Chapter 869

The sudden change was so shocking that Li Luo was momentarily stunned, then his body instinctively retreated dozens of steps, while placing the energy from the Three-Tailed Heavenly Wolf before him to form layered defenses.

Because the change was bizarre, Li Luo dared not provoke it lightly; caution was now the most rational choice.

As he stepped back, Li Luo's gaze fixed ahead: as the invisible force within the jade pendant drilled into the "Soul-Eating True Demon's" mouth, the latter seemed violently stimulated, beginning to writhe wildly, countless tentacles thrashing and shattering the earth continuously.

Strange black mist continuously rose from its body, emitting countless chaotic and evil whispers.

Li Luo's eyes flickered with suspicion; he gripped the Jin Yu Zhu Xuan Elephant Blade tightly. Judging by this, the "Soul-Eating True Demon" seemed in dire straits—if it truly showed an opening, Li Luo wouldn't mind delivering a decisive strike to see if he could kill it outright.

As the "Soul-Eating True Demon" thrashed in madness, Li Luo noticed that where its face should have been, countless faces had previously flickered—but now those faces were vanishing one by one.

With each face that disappeared, a patch of strange black mist on the "Soul-Eating True Demon's" body dissipated along with it.

The vanished faces multiplied, and the "Soul-Eating True Demon's" aura grew increasingly feeble.

In the end, only one face remained—Li Luo recognized it instantly: it was Li Li Lingjing!

Moreover, whether it was an illusion or not, Li Luo felt that Li Li Lingjing's cheeks now carried a touch of human-like liveliness, no longer the previous emptiness.

But it was still bizarre.

After all, a black insect sprouting tentacles bore Li Li Lingjing's face—though that face was fair and lovely, Li Luo felt not a shred of beauty, only eerie coldness.

Yet as the "Soul-Eating True Demon's" aura weakened further, he sensed this might be a good chance to strike.

So his eyes flashed with ferocity; he gripped the Jin Yu Zhu Xuan Elephant Blade tightly, stepped forward, and prepared to strike.

Yet just as he was about to act, the face on the black insect's head turned toward him, and a voice spoke: "Cousin Li Luo, please hold your hand."

Hearing that voice, Li Luo froze—it was vastly different from the earlier "Li Li Lingjing," now infused with emotion, just like the real Li Li Lingjing he had met in the old Li family mansion in Xiling City.

Li Luo frowned slightly, watching the creature warily: "What are you?"

"I am the true Li Li Lingjing. The 'Soul-Eating True Demon' once devoured half my consciousness. The jade pendant held my other half. When it was weakened and severely injured, I deliberately sent that half into its body, fused it with the other half, and erased all other chaotic consciousnesses. Now, the 'Soul-Eating True Demon' has been erased by me." Li Li Lingjing's voice came forth.

Li Luo stared in disbelief. Had Li Li Lingjing turned the tables on the "Soul-Eating True Demon"? This was too extraordinary—Li Li Lingjing and the "Soul-Eating True Demon" were vastly unequal; it was like a child wrestling a beast. Success seemed impossible.

Li Luo's gaze shifted, then after a moment, he slowly shook his head and murmured: "Do you really expect me to believe this?"

Li Li Lingjing fell silent, then said: "Cousin Li Luo, when the 'Soul-Eating True Demon' devoured half my consciousness, my innate talent was shattered and my future cut off—but I never truly gave up. Because my other half remained inside the 'Soul-Eating True Demon,' not truly erased, but enduring its erosion, enduring countless torments you cannot imagine... I could not accept it."

Li Luo's eyes narrowed. If Li Li Lingjing spoke truly, her mental resilience was truly astonishing—enduring the erosion of the "Soul-Eating True Demon" was no trivial matter; any weaker mind would be corrupted and become its meal.

"I hid my remaining consciousness in this jade pendant to make a final, desperate gamble. If I lost, this last fragment would be given to it. If I won, I would reclaim my consciousness and restore my talent."

"But I knew I had little chance. The gap between me and the 'Soul-Eating True Demon' was too vast. In this struggle, I would likely lose."

