Bai Ze knew his chances of survival were slim at this moment, but he didn't care. If it meant harming his beloved, he wouldn't hesitate to perish with the enemy!
"Die!"
Bai Ze wielded a broken sword, unleashing the last vestiges of his spiritual power.
The giant monster, seeing the suicidal fool before him, let out a booming laugh through its four massive mouths.
Its laughter shook the heavens and earth.
"Hahaha... a presumptuous fool!"
As if watching a clown, the giant monster paused its colossal hand just as it was about to crush Bai Ze.
It seemed to find amusement in the clown facing certain death, and the giant monster felt a desire to toy with Bai Ze.
A massive finger tapped Bai Ze's head, refraining from striking.
The giant monster was enveloped in four different colored spiritual fires that swirled around it.
They seemed to await its command.
"Fool, I never imagined you to be a man of deep loyalty and righteousness. Hahaha..."
All four mouths spoke in unison, their voices echoing with immense power.
"Alas, I detest self-important little fools like you. However... I find your devotion rather compelling, and it has swayed my decision to obliterate you insignificant beings."
"How about this: if you, little fool, take your own life, I shall spare your beloved?"
As if playing with a bird, the giant monster retracted its palm.
In its eyes, these insignificant beings were nothing to be concerned about.
However, it had been imprisoned in this desolate place for years, and being alone was becoming tiresome.
Now, it had a rather amusing game it wished to play.
Bai Ze and Xuan Ling Nu, as spirit beasts, had never endured such humiliation.
Bai Ze turned and exchanged a look with Xuan Ling Nu.
Bai Ze nodded first, and Xuan Ling Nu returned his nod.
Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through, accompanied by thunder and lightning.
Xuan Ling Nu clasped her hands together and closed her eyes.
As the spiritual power within her was about to dissipate, she transformed from human form into a spiritual sword.
Bai Ze leaped, riding the wind, and landed steadily.
With a flick of his wrist, he caught the spiritual sword that Xuan Ling Nu had become.
If taking his own life would save his beloved, he would do so without hesitation.
But now, anyone could see that this colossal monster had no intention of sparing them.
In such a situation, their only recourse was to fight with all their might.
The act of transforming into a sword was a spiritual technique they had used during their dual cultivation.
Though it was a transformation of the body, it was, in essence, the merging of two beings into one.
The moment Bai Ze grasped the Xuan Ling Sword, his spiritual power surged back.
It was even more potent than before.
He soared into the air, wielding the Xuan Ling Sword and charging directly at the monster.
The giant monster, seeing the man leap towards it, let out another booming laugh through its four blood-red mouths.
"The Xuan Ling Technique, infused with spiritual power! Haha, this is interesting!"
As it spoke, the giant monster's single arm split into eight, and it swung these eight arms, each holding a cluster of eight different colored spiritual flames.
It merged them into a single, multi-colored spiritual fire.
It then brought its eight palms together, drawing the spiritual fire into its grasp. With a backhand flourish, a golden longsword appeared in its hand.
Simultaneously, its eight legs transformed into two, and its four faces merged into one.
It possessed a pair of large, glowing green eyes. As the four ugly faces converged, a handsome and unparalleled visage was revealed.
Its form also shifted into human shape, clad in a blue robe that accentuated its colors.
Bai Ze was startled by this transformation.
Bai Ze brandished the Xuan Ling Sword in his hand, while the monster swung the spiritual sword it held.
The two swords, each imbued with immense power, clashed.
It was an invisible, yet palpable, aura of immense power.
In their swordplay, Bai Ze was like a fierce leopard.
The monster was like a ferocious tiger.
When leopard and tiger fight, one is bound to be wounded.
"Bang!"
The monster, wielding its spiritual sword, defeated the Xuan Ling Sword in Bai Ze's grasp.
As the monster's sword pierced his chest, Bai Ze did not release his grip. Instead, he embraced the spiritual sword.
The blood flowing from his chest stained the blade red.
Sensing Bai Ze's unusual action, the Xuan Ling Sword transformed back into human form.
At this moment, Xuan Ling Nu felt a severe blow due to Bai Ze being struck.
She and Bai Ze were one, and Bai Ze's complexion began to pale.
A trickle of blood flowed from Xuan Ling Nu's lips, and she simultaneously pulled Bai Ze away.
The spiritual power within her had completely dissipated, leaving her unable to cast any spells.
The two retreated together.
The monster, watching them being sent flying far away, wore a triumphant smile.
"You pair of fools, though you couldn't defeat me, you showed me your tacit understanding and how well you know each other."
"You are an interesting individual, but alas, I dislike those who are too ugly. And I despise the sight of you two loving each other to death!"
"Bang!"
Bai Ze and Xuan Ling Nu were slammed forcefully against a tree, then slowly descended.
Meanwhile, the monster reverted from its human form to its original state.
It strode towards Xuan Ling Nu and Bai Ze, its eight legs carrying it forward.
Bai Ze and Xuan Ling Nu exchanged a look. At this moment, they knew they would perish here.
"I'm sorry, Xuan'er, I have brought this upon you."
Bai Ze, lying on the ground, struggled to crawl towards Xuan Ling Nu.
The moment Bai Ze reached out to her, Xuan Ling Nu extended her hand towards him.
They embraced, and Bai Ze tenderly wiped the blood from the corner of Xuan Ling Nu's mouth.
Seeing Xuan Ling Nu's face as pale as paper, he was overcome with pain.
As Xuan Ling Nu watched the blood on Bai Ze's chest increase, she felt the same agony.
They had known each other for a thousand years and loved each other for a thousand years.
Centuries after their love blossomed, the great war between the Celestial and Demonic realms had also affected them, the divine beasts guarding Tian Ling Mountain.
Xuan Ling Nu had taken on Bai Ze's tribulation, enduring hundreds of years of mortal trials on his behalf.
He had only learned of this later.
He had searched for Xuan Ling Nu for centuries.
Finally, with the help of the Demon Empress, he found his Xuan'er.
Alas, today, stripped of their spiritual power, they were to meet their end here.
"Fool, I am the one who should apologize."
They had had the chance to return to Tian Ling Mountain, to continue their role as guardian divine beasts of the Tian Ling Pond.
But... Bai Ze had listened to her words and decided to stay with her, to continue following the Demon Empress, Gu Qianying.
It was her fault; she had brought ruin upon him.
"Silly girl, don't say that."
Bai Ze weakly raised a finger and wiped away the tears from the corner of Xuan Ling Nu's eyes.
At this, the giant monster raised its four fists.
It had played enough; it was time to end the lives of these insignificant beings!
Suddenly, a fierce wind arose, and a voice echoed through the heavens and earth.
"You dare to harm my people? You seek death!"