The eccentric monster was not yet dead, though his lower body had already disintegrated into ash, and his upper torso was fading fast.
He glared at Luo Yun with hateful disbelief. "Why? Aren't you afraid I'll destroy your jade pendant?"
Luo Yun sneered coldly. "Do you think the pendant I gave you was really mine?"
She pulled another jade pendant from her bosom, dangling it before his dying eyes. "The one I gave you belonged to that fool, Liu Yue."
The monster’s eyes widened in shock. He had been outplayed by this woman until the very end. But then, a twisted, savage grin split his face.
Suddenly, he opened his mouth and spat out his miniature Nascent Soul. Though half-dissolved, it moved with the speed of lightning.
Crack!
The Nascent Soul shot straight through the jade pendant in Luo Yun’s hand, shattering it into dust.
"Stay here forever!" the monster cackled, his voice fading into the void. "Rot in this Immortal Abode with me!"
In a fit of rage, Luo Yun slashed his remaining essence into nothingness. But the victory was hollow. She stood there, trembling, staring at the dust of her shattered exit token.
All her schemes, all her betrayals—and she was trapped.
To the side, Xiao Yifeng watched impassively. He hadn't intended to let the monster live anyway. Moments ago, he had unleashed the Angry Sword Wild Flower—a secret technique of Wuya Hall that concentrated all spiritual and soul power into a single, devastating strike.
The cost was total exhaustion. His meridians were empty.
Only Su Miaoqing noticed his weakened state. She flew to his side immediately, guarding him from the others.
The atmosphere shifted. The common enemy was dead. The truce was over.
Mo Shuiyao, Lin Xiao, Xiao Yifeng, and Luo Yun eyed each other warily.
"I truly don't wish to be enemies with you," Mo Shuiyao sighed, her charm returning. "We fought well together. Pity there is only one Book of Destiny."
"Indeed," Lin Xiao agreed, snapping his fan shut. "I consider you all kindred spirits. But fate is cruel."
This was the cultivation world. Friends one second, mortal enemies the next. Just ask Liu Yue.
Su Miaoqing glared at them, sensing Xiao Yifeng’s vulnerability.
Xiao Yifeng checked his internal state. His cultivation had plummeted back to Foundation Establishment levels, yet his Golden Core—that trash-tier Nine Revolutions core—hadn't completely shattered. A small, stubborn chunk remained.
What kind of cockroach core is this? he wondered. I wanted to break it so I could re-cultivate a First Grade core later!
Seeing the others preparing to move, Xiao Yifeng smiled. "Since you all want the book, let's rely on our own abilities."
He formed a hand seal and roared, "Jade Shattering Art!"
Lin Xiao and Mo Shuiyao stared in horror as Xiao Yifeng’s aura exploded upward again.
Again?!
Fellow Daoist, how many Golden Cores do you have?! Can you just shatter them on command like popping candy? That’s disgusting!
Xiao Yifeng’s power surged back to the mid-Golden Core stage. He laughed heartily. "Come and get it!"
"Senior Sister, go get the book!" he shouted. "I'll hold them off!"
Su Miaoqing flew toward the Book of Destiny without hesitation. Xiao Yifeng unleashed the Myriad Sword Art.
Luck Trigger: Quartet!
Tens of thousands of sword shadows filled the sky, blocking Lin Xiao and Mo Shuiyao like a wall of steel. He was holding them both back single-handedly.
Su Miaoqing reached the floating book. Her jade pendant allowed her to pass through the protective barrier effortlessly. Her fingers brushed the cover.
Swish!
Sharp wind blades slashed at her from the side.
Su Miaoqing was forced to recoil. Luo Yun, face twisted in desperation, charged at her, swinging her zither like a club.
"If I can't leave, none of you will get it!" Luo Yun screamed. "Stay here with me!"
The two women clashed violently. Luo Yun fought like a rabid animal, aiming to cripple or kill.
Using her zither strings, Luo Yun lassoed the Book of Destiny and yanked it toward herself, turning to flee.
"Dream on!" Xiao Yifeng shouted. He thrust the Ink Snow Sword, sending a beam of freezing white light straight at her.
Reflexively, Luo Yun used the Book of Destiny as a shield.
CRACK!
The legendary artifact... shattered.
Time seemed to freeze. The Book of Destiny exploded into five glowing fragments, scattering in all directions.
Everyone stood dumbfounded. It broke?!
Then, chaos erupted. They all lunged.
Xiao Yifeng grabbed a piece (1/6). Su Miaoqing grabbed a piece (1/6). Lin Xiao and Mo Shuiyao each grabbed a piece (1/6 each). Luo Yun, being closest, grabbed the largest chunk—a full third of the book.
The fragments liquefied instantly, merging into their bodies. A surge of information flooded their minds.
Rumble!
The sky above the palace tore open. A massive vortex appeared.
"The Reincarnation Immortal Abode is closing! Exit immediately with your Jade Pendants!"
Everyone looked at Xiao Yifeng. He shrugged awkwardly. "Who knew the damn thing was fragile?"
Then, all eyes turned to Luo Yun. She had the biggest piece, but no way out.
"Since I can't have it, I'd rather die than give it to you!" Luo Yun screamed. She turned into a streak of light, fleeing deeper into the palace labyrinth.
"After her!"
Su Miaoqing sprouted flame wings and gave chase. Xiao Yifeng, Lin Xiao, and Mo Shuiyao followed.
But Luo Yun burned her essence blood, vanishing into the complex corridors.
Xiao Yifeng stopped. He smirked.
He turned around and flew back to the Control Room.
On the way, he picked up the eccentric's dropped stone tablet. A drop of blood later, he had partial ownership.
Inside the Control Room, he placed his hand on the stele. The entire palace map projected into his mind.
He saw Su Miaoqing running in circles. He saw Lin Xiao and Mo Shuiyao searching aimlessly.
And he saw Luo Yun, hiding in a remote side hall, clutching her useless prize, her face a mask of despair.
Xiao Yifeng manipulated the palace layout, sealing off corridors to block the others. Then, he used the stele’s teleportation function.
Whoosh.
He appeared directly in front of Luo Yun.
"Come out," he said coldly.
Luo Yun jumped, her eyes wide with fear. She stepped out of the shadows, looking at him warily.
"Hand over the Book of Destiny fragment and the stone tablets," Xiao Yifeng demanded. "I don't want to kill you."
Luo Yun’s mind raced. She realized he had control of the Abode.
"Fellow Daoist Wuchen," she said, her voice trembling but calculating. "I will give you everything. The book, the tablets... but you must take me out of here."
"If I want to take them," Xiao Yifeng smiled dangerously, "what can you do to stop me?"
Luo Yun bit her lip. She knew she couldn't win.
She looked up, desperation in her eyes. "Please. Take me out. I will give you the treasures... and I am willing to be your furnace cauldron."
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