Ming Zhu’s voice was a sorrowful, lingering melody, half-song, half-sob. "Oh, Xiao Lang... What am I to do? What am I to do?"

Her gentle sobs were like a wisp of light smoke, a fine mist drifting and echoing through the lava cavern. The sound repeated, seeming to hang in the present moment, yet also as if it came from a distant past.

Chi Hua Fairy gathered her qi and focused her gaze, one hand moving stealthily behind her back. Song Ciwan, standing to the side, silently continued to operate the Heaven and Earth Scale.

’Better to sharpen your spear right before battle than not at all.’ Who knew if the Heaven and Earth Scale’s gamble would yield a surprise?

It was just that the Heaven and Earth Scale had a daily limit of ten trades. And today, including the earlier trade that got her the Side Door Taoist Skill, Measurement System, she had already made nine!

On the Balance Plate, tradable items were piled high, but now she only had one chance left.

’What should I sell?’

’Which one?’

Song Ciwan didn’t hesitate for long and quickly made a decision: [You have sold Death Qi from the death of a Clarity Realm Innate Martial Artist for eight taels and three maces. You have obtained the Marvel replica, Profound City Life and Death Seal.]

Profound City Life and Death Seal: This object is a replica, usable three times. If sacrificed with essence blood and Lifespan, a single stamp can overturn life and death, cleave mountains and part seas, and traverse great distances in an instant, making the ends of the earth feel near. Its power is determined by the amount of essence blood and Lifespan infused.

’The Profound City Life and Death Seal!’

This was a Marvel with a strange activation method, but also one of incredible power!

Song Ciwan was overjoyed. With a flick of her hand, she discreetly retrieved the Profound City Life and Death Seal from the Heaven and Earth Scale under the cover of her sleeve.

’A Marvel like this should be used immediately,’ Song Ciwan thought. ’If not, am I supposed to save it and wait for the bizarre creature the Dragon Maiden has become to brew up an even more terrifying ultimate move?’ 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

And just as she held the Profound City Life and Death Seal, carefully comprehending the instructions on how to use the Marvel transmitted from the seal while quickly refining it, the faceless woman floating above the lava pool let out a desolate sigh.

She had no mouth or nose, yet the sigh was so clear it could be heard distinctly.

It was still Ming Zhu’s voice... Perhaps there was no longer any doubt. She was the Ming Zhu of today!

"The East Sea was drying up, and you said only the Kunlun Passing Water Sword could save it."

"I couldn’t conceive a child with Xiao Lang, and you said it was because my Dragon Body was too powerful, that humans and demons walk different paths, and our bloodlines could never truly merge."

"You suggested I beseech the Three Immortals of Kunlun to strip away my demon form, to become fully human and cultivate the Dao anew."

"My Dragon Blood and Dragon Body could be traded to the Three Immortals of Kunlun for the Passing Water Sword, and my Dragon Pearl I would leave for my father, the King, to fulfill my filial duty..."

"But, Xiao Lang, what were you doing?"

"While I was on Kunlun Mountain, enduring the torture of a thousand cuts, my bones dissolving as my demonic nature was stripped away, my Divine Soul shattering, you were in the Jasper Pool, bathing in my Dragon Blood and consuming my Dragon Pearl!"

"I became a human."

"But you... you became a demon!"

"Hehe... hehe... hehehe..."

She no longer sighed, no longer wept, only laughed desolately.

Her laughter drifted, piercing through the subterranean world.

Above Bibo Lake, a ghostly wind howled.

The woman’s voice surged from the wind and clouds, then echoed throughout the entire city.

Liu City God’s expression changed drastically. In that single moment, three thousand of his eight thousand Yin Soldiers perished, and the rest were either dead or maimed.

By the city gates, many citizens screamed as they fell to the ground, convulsing. Those with strength left immediately cried out, "This is bad! We can’t stay in the city! Let’s run!"

"Run!"

No one knew who started it, but once one person ran, hundreds and then thousands followed.

In a great surge, the people stampeded out of the city gates.

There were also those who didn’t want to leave, shouting at the top of their lungs, "Don’t push! Stop pushing! I’m not leaving! I’m not leaving!"

