103: A bloody battle on the way home, a love story unfolds at the passage.

Wangshu dissolved into scattered specks of moonlight radiance, and the falling Jade Hairpin was tightly clenched in Lin Xuan's palm. It was chillingly cold, yet it seemed to retain a trace of resolute warmth. Grief and fury surged within his chest, but he knew he had to remain calm now!

“Go!” Lin Xuan roared hoarsely, channeling all his sorrow and indignation into the thunder source crystal marrow in his hand! The crystal marrow burst forth with brilliant lightning, and his connection to this fragment of heaven and earth became unprecedentedly clear. He forcibly mobilized every Restriction he could control; the lightning Restrictions along the pursuit path behind him erupted and converged like madness, attempting to block the pursuers.

Without looking back, he transformed into a streak of resolute lightning, leading Su Wanqing, Qu Feiyan, and Gongsun Yu toward the bizarre, chaotic vortex of violently colliding energy located at the southeastern edge!

“Stop them! Absolutely do not let them activate the passage!” The furious roar of the Black-Robed Elder came from behind, accompanied by an even more violent surge of Devilish Qi that continuously tore apart layers of lightning Restrictions. He was only a hair's breadth away from the Middle Nascent Soul Stage, and his strength far surpassed everyone else. Even with the residual Thunder Emperor Palace Restrictions obstructing him, the distance between the two parties was still closing little by little!

The other two Late Golden Core Stage demonic Cultivators were like maggots clinging to bone, relentlessly biting at their flanks. Numerous insidious Demonic Techniques continuously assaulted Su Wanqing and Qu Feiyan, forcing the two women to divert their attention to countermeasures, severely impacting their speed.

“Lin Xuan! You take Xiaoyu first! We will cover the rear!” Su Wanqing's icy eyes held frost, and her tone was decisive. She knew that if no one covered the retreat, none of them would escape. She would rather stay behind herself than fail to secure a sliver of hope for his survival.

“Nonsense!” Qu Feiyan's seductive eyes widened, the power of the blood lotus burned to its extreme, and she forcefully shook off an incoming demonic claw. Her voice carried an unprecedented sharpness and determination, “If we stay, we stay together. If we die, we die together! Want to abandon your older sister and play the hero alone? No way!” As she spoke, she deliberately moved closer to Lin Xuan, using her actions to state her position.

Lin Xuan's heart trembled violently. Looking at the two stunning women beside him who were willing to live and die with him, the grief over Wangshu's disappearance and the turbulent emotions of the moment intertwined, choking his throat. He said no grand words, but simply pushed his speed to the limit, while unreservedly transferring a portion of the Lightning Origin he had just obtained from refining the thunder source crystal marrow to Su Wanqing and Qu Feiyan, helping them restore their magic power and increase their speed.

“The passage is up ahead!” Gongsun Yu shouted, pointing at the rapidly approaching energy vortex that radiated an aura of chaos and hope.

The vortex was immense, composed of countless shattered lightning bolts, spatial fragments, and unknown energy flows. It spun incessantly, its edges extremely unstable, emitting a heart-palpitating suction and tearing sensation.

“System! Analyze the passage stability and the safe transit plan!” Lin Xuan urgently called out in his mind.

[Analyzing... Target Spatial Passage (Extremely Unstable). Energy Rank: Eight-Tier Chaos. Survival probability upon direct entry: <3%.]

[Suggestion: Use the 'thunder source crystal marrow' as the core to construct a temporary stabilizing shield, forcibly opening a brief path. Requires consuming 35% of the crystal marrow Origin. Simultaneously, someone must fully resist the energy turbulence and spatial tearing inside and outside the passage.]

[Warning! Pursuers are about to enter attack range!]

Consuming the crystal marrow Origin! This meant that even if they managed to leave, this fragment of the Thunder Emperor Palace might completely lose control, or even collapse. But at this moment, there was no other choice!

“Charge with me!” Lin Xuan roared wildly, holding the thunder source crystal marrow high. The majestic Lightning Origin surged out like a flood from an opened dam, transforming into a solid purple-gold light shield that firmly protected the four of them as he slammed straight into the violent energy vortex!

“Boom!!!”

