A Severed Head

"Is that so? Then Mother can rest assured."

The two communicated in a flat tone, without the joy of a long-awaited reunion or the sorrow of a separation, making the scene seem exceptionally unusual to outsiders.

"Come here, Mother has one last thing to give you."

What is that?

"Something that will probably kill you too."

"Oh."

Hongdou walked over without hesitation and placed her hand in her mother's palm. Instantly, a strange power flowed from her mother's body.

"This is a Cultivation Method I obtained by chance when your father and I were excavating ruins. It's called the 'Scroll of Space,' a strange scripture that explains spatial dimensions. Its principles are completely different from all the martial arts Cultivation Method in the Sea Continent. Ordinary beings would go mad and become extremely temperamental after practicing it, but it won't matter to you. A person without a 'heart' cannot generate inner demons."

Why should this power be handed over to me?

"Alas, this is fate! As a half-human, half-monster, you were destined to sacrifice yourself from the moment you were born. This is the price I have to pay for forcibly cultivating the 'Scroll of Space' —to personally bury my own daughter... I'm sorry, I gave birth to you without your consent, but I couldn't let you enjoy a complete life. Your father and I were Tibet all over the world to conceal our whereabouts, and we never fulfilled our responsibility to take care of you."

Hongdou shook her head. "It's okay, I understand... Originally, I had another question I wanted to ask you, but now I don't need to. Although my daughter is disliked by many, there are still a few people who are willing to understand her... A good friend told me that I don't need to please everyone; one or two true friends are enough in a lifetime. So, my daughter is very happy now."

"That's good, that's good..."

After transferring the inherited power, Illusion Ji's face paled, and her aura became extremely weak. With her last strength, she said, "Listen carefully to what I'm about to say. Once the Flesh and Blood Wormhole is opened, you must use the 'Scroll of Space' to close it. Only in this way can the war between the two races be stopped and countless lives saved. Although you may have to pay with your life for it, this is your destiny as a half-human, half-monster..."

Before she could finish speaking, a look of surprise flashed across her face. "Wait a minute, the timing is wrong! It shouldn't be today, there's still a day and a half to go!"

Suddenly, she lost her dying appearance, nimbly straightened up, spat out a mouthful of blood, then dipped her finger in the blood to draw a talisman, performing a divination.

When the results came out, Illusion Ji's expression was one of surprise and joy. "Fate has changed! How could this be? It changed without any warning!"

"Mother, what's wrong?" Hongdou tilted her head, puzzled.

After thinking for a while and still unable to come up with an answer, Illusion Ji simply gave up, as long as the result was good.

"Haha, although I don't know why, it seems you don't have to sacrifice yourself. Because the time was brought forward, the Crimson Shadow King's preparations were not yet complete, and he was unable to open the Flesh and Blood Wormhole. His plan is destined to fail."

With the biggest weight lifted from her heart, she breathed a long sigh of relief, as if experiencing a final burst of energy before death, feeling much more refreshed. "Now I can go with your father in peace."

"Mother, are you still leaving? My friend is outside; he has many ways to save you."

Illusion Ji waved her hand dismissively, saying, "No need. Your father is a good-for-nothing. Without my care, he's just a useless man. He's been waiting alone underground for so many days. He's probably crying his eyes out right now, begging me to go and be with him."

No one else would have stood by and watched their own mother give up her life. Even if they encountered a stranger contemplating suicide, they would have tried every means to dissuade them. But Hongdou simply nodded and accepted it.

Why did Mother fall for Father?

"Back then, I had just run away from home and was naive, easily fooled by his poetic charm. ' Hongdou grow in the south, how many branches will sprout in spring? I wish you would gather more, for this is the most evocative of longing.' Thinking about it now, I feel so resentful. Someone as brilliant as me actually fell for him because of a poem, only to later find out it wasn't written by him. It's a pity I got hooked, and it's too late to regret it..."

Illusion Ji sat on the ground, holding Hongdou in her arms, reminiscing about the past and recounting how the two met.

Her voice grew softer and softer until all was silent.

Hongdou turned her head and saw a happy smile on her mother's face, so she smiled faintly, tears streaming down her face as well.

