147: Chapter 147 A captivating and alluring goddess! A desolate and desperate situation…

Qi Xiaoyu was a top-tier expert at the sixth stage of the Enlightenment Realm, and among the younger generation, she was considered exceptionally gifted. What kind of powerful figures had she not seen?

Yet, she had never felt such terrifying pressure. Even the auras of the two half-step Nirvana Realm Elders of the Qi Family, Qi Cang and Qi Yue, were not as overbearing or terrifying as this man before her.

She could clearly feel that the concentration of Nirvana Energy on Zhou Liangan had reached an inconceivable level.

Let alone a Cultivator at the first stage of the Enlightenment Realm, even a true powerhouse who had stepped into the Nirvana Realm might not possess such pure and vast Nirvana Power.

The shock in her heart was beyond words.

This person was only at the first stage of the Enlightenment Realm; how could he contain such concentrated Nirvana Power within his body without being devoured by this overbearing force?

This completely defied the basic common sense of cultivation!

One had to know that Nirvana Power was incredibly overbearing. Even experts in the Nirvana Realm had to control it with extreme caution. Any slight carelessness would result in being devoured by the Nirvana Power, leading to the destruction of one's Divine Soul.

How could a Cultivator at the first stage of the Enlightenment Realm withstand such terrifying power?

Unless... his Physical Body strength had already reached a terrifying level.

A thought flashed through Qi Xiaoyu's mind instantly. Her beautiful eyes widened, her pupils contracted violently, and the look she gave Zhou Liangan was filled with utter astonishment and disbelief.

In fact, Qi Xiaoyu had guessed correctly.

Now, with the blessing of the Heavenly Dragon Sacred Body, Zhou Liangan's Physical Body strength was already comparable to a true Dragon Clan member, and even several times stronger than an ordinary Dragon.

It was precisely because of this that he could contain such dense Nirvana Power, turning this overbearing force to his own use without being devoured.

Qi Xiaoyu leaned against a palace pillar, her whole body trembling slightly—not out of fear, but because this terrifying Nirvana pressure made it difficult for her to even breathe.

She finally understood why the two half-step Nirvana Realm Elders were no match for this man.

This person could not be measured by common logic; he was a complete monster.

Yet, she did not want to admit defeat just like that, nor did she want to compromise.

She gritted her teeth tightly, using all her strength to resist the terrifying pressure. She lifted her head, her beautiful eyes wide, looking at Zhou Liangan. Her voice trembled, yet she still forced herself to speak: "My Qi Family is a meritorious Family that has rendered great service to the Human Race! The upper echelons of the Human Race have long established ironclad Laws: meritorious families cannot be exterminated at will! By treating my Qi Family like this, are you not afraid of being hunted down by the great experts of the Human Race?"

This was her final trump card, her last reliance.

The title of a meritorious Family was set by the highest level of the Human Race; it was an ironclad Law. Whoever dared to violate it was going against the entire Human Race.

She did not believe that Zhou Liangan would dare to defy the world and move against their Qi Family.

Yet, to her surprise, when Zhou Liangan heard this, he showed no fear at all; instead, he sneered, a mocking smile appearing on his face.

He looked at Qi Xiaoyu as if looking at an ignorant child, then spoke unhurriedly. Every word was like a cold knife, stabbing fiercely into Qi Xiaoyu's heart: "Meritorious families just cannot be exterminated. I will only kill the experts and geniuses in your Family. If I leave some old, weak, women, and children as a spark for your meritorious Family, it won't take long for you to lose the status of a meritorious Family."

He paused, a cruel smile curling the corners of his mouth, and continued: "By then, even if I don't do it, many others will rush to do so, gnawing your Qi Family until not even the bones are left. You have lived in the circle of great families for so long; surely you understand this logic, right?"

One sentence directly shattered her last fantasy.

Qi Xiaoyu's mind went "buzz" and instantly turned blank.

She understood this logic all too well.

The survival rule of great families had always been the Law of the jungle.

The title of a meritorious Family was never a get-out-of-jail-free card, but something supported by strength. Once the experts and geniuses of the Qi Family were all dead, leaving only a group of the old, weak, women, and children, that title of a meritorious Family would not be able to protect them at all. Within ten years, those families that were usually suppressed by the Qi Family would swarm like sharks smelling blood and completely devour the Qi Family.

That outcome of slowly declining and being devoured by others was a hundred or a thousand times more miserable than being directly exterminated.

Despair, like a cold tide, surged from all directions, completely submerging Qi Xiaoyu.

All her trump cards, all her schemes, all her reliance, in front of this man, were like paper—poked through at a single touch.

