“I’m merely stating a fact,” Shi Hao leaned back and said calmly.
His demeanor made Lunar Grace wary. She scrutinized him carefully but found nothing unusual, concluding that he must be deliberately humiliating her.
“Heh heh heh…” Lunar Grace laughed, her voice crisp yet chillingly beautiful. “By my calculations, she should be arriving soon. What a pleasant surprise this will be.”
Hearing this, a glint flashed in Shi Hao’s eyes. He secretly sighed in relief—finally confirming that Qing Yi was unharmed and that the two had not merged.
Unhurried, Lunar Grace retrieved another artifact: a divine chain. She immediately activated it, binding Shi Hao’s body tightly.
This artifact, known as the Dragon-Binding Rope, was famed for its ability to restrain even dragons, making escape impossible. Now embedded in Shi Hao’s flesh, it rendered him powerless to resist.
“Originally meant for Qing Yi, but now I’ll have to use it on you first,” Lunar Grace murmured to herself.
The Soul-Locking Tower and the Dragon-Binding Rope were both legendary treasures, extraordinary and terrifying. Now deployed to seal both body and soul, Lunar Grace was utterly confident—certain he could no longer cause trouble.
“Time to welcome Qing Yi.”
Her divine soul glowed, radiant with multicolored light. A miniature figure, identical to her in every detail, emerged from her brow—lifelike, ethereal, and breathtakingly beautiful.
“Planning to possess me? Want to experience being a man?” Shi Hao taunted.
“Focus on serving your last purpose—burn bright until you turn to ashes!” Lunar Grace retorted coldly, deliberately provoking him.
“Whoosh!”
She plunged directly into Shi Hao’s brow, fearless now. With dozens of seals already in place and the Soul-Locking Tower reinforcing them, his soul was utterly imprisoned.
“Hmm, this body is nearly shattered, but still strong. Though the Dragon-Binding Rope needs loosening, or else it’ll backfire,” Shi Hao spoke—yet the voice was Lunar Grace’s, now controlling his body.
“How does it feel? Such a robust physique must give you new sensations. Any urges? To bathe, perhaps? Or relieve yourself? Experience the differences?” Shi Hao’s voice echoed mockingly.
Lunar Grace stiffened.
Never had she encountered such a “master”—one who should stand above all, yet spoke in such a… baffling manner.
“Men and women are truly different. Don’t you want to try?” Shi Hao continued to egg her on.
“You wretched scoundrel! Disgusting, despicable—you deserve death!” Lunar Grace snapped, veins bulging on her forehead. She had never been so infuriated, itching to crush him with a single slap.
The next moment, she silenced Shi Hao, taking full control of his body.
“Hmm, now we wait for Qing Yi,” Lunar Grace smiled.
She had prepared meticulously—the cave and surrounding mountains bore signs of fierce battle, staged to appear as if both had suffered grievous injuries.
“Failed enlightenment, near-death, then a desperate fight… Is this ruin too excessive?” Lunar Grace frowned, adjusting the battlefield’s traces.
“Soul-Locking Tower—seal!” she commanded.
“What are you—?!” Shi Hao gasped as the pale-blue tower restraining his soul intensified, constellations swirling around it, further imprisoning his spirit.
“Only I can undo this. Pray I capture Qing Yi successfully,” Lunar Grace declared.
Then, silence fell.
Amid the snow, the little rabbit and the Divine Striking Stone gaped in confusion. Where had Shi Hao gone?
Moments ago, his aura had weakened from failed enlightenment—why had he and Qing Yi vanished? He should have been recuperating here.
“Disaster!”
Almost simultaneously, the little rabbit and the Divine Striking Stone cried out, realization dawning.
“That was Lunar Grace?!”
“Damn that treacherous witch! She actually sneaked here!”
They shouted in alarm. Clearly, Lunar Grace had been lurking, waiting for Shi Hao’s moment of vulnerability.
“Swish!”
Suddenly, a stunning figure in white descended upon the snowy peaks.
