Chapter 1865: Jade and Stone Burn Together

"It's over, Miao Zhantian is about to become even stronger!" It was still shaken. "Let's run! Even if we leave the sea of consciousness, Miao Zhantian might not be able to catch us in the Inverted Sea!" "The mechanism!" He Lingchuan gritted his teeth and reminded it. "Open the mechanism, quick!"

From his angle, the mechanism on the wall was blocked by Miao Zhantian's body; he absolutely couldn't reach it.

But the Four-Legged Snake hesitated.

"You..." Xiao Wencheng had just forced out a single word when Miao Zhantian, still chewing on the Blood Demon's limb, pounced beside Xiao Wencheng and twisted off his arm! Just like how He Lingchuan usually breaks a beggar's chicken leg, He twisted Xiao Wencheng's arm — same *crack* sound.

Xiao Wencheng trembled all over in pain, eyes fixed dead on the Great Heavenly Demon, his left hand suddenly clamping onto He Lingchuan's arm: "Soul Contract! You remember..."

There was a blue chain bracelet on his wrist.

He Lingchuan had one too.

This was the Soul Contract the two had established before entering the mirror: alive in contract, dead in contract. If both survived this battle, they would each go their separate ways and not interfere with each other; if one died in Panlong Solitary City, the survivor would have to look after the other's forces.

By now Miao Zhantian had finally moved from his original position. He Lingchuan grabbed a nearby torch and, through the gaps in the grille gate, threw it at the mechanism on the wall.

The Great Heavenly Demon's tail tip twitched, but it didn't stop him, a trace of cunning cruelty showing in its eyes.

Had to give Xiao Wencheng a bit of hope; otherwise these immortals all have self-destruction trump cards.

Swallowing the Blood Demon's body was timely rain for it. Long-lost power erupted from deep within Miao Zhantian's body; while gnawing on Xiao Wencheng's arm, His severed limbs and stumps had already begun to regrow.

Anyway His injuries would recover very soon; He was basically in an invincible position.

The situation had already reversed; hehe, what did He have to be anxious about?

Mm, kill He Lingchuan first in a bit! The torch He Lingchuan threw struck the mechanism precisely; the grille gate opened with a *click*.

He swung his saber again — a streak of cold light like a bolt of silk.

Miao Zhantian dodged back; He Lingchuan tossed two small white flowers to Xiao Wencheng: "Eat them!"

They were grasshoppers on the same rope now — if one dies, both die; He Lingchuan held nothing back anymore.

Immediately after, He Lingchuan surged forward two steps, slashing repeatedly at Miao Zhantian's neck, but He parried both blows.

He could feel the opponent's strength had increased!

He Lingchuan had witnessed Miao Zhantian swallowing his own sister alive in the Hao Yuan Golden Mirror; he knew this was its method of replenishing soul power.

The Blood Demon's soul power was no less than a Great Immortal's; for the current Miao Zhantian, it was definitely a huge tonic!

Just now it was three against one, the opponent a Miao Zhantian riddled with holes, and they still fought with great difficulty; now the Blood Demon's body has been eaten by the opponent, He Lingchuan's side has lost one person, and the mainstay Xiao Wencheng who could withstand the Heavenly Demon's assault is also heavily injured! However you look at it, their chance of victory has suddenly become dim.

He Lingchuan glanced at Xiao Wencheng; the other had just swallowed the Jualuo Flower, struggling to stand, body full of holes, face ashen.

However severe the situation, Xiao Wencheng would not misjudge it in the slightest.

"Today, I will definitely keep Miao Zhantian here!" He Lingchuan's voice came through the mask, resolute. "Sect Master Xiao, remember our Soul Contract!"

Before the Great Heavenly Demon finishes digesting and powering up, within this fleeting precious time, they must defeat Miao Zhantian — by any means, at any cost! Otherwise, there is no afterwards.

They won't have one; their companions, their disciples won't either.

The calm and determination in his words instead moved Xiao Wencheng.

