The ninth Chaos Thunder Dragon descended in a dive, carrying pressure capable of destroying heaven and earth. Its target was not only Li Wuyang—it also enveloped the crazed "Xuan"! If this strike landed, both of them would be annihilated in body and spirit!
After the Return to the Void Sword Intent had scattered part of her demonic qi, "Xuan"'s brief clarity was swallowed by even deeper madness. She shrieked, burned the last of her demonic essence, and transformed into a streak of blood-red light, actually charging straight at the thunder dragon as though she intended to perish with it!
"NO—!" Li Wuyang's eyes nearly split apart! He could not allow Xuan—even if she was only a shell—to die before his eyes!
At this critical moment between life and death, inspiration struck Li Wuyang. He abandoned every stance of defense and attack, sinking all his focus into an unprecedented state of emptiness and clarity. He recalled every moment he had spent with the Xuan embryo, recalled the cold protection of Xuan Nü's true body, recalled the pain and struggle this "shell" occasionally revealed...
He understood. Facing her while she was controlled by demonic qi head-on would only leave both sides wounded. Only... by awakening the spirituality suppressed within her!
"Xuan! Look at me!" Li Wuyang no longer fought with power. Instead, he opened his heart and transformed his utterly unreserved will to protect her, along with the resonant aura of Xuan's origin deep within his heart, into an invisible, intangible heart sword that pierced straight to the heart. It crossed space and slashed directly toward the core of "Xuan"'s soul, which had been obscured by demonic qi!
This was not a sword of slaughter, but a sword of awakening! It was a sword of conviction containing his endless longing, guilt, and