Boom!
At the entrance of the Dragon Valley's small world, thunder roared in the sky, and nine-colored lightning churned violently.
In the next moment, Gu Yue and Xia Yi appeared beneath that nine-colored tribulation lightning.
Between them stood a massive seven-colored cauldron.
Aside from them, Lan Fozu also appeared at the edge of the tribulation.
"N-Na'er!" Yali's eyes widened in shock as she looked up at the dazzling silver figure in the sky. Her body trembled uncontrollably.
"That's not Na'er; that's Gu Yue," Yun Ming said in a deep, somber voice. Although Gu Yue looked exactly like Na'er, her aura was different.
"It seems Tang Wulin wasn't lying. Na'er and Gu Yue really are one and the same. Nana has already merged into Gu Yue's body," Yali murmured in a daze.
"It would be more accurate to call it 'devouring,'" Yun Ming said coldly, his eyes flickering. "There is no trace of Nana's consciousness left in Gu Yue's body."
"Tang Wulin said that Na'er was originally a part of Gu Yue. Now that she has returned to Gu Yue's body, it's simply a return to her origin. Brother Ming, let's stop here. If this escalates into a full-blown war between Shrek Academy, the Tang Sect, and the Spirit Pagoda, the consequences will be unimaginable," Yali pleaded bitterly with Yun Ming.
This situation had been Na'er's fault from the beginning. If Xia Yi really died at Yun Ming's or the Tang Sect's hands, it would mean that the three great millennia-old organizations would completely sever ties.
Yun Ming ignored Yali and simply stared coldly at the sky.
Zang Xin glanced at him but said nothing, silently standing by his side.
"Roar—!"
An earth-shaking dragon roar erupted from the seven-colored cauldron. The nine-colored cauldron shot up into the sky on its own, actively charging toward the tribulation lightning to receive its baptism.
Yun Ming took a cold step forward, placing himself in front of Xia Yi and Gu Yue.
The moment he moved, everyone else followed suit, quickly positioning themselves behind him.
"Brother Ming!" Yali immediately chased after him.
However, just as she got close to Yun Ming, an invisible force stopped her three meters away.
Looking at Gu Yue, Yun Ming's anger intensified. No matter what Yali said, he had to avenge Na'er.
"What a grand entrance. Are you guys planning to rob me?" Xia Yi chuckled, showing no trace of fear despite the murderous aura radiating from Yun Ming and Zang Xin.
He even had the mood to joke around.
"Heavenly Douluo can teleport directly to your side, right? Don't say I didn't give you a chance—call her over," Yun Ming said coldly, his gaze ice-cold yet filled with absolute confidence.
Everyone who had tried to harm Xia Yi so far had done everything they could to keep Leng Yaozhu occupied.
Even the Limit Douluo were wary of Leng Yaozhu.
But Yun Ming was different. He knew that Leng Yaozhu had already broken through to Quasi-God, yet he felt no fear whatsoever.
If he was going to kill Xia Yi, he would do it openly and honorably.
Scheming and underhanded tactics were beneath the strongest man on the continent.
"Zhu'er is guarding the Abyssal Passage, protecting the entire Douluo Plane. She doesn't have time for you," Xia Yi scoffed.
"Do you think I won't attack just because you're a junior? Na'er died because of you. Whether Heavenly Douluo comes or not, today, you must accompany Na'er in death," Yun Ming declared coldly.
With just a glance, white-hot spear intent materialized in the air.
The moment that piercing spear intent appeared, even the powerful experts behind Yun Ming felt a bone-chilling coldness, let alone Xia Yi, who stood before him.
Yun Ming had given Xia Yi a chance, but since Xia Yi refused to take it, Yun Ming had no hesitation left.
The incandescent spear intent surged toward Xia Yi, leaving behind radiant trails in the sky.
Seeing that Yun Ming was truly making a move, the experts from the Tang Sect and Star Luo Empire smirked.
Leng Yaozhu's ability to teleport to Xia Yi had been the reason they had yet to devise a foolproof plan to deal with him.
If such a monster were allowed to continue growing, their sects and empires would inevitably be crushed under his power in the future.
But now, Xia Yi was finally going to die.
The strongest man on the Douluo Continent had taken action. Even if Heavenly Douluo Leng Yaozhu arrived, she wouldn't be able to save Xia Yi.
No one could.
Just as the spear intent was about to tear Xia Yi to shreds, a sharp voice suddenly rang out.
"Yun Ming!"
"Yun Ming! The Abyssal Plane is eyeing us from the outside, and the Holy Spirit Cult is growing stronger from within. Do you really want to do something that will plunge the entire Douluo Plane into chaos?"
Tears streamed down Yali's beautiful eyes.
Last time, in order to save Long Yeyue, Yun Ming had schemed around the Abyssal Passage, leading to severe losses for the Blood God Legion.
She hadn't been able to stop him then, and she regretted it deeply.
This time, she absolutely couldn't let Yun Ming make another mistake.
Yun Ming's body stiffened. Then, without hesitation, he directed his spear intent toward Xia Yi once again.
"I'm no longer the Skycovering Douluo. Right now, I'm just a teacher avenging his disciple. I don't care about righteousness."
"Fine! If that's how you want it, then kill me first!"
Yali gritted her teeth and stepped in front of Xia Yi. Her tear-filled eyes shone with unwavering determination as she faced Yun Ming.
"If you want to kill Xia Yi today, you'll have to kill me first."
The crowd fell into a stunned silence.
Yun Ming's wife was risking her life to protect another man—one whom Yun Ming wanted dead.
"Yali…"
Yun Ming's body trembled slightly. Even he struggled to maintain his composure.
"Yun Ming, as long as I'm alive, I won't let you make another mistake. And I won't let you betray Shrek Academy's principles," Yali said firmly.
Seeing Yun Ming tremble, Yali felt immense guilt.
"Brother Ming, I'm sorry. As your wife, I shouldn't embarrass you in front of others. But as your wife, I can't watch you fall deeper and deeper. Once this is over, I will personally apologize to you."
Tears welled up in her heart as she spoke.
"You were Na'er's godmother. Are you really willing to oppose me, your husband, for an outsider?" Yun Ming's eyes burned with rage.
"I already told you—Na'er's death was our failure in teaching her. The fault lies with us, not Xia Yi. Unless you kill me first, I won't let you harm him," Yali said resolutely, shielding Xia Yi.
She had already lost Na'er.
She wouldn't allow the noble image of the Skycovering Douluo to collapse in her heart.
Even if Yun Ming resented her for this.
Even if he ended up hating her.
But for Yun Ming's sake, she had to do this.
Right now, Yun Ming was blinded by anger.
Once he calmed down, she would explain everything to him.
She believed he would understand.
"Good! Good! Very good!"
Yun Ming spat out three words in succession, his gaze sweeping over Xia Yi before landing on Yali.
"I told you—I will avenge Na'er. I want to see how long you can protect Xia Yi."
"If you have the guts, stay with him forever."
With that, Yun Ming flung his sleeve and vanished from sight.
There was no way he could strike Yali.
So, he could only leave.
Even the Limit Douluo Zang Xin hadn't noticed that, in the moment Yun Ming turned, his body staggered slightly—almost plummeting from the sky.
"Brother Ming!" Yali's body swayed as well.
Yun Ming's words were merely a warning to Yali—he wasn't giving up.
The moment Yali and Xia Yi parted, he would strike again.
He meant nothing else.
But for Yali, those words hurt more than death.
(End of Chapter)