Chapter 1140: "Hey!"

Tai!

Su Shan was startled and looked toward Song Qi.

She felt that the other party had misunderstood her intention—sending someone who could ignite themselves into Xuanwu's body sounded like dropping a powerful bomb into that unknown space.

"I just want to explore a bit... maybe..." Su Shan tried to say more, but Song Qi shook his head.

"We don't have time for exploration," Song Qi said. "Burrowing into Xuanwu's body is such an absurd act that we might only get one chance at it. Even if you investigate and find results, aside from whether you can get out of her body, we won't be able to enter again anyway."

"But..." Su Shan still thought the situation seemed unreliable.

"Our goal is to kill Xuanwu," Song Qi said again. "Even if that space is full of countless treasures waiting for us, we can't afford any mistakes."

"Alright..." Su Shan nodded. "Where is that person who can ignite themselves that you mentioned...? Can I say a few words to her before she enters Xuanwu's body?"

"You can." Song Qi nodded, then curved his index finger to his mouth and blew a whistle.

On the ground, Chi Yan Qiu Shiliu turned her head toward the roof after hearing it, giving Song Qi a look that said "command received," then turned to look at Su Shan.

Once Su Shan confirmed the target, she grabbed a nearby rope and quickly descended, went up to Qiu Shiliu, took her arm, and led her aside. The two began whispering.

The people engaged in close combat with Xuanwu saw this and realized that Song Qi had assigned a special task to Qiu Shiliu alone. All they had to do next was buy time until Qiu Shiliu was ready for the next surprise attack.

Unfortunately, the ground team's attacks could only barely count as "buying time," since Xuanwu wasn't making any moves and was just letting all the attacks land on her.

"You all..." Xuanwu slowly spoke amid the chaotic assaults, "have already resorted to such tactics?"

"Oh ho." Luo Shiyi wiped the sweat from his face and forced a laugh. "Aren't we just giving you a break in the middle?"

"I've endured this kind of attack too many times." Xuanwu stepped forward, forcing the crowd in front of her to retreat a step. "I thought your strength went beyond this, but now you have no countermeasures?"

The group naturally didn't want to answer such a deadly question. If they admitted they couldn't harm Xuanwu, according to the pre-battle rules, it would be her turn to attack.

"Actually, we're preparing other tactics," Luo Shiyi said honestly. "We're just pretending to fight you so the scene doesn't get too awkward while you're idle. How did you take it seriously?"

"I said, don't try to stall me." Xuanwu advanced again. "If you can't come up with something more effective to kill me, then it's my turn."

Jiang Shi, squatting nearby, sensed that things were getting dicey—it had felt off since earlier.

In this close-combat scene, although Jiang Shi was present, his role was only to help others block damage. Now that Xuanwu wasn't attacking, Jiang Shi had no purpose.

If Xuanwu wasn't fighting back and he wasn't getting hit, he became the biggest burden on the field.

As the Zhongyan Zhidi first in withstanding beatings, he now seemed completely useless.

If anyone could stall for time again at this point... wouldn't that have to be him?

"The original kind of Qilin in the heavens, how can the ants in the holes escape? When the decree of peace returns, I and the master..."

Jiang Shi slowly stood up, clapping his hands together as if striking a sounding block.

"...will resolve the battle robes."

Xuanwu slowly turned her head, looking with her nonexistent eyes at the skinny little boy in front of her.

"Xuanwu, let's make a bet," Jiang Shi said. "If you take out my heart, I won't die."

Wang Ba was stunned and turned back to look at Jiang Shi: "Little Jiang Shi... you spoke too soon; it's not time yet!"

"Shi gege!" Luo Shiyi also said, "Fifth brother hasn't arrived yet; you can't..."

"Ah... it's fine." Jiang Shi waved his hand. "This is just my duty anyway. All of you step back; I'll handle the remaining time alone."

"This..." Luo Shiyi and Wang Ba exchanged glances, then looked up toward Song Qi on high.

"Don't look at Qi gege," Jiang Shi said. "If I hold out for five minutes, Qi gege can hold for another five. Isn't ten minutes enough?"

"Has it come to this...?" Luo Shiyi frowned, knowing there was no better option right now.

They could only hope Qiu Shiliu's special move would hurt Xuanwu; otherwise, the group would run out of strength before killing her, let alone the upcoming Zhuque.

Xuanwu was clearly interested in Jiang Shi's claim.

"Remove your heart, and you won't die?" she confirmed.

"Exactly!" Jiang Shi replied. "You, this haoyue demon, don't act so arrogant. Just watch me..."

Before he could finish, Xuanwu raised her left hand, and in an instant, she was holding a small heart.

"How strange... today I've met two people who won't die even if their hearts are removed." Xuanwu looked at the heart in her hand. "Could it be that I can no longer kill anyone...?"

Jiang Shi paused for a second, then suddenly spat out a large mouthful of fresh blood.

The people nearby were all shocked and rushed to support him, but he waved them off.

"Cough..." Jiang Shi coughed a few times before coming to his senses. "How could this happen... I hadn't even finished my tough talk, and you took my heart. You're not taking me seriously at all..."

"How strange." Xuanwu nodded. "You really are still alive... How is that possible?"

"Tai! Cough cough cough..." Jiang Shi shouted while coughing, "You demon are way too arrogant! Now you know my power, right?! Even if my heart is gone..."

Xuanwu didn't respond and simply reached out to crush Jiang Shi's heart.

Jiang Shi instantly writhed on the ground in pain, his earlier momentum vanishing in an instant as his childish cries echoed across the quiet square.

"Shiyi gege..." Chuan Suo Cui Shisi said, "Do you want to use Wang You to help Shi gege...?"

"Don't!!" Jiang Shi rolled on the ground three times, then shakily raised his hand to stop everyone. "This was my own decision... Don't use others' beliefs!"

Jiang Shi gritted his teeth and stood up, clutching his chest with tears welling in his eyes.

"Shi, Shi gege..." Luo Shiyi said with an awkward smile, "Are you really okay? You look like you're about to cry..."

"Don't talk nonsense; how could I cry...?" Jiang Shi denied it through his tears. "I was just yawning earlier!"