Chapter 332 Heads

At the collapsed back mountain, two figures, one in red and one in black, were fiercely clashing. Their Swordsmanship moves were both mysterious and unpredictable. Their fiery energy and saber energy poured down like waves. Their divine blades clashed again in the air, and the clanging sound echoed all around. Anything that touched them would be destroyed, making it difficult for outsiders to get close.

As expected of the leader of the Crimson Shadow King, who has been able to lead the Crimson Eye Society for many years and suppress a group of desperados, his Internal Cultivation is undoubtedly superior as a veteran Spirit Transformation expert. As the former King of Assassins, his lightness Movement Method is also one of his strengths. In a fair fight, Si Ming would be no match for him.

However, there is no such thing as absolute fairness in martial arts. Tactics, equipment, psychology, environment, and so on are all factors that can affect victory or defeat.

With the advantage of flight, Si Ming maintained a hovering state even when fighting the Crimson Shadow King at low altitude, without touching the ground. As a result, the Crimson Shadow King's most proud technique, "Void Shadow Killing Technique," was rendered useless.

Regarding weapons, the Crimson Shadow King's Crimson Blood Divine Blade was made of some unknown material, yet it could withstand a temperature of three thousand degrees. It wasn't until Si Ming raised the temperature of the Vermilion Flame Sword to three thousand five that the Crimson Blood Divine Blade finally showed signs of melting, forcing the Crimson Shadow King to divert his True Qi to protect the blade.

Furthermore, the runes engraved on the surface of the Vermilion Bird Profound Armor can manipulate the surrounding airflow, reduce air resistance, and provide a boost, making Si Ming's speed even higher. Since lightness skill was already Si Ming's forte, and now he also has the advantage of being on high ground, he is not at a disadvantage at all when facing the Crimson Shadow King.

"Louguan Ten Thousand Swords!"

With a flick of his sword, Siming unleashed a sharp Sword Qi that spread like needles, covering his opponent's entire body. Due to the presence of the Zhu Si Ming Vermilion Flame Sword, this Sword Qi carried intense heat, making it even more troublesome.

The Crimson Shadow King snorted coldly, and the Crimson Blood Divine Blade spun like waves, constantly slicing through the fiery sword Sword Qi. Occasionally, a few escaped, but they were blocked by his True Qi. Although the fire energy invaded his body, he was not worried for the time being due to his profound cultivation.

"I'll return the favor!"

In the instant when the Sword Qi weakened slightly but did not completely disappear, the Crimson Shadow King poured his profound True Essence into the divine blade, instantly unleashing a magnificent blade aura, tens of meters long, which was particularly dazzling in the darkness. After striking Si Ming's figure, its momentum did not diminish, and it struck the collapsed mountain wall behind him, creating a passage.

But the Crimson Shadow King showed no joy. He scoffed and turned to look at the night sky behind him, where Si Ming was floating unharmed not far away.

"Carefree Wandering" is a light-body skill that allows one to travel by the wind. It complements the Vermilion Bird Profound Armor, and the combined effect of the two is beyond Si Ming's expectations. It can create illusions by using air currents. Even the creator probably did not expect that this light-body skill could be used in this way.

"Are you just going to hide like a mouse?"

Crimson Shadow King never imagined that he would say such a thing to someone. As the former King of Assassins, Movement Method was his forte. It was always others who said this to him, trying to provoke him into a direct confrontation.

Of course, he never paid any attention to such provocations. Quick reflexes and good Movement Method are skills that shouldn't be ignored.

Just when Crimson Shadow King thought Si Ming would ignore the provocation like him, he heard the other say, "That's right. If we keep hiding, who knows when this battle will end? Let's settle this more decisively."

Is he genuinely naive, or does he have ulterior motives?

The moment the thought of doubt flashed through Crimson Shadow King's mind, a sword light rushed towards him. He quickly swung his blade to block the sword light, and then launched a fierce counterattack. With his cultivation, even a casual swing of his blade produced a howling wind and stirred up invisible waves of energy.

However, just as the blade's energy transitioned from the accumulation phase to its explosive power, Si Ming thrust out his One Sword, interrupting it and causing the accumulated force to dissipate, with only 30% of its full power being unleashed.

Crimson Shadow King snorted coldly, not taking it to heart. He spun his blade and slashed down at Si Ming with overwhelming force, causing the air to explode. At the same time, a hidden force emerged from below, silently stabbing towards Si Ming's abdomen.