Hearing Xia Chan's words, Luo Xiu remained expressionless, seemingly unconcerned.

"The Saint Ancient Dragon Physique... it seems only those Emperors from the Lower Realm possess such a constitution," a voice mused. "The growth potential is quite high, but as for now..."

Unexpectedly, before the words were finished, a surge of Haoran Dragon Qi rushed forward. It was Hua Muyan, taking the initiative! The Dragon Qi transformed into a sword, slashing straight down, accompanied by a deafening dragon's roar. The terrified Little Pouch flew far away to dodge, but Luo Xiu remained motionless. The sword formed from Dragon Qi struck him, instantly sinking into his body.

Seeing Luo Xiu so easily hit, Hua Muyan breathed a secret sigh of relief. So that's all he's got. She laughed charmingly. "Little brother, I admit you're powerful, but I have now devoured the Saint Ancient Dragon Physique. This is a power invincible in this world! Even the Holy Boi Religion Ancestor is about to die by its might!"

However, no sooner had she finished speaking than Luo Xiu's body trembled, and the Dragon Qi that had entered him was instantly dispersed. He then stepped onto The Void, walking toward her unhurriedly. "That was quite comfortable," he said with a faint smile. "But as for its power, it's nothing special."

As he spoke, he appeared before Hua Muyan as if he had teleported. Her beautiful eyes trembled, and she was about to flee when Luo Xiu slowly raised his right hand. She found herself unable to move. A terrifying pressure enveloped her, making her feel as if all her bones were about to shatter. Despite using every trick she knew, she couldn't break free in the slightest.

Luo Xiu casually grasped her neck, lifting her as if she weighed nothing. "In my presence, who dares to speak of being unbeaten?" he said indifferently. "Who dares to claim invincibility?" He stared at Hua Muyan, his eyes flickering with an azure light, his killing intent as vast as the sea.

"You have two choices," he said lightly.

"Leave her body on your own, and I will spare your life.

"Otherwise, I will take the trouble to pull you out myself. At that point, even the desire to die will be a luxury for you."

Hua Muyan's eyes filled with horror. Her gaze shifted, not daring to meet his, and her delicate body trembled incessantly. "I... I'll come out right now! Don't kill me!"

At this moment, the fear she felt came from the very depths of her soul. She had thought that by forcibly devouring Di Xuanji's Saint Ancient Dragon Physique, she would acquire an invincible power and eliminate all her enemies. But it was only now that she realized that in front of this man, the power she thought so formidable was worth nothing at all. The moment Luo Xiu's gaze fell upon her, all she felt was despair, helplessness, and insignificance, realizing just how ridiculous she had been.

A Flower Vine slowly emerged from Di Xuanji's navel, transforming into Hua Muyan's human form beside her. Head bowed like a well-behaved maid, she didn't dare to look at Luo Xiu.

Acting as if she didn't exist, Luo Xiu reached out to embrace Di Xuanji and floated lightly to the ground. He gazed blankly at her, her breath as faint as a gossamer thread. His eyes gradually softened, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't remember who she was. Suddenly, his brow furrowed in pain. The azure markings on his skin quickly faded, and he knelt weakly on one knee.

PFFT!

He spat a mouthful of hot, black blood that splashed all over Di Xuanji. He then trembled and collapsed on top of her, his consciousness gradually fading. At this point, his Essence Blood had been completely depleted.

Seeing this, a cold gleam flashed in Hua Muyan's eyes. She didn't know what was happening to Luo Xiu, but she was certain of one thing: he was extremely weak, so weak that he had no power to resist.

Just as murderous intent erupted in her eyes and she was about to strike, Little Pouch flew through the air, blocking her path. Immediately after, Xia Chan also left the tower's inner space, standing firmly before Hua Muyan with a vigilant expression. "Hua Muyan, what is the meaning of this?" she said coldly. "If he had wanted to kill you just now, you would have been utterly annihilated!"

"Exactly!" Little Pouch exclaimed angrily. "My big brother spared your life! Not only are you ungrateful, but you're also trying to attack him?"

A slight smile played on Hua Muyan's lips. With a sudden grab, a Flower Vine erupted from the earth and tightly ensnared Little Pouch.

"Damn it! You stinking Flower Demon, let me go!"

"Sister-in-law, quick, save me!"

