Her tiger grip closed tight, seizing something solid.

The woman had teleported behind her. Feng Miaojun’s strike was incredibly precise as if the opponent had deliberately offered her neck to the tiger’s grasp.

With her neck tightly gripped, the woman struggled to speak, “How… how did you—”

How did she anticipate her movement pattern? Feng Miaojun had no time to waste on the conversation. Her palm ignited with true fire, intending to burn the woman to ash.

Her true fire blazed pale white, latching onto the soul and wrapping around it, devouring it in great gulps like a living creature.

What souls fear most are true fire and lightning.

The woman cried out in pain, wailing loudly, “Yun’er, save me, quickly save me!”

Little Yun Ya hesitated no longer and pulled open the door bolt.

To Feng Miaojun’s horror and the monsters’ delight, he stepped outside.

With just one step, he passed through the courtyard’s main gate.

Then, he extended his hand toward the two women locked in combat. “Release her.”

In an instant, the sea of consciousness erupted as though struck by a category twelve hurricane. All the black shadows on the ground howled as they surged forward.

The sky and earth changed color. The master of this realm had left his final sanctuary. If they could overpower him, and devour him, this protracted war would end in victory. Their combined strength could even change the ruler of this world.

Feng Miaojun’s hair stood on end, her instincts screaming warnings. Before this black ocean, she felt like a lone boat struggling to stay afloat. But she hadn’t forgotten her most pressing problem.

The woman’s body was as solid as if it were real, harder than refined steel. Feng Miaojun exerted her strength repeatedly until finally, with a crack, she broke the woman’s neck.

Just like the black shadows she had killed earlier, the woman’s body immediately dispersed, transforming into a wisp of smoke. However, after twisting twice in the air, it showed signs of reforming.

Merely breaking her neck wasn’t enough to kill it.

But Feng Miaojun immediately snapped her fingers.

“Click!”

The smoke cloud exploded like ignited gas, bursting into a shower of sparks.

The blast wave surged forward, causing the massive approaching black shadows to instinctively pause.

Feng Miaojun seized the opportunity to grab little Yun Ya. But his small frame was impossibly heavy—thousands of pounds of weight—and even with her tremendous strength, she couldn’t move him an inch.

Regardless of how cute and harmless he appeared, he was the master of this place.

He stared wide-eyed, his pupils black as midnight reflecting the fiery sky, surprisingly bright. Feng Miaojun couldn’t tell if he was angry or sorrowful.

Then his gaze turned to her, and suddenly he said:

“An’an.”

He recognized her! Feng Miaojun was overjoyed and urgently replied, “Yes, it’s me! It’s me! Ancestor, please, quickly come with me inside!”

The surrounding shadows converged again, this time advancing with unwavering determination.

Little Yun Ya stared at Feng Miaojun without blinking, his gaze struggling and hesitant as if contemplating her true identity.

If they didn’t return to the courtyard, they would both descend to the yellow springs—truly dying together in the same year, same month, same day, and same hour.

The foremost black shadow had already formed a grinning skull. Feng Miaojun summoned all her strength and blew forcefully at the not-yet-dissipated sparks.

With a “whoosh,” the sparks scattered in all directions. Any shadow they touched emitted piercing screams, as if severely burned.

The brief moment of respite vanished instantly. Feng Miaojun recalled a question he always fixated on whenever they met in secret. Gritting her teeth, she pointed toward the courtyard and shouted, “Go back inside obediently, and An’an will marry you—I promise!”

She was desperate. If even these words couldn’t move him, they might as well die together.

Little Yun Ya continued staring at her unblinkingly, but his gaze flickered, and then he nodded.

He agreed!

Feng Miaojun was ecstatic. She scooped him up and darted back toward the courtyard.

In this life-or-death moment, she unleashed her greatest potential, moving faster than the eye could follow.

Behind them, countless black shadows pursued like attached shadows. The closest was barely two finger-widths from her flowing hair.

But Feng Miaojun was one step faster.

With that single step, she crossed the courtyard threshold.

She put down the child and immediately turned to close the wooden door.

The black shadows refused to let her succeed, frantically pushing and desperately trying to squeeze through.

If someone had been watching from above, they would have seen all the shadows outside now crowded at the doorway, condensed into deep blackness. Countless faces and hands emerged from it, all howling and battering against the door.

Despite using every ounce of strength, Feng Miaojun couldn’t completely close the door. In desperation, she turned and commanded, “Quickly, drop the bolt!” She couldn’t hold back so many monsters alone.

This time, little Yun Ya was very obedient. He dutifully approached, stood on tiptoe, and moved the door bolt.

Feng Miaojun forcefully gathered all her soul power. Little Yun Ya could see a faint luminous glow around her body, though her form became increasingly unstable.

Then she let out a long cry and pushed forward with all her might.

The door panels closed.

But a second before they shut completely, a piercing wail emerged from among the black shadows. Though not earth-shattering, it penetrated directly into her mind, making her dizzy and disoriented.

Fortunately, just as her hands slipped, there was a “click” as the wooden bolt fell securely into place.

The courtyard gate shook violently from the furious impacts of the shadows. Outside came thunderous howls and curses, the sound waves almost as powerful as a hurricane.

Feng Miaojun slowly slid down along the wooden door until she sat on the ground, breathing heavily, cold sweat beading on her forehead.

Resisting those endless shadows had nearly depleted all her soul power.

Now her entire body felt as limp as noodles, her limbs trembling as if she had physically moved tens of thousands of pounds in the real world.

Feng Miaojun had never known that the power contained within her soul was so abundant that she could directly confront a sea of shadows.

Even if only for a few moments.

Once seated, she was the same height as little Yun Ya. He stared at her without blinking, then walked over to stand beside her.

Feng Miaojun pulled him tightly into her embrace and planted several quick kisses on his tender cheek, saying joyfully, “Thank goodness, thank goodness it wasn’t too late!”

Holding his warm body, her heart finally found its anchor.

Even now, she was filled with lingering fear. If Yun Ya’s willpower hadn’t been strong enough, during the time she was delaying Xiao Yan, he might have already been taken advantage of by these shadows. She hadn’t realized his situation was so perilous—otherwise, she would have stolen him away from Wei capital, no matter what.

Little Yun Ya looked directly at her, then suddenly raised his hand to touch her face. A child’s hand, so thin and delicate, entirely different from his adult self; yet the warmth from his palm remained the same, soothing her cheek.

At this moment, she felt wetness on her face and realized she had been crying uncontrollably.

She gently held the child’s small hand and lowered her head to rest her forehead against his. “Do you remember me?”