Ling Xiao chose option one without hesitation. He agreed with the system's words: a true man should not live a life of melancholy and subservience to others.
If you go back with Wan Qianqiu, the only outcome will be death, or you will be used as a research subject for dissection and analysis.
At this point, the choice itself is no longer so important; unless there is an unimaginable reward, it doesn't matter what you choose.
He specifically checked the reward for the second option, which was a tortoise-shell shaped magic item, primarily for defense, offering no chance of turning the tide.
Even the most powerful Primordial Treasures cannot withstand the attacks of a Realm Lord; they are rendered useless.
The decision was made in an instant, Ling Xiao remained calm, as if nothing had happened.
Wan Qianqiu's gaze was profound, and he exuded a magnificent aura that suppressed and ruled over all realms.
He seemed to cast his gaze from endless time and space, from countless dimensions.
"Have you thought it through? The choice between life and death is yours."
"You know perfectly well what I'm asking. Even if you kill me, my freedom will still be mine."
Ling Xiao said calmly.
After hearing his words, Wan Qianqiu nodded slightly, her gaze somewhat vacant.
"Just as I thought, it seems you're determined to die."
At this point, his gaze finally fell on Ling Xiao, and an invisible pressure suddenly descended.
It felt as if billions of sacred mountains were pressing down, the whole world was being oppressed, collapsing and squeezed down.
Under this invisible pressure, Ling Xiao's body trembled violently, his physical body shook violently, and the power within his body seemed to be out of control, surging and contracting together.
Ling Xiao bled from all seven orifices, his body was deformed, and his bones pierced through his flesh, protruding out in a bloody and terrifying manner.
He struggled to hold on, his face contorted in pain, clenching his teeth, trying his best not to bend over.
Just as Ling Xiao was about to give up, Wan Qianqiu suddenly withdrew his aura, as if sensing something, and looked away.
You've crossed the line!
This simple sentence seemed to come from another time and space, devoid of any emotion.
This is a warning to Wan Qianqiu.
"Xuan Tian, am I not even allowed to touch an ant?"
Wan Qianqiu sat calmly in the space-time continuum and asked the question in a serene manner.
The owner of this voice was none other than the Lord of the Mysterious Heaven Realm. Only a supreme being of the Realm Lord level could engage in equal dialogue.
"It has nothing to do with him. This is the Mysterious Heaven Realm, not your Thousand Autumn Realm."
The voice continued, calm and unperturbed, showing no intention of backing down.
"Hehe, very good."
Wan Qianqiu laughed, his laughter growing louder and louder, carrying a chilling undertone.
The entire space-time froze instantly, even Ling Xiao turned into a stone sculpture; the air, the laws, the order—everything solidified in an instant.
The atmosphere plummeted to freezing point.
Ling Xiao watched without moving, a flicker of panic in his eyes. If these two started fighting, they could melt him instantly.
That's terrifying.
His emotions alone could disrupt order and almost crush him; I don't even want to think about what would happen if a fight broke out.
Fortunately, this force quickly subsided.
Wan Qianqiu's gaze remained calm, and in the end, he still did not intend to make a move.
"Xuan Tian, considering the bigger picture, I don't want this world to be destroyed. We will not fight today."
"If you wish to fight, I will gladly oblige. Even if this world is destroyed, I can recover; it will not hinder me."
Xuan Tian's voice was indifferent, yet it exuded boundless domineering power.
Upon hearing this, the air became suffocating once more. Wan Qianqiu was somewhat enraged, and a terrifying light of Destruction flashed in her eyes.
"Xuan Tian, neither of us is in our true form, so what's the point of fighting?"
"No need for further words. If you want to fight, then fight; if not, then leave the Mysterious Heaven Realm."
Xuan Tian's voice was filled with majesty and an immense fighting spirit.
"Stubborn and unyielding!"
Wan Qianqiu said angrily, his words carrying a hint of exasperation.
He looked at Ling Xiao, gave him a deep look, and said, "You're saved, but don't be too happy yet. Living on will only mean spending your remaining days in fear."
As the words fell, Wan Qianqiu's figure gradually faded until it disappeared completely.
Feeling the oppressive aura disappear, Ling Xiao breathed a sigh of relief, stretched his limbs, his eyes growing colder, and secretly made a mental note.
However, he did not let his guard down. Instead, he cupped his hands and spoke to the void.
"Thank you for saving me, Lord of the Realm."
There was no response.
Ignoring people?
Ling Xiao reluctantly withdrew his hand, wondering how to get back, when suddenly, the void in front of him rippled like the surface of water.
The pitch-black world before my eyes gradually became illusory and blurred.
The next moment.
Ling Xiao returned to reality, and everything was as before, as if nothing had happened.
The Realm Lord's Decree still hung above the head of True Monarch Hundred Tribulations, radiating an earth-shattering pressure.
Everyone present looked grim, as if facing a formidable enemy.
Everything seemed unchanged; time hadn't moved forward.
However, at that moment, the Realm Lord's Decree suddenly enveloped True Monarch Hundred Tribulations Jie, broke through the void, and disappeared.
Seeing this, Ling Xiao understood that what had just happened was not an illusion, but a real event, only the people outside were unaware of it.
"Hmph! You're lucky you escaped quickly, otherwise you'd be in big trouble."
The Giant Overlord felt the pressure on its body disappear, immediately got up, and shouted arrogantly.
Seeing this, Ju Xinghe grabbed him and covered his mouth, exclaiming, "My little darling, are you really not afraid of death?!"
Even if you don't want to live anymore, don't drag the Giant Spirit Clan down with you. If you anger the Realm Lord, their entire race might be wiped out and carried away.
The Crimson Flame Divine General glanced curiously at the spot where the Realm Lord's Decree had disappeared. He was unaware that the two Realm Lords had clashed and didn't understand what had happened.
They were just puzzled that the Realm Lord's token had simply left without him getting angry or making things difficult for them.
Without giving it much thought, he turned to Ling Xiao, Tianxue Liuli, and the others, and said, "Remember what you said. Don't treat some things lightly, or you will face consequences you cannot bear."
This is a reminder of the promise Tianxue Liuli made.
The two men naturally understood and immediately cupped their hands in greeting to indicate that they knew.
Ling Xiao felt increasingly strange; it seemed that this Crimson Flame Divine General really wanted to tie him to the Snow Heaven Clan.
Seemingly sensing his gaze, the Crimson Flame Divine General looked over and continued speaking.
"Ling Xiao, you have injured Hundred Tribulations Monarch Bai Jie and completely offended that Realm Lord. Don't think this is the end of the matter; the real crisis is yet to come."
"If you want to survive, become stronger and prove your worth. Only then will the Mysterious Heaven Realm truly protect you, and even at any cost."
His voice was unusually serious, and his expression was very earnest.
"How strong do I need to become to become a divine general like you?"
Ling Xiao paused for a moment, then asked with a smile.
The Crimson Flame Divine General shook his head slightly, "Not enough."
"Palace Master?"
"Hehe..." The Crimson Flame Divine General laughed, mocking Ling Xiao's naivety and arrogance.
"You'd better prove you can get into the Divine Hall first."
He vanished as soon as he finished speaking, unwilling to linger there.