# Chapter 1296: Last Hope
Beneath the red mark, more than a dozen severed golden hairs drifted slowly downwards, while Qianye Ying'er's figure gradually turned ethereal until it completely vanished.
Xia Qingyue's originally dark pupils finally regained some of their luster. It was at this moment that she suddenly sensed the existence of profound energy... This red mark had not only severed Qianye Ying'er's residual image and golden hair, but had also broken the profound energy seal between her and Yun Che.
In front of her, a red figure silently appeared from the air. She coldly stared at Qianye Ying'er, who had instantly teleported several miles away. The crimson short blade in her hand radiated a terrifying cold light... yet it paled in comparison to the icy killing intent in her eyes.
A girl in colorful garments also descended from the sky at this moment, standing by her side. In her hands was a giant azure sword that was much larger than her petite body.
Mo Li and Cai Zhi!
*Crack...*
A very slight sound came. With the flash of a red trace, a corner of Qianye Ying'er's golden mask broke off in a clean line, falling onto the gray-white ground.
If she had delayed by even a thousandth of an instant, her cheek, or even her head, would have been severed by the red mark.
Because that was the God-Slaying Blade of Tiansha Xingshen!
She raised her finger, gently stroking the perfectly smooth fracture. The pupils beneath her mask suddenly flashed with a golden light that was perilous to the extreme.
"Take him away, now!" Mo Li's gaze and expression were both terrifyingly dark. The killing intent, faintly mixed with the scent of blood, seemed to envelop the entire starting area of the Tai Chu Divine Realm.
Xia Qingyue flashed and arrived beside Yun Che. She held the unconscious Yun Che in her arms, but did not leave... Even though the crisis had passed, her jade-like face remained deathly pale.
Because the one who had escaped the crisis was only herself. Yun Che's Buddhist Soul Death-Pleading Seal...
"What are you still standing there for? Go, now!!"
Seeing that Xia Qingyue had not moved for quite a while, Mo Li's tone became several times sharper and more urgent. Xia Qingyue did not know her, but Mo Li had known of Xia Qingyue for twelve years.
She and Cai Zhi had just arrived, and Yun Che was unconscious. So she did not know that Yun Che had been planted with the Buddhist Soul Death-Pleading Seal by Qianye Ying'er. Otherwise, she would never have let Xia Qingyue take Yun Che away.
Xia Qingyue's jade teeth clenched tightly. But with Qianye Ying'er nearby, she could not afford even a moment of hesitation. She quickly summoned the Dun Yue Immortal Palace, entered it with Yun Che in her arms, and instantly fled far away.
Qianye Ying'er did not stop her... It seemed, there was no great need to do so.
The Dun Yue Immortal Palace accelerated to its maximum speed, flying towards the distant sky... There, a swirling pale vortex marked the exit of the Tai Chu Divine Realm. Soon, at its terrifying speed, it plunged into the white vortex, its aura completely vanishing from this world.
Mo Li breathed a quiet sigh of relief. The aura she had locked onto Qianye Ying'er became even colder, filled with murderous intent.
Neither Xia Qingyue and Yun Che's escape, nor the killing intent of Tiansha Xingshen, caused Qianye Ying'er the slightest disturbance. Her finger left the broken corner of her mask, and she walked forward slowly, approaching Mo Li and Cai Zhi, saying leisurely, "There's no way the two of you could have shaken off Old Gu so quickly. It seems you have other helpers... Could it be a third Star God?"
"Qian... Ye!!" Those two words carried endless gnashing hatred. To both Mo Li and Cai Zhi, Qianye Ying'er was the most hated person in their lives.
Because she had indirectly caused the death of Mo Li's mother, caused the death of their brother, and had almost caused Mo Li's death as well.
"Tiansha, if you had hidden in the shadows, I might have feared you a little. But now you appear before me, with only an unweaned young wolf by your side..." Qianye Ying'er's voice turned abruptly cold. "Have you sisters come all this way just to die?"
Mo Li's killing intent solidified. She pointed the God-Slaying Blade forward, its tip flashing with a blood-red light that was unbearable to look at directly: "The one who will die today is you!"
"Speaking of which, don't you want to explain why you chased me all the way here?" Qianye Ying'er's steps drew closer and closer. Facing two Star Gods alone, her chilling voice showed no signs of tension. "The Tai Chu Divine Realm, what a perfect graveyard. You couldn't have really come all this way just to die, could you? Or are you going to tell me... that you came specifically to kill me? I think that you, Tiansha, are not foolish enough for that."
"You should have died long ago!" Mo Li said coldly. But in her heart, she knew better than anyone that in her current state, she absolutely could not kill Qianye Ying'er... not even with Cai Zhi's help.
She had rushed to the Yue Shen Realm with Cai Zhi at full speed because she feared that Yun Che would lose control of his emotions upon seeing Xia Qingyue, incurring the wrath of the Yue Shen Realm... Given Yun Che's temperament, it was entirely possible.
When they arrived at the Yue Shen Realm, Xia Qingyue had already fled with Yun Che... But then she suddenly sensed Qianye Ying'er's aura moving away. The direction was exactly the same as the Dun Yue Immortal Palace's escape route.
Mo Li understood Qianye Ying'er's terror better than anyone. She ignored the consequences and chased after her with Cai Zhi.
"Since you want to kill me so badly, and you've chased me all the way here, why haven't you attacked yet?" Qianye Ying'er drew nearer, now within a hundred zhang. At their level, this distance was nothing but an instant's crossing.
"..." Mo Li's brow furrowed deeper. She was puzzled. Xia Qingyue had fled with Yun Che, so why wasn't Qianye Ying'er the least bit anxious?
