Chapter 1317: Clear Obstacles

The two of them clearly felt that Qinglong’s condition had changed, but they couldn't quite put their finger on what exactly was different.

"I mean... with one punch each from you and me, it looks like we've knocked him silly," Qiaojiajin said.

"I think so too."

"I've got an idea." Qiaojiajin turned to look at Zhangshan.

"What is it?"

"Him being like this isn't going to work." Qiaojiajin said with a smile, "Let's beat him awake."

"Good idea, let's do it." Zhangshan rolled his shoulders and started walking forward.

The two approached from left and right, facing the increasingly silent Qinglong, and both raised their right fists.

Qinglong slowly lifted his head and looked at them expressionlessly: "Once I clear the obstacles... I can win this battle."

"Obstacles...?" Zhangshan furrowed his brow, not understanding what Qinglong was talking about.

But there was no time to delay—this was the best chance to take down Qinglong. The two of them lunged forward, throwing straight punches at his face and heart.

In the next instant, Qinglong vanished from sight as expected.

Their punches hit the wall instead. They had anticipated this and quickly turned around to stay on guard.

Strangely, there was no sign of Qinglong in the entire room, only Tianlong in the distance with a slight frown, and scattered bloody footprints on the floor.

"What's going on...?" Qiaojiajin turned back to Zhangshan, asking uncertainly, "Did that little green guy make his threats and then run off?"

"This..."

Zhangshan had never imagined such a scenario—Qinglong had actually left Tianlong behind and taken off on his own.

So, what should they do now? Go after Tianlong...?

"No, we can't touch Tianlong," Zhangshan said. "Let's get out and find him!"

"Alright!"

The two finalized their plan and hurried to the door, casually reaching out to pull it open.

But all they saw in the doorframe was a bare wall—no passage at all.

...

A multitude of "Lü Yi" began gathering at the "Chetou."

Almost no "Tian Ji" could be found on the vehicle anymore, but the "Yan Qiu" was still there. Its owner seemed to have some self-protection methods, though not as deadly as a "Shen Shou"—clearly, it was just a "Tian Ji."

They all lifted their vacant eyes and stared ahead. In the black void, three faintly glowing spheres floated, but when they reached out, they only touched bone and flesh.

One "Lü Yi" frowned in thought for a moment, then decisively extended its hand and stabbed into the bone and flesh. Hot blood instantly splashed onto its arm.

From the deepest part of the room, Xiaoran let out a scream, but her piercing cry didn't reach the ears of any "Lü Yi."

The "Lü Yi" that had pierced Xiaoran's palm received a clear message at that moment—this thing was alive, and the person's body was extremely fragile.

This person was carrying the "Yan Qiu," hiding in the room, likely a cowardly "Tian Ji." It wouldn't be hard to kill.

Not knowing how to alert the others, the "Lü Yi" simply continued attacking Xiaoran's palm on its own. Unbeknownst to it, many other "Lü Yi" nearby, after brief contemplation, started doing the same.

Xiaoran felt as if countless iron needles were stabbing into her palm, the pain intense, but with such a massive palm, she had no way to evade it. She could only keep screaming.

Her tears ruined her makeup completely, and her voice echoed through the room.

The "Lü Yi" could sense the obstacle in front of them shrinking, as if it would soon completely collapse. But in the next second, five "Yan Qiu" suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

These five "Yan Qiu" were arranged differently from the "Tian Ji" in the room, seemingly positioned at the heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys of a person. Their glow was also much brighter than the "Tian Ji" in the room.

More and more "Lü Yi" were drawn to the five "Yan Qiu," as they were so close, almost within reach. They gradually stopped their assault on the massive bone and flesh and turned toward these newly appeared spheres.

Qinglong stared at the "Lü Yi" gathered at his room's entrance, his face dark with anger: "Qixia... you've really gone all out..."

With a light wave of his hand, the "Lü Yi" in front of him were flung back by a tremendous force.

"These 'Lü Yi' among 'Lü Yi'..." Qinglong said angrily, "Once I deal with these nuisances, I'll make you feel what it means to never rise again."

Qinglong turned his head and glanced at the massive palm in the room, a flicker of confusion crossing his expression.

The furniture in the room had all been crushed, and a few "Lü Yi" were pinned against the wall by the palm.

But what on earth was happening?

"Qinglong... is that you, Qinglong?!" The screams from inside the room turned into cries for help. "I'm here! I'm at the very back!"

Qinglong's expression turned cold, and he swiftly waved his hand, cutting a path through the center of Xiaoran's massive palm.

"Ahhhhhh!"

Xiaoran felt a pain more intense than all the previous stabs combined. Her "belief" rapidly faded, and her right hand shrank back like a deflated ball.

She looked at her palm and saw that the entire center was mangled and bloody, with a coin-sized gash in the middle.

"Qing... Qinglong... what's wrong with you..." Xiaoran held her bleeding palm and forced a smile. "Don't you recognize me... It's me..."

Qinglong's face was full of fury, but he slowly forced a smile: "How could I not recognize you...?"

"Th-That's great..." Xiaoran said. "You have no idea how much I've suffered just to see you... I didn't know how to restore this palm earlier, but luckily you helped... I knew if I waited here, I'd see you..."

In an instant, Qinglong flashed in front of her, grabbed her neck, and lifted her off the ground: "It's this voice. You... what exactly are you?"

"Qing... Qinglong... Don't you remember..." Xiaoran gasped for air. "R-Right... Tianshe told me to tell you... 'Jia Zuo Yi Wan Cheng'... It's me!"

Qinglong narrowed his eyes slightly. Indeed, if not for that phrase "Jia Zuo Yi Wan Cheng," he might have forgotten all about it.

"A new 'Shen Shou'?" Qinglong asked, gripping her neck tightly.

"Yes! I'm the new 'Shen Shou'!" Xiaoran replied hastily. "I'm 'Qiong Qi'! Qing... Qinglong... Are you in a bad mood... Let go of my neck first..."

Qinglong showed no sign of releasing her, his eyes full of suspicion: "But a name like 'Qiong Qi' only brings disaster."

"N-No, it's not like that... Tianshe chose that name, not me..." Xiaoran denied. "And along the way, I've helped you deal with a lot of things... At least put me down first..."

"No need." Qinglong tightened his grip as he spoke. "I can't stand your voice—it's like a death knell."

"Don't... don't..." Xiaoran said through tears. "Qinglong... I'm truly loyal to you. Even if you kill me here and I become a wandering ghost, I'll still help you... Then you'll know just how devoted I am..."