“Someone actually colluded with the demon race to turn against humanity? Truly garbage!” Ling Qi floated in the air, his gaze cold.
Conflicts among people were one thing, but when it came to the survival of the entire race, one had to understand where they stood and what they should do. And yet this so-called man chose to join hands with an alien race to harm humanity?
The Snow Sect’s old ancestor deserved to die!
Swoosh!
Ling Qi’s figure appeared beside Ye Youluo. “Thanks, this time I really owe you.”
His life had been in her hands, and he hoped she wouldn’t just save him but also one day have the strength to kill him—to control his life and death completely.
Ye Youluo’s beautiful eyes fell on the void mark on his chest. It was just as she had expected. Though his injuries and the demon sword’s curse couldn’t be eradicated, he had recovered tremendously. Now, he was nearly back to his full strength.
“Be careful. Though your wounds are healed, every time you use your power it still worsens the injury,” Ye Youluo reminded him. Even if he was nearly restored, using his strength still consumed his life span.
Ling Qi smiled faintly. “With you around, what do I have to fear? Truly, you make a wonderful companion.”
Ye Youluo glared at him. Companion? As if!
Ling Qi exhaled deeply, scanning the chaos on Demon Island. “Sorry, I dragged this mess onto you.”
Ye Youluo’s voice was cold. “This has nothing to do with you. They didn’t come for you, but for me. The Snow Sect’s old ancestor brought them.”
Ling Qi’s eyes narrowed.
So the million-strong demon horde was here for Ye Youluo? Then where did that old thing summon so many demons from?
Outside the Forbidden Demon Region, there shouldn’t be such numbers… He would have to ask the Snake Demon Empress later.
Ling Qi then turned to Chu Xinyue, resting a hand on her shoulder. “Here. A card for you.”
“A… card?” Chu Xinyue blinked, confused.
“A Supreme Limit Realm Experience Card. Duration… one minute.” Ling Qi smiled faintly.
Buzz!
At once, a torrent of power flooded into her, making her strength surge like never before. With a boom, she broke through directly into the Supreme Limit Realm—the realm she had always failed to cross.
Her pupils widened in awe. “So this is… the Supreme Limit Realm?” For the first time, she understood the vast gulf between herself and true Supreme Limit power. Compared to Ling Qi, all others truly were mere mortals. Only the Supreme Limit Realm could be likened to gods.
“Leave these demons to you,” Ling Qi said calmly.
“Understood!” Chu Xinyue nodded, leaping skyward. Snowy-white energy burst from her body as nine massive ice dragons roared into being, circling the island before plunging into the sea. In an instant, the entire ocean surrounding Demon Island froze solid, stretching endlessly like the Ice Age.
The sea demons who had just entered the water froze into ice. Those still leaping in smashed helplessly against the frozen surface. With their escape cut off, the demon army was trapped.
Chu Xinyue floated in the sky, clenching her fists. “So strong… this is the Supreme Limit Realm.” Regretfully, she knew it was only temporary. To break through for real might take years—or longer.
Still, she wasted no time.
White sword aura erupted from her body, each blade carrying the roar of a dragon, as she dove into the demon army, slaughtering them like a god of death.
At the harbor, Ye Youluo watched Chu Xinyue wield godlike ice and sword qi. Her red lips pressed together as she glanced sideways at Ling Qi, blinking once. That look seemed to say: I want one too.
“Caught you envying her, huh?” Ling Qi smirked. “Kiss me once, and I’ll give you a Supreme Limit Realm Experience Card too.”
Ye Youluo’s cheeks stiffened as she glared furiously. “Keep it then!”
“Don’t want to kiss me? Then pout for me at least. Who could resist their queen making a cute face?” Ling Qi teased.
“Pout your head!” Ye Youluo’s brows knitted. How could she make such childish expressions? Utter nonsense!
Ling Qi chuckled. “Fine, give me your hand.”
But if she wanted the power, she had no choice. With a reluctant breath, she placed her slender jade hand in his palm.
Ling Qi squeezed it gently, kneading deliberately. Ye Youluo bit back her anger—he had taken advantage before, she could endure it once more.
Buzz!