"Oh, I see." Qianye Ying'er's lips curved into a smile, as if suddenly enlightened. "So, you're buying them time to escape."
Mo Li: "..."
"I'm just curious. You didn't hesitate to bring this young wolf and chase me all the way from the Dong Shen Domain. Are you protecting the Evil God Divine Power, or... protecting your little lover?"
Mo Li's expression changed drastically, a red light flashing in her eyes: "What... did... you... say!?"
"Sister..." Cai Zhi's face also changed color.
"Oh? Hahahaha..." Seeing Mo Li's reaction, Qianye Ying'er burst into laughter. "When I saw you crying bitterly for Yun Che last time, I still couldn't quite believe it. But now it seems, no matter how incredible, it's true. The Eldest Princess of the Xing Shen Realm, the most bloodthirsty and merciless Star God in the eyes of the world, actually fell in love with a man, and a man from the lower realms. How interesting, truly interesting."
Saw it? Crying bitterly?
Mo Li's pupils dilated, suddenly emitting a terrifying red light: "What did you hear!?"
"Heh, whatever you said to this young wolf at that time, I heard it all." Qianye Ying'er said with a smile. "The Tiansha Xingshen, renowned throughout the entire God Realm for the keenest spiritual perception, was so disturbed by a man that she didn't even notice my divine sense passing through the soundproof barrier you set up. I'm extremely curious now—what earth-shattering thing did Yun Che do to make a blood-soaked, fear-inspiring demon like you lose your soul over him?"
"Qian... Ye!!" The same two words, but colder and more vicious than before. Her heart sank sharply... That day in the Zhou Tian God Realm, when she suddenly saw Yun Che, her heart and soul had been shaken as if struck by a heavenly hammer. She had scolded Cai Zhi harshly...
And she had completely failed to notice Qianye Ying'er beside her!
And Qianye Ying'er had heard everything she said to Cai Zhi!
Only now did she finally understand why Qianye Ying'er had relentlessly pursued Yun Che to this place... It was because of her negligence that Yun Che had been targeted by Qianye Ying'er!
And being targeted by this demoness more terrifying than any devil meant that the slightest misstep would lead to eternal damnation!
"Sister, it's... all... my... fault..." Cai Zhi's lips turned white, her voice trembling. "If it weren't for me..."
"It's not your fault!" Mo Li snapped coldly. Originally, she had only intended to hold Qianye Ying'er back at all costs, buying Yun Che enough time to escape. But now, her desire to kill Qianye Ying'er was stronger than ever before.
Because as long as she lived, Yun Che would never know peace!
"Qianye, let me tell you something," Mo Li said through gritted teeth. "The power of the Evil God cannot be seized. No matter what methods you have, it's impossible. Give it up!"
"Oh? And then?"
"..." Mo Li knew very well that this one sentence alone would never make Qianye Ying'er lose "interest" in Yun Che. She stepped forward, the God-Slaying Blade gleaming with blood-red light: "And today... you... must... die!!"
As the last syllable fell, Mo Li's figure vanished, transforming into a storm of afterimages dancing in the air. The God-Slaying Blade traced countless fine crimson lines, stabbing straight towards Qianye Ying'er...
Outside the Tai Chu Divine Realm, the battle between Gu Zhu and the ice-blue figure continued.
Gu Zhu's body was withered and dry, seemingly inhuman. But as his arms swung, they stirred up layer upon layer of terrifying storms in the chaotic space, steadily suppressing the ice-blue figure.
*Boom*
After a prolonged clash of forces, the vast blue light was completely torn apart by the storm. The ice-blue figure was flung far away, its body trembling, apparently injured.
Gu Zhu did not press the attack. Instead, he said indifferently, "Still not going to use your full power?"
The ice-blue figure remained silent. Sword light rose once more... She only needed to hold him back. There was no need to use her full power, and she could not use it. If her techniques were exposed, her identity would be recognized, and the consequences would be extremely severe.
Just then, a surge of air stirred in the distance. The Dun Yue Immortal Palace emerged from the pale vortex, then flew south at great speed.
Seeing the Dun Yue Immortal Palace, a strange light flashed in Gu Zhu's aged eyes. He reached out with both hands, about to cast a storm over the palace, but before him, a blue shadow flickered. A layer of ice curtain descended horizontally, firmly sealing his storm...
The Dun Yue Immortal Palace was unaffected. In an instant, it vanished into the southern void. With its terrifying speed and the ice-blue figure's interference, Gu Zhu could never catch up.
Inside the Dun Yue Immortal Palace, the light was dim.
Xia Qingyue had changed back into the same moon garments as before. She knelt there, holding the still unconscious Yun Che tightly in her arms. Some of her disheveled long hair fell upon Yun Che's chest and his deathly pale face...
His face still showed the distortion of extreme suffering. The bloodstains at the corners of his mouth were horrifying... She held Yun Che even tighter, like a mother holding a severely ill child, her heart filled with endless sorrow.
The Buddhist Soul Death-Pleading Seal... the most terrifying curse in the world...
Why did he have to fall victim to such a thing...
Qianye Ying'er would never undo it for him. Killing Qianye Ying'er was even more of a fantasy.
What should she do...
In the oppressive silence, the Dun Yue Immortal Palace flew a great distance. When she was certain they were completely out of anyone's perception range, she moved her mind. The flight path of the Dun Yue Immortal Palace curved, heading straight west.
That was where the Xi Shen Domain lay.
That person...
She might be able to save him...
No, she would definitely be able to save him!!
She closed her eyes, desperately repeating the name that existed in the fragments of her memory... and the forbidden place that no one dared approach.
She would definitely be able to save him... definitely...
She comforted herself over and over, using all her willpower to make herself believe in that faint hope...