Lu Luo looked at the heart in Lu Xiaotian's hands, clearly taken aback for a moment.

He took the heart directly from her.

[Nightmare Heart]

Grade: Legendary

Effect: Unknown

Description 1: A heart converged from intertwined emotions of pain, resentment, dreams, obsession, and extravagant wishes.

Description 2: The Heart of Calamity.

Description 3: This item is corrupting.

Corrupting, huh!

Black energy threaded into Lu Luo's body like silk, but he did not feel any specific negative effects from it.

That he wasn't affected was easy to understand because his current armor traits and the Superstition Effect were already powerful enough to immunize him against these negative effects.

Yet, Lu Xiaotian before him had casually taken this thing out of her pocket.

This act itself was highly problematic!

"You've been carrying this thing in your pocket?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"This thing is very dangerous, don't you know?"

"I know! So what?"

"Alright then." Lu Luo didn't know how to continue the conversation and, after a moment's thought, decided to let it go.

Lu Xiaotian's identity and circumstances were not something to delve into at the moment.

"Lu Luo, look up there!"

CLANG!

With a single slash, Lu Luo killed a wandering Exotic Species, put the Nightmare Heart into his ring, and shifted his gaze in the direction Qi Xinzhu was pointing.

The battle is finally coming to an end, isn't it!

「Inside the Red and White Castle, Ludie and the Nightmare Demon stood face to face.」

There was no longer the tense, sword-drawn atmosphere between them that there had been before.

Moreover, the Nightmare Demon at this moment felt like nothing but an empty shell.

Ludie grabbed the Nightmare Demon's body and, with his bride Qiu Guling, soared into the sky!

Amidst the vortex in the sky, Qiu Guling and Ludie embraced. The bride's tears, ones she rarely shed, slowly fell.

"Husband!"

"Hmm?"

"We are finally together!"

"Yes! We are finally together," Ludie nodded with a smile as well.

The Nightmare Demon before them had been reduced to charcoal by the crimson flames—a fusion of the two powers—and was gradually crumbling away.

BOOM!

The vortex formed by the Netherflame and red fog had completely obscured the sky.

From afar, the red fog giant and the torso of the Nightmare Demon continuously shattered, entwined, and condensed in the sky.

This was the battle between the King of Humanity and the King of Exotic Species!

This scene was clearly visible to everyone in the Fourth Ring. Even the Constitution Guard Corps, the Church, and the civilians atop the third wall could see it.

The only difference was the expression on Bai Yuetong's face. Aside from shock, there was also surprise.

Is this what he wanted?

Bai Yuetong still hadn't told anyone about everything she had seen. Perhaps this was something she would only tell Lu Luo!

The Hunters, still fighting throughout the East Ring, lowered their heads one by one, their eyes red with emotion as they gazed at the vortex in the sky.

Yang Liya from Hunter Team 2 wiped her eyes, her expression returning to its usual coldness.

"All personnel, salute!"

SWISH!

All the Hunters saluted in unison, whether they were members of Team 2 or not.

The act of saluting spread, whether among Hunters, guards, mercenaries, or even civilians.

They all saluted to express their genuine respect for the Hunter King of the Fourth Ring's East Ring!

Even those groom candidates who had escaped from the Nightmare Castle, though they were not from the Fourth Ring, were likewise expressing their condolences for Ludie's death at this moment.

Ludie was a hero, a true hero of the Fourth Ring.

And the Hunter King had defended everything about the Fourth Ring with his own life.

The Nightmare Demon was finally defeated!

Crimson flames consumed everything atop the high walls. The burnt rocks and rubble gradually coalesced with the vortex, rising towards the sky, forming a red celestial ring of unattainable height.

After the red pillars formed, the Black Tide War of the Fourth Ring also seemed to gradually subside.

The Exotic Species retreated like the tide, as if by an unspoken agreement.

The moment the red pillars formed, the fight seemed to lose all meaning.

A massive amount of blood qi, energy, and unknown particles began to drift into the Fourth Ring.

Everyone fighting in the Fourth Ring felt this power.

No one knew what this power meant; only Lu Luo sensed a clear hint through the Observer.

Sequence particles have significantly increased in overall level. Many indescribable things are improving, most of which are beneficial. This is probably Ludie's last blessing to the Fourth Ring!

He's exhausted; it's time for him to rest.

Lu Luo embraced Qi Xinzhu, pulling her into his arms.

Besides them, many others were also hugging and weeping at this moment.

This brief and frantic war had begun suddenly and ended just as suddenly.

The living were rejoicing, but at the same time, they grieved for their fallen comrades.

But the one thing truly worth celebrating was that the war had really ended!

