Seeing the murderous intent in Ji Shiyou's eyes, Mingyue covered her mouth.
She had been so engrossed in the story that she had forgotten herself.
She had blurted out that Jing Jia had already been killed by them.
Mingyue prayed inwardly that Luo Qi was lost in his memories.
He hadn't heard what she said, or if he had, he hadn't paid attention.
"What did you say? Jing Jia's vengeful spirit has already been killed by you?"
But that was just her self-deception. Luo Qi's roar echoed through the Purple Gold Palace.
Jing Jia's vengeful spirit being refined by the dan fire was, to Luo Qi.
An earth-shattering catastrophe. He had waited for a hundred years, planned for a hundred years.
Everything he had done was to wait for the man in black.
To bring back Jing Jia's vengeful spirit for resurrection. That was his only wish.
Now, he suddenly learned that Jing Jia's vengeful spirit was destroyed.
This turned Luo Qi's wait into an illusion, and his world collapsed.
He no longer needed to verify; Mingyue and Ji Shiyou's reactions.
Had already told him it was the truth.
Jing Jia was gone forever, vanished.
Never to return, never to be resurrected, never to be seen again!
"Why?
Why?
Why?
..."
Luo Qi went mad, falling from his chair.
Like a helpless child, he kept muttering "why" in a low voice.
He looked at the golden hairpin, tears streaming from his eyes.
Luo Qi fell to the ground, his voice growing louder and louder, until he was hoarse.
Mingyue and Ji Shiyou, within the golden lotus, watched the outside cautiously.
They feared that Luo Qi, resentful of them for refining Jing Jia, would suddenly attack them.
This golden lotus was the ultimate form of the golden crown; they had exhausted all their options.
If Luo Qi had any more tricks, they would be powerless to resist.
As the two trembled and guarded themselves, they saw Luo Qi open his mouth and spit out a pink, egg-sized pearl.
It was his inner core, containing two thousand years of his cultivation.
The inner core spun in the air and finally landed in his left hand.
Seeing this, Ji Shiyou immediately pulled Mingyue into his arms.
He used his own body to shield Mingyue.
Luo Qi had even taken out his inner core; he would surely launch his fiercest attack next.
To take their lives and avenge Jing Jia.
Ji Shiyou now had only one thought.
That as long as he was alive, he would not let Mingyue get hurt.
He would never let Mingyue suffer a direct attack. He believed this was a man's responsibility.
Even now, he still didn't admit it.
In his heart, Mingyue had already become someone he would protect with his life.
Suddenly being held by Ji Shiyou, Mingyue was a little stunned.
She had been staring at Luo Qi, curious about what he would do next after taking out his inner core.
But she was tightly held by Ji Shiyou, her view blocked.
She could only stretch her neck, looking over Ji Shiyou's shoulder in Luo Qi's direction.
Fortunately, she was in Ji Shiyou's body now, which was tall.
If it were her own body, she might have broken her neck.
Mingyue didn't realize at all how intimate their current pose was.
Ji Shiyou held her, her chin resting on his shoulder.
Their bodies were pressed tightly together, their breaths audible.
"Wow, it exploded!"
Mingyue whispered into Ji Shiyou's ear, making Ji Shiyou think.
Luo Qi had launched an attack, and he reached out to press Mingyue's head under his shoulder.
He feared that his small stature wouldn't be enough to shield Mingyue completely, and she might get hurt.
"What are you doing? You're crazy.
You're just delaying my enjoyment. Luo Qi shattered his own inner core."
Mingyue struggled with all her might, pushing away Ji Shiyou's hand from the back of her head.
Then she pushed Ji Shiyou away, saying unhappily.
She had just seen Luo Qi shatter his inner core with a palm strike, right at the crucial moment.
She had been interrupted by Ji Shiyou and was very displeased.
Ji Shiyou turned his head and saw Luo Qi's pale face.
