260: threaten

On the battlefield, the dust had settled, leaving only a tension so tight it felt like it would snap and the thick scent of blood lingering in the air.

The mystic yellow mountain-suppressing mirror on Xiaochun's chest still emitted a Chaos radiance, barely sustaining a small area of relative safety that enveloped her and the unconscious Qin Feng behind her. Xia Ya leaned on her dented giant shield, panting heavily as she guarded the edge of the mirror's light, her tiger-like eyes glaring at the surroundings. Ye Wuyou and Cold Peach Blossom stood to the left and right, protecting the flanks; though their injuries were not light, their gazes remained sharp, though filled with pain and helplessness when they looked at their captured companions.

As for their enemies, the situation was equally disastrous.

On the Yin Demon Sect's side, although Zhongli Wu was standing, his bare upper body was covered in wounds, the devilish armor over his heart was hideously cracked, blood remained at the corners of his mouth, and his aura was unstable—he was clearly seriously injured. Beside him, only two Mid-stage Martial Emperor Elders remained relatively intact, but their auras were also shaky, and their faces bore looks of alarm. The other two Early Stage Martial Emperor Elders were currently ashen-faced and teetering, having previously inhaled the "Half-Step to the West" dust and being caught in the proximity of the "emperor extermination powder." They were focusing all their power on expelling the poison, their combat strength greatly diminished. As for the disciples and Protectors of the Martial King Realm, they were already dead or injured from the chain of poisonings and counterattacks, essentially losing all fighting capability.

The Corpse Demon Sect was in an even more miserable state. The Sect Master's face was a pale, sickly green, and his aura was withered; he was clearly both heavily injured and poisoned. His greatest reliance, that Heavenly Corpse, now lay slumped not far away, a massive cavity in its chest and its soul fire as weak as a candle in the wind, completely scrapped and unable to even move. The rest of the corpse puppets had already vanished into ash during the Four Symbols Combined Strike and the subsequent battle.

Calculating it out, the only ones who could still maintain significant combat power were Blue Nightmare and the two Blood-Filled Tower Martial King assassins under him who were controlling the hostages!

Blue Nightmare stood at the edge of the battlefield at his leisure, one hand dangling the unconscious Little Fire. His gaze swept over the disheveled Zhongli Wu and the wretched Corpse Demon Sect Master, then landed on Xiaochun and the others who were struggling to hold on with the Heaven Rank treasure mirror. Finally, his gaze greedily fixed on the flowing radiance of the mystic yellow mountain-suppressing mirror, and he couldn't help but curl his lips into a smug, cold smile.

"Hehehe..." He chuckled lowly, his voice particularly piercing in the silent battlefield. "Interesting, truly interesting... I didn't expect that in the end, it would be my side... that has the most advantage."

He completely ignored Zhongli Wu's murderous glare and the Corpse Demon Sect Master's venomous look, pacing forward two steps. His gaze locked directly onto Xiaochun, his tone becoming "gentle" yet filled with an undeniable authority:

"Little girl, how about we strike a deal?"

Xiaochun looked at him warily, clutching the mountain-suppressing mirror tightly without saying a word.

Blue Nightmare pointed to the unconscious Tao Yuanyi and Ji Ruxue, who were controlled by his subordinates, then shook Little Fire in his hand: "Do you see? Your Senior Brother, your sister, and this cute little fellow... are all in my hands."

He paused for a moment, his smile deepening with naked temptation and threat:

"Me, I'm a businessman, and I'm only interested in treasures. That mirror on your chest... is quite nice. As long as you give it to me, I, Blue Nightmare, guarantee in the name of the Blood-Filled Tower's Manager that I will immediately release these three companions of yours and leave with my men, never getting involved in any of the slaughter or grudges between you and the Yin Demon Sect or Corpse Demon Sect. How about it? One mirror for three lives—a very good bargain, isn't it?"

"Xiaochun! Don't be fooled!" Cold Peach Blossom shouted urgently. Although the sight of Tao Yuanyi in the enemy's hands made her heart ache as if pierced by a knife, she knew well the treachery of the Blood-Filled Tower; credit and trust were worthless in their eyes. "He won't keep his word once he gets the mirror! And without the mirror, we'll immediately..."

"Shut up!" Blue Nightmare coldly interrupted her, his gaze sweeping over Cold Peach Blossom like a venomous snake. "This is no place for you to speak. If you dare say another word, I'll snap your husband's neck right now!" The assassin controlling Tao Yuanyi immediately hooked his fingers around Tao Yuanyi's throat.

Cold Peach Blossom's breath hitched. She bit her lip hard, tears welling in her eyes, but she didn't dare make another sound.

"Old Ghost Qing! What is the meaning of this?!" Zhongli Wu finally couldn't help but growl in a hoarse voice. "That mirror is something this seat wants! You dare lay a finger on it?!"

The Corpse Demon Sect Master also said sinisterly, "Blue Nightmare, you want it all for yourself?"

