Life and Death

After resting for a while, Qian Renxue got up and walked over to Bi Zihan. "Get up. Let me see how your injuries are. We never settled the outcome of our last fight. Don't you dare die here."

"Just a few minor injuries. Nothing worth mentioning." Bi Zihan chuckled, with no intention of letting Qian Renxue examine him.

"Fine, keep putting up a brave front. Let's see how long you can hold out." Qian Renxue snorted coldly, though her gaze continued sweeping over Bi Zihan.

Once he felt somewhat better, Bi Zihan rose from the ground as well. "Let's first see if there's a way out, or at least figure out where this place is."

Qian Renxue did not respond to Bi Zihan. Instead, she pointed behind him, disbelief appearing in her eyes.

"Bi Zihan, look behind you. A stone bridge appeared out of nowhere." Qian Renxue's voice was thick with disbelief. She remembered clearly that there had been no bridge here just moments ago.

Hearing this, Bi Zihan turned around as well. Behind them, a stone bridge had appeared at some unknown time. It was extremely narrow, only wide enough for one person to pass, and its far end was shrouded in dense fog, making it impossible to see what lay beyond it.

The two walked toward the stone bridge without a word. Before it stood a stone stele, upon which was engraved a line of small characters: Bridge of No Regrets. One person may pass. One lives, one dies. Those who cross this bridge may leave this place.

After reading the words on the stele, Bi Zihan and Qian Renxue looked at each other, complicated expressions appearing in both their eyes. Moreover, they could once again sense the existence of their Martial Souls, which meant they could now summon them.

Just then, an unusual sound came from behind them. Turning back, they saw countless giant snakes and enormous spiders charging toward them at high speed.

Bi Zihan looked at the snakes and spiders ahead, then at the words on the stele. Bibi Dong's figure surfaced in his mind, along with every moment from the past nine years.

He gave a bitter laugh inwardly. Bibi Dong had raised him for nine years. Trading his life to let Qian Renxue escape could perhaps repay her for raising him.

After all, Qian Renxue was Bibi Dong's biological daughter. Although Bibi Dong did not treat her well on the surface, in the original story, Bibi Dong still cared deeply for Qian Renxue.

Whether the words on the stele were true or not, this seemed to be their only path. Now that he could use his Martial Soul again, he could sense how powerful these giant snakes and spiders were. At the very least, they were far beyond those they had encountered at the beginning.

"You cross the bridge. If you really can get out, remember to have your grandfather go to Holy Soul Village near Nuoding City, Fasnuo Province, in the Heaven Dou Empire. Tang Hao and his son are living in seclusion there."

"Tang Hao killed your father, Qian Xunji. If you want revenge, now is the best opportunity. Remember, pull up the weeds by the roots. Neither Tang Hao nor his son can be left alive." Bi Zihan's voice was calm, even carrying a trace of ease.

"What do you mean by that?" Qian Renxue did not understand at first, disbelief and incredulity filling her eyes.

"Exactly what it says." Bi Zihan flashed a wicked smile, reached out to seize Qian Renxue's arm, and suddenly exerted force, hurling her toward the stone bridge.

By the time Qian Renxue reacted, she had already landed steadily on the bridge. The instant she set foot on it, the path back ruptured, revealing a gap filled with rolling magma.

An invisible suction seemed to emanate from the gap. Anyone who did not cross by way of the stone bridge would be pulled by that invisible force into the surging magma.

Bi Zihan looked at the charging snakes and spiders. The Twelve-Winged Fallen Angel Martial Soul rose behind him, three Dark Gold soul rings flashing continuously around his body. Doomsday Judgment appeared in his hand, while the External Soul Bone: Twelve-Winged Fallen Angel emerged from his back.

The three soul rings flashed rapidly around his body. First Soul Skill: Dark Warden and Starfall, Second Soul Skill: Power Descent, Third Soul Skill: Dark Demonic Sword—all erupted at once.

Under the assault of the three soul skills, the giant snakes and spiders across a wide area instantly burst into blood mist that drifted through the air. Yet countless more giant snakes and spiders continued to rush forward.

Black light appeared around Doomsday Judgment as it repeatedly slashed at the charging snakes and spiders. Wherever the black light passed, the blood of giant snakes and spiders would inevitably spray into the air.

Yet the giant snakes and spiders charging in from all around seemed endless. No matter how many he killed, their numbers showed no sign of decreasing.

As his Soul Power rapidly drained, coupled with his existing injuries, his attacks gradually slowed. Then the tail of a giant snake lashed fiercely against Bi Zihan, forcing his body to stagger backward.

At that moment, the wings of his External Soul Bone were pierced by two sharp spider legs, causing him to feel unprecedented agony.

Standing on the bridge, Qian Renxue watched Bi Zihan's situation, a complicated expression appearing in her eyes as though she were considering something. She turned to look at the path behind her, then at the broken stone bridge ahead. As if making up her mind, she walked directly toward the break in the bridge.

The moment her foot came down, the previously broken stone bridge reappeared beneath her feet. Qian Renxue no longer hesitated and quickly ran toward Bi Zihan.

As she ran, the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul appeared behind her. Four soul rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple—flashed continuously around her body, and the Sword of Angels appeared in her hand.

Just as a sharp spider leg was about to pierce Bi Zihan's body, Qian Renxue blocked it with the Sword of Angels in her hand, then struck back and killed the spider.

Qian Renxue helped Bi Zihan up. "If you can't handle it, don't force yourself to act tough. Do you really think you're invincible?"

"Why did you come back? Hurry up and leave. Don't stay here dragging me down. You're a pain." Looking at Qian Renxue, who had run back, Bi Zihan did not slow his movements in the slightest, slaying a giant snake that charged at him.

"I really should have stood there and watched the spiders tear you apart. You actually dare complain that I'm dragging you down and causing trouble." Qian Renxue glared at Bi Zihan.

"It's not too late for you to leave now. I'm not stopping you. Get farther away already and quit getting in the way." Bi Zihan reached out and shoved Qian Renxue toward the stone bridge.