“Kill!”
The Divine Striking Stone lunged, eyes blazing like the little rabbit’s.
“Stop! I’m Qing Yi. Has something happened to Shi Hao?” the newcomer demanded, her tone urgent with foreboding.
“Liar!” the Divine Striking Stone snarled.
Qing Yi stood firm, letting it approach.
“It’s really you? Damn that little witch tricked us!” the Divine Striking Stone roared in fury.
“Sister Qing Yi, is it truly you?” The little rabbit rushed over, fists clenched, grinding her teeth in anger at being deceived.
“We must save Shi Hao—he’s in danger!” the Divine Striking Stone urged.
“Yes, hurry after her!” the little rabbit echoed.
“Wait,” Qing Yi steadied herself. “Shi Hao isn’t in immediate danger. Her target is me—she’s luring me into a trap.”
She grew calmer, analyzing carefully to avoid falling into the scheme.
“How did she know we were here?” the little rabbit asked.
“We fought recently, briefly merging…” Qing Yi explained.
In that moment, they had glimpsed each other’s secrets. Though of the same origin, at their level, they could self-seal to block mutual perception. Yet during the merge, some truths had been revealed.
After separating, both injured, they retreated.
Qing Yi rushed to find Shi Hao but noticed Lunar Grace heading toward the Array Realm—targeting the little fatty.
“I was misled. She diverted me with a fragment of her soul. Though I realized it, I was too late,” she sighed.
“How vile!” the little rabbit fumed, though she refrained from cursing—Lunar Grace was, after all, Qing Yi’s other half.
“No doubt she’s prepared a ‘gift’ for my arrival,” Qing Yi said coolly.
She soared into the sky, speeding toward a destination.
“Sister Qing Yi, we’ll go with you!”
“No. The final battle will be of souls—our merger. If you’re present, could you strike our united body? She’d only use you against me,” Qing Yi refused.
She vanished swiftly.
“We’ll follow at a distance, ready to assist—but not too close,” the Divine Striking Stone decided.
Qing Yi and Lunar Grace, as primary and secondary selves, shared a mystical link, sensing each other’s whereabouts.
Once, within range, they could read each other’s thoughts. But as their power grew, they learned to block this.
Yet their physical connection remained, requiring careful focus to perceive.
Qing Yi arrived, surveying the majestic snow-peaked mountains adorned with golden cypresses—a breathtaking sight in the frigid realm.
Noticing the battle scars, she frowned. Had Shi Hao broken free?
“Boom!”
A distant clash echoed, though weaker now.
With no choice, Qing Yi sped into the heart of the mountains. In an ancient cave, she found the two—locked in a standoff, both severely wounded.
Shi Hao, already crippled from his failed enlightenment, now teetered on collapse.
“Qing Yi, you’re finally here. She’s yours!” Shi Hao gasped, collapsing to the ground, barely conscious.
Qing Yi advanced step by step toward Lunar Grace. “Failed your scheme? Lost your captive?”
Lunar Grace’s face darkened. She turned, activating a Void-Piercing Talisman to flee.
“Not so fast!” Qing Yi shot after her like a comet.
Seated on the ground, Shi Hao smirked—then lunged, striking at Lunar Grace’s back.
“I knew you were fake. The fleeing Lunar Grace’s soul wasn’t this strong. I expected this ambush!” Qing Yi didn’t turn. Instead, a yellow sealing diagram materialized behind her, slamming into the attacking Shi Hao.
Inside Shi Hao’s body, Lunar Grace’s soul reeled in shock.
So did Shi Hao himself, inwardly groaning, “Qing Yi, must you be so sharp? Couldn’t you have waited a bit longer?”
For at that moment, he too acted—channeling dormant immortal energy to ignite residual flames within, surging toward Lunar Grace’s soul.
These were remnants of the Ten Thousand Daos’ flames from his enlightenment, lingering uncontrollably until now.
The fire, infused with myriad Dao auras, was lethally volatile. Only a mysterious flame coexisting with the Three-Life Copper Coffin in his body kept it in check.
