It's hard to describe the feeling before. Even though Tantai Qin's strength hadn't increased significantly, her combat power had risen sharply.

With each swing of the sword, a celestial soldier falls.

For a moment, Chen Qian didn't understand the underlying principle; he just felt that this state seemed familiar.

Seeing the glimmer of hope for escape, Shen Qian dared not speak again and carefully followed behind Tantai Qin.

Tantai Qin led Shen Qian forward, carving a straight, bloody path through the enemy lines.

In just a minute or two, another hundred heavenly soldiers fell to Tantai Qin's sword.

But Tantai Qin's steps suddenly faltered.

A sudden realization dawned on Shen Qian's mind.

After a series of escapes and battles, her vital energy is probably almost depleted...

After all, it is only half a step into the Mountain and Sea realm, and its vital energy is far from being inexhaustible.

At that very moment, Shen Qian suddenly understood what Tantai Qin meant by the so-called "extreme realm".

...Isn't this the state of the system?

In a certain way or method, Tantai Qin seemed to have unleashed all her potential. Her use of power, her grasp of skills, her prediction of timing, and her combination of moves...

Almost everything had reached a state of perfection.

In other words, although her strength as a whole did not improve, her combat power reached the theoretical peak of the half-step Mountain and Sea realm.

Not a single ounce of energy was wasted, and every step was taken at the perfect rhythm.

This is what happens when you're AFK (away from keyboard)!

It may not be as absolutely perfect as a system, but it's very, very close...

"So the AFK system is actually me in Extreme Mode?"

He couldn't help but murmur before sinking.

He seemed to have discovered some incredible secret, but it also seemed to be of no use whatsoever.

These chaotic thoughts flashed through Shen Qian's mind for only a moment before he was quickly brought back to the harsh reality.

Even after exhausting her energy, Tantai Qin did not stop walking.

But she paid an even heavier price.

Suddenly, flames of platinum color erupted from her left arm.

After the flames appeared, Tantai Qin's sword became even sharper.

But her arm was turning transparent at a speed visible to the naked eye.

After burning away one's vital energy... the next step is to burn away one's physical body!

Whoosh!

With a swift sword strike, all that met her eyes were shattered armor and bloody flesh. Tantai Qin maintained her serene expression and led Shen Qian step by step as they fought their way out.

Behind them, a path appeared that was so red it was almost black.

Shen Qian's eyes lit up, because after an unknown amount of time, he finally saw the edge of the Heavenly Soldiers' formation.

But then the light in his eyes disappeared.

Because Tantai Qin's arm had completely vanished, leaving only an empty sleeve.

And then...

With a loud "boom," flames began to erupt from Tantai Qin's right leg as well.

Without the slightest hesitation, just as she said, she was prepared to burn herself out.

Shen Qian couldn't hold back any longer. He roared and drew his long sword, using the little strength he had just recovered to help Tantai Qin clear a path.

Unfortunately, his combat strength at this time was at most at the mid-stage of the high-level martial artist level. He could only barely exert some effect by relying on the sharpness of the "Mountain and River Blade," which was better than nothing.

When half of Tantai Qin's right leg was burned away, the two finally broke through the encirclement as the last heavenly soldier fell.

Without uttering a single wasted word, Tantai Qin sheathed her sword, grabbed Shen Qian by the collar, and charged forward, instantly putting distance between herself and the countless heavenly soldiers chasing after her.

Shen Qian glanced back again and saw that the four silver-armored heavenly generals were still standing quietly on the clouds, seemingly having no intention of making a move.

She swallowed her doubts for the time being, and as the scenery around her changed, about fifteen minutes later, Tantai Qin, unable to hold on any longer, came to a sudden stop, and the strong inertia threw Chen Qian away.

He stumbled and fell to the hard ground, but ignoring his aching knees, he quickly turned to look at Tantai Qin.

Tantai Qin was leaning against a broken pillar, breathing heavily. Her face was flushed with an eerie redness. Apart from her missing left arm, only a third of her right leg remained.

Clang!

The long sword in Tantai Qin's hand fell to the ground. He took a step forward and caught her before she fell.

"you……"

He opened his mouth and then closed it again before sinking in.

He wanted to ask, "Are you alright?" but immediately realized that it was a pointless question.

Whether there's a problem or not, isn't it obvious enough?

"It's alright, I only lost an arm and a leg, it's better than expected."

Tantai Qin raised her head slightly and said softly.

"Can your hands and feet recover?" Shen Qian asked, frowning.

For normal people, severed hands and feet can be restored; at most, it will be a bit troublesome.

Before sinking, he had a vague premonition that the Tantai Qin in front of him might not be able to do it.

Even if she were the real body, it would be difficult to recover so easily after burning her vital energy and physical body.

Tantai Qin remained silent.

Shen Qian knew the answer and fell silent.

Why are you like this?

Chen Qian felt helpless and troubled, "We're not even that close..."

Is that you?

Tantai Qin suddenly looked up, her eyes holding a hint of something indescribable.

"What am I?" Shen Qian was taken aback.

"Was it you at the Plum Garden that time...?" Tantai Qin continued to ask.

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