After spending so much time together, in Nie Li's heart, Ye Zong had become like a father to him.
Ye Zong endured the pain through sheer will. Even with one arm severed and his throat crushed, an aura of indomitable majesty still radiated from his body.
"Nie Li, don't worry about me! Even if you have to give it everything you've got, kill him! If you do, even from the Yellow Springs I can rest in peace!" Ye Zong said in a deep, solemn voice. His gaze swept past
Seeing her father in such pain, tears slid down Ye Ziyun's cheeks. She remembered when she was a child, how her father would hold her hand and gaze at the morning glow in the distance.
"Yun'er, do you know? The City of Radiance is our only home. Countless ancestors gave their lives to protect it. Their blood forged the glory of the Wind Snow Family, and you should be proud of them. If one day the City of Radiance falls into danger, then I too would give my life without a moment's hesitation."
Back then, young Ye Ziyun hadn't understood the weight of those words. It was only after growing up that she gradually came to understand, and so she had strived to become stronger, to stand by her father's side. Eventually, she had broken through into the Legendary realm. But now, all she could do was watch her father suffer.
The Demon Lord laughed wildly. "Ye Zong, did you really think you could kill me in my current state? Hand over that Demon Spirit Stone, or else — forget about you, everyone else will die too!" With that, one of the Demon Lord's massive arms grabbed Ye Zong's left arm and tore it clean off.
Both of Ye Zong's arms were severed. His face twisted in agony.
Ye Zong's suffering only made the Demon Lord more excited. He gripped Ye Zong's throat and squeezed harder. With just a little more force, Ye Zong could be killed at any moment!
Seeing her father's life hanging by a thread,
The Demon Lord sneered. "Toss the Demon Spirit Stone over!"
"Release him first," Ye Mo said in a grim voice.
The Demon Lord grinned sinisterly. "Ye Mo, you still don't understand the situation, do you? You have no choice! If you don't throw the stone, I'll kill Ye Zong first, then rip it from your hands — and what will you do about it?" He pressed harder. Blood poured from the stumps of Ye Zong's arms. If they didn't act soon, it would be too late!
Ye Mo's eyes nearly cracked from fury. Though he had always been strict with Ye Zong, in his heart, Ye Zong was the one he was most proud of. Watching his son tortured like this, he would rather it were himself!
"Here's your Demon Spirit Stone!" Ye Mo hurled it over.
Snap!
The Demon Lord caught the stone in his hand and confirmed it was genuine.
"Now let Ye Zong go!" Ye Mo clenched his fists, ready to fight at a moment's notice.
"Of course, I'll return him to you!" A cruel, grotesque smile spread across the Demon Lord's face. One of his massive arms plunged into Ye Zong's chest. Blood sprayed everywhere. The Demon Lord licked the blood from his cheek. "Tsk tsk, what a fine scent! Ye Mo, we've been at each other's throats for decades, and today your son dies at my hands. But he won't be lonely for long — I'll come for your life next, so you can reunite in the Yellow Springs!"
At the very instant the Demon Lord's arm pierced Ye Zong's chest, a look of resolute determination crossed Ye Zong's face. His bloodline erupted in an instant. A violent surge of power exploded outward from his body in every direction.
A bone-piercing cold radiated out, instantly freezing the surrounding air solid.
"Nie Li, take care of Yun'er for me!" A serene smile appeared on Ye Zong's face. In his heart, he was satisfied with Nie Li. To be able to entrust his daughter to someone trustworthy in his lifetime — that was enough.
Ye Zong's physical body shattered into ice with a thunderous boom, and a terrifying wave of icy shards surged toward the Demon Lord.
Boom!
Two of the Demon Lord's massive arms were blown apart. He let out a bloodcurdling scream. "Damn you ants — you dare wound me even as you die!" The Demon Lord raged. Ye Zong's self-sacrifice technique had dealt him a devastating blow.
"Father!" Ye Ziyun screamed, her heart rending apart.
"Ye Zong…" Ye Mo froze. He couldn't process the blow — he had never imagined Ye Zong would die.
Everyone nearby stood in stunned silence. They hadn't expected the Demon Lord to still kill Ye Zong after receiving the Demon Spirit Stone.
The Demon Lord had already decided — regardless of whether Ye Mo handed over the stone, he would kill Ye Zong either way!
Ye Zong had unleashed the Wind Snow Family's self-destruction technique. Once activated, even one's soul would be utterly annihilated. Watching Ye Zong's body disintegrate into ice, Nie Li's eyes turned bloodshot, his chest filling with rage. He couldn't believe the Demon Lord would still murder Ye Zong in such a manner — completely devoid of reason or mercy.
Nie Li's face was covered in a mask of frost. A terrifying killing intent radiated outward from him. The Heavenly Meteor Thunder God Sword in his hands blazed with searing light as countless pillars of lightning converged upon the blade.
The radiance illuminated Nie Li's face, tears still glistening in his eyes.
Countless memories of Ye Zong flashed through his mind — from their first meeting, when they had come to blows, to the gradual shift in Ye Zong's attitude as he slowly accepted the bond between Nie Li and Ye Ziyun. In Nie Li's heart, though Ye Zong had often worn a stern expression, he was truly a kind and loving father.
Ye Zong's voice and smile remained etched in his mind.