Atam... was killed!
A Martial Saint-level warrior had fallen, just like that!
At this moment, Baili Changqing, who had closed his eyes to enjoy the influx of power into his body, slowly opened them.
Two left.
Whoosh—
Without wasting a moment, Baili Changqing willed himself forward, wielding Jimié as he charged toward the remaining two!
He had to act quickly, killing both of them while still in his Bloodthirsty Frenzy state!
"Damn it!"
Xiao Ranbing's face paled.
He had to admit—panic was starting to creep into his heart.
He glanced over at Ye Yaar.
Suddenly, he remembered: Baili Changqing had arrived with Ye Yaar.
Thinking quickly, Xiao Ranbing raised his sword and dashed toward Ye Yaar with deadly speed.
In an instant, he was nearly upon her!
"Watch out!!!"
Ye Longcang, seeing this, tried to intervene, but it was too late!
Xiao Ranbing's sword was about to pierce Ye Yaar's body!
At that critical moment, Jimié struck from the side, intercepting Xiao Ranbing's sword.
Clang—
The crisp sound echoed as Xiao Ranbing was forced back several steps, his sword deflected by Jimié.
"No one touches her!!!"
Baili Changqing's cold voice rang out.
He attacked Xiao Ranbing fiercely, his eyes brimming with murderous intent, as his sword flashed like cold lightning, relentlessly striking.
Clang, clang, clang—
Xiao Ranbing's sword twirled desperately to block the strikes.
But Baili Changqing, consumed with rage, was moving too fast.
The energy radiating from Jimié was overwhelming. Even though it was merely a clash of weapons, the sword energy was already cutting into Xiao Ranbing's body!
His battle armor was now full of cracks, and his skin had been sliced open.
Blood started to spill.
Marqi's expression turned uncertain.
He noticed that Baili Changqing seemed to care deeply for this woman.
"Xiao Ranbing, keep him occupied!"
Marqi, having formulated a plan, called out.
Xiao Ranbing, though struggling to fend off Baili Changqing, immediately understood what Marqi was implying.
"Damn it!"
Xiao Ranbing roared, as a surge of purple energy burst from his body.
Another domain of energy erupted forth, forming a giant oval-shaped protective shield, trapping both him and Baili Changqing within!
Baili Changqing's eyes narrowed.
Xiao Ranbing had already used a domain once before, but now he had released yet another strange domain!
And this new domain had completely sealed the two of them inside.
Baili Changqing felt as though he had been cut off from everything around him.
He couldn't see or sense anything beyond the domain!
This is bad!
His expression darkened as a realization hit him.
Outside... Marqi was still free!
Marqi could easily target Ye Yaar!
He didn't care about anyone else, but Ye Yaar... she couldn't die.
Though he didn't fully understand why, he knew, deep down, that this was something—someone—he had to protect.
"Ha ha ha! This is my second domain!"
"You didn't expect it, did you? I have two domain powers!"
Xiao Ranbing laughed maniacally as he faced Baili Changqing.
"Get lost!"
Baili Changqing roared in fury, swinging Jimié in a vicious arc!
Clang—
The force of the strike sent Xiao Ranbing reeling backward, spitting blood.
His entire body was wracked with pain.
Damn it...
Xiao Ranbing's face twisted with frustration.
Baili Changqing's power was simply too overwhelming.
For now, there was no way to defeat him.
But escaping from his domain wasn't going to be easy either...
"Impossible!"
In the next instant, something shocking happened.
Baili Changqing slashed at the domain energy that encased them, and within moments, the entire domain began to crack!
With a gaping tear forming, Xiao Ranbing's domain started to collapse before his eyes.
Splitting the domain with a single sword slash!
The ruptured domain energy quickly disintegrated, visible to the naked eye.
Splurt—
Xiao Ranbing coughed up blood as the backlash from the broken domain tore through him.
His entire body suffered severe internal damage.
That sword... it can sever Yuan energy!
Finally realizing this, Xiao Ranbing's face turned pale.
"Don't move!"
"Or I'll kill her!"
Just as Baili Changqing broke free, a sharp voice rang out.
Looking up, Baili Changqing saw Marqi holding a sword to Ye Yaar's throat.
Baili Changqing's eyes widened in shock.
Gripping Jimié tightly, he froze, unsure of his next move.
"Let her go."
Baili Changqing's voice was cold as his eyes locked onto Marqi.
Ye Longcang lay on the ground, coughing blood, while the remaining guards were either killed by Marqi or lay gravely wounded.
"Heh heh heh, stay right there, or I'll kill her!"
Marqi, realizing he had the upper hand, sneered.
Baili Changqing seemed to care a lot about this woman.
As long as he held her hostage, Baili Changqing was powerless!
"Excellent."
Xiao Ranbing wiped the blood from his mouth, grinning viciously.
He had thought of this plan earlier, but Marqi had made it happen.
"Drop your sword, or he'll kill Princess Changyue."
Xiao Ranbing slowly walked toward Baili Changqing, sword in hand.
"That's right. Drop the sword, or I'll tear her apart!"
Marqi cackled.
"Don't worry about me! Kill them!"
Ye Yaar cried out.
"Shut up!"
Marqi unleashed a surge of energy, striking Ye Yaar and injuring her severely.
Blood poured from her mouth.
"I'll say it one more time. Drop the sword, or I'll kill her!"
Marqi's voice rang out again.
Baili Changqing's expression flickered. He hesitated, then slowly planted his sword into the ground.
Perfect!
Seeing this, both Marqi and Xiao Ranbing felt an overwhelming sense of joy.
