“How is this possible…” Chu Qiqi murmured. “My illusion had no effect on them at all…”

　　Yi Chen and Qing Nianli embraced tightly, feeling each other’s warmth.

　　Their eyes were filled with resolve and love, as though they had finally found their anchor.

　　Watching the two locked in each other’s arms, Chu Qiqi’s heart filled with jealousy and fury.

　　She could not accept that her carefully constructed illusion had been so easily shattered. Unwilling to concede defeat, she resolved to launch another attack.

　　Chu Qiqi rapidly formed seals with both hands, chanting incantations. As she moved, a sinister aura spread through the air.

　　Behind her, a faintly visible cauldronshaped evil artifact gradually emerged, radiating an eerie glow. As time passed, it slowly formed a massive black vortex.

　　From within the vortex came a powerful suction, as though it sought to devour everything.

　　Yi Chen shielded Qing Nianli behind him and stepped forward, swiftly forming seals and chanting.

　　As he did, a colossal sword shadow appeared behind him, blazing with brilliant light like a radiant sun.

　　With a sweeping motion of his hand, the sword shadow cleaved toward the black vortex.

　　At the same time, Qing Nianli moved her hands rapidly, softly reciting ancient incantations. A majestic aura surged around her, and behind her appeared an enormous phantom that blotted out the sky—clearly the manifestation of her natal treasure, the SnowWhite Sword.

　　That phantom was vast and imposing, its blade pure white like snow, exuding a bonechilling cold. Sharp light flickered along its edge, as though it could sever heaven and earth. The entire image resembled a towering glacier, inspiring awe.

　　The SnowWhite Sword radiated resplendent light, suppressing the black vortex.

　　Yi Chen’s sword shadow slammed into the vortex with a thunderous crash. The vortex trembled violently, as if on the verge of collapse.

　　Seeing this, Chu Qiqi was horrified. She bit her tongue and spat a mouthful of essence blood onto the vortex.

　　The black vortex immediately surged with even greater power.

　　Yi Chen and Qing Nianli’s expressions grew grave.

　　They exchanged a glance and swiftly merged their powers.

　　Brilliant light illuminated the entire valley, clashing fiercely against the black vortex.

　　Under the radiance, the vortex gradually shrank, until it finally vanished.

　　Chu Qiqi suffered backlash. Her face turned deathly pale as she spat out blood and collapsed to the ground.

　　Just as Yi Chen and Qing Nianli prepared to strike her down, A Qiang suddenly awakened. Seeing Chu Qiqi lying on the ground, panic and worry flooded his heart.

　　Ignoring his injuries, he rushed to her side and placed himself in front of her.

　　“You… you can’t kill her!” A Qiang gasped loudly.

　　Yi Chen and Qing Nianli looked at him in surprise.

　　They had not expected A Qiang to risk his life for Chu Qiqi.

　　Chu Qiqi writhed in agony, her body trembling violently. A Qiang turned and held her tightly, trying to ease her pain.

　　“Qiqi, what’s wrong? Don’t scare me!”

　　Her vision blurred as she looked at A Qiang, tears glimmering in her eyes.

　　“A Qiang… I… I’m in so much pain…”

　　A Qiang held her even tighter, as if trying to pass his own strength to her.

　　His eyes reddened as he said tenderly, “Qiqi, hold on! I won’t let anything happen to you. I will save you—I swear!”

　　Yet Chu Qiqi’s suffering was not caused solely by her injuries.

　　Above her head, the cauldronshaped evil artifact suddenly erupted with a strange and sinister force.

　　Her body shuddered, and her gaze instantly turned vicious, as though controlled by some malevolent power.

　　“Not good!” Yi Chen and Qing Nianli shouted in unison.

　　They reacted instantly, moving to stop her.

　　Just as they neared, Chu Qiqi’s killing strike suddenly shifted, slamming toward her own chest.

　　Sensing that Chu Qiqi was slipping from its control, the evil artifact grew violently unstable.

　　Yi Chen and Qing Nianli noticed the artifact above her head at the same time, instantly realizing that it was the true culprit behind her transformation.

　　“A Qiang, take care of Chu Qiqi! We’ll destroy that artifact!” Yi Chen said decisively.

　　A Qiang nodded and tightened his hold on her. Yi Chen and Qing Nianli charged fearlessly toward the artifact.

　　Yi Chen summoned his sword and struck down fiercely.

　　Qing Nianli formed seals, sending shards of ice flying toward the artifact.

　　Clang!

　　At the instant the blade struck, Yi Chen’s sword rebounded violently. Qing Nianli’s ice shards shattered upon contact.

　　The artifact was completely enraged, its surrounding vortex swelling and twisting.

　　A massive force slammed into Yi Chen like a tidal wave. His chest felt crushed by a mountain’s weight, blood surging up his throat as he was hurled backward like a kite with a snapped string, smashing into the rock wall amid flying debris.

　　Qing Nianli staggered back. Her white dress tore open at the hem, dark patterns of black qi crawling across her pale wrist. Yet she clenched her teeth, refusing to cry out.

　　“Cough…”

　　Yi Chen struggled to his feet, clutching his chest. Blood seeped between his fingers and dripped onto his sword, instantly vaporized into white mist by its spiritual energy. When he looked up, what surged in his eyes was no longer pain, but blazing battle intent. “Don’t even think of escaping!”

　　Qing Nianli formed seals again, gathering profound frost energy—this time, faint golden immortal runes wrapped around the ice shards. She was overexerting her very source!

　　Just as they were about to charge again, the artifact let out a piercing shriek. Black mist abruptly condensed into a twisted beam of dark light, moving so fast it seemed to tear space itself. It brushed past Yi Chen’s nose, the gust slicing painfully across his cheek.

　　“Stop it!” Yi Chen roared, unleashing his sword domain. The LiChen Sword split into countless blades, weaving an impenetrable net ahead.

　　At the same time, Qing Nianli sealed the cave entrance with frost.

　　But the black light was far faster than they imagined.

　　The sword net was ripped open, light blades scattering like fireflies. The frost barrier shattered instantly upon contact.

　　They could only watch as the evil light broke through, leaving behind a fleeting afterimage in the sky before vanishing into the distant sea of clouds.

　　“Are you all right?” Qing Nianli asked anxiously.

　　“I’m fine—just shaken internally. Nothing serious,” Yi Chen replied.

　　He tried to rise, but Qing Nianli pressed him back down, producing a small white jade bottle from her sleeve. She poured out two lustrous pills and fed them to him without hesitation. The pills melted instantly, warm spiritual energy soothing his scorched meridians, the tightness in his chest easing noticeably.

　　Seeing this, Qing Nianli took another pill herself.