Chapter 737

I can't go back and I can't die—what does that mean?

Before I could even voice the question, I suddenly heard a splashing water sound coming from beneath the ground under my feet.

A surge of Yin Cold Qi shot up from the ground, its momentum fierce.

The entire Nine Abyss was shrouded in a thin black mist.

As the water sound grew louder, the temperature dropped lower, and the black mist grew thicker.

From within the unseen black mist in the distance came successive bird calls, and there seemed to be light but orderly rustling footsteps.

Xiao Jiu urged, 'Wanwan, if you don't leave now, it'll be too late.'

She took my hand, glanced regretfully at Zhao Zixun, then solemnly said, 'General Zhao, since Wanwan cannot decide, I can only follow the escape route you previously arranged for her; I will keep my promise, please Senior Sister ferry her across the Wangchuan River.'

After Xiao Jiu finished speaking, she bowed deeply to Zhao Zixun, then turned to pull me away.

My face was full of confusion; I was at a loss.

Xiao Jiu would surely not harm me; it seems the Nine Abyss truly cannot be retained.

I cannot save Zhao Zixun, nor can I take him with me, so I can only work on my true form itself.

I turned my head toward my true form, that seven-leaf lingzhi, and discovered that after Lady Jiao'e's ashes scattered, the plant had just returned to its original state, but now its emerald leaves were rapidly wilting, the edges already showing signs of withering.

What's going on?

My gaze followed the plant downward, and I immediately realized it was a water source problem.

The stem of the seven-leaf lingzhi was originally jade-green, but now it had turned pitch black.

Its spiritual roots are deep in the soil, drawing nutrients from groundwater to sustain growth; combined with the water sound I just heard, it's easy to conclude that the groundwater in the depths of the Nine Abyss has a problem.

This is a major matter concerning the life and death of all medicinal herbs and herb spirits in the entire Nine Abyss.

Even the seven-leaf lingzhi is affected this much, let alone other herb spirits.

I let go of Xiao Jiu's hand and firmly said to her, 'No, Xiao Jiu, I cannot leave; thank you for coming to save me, but I choose to return to my true form.'

I know that as long as I choose to go with Xiao Jiu, I at least still have a chance to be ferried by Yu Nian.

To stay is a nine-deaths-one-life chance.

But I am the heir of the Lord of the Nine Abyss, the people I love are also here unable to leave, and I have no reason to convince myself to merely survive alone.

Xiao Jiu sighed and had me weigh the pros and cons: 'Wanwan, I know you cannot abandon Zhao Zixun, nor can you easily discard your true form and the entire Nine Abyss, but now I can only tell you that regardless of whether we can ultimately preserve the Nine Abyss, the Nine Abyss will likely face another catastrophe of living beings.'

And this destruction could be even more horrific than what you witnessed before, because this time they are diverting Wangchuan River water through the earth's veins, permeating the entire Nine Abyss depths, and along with the river water come countless demons and monsters from the riverbed.

With Zhao Zixun's physical body imprisoned in the depths of the Nine Abyss, lacking a battle spirit's protection, over the past century or so, hundreds of souls have invaded his body, completely destroying a fallen war god, while they also aim to create another netherworld war god.

But this netherworld war god does not represent the Nether Realm; it is created in the Nine Abyss and will lead the myriad demons and monsters invading the Nine Abyss to occupy it, thereby further devouring the Feng Clan.

You also heard that faint birdcall just now; whether it's the Feng Clan or the Nine Abyss, we are attacked from both sides, so I hope you can think clearly before deciding; I may only have this one chance to come down and take you away, and once the fighting starts, I won't be able to look after you.

If the final battle reaches a white-hot state, Shan Shan and I can only join forces to use Nirvana fire to destroy the entire Nine Abyss, to destroy all of this; Wanwan, if it truly comes to that, I also hope you can understand our helpless act of choosing to protect our territory.

So that's how it is.

It turns out that all these schemes are actually so seamless.

Even over a century ago, Zhao Zixun was already the Nether Realm's greatest weapon for annexing the Feng Clan.

Lady Jiao'e's little scheming appears utterly pale and powerless before the Nether Realm's plans.

No wonder Lady Jiao'e wanted to escape; no wonder she spared no words to provoke me.

She only sought death.

Yet she never expected to ultimately suffer heavenly punishment, being reduced to ashes.

Yet Xiao Jiu's words only strengthened my resolve to stay.

I looked toward Zhao Zixun, still standing there, both hands gripping the hilt of his long blade.

His whole body trembled as he struggled to endure, but from the thick black aura surrounding him, he couldn't hold out much longer.

I also finally understood the true meaning of Xiao Jiu's words 'he can't go back and won't die.'

The Nether Realm wants to borrow Zhao Zixun's blade to viciously pierce the heart of the Feng Clan.

Zhao Zixun has been invaded by a hundred ghosts, already stepping one foot into the realm of eternal damnation.

If he then leads the demons and monsters from the Wangchuan Riverbed—those unable to reincarnate for various reasons—to wreak havoc upon the Feng Clan, then regardless of whether victory is ultimately achieved, Zhao Zixun will not meet a good end.

His guilt will only outweigh the infamy of Lady Jiao'e's nine lifetimes of wickedness.

When heavenly judgment is passed and he ultimately turns to ashes, that will be the best outcome for Zhao Zixun.

But he is clearly such a good person; why is he constantly forced to do what he doesn't want to do?

On what grounds!

I gently pushed Xiao Jiu upward, saying: 'Xiao Jiu, you don't need to worry about me; I choose to share life and death with the Nine Abyss and Zhao Zixun, to live and die together. If we truly reach a point of no return, I beg you to use a Nirvana flame to burn away all this sin; I, Zhao Zixun, and all the herb spirits of the Nine Abyss will be grateful for your great kindness.'

As my words fell, I gathered all my ghostly power and pushed upward with force, sending Xiao Jiu a further distance.

Xiao Jiu had no defense and was simply pushed away by me.

I had no hesitation, turned, and dove into the gradually withering seven-leaf lingzhi.

At the moment my soul merged with my true form, I immediately felt two different forces constantly surging upward from my roots.

One comes from my spiritual roots, representing that my plant is continuously consuming its own spiritual power to keep the entire plant alive.

The other comes from the groundwater source.

Now every drop of water absorbed by the seven-leaf lingzhi comes from the Wangchuan River, which is tantamount to drinking poison to quench thirst.

Just as I was wondering what to do next, a low roar came from ahead.

I swayed the plant, adjusted its direction, and looked toward Zhao Zixun.

I saw Zhao Zixun gripping the hilt of his long blade with both hands, gritting his teeth as he slowly pulled the blade out of his chest.

At the moment the blade was pulled from his body, he turned his hand and fiercely stabbed the tip into the ground, murmuring incantations; instantly, the Yīnfēng howled, rushing from all directions toward the blade…