Originated from mountains and seas, life never ends

How could you do this? Did you stay until the very end?

As soon as Hua Wujian came out, Liu Feng grabbed him and started rambling on and on, acting all mysterious.

Hua Wujian glanced at him and pulled her sleeve from his hand: "Hmm."

"What do you mean by 'huh'?! Weren't we able to communicate normally inside just now? Say a few more words!" Liu Feng was about to go crazy and was about to grab him again when Liu Huangli stopped him.

"Calm down, I see him." Liu Huangli noticed Hua Wujian's strange gesture and quickly pulled Liu Feng back. While reassuring their instructor, he asked Hua Wujian, "Do you know how many teams are left?"

Hua Wujian glanced at him, then a golden beetle landed between his fingertips and tapped twice. The beetle scattered into sand.

"sixteen."

"What happened? Did it meet the requirements?"

Shen Tianjiao looked around and sensed the strange atmosphere, then asked Huangfu Lin.

Huangfu Lin looked around and raised an eyebrow slightly: "Obviously not."

From his observation, there were at least a dozen other contestants dressed in different outfits, which clearly indicated that something was wrong.

Thinking of the collapse of the fragmented world just now, Huangfu Lin narrowed his eyes and looked in Qin Xiao's direction.

Qin Xiao seemed unaware, but the white-haired boy beside him turned slightly to block his view.

Huangfu Lin was taken aback and met the gaze of the white-haired boy.

The moment she saw Mo Hanyu, she was stunned. A look of surprise flashed in her eyes as she stared at his god-like face, her mind momentarily blank.

What brought Huangfu Lin back to his senses was the continuously decreasing temperature around him, the chill invading him as if he were in an ice cave.

The boy, with white hair and blue eyes, stared coldly at him. His slender, fair fingers held a half-mask in a loose grip—according to Huangfu Lin's observation, it looked very similar to the one Qin Xiao wore, probably of the same type, a Qi artifact capable of withstanding two Earth Realm attacks.

However, the next second, veins bulged on the back of his hand, and cracks appeared in the mask; the next second after that, the mask shattered into powder.

—He actually crushed the mask in his hand.

Huangfu Lin blinked, unsure where his hostility and anger came from. The boy didn't offer an explanation, staring at him for a while before slowly turning his head away.

"Mo Hanyu?" Qin Xiao keenly sensed the change in the aura beside him and couldn't help but ask softly.

"Hmm," Mo Hanyu responded softly, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger.

"...Are you angry?" Qin Xiao looked at him, somewhat confused as to why the person he had just appeased was now angry again.

You're so stupid!

Suddenly, a voice from Jiumei, full of vigor yet filled with disappointment, echoed in his soul sea.

He's angry because you're injured!

"But he was fine just now, wasn't he?" Qin Xiao asked, bewildered.

[He didn't know you were so badly injured at the time.] Jiu Mei said, half-disdainfully, ["How did you even manage to win him over?"]

Qin Xiao: [...that's not what I'm after.]

[Oh?!] Jiu Mei immediately became interested. [Tell me more about it?]

Qin Xiao: ...

Qin Xiao decided to pretend he hadn't heard: [Then what should we do?]

Try to comfort him, maybe be a little affectionate... just say, "Brother, I was wrong!"

Jiu Mei's imitation of the voice was so charming and alluring that it gave Qin Xiao goosebumps.

Qin Xiao would definitely not say that. He looked at Mo Hanyu, whose face was as cold as ice, hesitated for a moment, and gently hooked his fingers around Mo Hanyu's.

"Let's... go back and talk about it, okay?" Qin Xiao asked softly. "You... don't do this."

Mo Hanyu glanced at him, then lowered her eyes and squeezed his knuckles: "Okay."

Qin Xiao was still a little worried. Mo Hanyu gently placed his hand on his waist, his fingertips exuding a warm breath. The breath slowly seeped into his body, and Qin Xiao immediately felt a warm current coursing through his limbs and bones, a tingling sensation, as if all the pores on his body had opened up, and he even felt a little drowsy.

"……Eh?"

Just then, a voice came from behind him, which sounded like a thunderclap in Qin Xiao's ears.

Qin Xiao suddenly turned his head and saw that Zhu Yan had shrunk to the size of a fist at some point, sitting on his shoulder, stroking his chin and looking at him thoughtfully.

The two locked eyes, and Qin Xiao instinctively tried to explain: "He—"

Zhu Yan's eyes lit up: "You don't need to explain! I understand—"

As he spoke, he gave a knowing smile, glanced at Mo Hanyu, then at him, and nodded meaningfully at Qin Xiao, a smile that gave Qin Xiao goosebumps.

"Oh my... I really didn't expect that, tsk tsk tsk." Zhu Yan shook his head while clicking his tongue, his mouth practically stretched to the back of his head.

"Just like that, I got it, hehehe..." Zhu Yan gave him a thumbs up, "Awesome."

Qin Xiao: ...

Qin Xiao wanted to say something, but found there was nothing to explain. He looked at Mo Hanyu and saw that he didn't care at all, so he had no choice but to shut his mouth.

