89: Chapter 89 Sacrifice and Awakening

The twisted face of Blood Hand Asura drew closer before my eyes. The massive blood-colored blade in his hand was raised high, the blood aura coiling around the blade almost solidifying, emitting a nauseating stench.

"Chen Ergou, go to hell!" His laughter sounded like a broken gong scraping against sheet metal. "From today on, Tianqi City belongs to my Shadow Pavilion!"

I lay on the cold city wall, every inch of my body aching. That heavy blow after his Blood Demon Transformation had snapped three of my ribs, and my chest felt as if it had been crushed by a semi-truck. Fresh blood gushed continuously from the corners of my mouth, staining the bluestone bricks beneath me.

The apocalypse holy sword lay right beside my hand, its golden light as dim as a flashlight running out of batteries.

"It's over..." I smiled bitterly to myself. "I haven't even enjoyed a few days of glory since transmigrating, and now I'm going to kick the bucket here?"

Thinking of me, Chen Ergou, from a poor loser selling strength pills on the street to where I am today, having finally latched onto Ye Liuli's thigh and being on the verge of reaching the pinnacle of life... and then, out of nowhere, this Blood Hand Asura appears, a cheater-level pervert.

Blood Hand Asura's massive blade swung down with a whistling wind.

I closed my eyes, only one thought in my mind: Ye Liuli, please don't be impulsive. As long as the green hills remain, there's no need to worry about firewood. Once I resurrect, we can...

"Puchi—" A muffled sound.

But the expected pain did not arrive.

I snapped my eyes open, my pupils shrinking to the size of pinpricks instantly.

A white figure stood before me.

The figure was slender and resolute, like a white lotus blooming in a gale. Her long hair whipped in the strong wind, and a gruesome wound on her back was gushing blood, staining her snow-white robes.

"Ye... Ye Liuli?!" My voice trembled as if someone were choking me.

Ye Liuli slowly turned around, a pale smile on her stunningly beautiful face. A trickle of blood spilled from the corner of her mouth, dripping down her chin and blooming like striking red plum blossoms on her white collar.

"Ergou..." Her voice was very soft, like willow catkins in the wind. "I'm fine..."

After saying this, her body went limp and fell backward like a kite with a broken string.

"Ye Liuli!!!" I let out a heart-wrenching roar, and not knowing where the strength came from, I caught her falling body.

Her body was light and soft, but at this moment, it was terrifyingly cold. I could feel her life force fading rapidly; the wound that pierced from her back to her chest was nearly fatal.

"Why..." My voice choked, my eye sockets burning hot. "You silly girl... why did you block that blow for me..."

Ye Liuli lay in my arms, raising her hand to touch my face, but it fell limply. I quickly grabbed her hand and held it tightly in my palm.

"Because..." She smiled weakly, a smile so heartbreakingly beautiful. "Because I don't want... to let you die..."

"You promised me... to accompany me to see the aurora..."

"You promised me... to make strength pills for me for the rest of your life..."

"You promised me..."

Her voice grew fainter, and her eyes gradually closed.

"Ye Liuli! Ye Liuli! Don't sleep! Open your eyes and look at me!" I shook her body frantically, tears rolling down uncontrollably. "You cannot die! I don't allow you to die! Do you hear me?!"

Blood Hand Asura's maniacal laughter came from overhead: "Hahaha! Truly moving! But it doesn't matter; I will send you both on your way together to be a pair of ill-fated lovers!"

I looked up at the blood-drenched demon.

An unprecedented rage surged from the bottom of my heart, as if it were about to incinerate all my reason.

"Blood Hand Asura..." My voice was so deep it didn't sound human, like a roar from the depths of hell. "You are courting death."

Just then, a system notification sound suddenly rang in my mind:

[Host detected triggering special conditions...]

[Third Trial: Sacrifice, progress checking...]

[Detected Ye Liuli (Ye Qingcheng) willing to sacrifice herself to save the host...]

[Third Trial completion conditions met!]

[Third Trial: Sacrifice, complete!]