Her cultivation, which she was so proud of, was vulnerable before him; the Family title she treasured was stripped of its essence by his single sentence; the top-tier Opportunity she produced, he wanted, and he wanted her along with it.

She had absolutely no room to bargain.

Qi Xiaoyu's hot, graceful, and alluring body could not stop trembling uncontrollably. She gritted her teeth so hard that she was about to bite her lower lip until it bled. Her beautiful eyes instantly filled with tears, yet she stubbornly refused to let them fall.

She looked at the man before her, who wore a playful expression, and squeezed three words through her teeth. Her voice carried a sob, yet it was filled with helplessness: "You are shameless!"

"Hahaha, thank you for the compliment." Hearing these three words, Zhou Liangan laughed instead, laughing unscrupulously, to the point that the last line of defense in Qi Xiaoyu's heart began to crumble.

After laughing, the smile on his face vanished instantly. He raised his eyes and swept a cold gaze over Qi Xiaoyu. The playfulness in his eyes disappeared completely, leaving only cold killing intent.

The temperature of the entire palace instantly dropped to freezing, and even the raging Nirvana fire took on a murderous aura.

"My patience is limited, and I have played this game with you long enough." Zhou Liangan's voice was icy, devoid of any emotion. He spoke word by word, giving her an ultimatum: "If you do not agree, do not blame me for being ruthless. I will give you three breaths of time. Think clearly: whether to agree to my conditions and preserve the Qi Family, or watch the Qi Family walk toward destruction step by step."

"Three."

He began to count. The moment his voice fell, the surrounding Nirvana pressure became heavier by a fraction.

Qi Xiaoyu's delicate body trembled violently. She gritted her teeth even tighter, her fingernails digging deep into her palms, drawing blood, yet she felt no pain at all.

"Two."

Zhou Liangan's voice sounded again. He had raised his hand, and a wisp of golden Nirvana fire danced at his fingertips. That flame looked unremarkable, yet it carried terrifying power capable of burning everything to ashes.

The last line of defense in Qi Xiaoyu's heart collapsed completely.

She closed her eyes, and a line of clear tears finally could not be held back, sliding down her pale, beautiful face and hitting her dress, blooming into a small damp stain.

She had lost, lost completely, with not a shred of room to turn the tables.

For the sake of the Qi Family, she had no other choice.

"I... I agree to your terms."

These six words almost exhausted all her strength before she could squeeze them through her teeth. Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzzing, yet it clearly reached Zhou Liangan's ears.

The smile at the corners of Zhou Liangan's mouth instantly became more intense.

He raised his hand, and the vast Nirvana Energy around him instantly receded completely, and the pressure in the palace vanished along with it.

He reached out, his broad palm firmly wrapping around Qi Xiaoyu's slender yet voluptuous willow waist.

The tactile sensation was delicate and firm, carrying an astonishing suppleness, even more perfect than he had imagined.

Qi Xiaoyu's body instantly stiffened, as if struck by an electric current. Her whole body tensed up, and subconsciously she wanted to struggle, but her body was limp, and she couldn't summon even a shred of strength.

She could only let Zhou Liangan hold her firmly in his arms, her entire body pressed against him. She could clearly feel his warm body temperature and his strong, powerful heartbeat.

She closed her eyes, refusing to look at him. Her long eyelashes trembled like a frightened butterfly, her face filled with humiliation and the bitterness of resignation.

Zhou Liangan lowered his head, looking at the stunning beauty in his arms who had her eyes closed and a look of resignation, and a satisfied smile curled the corners of his mouth.

He leaned down and, without hesitation, captured those soft, delicate lips that carried a hint of the taste of blood.

The moment their lips touched, Qi Xiaoyu's delicate body trembled violently, and she froze in place, forgetting even to breathe...

Deep in the night, in the Sect Master's Palace of the Liu Family, the atmosphere was as oppressive as if it had frozen over.

On the coiled dragon candle stand in the corner of the hall, arm-thick dragon saliva candles burned, flickering on and off. The orange candlelight was swayed incessantly by the passing cold wind, casting the carved demon reliefs on the hall's pillars into dancing, clawing shapes, adding to the eerie chill.

On the black sandalwood throne in the main seat, Liu Meihan sat upright, but the dark purple Family Head robe that usually upheld the dignity of the entire Liu Family could not hide her trembling.

Her pale, delicate, and beautiful face, which usually carried three parts cold arrogance and seven parts aloofness, was now as pale as a sheet of rice paper, without a hint of blood color. Even the lip line that was usually delicately drawn had faded to a lifeless, pale white.