"So I came here with death in mind. Better to fight desperately than to linger in mindless oblivion. Even if I fail, at least I die with dignity."

"But now it seems I've been lucky—I may have succeeded... though perhaps not because of me, but because you inflicted massive damage on the 'Soul-Eating True Demon,' giving me the opening I needed."

Hearing Li Li Lingjing's words, Li Luo's expression darkened and brightened uncertainly—he too found it hard to judge.

But...

Li Luo said coolly: "Whether true or false, you hid your consciousness in the jade pendant—and you never told me. There must be some scheme here."

When Li Li Lingjing gave him the jade pendant, she only said to deliver it to Li Li Rouyun—never mentioning anything else.

Li Li Lingjing fell silent, then said: "I was wrong. This jade pendant contains half my consciousness, so the 'Soul-Eating True Demon' could sense your location. Combined with your exceptional talent, entering the Dark Domain would inevitably draw its attention. These two factors ensured it would come for you."

Li Luo sneered, a hint of anger in his voice: "So all my troubles on this journey were mostly your doing."

Of course—he'd wondered why, the moment he entered the Dark Domain, trouble kept piling up, and True Demons and aberrations kept appearing.

Li Li Lingjing whispered: "I feared if I told you, you'd refuse to bring the jade pendant into the Dark Domain. This was my last chance—if I waited longer, my body would sink deeper into oblivion and never awaken again."

"But regardless, I manipulated you first. I owe you a great debt."

"I won't accept your debt," Li Luo replied indifferently.

Li Li Lingjing was deeply calculating and mentally unyielding. Such a person, if nothing went wrong, would surely become a top prodigy of Outer Shenzhou. Li Luo felt wary of her.

Li Li Lingjing sensed Li Luo's displeasure and fell silent.

After a pause, Li Luo spoke: "I owe Aunt Yun a debt. Had you told me plainly from the start, I might not have refused—out of respect for her."

Li Li Lingjing smiled bitterly: "Then I overthought it and made things worse."

Li Luo asked again: "If you had this method to save yourself, why not seek help from your family's Marquis-level experts?"

"The 'Soul-Eating True Demon' is extremely mysterious. They tried before—and failed. Only a prodigy with your exceptional talent could lure it out," Li Li Lingjing admitted honestly.

"What an honor," Li Luo muttered bitterly.

He looked again at the bizarre form of Li Li Lingjing: "If anyone saw you like this, they'd treat you as an aberration immediately."

"Then please help me return to Xiling City. Only there can my consciousness reunite with my body," Li Li Lingjing pleaded.

"Your demands are excessive. And who's to say you're truly Li Li Lingjing? You might just be the 'Soul-Eating True Demon' pretending to survive," Li Luo said expressionlessly.

"I'm willing to be sealed. I'm willing to undergo purification and judgment by the Dragon Tooth Vein. I simply refuse to fade away—I only seek a sliver of survival." Li Li Lingjing said.

Feeling the intense, unyielding determination in her voice, Li Luo fell silent.

Li Li Lingjing's desperate struggle for survival reminded him of his own state when he was Void-Formed—he too had never given up, fighting desperately to find a path to life.

As Li Luo fell silent, Li Li Lingjing's gaze shifted; a faint beam of light emerged from the black mist and hovered before him.

Li Luo looked up, startled to see a space orb floating before him.

It looked familiar—it resembled Zhao Zhao Jingyu's space orb, which had fallen from his wrists after his arms were severed.

Inside were the five Dragon Teeth Li Luo had long desired.

"What? Trying to bribe me?" Li Luo raised an eyebrow.

"Just trying to compensate you. After taking over, I gained some memories of the 'Soul-Eating True Demon.' I know there's a mature, high-quality 'Flame Infant Holy Fruit' here—and perhaps another opportunity that could help you," Li Li Lingjing said.

"What opportunity?" Li Luo's interest stirred.

Li Li Lingjing thought for a moment: "There, you can obtain the perfect 'Liu Li Sha Body.'"

Li Luo's heart trembled—the perfect Liu Li Sha Body... he recalled Li Li Jingzhe's earlier request.

The highest quality Liu Li Sha Body: Three-Light Liu Li.