Black Water Profound Snake

Lu Xueqi's body swayed, and she nearly fell.

At that critical moment, a warm hand reached from behind and steadied her by the waist.

"Thanks for all your effort. Leave the rest to me."

A steady voice sounded by her ear.

Lu Xueqi turned and saw that some color had returned to Li Xiaoyu's face.

His eyes were bright, brimming with confidence.

His injuries had recovered by more than half in such a short time!

"You..."

Lu Xueqi was both astonished and delighted.

Li Xiaoyu smiled warmly at her, then rose and stepped in front of her.

He looked at the Yin spirits ahead, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"A bunch of wandering ghosts, and you dare run rampant here!"

Li Xiaoyu snorted. The gourd within his dantian appeared in midair.

"Treasure, please turn around!"

The gourd spun once, its mouth turning toward the countless Yin spirits ahead.

A tremendous force of suction swept out from within it.

The Yin spirits howled by the thousands, but it made no difference.

Every last one of them was sucked into the gourd.

"Dust to dust, earth to earth. This is where you belong."

The gourd swallowed every last one of the countless dead!

Lu Xueqi stared blankly at the scene, at the figure radiating a gentle light in the darkness. Her heart shook with astonishment.

She realized that she seemed to understand this man less and less.

He could always work miracles at the most desperate moments.

As the Yin spirits were sucked away, the surrounding sinister energy and resentment also faded considerably.

Li Xiaoyu lowered his sword and let out a long breath.

He turned and smiled at Lu Xueqi.

"Let's go. We'll look for a way out."

Lu Xueqi nodded and silently followed behind him.

Back to back, they supported each other through the darkness and deathly silence, pressing onward with difficulty.

Unknown dangers lay ahead.

But with each other by their side, they felt more at ease than ever before.

In the Abyss of the Dead, time had no meaning.

Li Xiaoyu and Lu Xueqi had no idea how long they had wandered through the darkness.

A day? Two days? Or even longer?

All they knew was that the Yin spirits around them were growing fewer, while the desolation and deathly silence in the air grew ever heavier.

Thanks to the combined effects of the Immortal-Slaying Gourd and his pills, Li Xiaoyu's injuries had mostly healed.

And with Li Xiaoyu's help, Lu Xueqi had replenished the spiritual energy she had expended.

Taking turns keeping watch and supporting one another, they fought to survive in this forsaken land.

"Look, what's that?"

Lu Xueqi suddenly stopped and pointed into the darkness ahead, speaking softly.

Li Xiaoyu followed the direction of her finger. At the far end of the darkness, he saw what looked like a faint glimmer of light.

It was a Youlan glow, like a lake reflecting the starry sky.

"It's water!"

Delight flashed in Li Xiaoyu's eyes.

Where there was water, there was change and life. It had to be better than this unchanging deathly silence.

The two were invigorated and quickened their pace toward the light.

As they drew closer, damp air washed over them.

At last, they left the black earth behind and arrived at the shore of a vast underground lake.

The lake stretched so far that they couldn't see its far shore.

Its water was as black as ink, its depths unfathomable. Yet faint blue phosphorescence shimmered across its surface, lighting up the whole lake and creating a scene both eerie and magnificent.

This was the heart of the Abyss of the Dead: the Sea of Heartlessness.

A forbidden place, said to devour even time itself.

Standing by the lake and gazing at the magnificent sight, both of them were shaken to the core.

"What do we do? Should we cross?"

Lu Xueqi asked.

Li Xiaoyu shook his head, his expression graver than ever.

He watched the still surface of the lake, yet felt a terrifying presence rising from its depths.

That presence was desolate and ancient, filled with the promise of destruction.

It was as though a primeval beast that had slept for millions of years lay in wait beneath the water.

"There's something in this lake," he said gravely. "And it's terrifyingly powerful."

The instant his words fell—

Splash!

A thunderous crash rang out.

The calm lake suddenly erupted, sending towering waves surging into the air.

A colossal head burst up from the black water!

The head stood fifteen meters tall and nine meters wide. It was shaped like a dragon, but far more ferocious.

Its skin was black as ink, covered in hard scales.

Its enormous eyes were like two green suns, gleaming with a frigid light.

It opened its gaping maw, baring fangs sharp as blades, and let out a roar that shook heaven and earth.

Roar!

The sound waves became a tangible shockwave and swept toward the two on the shore.

Li Xiaoyu and Lu Xueqi's faces changed. They hurriedly mustered all their spiritual energy to form a defense.

But before that terrifying sound, their defenses were like paper, shattering in an instant.

The two were hurled backward and slammed into the ground. Their blood and qi churned, their throats turned sweet, and they both spat out blood.

The Black Water Profound Snake!

The name of this creature, found only in ancient legends, flashed through Li Xiaoyu's mind.

An ancient demonic beast that had lived for ten thousand years, feeding on divine herbs and never dying.

They had actually encountered such a legendary being here!

"Run!"

That was the only thought left in Li Xiaoyu's mind.

Against an existence like this, any resistance would be futile.

Their only chance of survival was to flee!

Li Xiaoyu struggled to his feet, hauled up the equally injured Lu Xueqi, and turned to run back into the darkness they had come from.

But the Black Water Profound Snake was countless times faster than they were.

Its hundred-zhang-long body emerged completely from the lake.

It merely swept its enormous tail once.

Boom!

An irresistible force slammed into the ground behind them.

The earth split apart, and rocks shot through the air.

The two were hurled away once more by the terrifying shockwave, crashing heavily to the ground and worsening their injuries.

Despair.

A despair unlike any they had ever felt engulfed them.

Before absolute power, all their struggles seemed pale and futile.

The Black Water Profound Snake slowly lowered its enormous head toward them.

Its immense green eyes coldly watched the two tiny creatures on the ground, as small as ants.

There was no anger in its eyes, no amusement.

Only the indifference of a creature looking at its food.

It slowly opened its maw, large enough to swallow a mountain, and a foul, reeking wind rushed over them.

Death had never been so close.

Lu Xueqi looked at the blood-filled maw drawing nearer and felt no fear.

She merely turned her head and gazed deeply at Li Xiaoyu beside her.

A bittersweet smile touched her lips.

"It's nice to die with you."

She spoke softly.

Li Xiaoyu's heart was pierced with pain.

No!

He couldn't die!

And he absolutely couldn't let her die here!

Countless thoughts flashed through Li Xiaoyu's mind.

His master's expectations, Morning Sun Peak's honor, and the woman beside him who was willing to walk with him into the afterlife.

There was still so much he had yet to do, so much responsibility he had yet to shoulder.

How could he give up just like this?

A fierce desire to survive surged up from the depths of his heart!

Madness and resolve flashed in Li Xiaoyu's eyes.

He still had one last trump card, one he had never considered using!

"Xueqi, close your eyes!"

He shouted at Lu Xueqi.

Then, with all his strength, he shoved Lu Xueqi, who was in his arms, toward the shelter of a boulder in the distance.

As for him, he rose resolutely to his feet, facing the oncoming aura of death.