Power surged from his hand into her, igniting her body. Her aura erupted, her red dress and long hair whipping wildly as her strength soared, breaking into the Supreme Limit Realm.
“One minute. Make it count,” Ling Qi said.
Ye Youluo’s eyes burned with killing intent. “Then I’ll make sure none of these demons leave alive. And the Snow Sect’s old ancestor’s life—I’ll take it myself!”
She launched skyward in a blaze of crimson, her sword engulfed in fire, her figure like a fiery phoenix. Across the battlefield, she and Chu Xinyue—ice and fire, white and red—split the heavens in a breathtaking display.
“Unbelievable! How did the Sect Master and Heroine Chu suddenly become this strong? Did they… break into the Supreme Limit Realm?”
“Both at once? Impossible!”
“No, Ling Qi lent them his power. It won’t last long.”
“Doesn’t matter! Kill these demons!”
The Demon Sect’s morale surged. Once besieged, now they chased the demons mercilessly, hacking them down without restraint.
Meanwhile, Ling Qi turned toward the Snake Demon Empress and the Snow Sect’s old ancestor.
In the ruins, the Snake Demon Empress staggered up, glaring at the old ancestor. “You tricked me! You doomed my clan!” Her million-strong ice sea horde had been wiped out, all because of him.
The old ancestor suddenly laughed wildly.
“What are you laughing at?” she snarled.
He sneered. “From the start, my true goal was to annihilate your Ice Sea Nest. I lured you here to have them destroyed. For humanity!” His voice boomed as though hoping all would hear.
The Snake Demon Empress’s eyes darkened with fury. Lies! She couldn’t tell if he spoke truth or nonsense.
Swoosh!
Ling Qi appeared above them, looking down coldly.
“You demons had nine great kings. Today, one nest and a million demons are destroyed. Not a bad accomplishment for me,” the old ancestor laughed.
Ling Qi’s face remained calm. After a pause, he spoke two words: “Bullshit.”
“Ah?” The old ancestor froze, puzzled. What did that mean?
“Everyone, when they fart, will at least try to hide it or make some little movement to cover the awkwardness.” Ling Qi spoke lightly, his tone calm but cutting. “But you, farting so solemnly… that’s a first for me!”
The Snow Sect’s old ancestor’s expression darkened. He knew better than anyone—Ling Qi was right, he had indeed been spouting nonsense.
“Don’t you know… Ye Youluo is my woman?” Ling Qi’s voice turned cold.
Hearing this, the Snow Sect’s old ancestor dropped to his knees at once. “I… I truly didn’t know before. If I offended, please forgive me. Lord Ling Qi, I am of the Snow Sect, and your wife also has Snow Sect blood in her veins. My actions were indeed wrong. If you could forgive me, from today on, my life… will be at your disposal.”
Right now, he wanted nothing more than to survive. Living was everything; only if he lived could there be a future.
But Ling Qi only gave a faint smile. “Do you think I need a spineless dog like you?”
“You made my woman suffer—death penalty. You coveted my woman—death penalty! You betrayed your own race—that’s also death penalty! I can’t think of a single reason to let you live.” Ling Qi’s voice was merciless.
The Snow Sect’s old ancestor lowered his head to the ground. “Lord Ling Qi, it was all a misunderstanding! I truly didn’t know about your connection to the Sect Master. At least, I am one of humanity’s peak powers. If you spare me, I can still fight against the demon race. Isn’t that valuable?”
Ling Qi’s eyes remained calm. “There are countless strong ones in the world. Yes, your strength can be ranked among humanity’s top tier, comparable to a demon king. But with you, it’s no more; without you, it’s no less.”
The old man was indeed powerful, standing at the peak of the Heaven-Revering Realm, just a step away from the Supreme Limit Realm. But such a treacherous mind could not be left alive. If spared today and one day he truly reached the Supreme Limit Realm, would he still kneel like a dog? Of course not. The most obedient dogs often bite the fiercest when given the chance. And this man dared covet his woman—utterly unforgivable.
Swoosh!
Ling Qi’s figure flashed down, standing before him. The old ancestor raised his head, panic in his eyes, heartbeat racing, his mind racing for any way to survive.
