."