People began to cheer, and the members of Circle Studio, led by Bai Yuetong and Zhou Kai, immediately descended the wall.

While descending on the elevator lift, Bai Yuetong received a call from Lu Luo.

"Hello!"

Just answering the phone, Bai Yuetong felt her nose twinge; she had never experienced anything like this before!

The day and night of battle and command had utterly exhausted her!

But at this moment, she still chose a gentler tone, because she knew Lu Luo must have also gone through a great deal.

"I'm glad you're back!"

"Is that Brother Luo? Ah, why didn't he call me first? That's too much!"

As Zhou Kai grumbled, his phone rang.

It wasn't Lu Luo, but Gu Fangyi!

"Gu Bro, it's good you're okay! You grew hair? What do you mean? You don't need to tell me specifically about growing hair..."

Zhou Kai hung up and turned to Bai Yuetong.

"Xiao Bai, everyone's back! Let's hurry to Entertainment Street to relax."

"Entertainment Street? What Entertainment Street? It's gone."

"Uh..."

"Let's go find them."

The two groups finally met in the ruins of the East Ring, the former location of Circle Studio.

Upon meeting, Bai Yuetong immediately saw Lu Luo and Qi Xinzhu holding hands.

Qi Xinzhu was still dressed in her red gown, her cheeks slightly flushed, her gaze somewhat evasive.

Lu Luo, on the other hand, appeared somewhat calm yet apologetic.

An ordinary person definitely wouldn't have noticed anything amiss, but Bai Yuetong was no ordinary person, and she cared a great deal about Qi Xinzhu and Lu Luo's situation.

So, she saw at a glance that their relationship must have undergone a fundamental change!

"You two..."

Although Bai Yuetong's mood had been quite tumultuous before, she had at least managed to hold herself together.

But now, she truly couldn't.

Tears streamed down her face.

Just as she was about to make a scene with Lu Luo—perhaps storm off, or even leave for good—

She saw Lu Xiaotian's head poke out from behind Lu Luo!

Bai Yuetong's pupils shrank sharply!

This little girl... this little girl... Lu Luo!

"Lu Luo, you!"

Bai Yuetong raised her hand, but Lu Luo had already stepped in front of her, pressing her hand down.

Lu Luo had the Observer; in terms of sharp observational skills, he was even stronger than Gu Fangyi. He had naturally noticed Bai Yuetong's earlier gaze and movements.

Dumb Hair must have discovered something, but now was not the time to speak out! Even he wasn't confident in dealing with Lu Xiaotian; in fact, he had absolutely no confidence at all!

"Bai Yuetong, it wasn't easy for everyone to reunite. Let's not talk about unpleasant things."

Lu Luo's words carried a hint of warning, and Bai Yuetong responded quickly. She immediately realized there were some issues, so she nodded and composed herself.

"With the Fourth Ring in this state, what should we do?"

"The Fourth Ring needs rebuilding, but we don't have to worry about that; I've already prepared a suitable place for everyone. Starting today, we'll move our base there."

Lu Luo was referring to the Lan Tian base in the slums of the East Ring, guarded by his summoned creatures!

Bai Yuetong cast another stealthy glance at Lu Xiaotian. Amid her hesitation, Qi Xinzhu actually took her hand.

"Xiao Bai, let's go!"

"Qi Xinzhu, what are you doing? I'm not that close to you! Hey, don't pull me!"

Qi Xinzhu pulled Bai Yuetong away. Before leaving, she glanced at Lu Luo, who nodded in return.

Gu Fangyi and Zhou Kai also led the others away.

Everyone very tacitly left Lu Luo and Lu Xiaotian behind.

"What's the matter, Lu Luo? You're not planning to hit a child, are you?" Lu Xiaotian spoke to Lu Luo in a somewhat provocative tone, but Lu Luo merely shook his head.

Only the two of them remained; there was no longer any need to hide anything.

"Lu Xiaotian, are you the Nightmare Demon?"

Lu Xiaotian slid off Lu Luo's back.

"Didn't the Nightmare Demon die? Why would you ask that?"

"Do you think I'm stupid, or just adorably naive? It's just the two of us here. Is there any point in saying that? I promised Ludie I'd take care of you, but I want an answer."

In Lu Luo's heart, even though Lu Xiaotian was Ludie's daughter and he had promised Ludie to look after her, he also needed to consider the safety of the other members of Circle Studio.

Many in the Circular were ordinary. Perhaps the changes in the Fourth Ring would make them extraordinary in the future, but for now, Lu Luo didn't want to drag them into the Nightmare Demon's vortex!

The Nightmare Demon was a true monster; Lu Luo had always believed that.

