Taking a deep breath, Er’er pretended she hadn’t heard and stealthily moved toward the center of the hall. But perhaps because her mind was in chaos, her aura became unstable. After moving just a few inches, an immortal guest next to her turned to look.

“Who’s there?”

A sword glowing with pale green light came sweeping through the air. Er’er, in her form of white mist, softly dodged it and said in a low voice: “Fellow immortal.”

The person was startled, reached out to sense the immortal energy around her, and then withdrew his sword: “This place is too heavy with resentful energy and has no spiritual energy to replenish with. Transformation spells consume too much power—better use them sparingly.”

Having said that, he turned and rushed toward Zhong You.

Letting out a secret sigh of relief, Er’er nervously turned her head to glance at Li Ye, afraid that he would notice her too.

However, Li Ye was fighting with Zhen Huan Gong and hadn’t noticed this corner at all. His soul had transformed into a giant golden crow, entangled in battle with Zhen Huan Gong’s soul and spirit beast, but his physical body remained in place, holding Zhong Qin and speaking to her in a low voice.

“Will I die?” Zhong Qin asked him with a tearful voice.

Li Ye’s face showed no expression, but the energy he transmitted through his hands grew stronger: “No.”

Zhong Qin sobbed a couple of times, her waist trembling like a flower branch battered by heavy rain, clinging tightly to Li Ye.

This movement—she had done it too.

Er’er tilted her head slightly, somewhat wanting to laugh, yet unable to.

Li Ye was truly a solemn person. Whether engaged in intimacy with her or being close with others, his face always remained cold and detached, showing little emotion. Even at the height of pleasure, he would only look down at her, with fleeting, turbulent emotions in his eyes that disappeared so quickly she almost thought she had imagined it.

Every time, she was the one who ultimately couldn’t restrain herself, while he always remained aloof, his thoughts unknown.

She had said early on that she couldn’t expect too much from him, and she thought she was prepared.

But the lingering, ant-like gnawing pain in her chest now bluntly exposed her small wishful thinking.

She had been hopeful, thinking what if—what if Li Ye was different, what if Li Ye also had feelings for her, what if Li Ye couldn’t bear to part with her, cherishing those moments of intimate pleasure, willing to keep her in his heart from then on.

However, one in ten thousand still meant the chance was slim.

A flash of fire brushed past her ear and crashed into the palace wall behind her. The entire Underworld King’s Palace shook violently. Zhen Huan Gong staggered a couple of steps, and Zhong Qin let out a cry of alarm.

Er’er came back to her senses and looked up to see that the immortal guests had formed a somewhat familiar battle formation around them.

“I will not let you harm the common people.”

After saying this in a low voice, Zhen Huan Gong raised his hand.

White light burst forth from all around. The light formation quickly took shape, and murderous energy broke through the eaves, smashing down countless broken tiles.

Li Ye raised his sleeve to protect the person in his arms, his expression turning unpleasant.

The Death God Killing Formation.

Zhen Huan Gong was risking his own life, intent on taking Li Ye down with him.

“You always feel that everyone has betrayed you.” With the death formation complete, Zhen Huan Gong smiled lightly as he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. “Since that’s the case, it’s better to return to heaven and earth sooner.”

As his words fell, a fierce wind rose, and the death resentment that had always obeyed Zhong You suddenly rushed into Zhen Huan Gong’s body like wolves catching the scent of blood.

Er’er’s pupils contracted as she hurriedly flew forward.

She had seen this spell before—sacrificing oneself to summon death resentment to kill someone. But Li Ye was no longer what he once was; the death resentment might not be able to take his life. Zhen Huan Gong’s action was nothing short of suicide.

She had to stop him.

Li Ye, standing on the steps, seemed to know this as well. He sneered and raised his hand, sending a stream of divine fire toward Zhen Huan Gong.

The movement was too fast. Er’er had no time for any extra reaction. Already halfway there, she could only step directly in front of Zhen Huan Gong.

A dress of autumn waters and clear skies fell from the white mist. Zhen Huan Gong looked up and saw Er’er’s clear eyes gradually revealing themselves before him.

“You…” he frowned.

The person before him moved extremely quickly, using one hand to strike away the gesture he was forming and the other hand to grab the death resentment that was drilling into his heart, forcefully pulling it out.

At the same time, a huge flash of fire exploded behind her.

Zhen Huan Gong was stunned. The feeling of something being violently pulled from his chest was extremely strong, but reflected in his pupils was a clear, delicate face—clean and porcelain white.

But in the next moment, the fire consumed her. Her defensive barrier, only half-formed, was shattered. Her entire body, like a soft cotton flower, crashed into his arms, and along with him, was engulfed by divine fire.

Instinctively, Zhen Huan Gong held her tightly.

Li Ye had always been merciless in his attacks, but this time, for some reason, he seemed to have held back somewhat. So, although the divine fire still pushed the two of them out of the great hall, dropping them at the edge of the death formation, when he opened his eyes, Zhen Huan Gong found that his soul was still intact.

He took a breath and hurriedly looked down at the person in his arms.

Blood seeped from her clean lips. Er’er lifted her face, and her cheeks, which had some color just moments ago, instantly turned deathly pale. Her consciousness was clearer than his; she immediately said: “He practices both divine and demonic cultivation. This move won’t work against him.”

Zhen Huan Gong raised an eyebrow, shifting his gaze from her face to look behind them.

Li Ye strode out, his red robes flaring, his features showing rare emotion—both irritable and fierce.

“How did you get here?”

The person in his arms stiffened slightly, then stood up, supporting herself on his hand without looking back: “Just wandering around.”

Just wandering around and ending up here? Li Ye was both angry and heartbroken. He stepped forward, wanting to check her injuries, but when he looked down and saw she was still holding Zhen Huan Gong’s hand, he stopped in his tracks.

She helped others but not him?

What relationship did Zhen Huan Gong have with her that would make her take this blow for him?

Many thoughts flashed through his mind, and Li Ye’s gaze grew cold.

This little thing was not just wandering around; she suspected him and came here deliberately.

He had already done his best to keep it secret, but he still couldn’t hide it. It was also because of his soft heart that he let Meng Wan go, which brought Zhen Huan Gong and the others here early.

He had never made such a major oversight in his actions before.

Troubled and irritated, Li Ye glanced at the half-dead Zhong Qin in his arms and said coldly to Zhen Huan Gong: “I’ll give you a chance. Leave now, and I won’t kill you. Whether you want to report this or lead the Celestial Army is up to you. In eight days, I will return to the Ninth Heaven.”

“Eight days.” Zhen Huan Gong snorted with laughter. “I’m not a fool. In eight days, your great achievement will be complete. Who in the Ninth Heaven could do anything to you then?”

“You can’t do anything to me now either,” Li Ye said dismissively.

Slightly choked, Zhen Huan Gong grew angry, his fists clenched tightly. He instinctively glanced at Er’er again.

“He’s right,” Er’er said to him quietly. “You should go. While there’s life, there’s hope.”

These disloyal words made people angry. Even though Zhong Qin was barely conscious, she could sense the sudden rage in the person holding her.

“Come here,” he said in a deep voice.

Er’er didn’t look back, only pushing Zhen Huan Gong. “Take down this death formation and leave.”

“Er’er,” Li Ye narrowed his eyes.