Baby, Please Turn Around

The shadow of death engulfed Li Xiaoyu.

A foul, fishy gale rushed toward his face.

The giant maw of the Black Water Profound Snake magnified in his vision, eclipsing the entire world.

He could see those fangs like blades and swords, and the darkness deep within its throat.

Lu Xueqi's whisper brushed against his ear.

No!

He could not die!

Li Xiaoyu absolutely could not let this woman, who was willing to journey to the Yellow Springs with him, simply vanish into this darkness!

A surge of the desire to survive erupted from the depths of his heart.

Li Xiaoyu still had his master's expectations to fulfill.

He still had to lead Morning Sun Peak to reclaim its glory!

More importantly, Li Xiaoyu had not yet spoken the words hidden in his heart to the woman in his arms.

How could he die!

Li Xiaoyu's eyes were filled with blood-red intensity.

He still had one final trump card.

That Innate Geng Metal Sword Qi, which Yun Zhongzi had refined in imitation of the Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife.

Once this strike was unleashed, it would be earth-shattering.

But the consequences were also something he could not bear.

That sword qi was the foundation of his survival; once consumed, the Immortal-Slaying Gourd would suffer severe damage and fall into dormancy.

And Li Xiaoyu himself would be drained of his spirit and fall into a state of suspended animation from forcibly channeling such power.

But now, Li Xiaoyu had no choice left.

"Xueqi, close your eyes!"

Li Xiaoyu roared at Lu Xueqi in his arms.

His voice was laced with determination and reluctance.

Lu Xueqi was startled, not understanding what Li Xiaoyu intended to do, but she obeyed him and closed her eyes.

Taking the opportunity, Li Xiaoyu used all his strength to push Lu Xueqi behind a giant rock in the distance.

As for Li Xiaoyu himself, he stood up to face death head-on.

He looked at that blood-red maw, his eyes devoid of fear, leaving only the will to fight.

Li Xiaoyu tore the wine gourd from his waist and held it high.

"Precious treasure, please turn around!"

A roar resounded throughout the entire Abyss of the Dead.

This incantation carried the immense power of making one's words reality.

As Li Xiaoyu shouted the spell, the Immortal-Slaying Gourd in his hand erupted with golden light.

The radiance was more dazzling than the sun.

The entire Abyss of the Dead was illuminated by the golden glow.

Hum!

The archaic patterns on the surface of the gourd transformed into golden divine chains, coiling around it.

At the mouth of the gourd, a vortex suddenly took shape.

An aura, sharp to the extreme and seemingly capable of severing time and space, erupted from the vortex.

For the first time, the giant eyes of the Black Water Profound Snake revealed terror.

This ancient demonic beast sensed a fatal danger from the gourd.

The Black Water Profound Snake tried to retreat and flee.

But it was already too late.

A slender golden sword qi, too bright to look at directly, flashed out from the mouth of the gourd.

There was no sound, no display of might.

It simply sliced through the darkness in silence.

Time seemed to pause at this moment.

Space lost all meaning before it.

That thin golden line ignored distance and obstacles, appearing instantly before the head of the Black Water Profound Snake.

"Puchi!"

A faint sound rang out.

That golden sword aura easily pierced into the scales of the Black Water Profound Snake.

"ROAR--!"

A shrill, miserable howl erupted from the mouth of the Black Water Profound Snake.

Its body twisted and thrashed frantically.

Its massive tail lashed against the Sea of Heartlessness, kicking up giant waves that slammed into the surrounding rock walls.

The entire bottom of the Abyss of the Dead shook and trembled from its struggle.

One could see the wound where the golden sword aura had struck it beginning to widen.

Golden light spread from the wound, annihilating the vitality of its flesh and blood.

The Black Water Profound Snake was afraid.

This ancient demonic beast, which had survived for ten thousand years, was truly afraid.

The Black Water Profound Snake dared not linger any longer; its massive body recoiled, and with fear and unwillingness, it dove into the depths of the Sea of Heartlessness and vanished.

All that remained were the churning waves and black blood diffusing through the water.

On the other side, after unleashing that earth-shattering strike, the golden light of the Immortal-Slaying Gourd in Li Xiaoyu's hand dimmed.

