Wu the Old Ghost was stunned for a moment, then shook his head.

"Mo the kid, I know you’re talented and powerful, but I can still tell if my own son is dead or alive. Resurrection... not even the Saint Ancestors of the Immortal Realm can do that."

"I’ve made up my mind to die. There’s no need to trick me or try to comfort me."

As he spoke, Wu the Old Ghost prepared to resume his Scattering Skill.

Mo Qi scoffed, his voice filled with pride. "The Saint Ancestors? So what? Just because it’s impossible for them doesn’t mean it’s impossible for me!"

"Brother Wu, I said I would give you a surprise, not a scare. But if you don’t even give me a chance to try, then your son really will die!"

Wu the Old Ghost hesitated.

He swept his son’s body again and again with his Void Realm Divine Sense, confirming that there was absolutely no trace of vitality left.

His flesh and blood had been frozen solid, and he couldn’t sense even the faintest ripple from his son’s soul.

’He’s well and truly dead!’

But Mo Qi’s confident words stirred a flicker of hope within him.

’What if?’

’What if Mo Qi really could save his son?’

If it were anyone else, Wu the Old Ghost would have been certain they were just toying with him.

But too many miracles had happened around Mo Qi. So many, in fact, that Wu the Old Ghost started to wonder if something as unbelievable as resurrection might actually be possible.

"Brother Wu, give me a chance to prove myself. Give yourself—and your son—a chance!" Mo Qi said with a sincere tone.

"Wu the Old Ghost, do you still not know what the Young Master is capable of? Besides, what benefit would he get from tricking you?" the Old Tomb Digger chimed in.

"That’s right. Will dying solve anything? At this point, do you have any choice but to trust the Young Master?" Hu Yao’er quickly added.

Mo Xiao was far more direct. "Believe in the Young Master, receive eternal life!"

Finally, Wu the Old Ghost gritted his teeth, withdrew his Grotto Heaven, and halted his Scattering Skill.

"Younger Brother Mo, I’m entrusting everything to you!"

Wu the Old Ghost carried his son over to Mo Qi.

’It’s a Hail Mary.’

"Relax. Give me an hour, and I guarantee I’ll return a son to you who’s alive and kicking!"

Mo Qi gave a faint smile. A dazzling red flame flared to life in his hand, and he pressed his palm against the Dantian of Wu the Old Ghost’s son.

At the same time, the spectral image of the Five Elements Tree materialized behind Mo Qi. Its branches shot out, wrapping Wu the Old Ghost’s son in a tight cocoon.

The Cold Cicada Bloodline was naturally opposed to Yang Energy; the conflict was irreconcilable.

But even the strongest bloodline has a nemesis.

The Nether Soul Flame, a Celestial-level Fire Seed. Its searing Yang Fire was the perfect counter to the Cold Cicada Bloodline.

What Mo Qi needed to do now was first suppress the Cold Cicada Bloodline within the son’s body, then use the Five Elements Tree’s Power of Life to reawaken his vitality.

Mo Qi already had a comprehensive plan for what to do next.

"We need to wait for a while now. I’m going to check on the others."

Ignoring the bewildered looks from the crowd, Mo Qi walked over to Qian Duoduo.

Qian Duoduo had been tormented by the Soul-Draining Mother Spider until he was barely recognizable as human.

Seeing Mo Qi approach, the sentient Soul-Draining Mother Spider twitched its long legs. Its eight eyes stared fixedly at him, the challenge in its gaze unmistakable.

’It remembered that not long ago, it had nearly fallen at Mo Qi’s hands.’

’But things were different now. Huangfu Jun had used a Secret Technique to activate its Poison Spirit, granting it more agile thoughts and new ways to operate.’

’The Nether Soul Flame could still harm it, but it was no longer a fatal threat.’

’Not unless Mo Qi was willing to destroy Qian Duoduo’s body in the process.’

’But that was impossible!’

And so, the Soul-Draining Mother Spider was brazenly unafraid.