"Hey! Give me back that monster."

Qin Xiao turned his head and saw a strange young man pointing to Zhu Yan on his shoulder and saying to him, "That's mine!"

Qin Xiao didn't recognize him and glanced at Zhu Yan: "Are you his?"

Zhu Yan glanced at Yuan Xuye a few times and shook his head: "No."

Qin Xiao understood and ignored it.

Seeing that he ignored him, Yuan Xuye took another step forward: "How can it not be? I've raised you for so many years, how could you do this?"

Qin Xiao glanced at Zhu Yan.

“I have no memory of it.” Zhu Yan stroked his chin, shrugged, and spread his hands, saying regretfully, “Besides, given my personality, I would never submit to anyone.”

"You—" Yuan Xuye wanted to say something more.

"Didn't you just throw it in there? If it didn't come out with me, if the fragments didn't break, it will stay inside forever," Qin Xiao said calmly, looking at him.

"So you were prepared to discard it beforehand, even if it was originally 'your thing,' you've already thrown it away. In that case, why did you come here in the first place?"

Yuan Xuye choked back a sob: "I—"

Yuan Xuye was speechless for a moment, then turned to Zhu Yan and asked, "Can you accept what he said?"

“Isn’t what he said true?” Zhu Yan asked curiously. “If he’s lying, then you should refute him.”

Yuan Xuye choked.

He couldn't refute it.

Yuan Xuye's lips twitched, and he wanted to say something, but a loud roar suddenly sounded in his ears, and a terrifying pressure swept across the area.

"Damn evil cultivator, prepare to die!!"

A furious roar exploded in his ears like thunder, and a terrifying pressure instantly enveloped the entire venue. The chilling cold, as if he had fallen into an ice cave, had not yet seeped into his bones. A ghostly face gleaming with an eerie light suddenly appeared in front of Qin Xiao's eyes—a gaping maw lunged straight at his face, the cold light on its fangs blinding him.

Unexpected changes can happen in an instant.

Although those around them noticed, it was too late.

Qin Xiao's dim black eyes were suddenly filled with the hideous ghost face, and his heart clenched instantly. In that instant, he instinctively wanted to push Mo Hanyu away from his side.

"boom--!!"

In the blink of an eye, a beam of silver light descended from the sky, so fast that only a blur remained, like divine punishment descending, piercing straight through the ghost face! Before the shattered black mist could dissipate, the silver light crashed into the ground with a deafening roar.

As it crashed to the ground, a dragon's roar suddenly resounded, shaking the surrounding wilderness.

At the same moment, Qin Xiao's waist tightened, and he felt a powerful and majestic aura surrounding him, protecting his body as he leaned backward.

The black mist dissipated, revealing a snow-white spear standing before him. The silver dragon that had been coiled around the spear shaft now protected him, blocking all the aftershocks of the previous clash from penetrating even an inch.

Qin Xiao's pupils suddenly contracted, and he abruptly looked up at the source of the spear.

Before he could even see clearly, a steady and upright figure appeared in front of him, and a slightly rough hand touched his cheek, warm and dry, making his heart tremble.

"Were you injured just now?"

Qin Xiuyun's gentle and concerned voice rang in his ears. Qin Xiao stared at him blankly, as if he hadn't reacted yet, and shook his head stupidly.

Qin Xiuyun assumed he was frightened, so she patted his shoulder reassuringly and whispered, "Don't be afraid, I'm here, there won't be any more danger."

Qin Xiao's pupils dilated, his lips trembled, as if he wanted to say something. But Qin Xiuyun had already turned around, pulled the spear from the ground, and stood in front of him.

"It's you!!"

The person who had just launched the attack revealed himself—a man dressed in a dark brown outfit. The man's eyes were wide open in anger, his eyebrows raised in a cold stare. Behind him hung a dark bronze ghost mask, its expression chilling and terrifying, with two eerie green flames flickering from its dark eye sockets.

"Qin Xiuyun! What do you want to do?!" the man shouted angrily.

"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" Qin Xiuyun sneered, his aura completely changing from gentle to harsh, refusing to yield an inch and even giving the other party the upper hand.

"Although the match was unexpectedly interrupted, there are absolutely no rules against attacking people indiscriminately inside the venue. What... do you want to do?"

As he finished speaking, his pace slowed, and the oppressive aura intensified with each word, until the person opposite him could no longer lift their head.

The man felt as if a hundred mountains were pressing down on his head, his bones and veins were creaking, his internal organs felt as if they were being twisted into a knot, and he was sweating profusely, unable to speak for a moment.

"Oh dear, why be so aggressive?"

A hand landed on the man's shoulder, and a long-bearded old man stepped out from behind him, glancing at Qin Xiuyun before slowly saying, "Just kidding—"

"Are you kidding? That child would have died if we had been even half a minute later!"

Ye Ningzhi flashed behind Qin Xiuyun and angrily shouted, "You old geezer—"

Before he could finish speaking, a powerful pressure descended like a mountain. Ye Ningzhi paused, her breath catching in her throat. Qin Xiuyun waved his hand, and Ye Ningzhi immediately felt much more relaxed.

