Chapter 599: Making a Choice

Ying Wuhuan had no doubt whatsoever that Yuan Yao would kill him.

A surge of panic welled up in his heart; suddenly, Yuan Yao's voice echoed in his sea of consciousness: "Ying Wuhuan, if you don't want to die, listen to me."

Ying Wuhuan's pupils constricted slightly; for some reason, upon hearing those words, the huge stone weighing on his heart actually fell back to the ground.

After four extra years in the Realm Abyss, what else could he not understand?

Lu Xiangxiang was merely using him.

He didn't like himself.

In order to buy time for Lu Xiangxiang, he repeatedly tripped up Yuan Yao and the others.

But the result was that he gained nothing; moreover, the message Lu Xiangxiang had just sent him didn't ask a single word about how he had survived in the Realm Abyss—she was solely intent on pumping him for information.

Ying Wuhuan suddenly wondered why he had ever fallen for Lu Xiangxiang at first sight.

【Target: Ying Wuhuan, Awakening Value reached 45.】

Ying Wuhuan raised his head, met Yuan Yao's gaze, and sent a mental transmission: "I don't want to die; I am willing to follow your orders. Once the cultivation world returns to peace, I only wish to settle our debts from the Realm Abyss in one stroke."

"Good." Yuan Yao knew Ying Wuhuan's intentions were not pure, but if she could make good use of him, he would be a sharp, keen blade aimed at the male and female leads.

Yuan Yao lowered her eyes.

In the original novel, the male and female leads have protagonist halos, protected by heaven; thus, important figures in the original novel also possess halos.

Whether it's the second male lead Ying Wuhuan, the third male lead Qian Yunzhou, or the antagonist Xie Yan and others, their combined strength should now be enough to counter the halo of the male and female leads.

Yuan Yao sent a mental transmission to Ying Wuhuan: "Ying Wuhuan, tell Lu Xiangxiang that our three clans' heavenly pride now splits into two forces—one heading straight for the Fourth Continent, the other straight for the Boundless Island. Then, think of a way to worm out her current whereabouts and say you have an important matter to discuss with her in person. If she harbors doubts, give her a hint: say you've recalled your past-life memories, know Xie Yan's weakness, and need to meet her to discuss it."

Upon hearing those later words, Ying Wuhuan's pupils constricted slightly, as if he could hardly believe it.

Past-life memories?

Past life…

Could it be that Yuan Yao and Lu Xiangxiang are both reincarnators?!

His mind was filled with doubts and curiosity, but Yuan Yao gave him no chance to ask.

Ying Wuhuan followed Yuan Yao's instructions, slightly embellishing those words before transmitting them to Lu Xiangxiang.

But Lu Xiangxiang did not reply right away.

Yuan Yao still had to guard against one person.

That person was the disciple of the Formless Immortal Venerable—Sikong Banxue.

Yuan Yao had little contact with Sikong Banxue in the Realm Abyss, and Sikong Banxue had always been quiet and obedient, never defying orders and giving her all in battle.

However, Sikong Banxue's health grew worse and worse.

Her face was now as white as paper, her frame slender, and she occasionally coughed.

Moreover, Sikong Banxue learned from her family's influence and others that her master was actually such a disloyal and unjust person, leaving her heart heavy with anguish.

Sikong Banxue regarded Xu Yanzhi as both teacher and father, deeply revered him, and looked up to him.

She simply could not bring herself to believe that her master was such a vile person.

Deep down, she still trusted Xu Yanzhi.

She also wanted to clear her master's name.

Sikong Banxue secretly sent a message to the Formless Immortal Venerable:

— "Master, have you been framed? If you say yes, Banxue will believe you."

At the same time, in some account, Xu Yanzhi received a transmission; after reading the content of the transmission talisman, his eyes narrowed slightly and he subtly clenched his fingertips.

Xue'er.

Xu Yanzhi's brows and eyes flickered with an obscure emotion; he indeed harbored some feelings for Sikong Banxue.

In his past life, Sikong Banxue died of illness.

After calculating, he realized she would pass away this year.

Xu Yanzhi only replied to her with a single sentence:

— "As your teacher, I do not wish to be your enemy; please, just live well."

Upon receiving that transmission talisman, Sikong Banxue felt her heart cut like a knife and could not help but cough violently.

She even coughed up a pool of blood.

"Third Senior Brother, come quickly!" Yuan Yao's expression shifted slightly, and she at once summoned Cang Li.

Cang Li immediately arrived before Sikong Banxue, just about to take her pulse.

But Sikong Banxue raised her hand and pushed him away.

The girl's pretty face was devoid of color; her lips were stained with blood, she barely managed an expression, and weakly said, "I know my own physical condition."

She spoke with a smile: "Yuan Yao, I know you don't trust me because I am the former disciple of the Formless Immortal Venerable. But could you bring me along? I want to do something meaningful in the time I have left."

"My… this life is too light, too light—light enough that a single snowflake could crush me. Yet I still want to do what I believe is right, to protect more lives…"

Yuan Yao reached out and grasped her icy hand: "Have you already made your choice?"

"I have made my choice; will you believe me then?" Sikong Banxue's eyes flickered with a hint of bewilderment—she did not understand why Yuan Yao trusted her so completely.

"I believe." Yuan Yao nodded, her face firm: "Sikong Banxue, do you still remember the Flowing Light Secret Realm? Back then, you should have drawn the task 'Assist the demon and monster races in attacking the cultivation world,' yet you stood on humanity's side."

Sikong Banxue froze.

Immediately, she pressed her lips into a smile, the blood at the corners of her mouth growing even brighter.

"Mm." She nodded.

Yuan Yao helped her stand steady and said seriously: "Sikong Banxue, let my third senior brother take your pulse. You cannot collapse now, for we have not yet won."

This time, Sikong Banxue did not refuse.

In the crowd, Wei Yan hong witnessed this scene, his expression growing ever more complex.

…

The troops split into four routes.

Yuan Yao led the team, tearing the void and shuttling through space; in just a moment, they reached the void above Boundless Island.

Looking down, they saw that the once tranquil and peaceful Boundless Island was now surrounded layer by layer by dozens of human spirit ships of various forms, exuding powerful spiritual pressure, their sails snapping.

The vast and boundless giant island itself was now shrouded in a layer of thick, ink‑like, ever‑shifting mist barrier; runes flowed across its surface, emanating a heart‑pounding sealing power that kept the spirit ships' assault at bay.

The appearance of Yuan Yao and her companions quickly drew the attention of the human cultivators aboard the spirit ships below; they looked up, their expressions shocked.

"Is… is…"

"I am the young island lord of Boundless Island, Gong Sun Ji!" Gong Sun Ji gazed at the besieged homeland below; the familiar outline flickered faintly in the mist, and thinking of the clansmen on the island who might have met misfortune, his eyes instantly turned red, anger and anxiety intertwining in his chest, unable to restrain himself any longer, he shouted loudly.

The commotion in the void naturally also alerted the top human experts who were directing the assault on the mist barrier ahead.

They looked up, their hearts startled.

Among this procession were demon and monster forces!

Just as the cultivators were filled with doubt and uncertainty, the one leading them, Feng Xuan Immortal Venerable, had a calm expression, raised a hand and waved, saying, "They are reinforcements!"

Her voice instantly spread across the entire sea.