This technique lasted only three seconds. Three seconds later, the lotus before Jade Ruyi's chest shattered, and she herself collapsed to the ground.
"Roar."
Just then, an angry roar rang out in the distance. The Jade Scorpions before them suddenly halted, then lined up in orderly rows along both sides.
At the end of the path, a snow-white Jade Scorpion strode toward the three of them. Purple patterns ran across its white armor.
The three of them went pale at the sight of that Jade Scorpion.
"A one-pattern Jade Scorpion, early True Immortal realm."
Jade Ruyi cried out involuntarily. Once a Jade Scorpion broke through to the True Immortal realm, such purple patterns would appear on its body. One pattern represented the early True Immortal realm; two represented the middle True Immortal realm.
"This is bad."
Even Jade Rose's normally cold, stern face showed a flicker of emotion. A dead end—a complete and utter dead end.
She should have known. Within such an enormous Jade Scorpion swarm, there had to be a True Immortal realm Jade Scorpion leading them. She should have known. She should have known.
At this moment, Jade Rose felt somewhat guilty. She was the one who had led the two of them into this dead end.
"We have struggled here for tens of millions of years, only to die so miserably now?"
"Living here every day without hope—what meaning is there in clinging to life?"
"I refuse to accept this. In a moment, I will trade my life for yours."
"Today, I will fight a battle that shakes heaven and earth."
At that moment, Niu Hanshan threw back his head and laughed. His aura surged, warping even the surrounding space in faint ripples.
"Brother Niu, don't."
Seeing this, Jade Ruyi tried to stop him, tears immediately