He lay weakly on the ground, his true essence constantly draining.
It looked like he would revert to his original form at any moment.
He hadn't attacked them as Ji Shiyou had imagined.
Realizing his abruptness, he quickly released his arm holding Mingyue.
"Jing Jia, since you are gone, what is the meaning of my life?
You were annihilated to protect me, turning into nothingness.
I lived for a hundred years thinking of resurrecting you.
In the end, it was like grasping at the moon in the water, or flowers in the mist.
If I had known this, I should have gone with you back then.
Even if my soul was scattered, like you, turning into a vengeful spirit.
It would have been better than being alone, waiting in the depths of this pool for a hundred years.
I regret so much, regretting wasting a hundred years here.
Since you cannot be resurrected, what else do I have to live for in this world?"
Luo Qi's human form was becoming faint, flickering with his original form from time to time.
He had shattered his inner core and dispersed two thousand years of cultivation.
He could no longer maintain his human form and was about to revert to his original form as a purple-gold clam.
He shouted to the sky, not knowing.
Whether he was speaking to the vanished Jing Jia or to himself.
Then, raising his right hand holding the golden hairpin.
He fiercely thrust it into his own brow.
That was his weak point, his fatal flaw.
Once struck, he would, like Jing Jia.
Disappear forever from this world!
Luo Qi, his spirit utterly broken, under the watchful eyes of Ji Shiyou and Mingyue.
Ended his own life without regret, choosing the most brutal method.
Completely vanished, his soul scattered, not entering reincarnation.
He wanted to accompany Jing Jia forever in this way.
Luo Qi died of a broken heart, leaving behind no trace of his original form.
The soul-searching light waves surrounding the golden crown lost their source of power.
They gradually faded and finally disappeared.
Ji Shiyou made a gesture, and the golden lotus transformed back into a small golden crown, which he pocketed.
"He just disappeared like that! Do you think we killed him?
Although we came here to kill him.
His and Jing Jia's story was quite touching.
Seeing him die like this, I feel a little reluctant.
But then again, he killed so many people for his selfish desire.
So I can't pity him. Ji Shiyou, let me tell you.
If I hadn't revealed the news of Jing Jia's death, Luo Qi wouldn't have died of a broken heart.
Therefore, Luo Qi was killed by me. And so, everything here.
Is my loot. Don't you dare try to snatch it from me!"
Mingyue snatched the golden crown from Ji Shiyou's hand.
She put it back on her head and then declared her sovereignty over the Purple Gold Palace to Ji Shiyou.
Even close brothers settle their accounts!
This Purple Gold Palace was formed from Luo Qi's clam shell, a treasure of treasures.
Moreover, the furnishings and pearls within were priceless.
What if Ji Shiyou tried to snatch it from her?
She would die of heartache if she had to give away even one pearl.
"Money-grubber, no one is like you."
Ji Shiyou couldn't stand Mingyue's greedy expression. He turned and pushed open the door of the Purple Gold Palace.
Outside were dozens of vengeful spirits he had sealed; he had to get rid of them.
Otherwise, without Luo Qi's restraint, these vengeful spirits would harm the world.
Besides, they had been at the bottom of the pool for most of the day.
If they didn't go up soon, he feared Tian Jian and the others would worry.
Without Luo Qi's control, the Purple Gold Palace was just ownerless.
All restrictions were lifted, and Ji Shiyou's cultivation was restored.
He pushed open the door effortlessly and refined all the vengeful spirits with his dan fire.
He looked back and saw Mingyue facing the majestic Purple Gold Palace.
Her face was wrinkled like a bitter melon; the joy of suddenly becoming rich had completely vanished.
"What's wrong?"
Ji Shiyou walked over and asked, puzzled.
"It's too big, I can't take it with me.
If I leave it here, I'm still reluctant.
How about I don't leave, and just live here?
That way, I'll feel a little better!"
Mingyue said with a mournful face, aggrieved.