The Master and His Wealthy Fiancée

Just as the thought crossed his mind, Meng Yingluo's mocking voice rang out. "Using your lifespan to channel Dao Essence, then drawing it out with emotion… what a crude method. Is this the extent of your understanding of Dao Essence?"

Yang Zhang didn't deny his superficial application of Dao Essence. Instead, he demanded, "This demonic aura of yours is undeniable. As a member of the Demon Race, why are you helping them?"

A bewitching light flashed in Meng Yingluo's eyes as she said coldly, "And why do you think that is?"

Yang Zhang's gaze instantly became vacant, as if his Divine Sense had been thrown into disarray.

In that brief moment, Meng Yingluo's figure flickered like an illusion, and she lunged at Yang Zhang with her claws.

Just as the shadow of her claws was about to touch Yang Zhang's body, he suddenly snapped out of it and threw a punch at Meng Yingluo.

Although Meng Yingluo managed to pull back in time, she still coughed up blood, clearly heavily injured.

The difference in their Realms was simply too vast.

Killing intent solidified in Yang Zhang's eyes. He roared, "So you're from the Nightmare Race. No wonder. This isn't Yunmeng City. Do you really think I don't dare to kill you?"

Meng Yingluo glared coldly at Yang Zhang without another word. 'I just hate that I woke up too late,' she thought. 'If I had devoured enough dreams within the Guardian Array, what would a mere Yang Zhang even be?'

Yang Zhang swept his gaze over the group, his eyes locking onto Chen Dong. Without further delay, he unleashed one of his Innate Divine Techniques—Horn of the Starry River.

A colossal horn materialized in the void, hanging upside down as it descended with the power to shatter heavens and destroy stars.

Chen Dong teleported with his lightning arts while Murong Qing summoned a barrier of water. One to hinder, one to flee. Chen Dong narrowly evaded the descending horn.

In the next instant, Yang Zhang sent two phantoms of fiery sheep charging forward.

Jiang Hongqin and her two companions each unleashed their magical artifacts, sending them flying toward the sheep phantoms.

However, before the spell of a Nascent Soul Demon King, their artifacts were laughably fragile. They were shattered in an instant, and each of their owners suffered from the resulting backlash.

Zisang Jin, still in Chen Dong's arms, finally managed to channel a sliver of Spiritual Power. With a flash of her sword, peach blossoms filled the air. The attack not only annihilated the two sheep phantoms but continued on, the blade's light streaking directly toward Yang Zhang.

But Zisang Jin spat out another mouthful of blood, her aura falling into chaos. The crimson of the peach blossoms grew painfully bright.

A fierce look entered Chen Dong's eyes. 'If this keeps up, we're all going to die here,' he thought. 'I can't worry about the consequences anymore.'

Seeing Zisang Jin's blood-stained lips, which only made them a more vibrant shade of red, he leaned in and kissed her.

At that moment… everyone stared, their eyes wide with utter disbelief…

Meng Yingluo was completely floored. 'I never thought Chen Dong was this kind of person,' she mused. 'If I'd known, I would have just seduced him and drained his Spiritual Power. We might have had a fighting chance then.'

Liu Ling's jaw dropped. 'Even on the verge of death, Master still has to steal a kiss? What a pervert!'

Murong Qing suddenly felt her chest tighten, and a pitifully wronged look filled her eyes.

Meanwhile, Mu Qingzhu, inside the Jade Embryo in Chen Dong's body… well, she was still enjoying it…

Zisang Jin's beautiful eyes flew open, staring in shock at this incomprehensible man. But in the space of that single kiss, her white hair reverted to a silken black, and the leaf-shaped Dao Essence between her brows grew intensely bright, even beginning to radiate a sacred light.

Her initial shock gave way as she slowly closed her eyes. Her arms snaked around Chen Dong's neck, and she began to respond to his kiss, to even demand more…

Murong Qing bit her lip, her brow furrowed and her fists clenched. 'Damn you, Chen Dong!' she thought furiously. 'Even if we're all about to die, I'll never forgive you!'

Even Yang Zhang, who had just blocked the sword's light, was momentarily stunned by the spectacle.

He roared in fury, "How dare you be so intimate with a great enemy right in front of you! You dare to look down on me, Yang Zhang?! Horn of the Starry River, Pierce the Heavens!"

An immense demonic aura surged forth, and the massive shadow of the horn radiated a chilling killing intent.

Zisang Jin gently pushed Chen Dong away. He seemed a little reluctant to stop, but a resentful voice from Mu Qingzhu echoed in his mind from within the Jade Embryo: "Just die! Let everyone die! I'm done with this!"

Zisang Jin's gaze was clear, her bright eyes now filled with a valiant aura. With a single wave of her Peach Blossom Divine Sword, she shattered the descending horn that seemed capable of piercing the veil of destiny itself. Then, an unparalleled Sword Intent shot directly toward Yang Zhang.

Horror flashed in Yang Zhang's eyes, his pupils shrinking. This Sword Intent was even sharper than Zisang Jin's at her peak! He didn't dare to be careless for a second. He instantly revealed his true form: a giant sheep the size of a small mountain, its body wreathed in flames. It met the incoming sword light with one of its colossal horns.

BOOM! With a deafening crash, Yang Zhang was forced back a step.

"I don't know how you recovered, but your fate remains the same—death!"

The fiery Dao Essence on his head flared. "With a glare that defies the Celestial Dao, I shall smite all creation!"

With a roar, Yang Zhang sacrificed a thousand years of his lifespan! Flames erupted and engulfed the mountain, making it seem as if the entire peak had been cast into a blazing sun. Fire consumed the world, and only an occasional flicker of the Sun's Divine Light could be seen breaking through.

And yet, the ruined cliffside cave remained an oasis of verdant green—a stark and bizarre sight in the midst of this fiery world.

As if stirred by a gentle breeze, the hair at Zisang Jin's forehead lifted, revealing the glowing Dao Essence to Yang Zhang.

Terror seized Yang Zhang's very soul. "This… this is impossible!"

'I have to get out of here!' In an instant, all of Yang Zhang's fighting spirit vanished. Someone in the Light Dao Realm could obliterate him with ease.

Without a second thought, the giant sheep turned and fled, unhesitatingly burning its own blood essence to gain speed.

"If I were a single peach blossom… I would wish to float down with you…"

As the clear and melodious voice sang out, petals began to dance around the giant sheep, untouched by the raging flames, spreading their faint, sweet fragrance.

"Forsaking fleeting youth for hoary age, wandering through lifetimes…"

The petals multiplied endlessly, and the giant sheep's eyes were filled with pure terror. It pushed its speed even further, charging recklessly ahead even with the Sun's Divine Light blocking its path!

The serene voice suddenly turned sharp, a tone that was part blessing, part resolution!

"May you for all your life… know sorrow, but never know harm!"

The final word, "harm," had barely faded when the giant sheep let out a wild scream. "No––––––!"

The drifting petals split apart, and as they did, so too did the giant sheep. It disintegrated into dust, utterly annihilated, its Nascent Soul extinguished along with it.