95: It was you? Goodbye, brother.

On the way back to the Aether Coral Fortress, Tang Heng was held at the rear.

Like a slave, he was whipped and beaten at will, enduring endless torture.

Skinning alive, extracting bones, Gu insects devouring eyeballs... Endless humiliation and painful punishments were staged at every moment, to the point that even Yao Yian occasionally couldn't bear to watch.

However, the others weren't doing much better; all were punished and tortured, with the suffering leaving deep scars on everyone's bodies.

Soon, someone came to torture Yao Yian, cutting off his fingers section by section, then using a secret technique to regrow them, only to sever them again... Following that were various other punishments, until the Cultivator grew tired of playing and threw the battered Yao Yian onto the ground.

Before long, another Cultivator arrived before Yao Yian, but this person left him stunned.

"Brother, it's me!"

Xu Yimo's voice was low and urgent, like a flickering light in the darkness.

He approached Yao Yian and, taking advantage of a moment when no one was around, quickly stuffed a Medicinal Pill into his mouth.

As soon as the Medicinal Pill entered his mouth, it turned into a warm current, flowing through Yao Yian's body.

It gently healed the countless wounds on his body, making him feel a long-lost sense of comfort.

"Sigh, brother, if you ran, you ran."

A hint of helplessness seeped through Xu Yimo's voice.

"I told you long ago not to get too close to that guy Tang Heng; he'll use any means to achieve his goals."

"As things stand, I can only try my best to plead for you."

"By the way, I've already found the Spirit Medicine to treat your hidden ailment; I'll help you refine it once this matter has passed."

"Brother, don't be afraid, I'm here."

...A long time later, Tang Heng's body was covered in scars as he was forcibly dragged along by several Cultivators like a dead dog.

His mangled flesh dragged a long trail of blood on the ground, but there was a glint of fanaticism in his eyes, as if he were brewing some sort of scheme.

Shortly after, the group finally stopped.

The New Steward was nowhere to be found, while most of the Aether Coral Fortress Cultivators were standing in the distance keeping watch for some unknown reason.

There were only about a dozen Aether Coral Fortress Cultivators guarding the place, and the minor leader in charge was actually Xu Yimo.

"The time has come!!!"

Tang Heng's heart stirred as he activated the control talisman.

Immediately, the control talisman rooted deep within Yao Yian's Divine Soul became frantically active.

Incredible pain surged like a tide, as if it were going to tear Yao Yian's Divine Soul apart.

It caused his mind to roar incessantly, and the feeling that his head was about to burst made him unable to stop himself from letting out a shrill scream that echoed through the quiet air.

He felt like his head was about to explode!!!

The torture within his Divine Soul made him let out a shrill scream.

"Who is it?" Hearing this sound, Xu Yimo's heart tightened, and he suddenly turned around.

The scene before him left him shocked; Yao Yian's face was as pale as paper, and his forehead was covered in sweat.

His eyes were bloodshot, and he kept struggling and rolling on the spot.

In the distance, the Aether Coral Fortress Cultivators couldn't help but laugh seeing this, thinking it was just another enjoyable torture game.

Seeing Yao Yian's painful state, Xu Yimo rushed over quickly.

Seeing Xu Yimo rush over, the Aether Coral Fortress Cultivators staying behind looked away, no longer paying attention to this side.

Clearly, they all knew about the relationship between Xu Yimo and the other party.

After helping Yao Yian up from the ground, Xu Yimo held him tightly.

He asked anxiously, "Brother? How are you? What's going on!"

Yao Yian's hands tightly clutched his own head, his face distorted as if he were suffering through immense torment and pain.

His fingertips sank deep into his forehead, leaving bloody marks.

Seeing this reaction, Xu Yimo was frantic with worry, constantly taking out various Medicinal Pills from his Storage Pouch.

Fumbling, he stuffed them into Yao Yian's mouth, his voice trembling, anxious yet determined.

"Brother, I'm here!"

"Brother, I'm here!"

Meanwhile, Tang Heng, who was standing to the side with a face full of scars, emitted an indescribable aura of ruthlessness.

"Do it!"

This command was like a thunderclap exploding in Yao Yian's mind, making his heart tremble.

"Kill him!!!"

An unquestionable voice exploded in Yao Yian's mind; it was Tang Heng ordering Yao Yian to act.

A controlling force struck, but Yao Yian instinctively resisted.

"I don't care if you've awakened your self!"

"I still have one last collar key; this is our final chance to escape!"

"If we go back to the Coral Fortress, we'll surely die!!!"

"If you don't want to die! Then hurry up and do it! Kill him!"

"Kill him!"

Ultimately, under the incitement of Tang Heng's words and the intertwining of that controlling power, Yao Yian still moved against Xu Yimo.

Only a "squelch" was heard as blood, like shattered petals, instantly gushed out.

His hand, like a sharp blade, stabbed deep into Xu Yimo's heart.

Crimson liquid seeped through his palm, like falling blood-colored petals.

Xu Yimo's eyes widened suddenly, and he looked down in disbelief, his gaze fixed on the place where he had been pierced, a look of shock appearing on his face.

He stared blankly at Yao Yian again, as if he couldn't believe this was reality.

"Why?" Xu Yimo looked at Yao Yian with difficulty, first showing astonishment.

He seemed to be wondering why the other could still use his cultivation, or perhaps why he was attacking him.

But as the life force within him drained away, his face unusually showed a slight hint of joy; he no longer had the strength to ask much more.

Suddenly, Xu Yimo hurriedly reached into his robes.

It was this scene that caused a cold glint to flash in Yao Yian's eyes.

His True Essence vibrated within the other's chest, instantly shattering countless internal organs.

Blood rushed up his throat, but Xu Yimo forcibly swallowed it back down.

The hand that had reached into his robes slowly extended, his palm open.

A blood-stained collar key appeared in his hand, and Xu Yimo said weakly, "Brother, I respect your decision."

"This... is for you..."

Taking advantage of the blocked line of sight, Xu Yimo, this chatterbox, spoke the final four words of his life into Yao Yian's ear.

"Brother, go quickly!"

At that moment, Tang Heng also quickly took out a collar key and a spatial ring from somewhere.

With a "click," he undid his own restraint.

The next moment, he suddenly threw that key to Yao Yian, along with a Flying Sword.

"Run!"

Yao Yian quickly caught the key and opened his own collar without hesitation.

Then he threw the key toward Fan Qingjian and the others before flying out on his sword.

Kill!

"Kill our way out with me!" Tang Heng roared, taking the lead to charge out.

Yao Yian followed closely behind, his gaze lingering on Xu Yimo's body for one last moment as countless indescribable and complex emotions welled up in his heart, before he too charged out.

Behind them, Xu Yimo's lifeless figure slowly collapsed.

"Goodbye, my brother."