Chapter 700 381: 6th Floor (3)

Yang An's body trembled violently as he struggled against Life Crane's suppression. A cracking sound echoed from his flesh and bone, as if he might shatter at any moment.

Wen Yin's voice reached his ears, quickly becoming faint and intermittent. Her life force was rapidly fading.

Rationally, the best course of action for Yang An was to do nothing.

For one, he couldn't resist Life Crane's suppression. For another, even if he could, it would only provoke Life Crane. Besides, if Wen Yin didn't die, the 6th Floor of the Xian Origin Land could not be opened, which would disrupt Life Crane's plans.

If the 6th Floor couldn't be opened, he would never find Pan Yu.

But on an emotional level, Wen Yin was one of the few friends Yang An had in this world. How could he stand by and watch a friend die right in front of him—tortured to death so cruelly?

"Stay still. Once the 6th Floor is opened, you will see into the depths of this world—the tapestry of reality and illusion, and everything we are fighting to save. None of this has come easily.

Afterward, you will still be you—my good disciple. We bear the weight of this world on our shoulders, which means we cannot turn back. If we do, we will be the ones consumed, and everything we have worked for will have been in vain."

Life Crane's words were a warning, yet his tone was placid, as if he were explaining some grand truth. Beneath the surface, however, his words were laced with menace.

Yang An remained silent, offering no response to Life Crane's words. But his breathing was ragged, and a storm raged within his heart.

'He didn't want to save the world. It wasn't because he only wanted to look out for himself, but because the moment he embraced that idea, he felt he would truly become a puppet—saving the world simply for the sake of it. It would be as if his every move were manipulated by another, his life no longer his own, all while being told it was 'destiny'.'

'He had always been chasing his own version of freedom, not a life of passivity forced upon him from the moment he arrived in this world.'

'But he couldn't just stand by and watch as common people were slaughtered by Demon Fiends. He couldn't do it. That was why he always ended up taking action—not to save the world, but for his own freedom.'

'He would rescue the Bow Lady without a second thought, and he would stand with Forbidden Calamity to protect the people of Nirvana City.'

'And now, his own friend was about to die in agony right before him. Where was his freedom in this?'

'What was freedom, if not the ability to act without restraint, to do what you believe is right?'

'So why wasn't he doing it?'

"Fuck your 6th Floor! If you kill her, I'll never be done with you!"

Yang An's voice was hoarse, his jaw clenched tight. The shout tore past his rational mind, words forced from his throat as if by sheer will.

Though the terrifying pressure was crushing him completely, in that instant, a light erupted from Yang An's body, a light that seemed capable of piercing through anything.

His physical body shattered under the pressure, only to transform in that same instant into a blinding glare. He had forcibly taken the form of pure light to escape Life Crane's suppression.

The entire cavern was instantly flooded with brilliant light. It was like a colossal hand plunging into the flames to seize the last remnants of Wen Yin's body before she could completely disintegrate.

The light slammed into the fire, forcibly scattering the crimson blaze. It obliterated more than half of the cavern in an instant. The mountain crumbled and the earth split apart.

Mana surged wildly from Yang An's body, enveloping Wen Yin. Only then, at the last possible moment, was what little remained of her life force preserved.

He had broken through Life Crane's suppression at the very last second to save Wen Yin. As the ground shook and the mountains swayed, the entire Golden Thread Pavilion Floating Island began to tremble violently.

Still shrouded in brilliant light, Yang An panted heavily, his icy gaze fixed on Life Crane.

He had activated all three physical transformations of his Red Wheel Infinite Body and unleashed every one of his Techniques. The Lamp Dragon and the Outer Path Demon Ring, the Divine Aspect and the Boundless Darkness, red lightning crackled around him, and countless feathers bloomed in a bloody light. The Spiritual Light Net and the Power of Rules enveloped his entire being. This was his full power.

'What was done, was done. He had no regrets. The only thing he would have regretted was watching Wen Yin die.'

'If Life Crane wanted to kill him, then let him try!'

'Even if it meant death, that outcome would still be the freedom he craved.'

'You want to save the world, don't you? You've staked everything on me, haven't you?'

'Then go ahead, kill me if you have the guts. After I'm dead, you and this whole world can go to hell together!'

'We'll all die together!'