However, upon hearing Lu Luo's words, Lu Xiaotian laughed outright.

"You said it yourself, there are only the two of us here. If you already consider me human, then why are you asking me about the Nightmare Demon?"

Lu Luo's feelings about Lu Xiaotian were complicated. His inability to confirm her information through the Observer was his greatest source of unease.

Bai Yuetong must have noticed something just now, but he couldn't ask her yet!

"Lu Xiaotian, you are too dangerous! If we can't be honest with each other, my team cannot accept you."

At that moment, Lu Xiaotian suddenly shed her ignorant little girl persona. She slowly floated in the air, just as she had in the Nightmare Castle.

"Acceptance? Your team? Lu Luo, have you misunderstood something? I don't believe I ever said I wanted to stay with you forever!"

"Then what about Ludie? And what about you?"

Lu Luo genuinely didn't know how to deal with Lu Xiaotian now.

"Ludie was, naturally, my father, the hero who led the Fourth Ring towards the light. And I am, naturally, the hero's orphan! The inheritor of the Hunter King's will. Lu Luo, your growth rate isn't bad, but it's still not fast enough! The tides of the Fourth Ring are about to surge! You'd better think carefully about what you and your companions should do next!"

After speaking, Lu Xiaotian slowly drifted upward.

Just as she was about to leave, she suddenly stopped mid-air and turned back to Lu Luo.

"Lu Luo, I know you've always harbored a certain thought about me. I'll give you one chance now. Come on!"

Lu Luo's eyes narrowed instantly, and the temperature between them seemed to plummet.

Host, I think it would be better for you to stay calm!

Lu Luo was usually very calm; most of the time, he could prioritize benefits. But this time, he couldn't.

Lu Luo had already drawn Fenrir. Since she had made the offer, he had nothing to hold back!

Steam Fourth Gear, Thunder Slash!

Electricity crackled around Lu Luo.

Seeing Lu Luo in this state, Lu Xiaotian revealed a mysterious smile.

"Come on!"

Lu Luo knew Lu Xiaotian was incredibly fast, so he prepared to use his quickest move.

Steam Qi He, Jet Belt, and the active acceleration of lightning!

Pushing his physique and energy to their limits, Lu Luo flashed forward and slashed!

Thunder Breath, Flash!

BOOM!

A violent torrent of air burst from the tip of Lu Luo's sword!

Arguably Lu Luo's strongest sword strike was caught by Lu Xiaotian with a single hand.

Fenrir's massive blade, held in one small hand, looked decidedly odd.

But when Lu Luo tried to wrench Fenrir free, he found it utterly impossible. His opponent surpassed him not only in speed but also in strength.

The gap in their strength was immense. Even Lu Luo's own power—over 140—combined with Steam Fourth Gear and a two-handed grip on his sword, couldn't match Lu Xiaotian's single hand.

More than shock, Lu Luo felt utter disbelief.

Although he had anticipated this outcome, actually experiencing it was hard to accept. Lu Luo was no exception.

He drew back his fist, gathering power, as Netherflame mixed with Qi He converged upon it.

However, Lu Xiaotian's expression became very playful.

"Lu Luo, I said I'd let you try once. That one chance is over. If you use two moves, you'll be breaking the rules, you know!"

Lu Luo didn't pause.

Deliberate Bombardment Fist—Netherflame Burst!

BOOM!

He threw a full-powered punch straight at Lu Xiaotian's face, but it was caught again by her petite palm, unable to advance an inch.

Lu Luo was already mentally prepared for the disparity in strength.

But what shocked him even more was that all of his Netherflame was flowing towards Lu Xiaotian!

The power of his Netherflame Source Seed was almost completely drained, leaving only a tiny spark that hadn't extinguished!

This scene alone was enough to reveal Lu Xiaotian's identity. Words were unnecessary.

Only the Nightmare Demon could truly master the Nether Source and control life and death!

"So you really are the Nightmare Demon!"

Drained of his Nether Source, Lu Luo stiffened. At that very moment, Tong Yan, Tong Meng, Tong Yuan, and Qin Wanyu landed around Lu Xiaotian.

"Master," the four women said in unison.

Lu Xiaotian nodded slightly, then sighed.

"Lu Luo, the person you should thank the most is me. It's because you helped me fulfill my father's wish that I, in turn, helped you fulfill yours—to be truly together with Qi Xinzhu. The feeling of intimacy is wonderful, isn't it? Hehe. But pressure will follow! Today's Fourth Ring is bad enough, but tomorrow's Fourth Ring will be better, and the day after tomorrow's even better still! So, take the Nightmare Heart and have sweet dreams, my fellow traveler. Because tomorrow, the Church and the Council should be arriving!"

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.