Jiu Jue was a deity, and not just any deity; a mere wisp of her remnant soul had forced Zhou Yan to deploy his two supreme treasures to suppress her.
Jiu Jue continued to resist. Zhou Yan relentlessly unleashed the divine power from the Zhen Shen Ding, his potent divine energy erupting in waves of powerful attacks, aiming to utterly annihilate Jiu Jue.
"You're still far from destroying me completely. If you were a Divine King, perhaps, but you haven't even reached the Divine Realm yet!"
Jiu Jue was too strong. She unleashed torrents of soul power from her palms, invoking rules akin to the Great Dao – divine power laws that only deities could wield, now being employed by Jiu Jue.
A terrifying fluctuation ensued, its power so immense that the entire world of souls seemed on the verge of collapse. Even Chu Luoyan appeared unable to withstand it.
"Ah!" Chu Luoyan suffered greatly, her soul throbbing with pain as if it were about to explode.
Zhou Yan quickly embraced Chu Luoyan, asking, "Chu Luoyan, what's wrong? Are you alright?"
"Haha, you want me dead? Then I'll take Chu Luoyan with me as a sacrifice. This is her soul world, after all. With her mere peak ninety-ninth heaven strength, how could she possibly resist this level of divine power law? Are you sure you want us to perish together?"
Jiu Jue's intention was simple: if Zhou Yan wouldn't let her exist, she would drag Chu Luoyan's soul down with her. Regardless, in her next reincarnation, she wouldn't encounter Zhou Yan again, and Jiu Jue would then successfully devour this soul.
"You..."
Zhou Yan truly dared not act rashly. This Jiu Jue was ruthless!
If Chu Luoyan died, wouldn't all his efforts be in vain?
Even if he eliminated this remnant soul of Jiu Jue, for a divine realm expert, it would merely be a delay. Time meant little to such beings.
Zhou Yan stopped his assault. "Let's negotiate."
From the earlier life-or-death struggle, both parties now fell silent.
Judging by Jiu Jue's demeanor, she didn't want Chu Luoyan to perish with her remnant soul. Zhou Yan wasn't sure of the specific reason, but he couldn't just watch Chu Luoyan die before his eyes.
Chu Luoyan also didn't want to die, nor did she wish to be devoured by Jiu Jue.
Thus, this presented an unsolvable dilemma. Zhou Yan was truly troubled; he had never encountered such a predicament.
Either Chu Luoyan and Jiu Jue were destroyed together, and Zhou Yan would face Jiu Jue's pursuit in the future.
Or Jiu Jue would devour Chu Luoyan, and Zhou Yan would still face Jiu Jue's pursuit.
Zhou Yan felt he would be at a disadvantage no matter what.
"No, why the hell should I be the one at a disadvantage!" Zhou Yan suddenly thought of a desperate solution.
"Before we negotiate, remove that divine artifact and the Tai Chi Diagram!" Jiu Jue demanded of Zhou Yan.
"That won't do. You previously said I couldn't leave this soul space. I was frightened by you, so it's safer on your head."
Zhou Yan replied while staring at Jiu Jue. Not to be misunderstood, he wasn't admiring her perfect figure, but purely out of concern that this woman might suddenly make a move on him.
"With these two items, protecting yourself shouldn't be an issue, right?" Although Jiu Jue genuinely wanted to destroy Zhou Yan.
However, Jiu Jue was right. With the Innate Tai Chi Array Diagram and the Zhen Shen Ding, even if Jiu Jue wanted to kill Zhou Yan, she couldn't.
If her true body were here, she could suppress Zhou Yan with a single finger.
"I don't trust you. In any case, you can drag Chu Luoyan to her death at any moment, so you don't need to worry about me acting against you."
If Zhou Yan could instantly kill Jiu Jue, he wouldn't be spewing such nonsense. Unfortunately, he was still too weak. Facing an expert above the Divine Realm, Zhou Yan was not yet powerful enough.
Zhou Yan vowed never to claim to be invincible again. He couldn't even deal with a remnant soul – how embarrassing.
"What exactly is your relationship? Chu Luoyan, I'm warning you, don't fall for any man!" Jiu Jue said angrily.
Chu Luoyan's soul flickered, and Zhou Yan was also taken aback.
They were purely innocent. Not only were they not in the relationship Jiu Jue imagined, but they were practically enemies.
But upon hearing that, Zhou Yan suddenly embraced Chu Luoyan's soul and looked at Jiu Jue, saying, "What is our relationship to you, Jiu Jue?"
"You..." Jiu Jue appeared furious, as if Zhou Yan had done something to her.
Chu Luoyan was about to resist, but she heard Zhou Yan's telepathic message: "Don't move. Jiu Jue cares so much about you; this might be the key to breaking the deadlock. Cooperate, or how can we put on a show!"
Chu Luoyan trembled. Although she was a soul, in this soul state, feelings were most real and profound. Chu Luoyan's entire face blushed crimson.
This made Jiu Jue increasingly angry, even harboring a desire to destroy them both.
Seeing Jiu Jue's anger, Zhou Yan quickly said to Chu Luoyan, "I didn't expect your acting skills to be so convincing. Jiu Jue is absolutely furious."
"I..." Chu Luoyan wanted to say she wasn't acting, but she remained silent.
Although Chu Luoyan had no romantic feelings for other men, this was a soul state. She was a woman, after all. Being held by a man in such a close embrace in her soul form, it would be abnormal not to react.
"Kid, don't think I don't know you're acting." Jiu Jue looked at their interaction, which seemed quite off.
Although Chu Luoyan hadn't spoken, Jiu Jue could tell she was still quite resistant.
"Is that so? We're lovers! The entire Ziwei Academy recognizes us as the golden couple. Moreover, she's pregnant, didn't you know?"
To infuriate Jiu Jue, Zhou Yan would say anything, leaving Chu Luoyan utterly speechless.
It would be a miracle if these two hadn't already fought at Ziwei Academy. Lovers? They were more like enemies.
"You don't believe me? Come, come, kiss." After speaking, Zhou Yan directly leaned in to kiss Chu Luoyan.
"Mwah (*￣3)(e￣*)"
Zhou Yan planted a kiss, and this was his first time kissing as soul forms. The sensation was incredibly real.
But what was Chu Luoyan's expression? Hey, hey, hey, don't hit me!
Chu Luoyan couldn't take it anymore and directly struck Zhou Yan. The lie was exposed in an instant. Chu Luoyan was still so hot-tempered.
"You scoundrel, who told you to kiss me!" Chu Luoyan was furious. She... she had just been forcefully kissed!
"You idiot!" Zhou Yan sighed. What a "teammate."
Jiu Jue watched the two, with an expression of "I knew it," but within her eyes, a flame burned, as if she wanted to incinerate Zhou Yan.