64: Chapter 64 Kill

The tiny Soul-Devouring Needle was still embedded in the surface of Zhou Yao's brow; although it had not pierced her brain, her entire face was as pale as paper, her breathing was so faint it was almost imperceptible, her eyes were tightly shut, and she had fallen into a deep slumber.

The most vicious aspect of the Soul-Devouring Needle was that it harmed the Divine Soul; even a slight graze was enough to cause a Cultivator's consciousness to scatter and fall into a prolonged coma, let alone the fact that Zhou Yao had taken the blow for him directly.

Even though a High Grade defensive Talisman had blocked most of the power, the residual soul attack had still severely shaken and injured her Sea of Consciousness, causing her to fall into a death-like slumber from which no one could say when she might wake.

"Zhou Yao... Zhou Yao!"

Li Qing called out in a low voice twice, but the person in his arms showed no reaction; only her faint breathing proved she was still alive.

A monstrous wave of self-reproach and fury surged wildly within his chest; he hated himself for his carelessness, and even more for his conservatism!

With a thought, Li Qing brought Zhou Yao into his Portable Cave Abode.

He placed her gently onto the stone bed.

"I will definitely save you!"

Li Qing vowed silently; he had not expected that Zhou Yao would save him at such a critical moment!

What a foolish woman!

Li Qing flashed out of the Immortal Cave; now, there was only one thought in his mind.

Find that Mysterious Woman, force her to hand over the antidote, and wake Zhou Yao!

Since that woman could unleash the Soul-Devouring Needle, she must have a way to neutralize it!

Li Qing first released the Red-tailed Fox.

This Red-tailed Fox had an extremely keen sense of smell and excelled at tracking scents; the smell of blood, the scent of Spiritual Qi, and the odor of poisonous mist left behind by the Mysterious Woman just now could be firmly locked onto by it with a single sniff.

"Go, follow her scent, and no matter where she escapes to, find her for me!"

Li Qing's voice was icy, devoid of any emotion.

The Red-tailed Fox seemed to understand human nature; it let out a low cry, flicked its tail, and chased off like a bolt of lightning, following the lingering scent in the mountain forest.

Li Qing unleashed the iron wood boat, followed behind the Red-tailed Fox, and disappeared into the depths of the mountain forest without looking back.

This grudge will not be settled until it is avenged!

Less than half an incense stick of time after Li Qing left, a burst of hurried footsteps suddenly came from afar.

A large group of Zhou Family Cultivators had arrived upon hearing the news!

The commotion from the battle just now was simply too great; the explosions of Spiritual Qi and the roaring of Talismans had long since alerted the nearby Zhou Family guards.

Zhou Peng was the first to arrive, rushing to the battlefield with over a dozen clansmen, but only a scene of devastation remained before his eyes.

Trees were broken, rocks were shattered, and the ground was blasted into large craters; the green poisonous mist had not yet dispersed, and the air was filled with the smell of smoke, the scent of blood, and the residual Spiritual Qi from the exploding Talismans.

Where were there any signs of Li Qing and Zhou Yao?

Even that Mysterious Woman was nowhere to be found.

"Brother Li Hu!"

Zhou Peng shouted anxiously, his voice echoing in the mountain forest, but he received no response at all.

He looked at the dilapidated battlefield before him, his heart clenching fiercely, his face full of worry:

"Such an intense battle... Brother Li Hu, you must not be in any trouble!"

The more Zhou Peng thought about it, the more panicked he became; he immediately ordered his clansmen to search everywhere, but after searching the entire mountain forest, they found nothing except for the traces of the battle.

It was as if Li Qing and Zhou Yao had vanished into thin air.

How could he have known that Li Qing had long since taken Zhou Yao into his untraceable Portable Cave Abode and gone off to hunt down the Mysterious Woman.

And this pursuit lasted for three whole days.

For three days, Li Qing did not sleep or rest; relying on the Red-tailed Fox's tracking, he traversed mountains and ridges, firmly locking onto the Mysterious Woman's scent and refusing to let go.

The woman was heavily injured, her speed greatly reduced; she exhausted all her secret techniques, but she simply could not shake off Li Qing, this beast that had been thoroughly enraged.

Finally, on the evening of the third day, the Red-tailed Fox stopped in front of a hidden cave and let out a vigilant low cry.

Li Qing's eyes sharpened; he took a step forward and charged directly into the cave!

Deep inside the cave, the Mysterious Woman was lying on the ground, blood still hanging from the corner of her mouth, her face pale and weak.

In this condition, even without Li Qing taking action, she would not survive the night.

After all, under Li Qing's pursuit, she had missed the optimal time for healing her wounds.

Hearing the commotion, she opened her eyes abruptly; the moment she saw Li Qing, her face was calm:

"You... you still chased after me!"

Li Qing stood at the entrance of the cave, his body radiating monstrous Killing Intent as he stared at her coldly, saying word by word:

"I don't care what grudge you have with the Zhou Family, nor do I care why you ambushed me. Now, immediately hand over the medicine to neutralize the poison of the Soul-Devouring Needle!"

He didn't want to hear about grievances, he didn't want to hear reasons; he only wanted Zhou Yao to wake up.

But after hearing this, the Mysterious Woman let out a bitter laugh, shook her head, her tone carrying a hint of despair:

"Wake her up? Once the Soul-Devouring Needle enters the body, it damages the Origin of the Divine Soul; I have no antidote, and I am powerless to help! Once this needle is unleashed, the victim will either suffer Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, or fall into eternal slumber; no one can save her!"

Li Qing's pupils shrank abruptly.

Powerless to help?

These four words were like a heavy hammer, smashing fiercely into his heart.

He laughed out of extreme rage, his Spiritual Qi erupting violently, causing the entire cave to tremble intensely:

"You injured her Divine Soul, leaving her in an unconscious slumber, and now you tell me you are powerless to help?"

He had already given the other party a chance, but this woman did not cherish it from beginning to end.

Since she cannot be saved, then pay with your life!

"Since you cannot save her, then you die!"

Li Qing did not hesitate for even half a moment, and his Flying Sword shot out rapidly.

"Zhou Family, I still cannot destroy you!"

Facing Li Qing's Flying Sword, the Mysterious Woman did not dodge at all, still disappointed that she could not slaughter the entire Zhou Family.

The Flying Sword slashed her throat, and the Mysterious Woman fell in the cave, breathing her last.

Having eliminated this dangerous threat, Li Qing felt no relief; instead, his heart felt heavy.

Although the Mysterious Woman was dead, Zhou Yao was still in a slumber, her Divine Soul damaged; if this dragged on, it would only become more dangerous.

After collecting the Mysterious Woman's Storage Pouch, Li Qing returned to the Portable Cave Abode; looking at Zhou Yao, who was still unconscious and pale, his heart throbbed with pain.

"Zhou Yao, rest assured, I will definitely not let you sleep forever."

Li Qing gently held her cold hand, his gaze incomparably firm.

This girl could die to save him, and I, Li Qing, am not a person with a heart of stone!

Even if the road ahead remains unknown and filled with dangers, as long as I can save Zhou Yao, even if it means a mountain of blades and a sea of fire, I, Li Qing, will never take a step back.