Yun Lintian's breath caught as he took in the sight before him.
The mighty azure dragon, whose scales were once said to be unbreakable even by divine artifacts, now bore deep, festering wounds across her massive body.
The golden chains of Nian Shi's seals had burned into her flesh, leaving behind scars that pulsed with temporal energy—each one a testament to years, perhaps centuries, of torture.
His hand trembled as he reached out, fingers hovering just inches from her wounds. He wanted to heal her, to take away even a fraction of her pain—but he hesitated.
What if I hurt her more?
At that moment, Long Qingxuan's eyelids fluttered open.
Her azure eyes, once filled with warmth and love, now stared at him with cold indifference—as if he were nothing more than a stranger.
The sound shook the heavens, a primal force that sent shockwaves rippling through the shattered landscape.
Qian Jinglei, Nie Tong, and Xiong Yu—already injured from Yun Lintian's earlier onslaught—were sent sprawling again, blood spraying from their mouths as the dragon's fury battered their bodies.
Beneath the lake's remnants, Tang Wei and the others staggered as the last of the formations crumbled around them.
"We're... alive?" Long Chen gasped, disbelief coloring his voice.
Ling Xuan clutched her chest, her face pale. "That dragon... she's enraged!"
Xiong Ba simply stared, his mind still struggling to process the devastation around them.
Yun Lintian didn't move. He stood before Long Qingxuan's towering form, his expression pained but unyielding.
"Qingxuan," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the lingering echoes of her roar. "I'm sorry... I came too late."
Her massive head tilted slightly, those azure eyes narrowing.
"I'm sorry I didn't fight Nian Shi with everything I had," he continued, his fists clenching. "If I had... you wouldn't have suffered ."
For a heartbeat, there was silence.
Long Qingxuan's claw slammed down toward him with terrifying speed.
Yun Lintian didn't defend. He didn't dodge. He simply stood there, ready to take the blow.
But Qingqing and Linlin moved faster.
"STOP!" Qingqing cried, her small body erupting with wind energy as she formed a barrier between Yun Lintian and the descending claw.
Linlin's golden eyes flashed as the White Tiger's power surged through her. She crossed her arms, a shield of divine light manifesting just in time to meet the attack.
The impact sent both girls skidding backward, their defenses barely holding.
"Big Brother Yun!" Linlin growled, her voice strained. "Snap out of it!"
But Yun Lintian only smiled bitterly. "I deserve this," he said, his gaze never leaving Long Qingxuan. "I deserve every bit of her anger."
He stepped forward, ignoring the girls' protests.
"Qingxuan," he said softly. "You can hit me as much as you want. But first... let me free you. Let me heal you."
His hands glowed with emerald light as the Tree of Life's power surged forth. At the same time, the silver energy of the God of Life intertwined with it, forming a healing aura so potent it made the very air hum.
Long Qingxuan hesitated.
Her claw, still raised for another strike, trembled slightly.
Yun Lintian didn't wait. He pressed his palm against one of the smaller wounds on her foreleg, channeling the healing energy into her battered body.
The effect was immediate.
The festering temporal energy within the wound hissed as it was purged, the flesh beneath knitting together at a visible pace. Long Qingxuan's massive body shuddered, a low, pained groan escaping her throat.
But she didn't pull away.
Yun Lintian's heart ached at the sound. "I know it hurts," he murmured. "But hold on a little longer. I'll get these chains off you."
His free hand gripped one of the golden seals, the power of Chaos—Life and Death intertwined—flaring around his fingers. With a sharp tug, the chain shattered, its fragments dissolving into nothingness.
Long Qingxuan's eyes widened.
Another chain broke. Then another.
The final chain shattered with a sound like breaking glass.
For a moment, silence reigned.
Long Qingxuan's massive claw slammed into Yun Lintian's chest, sending him flying like a ragdoll. Blood sprayed from his mouth as he crashed through the lake before skidding to a stop.
"Big Brother Yun!" Qingqing screamed, darting after him with wind swirling around her tiny form.
Linlin was faster. White Tiger energy flared as she caught Yun Lintian mid-air, cushioning his landing. "Idiot! Why didn't you defend?!"
Yun Lintian coughed up blood but didn't answer. His eyes remained fixed on the sky.
Long Qingxuan had taken flight.
Her azure wings—tattered but still magnificent—spread wide as she soared upward, her roar shaking the heavens. The darkened skies responded, rain pouring down in torrents, each drop carrying her conceptual intent.
And she was celebrating.
Qian Jinglei and the others covered their ears, blood trickling from their noses as the dragon's triumphant cries battered their souls. Beneath the shattered lake, Tang Wei and the trapped disciples cowered, their faces pale with awe.
Only Yun Lintian smiled.
Even as his ribs protested with every breath, even as blood stained his lips—he smiled.
Because her roar wasn't just a cry of freedom.
Her azure eyes, glowing like twin moons amidst the storm, locked onto Yun Lintian.
There was no recognition. Only curiosity.
Why had this human freed her?
Why did he look at her with such gentleness?
Yun Lintian saw the questions in her gaze.
Gritting his teeth, he pushed himself upright, ignoring Linlin's protests.
"Qingxuan," he called out, his voice carrying through the rain.
"I'm sorry," he said, wiping blood from his mouth. "For everything."
The rain poured harder.
"Do you remember," he continued, stepping forward, "the first time we met?"
Long Qingxuan's wings stilled.
"You wore a bamboo hat," Yun Lintian said softly. "I only saw a glimpse of your face, but..." He laughed, the sound warm despite the pain. "I was captivated."
Something in Long Qingxuan's eyes shifted.
"You called me a prince," Yun Lintian said, taking another step. "But the truth was, you were the regal one. I didn't dare approach you then. Survival came first."
"Do you remember the Azure World? The rainstorms you loved so much?"
Long Qingxuan's massive form shuddered.
A low, pained whine escaped her throat.
Yun Lintian didn't stop.
"Do you remember," he whispered, "when you became my wife?"
Like a dam breaking, something in Long Qingxuan's mind snapped.