Transforming into a stunningly beautiful fox spirit, leaving a scar on the heart of a prodigy.

The flying sword stopped three inches from Su Xiaojiu's brow.

Without a sound, the superior spiritual weapon, powerful enough to pierce through metal and stone, shattered inch by inch, turning into a handful of iron dust that fell down in a flurry.

Su Xiaojiu didn't look at the worshipper who made the move, nor did she look at the astonished Di Shitian.

She simply looked down at the mangled, bloody figure at her feet.

This silly tiger.

It wasn't until just now that she understood why she couldn't get out.

The barrier sealing the cave entrance was not an ordinary demonic energy barrier, but rather a barrier formed by Bai Yin extracting half of his demonic core essence and pinning it firmly to the cave entrance.

Unless he dies, or is defeated to the point of losing all consciousness, the barrier will never open.

He truly wanted to keep her hidden behind him, even if it meant risking his life.

Su Xiaojiu squatted down and touched a little blood from Bai Yin's cheek with her fingertips.

The blood was hot, so hot that her fingertips trembled.

Bai Yin's eyes were half-open, his pupils were already somewhat dilated, but he still stared intently at her, his throat emitting a wheezing sound like a broken bellows.

He was in a hurry.

He was afraid.

He was afraid she would get hurt, afraid she would be taken away, afraid that all his injuries would be for nothing.

"Don't move."

Su Xiaojiu said softly.

She reached out and placed her hand on Bai Yin's still faintly beating heart.

A gentle force flowed through his palm, protecting his last breath.

Then she stood up.

Her originally lazy and casual demeanor completely changed at this moment.

She turned around to face the countless demon soldiers and the high and mighty demon emperor.

Deep within his dantian, a ball of white flame began to flicker violently.

That is the origin of this incarnation.

It is the purest life flame of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox lineage.

It is also the foundation upon which her body is able to live in this world.

Su Xiaojiu raised her hand, palm facing up.

A white fire lotus slowly bloomed in her palm.

There was no earth-shattering momentum, nor any scorching heat wave.

But the moment this fire lotus appeared, the spiritual energy within a hundred miles instantly froze.

On the warship, the few Venerable Ones at the Casting Cauldron Realm were deathly pale, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.

That was a fear that came from the depths of one's soul.

It is the instinctive submission and fear that lower beings feel when facing ancient divine beasts.

"You want my blood?"

Su Xiaojiu looked at Di Shitian, her voice soft yet clearly carrying to every corner.

"Then let's see if you're lucky enough to take it."

The words fell.

The fire lotus in her palm suddenly shattered.

boom!

An indescribable, terrifying wave erupted instantly, centered on Su Xiaojiu.

Heaven and earth faded.

The sky, which was originally stained red by the malevolent energy of Geng metal, was now covered in a deathly white.

That is not light.

That was destruction.

It is the celestial fox origin triggered by the quasi-emperor's divine soul, a resolute act of mutual destruction.

"not good!"

Indra's pupils shrank to the size of pinpoints, and the hairs on his body stood on end.

He sensed the approach of death.

This force is something he simply cannot withstand in his current state.

Even if he is a demon emperor, even if he is protected by the imperial dragon aura.

Before this pure destructive power, everything is as fragile as a piece of paper.

"A sky-shading umbrella!"

At the critical moment, Indra summoned the black umbrella that Tianpeng had given him before his departure.

The umbrella is opened.

The illusory images of mountains and rivers flowed across the umbrella, and an ancient and weathered aura descended, enveloping the warship and its occupants.

An ancient artifact, capable of blotting out the sky and the sun.

however.

The white flames were everywhere.

sizzle-

A sickening corrosive sound rang out.

The divine artifact, said to be able to conceal the secrets of heaven, began to wither and its spiritual light rapidly dimmed the moment it came into contact with the white flames.

Click.

A crisp sound.

The umbrella ribs broke.

This ancient artifact was actually burned through, leaving a large hole.

puff!

Emperor Shitian spat out a mouthful of blood, his figure retreated a hundred feet, his hair disheveled, his dragon robe charred black, and he was in an extremely sorry state.

But he survived.

The terrifying shockwave dissipated after shattering the protective umbrella.

After all, this is just an avatar of Su Xiaojiu, with limited origin, and cannot truly destroy the world.

Su Xiaojiu stood there, her face ashen, her body swaying precariously.

Only a wisp of the original fire within her dantian remained.

That was her fate.

The fire went out, but the people died.

Di Shitian wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, looked down at the extremely weak woman below, a trace of lingering fear flashed in his eyes, followed by overwhelming anger and ecstasy.

Such a terrifying origin.

