Can You Die Without Dragging Me Down With You!

"Cough, cough, cough!"

The disciple looked at Lin Qingfeng and then began to cough violently, blood mixed with fragments of internal organs spewing from his mouth, his life force rapidly draining away.

Lin Qingfeng: "What are you looking at me for? Forgot your lines? Hurry up and say them! You won't have a chance soon!"

Junior Disciple Brother Zhan trembled all over, then turned his head with all his might to look at Su Ling'er.

His eyes no longer held the previous astonishment and resentment, only a despair that had emptied him of all hope.

He reached out his hand in Su Ling'er's direction, his hand trembling violently in the air, as if trying to grasp something, but unable to hold onto anything.

"Why… did it turn out like this…"

Every time he spoke, countless blood foam overflowed from the corners of his mouth, making his voice even hoarser and more broken.

"Lin Qingfeng, your methods… I admit defeat…"

"But… Junior Sister…"

"Ever since you joined the sect, I've… fallen for you…"

"Ah…"

"Heavenly Dao… why are you so unfair!"

"Great Earth, why do you let me have the heart to protect her, but not the strength!"

"She and I were meant to be a celestial couple, only seeking a life of freedom!"

"They say the universe has its limits, why can't it accommodate a devoted heart!"

Su Ling'er watched, somewhat stunned.

Wait, how long have we known each other, and you've already fallen for me?

I just joined the sect?!

What do you like about me?!

You've fallen for me already?!

Where did this celestial couple come from?!

Do you have some kind of nonexistent memory?

And a devoted heart!

If you're going to die, can you not drag me down with you?

Do I have any relationship with you?!

The disciple struggled to lift his other hand, tremblingly pointing to his chest, to the ancient sword still bleeding there.

"This is… cough… cough, cough… the consequence…"

The previous words were interrupted by the blood foam gushing out, so the junior disciple repeated them.

"This is the consequence of not cultivating the body refinement properly…"

"It's all my fault… all my fault for being obsessed with external things, indulging in that broken sword, and forgetting… that the physical body is the foundation, and oneself is the path!"

"If I… if I had also cultivated the Sword Refining Art… then… how could this have happened?"

"If my flesh and blood were as hard as a magic treasure, how could I… how could I have been ambushed by Senior Disciple Brother?"

"How could he… kill me?!"

"Junior Sister… look clearly… this is… the consequence of not cultivating the Sword Refining Art…"

Blood foam, like pearls from a broken string, continuously dripped from the corners of his mouth, and the light in his eyes rapidly dimmed.

"You must… absolutely… walk the right path…"

His hand finally fell powerlessly.

"Don't… don't follow my old path… don't let… the tragedy… repeat…"

"I have not yet attained the Great Dao, have not yet ascended to become an immortal…"

"I… hate… ah…"

"Junior Sister… I don't want… you to be like this either…"

"You must… absolutely… absolutely… not be like me…"

The mournful cry stopped abruptly. He tilted his head and fell silent.

His eyes were still fixed on Su Ling'er's direction, as if he wanted to engrave her image in his heart even in death.

In those eyes, there seemed to be a trace of admiration for the one he admired and a warning, not wanting her to repeat his mistake.

Until his pupils became hollow, and all sound ceased.

Lin Qingfeng stepped forward and forcefully pulled out the ancient sword.

The so-called "admirer of his junior sister" then fell straight backward.

A pool of blood quickly spread beneath him, dyeing his disciple robe a dark red.

The disciple, even in death, still gazed in the direction of his junior sister.

Died with eyes wide open.

Junior Disciple Brother Zhan himself had gone back to respawn.

The Sword Mound was deathly silent.

Lin Qingfeng's eyelids twitched slightly.

What an awkward performance...

This performance by Junior Disciple Brother Zhan felt a bit over the top. I wonder if Junior Sister will accept it.

But then again, she accepted his absurd claims before, so I guess... probably... maybe... perhaps... it won't be a problem?

He cleared his throat and checked the unlock progress for the subsequent quest.

[Subsequent quest is unlocking.]

[Progress 73%]

He then retracted the ancient sword he had just named [Wait a Moment] and, with his hands behind his back, resumed the pose of a peerless expert with a compassionate demeanor.

[Ancient Sword · Wait a Moment]

[Rank: Spirit Grade High-Rank (Growable)]

[Sharpness: Grandmaster]: The blade is extremely sharp, capable of slicing through gold and jade, utterly indestructible.

[Ward Off Evil: Grandmaster]: The sword body possesses a righteous aura, naturally restraining Mo.

[Sword Qi Amplification: Significant]: When casting any sword arts, the power, range, and duration of the sword qi are significantly enhanced.

