277: Chapter 277 A Pure Heart Shakes the Entire Fox Clan

"Kill—!!!"

Blade light, mixed with pale gold life flames, sliced through the air, shattering everything that dared to block the path ahead!

A wolf yao was split in two!

A scaled yao's head was severed!

Poisonous fire, wind blades, sharp claws, Spells... they fell upon him like a torrential rain, adding new wounds and consuming his final vitality.

But he ignored it all, his eyes fixed only on what lay ahead, his mind held only a single thought—kill!

Kill one more!

Kill just one more!

For those fallen brothers!

For the entrustment of that final youth!

For the inviolable righteousness and friendship within his heart!

He charged into the Yao Race crowd, battle blade dancing wildly, the fire of life burning to the extreme. Everywhere he passed, a storm of blood and gore was whipped up!

The Yao Race was shocked by his suicidal fighting style, and for a moment, their formation was thrown into chaos!

But individual bravery, in the face of the torrent of war, was ultimately like a mantis trying to stop a carriage.

Dozens of Yao Race members pounced simultaneously; sharp teeth, pointed claws, heavy blows, Spells... they submerged that burning figure.

In his final vision were countless hideous yao faces, bone spurs piercing his chest, and sharp claws tearing his abdomen...

Intense pain struck as his vitality rapidly drained away.

But a faint smile tugged at the corners of Xu Ruyu's mouth.

No regrets.

Brothers, I'm coming to join you.

Taihu Clan... take care.

Darkness completely swallowed his consciousness.

...

Deep within the Moon Fox Palace, at the ancient altar.

The light of the "battle soul blood crystal" slowly receded, returning to its state of slow rotation.

In the center of the altar, Xu Ruyu's figure slowly emerged.

His eyes were tightly shut, his face as pale as paper, and his whole body trembled slightly, as if he hadn't yet recovered from the extremely tragic experience of death just now. However, there were no wounds on his body.

Silence.

Around the altar, there was a dead silence.

All the high-level members of the Taihu Clan who had witnessed everything Xu Ruyu experienced and his final choice in the ancient battlefield—projected by the "battle soul blood crystal"—were frozen in place as if under a binding Spell, unable to speak for a long time.

The Clan Chief's figure, shrouded in moonlight, trembled slightly.

On that cold face (though it couldn't be seen clearly), it seemed as if crystalline spots of light were sliding down.

The phantom of the Supreme Mage fluctuated until it was nearly transparent, her ethereal voice carrying an uncontrollable sob: "Better... better to die in battle... than to live alone... for a branch of my ancient kin whom he had never even met..."

The Grand Elder's face was covered in old tears as he murmured, "Holy Master... Holy Master..."

Elder Lan Yi was already streaming with tears, covering her mouth to keep from crying out loud.

Madame Qingli was sobbing even more uncontrollably, looking at the pale and weak youth on the altar who still kept his back straight; her heart was filled with endless heartache, pride, and a throb from the depths of her Soul.

They had seen the entire process: from Xu Ruyu's initial caution, to his immersion in fighting side-by-side, and finally to his resolute choice to burn his life and launch a death charge for the sake of the word "brother" and the righteousness in his heart, even while knowing he would surely die!

This was not acting; it was not a calculation.

In the absolutely realistic illusion constructed by the battle soul blood crystal, all reactions came from the true heart!

The look in his eyes when he burned his life, the decisiveness of that final charge, the calmness as he met death with a smile... none of it could be faked in the slightest!

He could have completely followed the suggestion of that final youth and taken the opportunity to escape.

With his resourcefulness and hidden strength (even if suppressed), there might have been a slim chance of survival.

In that way, he might have also passed the test by "surviving," proving he was no boor.

But he didn't.

He chose the most foolish, most heroic, and most shocking way—for a group of ancient strangers from the Taihu Clan who had no direct relation to him, for that brief but sincere battlefield friendship, he went to his death with composure!

What kind of pure, what kind of blazing, what kind of deeply affectionate and righteous Heart-Nature did this require?!

After a long time, Xu Ruyu slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was somewhat hollow, as if the blood-red of the battlefield and the coldness of death still lingered.

But soon, his focus returned, and he saw the people of the Taihu Clan around the altar, their faces covered in tears and expressions filled with excitement and complexity.

He was a bit dazed and subconsciously touched his chest—there were no wounds.

Immediately, he understood. The test was over.

He looked at the Clan Chief, at the Supreme Mage, and at everyone else. He opened his mouth to say something, but in the end, it only turned into a soft sigh as he revealed a smile tinged with exhaustion and relief:

"Clan Chief, Supreme, everyone... this Junior didn't lose face for the Taihu Clan, did I?"

A simple sentence, yet it was like a heavy hammer, striking hard against everyone's heartstrings.

The Clan Chief suddenly took a step forward, no longer able to maintain her usual cold majesty. Her lunar radiance fluctuated violently, and her voice carried unprecedented solemnity and trembling:

"Holy Master Xu... no, Brother Xu!"

She changed her form of address, using the term those ancient warriors used in the illusion.

"From this day forward, you are a true brother of my Taihu Clan!

Let our Bloodline be the witness, and the sun and moon be our testimony!

Wherever the Taihu Clan is, we shall be your backing!

Whatever you request, my clan... will not hesitate even at the cost of ten thousand deaths!"

The Supreme Mage's phantom bowed deeply: "This young friend's heart is comparable to the sun and moon, and can be clearly seen by heaven and earth. This old one... is in awe."

The Grand Elder, Elder Lan Yi, and the others all bowed in unison, their expressions solemn and reverent.

Madame Qingli walked forward and gently supported the still-weak Xu Ruyu, her tearful eyes full of tenderness and pride.

Xu Ruyu looked at everyone, a warm current surging in his heart.

He knew that he had passed this "Heart-Nature Trial."

Moreover, he had passed it in a way that far exceeded the Taihu Clan's expectations, even shaking their very Souls.

From now on, between him and the Taihu Clan, it was no longer just an exchange of interests or a repayment of kindness.

It was a true, life-entrusting—brotherly bond.

Nine-Aperture Exquisite Array, Sixth Trial, broken.

Purity of Heart-Nature, its intensity and righteousness, shook the entire clan.