Her fingertips gripped the ghost head patterns carved into the throne's armrests so tightly that her knuckles turned a ghastly white from the excessive force, and her fingernails were almost embedded into the hardwood.

Those beautiful eyes, which usually sparkled with charm and carried endless allure even when her face was cold, were now staring fixedly at the Liu Family Disciple standing in the center of the hall. Her voice carried a tremor she hadn't noticed herself, and her breathing rhythm was even disrupted: "Say it again. What you just said, is it true?"

The Liu Family Disciple standing in the center of the hall was soaked in cold sweat, his green Disciple uniform sticking damply to his back. His head was bowed low, and he didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

He nodded hurriedly, his head bobbing like a pestle, his voice trembling uncontrollably: "It is true, Family Head! It is absolutely true! For such a life-threatening matter, even if I had the courage of heaven, I would not dare to deceive you!"

He swallowed his saliva, his Adam's apple rolling once, before he braced himself and repeated what he had just said. Every word carried undisguised horror: "The villain you mentioned, single-handedly, fought four against one, and killed the old Family Head of the Gongxi Family, Family Head Gongxi Xingde, on the spot! The three Family Heads—Family Head Qi Wencheng of the Qi Family, Family Head Li Yunxin of the Li Family, and Family Head Nie Zining of the Nie Family—were all beaten into serious injuries by him!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the air in the hall seemed to freeze instantly.

Liu Meihan's body swayed violently, and she nearly fell directly off the throne.

She knew all too well how much weight these four people carried.

But now, what had she heard?

Four people joined forces, and they were killed by the villain who abducted her sister—one dead, three crippled?

Liu Meihan only felt a chill rush from the soles of her feet straight to her crown; all the blood in her body seemed to have frozen at this moment.

She had originally held a glimmer of hope, thinking of uniting the power of the four great clans to surround and suppress the villain together, and rescue her sister, Second Miss Liu Meiyan.

But now, the top combat power of the four great families had been crushed by one person. As for her Liu Family, even if they risked the entire clan, what use could it possibly be?

The Disciple looked at the Family Head's pale face, feeling panicked himself, and couldn't help but mutter in a low voice, his tone full of confusion and fear: "Family Head, that person... what is his background? These methods... this cultivation, it is simply too terrifying. When did such a ruthless character emerge on our cultivation planet?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Liu Meihan instantly snapped back to reality. A bone-chilling coldness flashed in her eyes. The panic and fragility from a moment ago were instantly suppressed, and she transformed back into the Liu Family Head who held the power of life and death.

She swept a cold glance at the Disciple, her voice filled with unquestionable majesty: "Don't ask what you shouldn't! Watch your mouth. If you dare to leak even half a word of this news, watch your tongue!"

The Disciple shuddered, instantly not daring to say another word. He hurriedly bowed and replied repeatedly: "Yes, yes, yes! The Family Head is right to rebuke me! It was my loose lips earlier; I hope the Family Head will not hold it against me!"

Liu Meihan waved her hand impatiently, as if shooing away a fly: "Go down. Guard the palace gates well; without my command, no one is allowed to enter."

"Yes!" The Disciple, as if granted a reprieve, bowed respectfully and retreated. Before leaving, he carefully closed the palace doors, not daring to make the slightest sound.

With a "click," the heavy palace doors shut, cutting off all movement from the outside. In the entire great hall, only Liu Meihan remained.

All the majesty and calmness she had forced herself to maintain shattered completely in this instant.

It was as if all her strength had been drained away; her body went limp, and she collapsed into the wide throne.

Her back pressed tightly against the cold chair, her long eyelashes trembling incessantly. Her beautiful eyes instantly filled with moisture, surging with unconcealable sorrow and bitterness.

The Family Heads of the Four Great Families had all met such an end!

With what could she save her sister?

With her own life?

Even if she risked her own life, she probably wouldn't even be able to touch the corner of their clothes. Instead, she would throw her life away in vain, and then, no one would be left to save Liu Meiyan.

Thinking of this, Liu Meihan's tears could no longer be held back. They slid down her pale cheeks and landed on her dark purple robe, blooming into a small patch of dark water stains.

She covered her face, her shoulders trembling slightly. Her voice filled with endless self-reproach and despair as she murmured to herself: "What should I do? Liu Meiyan, it is your sister who has failed you. That villain's Cultivation is so terrifying, I fear... I fear that even if I risk my life, there is no way to save you."

Her voice echoed in the empty great hall, filled with endless sorrow, and even the candlelight in the hall seemed to dim slightly.

Just then, a cold and clear youthful voice suddenly traveled from the direction of the palace entrance, breaking the deathly silence of the hall.