In desperation, he pulled a black scroll from his robe. “Lord Ling Qi, please spare me. This… this is a fragment of an ancient map. On it are marked countless unknown relics and treasures. The method I used to try to break through to the Supreme Limit Realm—I found it at a site marked on this map. If you let me live, I’ll offer it to you!”
This fragment was his greatest treasure, never shown to anyone before. It was the source of his cultivation method and his closest attempt at the Supreme Limit Realm.
But Ling Qi only sneered coldly. “Fool. If I kill you, won’t it be mine anyway?”
The old ancestor’s words choked in his throat.
Bang!
Ling Qi raised his foot and stomped viciously on his back. The kneeling figure slammed face-first into the ground, his body buried in the dirt. Blood spurted from his mouth, choking into his nose and mouth, his organs shattered. Against the absolute might of the Supreme Limit Realm, especially while unguarded, he had no chance.
Ling Qi casually caught the black map fragment. It was valuable enough to keep.
Turning, his gaze landed on the Snake Demon Empress. The old ancestor was already crippled, unable to rise. He would leave him for Ye Youluo to finish. But this demon queen—she was his to deal with.
Feeling his eyes, the Snake Demon Empress shrank back, fear in her bewitching gaze. “Ling Qi, I…”
“You have something to say?” Ling Qi stepped closer, towering over her, his shadow covering her entirely.
“Then say it. If what you say pleases me, maybe I’ll let you live.” Ling Qi smirked. “You should know what I want to hear.”
“I…” Terror filled her eyes as she stammered, “Ling Qi, this attack on Demon Island… it was all his doing! He told me that if I helped capture Ye Youluo, my demon clan would gain a Supreme Limit Realm ally. And… we didn’t know Ye Youluo was your woman!” She pointed desperately at the Snow Sect’s old ancestor, wishing she could rip him to pieces.
Ling Qi sneered. “You look so mature, yet your mind is this childish?” He lifted her chin with a finger. “Do you really think if he reached the Supreme Limit Realm, he would still serve your demon race like a dog?”
“Of course not! But… but our demon race has the Heart-Severing Curse. Once planted, it can shatter the victim’s heart meridian and cripple their cultivation. He agreed to let me plant it on him!”
Ling Qi’s eyes narrowed. Heart-Severing Curse? Such a thing existed? If placed within him… then if one day he truly became the calamity of the age, the curse could cripple him, stopping the catastrophe while letting him live. Perfect.
“You know this curse?” Ling Qi asked.
“Yes. It’s a divine curse unique to demon kings. Each king’s is different. It’s also why we kings can control all demon soldiers—because every demon is born carrying it. The curse passes down through bloodlines, generation to generation,” the Snake Demon Empress explained hurriedly.
“This curse… even works on the Supreme Limit Realm?” Ling Qi asked.
“I… I can’t be certain, but it should work. It must!” she answered quickly. For the chance to control a Supreme Limit existence, the risk was worth it.
Ling Qi smiled faintly. “Interesting…” Xiao Chan was a demon king too. Once she regained her memory, she would know how to use her Heart-Severing Curse. That would be another safeguard for him.
“Earlier, he said your demon race had two other nests outside the Forbidden Demon Region. Is that true?” Ling Qi asked.
“It’s true,” the Snake Demon Empress admitted. “My Ice Sea Nest is the weakest, and I am the weakest among the demon kings.”
“I can see that.” Ling Qi chuckled. A million demons sounded like much, but any other demon king commanded far more.
“So far, what you’ve said… is what I wanted to hear.” He pinched her chin, smiling coldly.
Seeing a sliver of hope, she leaned in, her tone honeyed. “Ling Qi—no, Young Master Ling—if you spare me, I will follow you forever. Let me serve you… as yours alone.” Her voice dripped with seduction, her greatest weapon. Perhaps her beauty could sway him. After all, what man didn’t dream of having a half-human, half-serpent companion?
But Ling Qi’s smile only grew colder, his eyes glinting like blades.
Seeing that chilling smile, the Snake Demon Empress’s heart trembled. She realized, far too late… she had made a grave mistake.