Had he controlled that flame, it would’ve been an even deadlier weapon.
The residual fire, hidden alongside the mysterious flame, had escaped Lunar Grace’s earlier detection.
“Boom!”
The flames erupted—not guided by soul or body, but by the immortal energy—assaulting Lunar Grace’s soul.
Simultaneously, the yellow talisman struck.
“Thud!”
Shi Hao shuddered, unable to dodge. The talisman, enigmatic and unstoppable, sealed him.
The residual fire raged uncontrollably as the talisman’s power surged in, countering both the flames and Lunar Grace’s soul.
“Such a waste! Either force alone could’ve crippled her,” Shi Hao lamented inwardly. Qing Yi’s preemptive strike had clashed with his long-prepared attack.
Lunar Grace cried out, barely escaping Shi Hao’s brow—alive but wounded.
“Stay here!” Qing Yi pursued, intent on subduing the injured soul.
Suddenly, Shi Hao paled. Though his soul was still mostly sealed, he mustered a faint mental warning:
“Be… careful.”
Behind them, Lunar Grace’s true body wheeled back, attacking Qing Yi from the void—her brow blazing with formidable soul power.
“Bang!”
Qing Yi reacted swiftly but still took the hit—coughing blood as she was sent flying.
“Heh heh heh…” Lunar Grace chuckled, standing triumphant. The wounded “soul” from Shi Hao’s brow merged back into her own.
“The legendary Soul Mirror Art—you mastered it?” Qing Yi gasped.
“Barely, enough for one use,” Lunar Grace admitted.
Her true soul had never left her body—the one in Shi Hao was a mirrored projection, temporarily wielding her full power.
“Damn witch!” Shi Hao cursed. Even he had been fooled, let alone Qing Yi.
“Qing Yi, with such injuries, do you really think you can escape? This time, there’s no chance,” Lunar Grace smiled, flawless and in control.
Qing Yi wiped blood from her lips, her snow-white robes fluttering. She remained silent, knowing the situation was dire.
“Whoosh!”
Suddenly, Shi Hao’s brow split—his Immortal Seed shot out, wrapped in immortal energy, streaking toward Lunar Grace.
“What?!” She blanched.
The seed radiated primal chaos energy—each wisp heavy enough to crush mountains.
Lunar Grace slashed the void, fleeing. The seed’s power was too terrifying—direct confrontation would shatter her.
Yet the chaos energy erupted, collapsing space and forcing her back—blood spraying as she was hurled away.
The seed buried itself deep into the earth, leaving a black abyss.
This sudden strike shocked Lunar Grace—she hadn’t expected Shi Hao to still possess such a move.
“Qing Yi… it’s up to you now,” Shi Hao barely transmitted. His brow cracked further—he had no strength left.
Activating the seed had nearly killed him.
Qing Yi gave chase. Unexpectedly, Lunar Grace didn’t flee but charged back. “Let’s end this!”
In a flash, they merged—one body now, their souls clashing violently within.
“You… have a Soul-Nurturing Vase?”
“Is that… a Soul-Slaying Sword?”
“A Soul Chain?!”
Their battle raged—a duel of souls armed with divine treasures.
Eventually, the body stilled, its brow glowing as Lunar Grace’s voice emerged.
“Qing Yi, as the primary, I hold the advantage. Submit!”
A cold snort replied.
“Accept your fate!” Lunar Grace declared, confidence unshaken.
Suddenly, their flawless body ignited—robes burning away to reveal luminous skin.
Shi Hao was yanked forward, pressed against the radiant form.
“Qing Yi, think this will make me retreat? How low you’ve fallen!” Lunar Grace spat.
The next moment, Shi Hao was flung aside as Lunar Grace lashed out.
Yet the snowy figure closed in again, their proximity intimate.
“Ow! Be gentle!”
The whimper was unmistakably Shi Hao’s—deliberately grating, aimed solely at provoking Lunar Grace.
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