Then she lifted her bloodshot eyes. Tears glimmered in their corners. Her youthful, delicate face had lost its usual ethereal quality, replaced by a newfound calm. Her clear gaze turned to Li Jing.
"Li Jing, no matter how you look at it, this is all Jiu'er's fault. Please spare my father and my people. Jiu'er is willing to accept any punishment." Her newly grown body was about to bend into a bow when she suddenly felt a gentle force stop her.
"Hm?" Her young heart was inexplicably startled, tinged with confusion—and something familiar. Her eyes widened, and she hurriedly looked around, muttering to herself with hopeful yet anxious anticipation, "Brother Tong, is that you?"
"Hmph!"
Seeing her like that, Li Jing snorted. "Today, I'll not only wipe out your entire clan, I'll also destroy your body and spirit."
As he spoke, he spread his hand. The pagoda rapidly grew and flew out, radiating immense pressure as it hovered above Jiu'er.
"Princess! Jiu'er!"
The dragons behind her cried out in alarm. The Emerald Dragon King was practically beside himself, but the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals had formed a killing formation that pinned them in place.
"Li Jing, if you dare hurt my daughter, I'll never forgive you, even in death!" the Emerald Dragon King roared, his defiant dragon cry resounding in every direction.
"Hmph. You'd have to live long enough to become a ghost first." Li Jing no longer looked at him. He slowly pressed his hand downward, and the pagoda hanging in the air began to descend toward Jiu'er.
Jiu'er faced the enormous pagoda as it came down, calm and unafraid. Her weary heart, burdened for so long, instead found a rare moment of peace. She knew Brother Tong was nearby.
The enormous pagoda rumbled like thunder, meant to tear