Half a shichen ago, facing Bai Ziqi's persuasion to surrender, He Lingchuan had said the same. Xiao Wencheng always thought he had other schemes behind the scenes, only putting on a generous and impassioned front.

But here, the three of them are in an extremely unfavorable position, and He Lingchuan brings it up again.

Still just as firm, as if this is a goal he absolutely must achieve.

Recalling now, the things He Lingchuan promised him were actually all fulfilled in the end, and done far better than these Illusion Sect elders managed.

This man is ruthless and venomous, full of schemes and calculations, but he does what he says! And he is human, standing firmly on the anti-Heavenly God side.

Xiao Wencheng hates him to the bone, but—

But if only one person can leave Panlong Solitary City alive, between Miao Zhantian and He Lingchuan, his choice doesn't need any hesitation at all! Dong Rui in front of the mirror shouted: "Wait wait wait, what does he mean by invoking the Soul Contract!"

Earlier He Lingchuan placated Zhu Xiuer, saying he had a trump card to enter Panlong Solitary City. Could it be...

He Lingchuan took a deep breath; the next saber strike was faster, fiercer, more vicious.

Reckless of safety, no holding back.

The Great Heavenly Demon didn't guard against his sudden change of speed; the long saber was actually knocked aside. He Lingchuan closed in, the Fusheng Saber pierced through the chest armor, stabbing into its chest.

Miao Zhantian's other hand hadn't regrown yet, but His reaction was extremely fast; the tail lifted, sweeping him away violently.

He Lingchuan's words, He heard them too.

Something's wrong, absolutely cannot give him a chance to get close!

However, after successive great battles, Miao Zhantian's battle armor was also battered; only a *clang* was heard — this piece of chest armor got stuck on the Fusheng Saber and was flung away too.

He Lingchuan had two ribs broken by the sweep, but not a sound; he turned and lunged back, faint red light emanating from his whole body.

At this moment a flash of golden light beside him — the Goumang Sword passed He Lingchuan, aiming straight for Miao Zhantian's heart.

It was Xiao Wencheng retrieving his own weapon and throwing it out backhand.

He himself, a fleeting shadow, rammed He Lingchuan ten zhang away from the side; taking advantage of Miao Zhantian raising his saber to bat away the Goumang Sword, he slammed head-on into His chest.

It was a resolve like a comet striking the earth — abandoning all defense, making no dodge whatsoever.

Only one sentence drifted lightly by He Lingchuan's ear: "You're not qualified, get lost!"

A mere cultivator wants to blow up the Great Heavenly Demon? Heh, laughable.

After all, he's the number two figure among the Illusion Sect immortals; soul power powerful. Xiao Wencheng went all out; the power and speed erupting in this instant slammed Miao Zhantian flying two zhang away, tumbling down the steps!

He used his lone arm to desperately clamp onto the Great Heavenly Demon, maintaining zero-distance contact.

Miao Zhantian was shocked and furious; who could have predicted he'd suddenly go mad? He hurriedly lowered his head to gnaw at his head. The current Xiao Wencheng was completely undefended; He just needed to *crunch* first and the crisis would be resolved.

In His impression, in past history, Xiao Wencheng liked hiding behind others — where would he dare sacrifice himself like this! But just as His mouth opened, Xiao Wencheng, holding Him tight, suddenly erupted in dazzling white light all over—

The chance comes only once; he seized it.

The entire Nancheng gate tower shuddered violently; smoke and dust billowed.

But this time, the impact came from inside the city wall.

The Hao Yuan Golden Mirror also flared with intense light; the audience instinctively looked away, but the next second hurriedly looked back.

How— how did it go?

Everyone was sweating nervously.

……

Xiao Wencheng's Jade-Shattering Strike—He Lingchuan only had time to raise his hands to shield his head, then he was blown several zhang down the corridor by the blast, his back bumping seven or eight times before he hit the ground, his mind going blank.

Fortunately, this state lasted only a few seconds before he coughed awake from blood in his throat.

He staggered to his feet, his body nearly falling apart, his left hand shattered by the blast, limp and useless at his side, unable to lift.