[Trial Analysis: The true meaning of sacrifice is not to die for oneself, but to be willing to give everything to protect the one you love!]

[Congratulations to the host for realizing the true meaning of sacrifice!]

[apocalypse holy sword unlock progress: 60%... 80%... 100%!]

[apocalypse holy sword fully awakened!]

[Congratulations to the host for establishing a perfect bond with the apocalypse holy sword! Unlocking full power!]

A series of system notifications exploded in my mind, but I could no longer hear them clearly. I only felt an unprecedented power surging into my body from the apocalypse holy sword.

The golden longsword that had fallen to the ground suddenly erupted with dazzling golden light! The brilliance was brighter than the sun, more dazzling than the stars! The golden light shot into the sky, illuminating the entire Tianqi City as if it were broad daylight!

"This is..." Blood Hand Asura's smile froze on his face, a flicker of terror flashing in his eyes.

I gently laid Ye Liuli flat on the ground and stood up.

The apocalypse holy sword flew into my hand automatically. All the golden runes on the blade lit up, emitting a humming sound, as if a sleeping dragon had finally awakened!

I looked down at my hands.

My body, which had been covered in wounds just moments ago, was now completely healed! My broken ribs had knitted back together, the torn wounds had vanished, replaced by an unprecedented sense of fullness.

Golden flames burned in my eyes, and within those flames contained rage, sorrow, and... resolute killing intent.

"Blood Hand Asura." My voice was terrifyingly calm, but every word sounded as if it were squeezed through my teeth. "You are dead."

Blood Hand Asura's expression changed; he felt a fatal threat. It was a threat that made even a powerhouse like him, at level 35, feel heart palpitations!

"Pretending to be a ghost!" He roared, the power of his Blood Demon Transformation erupting once more. He turned into a streak of blood-colored light and charged at me. "Go to hell!"

I raised the apocalypse holy sword, the golden light on the blade condensing into a massive light blade.

"Apocalypse: Judgment!" I slashed out with one sword!

The golden light pierced through heaven and earth!

The radiance was pure, without a trace of impurity, as if intending to purify all evil in the world. Before this golden light, Blood Hand Asura's Blood Demon power was like snow meeting a scorching sun, instantly melting away!

"No... impossible!" Blood Hand Asura let out a shrill, miserable scream. "What is this power?! This is impossible!"

His body rapidly disintegrated in the golden light, his Blood Demon Transformation forcibly undone, revealing his original appearance—a gaunt, middle-aged man.

"I... I am not reconciled..." He reached out a withered hand, wanting to grasp something, but his body turned into specks of golden light and dissipated into the air.

Completely purified, wiped out of existence.

The whole scene was deathly silent.

The other three great guardians, who were fighting Qin Wuji and Sword Saint Xiao Wuchen, saw this scene and were all terrified, their faces turning deathly pale.

"Blood Hand Asura... dead?"

"One move... just one move?"

"What is that power?!"

I ignored them; my gaze pierced through the crowd and landed on the dark figure on the high platform in the distance.

The Shadow Pavilion Master.

The mastermind behind all of this.

"You are next."

I dragged the apocalypse holy sword, walking toward the high platform step by step. The tip of the sword carved golden sparks on the ground, and every step felt like it was stepping on the enemy's heart.

The Shadow Pavilion Master finally changed his expression, but he quickly returned to a sneer.

"Interesting. I didn't expect you to be able to fully awaken the apocalypse holy sword." His voice was chillingly cold. "But do you think this can stop the Shadow World-Destroying Formation? It's too late!"

He waved his hand violently, and the black crystal on the high platform erupted with blinding black light!

The entire Tianqi City began to shake violently, and a massive pillar of black light descended from the sky, shrouding the entire city. Countless black runes swirled within the pillar of light, emitting an aura of total destruction.

The Shadow World-Destroying Formation was about to be completed!

"Hahaha!" The Shadow Pavilion Master laughed maniacally. "Tianqi City is finished! All of you are going to die!"

The black light grew stronger and stronger, as if it were about to devour everything...