Chapter 197: Chapter 196: The Final Victory of a Lifetime, Is Su Qi Dead?

If he weren’t afraid of alerting the presence within the Array, Jiang Zuo would have used it to eliminate Jiu Xi long ago, and things wouldn’t have gotten this troublesome.

He had thought these Heart-piercing Snakes would be enough, but they were far from it.

Jiang Zuo then raised his head, looking toward the location of the water pillar.

Though he couldn’t see it, he knew it was there. Jiang Zuo then commanded the Heart-piercing Snakes to take him to it.

Meanwhile, Jiu Xi let out a breath. "That last strike must have hurt him, right?"

That was her ultimate trump card, something she had obtained long ago as a Candidacy Saintess.

It was a power derived from the Holy Land’s foundations. When she could harness the power of the Array, she was far more formidable than the other Candidacy Saintesses.

Just then, Jingyue struggled to her feet, her injuries flaring up. "Never mind him. Let’s get back to the seventh level first. Our opponent won’t be dealt with so easily.

’If I hadn’t blocked that last attack for you, you would have been in real danger.’"

It was her use of the Array’s power that had caused her injuries to act up.

Su Qi nodded, then helped Jingyue up and they started toward the seventh level.

At that moment, Jingyue said, "I have a very bad feeling. A powerful sense of crisis is looming over me. We took on a nasty job."

Su Qi said, "Don’t worry. We have the Array to help us, so nothing too bad will happen. Besides, you’re the Saintess of our Holy Land. How could anything happen to you?"

Jingyue nodded. "That’s right. If I die, you’ll have to become the Saintess. So you must really not want anything to happen to me, right?"

"Senior Sister, this is no time for jokes." Su Qi hurried away with Jingyue.

’A Saintess’s perception of danger is especially sharp; they can even sense their own fated death. I knew that much.’

’So I have to get out of here, fast. I have to live. Someone is waiting for me at home. How can I let anything happen to me?’

But before Su Qi and Jingyue could get far, a sudden light blazed in all directions, even dispersing much of the Mist.

The light swept across the land, powerful enough to lock down heaven and earth, suppress all things, and annihilate all life.

Su Qi cried out, "Senior Sister, what do we do?"

The light was upon them, and Su Qi knew she had no hope of withstanding it.

Jingyue snapped, "What else can we do? Run! We have to survive."

As she spoke, Jingyue used her authority as the Saintess, teleporting Su Qi far away.

Her injuries worsened drastically, but she didn’t care. As long as her death wasn’t in vain, it would be worth it.

"Senior Sister..." Su Qi cried out. But she was only a Candidacy Saintess; the authority of a true Saintess was far beyond hers, leaving her powerless to resist.

Jingyue watched Su Qi and sighed. ’Honestly, you’ve been a handful since we were little, and getting married hasn’t changed a thing.’

’Since you’re a married woman now, I suppose your big sister can make this small sacrifice for you.’

’But things are going to be hard from now on. You have to be strong and keep living.’

’I won’t be around to give you any more terrible advice.’

Jingyue was prepared to be utterly annihilated, for she knew that light could make her vanish in an instant, leaving not even ash behind.

So, she gave Su Qi a calm smile, a sign that she was facing her end with grace and nonchalance.

But as Jingyue awaited her annihilation, the expected impact never came. She was a bit surprised.

When she looked up, she was horrified to find the beam of light heading straight for Su Qi.

In the blink of an eye, the light slammed into Su Qi’s position.

A brilliant flash followed. There was no sound, but a berserk wave of energy erupted.

The surrounding Mist was instantly scattered.

A huge swath of the area where Su Qi had been was completely obliterated.

Jingyue froze.

Meanwhile, out on the lake, a weakened Jiang Zuo collapsed onto the water’s surface. He had just used certain Inheritor Runes from the Immortal Spirit Cave Mansion to activate the Yin Yang Immortal Lock.

Although he had never seen the Yin Yang Immortal Lock in action, he knew how to control it.

As for how to break it, there were no records in the Immortal Spirit Cave Mansion, but he wasn’t concerned. With his abilities, it was only a matter of time.

Still, just touching the thing was excruciating, nearly causing his body to disintegrate. Fortunately, he had managed to unleash a single strike.

’Jiu Xi should be nothing but ashes by now.’

’After two lifetimes, she should finally be dead for good, right?’

When Jiang Zuo got back up, he saw the Saintess in the distance, still standing there dumbly.

The Mist had been dispelled, so Jiang Zuo could see her clearly.

After confirming that it was the Saintess, Jiang Zuo knew he hadn’t killed the wrong person.

He then used a Heart-piercing Snake to enter Concealment. ’Mission accomplished,’ he thought. ’Now to figure out how to get out of here.’

But before he could leave, the Saintess began to move.

She stumbled toward the center of the explosion, crying out as she ran, "Junior Sister! Junior Sister!"

Jiang Zuo watched her without a flicker of emotion. But after a moment, his brow furrowed.

He saw the Saintess’s entire being undergoing a dramatic transformation. Her aura, her hair, even her skin began to subtly change.

In a matter of moments, the unfamiliar Saintess had become the Sister Jingjing he recognized.

At that instant, Jiang Zuo’s eyes contracted. His heart began to beat faster.

’This... how is this possible?’

’Why is this happening?’

Then, he looked in horror toward the center of the blast, a terrible premonition rising in his heart. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

In an instant, countless fragments flashed through Jiang Zuo’s mind.

The photographs in Su Qi’s room... besides the Saintess, the only other peer in them was Jingjing.

The Saintess’s residence contained belongings of Jiu Xi... and the Misfortune Coin he’d set had afflicted Su Qi.

’Jiu Xi was always with the Saintess. Su Qi was always with Jingjing. And Jingjing... is the Saintess?’

Jiang Zuo realized he had overlooked a fatal flaw in his plan: he had never known Su Qi’s Daoist name.

The Holy Land was a major power. As a Candidacy Saintess, it was impossible for a disciple like Su Qi not to have a Daoist name.

Jiang Zuo didn’t dare to think any further. He couldn’t even bear the thought.

"Impossible. This is absolutely impossible," Jiang Zuo whispered.

He refused to believe it. Something like this was simply impossible.

He simply refused to believe it.

By now, Jingyue had reached the edge of the blast crater. She called out, her voice trembling, "Junior Sister! You little whiner! Su Qi! Don’t you dare scare me! How could this happen to you here? Answer me!"

At that instant, Jiang Zuo, standing far off, froze completely.

It was as if a bomb had gone off in his head, leaving it utterly blank.

’What did I just hear?’

’Su Qi?’

’Impossible. I was killing Jiu Xi. Why would it be Su Qi?’

’Why is it Su Qi?’

’How is this possible? It’s impossible.’

’How could I kill Su Qi? How could I possibly have attacked Su Qi?’

’No. The one who died can’t be Su Qi.’

Jiang Zuo felt a flicker of fear, then outright panic. ’Su Qi is dead?’

’Killed by me?’

’I killed Su Qi?’

’No, how could Su Qi possibly be dead?’

Jiang Zuo instinctively started to move toward Su Qi. Regret and fear washed over him. He should have looked closer before he attacked. He should have confirmed who it was before he attacked.

’Why did this happen?’

’It wasn’t supposed to be like this.’

’If Su Qi is dead, what will I do? Go on living like I did in my past life?’

’I might as well be dead. If Su Qi dies, what was the point of my coming back?’

’What’s the point at all?’