"Life and Death Reincarnation, command the world!" Qiu Ji roared.
Life and death represented Yin and Yang—white for Yang and black for Yin. Together, they formed the Eight Trigrams, a power that stole from death and life to seize fortune, paving a path with Creation Power. Ye Fan felt as if he were suspended between the realms of life and death, a sensation no ordinary person could ever experience.
"One side is life, the other is death. The gate of life seems to offer a chance to survive, but I’m different. I will walk through the gate of death!" Ye Fan declared.
His path was uniquely his own. From the moment he embarked on this road, the paths of others ceased to be his. His Dao belonged to him and him alone.
With that, he took a mighty leap into the gate of death, plunging into an endless, dark reincarnation. At this moment, however, he felt no fear. His body erupted with an infinite radiance, the glow of the Divine Talisman. When light flooded the sky, it was destined to annihilate the ceaseless darkness.
"Break!" Ye Fan roared.
This time, he wasn’t escaping the dark reincarnation; he was using his own strength to shatter it completely and forge his own path.
"You have your Life and Death Reincarnation, and I have my ability to steal heavenly secrets! In the end, my path doesn’t exist within your cycle. I’ve broken free of your rules!" Ye Fan exclaimed.
"What does it matter if you break my rules? I can create eternal ones whenever I wish, but you cannot!" Qiu Ji said coldly.
She condensed the Life and Death Roulette once more, and a new set of rules began to form.
But Ye Fan simply shook his head. "No matter how your rules evolve, their foundation remains the same. Watch me break them!"
Just then, Qiu Ji’s Life and Death Roulette descended upon him. With a great shout, Ye Fan met it with his Pure Yang Dragon Fist. The Golden Dragon roared, and the Life and Death Roulette instantly shattered.
Qiu Ji was thrown backward, defeated. She had lost to Ye Fan.
"You lost," Ye Fan stated flatly.
"That’s right. So what?" Qiu Ji replied, her voice cold.
"If you don’t revive my woman, I will kill you," Ye Fan said. "I’m not joking." He stared at Qiu Ji with cold, murderous intent.
Qiu Ji burst into laughter. "Hahaha!"
"What are you laughing at?" Ye Fan asked, puzzled.
"You may be strong enough to defeat me," Qiu Ji said, "but you could have never guessed that my Six Paths Heavenly Lock was coated in poison! This poison lies dormant for a lifetime as long as you don’t circulate your power. But if you do, it takes effect with terrifying speed. And right now, it’s taking effect."
"What?" Ye Fan glared at her, furious. He hadn’t expected her to be so despicable. Yet, when he scanned his body, he felt nothing amiss.
"I’ve been immune to all poisons for ages," he said disdainfully. "Your petty venom can’t harm me!"
"Then try taking two steps," Qiu Ji challenged him coldly.
"You think I’m scared of you?" Believing she was bluffing, Ye Fan cautiously took two steps forward.
The moment he did, the poison activated. An overwhelming weakness washed over him, and he collapsed, landing on the ground right in front of her.
Qiu Ji looked down at Ye Fan, who was on one knee clutching his chest. "How does it feel now?"
"Just fine!" Ye Fan bit out.
"Is that so?" she laughed, a wild, triumphant sound.
At that moment, Ye Fan’s vision went black, and he fainted.
When he awoke, he discovered that Qiu Ji had sealed all his meridians, acupoints, and even his Spiritual Spring. Unwillingness seethed within Ye Fan. This time, no matter how capable he was, he couldn’t break these shackles. It was a triple restraint, a terrifyingly powerful binding. The slightest misstep would mean death.
"How about now?" Qiu Ji asked.
"What do you want? Don’t you want to kill me? Why am I still alive?" Ye Fan demanded.
"I want you alive," she stated.
Ye Fan was shocked. He assumed Qiu Ji must have had a pang of conscience and decided not to kill him, especially after he had helped her so much. "Even if your conscience is bothering you, you’ve already done so many things to wrong me!"
"A guilty conscience? You’re overthinking things. I’m taking you to the God Monarch Palace!" Qiu Ji said coldly.
"Why are you taking me to the God Monarch Palace?" Ye Fan snapped.
"Your life is worth a great deal. I can’t let you die so easily. If I’m not mistaken, the Righteous Divine Lineage acts so recklessly because of you. Once you’re my captive, they won’t dare to be so brazen. I’ll trade your life for peace in the Divine World and the annihilation of the Righteous Divine Lineage. I think that’s a fair price."
"You’re vicious!" Ye Fan snarled.
"A woman’s heart is the most venomous, didn’t you know?" Qiu Ji said. "In this age, if you aren’t ruthless, you have no right to survive in this world!"
"Where is my woman?" Ye Fan didn’t want to waste any more time arguing with her.
"She’s here," Qiu Ji replied. With a wave of her hand, another Void Gate opened, revealing the unconscious Su Qingxue within. "You miss her? Good. I can send you to her now."
With a casual push, she sent Ye Fan tumbling through the portal next to Su Qingxue. Then, the Void Gate snapped shut.
Struggling, Ye Fan managed to speak. "Honey, wake up. Are you okay?"
Hearing his voice, Su Qingxue slowly regained consciousness. She looked around in shock. "Honey, where are we? Weren’t we in Qinzhou?"
"We’re prisoners, my love," Ye Fan explained. "That vicious woman used you. But don’t worry. I’m sure we can escape."
Su Qingxue was immediately filled with regret. "Honey, it’s all my fault. If it weren’t for me, she never would have captured you!"
"I don’t blame you," Ye Fan said softly. "Honey, are your three souls and seven spirits okay?" This was his greatest concern.
"Honey," Su Qingxue replied, "I feel another soul within my own. It has fused with mine, and I feel like she could take control of me at any moment!"
This is bad.
Ye Fan carefully examined his own body and realized he hadn’t been poisoned at all. It was merely Soft Bone Powder. But this was nothing like the version found in the mortal world; it was a hundred times more potent, a truly terrifying substance. He quickly began to dispel the Soft Bone Powder from his system but dared not circulate his power, as all his acupoints, and even his Spiritual Spring, were sealed.
"Honey, do you need my help?" Su Qingxue asked.
"No. To prevent her from taking control of you and attacking me, you have to pass out!"
"Okay!" Without hesitation, Su Qingxue chopped the side of her own neck and collapsed unconscious.
"Whether we get out of this alive," Ye Fan murmured, "is all up to you now."
He focused his will, drawing the power of the Divine Talisman into his body. Instantly, he felt an immense force coursing through him.
Excellent.
He felt much better. After all, the Divine Talisman held the power of the Holy Clan, and he had only scratched the surface of its potential. As this fraction of power fused with him, Ye Fan breathed a sigh of relief. He began to undo the seals, one by one. With each one he broke, a shudder of pure agony wracked his body. The pressure of such agonizing power was sheer torture.