In the past, Er’er would certainly have been afraid, immediately turning around to apologize, desperately trying to appease the powerful figure.

But now, perhaps some rebellious bone in her body had come to life, and she stubbornly ignored Li Ye, just staring steadily at Zhen Huan Gong.

Zhen Huan Gong’s expression was quite strange. He glanced behind her, wanting to laugh but suppressing it, only saying: “The Death God Killing Formation isn’t like clothes hung out to dry—it can’t be taken down just because you want it to be.”

Just as she opened her mouth to persuade him further, before a single word could come out, Er’er sensed the fierce murderous energy from behind her, flying over like thin blades, cutting painfully into her back.

“Did you not hear me?” Li Ye stepped forward, his fire-red robe sweeping across the charred ground. The previously quiet earth suddenly spread with divine fire.

Zhong Qin was already seriously injured. Suddenly being scorched by the fire, she was frightened into becoming a wisp of smoke, clinging desperately to Li Ye. Li Ye withdrew his energy-transferring hand, allowing her to cling to him as his eyes looked toward Er’er, carrying a deep, dark energy.

Zhen Huan Gong saw that things didn’t look good and instinctively reached out to shield Er’er behind him.

However, as soon as he raised his hand, it was forcefully gripped by a powerful force. Then his entire body, both physical form and soul, was thrown high into the air and violently flung far away.

“…”

Er’er silently watched as Zhen Huan Gong fell onto another palace roof, her ears filled with the crisp sound of breaking tiles. When the noise subsided, she finally turned around to meet Li Ye’s gaze.

His face still showed no emotion, but Er’er could sense that he was displeased.

“Supreme God,” she tilted her head slightly, lifting her lips into a smile. “What are your orders?”

This was the first time she had smiled at him so coldly, without a trace of warmth in her eyes, clear and cold like the eighteenth level of hell after being burned by divine fire.

Li Ye stared at her steadily, his face as calm as water: “Do you wish to be my enemy?”

The person before him raised the corners of her mouth even higher, her eyes more curved, her gaze colder: “I fear death, so I wouldn’t dare.”

“Then what are you doing?” Coldly noticing the blood at the corner of her mouth, Li Ye pressed his lips together, his inner irritation growing. “Is Zhen Huan Gong so important to you?”

“He is an immortal from the Ninth Heaven.” Blood continuously welled up in her throat, and Er’er forcibly swallowed a mouthful. “Why do you want to kill him in the Underworld?”

Zhen Huan Gong had attacked first!

Li Ye was furious. She was his person, yet she only knew how to side with outsiders. Zhen Huan Gong was seeking death, and he was merely helping him along—how had it become his fault? Moreover, even if he wanted to kill someone, she should have been helping him.

The Supreme God, who had been aloof for eighty thousand years, felt for the first time a sense of wronged grievance. It was uncomfortable; he wanted to get angry but couldn’t break his dignity and composure. His eyes turned slightly red, and the divine fire at his feet surged and spread along with his emotions.

She seemed frightened by his fire and stepped back half a pace, her delicate brows tightly knitted.

Li Ye narrowed his eyes and reached out to pull her, but as soon as his hand extended, she suddenly vomited a mouthful of blood.

The bright red blood splattered onto his robe, blending with its red color.

His fingertips trembled slightly. Li Ye took a deep breath and finally exploded in rage: “Have you forgotten how to form a defensive barrier?!”

A dignified True Lord—did he need her protection?!

Er’er shook her head, not knowing what she wanted to say. When she opened her mouth, she spat out another mouthful of blood, her face turning three shades paler.

Li Ye glared at her, his lips pressed tightly together.

“Let’s break this death formation first,” Er’er raised her sleeve to wipe her mouth, finally catching her breath. “If Zhen Huan Gong dies here, it might not be good for you. If you spare him, I’ll persuade him to leave.”

Just how deep was their friendship? How strong a connection did they have for her to protect someone else like this?

Li Ye was speechless with anger, forcibly turning his head away: “You ask me to spare him, and I should just do it? Today he is destined to die here. I want to see what these gods of the Nine Heavens can do to me.”

It felt as if some meridians in her body had been shattered. The pain came belatedly, surging up. Er’er frowned slightly, enduring it as she sighed: “When things could be fine, why must you cause such an earth-shattering commotion?”

“I simply love causing earth-shattering commotions. Who wants to save all living beings?” Li Ye was so angry that his words carried blades. “It would be better if this fire burns everything in the world clean.”

“…”

Her heart sank. Er’er’s eyelashes trembled slightly as she instinctively looked up, wanting to see his pupils.

Just as she moved a couple of steps closer, her body was blocked by his raised hand.

“Don’t try that approach,” he said, almost gritting his back teeth. “It won’t work.”

He was about to die of anger. No amount of acting cute or getting close would soothe this rage.

However, with this block, Er’er lost her balance and fell unsteadily to the ground.

His raised hand trembled. He pressed his lips together, his neck stiff as he refused to look down, only glancing at her with the corner of his eye.

The little thing looked somewhat uncomfortable, rubbing her head with both hands, her eyes confused. But her mouth could still speak, murmuring: “You don’t listen to any reason at all.”

Who wanted to listen to reason? He had cultivated for eighty thousand years, not to be made angry.

Li Ye snorted coldly, his neck stiff with anger for a long while before he looked down and said: “If you don’t leave, when I start fighting, I may not be able to protect you.”

With her vision blurred and white, her chest tight with pain, and her limbs weak, Er’er silently regulated her breathing. Hearing this, she only laughed lightly: “You can protect others just fine, no need to concern yourself with me.”

“Indeed,” Li Ye looked sarcastically toward the direction where Zhen Huan Gong had fallen. “There are plenty of people willing to protect you.”

Zhong Qin was still wrapped around his neck. Upon hearing these words, despite her serious injuries, she couldn’t help but cover her mouth.

So sour.

How could the dignified Supreme God Li Ye speak with such sourness?

Just moments ago, they had been in a fierce battle, yet now they had time to bicker like children. She was truly filled with admiration.

But…

“Look out!” Zhong Qin cried in a low voice.

Almost at the same time, Li Ye raised his hand. The huge flames collided with the immortal energy sneaking up from behind. Countless sparks scattered in all directions, illuminating the surroundings as bright as day, but only for an instant before everything turned pitch black again.

Li Ye smiled coldly, his right hand extending. The Phoenix-Slaying Blade materialized, with a golden phoenix soaring and encircling behind him. He turned his head and brought down a slash toward the direction of the Underworld King’s Palace.

Crack—

Er’er sat on the ground, swaying back and forth from the impact. The entire ground shook and split, with cracks extending from in front of them to the Underworld King’s Palace.

Shortly after, the Underworld King’s Palace collapsed with a thunderous sound. The Death God Killing Formation also split open with a huge gap. The cleverer immortal guests began to flee, but many had their souls shattered by this single slash, floating miserably out from the ruins, not knowing where to go.

Zhen Huan Gong hadn’t left. He was someone who would never submit to Li Ye, even in death. Taking advantage of the moment when Li Ye hadn’t turned back after this slash, he flew up, channeling thirty percent of his immortal power into his hand and flung a spirit weapon glowing with purple light.

To put it politely, it was a spirit weapon; to be blunt, it was a hidden weapon.

Li Ye had sensed it, but he didn’t turn around. His defensive barrier could withstand this attack.

But Er’er didn’t know that.

She was annoyed at Li Ye’s coldness and his unreasonableness, but when she sensed danger, her first reaction was still to extend her barrier to him, firmly shielding his back.