"Liu Meihan, you cannot say that. I happen to have a method that might allow you to raise your Cultivation in a short period, and even fight across Realms."

The voice was not loud, but it was like a thunderclap, instantly striking into Liu Meihan's ears.

She jerked her head up and wiped the tears from her face haphazardly. Instantly, she reined in all her fragility and resumed her guarded stance as a Family Head, looking toward the palace entrance following the sound.

She saw the side door of the great hall being gently pushed open, and a youth in moon-white robes was walking in slowly.

The youth appeared to be in his early twenties, with handsome features and a cold temperament, like snow on a mountain Peak untouched by the mortal world. There was no aura of Cultivation leaking from his body, yet his eyes were as deep as if they contained a sea of stars, making him unfathomable.

It was Ye Bufan.

This youth was the one she had saved from the chaotic currents outside the Star Domain three months ago.

At the time, he was being hunted by enemies, covered in wounds and on the verge of death. She had intervened, brought him back to the Liu Family, and placed him in a separate courtyard behind the mountain to recover.

During this time, he had stayed quietly in the courtyard, spoke little, and never meddled in other people's affairs. Liu Meihan had simply regarded him as an impoverished scion of a noble Family and, aside from daily care, hadn't paid him much attention.

But she never expected that he would appear here at this moment, and even say such things.

Liu Meihan looked at him, her beautiful eyes filled with astonishment, and then a spark of hope instantly ignited.

She stood up abruptly from the throne; because the movement was too rushed, her body swayed for a moment. She stared fixedly at Ye Bufan, her voice filled with unconcealable urgency and disbelief: "You... is what you said true? Do you really have a method?"

She was like a person about to drown; even if the only thing she could grab was a straw, she was willing to try with all her might.

Ye Bufan walked slowly to the center of the great hall, stopped, and looked up, gazing earnestly at Liu Meihan on the throne. Looking at her pale face and the undried tear tracks at the corners of her eyes, a trace of imperceptible heartache flashed in his cold eyes.

He smiled lightly, his tone unhurried but carrying a power that brought inexplicable peace of mind: "That is natural. You have a grace of saving my life, Liu Meihan. If it weren't for you, I would have died in the chaotic currents outside the Star Domain three months ago. Now that your sister Liu Meiyan has fallen into the hands of a villain and you are trapped in a dilemma, I naturally cannot stand idly by."

His voice was steady, like a needle that calms the sea, instantly smoothing out most of the panic in Liu Meihan's heart.

She stepped down quickly from the throne and reached Ye Bufan in a few strides. Her beautiful almond-shaped eyes stared fixedly at him, filled with urgency, ignoring her usual decorum as she urged him repeatedly: "Ye Bufan, at a time like this, stop keeping me in suspense! What exactly is the method? Tell me quickly! As long as I can save Liu Meiyan, no matter what the risk, I am willing to brave it!"

For the sake of her sister, let alone risks, even if it meant climbing a mountain of blades or descending into a sea of fire, she would never frown.

Ye Bufan looked at her, seeing her eyes red with anxiety, and stopped beating around the bush. He nodded slightly, his gaze resting on her face, and asked earnestly: "Liu Meihan, you have lived for so many years and wield the Extreme Yin Dao; you must have heard of the Samsara Dao, right?"

"Samsara Dao?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Meihan was instantly stunned on the spot, her beautiful eyes suddenly filled with intense shock and astonishment.

How could she have not heard of it?

The Three Thousand Daos each have their mysteries. The Extreme Yin Dao she practiced was already a top-tier Dao among the Three Thousand Daos.

But even the Extreme Yin Dao was simply incomparable before the legendary Samsara Dao.

The Samsara Dao was one of the most top-tier and mysterious Supreme Daos among the Three Thousand Daos. Legend had it that as long as one could comprehend a sliver of the Samsara Dao, one could integrate Nirvana Power. Even with only Enlightenment Realm Cultivation, one could possess the might of a Nirvana Realm expert, making killing across Realms as easy as reaching into one's pocket.

Yet, this Samsara Dao had been lost for ten thousand years. In the entire Universe, only scattered legends remained; no one had ever truly seen it, let alone practiced it.

Liu Meihan steadied herself and looked at Ye Bufan, her voice still filled with disbelief: "The Samsara Dao is a legendary Supreme Dao; I naturally know of it. But this Dao has been lost for ten thousand years, and no one in the entire Universe has seen it. Why do you suddenly bring this up?"