’It was even scheming. Once it had tortured Qian Duoduo to death, it would find a chance to slip inside Mo Qi and poison him, too.’

"I’ll give you one chance," Mo Qi said coolly. "Leave Qian Duoduo now, and I’ll spare your consciousness. It’s not easy for a poison to become a Spirit, after all."

However, the Soul-Draining Mother Spider merely shot Mo Qi a sideways glance and continued its work, feasting greedily on Qian Duoduo’s Life Force.

’Hmph. You’re choosing the hard way, then. Did you really think I couldn’t handle you?’

Mo Qi let out a cold laugh. He raised his hand, and the Obsidian Kitchen Knife materialized in his grasp.

Just then, Li Shimu entered, leading a group of people. The heads of the other five great families were all present, with the exception of the Zhuge Family. Among them was Qian Duoduo’s father, Qian Juduo.

"Duoduo!"

Qian Juduo’s face drained of color when he saw the state his son was in.

Just as he was about to step forward to check on Qian Duoduo, Mo Qi moved.

SCHHNK!

The sound of a sharp blade tearing through flesh was jarringly loud in the sudden silence.

Everyone’s eyes flew to Qian Duoduo. Mo Qi had sliced open his chest, leaving a gaping wound that exposed his faintly beating heart.

"You’re courting death!"

Qian Juduo exploded with rage. To think someone would dare to cut his son open right in front of him!

The sheer arrogance! The audacity!

Even if this man was the Empire’s Blessed One, a murderous intent ignited within Qian Juduo.

’And he wouldn’t rest until one of them was dead!’

He began pulling out one powerful Treasure after another.

"Stop him. Don’t let him disturb me," Mo Qi said, waving a dismissive hand without looking back.

’This was the critical moment in Qian Duoduo’s treatment. He couldn’t stop now.’

The Old Tomb Digger and the others were about to move, but Li Shimu, the Emperor, acted first.

He gently rested a hand on Qian Juduo’s shoulder. A wave of Immortal Power washed over him, and Qian Juduo’s attack froze in mid-motion.

"His Holiness, you...?"

’Qian Juduo stared at Li Shimu in disbelief. Was His Holiness really going to side with the Blessed One, even at a time like this?’

"Don’t be rash. Let’s just watch," Li Shimu said, his voice low and firm.

’To be honest, Mo Qi’s actions had startled him as well.’

’But he trusted that Mo Qi had his reasons.’

But Qian Juduo wasn’t listening. Qian Duoduo was his only son!

Just as Qian Juduo was about to resort to a special technique, preparing to break free from Li Shimu’s hold no matter the cost, Mo Qi’s next move captured everyone’s attention—including his.

Black threads, almost invisible to the naked eye, were entwined with Qian Duoduo’s heart, linking it to the Soul-Draining Mother Spider.

This was the key to the Soul-Draining Mother Spider’s survival.

It had fused its very life source with Qian Duoduo’s heart. To kill it, one would have to kill Qian Duoduo first.

Against any other opponent, this tactic would have forced them to hold back, fearful of harming the hostage.

Unfortunately for the spider, however, it was facing a much stronger Mo Qi.

SHING SHING SHING SHING!

The dazzling blur of the blade was dizzying.

In the span of a single blink—or perhaps just a thought—the light of the blade vanished. It was as if everything that had just happened was a mere illusion, a momentary trance.

SKREEEEE!

A piercing shriek suddenly rang out.

The Soul-Draining Mother Spider’s face—if it could be called that—was a mask of terror. Just a moment ago, it had felt every single one of the black threads simultaneously sever their connection to Qian Duoduo’s heart!

It looked down. Qian Duoduo’s heart was completely unharmed. In fact, freed from the black threads, its beat grew stronger.

The Soul-Draining Mother Spider was stunned.

’He... with just a knife, he actually peeled my life source away from the heart!’

’How is that possible?!’

’We were supposed to have grown and fused together!’