When Xiao Wencheng self-destructed, he was more than three zhang away from He Lingchuan and below the steps; yet even so, the explosion took more than half of He Lingchuan's life.

The other half was saved by the full force of the Resonant Dragon Armor.

He didn't have time for anything else, stumbling forward. The corridor where Xiao Wencheng self-destructed now had a skylight, and the ground bore a large pit. Sunlight streamed in, illuminating the wreckage.

Xiao Wencheng had vanished, leaving nothing behind but the power of his soul's self-destruction.

No—his Sword of Junmang was still embedded in the wall, catching the faint light from above, clear and flawless.

He Lingchuan composed himself, bowed deeply to it, and performed a full kowtow.

"Master Xiao's righteousness, He Lingchuan admires it! We had a prior agreement—I, He Lingchuan, will surely keep it!"

Xiao Wencheng's choice surprised him greatly.

Precisely because it was unexpected, he admired it all the more.

As his words faded, the Sword of Junmang dissolved inch by inch into smoke.

Before the Hao Yuan Golden Mirror, all fell silent.

Wang Fuobao suddenly pointed at the mirror: "You see, he, he..."

Xiao Wencheng's soul had originally entered the mirror, his body seated cross-legged beside the Hao Yuan Golden Mirror. After He Lingchuan's bow, his posture remained unchanged, but he suddenly lowered his head, and two jade-like sinews slowly dripped from his nose.

He had passed away.

Four thousand years of mirror-flower water-moon, in a moment of enlightenment to emptiness.

……

And within the Lonely Dragon City, He Lingchuan spat another mouthful of blood, enduring dizziness as he stuffed two small white flowers into his mouth, then began searching through the rubble.

Xiao Wencheng must not have died in vain—their mission must be completed.

But after walking a full circle around the area, deathly silence reigned everywhere, and he found no trace of Miao Zhantian.

Had he too been blown to nothing? Extremely likely.

The South Gate Tower shuddered again, the surrounding walls emitting cracking sounds as they began to disintegrate! He Lingchuan pressed his hand against the wall, feeling its mournful groan.

This old comrade had held on for decades, but finally could not endure any longer.

He took two steps, about to leap onto the gate tower through the breach, when suddenly his collar grew hot—

The Divine Bone Necklace reacted.

It even feared He Lingchuan might not notice, so it trembled twice.

He Lingchuan's heart jumped, his foot paused, he turned and took two steps, and the Divine Bone Necklace grew ever hotter.

As he bent over, the Divine Bone Necklace jumped twice again.

Could it be?

He Lingchuan held his breath, suddenly raised the Floating Life Blade, and stabbed hard into the wall! The South Gate Tower collapsed entirely; this place had already been blasted by Xiao Wencheng's soul, and the wall was no longer solid.

From the other side of the wall came a miserable cry, familiar but brief.

He Lingchuan immediately kicked the wall down and leapt over, only to see someone sitting on the ground.

Miao Zhantian.

His chest had been blown open, revealing not only white bones but also ruined internal organs.

His facial skin and nose were blown away, and he had lost one eye.

The great Heavenly Demon, reduced to a bloody mess, the only shining thing being the half-blade tip embedded in his forehead! It turned out Xiao Wencheng's sacrifice still hadn't killed him. Despite such grave wounds, Miao Zhantian could still crawl from the rubble, hide behind the wall, and his soul's tenacity left everyone stunned.

If he could evade He Lingchuan's notice, perhaps he could return to reality after the Lonely Dragon City's collapse and find every means to escape with his life.

Alas, he could ultimately not escape the Divine Bone Necklace of Mi Tian—his effort fell short.

He Lingchuan lowered his head, gazing upon his death with unclosed eyes.

Regarding the Heavenly Demon, the Heavenly Demon Realm, and the past history of Panlong City, he still had many questions, but Miao Zhantian could provide no answers.

As he watched, Miao Zhantian's body likewise turned into yellow mist, drifting and vanishing.

The Great Heavenly God of the Void Spirit, Miao Zhantian, thus fell.

The Divine Bone Necklace finally ceased to heat.