Ye Bufan looked at her shocked expression, smiled, and nodded, confirming her words. He then slowly opened his mouth and revealed a secret that shocked her even more: "Correct, the Samsara Dao has indeed been lost for a long time. However, years ago, when I was being hunted by enemies, I mistakenly entered an abandoned Star Domain wrapped in chaotic space-time currents. Deep within that Star Domain, I accidentally discovered a Trial Grounds for the inheritance of the Samsara Dao."

As soon as these words were spoken, Liu Meihan's pupils instantly constricted. Her eyes widened, staring straight at Ye Bufan, and she even held her breath.

The inheritance of the Samsara Dao, lost for ten thousand years?!

If this were to get out, the entire Cultivation world would go crazy!

Countless Nirvana Realm experts, and even those of higher levels, would fight desperately to seize it!

She clenched her fingers tightly, suppressing the raging waves in her heart. She steadied herself, looked at Ye Bufan, and parted her red lips to ask the question that puzzled her the most: "Since that is the case, when you discovered such a precious inheritance back then, why didn't you attempt the Samsara Dao yourself? Such a good Opportunity—anyone else would not have let it pass, right?"

This was too unreasonable.

Who would hide such a precious Supreme Dao inheritance without using it, only to bring it out and share it with someone else?

Upon hearing this, the smile on Ye Bufan's face faded slightly, and a trace of imperceptible helplessness flashed in the depths of his eyes, before he returned to calm. He explained unhurriedly: "To tell you the truth, when I discovered that Trial Grounds back then, it was sealed by an ancient Restriction and had a strict opening time. Before the time came, even top-tier experts could not enter. I have been calculating the time all these years, and according to the operational patterns of the Restriction, that Trial Grounds is likely about to open now."

He paused, his gaze landing on Liu Meihan's face again, his tone carrying a touch of seriousness: "Moreover, the Samsara Dao trial is extremely dangerous. Inside, there are not only ancient illusions but also Samsara tribulations. If one is slightly careless, one's Divine Soul will be destroyed, and one will never be reincarnated for eternity. Attempting it alone is a nine-in-ten chance of death. If you and I go together, we can look out for each other, and the chances of succeeding will be much higher. Furthermore, you urgently need to raise your Cultivation to save your sister; this is the only way at present. How about it? Do you dare to accompany me to attempt it?"

Liu Meihan stood on the spot, looking into Ye Bufan's earnest eyes, and raging waves surged in her heart.

On one side was the Supreme Dao lost for ten thousand years, the only chance for her to rapidly increase her strength in a short time and rescue her sister; on the other side was a nine-in-ten chance of death trial, where a slight carelessness would result in her Divine Soul being destroyed.

But looking into Ye Bufan's eyes, she didn't know why, but a vague voice in her heart kept telling her that this youth could be trusted.

He would not harm her.

She practiced the Extreme Yin Dao, and her perception of the good and evil in people's hearts was keener than anyone else's.

He appeared cold and distant, but in his bones, he carried a gentleness that brought peace of mind.

Furthermore, she had no other choice now.

Either she sat here and watched helplessly as her sister fell into the hands of the villain, with no hope of ever seeing the light of day, or she risked her life to attempt this Samsara Dao trial. Even if there was only a one-in-ten chance, she had to try.

Thinking of this, Liu Meihan took a deep breath. The hesitation and struggle in her eyes instantly dissipated, leaving only determination.

She raised her head, looked at Ye Bufan, and nodded heavily. Her voice carried the resolve of burning her bridges: "Good! Since that is the case, I will accompany you to attempt it! Mountain of blades or sea of fire, I, Liu Meihan, will see it through to the end!"

Looking at the light reignited in her eyes, a sincere smile also appeared on Ye Bufan's face.

He nodded slightly and said: "Good. Then you should take a short rest for these few days, replenish the Cultivation you lost, and properly heal the old injuries on your body. Once your state is restored to its Peak, the two of us will depart immediately for the inheritance Trial Grounds of the Samsara Dao."

"Good." Liu Meihan nodded heavily. The heart that had been hanging for several days finally landed at this moment.

Ye Bufan did not linger any longer. He nodded slightly at her, then turned and walked slowly out of the great hall. Before leaving, he thoughtfully closed the palace doors, leaving her with enough space to be alone.

The great hall returned to silence once again, but this time, the air was no longer filled with the chill of despair; instead, it held a touch of the warmth of hope.

Liu Meihan stood on the spot, looking up at the pitch-black night sky outside the palace, and clenched her fists tightly.

Liu Meiyan, wait for me.

Your sister will definitely find a way to save you.

Meanwhile.

Inside the Nirvana Palace.

Qi Xiaoyu...