Chapter 436: For What?

"Watch out!"

Lu Sangjiu saw Qin Miao’s move, and her heart seized with alarm. She couldn’t help but shout.

But it was too late. The next instant, Qin Miao was in front of Xie Ningyuan, her speed shockingly fast!

Compared to Cangming, Xie Ningyuan, who was in the Body Integration Realm, was clearly an easier target for Qin Miao. So the moment she struck, she went straight for him.

Xie Ningyuan reacted instantly to defend himself, but he was still knocked back by the explosive force of Qin Miao’s attack.

Qin Miao gave him no chance to breathe, immediately resuming her pursuit.

Lu Sangjiu’s mind was buzzing. With no time for further thought, she swallowed a Frenzy Pill, brandished her domination map, and charged toward Qin Miao!

’Even if I can only stop her for a moment, it’s better than nothing. If I don’t go save him, I’m afraid Xie Ningyuan is done for!’

CLANG!

A piercing metallic crash rang out as the domination map shot in front of Xie Ningyuan, blocking Qin Miao’s strike for him.

Seizing the opportunity, Xie Ningyuan didn’t remain idle. He immediately launched a counterattack, forcing Qin Miao to fall back again and again.

Just then, Cangming also launched an attack, and the situation instantly became a three-on-one encirclement.

With Lu Sangjiu joining the fray, powered by the Frenzy Pill, Qin Miao was unable to break through their encirclement, even with her own cultivation dramatically enhanced.

As time ticked by, the effects of her Elixir Pill were about to fade. A chill spread through Qin Miao’s heart. ’I’m going to lose!’

’No. Even if I die, I have to take them down with me!’

As her thoughts raced, Qin Miao suddenly activated a Magic Treasure. A boundless, resentful energy instantly surged out, trapping them within it.

"Now, let’s all die together!"

After using the Magic Treasure to temporarily trap them and prevent their immediate escape, Qin Miao actually began to self-destruct!

The power in her body began to surge violently. Lu Sangjiu and the other two instantly realized Qin Miao’s intention.

But Qin Miao’s Magic Treasure was insidious, and Lu Sangjiu couldn’t break free from it right away.

Fortunately, Xie Ningyuan’s Merit Power countered Qin Miao’s Magic Treasure. He broke free in a flash, rushed over to pull Lu Sangjiu into his arms, and began a desperate escape.

"Trying to run?"

Qin Miao’s voice was sinister as she gave chase.

But in the next moment, Cangming intercepted her, blocking her path.

Qin Miao hadn’t expected Cangming to stay and block her instead of fleeing. Her blood-red eyes shot him a venomous glare.

"You won’t escape either!"

Cangming’s expression was cold. He glanced sideways at the two figures rapidly retreating into the distance. "I never planned on escaping."

The moment he spoke, Xie Ningyuan froze and whipped his head around. "Cangming, what are you doing? Get out of there!"

Xie Ningyuan wasn’t worried about him, of course. He was afraid that if Cangming died, Lu Sangjiu would have to die with him.

Cangming didn’t move. Gritting his teeth, Xie Ningyuan forcefully pushed Lu Sangjiu into the distance, then turned back, intending to save Cangming.

"Xie Ningyuan! Come back!"

Lu Sangjiu screamed in alarm, but the power of the Frenzy Pill had just run out. A wave of exhaustion and weakness washed over her.

Even though her heart was pounding with terror, she had no strength to turn back. All she could do was watch as Xie Ningyuan grew more distant.

Meanwhile, Cangming was engaging Qin Miao, whose power had already turned berserk, desperately blocking her from advancing.

’Any second now... Qin Miao is about to self-destruct!’

Xie Ningyuan’s heart hammered in his chest. "You bastard, you can’t drag her down with you even if you want to die!"

Hearing this, Cangming suddenly glanced back at him.

With that one glance, it was impossible to tell if he was looking at Xie Ningyuan, or past him at Lu Sangjiu.

"I’d actually love to take you with me."

"But..."

Cangming didn’t finish, letting out a soft sigh instead.

He abruptly struck out with his palm toward Xie Ningyuan, sending him flying away!

Then he turned, never looking back, and charged recklessly toward Qin Miao, using the last of his strength to carry her further into the distance!

Before Xie Ningyuan could react, his vision was consumed by a blinding white Light. A deafening roar filled his ears, and the shockwave from the self-detonation flung him a great distance, his qi and blood churning violently.

But Xie Ningyuan couldn’t spare a thought for himself. He scrambled up from the ground almost instantly. "...Little Jiu! Little Jiu, how are you?"

’A self-detonation from someone at the Body Integration Realm... Even a cultivator at the Transcendance Tribulation Stage like Cangming couldn’t possibly survive from that close. There might not even be a trace of him left.’

’Then Lu Sangjiu...’

Xie Ningyuan didn’t dare to dwell on it. He desperately searched for any sign of Lu Sangjiu amidst the ruins.

Finally! He saw Lu Sangjiu lying on the ground. Her eyes were shut tight, and she was in a wretched state.

"Little Jiu!"

Xie Ningyuan rushed over like a man possessed. It was only when he felt her faint breathing that his frantic heart finally stilled. ’She’s not dead. She’s not dead!’

Overcome with the relief of a survivor, Xie Ningyuan’s hands trembled as he gathered Lu Sangjiu into his arms. He began frantically feeding her Elixir Pills.

After what felt like an eternity, he finally heard Lu Sangjiu’s weak voice. "...Xie Ningyuan."

"I’m here!"

Xie Ningyuan immediately squeezed her hand, forcing his voice to be gentle. "I’m here. How are you feeling?"

"I’m fine..." She frowned in pain. "The injuries aren’t serious. It’s mainly... the side effects of the Frenzy Pill."

The side effects of a Frenzy Pill couldn’t be fixed with healing Elixir Pills. It simply required time to recover.

Xie Ningyuan’s heart finally settled. Then, he couldn’t help but look up in confusion at the expanse of ruins before him. ’Could it be... Cangming isn’t dead?’

Just as he was about to ask, Lu Sangjiu spoke first. "What about Qin Miao? And Cangming?"

Xie Ningyuan replied uncertainly, "I don’t know... Is your Gu Worm still inside you?"

His words made Lu Sangjiu finally notice. "The Gu Worm? Wait, why is the Gu Worm inside my body gone?"

With that one sentence, Xie Ningyuan finally understood. ’It’s not that Cangming didn’t die. It’s that he removed Lu Sangjiu’s Gu before he died!’

He fell silent for a moment, his thoughts turning to Cangming’s final words.

"I’d actually love to take you with me. But..."

He hadn’t finished the sentence. Now, Xie Ningyuan wasn’t sure if those words had been meant for him, for Lu Sangjiu, or... for both of them.

Seeing that Xie Ningyuan was silent for a long moment with a strange look on his face, Lu Sangjiu slowly put the pieces together.

"So... he’s dead, but he removed my Gu before he died?"

Xie Ningyuan nodded. "...It seems so."

Lu Sangjiu fell silent as well.

’Cangming... I really can’t figure him out.’

’From the very beginning, I couldn’t understand his love. Later, I couldn’t understand his hate. And now... I still don’t understand what he was thinking.’

’He used coercion to keep me by his side, yet in the end, he calmly met his death to save us. And even before he died, he remembered to remove my Gu.’

’What... was he after in the end?’