Chapter 166: All of You, Just Die
Jin Ling didn’t look back. He didn’t want Qiao Xixi to see the reluctance in his eyes, and he knew full well that he stood no chance against Jin Hui.
"Xixi, don’t stop! Keep going! I’ll hold him off!"
Qiao Xixi’s eyes instantly reddened. ’A 6-star is no match for a 10-star.’
"Come back, Jin Ling!"
"Father Jin Ling!"
Seeing Qiao Xixi’s pain, Feiyan felt just as upset. He grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips, giving it a hard kiss.
"Don’t worry. I’ll go help Jin Ling. You all keep going and get out of here as fast as you can. We’ll find a chance to escape!"
With that, he gently patted the two cubs’ heads and leaped off of Sunxiao before Qiao Xixi could react.
"Feiyan!"
"Father!"
Feiyan didn’t dare to look back either. He just charged toward Jin Ling’s position.
Hearing the commotion behind them, Sunxiao’s serpentine eyes grew colder, but Qiao Xixi suddenly threw her arms around him.
"I know how to deal with him! We need to find the Holy Crystal!"
"Earth Escape Beast, we need to find the Holy Crystal! Take us to where it is, now!"
The Earth Escape Beast understood and immediately picked up speed. It, too, was desperate to get near the Holy Crystal and absorb its power. ’That way, I can grow strong enough to defeat Sangze and break free from his control!’
Qiao Xixi quickly pulled up the system screen to check the location of the Holy Crystal.
’Closer!’
But strangely, the red dots that had been in the ore vein had all shot up toward the surface in unison.
"Xiao Yao, what’s happening? Why are the monsters on the move?"
"Host, I just checked. They were likely startled by the Golden Eagle Beast. The tremors underground were too much for them, so they fled to the surface."
"Will this affect our search for the Holy Crystal?"
"If they were still in their previous positions, they would have definitely been an obstacle. But now that they’re gone, this is a great opportunity, Host! You can find the Holy Crystal right now."
"Okay."
The farther they went, the quieter it became, until the only sound Qiao Xixi could hear was the scraping of Sunxiao’s body against the ground.
After an unknown amount of time, Qiao Xixi felt Qiao Lie suddenly grow restless.
Qiao Lie squirmed in discomfort, his serpentine eyes growing an even deeper shade of crimson.
"Qiao Lie, what’s wrong?"
Qiao Lie threw himself into Qiao Xixi’s arms, his voice thick with tears.
"Mother, I feel awful. Something inside me is thrashing around."
Sunxiao glanced back quickly at Qiao Lie. "It’s the power of the Holy Crystal. It’s making the Curse Stone in our bodies uneasy, causing it to release restless energy. Just hold on a little longer. It’ll be fine once we absorb the power of the Holy Crystal."
The Earth Escape Beast suddenly came to a halt.
"Is the Holy Crystal here?"
The Earth Escape Beast’s rear end instantly morphed into a head and nodded at Qiao Xixi.
Qiao Xixi looked around. It was pitch-black everywhere; there was nothing here at all.
"Xiao Yao, is the Holy Crystal really here?"
"Yes, yes, yes, Host! I can already feel the immense power of the Holy Crystal."
Sunxiao’s serpentine eyes scanned the surroundings. He suddenly said to Qiao Xixi, "Xixi, you and the cubs hold on tight."
"Okay."
The moment she finished speaking, Sunxiao slammed into the stone wall ahead.
The stone wall trembled violently from the impact. Just as Qiao Xixi was starting to worry it might collapse, the spot Sunxiao had struck suddenly fractured, with huge cracks spreading out from it.
As loose rock and dirt trickled from the cracks, a stone door appeared before their eyes.
"Is it in here?"
"It should be."
Qiao Xixi jumped off Sunxiao and approached the massive stone door. After Sunxiao rammed it again, the door split open with a huge crack. As stones tumbled away, a white light so brilliant it was painful streamed out from within.
When Qiao Xixi opened her eyes again, Sunxiao had already returned to his human form.
He said to Qiao Xixi, "I’ll go in and take a look first."
"Be careful."
"Mm."
Sunxiao slipped through the crack. A moment later, his voice called out from inside.
"Xixi, you can come in."
Qiao Xixi then led the cubs inside.
Stepping through the fissure in the stone door, Qiao Xixi froze, stunned by the dazzling sight that met her eyes.
The walls on all sides were made of milky-white Crystal Stone, emitting a soft, cool glow. Even the floor was paved with a thick layer of the same stone.
"The Holy Crystal is over there. Qiao Lie, come here."
A multicolored halo emanated from the far end of the crystal passage. Qiao Xixi tried to approach but was held back by a powerful force.
"Xixi, the Holy Crystal’s energy is too strong. Don’t get any closer."
Qiao Xixi stopped in her tracks. "Okay. You and Qiao Lie, you have to be careful."
Sunxiao nodded and slowly walked toward the Holy Crystal, holding Qiao Lie in his arms.
The closer they got, the more intensely they felt the restless, violent churning within their bodies.
Qiao Lie clenched his jaw, whimpering in pain as he lay draped over Sunxiao’s shoulder.
Cold sweat trickled down Sunxiao’s forehead, but he still forced himself forward, one step at a time.
"Ugh! Father, I feel so awful."
When they finally reached the Holy Crystal, Qiao Lie couldn’t hold it in any longer and cried out.
Sunxiao held him tighter. "Just hold on a little longer. We just have to use the Holy Crystal’s energy to shatter the Curse Stone, and this will be over."
The fist-sized Holy Crystal burst with multicolored light. Sunxiao reached out and took hold of it. The instant his fingertips made contact, an immense power surged through his entire body.
"Ngh—" *SPIT!*
Even someone as powerful as Sunxiao couldn’t endure it and spat out a mouthful of blood.
Standing on the outside, Qiao Xixi couldn’t see what was happening and was frantic with worry.
「Elsewhere」
Jin Ling and Feiyan were still locked in a fierce battle with Jin Hui.
The cavern was too small for Jin Hui to move freely, which allowed Jin Ling and Feiyan to land several blows. He was already covered in numerous wounds.
"You’re courting death!"
A thick, yellow-green smoke erupted from Jin Hui’s body, instantly enveloping Jin Ling and Feiyan and robbing them of their sense of direction.
"You dare to block my path? For that, you will all die!"
Both men strained their ears, listening for Jin Hui’s movements. A whoosh of air cut through the smoke, and Jin Ling threw a punch, but in the blink of an eye, Jin Hui was behind him, slamming a fist into his chest.
*SPIT!*
Jin Ling crashed hard against the stone wall, spitting up blood.
"Die!"
Jin Hui raised his hand, gathering a massive amount of energy in his palm before aiming a blow at Jin Ling’s head.
A snow-white figure suddenly flashed past, trying to knock Jin Hui away. But Jin Hui seemed to anticipate the move. With a flash, he was behind Feiyan, striking him square in the back with his palm.
He had used his full strength in that one blow. Feiyan heard the distinct sound of his breastbone shattering.
The two of them collapsed to the ground, blood pooling beneath them.
As the smoke dissipated, Jin Hui contemptuously planted his foot on their chests.
"The weak should grovel at the feet of the strong, not defy them. Otherwise, the only path that awaits them is death."
Jin Hui’s hands morphed into sharp claws. He raised them high, then plunged them swiftly toward Jin Ling and Feiyan.
"Die!"
Jin Ling’s fingertips trembled as he pulled out several Bubble Fruits. They were all gifts from Qiao Xixi. ’Even if I die, I’m taking Jin Hui with me. I can’t let him pose any threat to Qiao Xixi!’