*BOOM!* Lightning streaked through the air, and thunder blasts sent blood spraying from the Gold-rank Demon Beast.
The Gold-rank Demon Beast had taken a heavy blow. It stumbled back several steps and let out a furious roar, then opened its massive jaws and lunged at
The ice-and-snow power instantly dropped the surrounding temperature by several degrees, making Xiao Ning'er's body stiffen.
A Gold Five Star Wind Snow Giant Lizard — that bloodlust aura bore down on Xiao Ning'er with crushing intensity.
Xiao Ning'er struggled to chant silently, channeling her Soul Power. Several lightning bolts materialized out of thin air around her and shot toward the Gold-rank Demon Beast.
*Thud! Thud! Thud!*
Three lightning bolts pierced clean through the Wind Snow Giant Lizard's body. Blood sprayed everywhere and the beast screamed in agony, but it didn't stop — it kept charging straight at Xiao Ning'er.
These Demon Beasts seemed to have gone completely mad, paying no regard to their own lives. The Wind Snow Giant Lizard's attack speed was too fast. She scrambled to dodge to the side, but with a resounding *crash*, the Wind Snow Giant Lizard slammed into Xiao Ning'er, severely injuring her and sending her flying.
The Wind Snow Giant Lizard raised its front claw and stomped down toward
*No — Nie Li is in danger!*
Seeing this, Xiao Ning'er immediately burned through her remaining Soul Power, transforming it into a chain of lightning that bound the Wind Snow Giant Lizard's front claw tight.
Xiao Ning'er was frantic. She had already exhausted every last bit of her strength, but this Wind Snow Giant Lizard was far too powerful — completely beyond what she could handle. Yet Nie Li still sat cross-legged in meditation, and she had no idea when he would recover. She couldn't hold on any longer. With her Soul Power completely drained, a thin line of blood trickled from the corner of her mouth and her internal organs suffered devastating damage.
"No matter what happens, I won't let you hurt Nie Li," Xiao Ning'er said, her gaze unwavering. She forced herself to drive her Soul Sea, burning through every last drop of Soul Power, and with sheer willpower alone fought to keep the lightning chain intact.
But the lightning chain was about to shatter.
Just as the Wind Snow Giant Lizard's claw was about to land on Nie Li, his eyes snapped open. The Soul Power that had been flooding into his dantian had all been absorbed by his Soul Sea, expanding it by more than double.
His Soul Power had undergone a qualitative transformation. Nie Li had finally stepped into the Gold Two Star rank.
Feeling the changes in his body at the Gold Two Star level, Nie Li was filled with elation. He hadn't expected that he could absorb the Soul Power released by dying Demon Beasts, completing his breakthrough.
Nie Li flicked his right hand and the Scarlet Flame Flying Knife appeared in his grip. He flung it forward. *BOOM!* The blade struck the Wind Snow Giant Lizard's claw, punching clean through its entire arm, then boring into its skull and shooting out the back of its head.
*Arooo!*
The Wind Snow Giant Lizard let out a mournful wail and crashed heavily to the ground, blood pooling everywhere.
Now at Gold Two Star, the Scarlet Flame Flying Knife felt far more natural in Nie Li's hands. Its power was astonishing — it had pierced straight through a Gold Five Star Demon Beast!
Nie Li moved his right hand again, and the Scarlet Flame Flying Knife flew back to him. He looked toward
Ye Ziyun had been fighting a desperate battle. Without warning, both Gold-rank Demon Beasts plummeted off the city wall. The sudden turn caught her off guard. She glanced at Nie Li and understood what had happened.
Two orbs of light — one black, one white — detonated beside them. The devastating shockwave instantly swallowed both Gold-rank Demon Beasts whole.
Only then could Ye Ziyun breathe a sigh of relief. She drifted slowly back down and gazed into the distance, where she saw Nie Li cradling the gravely wounded Xiao Ning'er in his arms, pouring Soul Power into her body to heal her injuries.
The setting sun spilled its golden light across them both, painting Nie Li and Xiao Ning'er in a warm glow. On this death-strewn battlefield, the scene was breathtakingly beautiful — so radiant, so perfect.
What a wonderful couple.
For reasons she couldn't explain, the sight sent a faint pang through Ye Ziyun's chest. She stared, momentarily lost in a daze.
"Ning'er would give everything for you without a second thought. She loves you so deeply — and what am I to you? There's nothing between us that profound, nothing that unforgettable. What right do I have to take you away from her?" Ye Ziyun's eyes glistened with tears. It felt as though her heart was being ripped apart. After a long, long moment, she quietly wiped the tears from her face. "Nie Li, from now on, let's just be friends. Both you and Ning'er are my dearest friends. Please take good care of Ning'er."
She murmured these words to herself, watching Nie Li and Xiao Ning'er, then thought of her own solitary figure. Perhaps she was simply destined to be alone. She was the City Lord's daughter, burdened since childhood with far too many responsibilities. She had to protect the
From this moment on, she resolved to bury her feelings for Nie Li deep within her heart. But for reasons she still couldn't understand, a quiet, lingering pain throbbed there.
Nie Li channeled Soul Power into Ning'er's body, gently soothing her damaged meridians. After a moment, Ning'er let out a soft whimper and slowly opened her eyes.