Hua Muyan ignored Little Pouch, merely keeping him bound because she found the pagoda troublesome. She looked at Xia Chan with a smirk. "How did he spare my life? When he killed my Flower Vine clone the first time, he didn't hesitate at all. Don't think I didn't see it. He actually cares a great deal about this Empress and only wanted me to leave her body. The moment I did, he would have killed me without a second thought."

As she spoke, Hua Muyan extended her jade-like hand, and a vine in her grasp condensed into a spear. The spear, though seemingly delicate and beautiful, radiated a terrifying killing intent.

Xia Chan quickly deployed the Wicked Tenderness Technique to shield Luo Xiu, shouting, "You dare!"

Hua Muyan's face was full of disdain. "Even gravely injured, I am far beyond what you can handle. Miss, considering you once watered me, I can spare your life. But if you insist on getting in my way, then don't blame me for being ruthless!"

As she finished speaking, several vines sprouted from the ground beneath Xia Chan's feet, coiling tightly around her in the blink of an eye.

"Still using the Wicked Tenderness Technique to protect this little guy? It seems you really care about him, Miss."

Xia Chan's face was frosty. The space around her suddenly twisted violently, effortlessly snapping the vines. She instantly flashed forward, aiming a palm strike at Hua Muyan. "If you want to harm him, you'll have to get past me first!"

Given Hua Muyan's current state, Xia Chan was confident she could defeat her with the Wicked Tenderness Technique.

Faced with Xia Chan's unstoppable advance, Hua Muyan remained composed. Knowing she couldn't engage in close combat, she floated backward to create distance. The moment her pristine, jade-like feet touched the ground, she twisted at the waist, turned, and hurled the vine spear in her hand. The motion was swift, yet not without grace.

"Myriad Flower Spear!"

Xia Chan's heart skipped a beat when she realized the spear was aimed at the prone Luo Xiu. She immediately abandoned her pursuit, decisively turning to grab the spear as it flew through the air. In the next instant, the vine spear mysteriously vanished, transferred to another location by her Wicked Tenderness Hand.

Xia Chan thought she had averted disaster, but then Hua Muyan waved her hand, and vines erupted from the ground everywhere, growing wildly. In just a moment, Xia Chan was completely surrounded.

"Your Wicked Tenderness Technique truly is a nuisance," Hua Muyan said coldly. "It seems that to kill that little guy, I'll have to kill you first."

The vines encircling Xia Chan suddenly went taut. Each one bloomed with a vibrant flower, their petals opening like the gaping maws of fierce beasts, spitting slender poison spikes at Xia Chan from all directions.

"Thousand Flower Spikes!" Hua Muyan declared. "Let's see how you dodge this!"

Xia Chan scanned her surroundings and saw there was no escape. Despair flooded her heart. If she protected Luo Xiu, she couldn't focus on Hua Muyan. But if she focused entirely on Hua Muyan, she couldn't protect Luo Xiu. She gave up the struggle and slowly closed her eyes, quietly awaiting death's arrival.

However, the pain she anticipated never came.

In an instant, she felt herself pulled into a broad, secure embrace. When she opened her eyes, she saw Luo Xiu's blood-covered face. He had shielded her with his body, but now he was pierced all over with slender poison spikes. The spikes gradually liquefied into a venom that flowed into his wounds and seeped into his body.

"Chen Shuisheng... you... what are you doing?"

Blood trickled from Luo Xiu's mouth and nose. He slowly released her, staggered back several steps, and collapsed with a thud. "I told you... I would take you home... Even if it means dying, I will die before you."

Xia Chan scrambled over to him, collapsing onto his chest and gripping his shoulders tightly. Tears streamed from her eyes as she choked out, "Why are you so foolish? I'm not worth this."

Luo Xiu slowly raised a hand, gently caressing her face. He smiled and said, "Child."

Xia Chan's gaze shook.

Just then, the poison inside Luo Xiu's body emitted a strange aura. From his wounds, new vines began to sprout. His body was like nutrient-rich soil; the vines drew sustenance from him, growing wildly and tearing his flesh apart. As his flesh was ripped away, the disguise created by the Creation Thirteen Needles gradually faded, revealing his true face.

Xia Chan stared at him, stunned. Memories of their time together flooded her mind, and her tears flowed uncontrollably. "It's you... Luo Xiu, why is it you...?"

Luo Xiu slowly closed his eyes. The hand on her face fell limply to his side. "Survive..." he uttered in a weak voice. "Take good care of the child."

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