Ling Tian Sword God-Chapter 712 - 710: Sacrifice_1

An oppressive aura filled the entire mountaintop, emanating from Shentu Yan's body in beams of light, causing the surrounding space to twist and warp.

"Die, you little beast!"

Shentu Yan laughed manically. Ling Chen was inescapably within the core of his self-destruction; he was undoubtedly doomed, his body fated to be obliterated without a trace.

At this point, the Divine Dragon Jade remained motionless, and the Human Emperor's Will had also fallen silent, powerless to act.

This time, it seemed Ling Chen was truly trapped with no way out.

Yet, in this moment teetering between life and death, a dark silhouette suddenly flashed into Ling Chen's view, positioning herself before him.

Ling Chen's eyes narrowed. The person standing before him was a woman in black—none other than Xia Yunxin!

"Senior Sister Xia, what are you doing?"

Ling Chen's expression changed drastically. Everyone else was desperately retreating, trying to escape the blast radius, yet Xia Yunxin had suddenly appeared before him—wasn't she seeking death?

However, Xia Yunxin turned a deaf ear to Ling Chen's outcry. With a sudden flip of her jade-like hand, a blood-red Talisman flashed into existence. She abruptly activated it, and a wave of blood-red ripples spread outwards, forming a blood-red Shield that enveloped them both.

"Thank goodness! So you still had such a trump card. Was it left to you by your mother?"

Seeing this, Ling Chen felt a surge of elation. He hadn't expected Xia Yunxin to produce such a trump card in this dire situation, turning the tide at the critical moment.

"Mm."

Xia Yunxin gently nodded, her beautiful eyes as calm and undisturbed as a still lake. "This item, called the Holy Spirit Talisman, is a Treasure guarded by generations of Saintesses of the Saint Witch Religion. It is the only Sacred Object in the entire Saint Witch Religion."

"Sacred Object?"

Ling Chen was taken aback. So the Netherworld Scroll, originally held by Sikong Yi, wasn't the highest-ranked Treasure of the Saint Witch Religion. This unheard-of Holy Spirit Talisman was even higher in rank.

"The Holy Spirit Talisman? That thing... does it mean..."

Upon hearing the words 'Holy Spirit Talisman,' the black-robed figure in the distance felt his pupils sharply contract, as if he had grasped something extraordinary. An incredulous expression soon filled his face.

"What's the matter, Venerable Black Robe?"

Liu Feiyue and the others looked at the black-robed figure with surprise. Judging by his expression, the Holy Spirit Talisman was not as simple as it appeared.

"The Holy Spirit Talisman is indeed a Sacred Object of our Holy Church, guarded by successive generations of Saintesses. Each Saintess, upon her passing, entrusts the Holy Spirit Talisman to her successor."

"However, the Holy Spirit Talisman is also a forbidden object of our Saint Witch Religion."

"Forbidden object? If it's such a precious Sacred Object, why is it also forbidden?" Liu Feiyue was somewhat confused.

"That's because," a glint flashed in the black-robed figure's eyes, "once this item is activated, it signifies the imminent demise of that generation's Saintess. The death of a Saintess is a great blow to the entire Holy Church!"

"The Holy Spirit Talisman is an ancient wonder. Only by activating its deepest power can its true potential be unleashed. However, to do so, a living soul must be sacrificed!"

"In the history of our Holy Church, two Saintesses once sacrificed their souls to unleash the deepest power of the Holy Spirit Talisman, all to save the Sect Leader's life. In the end, they both became living corpses, now lying in our holy ancestral hall."

"What?!"

At these words, not only Liu Feiyue but everyone else was shocked speechless. Their gazes inevitably converged on the blood-red Shield and the alluring, peerless woman in black within it. Could it be that she was truly determined to die, to exchange her life for Ling Chen's?

A mix of complex emotions surfaced in Liu Feiyue's beautiful eyes, her heart greatly shaken. She couldn't believe that someone in this world would actually sacrifice their life for another.

At this moment, inside the blood-red Shield, strands of white light floated up from Xia Yunxin's body like twinkling stars. These tiny points of light, resembling the myriad stars in the sky, were all absorbed by the Holy Spirit Talisman.

Seeing this, Ling Chen detected something amiss. With his keen Mental Power, he sensed that every strand of starlight emitted the aura of Spiritual Power. A person without Spiritual Power is undoubtedly dead.

This Holy Spirit Talisman... it's not a benevolent item!

"Senior Sister Xia, stop! Stop immediately!" Ling Chen's complexion changed drastically, and he yelled urgently.

In response to Ling Chen's shout, Xia Yunxin simply shook her head gently, a determined look in her eyes. "If I stop now, both of us will die. The power of the Holy Spirit Talisman can definitely block Shentu Yan's self-destruction."

"No! Believe me, I have other ways!" Ling Chen's eyes turned crimson, his voice becoming a roar.

A serene smile graced Xia Yunxin's stunningly beautiful face. "When Master left, I promised her that no matter what, I would take care of you. Master gave me a new life, and I must fulfill the promise I made to her."

"I trust you. Only you can take care of Chen'er." Xia Yunxin still vividly remembered the words Liu Xiling had spoken to her upon her departure.

"Ling Chen, I only want to ask you one thing right now." Xia Yunxin turned her head to gaze at him, her expression incredibly serious. "Have you ever... even a little... liked me?"

Ling Chen immediately nodded. At this moment, if he still hesitated, he truly wouldn't be a man. "Yes! I like you!"

He might have deeper feelings for Xu Ruoyan compared to Xia Yunxin. But right now, Xia Yunxin was about to die for him. How could he hesitate to say those three words?

"Once I truly saw the real you, I began to like you. So please, don't do anything foolish. Stop, please stop!"

Ling Chen's voice was almost a plea.

"Your words are enough. Ling Chen, live on, live well."

A satisfied smile graced Xia Yunxin's exquisite face, a smile so beautiful it was breathtaking. Yet, in the next instant, this stunning smile vanished as fleetingly as it had appeared, replaced by a look of resolute determination. A torrent of white starlight erupted from her body, and her familiar voice, like a mantra, echoed in Ling Chen's ears: "Ancient spirits of the netherworld, demons of the Nine Nether realms, with my soul, I offer sacrifice to the Holy Spirit! For three lifetimes, to be eternally plunged into samsara, I shall protect the one I love, and even in death, I will have no regrets!"

As her words faded, the Holy Spirit Talisman blazed with ultimate radiance, its dazzling light completely engulfing Xia Yunxin's delicate form.

"No!" Ling Chen's body shook violently as he roared hysterically.

BOOM!

Before Ling Chen's roar had fully faded, the heart of Green Cloud Mountain exploded. The entire main peak, along with dozens of nearby peaks, were instantly obliterated by the blast, turning to dust.

In that instant, it was as if the heavens were rent asunder and the earth was torn apart. A terrifying shockwave, like a monstrous tidal wave, swept outwards, devastating everything in its path. Even mountain peaks dozens of miles away trembled violently. Many of the powerful warriors turned pale; some weaker warriors were injured by the aftershock, coughing up blood.