But the momentum of the crowd was not something a few people could resist. Even those who didn’t want to leave were swept up in the frantic rush outward.

There were more cries, shouts, and screams. Some people carried chickens, others carried geese. One person clutching a goose said, "I paid a fortune for this goose, I can’t lose it! Once we’re out of the city, I’m counting on it to protect my whole family!"

The clucking of chickens was joined by barking dogs and meowing cats... The cats’ cries were pitiful, and at the foot of the city wall, rats and insects scurried for their lives.

The soldiers guarding the city paid no mind, letting the people rush out as they pleased.

In fact, it wasn’t just the citizens who wanted to flee. The soldiers guarding the city were also terrified. Why wouldn’t they want to leave too?

The captain of the gate had a tragic look in his eyes and muttered, "Is Su Yang City to be annihilated from the Profound Origin Land today?"

At the bottom of Bibo Lake, by the edge of the lava pool, Song Ciwan took another step back. Her back pressed against a scorching cavern wall, and in an instant, the clothing on her back curled up from the heat.

Meanwhile, the Profound City Life and Death Seal in her hand was not yet fully refined.

Song Ciwan quickly took a step forward again, moving a little farther from the cavern wall.

The faceless woman paid no attention to these small movements. She was completely immersed in her own world. After her laughter subsided, she spoke again, "Oh, Xiao Lang... they always say that humans fear demons, but it turns out demons should be the ones who fear humans..."

"Fortunately, Heaven’s will has never deceived me. Back then, you swore to the heavens that if you ever betrayed me, you would have your heart torn out and your bones dug out, suffer a thousand cuts, and die with all your blood drained!"

"Heaven cannot be deceived!"

"So I will help you fulfill your oath!"

*Heaven cannot be deceived! So I will help you fulfill your oath!*

This final sentence once again pierced through the depths of Bibo Lake, tore through the gloomy clouds above it, and spread throughout the entire city.

In the city, weak mortals died suddenly, while the Lianfei and low-level Mouse Demons hiding in the shadows had their Divine Souls shattered, dying instantly where they stood.

In the very center of Bibo Lake, where the Flood Dragon’s skull had landed, the earth split open once more.

RUMBLE!

CRACK! CRACK!

The fissure grew wider and deeper, and the Earth Vein Primordial Qi leaked out madly.

The faceless woman floated above the roiling lava and laughed, her head tilted back.

Above her, the cavern ceiling cracked open, creating a direct path to the outside world!

A beam of light fell, connecting the scene outside Bibo Lake with the now-boiling lava pool.

On the hand County Magistrate Fang Jintai used to hold his Official Seal, the web between his thumb and forefinger split open. Blood fell into the Official Seal, and his arm withered rapidly.

Another three thousand of Liu City God’s Yin Soldiers died. He roared in fury, "I really can’t hold on! Old Fang, give me the Official Seal! You take the people and get out of the city!"

Fang Jintai roared back, "Give the Official Seal to you? Could you even use it? Son of a... Ptoo! You old dog, Liu, you’ve corrupted my Dao Heart, tempting this official to use such vulgar language! You get lost! This official spent ten years in diligent study and ten years as an official. Though I am not a perfect man, I am certainly not the type to abandon the city and flee!"

Liu City God spat. "You pale-faced Scholar! You have the nerve to brag about a measly ten years as an official? This old man here guarded Demon Suppression Pass for a full sixty years! Did I ever brag about it? I’ve probably seen more demons than you’ve read books, you son of a bitch..."

CRACK!

Before he could finish, a small crack appeared on the protective barrier of clear light beneath the Official Seal at the edge of Bibo Lake, and it began to spread with cracking sounds.

Where the Flood Dragon had fallen, the Dragon Pearl rolled out from a crack in its skull. With a whoosh, it tumbled down toward the lava pool below, which now resembled a giant sinkhole.

Directly below, the faceless woman tilted her head up. On her featureless face, a small, cherry-like mouth had appeared at some point. The little mouth opened, and the Dragon Pearl fell directly toward it, about to roll inside.