The Floating Light Palace attacking her was something Zhao Wumian hadn't anticipated. For a moment, he was stunned, and the wave of fire was already upon him.
He hurriedly activated his ability, enlarging his shield to protect himself and his dozen subordinates.
But he forgot that the Floating Light Palace wasn't emitting ordinary flames; it was the Sun True Fire, condensed from the power of the sun.
It contained the power of metal, and the shield evaporated instantly, disappearing like steam.
The fiery wave surged like the tide, engulfing the spot where he stood. The dozen or so ability users from the Azure Dragon Base all turned to ash.
"Recognizing a master again, why?"
Everyone thought Zhao Wumian would perish in the sea of fire, but then his enraged roar echoed from the sky.
Looking up, Zhao Wumian was in mid-air, facing the Floating Light Palace, his face contorted with fury and gritted teeth.
This was because he saw Mingyue appear at the entrance of the Floating Light Palace, holding Bayi and Baobao by the hand, walking out.
Behind them, the Floating Light Palace, which had been as large as a small mountain, was rapidly shrinking, finally transforming into a beam of light and flying into Baobao's body.
Zhao Wumian finally understood why the Floating Light Palace had lost control and why the wave of fire that attacked him was so powerful.
It was because the Floating Light Palace had recognized Baobao as its master and was thus under her control, attacking him.
Cuiwei recognized Yin Qing as its master, and now the Floating Light Palace recognized Baobao as its master. Both events had disrupted his plans, filling him with rage.
Zhao Wumian was currently standing on a giant feather, multicolored and over ten feet long.
It resembled a phoenix's tail feather or a peacock's plume, floating weightlessly in the air.
It supported Zhao Wumian, who was nearly six feet three inches tall, and seemed to dance effortlessly in the wind.
"Fuyao! Why do you have so many Witch Tribe artifacts? You must explain clearly today, or you will stay here."
Mingyue recognized the feather as a wind-attribute Witch Tribe sacrificial artifact, Fuyao, just like the Floating Light Palace.
The secrets surrounding the Witch Tribe on Zhao Wumian were becoming more numerous. Mingyue was about to make a move to apprehend him and demand an explanation.
"Mingyue, quickly save Old Ji, he's not going to make it!"
Suddenly, Wen Qingtian's shout came from the ground. Mingyue looked down and saw Wen Qingtian frantically smashing at a metal lump, immediately realizing something was wrong.
She ignored Zhao Wumian, instructed Baobao to hold him back, and descended rapidly, landing right beside Wen Qingtian.
"You want to catch me, bad guy, I'll burn you."
Baobao had no memory of Zhao Wumian, but she knew he was the one who had controlled the Floating Light Palace to imprison her.
So, after the Floating Light Palace recognized her as its master, it unleashed the Sun True Fire to burn Zhao Wumian to death.
However, Zhao Wumian escaped the sea of fire at the last moment using Fuyao, which made Baobao very angry.
So, after Mingyue instructed her to stop Zhao Wumian, she immediately flew towards him. Bayi, worried, followed to help.
Mingyue learned that the metal lump before her was Ji Shiyou, encased in metal plating, and her heart was in turmoil.
Her fingers glowed, and she quickly cut away the metal plate encasing Ji Shiyou's head. Seeing the scene within, she immediately shed tears.
Ji Shiyou's head was a bloody mess, crushed into a ball of flesh. His nose and ears were unrecognizable.
Mingyue suppressed her tears, quickly took out a bottle of Water of Life, pried open Ji Shiyou's cracked lips, and poured it all in.
Then, steadying herself, she emitted green light from her hands and channeled it into his head.
She dared not cut away the metal plating from Ji Shiyou's body, because judging by the shape and size of the plating, she knew.
Ji Shiyou's body must have been squeezed into a pulp by the metal.
The moment she cut it away, his body would disintegrate.
With the aid of the Water of Life and her wood-attribute abilities, Ji Shiyou slowly opened his eyes and looked at Mingyue.
"Mingyue, I have something to say."
Ji Shiyou's voice was faint and strained, barely audible to Mingyue. She had to lean close to his mouth.
"Don't speak, I'm saving you. We'll talk about it when you're better."
Mingyue, holding back tears, comforted Ji Shiyou, but her heart was filled with dread.
"Stop. I know I'm not going to make it. I know my body.
I'm holding onto this last breath because there are still things I want to say, things I want to tell you myself."
Ji Shiyou knew he wouldn't survive. His internal organs had been crushed into a paste.
He hadn't yet confessed his love or proposed to Mingyue, and he didn't want to leave any regrets.
So, when he felt he couldn't hold on any longer, he concentrated all his abilities on his head, wanting to keep his mind clear to tell Mingyue what he wanted to say.
"Okay, speak. I'm listening."
Mingyue knew in her heart that Ji Shiyou couldn't be saved, not even with the Water of Life.
He wasn't like Dr. You Hen, who could be resurrected after death. That was because.
Dr. You Hen had taken the Water of Life before he was killed, and its effects had already permeated his entire body.
Ji Shiyou's internal organs had turned to pulp; even with the Water of Life, they couldn't be absorbed.
So, Mingyue, suppressing her grief, forced a smile at Ji Shiyou, allowing him to speak his last words.
"Mingyue, I like you, not because of your cultivation level, nor because you are beautiful.
It's because you possess a simplicity and purity that others in this world lack.
You don't engage in deceit and trickery. Love is love, hate is hate, it's not complicated at all.
You are like a clear spring in ancient times, untouched by the filth of this mortal world.
This is what I wanted to tell you. I was planning to say this when I proposed to you today.
You didn't know I was going to propose today, did you? I wanted to surprise you.
In the pocket of my chest, I also prepared a gift for you.
It seems I won't be able to give it to you myself. I..."
Ji Shiyou's words trailed off as he closed his eyes, his breath gone.
However, a smile graced his bloody and mangled face because he had finally spoken the confession he had spent several nights preparing, just before his death.
Mingyue sat on the ground, her eyes vacant, motionless. Wen Qingtian and the others around her were weeping uncontrollably.
Mingyue felt as if her heart were being sliced by a knife, the pain making it impossible to breathe.
Ever since she had arrived in this world, feeling lost and helpless, it was Ji Shiyou who had made her feel the kindness and warmth of this world.
When the apocalypse began, Ji Shiyou had always been by her side, silently caring for her, supporting her, and providing her with meticulous attention.
Ji Shiyou's love was like a spring breeze and gentle rain, not intense but nurturing.
It healed the pain of losing her kin and leaving her homeland.
It made her feel the warmth of family in this unfamiliar world.
She had grown accustomed to the hot noodle soup Ji Shiyou brought her when she was hungry.
She had also grown used to Ji Shiyou silently taking care of everything for her.
Allowing her to be someone who didn't have to worry about anything.
She had never imagined how she would live without Ji Shiyou.
But now, the only person who had cherished her, doted on her, and loved her.
Was gone. What was she to do?
"Zhao Wumian, I will kill you!"
Mingyue suddenly stood up, her cry a desolate wail. She thought of the first thing she had to do: avenge Ji Shiyou.