"You woman, watch your mouth!" the man shouted angrily.

Ye Ningzhi glared, wanting to say something. Qin Xiuyun gently shook his head at her, and Ye Ningzhi snorted coldly, turning around to gently stroke Mo Hanyu's face.

"Are you hurt? Is anything bothering you?" Ye Ningzhi asked softly, taking out a handkerchief to wipe the bloodstains from Mo Hanyu's face.

Mo Hanyu's originally indifferent expression softened slightly from the touch, and he gently shook his head: "What injury could I possibly suffer?"

Ye Ningzhi grabbed his wrist and looked him over. After confirming that he was alright, she turned to look at Qin Xiao.

"Oh dear, why are you crying, child?"

Qin Xiao turned his head blankly and met Ye Ningzhi's surprised gaze. Only then did he notice the coldness on his face. He wiped it and found it was covered in tears.

"I..." Qin Xiao said in a hoarse voice, staring at the water glistening in his palm, not understanding why this was happening.

Obviously...

He just stared at that retreating figure, lost in thought for a while...

he--

Qin Xiao reached out to wipe away his tears, but for some reason the more he wiped, the more tears flowed, as if a dam had been opened.

"Third brother, is third brother alright?" Qin Jinyi flashed in front of him, grabbed his shoulder, rubbed his face, and hurriedly wiped it for him. "My God, don't cry, don't cry... I'm here, it's alright, it's alright... don't be afraid."

Seeing that the tears were flowing more and more, Qin Jinyi simply hugged him in his arms, gently stroking the boy's head and softly comforting him.

"It's okay...it's alright, don't worry..."

Qin Xiao felt a lump in his throat, a surge of inexplicable grievance welling up in his heart. The sudden bitterness almost made him lose his balance, causing him to fall deeply into Qin Jinyi's arms. He grabbed Qin Jinyi's shirt and burst into tears.

"I... didn't want to cry."

Qin Xiao spoke in a muffled voice, still wanting to explain.

"I know, I know... It's okay, it's okay." Qin Jinyi patted his back gently, soothing him softly.

Qin Jiuyuan, who arrived late, looked around at this and that, wanting to hug them, but couldn't find the right angle to insert herself. After swaying for a moment, she silently stood behind Qin Xiao and gently patted the hem of his tattered clothes.

Zhu Yan had already jumped onto Mo Hanyu's shoulder when Qin Jinyi arrived. He stroked his chin and looked at the two brothers hugging each other. He turned his head and was about to say something to Mo Hanyu when he was startled by a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye.

"...Qiongqi?!"

Zhu Yan was horrified and looked into the depths of the shadows.

"Why are you here?!"

Qiongqi slowly emerged from the shadows, glanced at him coldly, and did not answer his question, his eyes showing disdain: "You were actually captured by humans like this."

“What you’re saying—” Zhu Yan wanted to retort.

"He's your son? That's perfect! He just killed my child! What do you suggest we do?!"

Seeing this scene, how could the man not understand? He shouted at Qin Xiuyun.

"This guy—" Xia Wule stood up to say something, but Miao Kaijie pressed him down.

"Senior, no." Miao Kaijie grabbed her arm and winked at her.

"We are not qualified to interrupt."

Xia Wuliao's anger surged, and he turned his head to curse, but he saw Miao Kaijie's gloomy face and Chen Mo's gloomy face next to him. The words that were about to come out of his throat could not be vented, so he could only grit his teeth and swallow them back.

"That old bastard..."

Qin Xiuyun frowned slightly, looking at the woman holding the boy behind the old man.

"Not only my child, but also my child's fellow disciples were killed by him. Don't you have an explanation for this?"

The woman's face was streaked with tears, and the boy in her arms was lifeless, his outer arm hanging limply at his sides, blood trickling from the corner of his lips, and his face turning bluish-purple.

—The boy who was caught in the sudden explosion died instantly because he was too close to Qin Xiao and had almost no time to react.

Not only him, but the collapse of the fragments expelled all the outsiders from the fragment world. Several Qi cultivators who had died from Qin Xiao's injuries lay silently on the ground, their limbs mangled and their faces purplish-blue, looking miserable.

The venue was silent. Some people watched like spectators, some were still observing, and a small number of people, due to the man's overly passionate, sorrowful and indignant speech, coupled with the influence of the evil cultivator, had already become biased.

Upon hearing this, Qin Xiao quickly wriggled out of Qin Jinyi's arms, wanting to explain to Qin Xiuyun, but Qin Jinyi held him back.

"It's alright, Father will handle it." Qin Jinyi lowered his eyes, touched the blood-stained ends of his hair, and looked down at the hideous scar on his shoulder.

Qin Xiao frowned, as if he wanted to say something.

"……statement?"

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Qin Xiuyun spoke.

He tilted his head slightly, glanced at the dead boy, and his cold gaze made Qin Xiao feel like a stranger.

What explanation do you need?

Qin Xiuyun suddenly sneered, his tone mocking and cold:

"So what if he dies?"