A searing, excruciating pain ripped through Yueling's body, and she arched her back, a silent scream tearing from her lips. Her eyes flew open, wide with shock, reflecting the blinding, silver-gold light that now pulsed from within her. It was as if a star had ignited in her chest, consuming everything, yet simultaneously giving birth to something utterly new. Li Chen, in that terrifying moment, knew he had crossed a line. He had gambled with more than just her life; he had gambled with their very souls.
The Sky Sword pursuers, frozen in Li Chen’s absolute field of stillness, were a tableau of fear and disbelief. Their Qi was locked, their muscles rigid, their screams silenced on their lips. Li Chen, however, didn't spare them a glance. His entire focus was on Yueling, on the slender tend
