Daoist Zi Mei had a personality that would rather break than bend. After spitting out a mouthful of Lifeblood Essence, he feared that his Golden Core would be stolen after his death. He immediately let out a crazed shout, declaring, "My godfather will avenge me and slaughter all of you!"
He forcefully directed a surge of Primordial Qi into his abdomen, shattering his own Golden Core. His physical body exploded into a mist of blood, his Primordial Spirit dissipated, and he died on the spot.
Seeing this, Zhang Yan secretly sighed in regret. If the *Nine Capturing Demon Scroll* could have absorbed this person’s Essence Blood, it might have elevated his *God Contract* cultivation technique to the next level.
Although the Jun Yue Demon King had thrust her spear through Daoist Zi Mei’s chest, she had deliberately avoided his vital spots and did not strike with full force, intending to take him alive. Otherwise, just that one strike would have killed him outright.
Her approach was not necessarily wrong. First, she was merely a hired helper by Lu Junbai, with no direct enmity toward the Xiao Family, and there was no need to provoke unnecessary grudges. Second, taking him hostage could serve as leverage to make the opposing side more cautious.
Had Daoist Zi Mei been willing to beg for mercy and hand over the token sealing Lu Mei Niang’s abilities, he might have been spared. However, he was too impulsive and rash. Considering how he and his party had treated Lu Mei Niang, he assumed that these individuals would certainly not let him go and might even retaliate. Thus, he chose self-destruction over the shame and torment of capture.
Seeing that even such a fierce individual could not be captured alive, Lu Junbai looked grim.
On this Crane Island, Lu Mei Niang, the Bai Qiong Demon King, had entrenched herself for years. Both inside and outside her cave mansion were filled with numerous array formations and restrictions. However, her daughter Yan Rong had divulged all the mechanisms of ingress and egress to Xiao Han. For ease of invasion and out of fear of any residual traps, Xiao Mousui had forcibly dismantled many of them, leaving only a small portion behind, which were of little use to him.
Now, there was no place on this island to rely on for support. The Flying Sword had been sent off, and if Xiao Mousui came back seeking revenge, where could they escape to in the vast, endless ocean?
The Jun Yue Demon King’s delicate face revealed a trace of regret. Had she dealt a decisive blow earlier, this situation might have been avoided altogether.
Guo Lie, on the other hand, appeared indifferent, laughing mockingly, "If we can’t win, we leave. At worst, we disband and split up. If anyone gets caught, well, blame their luck. Hahaha."
Zhang Yan remained composed and decisively said, "Lu Daoist, please rescue the Lu Demon King quickly. Let us retreat to my Dragon Country’s ship. With all of us combining our strength and the protection of its prohibitions, we should be able to hold off even a Nascent Soul cultivator’s fierce assault for a time."
Lu Junbai’s expression brightened, as if grabbing hold of a lifeline. He nodded repeatedly, saying nothing more, and hurried into the cave mansion.
Not long after, he emerged carrying a black-haired, white-robed woman with gentle and refined features. However, she was panting lightly, her face pale as snow, appearing weak and frail. The Jun Yue Demon King quickly stepped forward and asked anxiously, "Senior Sister Lu, how are you?"
The woman opened her beautiful eyes and said softly, "Is that you, Sister Jing? I’m alright."
Lu Junbai said, "I’ve removed the talisman and pulled out the Golden Nails. However, my elder sister had an intense battle with Xiao Mousui earlier and had her mana sealed for quite some time. That’s why she’s feeling a bit drained and feeble. She just needs a brief moment of adjustment to recover."
Lu Mei Niang forced herself to lift her head and looked towards Zhang Yan in the distance. In a faint voice, she said, "You must be Daoist Zhang? No words can express my gratitude. I..."
Zhang Yan hurriedly stepped forward, clasping his hands in a salute to interrupt her, saying, "Lu Demon King, no need to be so polite. This place is unsafe and not the right setting for conversation. Let us leave quickly."
Lu Mei Niang nodded. She glanced wistfully at the surrounding island, as if reluctant to part. Then, patting Lu Junbai’s shoulder, she said, "Little brother, follow Daoist Zhang’s lead. Let’s go."
Lu Junbai responded, "Elder sister, hold on tight." With a leap, he transformed into a white streak of light and ascended into the clouds.
The others also activated their tunneling light and flew off the island together.
Several hundred miles away, Xiao Han stood with his hands clasped behind him on a small island, gazing at a black mountain before him. With a high crown and flowing robes fluttering in the breeze, his poised and handsome demeanor exuded an unmatched elegance.
Beside him stood a slim-waisted, long-sleeved maiden in palace attire. Her features were picturesque and her beautiful eyes gazed at him deeply, brimming with affection.
The two exchanged private whispers at times, punctuated with occasional laughter.
Not far from them, an old Daoist reclined against the clouds, eyes half-open and half-closed, though faint traces of Thunder Radiance flashed intermittently from within the slitted gaze.
But at that moment, a sudden flash of white light tore across the sky — a Flying Sword pierced through the clouds, streaking towards them.