Chapter 1313: Wait for Me

Both Zhang Shan and Qinglong were baffled by Qiao Jiajin’s strange actions, but the latter strode forward without a care in the world.

As he passed Qinglong, Qiao Jiajin grinned and waved at him. “Hey, little green guy, don’t get too worked up. We’re off to slay Tianlong!”

“Wait a second—” Zhang Shan quickly ran forward. Under Qinglong’s cautious gaze, he and Qiao Jiajin slowly ascended the steps to Tianlong’s throne.

Qinglong narrowed his eyes as he watched their retreating figures, unsure of their intentions.

Though their brief clash had shown him that these two were reckless brutes with no real strategy, had they truly been intimidated by his “Thunderclap” and changed their minds on the spot?

But their auras…

As the two drew closer to Tianlong, Qinglong suddenly felt something was off. “Wait—”

No sooner had he spoken than Qiao Jiajin yanked Zhang Shan into a sprint.

Qinglong was about to leap after them but hesitated and remained in place.

Qiao Jiajin and Zhang Shan dashed to either side of Tianlong’s throne, standing guard before turning back.

“Little green guy!” Qiao Jiajin bellowed from beside Tianlong. “I changed my mind! Whatcha gonna do about it?”

Qinglong’s expression darkened instantly. Sooner or later, these two would realize—he had been carrying an enormous burden throughout this battle in this room.

“Go ahead, strike! Take little red guy with us, and we’ll all die together.” Qiao Jiajin shrugged nonchalantly. “Since I can’t dodge, might as well share the pain.”

Qinglong glared at them and halted his movements, though the dark clouds above him remained churning.

“You’ve got some nerve, tattoo boy…” Zhang Shan chuckled. “But what now?”

“Beats me.” Qiao Jiajin shook his head. “This little green guy’s like the ‘Terminator’—no ordinary method works. Let’s just focus on staying alive.”

“The ‘Terminator’…?” Zhang Shan nodded. “With thunder strikes and self-healing, he’s even scarier.”

The three stood motionless, locked in a stalemate.

If Qiao Jiajin and Zhang Shan moved, they’d face a lethal attack, while Qinglong knew they wouldn’t harm Tianlong. The situation was deadlocked.

“Dragging this out only means your loss,” Qinglong said. “Do you plan to wait forever?”

Qiao Jiajin nodded. “Little green guy, even if waiting means we lose, you can’t win either, right? In a tie, it’s all about who’s more patient.”

Qinglong was thoroughly agitated by these two. This was likely his best chance to kill Tianlong.

If he missed this opportunity… would he have to wait decades?

Even if these two didn’t strike Tianlong, he could still kill them first, sever the brief connection of his “Twin Blossoms,” and slay Tianlong himself.

Afterward, he could pin Tianlong’s death on these two—making everything seem perfectly logical.

This scheme could deceive his own “Conviction” and all the “Celestials” and “Terrestrials.”

It was the optimal solution Qinglong could think of, but killing Tianlong would take time, so he needed to deal with these two immediately.

A faint glimmer of thought flashed in Qinglong’s eyes, now glowing pale green. Sensing danger, Qiao Jiajin blurted, “Hey! Qinglong—no cheating!”

Qinglong remained expressionless as a white radiance flickered over him, but his emerald eyes stayed unchanged.

Qiao Jiajin paused, realizing his words weren’t enough, and hastily added, “Qinglong, you’re not allowed to do anything.”

But this provoked no reaction. No new light shone from Qinglong’s body—as if the effects of “Nullify All Laws” had already reached their limit.

“Pity… you still haven’t learned…” Qinglong chuckled softly and began advancing.

Both Qiao Jiajin and Zhang Shan frowned, their legs involuntarily carrying them down the steps, step by step.

The distance between them closed rapidly.

“Tianlong doesn’t have ‘Heavenly Vigor,'” Qinglong said with a smirk. “This time, let’s make sure the ‘Thunderclap’ only strikes the three of us, alright?”

Their eyes widened in horror, but they were powerless against the overwhelming force of “Soul Snatcher.”

Soon, the three stood face-to-face at the base of the steps, the swirling thunderclouds now directly above them.

Arcs of lightning flickered within the clouds. If the bolt struck now, only Zhang Shan’s “Heavenly Vigor” could withstand it.

They should have realized this earlier—once Qinglong unleashed his “Divine Arts,” the battle would end swiftly.

Even with “Heavenly Vigor,” “Nullify All Laws,” and “Twin Blossoms,” their only weapon was their fists, while Qinglong’s methods were far more varied.

Qiao Jiajin gritted his teeth and tried moving his limbs, but his body no longer obeyed him. He felt like a puppet with a human brain—able to think but not act on his will.

To ensure they couldn’t escape, Qinglong would maintain “Soul Snatcher” until the lightning struck.

Now, it was a contest of whose “Heavenly Vigor” could recover faster—like two boxers knocked down, the first to rise would win. A pure battle of “Conviction.”

Qiao Jiajin glanced sideways at Zhang Shan. He knew Zhang Shan’s mastery of “Heavenly Vigor” was slightly inferior to Qinglong’s—recovering two bodies under such conditions would be a monumental task.

“Big guy, can you handle it?” Qiao Jiajin asked. “Lightning looks pretty intense.”

“Never tried,” Zhang Shan replied casually. “If I survive, I’ll brag about it. If not, I die.”

“Stay strong, big guy.” Qiao Jiajin racked his brain for encouragement. “You said you’re tough against hits!”

Zhang Shan rolled his eyes upward at the thundercloud. “You… call *this* a ‘hit’?”

“Just pretend it is,” Qiao Jiajin said. “A strike’s a strike, right?”

Qinglong’s eyes turned icy as he raised a hand toward the sky. The thunderclouds surged violently, as if awakened.

“Come… let’s see whose ‘Heavenly Vigor’ is stronger…”

Qinglong grinned slowly as the lightning above flared brilliantly.

Qiao Jiajin and Zhang Shan struggled desperately, but their bodies remained unresponsive.

A crushing aura of death descended upon them.

Just as the “Thunderclap” was about to strike, a woman’s voice inexplicably echoed in Qinglong’s mind:

*”Qinglong, wait for me.”*

The fleeting thought shattered his “Conviction,” and “Soul Snatcher” momentarily faltered.

Both Zhang Shan and Qiao Jiajin, seasoned fighters, seized the split-second gap. As the deafening thunder roared, they leaped aside.

But the release of “Soul Snatcher” came a fraction too late—their legs were instantly charred by the searing lightning, while Qinglong himself was struck head-on.