If we can bring it back, Master will surely recover!

"Take her down!"

Di Shitian shouted and flashed, appearing directly in front of Su Xiaojiu, reaching out to grab her shoulder.

This time, he used all his strength and held back in the slightest.

Just keep breathing.

Su Xiaojiu did not dodge.

She simply raised her hand and pinched the last wisp of primordial flame between two fingers.

That was her last bargaining chip.

"You dare to move and try."

Su Xiaojiu looked at Di Shitian with an eerily calm expression.

"If you come any closer, I'll extinguish this flame myself. Even if it means my soul is scattered, I won't let you succeed."

"What you'll be taking back is just a pile of useless white ash."

Indra's hand froze in mid-air.

It was only half an inch away from Su Xiaojiu's shoulder.

But he dared not make the arrest.

He can't afford to gamble.

The fate of the master, and the future of the demon race, all rest on this woman's shoulders.

If she truly severed her own origins, then everything he did would become a joke.

What do you want?

Indra withdrew his hand and asked through gritted teeth.

Su Xiaojiu pointed to Bai Yin behind her.

"Save him."

"Use your best medicine to save his life."

"If you cure him, I'll go with you."

Indra glanced at the blood-soaked figure lying in the pile of rubble.

Just a mad tiger.

If you kill someone, you kill them; if you save someone, you save them.

As long as it can bring back the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox, this price is nothing.

"it is good."

Indra did not hesitate at all.

With a flick of his wrist, he took out a jade bottle.

As soon as the cork was pulled out, a rich sense of vitality instantly filled the air.

Seven-Turn Rejuvenation Pill.

Royal secret medicine, able to revive the dead and heal flesh and bones.

With a flick of his finger, Emperor Shitian sent a elixir that transformed into a stream of light and shot into Bai Yin's mouth.

The medicinal effects dissipated.

The terrifying hole in Bai Yin's chest began to heal at a visible speed, the broken bones crackling, and his previously faint breathing gradually stabilized.

His life was saved.

Seeing this scene, Su Xiaojiu's tense nerves finally relaxed a little.

She turned around, walked to Bai Yin's side, and slowly squatted down.

Bai Yin is still in a coma.

But he seemed to sense something; his blood-stained hand unconsciously grabbed Su Xiaojiu's clothes.

They would rather die than let go.

Su Xiaojiu's eyes reddened.

She reached out and, little by little, pried open those stiff fingers.

With each strand he broke open, Bai Yin's brow furrowed more deeply, and a painful whimper escaped his throat.

Like an abandoned young animal.

"noob."

Su Xiaojiu called softly.

She grabbed Bai Yin's large hand and pressed it against her cold cheek.

The calluses on her palms rubbed against her, causing her some pain.

But she couldn't bear to move it.

Tears streamed down his cheeks, dripping onto Bai Yin's palms and mingling with the dried blood.

"You silly tiger."

Su Xiaojiu sniffed, her voice trembling with tears.

"Who told you to work so hard?"

"Who told you to be so obedient?"

"If I tell you to guard it, are you really going to risk your life to do it?"

She lowered her head, her forehead pressed against Bai Yin's palm, her shoulders trembling slightly.

This was a scheme.

But the affection this tiger showed her was too profound.

It was so heavy that even her heart, which had been scheming for a thousand years, felt a little uneasy.

"I'm leaving."

Su Xiaojiu whispered in his ear.

"You must live well."

"Heal your wounds and sharpen your knife."

"Don't forget the fox I drew in your palm."

"That's a mark."

"As long as the mark remains, I remain."

Done.

She hardened her heart and put Bai Yin's hand back on the ground.

Stand up.

He never looked back again.

"Let's go."

Su Xiaojiu walked up to Di Shitian, her expression returning to its usual coldness.

Di Shitian gave her a deep look, then waved his hand and unleashed a burst of spiritual energy, lifting Su Xiaojiu up and flying towards the warship.

woo-

The bugle sounded again.

The massive warship turned around, crushing the void, and carrying the woman in white, disappeared into the depths of the clouds.

Yunmeng Marsh returned to its lifeless state.

All that remained was a scene of utter devastation, and a white-haired youth lying amidst the ruins, clutching a wisp of air tightly in his hand.

The wind blows through the reeds.

It sounded like sobbing.

To the tune of "Bu Suanzi: Farewell to Yunmeng"

The flames of war raged in the setting sun, and blood stained the white reeds.

She sacrificed her beautiful soul to keep her beloved alive.

Do not say that it is hard to keep what is gone, nor lament the helplessness of love.

The cinnabar mark on my palm bears the marks of bygone days; I await the day when my longing for you will fade.