Long Qingxuan's roar shook the heavens as she clutched her head in agony. Her massive wings beat violently, sending torrential rain lashing across the ruined landscape.
The storm intensified, each raindrop now carrying the weight of her fractured memories.
Yun Lintian stood his ground, blood still dripping from his lips. He had to keep going. He had to bring her back.
"Do you remember," he called out through the howling winds, "how you forced yourself on me that night?"
The rain turned to ice midair.
Long Qingxuan's azure eyes burned with confusion and fury.
Yun Lintian laughed weakly, ignoring the pain in his ribs. "You needed my Vital Yang energy to heal your soul... and you just... pushed me down." His voice softened. "I was so embarrassed afterward that I couldn't even look at you for days."
Long Qingxuan's roar sent a shockwave ripping through the earth. The rain became blades, slicing through stone and flesh alike. Qian Jinglei and the others barely managed to erect barriers as the storm turned deadly.
But Yun Lintian didn't stop.
"You called me a coward," he continued, stepping forward. "Said I was too timid for someone with my talent."
A massive claw swiped at him.
Yun Lintian didn't dodge.
The impact sent him flying again, bones cracking as he tumbled across the broken earth.
"Big Brother Yun!" Qingqing and Linlin cried out, rushing to his side, but he waved them off.
Blood filled his mouth as he pushed himself up.
"Until I finally admitted it," he gasped. "That I loved you too."
Her wings stilled. Her breath hitched.
For the first time, something flickered in those azure eyes—recognition. Pain.
He staggered forward, his body screaming in protest.
"You made me promise," he whispered. "That no matter what happened... I'd always find you."
"YOU'RE NOT HIM!" Long Qingxuan's voice tore through the storm like thunder. Her azure eyes burned with fury and confusion. "You dare impersonate my husband? Yun Lintian would never speak such nonsense!"
Yun Lintian? Wasn't he standing in front of her right now?
Yun Lintian's blood ran cold.
Clearly, Nian Shi hadn't just erased her memories—he had replaced them.
"Qingxuan, listen to me—"
Long Qingxuan's claw came down like a mountain.
Yun Lintian barely raised the God-Slaying Sword in time. The impact sent him skidding backward, his arms trembling from the force. Blood trickled from his nose, but he refused to retaliate.
"You've been deceived!" he shouted. "Nian Shi altered your memories! I am your man, Yun Lintian!"
The storm raged harder. Rain became spears, hurtling toward Yun Lintian with lethal precision. He twisted and weaved, the God-Slaying Sword flashing as he deflected what he could—but dozens still found their mark. Blood bloomed across his body like crimson flowers.
Linlin's golden eyes burned with fury.
With a roar that shook the earth, her small form expanded. White fur rippled into existence, her body growing until a majestic White Tiger God stood where the little girl had been.
Long Qingxuan barely had time to react before Linlin pounced.
The two divine beasts collided midair, sending shockwaves rippling through the ruins. Claws met fangs in a flurry of strikes, each impact cracking the earth below.
"Linlin, don't—!" Yun Lintian's voice was drowned out by the battle.
Qingqing hovered anxiously beside him, her tiny hands clutching his sleeve. "Big Brother Yun, she's going to kill you!"
Yun Lintian wiped blood from his lips. "She's confused... Nian Shi did this..."
Above, the battle raged.
Linlin's white fur gleamed under the storm's fury as she lashed out with claws sharper than divine artifacts. "Wake up, you stupid dragon! As much as I don't like it, Big Brother Yun is indeed your husband! You have been deceived!"
Long Qingxuan's wings beat violently, sending razor-edged feathers flying. "You're the one deceived! That man is an imposter!"
Their clash sent another shockwave outward, flattening what remained of the ruins. Qian Jinglei and the others were forced to retreat further, their faces pale with disbelief.
Yun Lintian watched helplessly.
He couldn't attack Long Qingxuan.
But he couldn't let Linlin get hurt either.
Gritting his teeth, he channeled the Tree of Life's power. Emerald light wrapped around his injuries, stitching flesh and bone back together.
In a blur of motion, he appeared between the two clashing beasts, his arms outstretched.
Linlin's claw halted inches from his face.
Long Qingxuan's fangs froze just shy of his throat.
Both beasts stared at him—one with fury, the other with shock.
"Linlin, stand down," Yun Lintian said softly.
The White Tiger growled. "But—"
Reluctantly, Linlin's form shrank back into her little white cat appearance, though her golden eyes remained locked on Long Qingxuan.
Yun Lintian turned to the azure dragon.
"Qingxuan," he whispered. "If you truly believe I'm an imposter... then kill me."
Long Qingxuan's massive form trembled.
"But before you do," Yun Lintian continued, "ask yourself one thing."
He reached into his spatial ring and pulled out a simple bamboo hat—the very one she'd worn when they first met.
Back to the Azure World when Long Qingxuan "pushed" him down, Yun Lintian simply took her bamboo hat away as a souvenir. He didn't expect to use it in this situation.
"Why would an imposter carry this?" he asked.
Long Qingxuan's breath hitched.
The hat was old. Worn.
And unmistakably hers.
A shudder ran through her body.
Her voice was small. Broken.
Yun Lintian stepped forward, ignoring the danger. "Nian Shi took your memories. Twisted them. But he couldn't erase everything."
He placed the hat gently at her feet.
"Look deeper, Qingxuan. Remember."
For a heartbeat, there was silence.
Long Qingxuan screamed.
Long Qingxuan's furious roar sent shockwaves rippling through space itself. Her azure aura exploded outward, unleashing the full might of the Primordial Dragon God's bloodline.
The very air trembled under her divine pressure, forcing even Tang Wei and the others beneath the lake to their knees.
Tang Wei's liquid form flickered wildly. "Idiot! Subdue her first! Reasoning won't work now!"
But Yun Lintian refused.
Instead, he quickly stored the precious bamboo hat away—he couldn't risk it being destroyed. Then, with a deep breath, he activated his own Primordial Azure Dragon God bloodline.
Azure scales erupted across his arms. His mismatched eyes transformed into pure draconic orbs, glowing with ancient power.
Massive dragon wings burst from his back, their azure membranes shimmering with divine energy…