Blue Nightmare glanced at them and sneered. "Lord Zhongli, Corpse Demon Sect Master, look at yourselves... are you in any position to negotiate with me? What I want, right now, I have the final say." His tone turned cold as he looked back at Xiaochun, losing his last bit of patience. "Little girl, I don't have time to waste with you. Do you agree, or not?"

He slowly raised his other hand, a ghostly light flickering at his fingertips as he aimed it at the center of Ji Ruxue's brow. "I'll count to three. After three counts, if you don't hand over the mirror, I'll first kill this female assassin, then kill your Senior Brother, and finally crush this little beast! One!"

"You...!" Xia Ya was trembling with rage, wishing she could rush forward to fight to the death, but she was held back firmly by Ye Wuyou.

"Two!" Blue Nightmare's voice was icy and devoid of emotion, the ghostly light at his fingertips growing even brighter.

Xiaochun's delicate frame shook violently, and tears finally burst from her eyes. She looked at the unconscious and dying Tao Yuanyi and Ji Ruxue, and at the weak Little Fire being dangled in his hand; her heart felt as if it were being twisted by a knife. Giving up the mirror might mean losing their greatest protection, harming Brother Feng and everyone else; not giving it up meant her Senior Sister, Senior Brother, and Little Fire would die right before her eyes!

What should I do? Brother Feng, what should I do? she cried out helplessly in her heart.

"Three..." Killing intent flared in Blue Nightmare's eyes, and the ghostly light was about to shoot from his fingertips!

"I'll give it to you!!!" Xiaochun screamed, her voice shrill and desperate. She couldn't watch them die! Even if there was only a sliver of hope... "Xiaochun! No!" Xia Ya and Cold Peach Blossom cried out at the same time.

However, just as Xiaochun's trembling hand was about to remove the mystic yellow mountain-suppressing mirror from her neck—

A sudden change occurred!

Qin Feng, who had been kept alive by Xiaochun's essence blood and the Myriad Medicine Body's Origin power while in a deep coma, suddenly twitched extremely slightly!

Immediately following, a weak yet exceptionally tenacious aura of life, like the first tender sprout struggling to emerge from the frozen earth after a long winter, slowly revived and grew within his body!

It wasn't the power Xiaochun had input, but something originating from himself! It was as if under the extreme pressure of death and the stimulus of his companions' crisis, his Physical Body and will—which had been tempered many times and were already resilient—along with the remaining Foundation of the Primordial Unity Qi Art in his body, and his body which had just gone through the Sword Heart and Sword Bone eruption and was completely dry yet seemed to have touched some deeper potential, produced an incredible resonance!

The essence blood of the Myriad Medicine Body was no longer just a simple life-sustaining medicine; instead, it was like a key of the purest life force. Combined with Qin Feng's own tenacious will to survive, it quietly activated some dormant, life-related hidden trait or potential within him!

Within his damaged Meridians, strands of new, pale-golden True Essence began to painfully emerge; deep within his depleted Dantian, a faint spark was relit; even the fragments of the shattered white dragon armor and the broken hilt of the ink plum sword seemed to produce a faint resonance with him.

A very faint color returned to his pale face at a speed visible to the naked eye. Although he was still unconscious, his aura was no longer sliding toward the abyss of death but instead showed a slow yet steady upward trend!

This change was extremely subtle, almost unnoticeable amidst the tense confrontation.

But Xiaochun, who had kept part of her mind focused on Qin Feng, was the first to sense it! A faint "feedback" came from the channel through which she was transmitting life force!

Brother Feng... is getting better? It's slow, but he's really getting better!

This discovery was like a spark suddenly lit in the darkness, instantly igniting Xiaochun's heart which had been nearly drowned by despair!

Almost simultaneously, Blue Nightmare's patience reached its limit.

"It seems you want to watch them die first?"

"Stop!" Xiaochun's tears streamed down as she screamed in despair, "I'll give it! I'll give you the mirror! Don't hurt them!"

"Xiaochun! No!" Cold Peach Blossom and Xia Ya cried out at the same time.

But Xiaochun had already tremblingly reached out to touch the mystic yellow mountain-suppressing mirror on her chest. To her, the lives of her companions were more important than anything, even this supreme treasure that meant life or death.

A flash of triumphant ecstasy and greed crossed Blue Nightmare's eyes.

Zhongli Wu's face turned ashen as he clenched his fists, his Devilish Qi hidden but ready, though it was unclear what he was planning.

Greed also appeared in the Corpse Demon Sect Master's eyes, but after looking at Blue Nightmare and Zhongli Wu, he shrank back.

Just as Xiaochun's fingers were about to touch the mirror's body and the curve of Blue Nightmare's mouth grew wider, as if he could already see the beautiful prospect of the supreme treasure in his hands—

Another change occurred!

It didn't come from any side on the battlefield.

But rather... from the sky!