Choice
The prelude to the war between immortals and demons was personally initiated by the Demon Lord at a blood-red wedding ceremony.
The Demon Lord, who had orchestrated the entire conspiracy, was only one step away from success when he glanced back.
Everything is in chaos.
Time seemed to freeze at that moment.
Ahead lies the "Tracing Shadow Glass Heart," within easy reach; the long-cherished wish of mastering demonic arts and overthrowing the immortal realm is within reach.
Behind him was Jiu Che, whose immortal energy was rapidly dissipating and whose life force was as fragile as a candle flickering in the wind.
Qi Yuan's hand froze in mid-air, her fingertips only inches away from the warm, smooth glass heart. The immense power contained within it almost burned her skin. The demonic soul roared madly, urging her to complete this final step. If she could obtain it, the demon race could usher in a new era!
But her body seemed to be bound by invisible, immense shackles, unable to move.
Jiu Che's deathly pale face, filled with disbelief and broken pain, was etched clearly into her mind, more deeply than any curse. The aura of his dissipating immortal energy, like a falling star, was like a cold file, tearing back and forth across her hardened heart.
He will die.
This realization carried a destructive power, shattering all her reason and planning.
"Demon Lord! Quickly retrieve the Crystal Heart!" The demon shadow guards who rushed into the forbidden area urged urgently. They were already engaged in fierce battle with the pursuing fox elders. Demonic energy and immortal light collided violently, and the entire altar was trembling.
Qi Yuan whirled around, his crimson eyes sweeping over the shadow guard with overwhelming killing intent and irritation: "Shut up!"
The shadow guard was startled by the unprecedented ferocity in her eyes.
In that split second of hesitation, the Fox Clan's Grand Elder had already broken through the demon guards' obstruction, and with boundless rage and immense immortal power, struck her from behind with a palm! "Demon! Die!"
The sharp killing intent stimulated Qi Yuan's demonic energy to automatically protect her body, and she instinctively met the attack with a backhand palm strike!
"boom--!"
The clash between the Demon Lord and the Fox Clan's top elder unleashed an energy storm that swept across the entire core forbidden area! The violent airflow cracked the jade pillars on the altar, and even the suspended "Tracing Shadow Glazed Heart" trembled and shifted its position.
Qi Yuan was shaken so badly that his blood and qi surged, and he staggered back several steps, managing to get away from Liu Lixin. The Grand Elder was also forced back by the pure and domineering demonic energy, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, and his eyes were filled with horror and utter coldness as he looked at her.
"It really is you... Demon Lord Qi Yuan!"
Once his name was revealed, his identity was completely exposed.
Qi Yuan seemed not to hear, her gaze piercing through the chaotic battle, once again fixed on the direction of the wedding ceremony. Jiu Che's aura grew even weaker... like a candle flame about to be extinguished.
We can't wait any longer!
What a treasure! What an ambition!
Faced with that rapidly fading life, an unprecedented poisonous flame called "regret" burned away all the defenses she had built up over a thousand years.
She made the choice almost instinctively.
To everyone's disbelief, the infamous Demon Lord actually retreated. Instead of touching the crystal heart so close to her, she abruptly turned, transforming into a black streak of light that tore through space, not fleeing to the Demon Realm, but rushing towards the red wedding scene that terrified her!
"Stop her!" The First Elder was both shocked and furious, thinking that she was going to take the opportunity to poison the already extremely weak Jiu Che.
Several powerful beams of divine light intertwined to form a net, attempting to block it.
Qi Yuan's eyes blazed crimson, and his demonic energy erupted without reservation, like a burning black meteor, smashing through all obstacles!
"Bang!"
She landed heavily on the chaotic wedding stage, next to the snow-white figure curled up on the ground, barely breathing.
The surrounding guests had already scattered in terror, leaving only a few core elders and trusted immortal servants, all looking at her as if facing a formidable enemy. They gathered their immortal power, but hesitated to advance rashly for fear of harming her.
Qi Yuan didn't look at anyone.
She slowly, almost trembling, knelt down beside Jiu Che.
His eyes were tightly closed, his long eyelashes drooping weakly, and his face was completely bloodless, except for the smear of blood at the corner of his lips, which was strikingly red. The once clear and warm immortal energy was irreversibly flowing out of his body.
She reached out, wanting to touch his cold cheek, but her fingertips froze in mid-air. For the first time, her hand, stained with the blood and intrigue of the demon race, felt so heavy.
“…Why…” A faint murmur, filled with endless pain and confusion, escaped from his pale lips.
He is still conscious.
He asked her why.
Why deceive? Why betray? Why... after giving him the ultimate in happiness, to personally push him into the abyss of despair?
Qi Yuan felt as if her heart had been stabbed by this powerless question, the pain so intense that she could barely breathe.
She opened her mouth, only to find that any words seemed pale and ridiculous at this moment.
What could she say?
To say that all of this was a lie from the very beginning?
Is it true that her approach was solely for the purpose of stealing another race's treasure?
Perhaps, without even realizing it herself, she had already become immersed in the purity and warmth he gave her?
In the end, she said nothing.
She simply gazed at him intently, as if trying to etch his image into her own eternal and cold life.
Then, under everyone's watchful eyes, she did something even more incomprehensible.
She channeled her vast demonic energy, not to attack, but to transform it into the purest primal power, like sweet rain, carefully and continuously channeling it into Jiu Che's collapsing immortal body, forcibly suspending his last glimmer of life!
"You...!" The Grand Elder was shocked and paled.
The demonic energy and the immortal body are inherently incompatible. Her actions are tantamount to drinking poison to quench thirst. Although it can temporarily prolong life, it will accelerate the process of his body's collapse!
Qi Yuan seemed not to hear, focusing only on Jiu Che's furrowed brows in pain from the demonic energy entering his body, and whispered:
"...to survive."
His voice was hoarse, carrying an almost desperate stubbornness.
After saying that, she abruptly withdrew her hand and stood up. The large amount of demonic energy consumed had made her face several shades paler.
She took one last look at the boy on the ground who had thrown her into disarray and ruined her thousand-year plan. Her eyes held a complex and unreadable mix of emotions: pain, regret, and a trace of lingering affection that even she herself couldn't define.
Without hesitation, she turned around, transformed into a streak of black demonic light, soared into the sky, broke through the barrier of the Azure Mist Realm, and disappeared into the vast sky.
She gave up the treasure that was within her grasp.
She revealed her long-hidden identity.
She exhausted her demonic energy just to keep him alive.
It left behind a chaotic, hateful, and confused immortal clan, and Jiu Che, lying on the shattered wedding ceremony, his fate unknown and his Dao heart utterly destroyed.
turn out to be……
This drama, which begins with a conspiracy,
The most immersed in the role,
It was herself.
---
(Demon Palace)
Shadow Guard (kneeling and reporting): Your Majesty, why...why not take the Crystal Heart? We...
Qi Yuan had his back to him, his aura was cold and violent, and his voice was hoarse but carried an undeniable killing intent:
"roll."
After the shadow guards retreated in a panic, in the empty demon palace, she looked at her slightly trembling hands, which seemed to still retain his icy body temperature.
She closed her eyes, and only one thought was swirling wildly in her mind—
Will he... survive?
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