115: Your choice, to surrender, or to be buried with him?

When Lin Tian's final declaration, "Your era has ended," echoed like a divine decree across the silent Taihe Hall Plaza, the myth of "Marquis Champion" Huo Qubing had already concluded.

He stepped on this former "young generation's ceiling," yet his gaze slowly lifted, ignoring Huo Qubing's unwilling and humiliated eyes, as if looking at a war trophy that had lost all value.

His gaze traveled hundreds of meters, past countless figures trembling in fear, and finally landed precisely on the pale-faced, yet still struggling, green-robed youth attempting to block the high platform.

Ye Fan.

That leek, which he had personally cut down, yet had absorbed new nutrients in an unknown corner and grown back stubbornly, even more robust than before.

Feeling Lin Tian's cold gaze, like he was sizing up his next prey, Ye Fan stiffened. A fear originating from the depths of his Soul, almost freezing him again, surged uncontrollably.

Too strong!

So strong it defied all reason, reaching a terrifying level that surpassed all opponents in his previous life's Sword Emperor memories!

His once indestructible confidence and Dao Heart, newly established by his Rebirth, now showed a tiny, uncontrollable crack after he witnessed Lin Tian's god-like, invincible demeanor of "one man suppressing a generation."

But he still did not retreat.

Because behind him was the "light" of his current life, the person he was determined to protect with his life—Qin Yubing.

Out of a man's most primal dignity, and out of that ridiculous "hero complex" originating from the Son of Destiny template, he still mustered the greatest courage of his life, endured the trembling in his legs, drew his ancient longsword, and stood below the high platform, facing off against that god-like man from afar.

However, Lin Tian didn't even spare a glance at his wary posture, which was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

In his eyes, Ye Fan was no longer an "opponent" he needed to take seriously.

He was merely... the last "prop" to make this "farce" more interesting.

Lin Tian's gaze passed over him, and with interest, he looked at the beautiful woman on the high platform, who had been silently watching everything, her face pale, her delicate body trembling slightly.

He smiled, a smile full of playfulness and control.

Using the universally recognized rule of "martial arts competition for marriage," he slowly spoke, his voice not loud, yet it clearly spread across the globe through the amplification array.

"Martial arts competition for marriage, the victor is king."

"Now, I am the only one standing in the arena. So..."

His gaze, like two invisible chains, locked onto Qin Yubing on the high platform. His eyes seemed to be looking at his most perfect collection, something that already belonged to him.

"...My maid, according to the rules, isn't it time for you to fulfill your duty as a 'war trophy' now?"

Boom!

"Maid"! "War trophy"!

These two terms, full of extreme humiliation and possessiveness, were like two resounding slaps, fiercely striking the faces of everyone in the Qin Family, and also striking the heart of Ye Fan, who regarded Qin Yubing as his "goddess"!

"Lin Tian! Don't be so arrogant!" Ye Fan could no longer bear it and roared, "Yubing is a person! Not your object! You dare not..."

"Shut up."

Lin Tian didn't even look at him, merely uttering two words faintly.

Those two words, however, seemed to contain the magic of "what is said is done." Ye Fan felt his throat being violently choked by an invisible hand, and he truly could not make any sound!

Lin Tian ignored Ye Fan's face, flushed with anger and humiliation, and simply continued to smile, watching Qin Yubing on the high platform, whose face grew paler and her delicate body trembled more violently.

He knew the time was ripe.

It was time for the most exciting and most cruel final act of this "bloodbath" drama.

He gave Qin Yubing his final, undeniable command.

"Now, come down from that high platform."

"Come to my side."

"And then..."

His gaze finally flickered to the silenced, red-eyed Ye Fan below, and a cruel arc formed on his lips.

"...Tell that self-righteous, ridiculous 'hero' below your choice."

"Will you choose to continue following me, your 'Master,' who has trampled everything you have underfoot, but can bestow upon you supreme glory..."

He paused, his voice suddenly becoming cold, filled with undisguised killing intent.

"...Or will you choose to be buried with him, that useless person who has nothing but so-called 'kindness'?"

Dead silence.

The entire world, at this moment, seemed to fall into absolute silence.

This was a choice.

A choice that seemed to offer options, yet was more cruel and more heart-wrenching than any command... the ultimate choice!

On the high platform, Qin Yubing's face instantly lost all color. She looked at the domineering and playful man below, and then at her former "savior," who, though silenced, had eyes full of anticipation and disbelief.

Her heart was plunged into an unprecedented, agonizing struggle, like a battle between heaven and man.

On one side was the "kindness" of someone who had extended a helping hand when she was at her most vulnerable.

On the other side was her "Master," who controlled her life and death, dominated her destiny, and was so powerful that she couldn't even conceive of resisting, as well as... that admiration for absolute power, hidden beneath humiliation, which she herself was unwilling to admit.

How should she choose?

Ye Fan stared at her intently, his once deep, ancient well-like eyes now bloodshot, full of pleading, full of anticipation. He hoped, he desperately hoped, that the "light" he had risked his life to protect would, as written in novels, bravely say "no" to that "Devil King" for "freedom" and "dignity"!

However... under the gaze of tens of billions of spectators worldwide, and under Ye Fan's gaze, which gradually turned from "anticipation" to "disbelief."

Qin Yubing, after half a minute of agonizing struggle that felt like a century.

She moved.

She slowly, step by step, descended the high platform that symbolized the Qin Family's glory.

Each step she took was incredibly difficult, as if she were treading not on white marble steps, but on her own crushed pride and dignity.

She ignored Ye Fan's gradually despairing gaze.

She walked to Lin Tian's side.

Then, in front of the whole world, she slowly lowered her once noble, Phoenix-like head to the man who had trampled everything she had underfoot, performing the most humble gesture of a "servant" to a "Master."

After completing all this, she slowly turned around.

She looked at Ye Fan, who was now utterly stunned and frozen as if struck by lightning. Her clear, beautiful eyes, which once captivated Ye Fan, now held only a cold, emotionless... ruthlessness.

Her red lips parted slightly, uttering the words that would completely crush Ye Fan's last shred of Dao Heart.

"Ye Fan."

"Thank you for saving my life in the War Emperor's Mausoleum."

"But..."

She paused, her voice growing colder and more resolute, like the sharpest knife, cutting off the last thread of connection between them, slice by slice.

"...From now on, you and I have no further ties."

"My destiny, my glory, everything about me..."

She slowly turned her gaze back to Lin Tian beside her. All struggle and pain had vanished from her eyes, replaced only by a resigned, absolute submission.

"...Belongs only to my Master."