The patterns on the gourd also lost their luster, reverting to an ordinary wine gourd.

A wave of weakness swept through Li Xiaoyu's entire body.

His consciousness plunged into darkness.

The giant waves kicked up by the Black Water Profound Snake as it fled crashed against the shore.

Li Xiaoyu's unconscious body was swept up by the waves and slammed against the distant rock wall.

He was immediately swallowed by the seawater and dragged into the darkness.

He did not know how much time had passed.

Li Xiaoyu's consciousness finally stirred from the darkness.

He felt as if his body had been crushed and then pieced back together; every inch of his bones throbbed with intense pain.

Li Xiaoyu opened his eyes with difficulty.

What met his gaze was a damp, dim stone wall.

The sound of dripping water came from not far away, exceptionally clear in this silent space.

"Drip, drip."

He moved his fingers and discovered he was lying on a cold stone slab.

"Where is this?"

Li Xiaoyu's memories began to return.

He remembered the Black Water Profound Snake, remembered that final desperate strike, and remembered Lu Xueqi.

"Xueqi!"

Li Xiaoyu felt a jolt of alarm and sat up abruptly, but the movement aggravated his injuries, causing him to gasp in pain.

He looked around and discovered he was in a small cave.

The cave was very damp and permeated with the scent of blood and a strange, faint fragrance.

Lu Xueqi was not here.

"Could it be..."

A grim thought welled up in his mind, making his heart sink.

Li Xiaoyu endured the excruciating pain and struggled to stand up, intending to search for traces of Lu Xueqi.

Just then, a familiar voice filled with surprise came from around the corner of the cave.

"Senior Brother Li? You're awake!"

Li Xiaoyu turned his head sharply.

He saw a thin, frail youth carrying a stone bowl walk out from around the corner.

Seeing Li Xiaoyu awake, the worry on the youth's face turned into joy.

"Zhang Xiaofan?"

Li Xiaoyu was stunned; he had not expected to encounter the junior brother from Big Bamboo Peak here.

"That's great, Senior Brother Li, you're finally awake! You've been unconscious for three days!"

Zhang Xiaofan hurried to Li Xiaoyu's side and handed him the stone bowl.

The bowl was filled with clear water.

"How are you feeling? Quickly, drink some water."

Li Xiaoyu took the stone bowl, too busy to ask questions, and downed the water in one gulp.

The cool spring water slid into his belly, bringing much relief to his burning throat.

"How did you end up here?" Li Xiaoyu caught his breath and asked, looking at Zhang Xiaofan.

Zhang Xiaofan scratched his head, a look of lingering fear appearing on his face.

"I don't know either. The ground collapsed, and I was pulled down by a suction force. When I woke up, I was already here."

As he spoke, a crisp voice drifted from behind him.

"Oh, so your Senior Brother Li has finally woken up."

A young girl dressed in emerald green robes walked out from around the corner, her hands clasped behind her back and her steps light.

With bright eyes and white teeth, she wore a smile at the corners of her mouth, her lively eyes curiously sizing up Li Xiaoyu.

"It's you?"

"Miss You Ji?"

This person was none other than Bi Yao, the young mistress of the Ghost King Sect of the Demon Sect, whom he had met once before at the Mountain Sea Pavilion.

Li Xiaoyu's pupils constricted, and his heart grew vigilant.

He instinctively reached for the Immortal-Slaying Gourd at his waist, only to find that while the gourd was still there, it had become dull and lusterless, its connection to his mind faint and intermittent.

That previous strike had severely damaged the gourd's vitality, forcing it into a deep slumber.

He struggled to stand, but the sharp pain in his body caused him to collapse back down.

Seeing his wretched state, Bi Yao was not afraid; instead, she laughed even more happily.

"Oh my, the great hero of the Green Cloud Sect, why are you so weak?"

"Let me reintroduce myself. My name isn't You Ji; just call me Bi Yao."

She walked up to Li Xiaoyu, crouched down, and poked his shoulder with her finger.

"In your current state, I could crush you with a single finger, you know."

Her tone was full of provocation.