[Tenacity: Spirit Grade]: The sword body's material is extraordinary, making it extremely difficult to destroy or wear down.

[Myriad Sword Shadows]: By infusing Spiritual Power, it can manifest myriad sword shadows, blurring the line between reality and illusion to confuse the enemy.

[Green Lotus Sword Song]: The supreme sword art created by an ancient Sword Immortal. The sword strikes like a blooming green lotus, with both killing intent and splendor.

[Other attributes not yet unlocked]

[Sword Endowment · Forgotten]

Dust-covered ancient tomb, unknown years, rust conceals the green lotus, awaiting the sword's arrival.

Do not say its nameless edge is blunted; one day unsheathed, ten thousand lotuses bloom.

Legend has it that there once was a peerless swordsman known as the "Green Lotus Sword Immortal."

The Green Lotus Sword Song he created, with a single thought, flowers would bloom and ten thousand swords would strike, a blend of splendor and slaughter that was unrivaled in its time.

However, in a cataclysm that overturned heaven and earth, he used this sword song to slaughter countless Mo in order to save all living beings. Yet, due to excessive slaughter, his blood stained the green lotus, and his Dao heart was clouded.

Filled with regret, the Sword Immortal took this sword and found a place of ruin, establishing his own Sword Mound.

He personally erased the Divine Sword's name, sealing the Green Lotus Sword Song along with his lifelong enlightenment within the sword's heart, and then passed away there.

He wished only that this divine weapon, bearing endless killing karma and glory, could be forgotten by the world along with him.

From then on, the Divine Sword was veiled in dust, its name lost.

It was both the end of a glorious legend and the inheritance of an ultimate sword dao.

It awaited the day it could fight across the world again with a new master, while also deciding whether these myriad green lotuses would bloom for the common people once more, or fall into an abyss without end.

Lin Qingfeng looked at Su Ling'er's small face, stained with dirt and blood, and sighed softly:

"Alas... you saw it too. A single wrong thought, a difference between life and death.

Junior Disciple Brother Zhan has extraordinary talent, and his fighting spirit is the pride of our sect.

It's a pity he relied too much on external things, on the giant sword in his hand, neglecting to hone himself.

If he had cultivated the Sword Refining Art, using his body as the scabbard and his will as the sword soul, his physical body would have long been comparable to a magic treasure. How could he have been killed by my single counterattack?"

"If I had known he was your admirer, I would have left him for you to deal with."

"For your sake, he had such great courage to attack me. Alas, how tragic and lamentable."

Then he recited the line, "Since ancient times, the infatuated are left with only regret; this regret stretches endlessly~"

Su Ling'er glanced at him sideways.

Senior Disciple Brother, you've told this line before!!!

Then, Lin Qingfeng's tone shifted, and his gaze fell upon Su Ling'er:

"Junior Sister, so now, are you still hesitating?

You've heard what he said.

This Sword Refining Art might be painful, it might be difficult, but at least it can give you a way to survive in this cruel cultivation world.

Otherwise, if you get into a conflict with someone, and they counterattack even slightly, leaving you unable to resist and instantly killed, how will you then attain the Great Dao?"

"And how will you let Junior Disciple Brother Zhan, who adores you so, rest in peace!"

Su Ling'er's heart sank to the bottom.

She didn't understand how this person had fallen for her the moment they met, but recalling the secret plots she'd overheard near the Dao Seeking Ladder earlier, she had a rough idea!

So that's how it is!

So Senior Disciple Brother brought me here just to put on this ridiculously awkward play for me!

To make me practice that inhumane Sword Refining Art, he's not even hesitating to sacrifice a disciple's life and stage this kind of bitter stratagem!

She didn't believe any of that "love at first sight" nonsense.

Was he threatened?

Or was he like those disciples who jumped into the alchemy furnace or forging platform, his mind controlled or perhaps brainwashed?

Otherwise, she couldn't comprehend why the disciple, before dying, didn't hate Lin Qingfeng for killing him, but instead looked at her with that "disappointed in your potential" kind of gaze.

It wasn't me who killed you, hey!

If you can't rest in peace, you should be glaring at Senior Disciple Brother, why are you glaring at me?

Do I have anything to do with this!!!

But she understood one thing.

Just to cooperate in a play, that disciple lost his life on the spot.

If she were to utter even half a "no" right now, there would undoubtedly be even more terrifying methods waiting for her!

Thus, she took a deep breath, suppressing all her fear and panic.

How should she stall for time to practice the Sword Refining Art?

She rapidly calculated in her mind, finally recalling Junior Disciple Brother Zhan's words about "adoration."

Why not... go with the flow and just do it like this!

And so,