271: If you don't court death, you won't die.

Jing Xi, who had fallen in the distance, lay on the ground with a fierce expression, staring intently at Ai Yue. She struck the ground hard in hatred, causing the wound on her arm where Ai Yue had slashed her to burst open, and a stream of fresh blood flowed down.

Just as Jing Xi was about to launch another attack, the Crystallized Heart suddenly moved. Two slimy tentacles squirmed out from the thickest connecting blood vessel, and one of them instantly wrapped around the bleeding Jing Xi.

Jing Xi looked down at the tentacle on her chest with a dazed expression. Weren't these the tentacles the Nameless Monster's heart used specifically to hunt "food" for crystallization?

Why was it wrapping around her?

Before she could figure it out, the tentacle retracted with a "whoosh," taking Jing Xi with it.

Jing Xi was bound tightly, her entire body pressed against the Crystallized Heart, unable to move.

Then, amidst her unwilling roars of fury, Jing Xi was completely swallowed by the Crystallized Heart.

The other tentacle shot toward Ai Yue like lightning. Ai Yue subconsciously swung the dagger in her hand and sent the tentacle flying.

The tentacle seemed to have locked onto Ai Yue, attacking only her.

Behind her, Cheng Siyu stared at Ai Yue's back, her face gradually contorting. Her eyes were full of the sight of Ai Yue showing off her power and Gu Xiheng silently following behind her, and a surge of violence rose uncontrollably in her heart.

Cheng Siyu gritted her teeth hard and stared gloomily at Ai Yue.

Ai Yue must die!

Since the heart's crystallization still needed nourishment, Ai Yue was perfect; she deserved to die here.

Gradually, her brain was controlled by hatred. While Ai Yue continued to deal with the tentacles, Cheng Siyu rushed out, reaching Ai Yue's back in a few steps and pushing her hard.

Voices of varying pitches came from behind: "Don't!"

"Cheng Siyu, stop!"

"Sister Siyu!"

...Cheng Siyu didn't care about any of it; she only wanted Ai Yue to die!

Ai Yue had already sensed it when Cheng Siyu lunged over. She used her Extreme Speed Superpower to quickly dodge, escaping Cheng Siyu's malicious hands.

Cheng Siyu hadn't expected Ai Yue to actually dodge, and she flew forward uncontrollably.

At that moment, a tentacle struck again, happening to wrap around the flying Cheng Siyu.

Having caught its "food," the tentacle quickly retracted, bringing Cheng Siyu tightly against the Crystallized Heart.

She was swallowed by the heart in a way visible to the naked eye, with only a single miserable scream from Cheng Siyu heard.

It happened too fast for any rescue; Cheng Siyu vanished.

Gu Xiheng stared blankly in the direction where Cheng Siyu had disappeared, a trail of clear tears flowing from the corner of his eye.

He murmured to himself: "Siyu..."

Gu Xitian was already scared witless; she hadn't yet reacted to the scene of Cheng Siyu being swallowed.

Ai Yue remained expressionless. This was all Cheng Siyu's own doing; if she hadn't intended to harm her, she wouldn't have ended up like this.

"Crack, crack, crack..."

A series of snapping sounds rang out.

Everyone couldn't help but look up to see that the heart's crystallization was complete, and all the thick blood vessels connected to it had snapped.

At this moment, a stronger longing came from the Space in Ai Yue's heart—it wanted that Crystallized Heart!

Ai Yue endured it firmly and made no move.

Just then.

The entire "cave" began to shake.

The Crystallized Heart shook violently. Before anyone could react, the huge Crystallized Heart rapidly shrank, floating in mid-air and spinning rapidly. It spun smaller and smaller until finally, with a "pop" and a burst of bright light, it disappeared.

The group looked on in disbelief. Just like that? It's gone?

They were all confused, not understanding why the heart had suddenly vanished, and in such a magical way.

Then, with the disappearance of the Crystallized Heart, the entire "cave" shook even more violently and began to collapse.

They couldn't care about anything else anymore; in such a moment of crisis, they could only try their best to save their lives.

"Ai Yue, what are you still dazing for? Let's go!" Seeing Ai Yue standing still as if in a daze with no intention of moving, Gong Qiuqiu grabbed her anxiously and ran toward the exit.

Ai Yue felt her heart beating violently and the blood throughout her body boiling. She felt as if she were floating in a mist.

As Gong Qiuqiu pulled her along in a fast run, she snapped back to her senses. She knew these changes in herself were caused by the Space hidden within her heart.

She also knew that the Nameless Monster's Crystallized Heart hadn't vanished without a trace; rather, under the pull of the Space, it had been taken inside. It had even seemed impatient, as if they were originally one and had only been temporarily separated.

After the Crystallized Heart disappeared into the Space, Ai Yue felt the Dragon-shaped Jade Pendant, which had been spinning in her Space, erupt with a dazzling light. It became entwined with the equally brilliant Crystallized Heart, and then the entire Space was filled with golden light. Instantly, the Space lost its connection with Ai Yue.

If not for the physical abnormalities still present, Ai Yue would have thought the Space had disappeared along with it.

Ai Yue and the others ran quickly along the only remaining tunnel. A rumbling sound came from behind them, growing louder and louder as the collapse seemed about to catch up.

Ai Yue grabbed Gong Qiuqiu's hand and shouted: "Everyone, hold onto each other! I'll take you out!"

The others subconsciously grabbed each other. Ai Yue was in front pulling Gong Qiuqiu, Gong Qiuqiu pulled Gu Xiheng, Gu Xiheng pulled Gu Xitian, and Gu Xitian pulled the remaining two.

Without hesitation, Ai Yue shot out like lightning. Even though she was pulling a string of people behind her, her speed did not slow down.

The collapse behind them also grew faster. With a look of determination, Ai Yue ignored the collapse closing in behind her and simply put forth her greatest effort to lead everyone forward quickly.

Finally, a light appeared ahead. Ai Yue's spirits lifted as she pulled the string of people behind her for one last sprint, finally escaping the Nameless Monster's body.

Ai Yue led everyone to a safe enough place before stopping.

They all turned back to look, only to see the dozens-of-meters-tall Nameless Monster turning bit by bit into dust, drifting into the air and finally disappearing.

"The Nameless Monster is turning to dust! Did it use its entire body to nourish that Crystallized Heart?" Gong Qiuqiu stared blankly at the monster's disappearance and murmured.

"It seems so. Perhaps that was its mission!" Ai Yue said softly.

Deep in the mountains.

Beside the Nameless Monster.

Only the six of them, including Ai Yue, watched as the Nameless Monster gradually disappeared.

All the people brought by Gong Qiuqiu and Gu Xiheng, as well as the Zombie Swarms, were gone... only the six of them remained!

Not until the Nameless Monster had completely vanished did everyone gradually come to their senses, looking at each other with bitter smiles!

Although the six of them had survived, it was no different from a total wipeout!

They had already prepared for a total wipeout when they came, but when the moment actually arrived, it was still somewhat hard to accept.