With Baili Changqing disarmed, his power would be drastically reduced!
Now, the two Martial Saints could easily kill him.
Ye Yaar's eyes widened in horror.
He couldn't! He couldn't put down his sword!
"Bamboo only blooms once in its life."
"I'm sorry."
Ye Yaar, her eyes brimming with tears, made a decision.
Sensing something, Baili Changqing's eyes also widened in realization.
In the next moment, Ye Yaar used all her strength, pressing her neck against the blade at her throat and taking her own life.
Scarlet blood spurted out in that instant.
"Ye Yaar!!!"
Baili Changqing's eyes widened in horror as he let out a deafening roar.
His scream shook the heavens and the earth, the very sky and ground trembling at its intensity.
Marqi's eyes widened in shock, unable to believe what had just happened.
Ye Yaar had actually killed herself!
"I... I didn't mean to kill her..."
Marqi stammered, trembling at the sight of Baili Changqing's terrifying killing intent.
Whoosh—
Baili Changqing dashed forward at incredible speed!
Marqi barely had time to react before a flash of cold light swept across his vision. His head was severed, falling to the ground.
[Killed Martial Saint-level warrior, gained 100,000,000 evolution points]
[Absorbed Martial Saint-level warrior's blood essence, gained 1,000 energy points]
[Absorbed Martial Saint-level warrior's blood essence, gained 1,000 energy points]
...
[Host has sufficient evolution points. Proceed with evolution?]
"Evolution!"
Ye Fan's voice roared in excitement within Baili Changqing's mind.
It was time to evolve!
Finally, he was going to become an SSS-class weapon!
For the first time, he would be able to speak!
"Ye... Yaar."
Baili Changqing knelt beside Ye Yaar's lifeless body, his voice trembling as he spoke each word.
Memories of their past flashed through his mind, playing like a film.
"Bamboo blooms only once in its life, then dies."
"One life, one bloom. No regrets in death."
"I hope to shine my brightest... and then, have no regrets in death."
...
Her voice still echoed in his ears, yet the person was gone.
Xiao Ranbing's body trembled as he turned to flee!
Baili Changqing, trembling with grief and anger, channeled all his power into Jimié.
With a single backward slash, he unleashed a terrifying surge of sword energy.
The energy cut through space itself!
Xiao Ranbing instinctively tried to protect himself with Yuan energy, but the sword energy tore his body in half.
[Killed Martial Saint-level warrior, gained 100,000,000 evolution points]
[Absorbed Martial Saint-level warrior's blood essence, gained 1,000 energy points]
[Absorbed Martial Saint-level warrior's blood essence, gained 1,000 energy points]
...
"Ahhh!!!"
Baili Changqing roared in agony.
A once emotionless assassin, now tortured by the weight of his feelings.
"Jimié, can you save her?!"
"I know you can, right?!"
At that moment, Baili Changqing seemed to have thought of something and called out to Jimié.
"I... I can't save her," Ye Fan said after a brief pause.
"Why? Not even your power can do it?!"
This was when Baili Changqing first heard Ye Fan's voice!
However, there was no time to be shocked, and he shouted again.
"Huh, you can hear me now?"
Ye Fan was startled and instinctively responded.
Meanwhile, the sky above grew dark with storm clouds as the heavenly tribulation approached—signaling Ye Fan's impending evolution.
His evolution had not yet been completed.
"I know, Sword Spirit, you must have a way, right?" Baili Changqing asked excitedly.
The sword... it had spoken! The sword had spoken!
"No, there's nothing I can do," Ye Fan replied again.
"But... I can see her soul. It's still here."
"Her... soul?" Baili Changqing was stunned.
He glanced around but couldn't see anything.
"She's standing right in front of you," Ye Fan said.
Indeed, Ye Fan had realized he could see Ye Yaar's soul!
It was a shocking revelation.
Could his upcoming evolution have something to do with souls?
"But her soul is slowly fading. If I'm not wrong, she's probably going to reincarnate soon," Ye Fan continued, gazing at Baili Changqing.
"If you have something to say, tell her now. She should still be able to hear you."
Baili Changqing stared blankly ahead.
"Yaar, I... I don't know what to say."
"But no matter what, I'll come find you."
Tears rolled down from Baili Changqing's eyes.
It was the first time he had ever cried.
"Mm."
"Live well."
At that moment, a soft voice echoed in the air.
Baili Changqing was startled, and then he saw a bright light appear before him.
Ye Yaar's translucent figure was slowly fading away.
On her barely visible face, a radiant smile appeared.
"Yue'er..."
Ye Longcang, witnessing the scene, trembled uncontrollably.
Instinctively, Baili Changqing reached out to hold her.
But she was already gone.
Baili Changqing froze, then fell to his knees on the ground.
"Sword Spirit, I don't want to kill anymore."
"I want to leave this place."
"Mm, go ahead."
"I can fly on my own," Ye Fan replied softly.
At that moment, Baili Changqing gently lifted Ye Yaar's body and walked away into the distance.
Ye Fan could sense it from his eyes—Baili Changqing had grown weary of all the killing. He wanted to retire from the bloodshed.
"I hope you can find her reincarnation," Ye Fan murmured as he watched Baili Changqing's retreating figure.
The entanglements of love... no one can escape them.
"But now, it's finally my turn to evolve," Ye Fan said, glancing toward the sky, where an immense amount of lightning energy was building up!
This time, the power of the lightning was far stronger than before!
"Let's hope I don't end up getting blown apart," Ye Fan muttered as he watched the terrifying lightning above.
In the next moment, a massive bolt of lightning descended from the sky, crashing down with terrifying force!