God Slayer

"If something happened to you, I..." Zhu Zhuqing gave a miserable smile. By now, she had already resolved to die.

No matter how terrifying Mu Qian's displayed talent and combat ability were, she didn't believe he could get out of this unscathed, much less kill his opponent.

The dense darkness not only blocked Zhu Zhuqing's vision but also extinguished her hopes for the future.

Zhu Zhuqing kept changing positions, trying to get a clear look at what was happening inside.

If something happened to Mu Qian, then rather than be dragged back and endure hellish torture, she might as well make this place their burial ground.

At least the scenery was beautiful. At night, they could still see a sky full of brilliant stars...

"Zhuqing, look out!"

Suddenly, Mu Qian's urgent, furious voice rang out from above.

Zhu Zhuqing was overjoyed at first. It meant Mu Qian was still safe, for now.

But in the next instant, a sensation that made her scalp tingle came from behind her.

"Something's wrong!" Zhu Zhuqing reacted at once. Still in Martial Soul Possession, she instinctively darted to one side.

Boom!

Amid a deafening roar, thick smoke from the explosion instantly enveloped the forest.

Zhu Zhuqing's face filled with horror. She had been so focused on the old man from the Offering Hall and Mu Qian that she'd completely overlooked the pursuer behind her!

Mu Qian had made the same mistake. He had thought they'd already shaken off the Earth King, but it had caught up during the lull in their battle.

In the smoke, a terrifying surge of Soul Power was still gathering.

Zhu Zhuqing's expression turned resolute. Dodging that one strike on instinct had already been her limit.

She hadn't even obtained her Second Soul Ring yet. With such a vast difference in cultivation, how could she possibly dodge another attack?

Inside the domain, Mu Qian's eyes were bloodshot. He had recognized the skill gathering there: the Earth King's innate ability, Magma Earth-Splitting Strike.

If the beast unleashed it, Zhu Zhuqing had no chance of surviving its terrifying eighty-thousand-year cultivation.

He had brought her out of Star Luo City, only for things to end like this?

No. Mu Qian refused to accept it!

"First Soul Skill... God Slayer!"

At that moment, Mu Qian could no longer afford to deal with the old man from the Offering Hall.

His strongest mental attack had already severely damaged the man's soul. For now, he posed less of a threat than the Earth King below.

Besides, Mu Qian had no choice.

As the smoke cleared, the Earth King appeared in their sight.

Its tiny eyes burned with fury, fixed solely on Zhu Zhuqing in front of it.

Mu Qian wasn't the only one who hated her. The beast, too, loathed this human woman who had ruined its plans twice.

"Beast! Die!"

Mu Qian roared. His intense anxiety made it impossible for him to remain calm.

Below, Zhu Zhuqing watched Mu Qian's frantic expression and smiled with relief.

Even as she faced the Earth King's attack, she never looked away from the boy.

Seeing his flustered, helpless expression, Zhu Zhuqing suddenly felt that even if she died here, her life would have been worthwhile.

I just hope he won't be caught up in this... That was the only thought left in her mind.

So he has Twin Martial Souls, and even a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring. His future is boundless. I wonder if he'll ever remember that a girl like me once passed through his life...

At the same time, for some reason, she felt an intense sense of familiarity. The purplish-black energy felt so comforting. She wanted so badly to reach out and touch it.

"Ah!"

Mu Qian roared. Soul Power surged wildly through his body, only to be drained completely in almost an instant.

The purplish-black energy in his hand spread out, then reformed, gathering in his right hand.

An incomparably terrifying pressure swept across the sky in an instant. Broad Dragon Wings extended from his back once more, mysterious runes gleaming with an inky black sheen.

The light in the surrounding space rapidly faded. The entire sky darkened; though it was midday, it looked as if night had fallen.

"Roar!" A fierce dragon's roar rang across the heavens, carrying a bloodline pressure from the ancient Prehistoric age that instantly engulfed the Earth King.

The dense purplish-black energy continued to gather, until at last it solidified.

A black spear appeared in Mu Qian's hand. Its tip had a dignified, streamlined shape, like the Sharpness of the world's keenest blade. The shaft's joints gleamed like purple crystal, yet there were no visible seams.

At that moment, Mu Qian's short black hair changed color. Even his Dragon Wings, which had originally shone with sacred blue-gold light, turned a mysterious purplish-black.

His gaze was cold and lifeless, like a Demon God descending from the heavens.

But to Zhu Zhuqing, he seemed so familiar and noble.

"Die, beast!"

Mu Qian raised the spear high, sweeping a purplish-black streak through the air. He turned halfway, gathering his strength to the utmost before hurling it at the Earth King.

The simple motion unleashed enough power to bring about heavenly and earthly signs. In that instant, it was as if the Sun and Moon had lost their light, the mountains and rivers had turned upside down, and the world had begun its countdown.

At the same time, it seemed to drain every last bit of Mu Qian's Soul Power.

His Dragon Wings could no longer keep him airborne. His body lurched, and he fell toward the ground.

"Mu Qian!" Zhu Zhuqing panicked and sprinted toward where he was falling.

As she caught Mu Qian, the purplish-black spear struck the Earth King below with a force that could destroy the heavens and earth.

Boom!

In that moment, all light vanished from Heaven and Earth. Only the roar that pierced through time and space could be heard...

Before long, the world seemed to freeze, sinking into deathly silence. They couldn't even hear a scream.

Time had stopped in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes. Her clear eyes trembled faintly, reflecting the handsome figure before her, his face touched with fatigue.

The darkness and cold of Heaven and Earth seemed to have nothing to do with her. She gently stroked the boy's face. Nothing remained in their world but each other.

After a long while, the world returned to peace.

A clearing hundreds of meters across lay before them, barren and devoid of all life.

The Earth King had vanished, too. Even its Spirit Ring had been obliterated in the terrifying energy storm.

"How could you be so foolish..." Seeing Mu Qian's weakened state, Zhu Zhuqing could no longer hold back her emotions.

Tears streamed down her smooth cheeks, dripping onto the back of Mu Qian's hand and leaving a strangely cool sensation.

Mu Qian smiled and reached up to brush her face, wiping away the tears flowing like a burst dam.

His fingertip passed over her cheek, as if caressing warm, smooth jade—silky, yet with a gentle resilience.

The sensation made him reluctant to withdraw his hand.

"I haven't even fulfilled my promise to help you get a Thousand-Year Soul Ring. How could I let anything happen to you?"

"Did you save me just to keep your promise?" Zhu Zhuqing asked softly.

Her heart felt warm, yet for some reason, a faint unease stirred within her.