It felt as if they had crashed into a stormy ocean composed of countless sharp blades and lightning! Even with the crystal marrow shield, terrifying vibrations and tearing forces instantly struck. The shield flickered erratically, emitting a jarring, distorted sound!

“Hold steady!” Lin Xuan gritted his teeth until his gums bled, frantically outputting magic power to maintain the shield. Su Wanqing and Qu Feiyan immediately placed their hands on Lin Xuan's back, transferring their pure Taiyin Power and blood lotus Bewitching Essence into his body without reservation. The three people's auras were connected more closely than ever, supporting him together!

Gongsun Yu, meanwhile, struck the Thunder Drum with all her might. The drum sound created a subtle resonance with the surrounding chaotic lightning, slightly calming some of the energy turbulence.

Just as the four were struggling forward in the passage, the figure of the Black-Robed Elder brazenly charged into the passage from behind! Relying on his powerful Nascent Soul cultivation, his Devilish Qi transformed into a ferocious ghost head around him, forcefully tearing through the energy turbulence and rapidly giving chase! The two Golden Core demonic Cultivators followed closely behind him!

“You guys go first! I'll stop him!” Seeing this, a look of determination flashed in Su Wanqing's eyes. She actually tried to break free of the shield and turn back to face the enemy!

“No!” Lin Xuan tightly grabbed her wrist, the force so great that Su Wanqing felt pain. His eyes were bloodshot. “If we fight, we fight together! If we die, we die together! I absolutely won't let anyone die alone for me again!” These words were spoken to Su Wanqing, to Qu Feiyan, and even more so to the now-dissipated Wangshu!

Before his voice faded, he abruptly sank part of his mind into the sin-slaying broken sword he had been holding! The Thunder Emperor's undying Battle Intent and his perception of the “Void” traveled along the hilt into his heart. A tragic, unyielding will to sever everything perfectly matched his current sorrow and furious anger!

“Sever!”

Lin Xuan joined his fingers like a sword, using his fingers as a substitute for the blade. He activated that wisp of undying Battle Intent, mixing it with all his own power, and remotely slashed out a formless, intangible edge towards the pursuing Black-Robed Elder—an edge that directly targeted the Divine Soul and consciousness!

This was not a physical attack, but a clash of will and conviction!

The Black-Robed Elder was caught completely off guard, feeling as if his Divine Soul had been violently struck by a red-hot sharp blade. He let out a shrill scream, his forward momentum suddenly halting, and the Devilish Qi around him became slightly disordered! He looked at Lin Xuan in horror, unable to comprehend why a Golden Core Cultivator could unleash such a bizarre attack!

Seizing this opportunity, Lin Xuan fully activated the crystal marrow shield and frantically sprinted toward the depths of the passage!

“It's almost there! There's light ahead!” Gongsun Yu cried out in surprise.

At the end of the passage, a hazy, soft light, unlike the desolate gloom of the Thunder Emperor Palace, was already visible! That was the aura of the Main World!

However, just as they were about to rush out of the passage, due to Lin Xuan forcibly activating the sin-slaying broken sword and the excessive consumption required to maintain the passage, the shield formed by the thunder source crystal marrow finally reached its limit, letting out a mournful cry of distress before shattering completely!

For the final few dozen meters, having lost their protection, terrifying energy turbulence and spatial tearing forces surged in like a tide from all directions!

“Be careful!”

Without thinking, Lin Xuan abruptly turned around, spread his arms, and fiercely shielded Su Wanqing, Qu Feiyan, and Gongsun Yu in his embrace, using his Fifth Turn Vast Sea Asura Golden Body as the final barrier to forcefully absorb the vast majority of the impact!

“Pfft—!” Blood spurted from his mouth like a fountain, staining Su Wanqing's plain white collar and Qu Feiyan's alluring red dress. His back instantly became a bloody mess, the Golden Body's luster dimmed to the extreme, and his aura was like a flickering candle in the wind.

“Lin Xuan!”

“Junior Brother Lin!”

“Big Brother Lin!”

Three heart-rending cries of alarm sounded simultaneously.

Su Wanqing and Qu Feiyan wrapped their arms around his nearly shattered body, tears instantly bursting forth. Gongsun Yu also cried as she gripped his arm.

The immense impact force pushed the four people, like a meteor, violently out of the end of the passage, plummeting toward that unknown but life-filled light...