C15 Save the Beauty

Just moments before, Duan Dali had been in complete control, dominating the situation and determining the fate of the once untouchable lady. Then, in an instant, the tables turned dramatically. He was now teetering on the brink of death, a stark reminder of how fickle fate can be.

Chu Tianyu watched, his eyes wide and mouth agape. This intense battle between life and death was a profound lesson for him in his naivety. The clash of strength, willpower, and tactics left him deeply shaken in a way he had never experienced before.

"I'm going to kill you!" Duan Dali's eyes blazed with fury, and his rage seemed to momentarily overcome his frailty. With a thunderous roar, he lunged at Qin Ming, who was a short distance away. He hoisted the shattered magic tool above his head, bringing it down toward Qin Ming like the Grim Reaper's scythe.

Qin Ming appeared frozen, standing still as the magic tool bore down on her fragile frame.

"Watch out!" Chu Tianyu yelled, unable to believe that Duan Dali, despite his grave injuries, could act so recklessly. Determined to take Qin Ming down with him, even in death, he couldn't stand idly by as a beautiful woman faced her demise. He burst from the cave entrance without a second thought.

Duan Dali's wounds may have seemed dire, but they were not life-threatening. Qin Ming had exhausted over half her strength, and her full power had yet to be unleashed. Earlier, her attack had been weakened significantly by a High-grade Magic Tool, and the subsequent counterattack was even less potent, comparable to that of an average Level Nine expert.

Duan Dali, a Level Nine expert himself, possessed a robust physique, abundant Qi and blood, and a long life expectancy. Having narrowly avoided a critical hit, he was merely severely injured and could fully recover with some rest.

But now, his judgment clouded by vengeance and rage, he was willing to risk further harm to take down his adversary. He recognized that Qin Ming was also running on fumes. Missing this chance would surely be a lifelong regret.

The speed of a Level Nine expert could be likened to a bolt of lightning. Even a severely wounded Level Nine warrior was terrifyingly fast. As Chu Tianyu stepped forward, Duan Dali's magic tool was mere inches from Qin Ming, the wind whipping her clothes and hair wildly.

Qin Ming had discarded her weapon earlier and was unable to wield her Spirit Weapon. At that moment, she was as vulnerable as a lamb to the slaughter. Yet, Qin Ming lived up to her reputation as a Tianjiao, maintaining her composure in the face of death. This unflappable demeanor left Duan Dali, watching from a short distance away, feeling powerless, as if she, the lofty celestial maiden, still dictated the fates.

As the magic tool neared Qin Ming, an unremarkable dark golden bone, cracked and seemingly fragile, appeared out of nowhere to intercept it. This simple bone, devoid of any divine light or impressive aura, miraculously halted Duan Dali's frenzied attack.

The collision between the sturdy magic tool and the fractured bone rang out with a crisp sound, reminiscent of fine jade shattering. The High-grade Magic Tool was destroyed, and the force of the impact sent both Qin Ming and Duan Dali flying.

Suspended in midair, Qin Ming breathed a sigh of relief. Her gamble had paid off; anything that could endure such a fearsome battle was far from ordinary. Across from her, Duan Dali was left in stunned disbelief, his plans thwarted once again.

Chu Tianyu's mouth fell open in shock at this unforeseen turn of events. He was so surprised that he nearly stumbled and fell in his rapid advance.

Seeing Qin Ming hurled into the air, Tianyu hastened his steps and managed to catch her just as she descended, the momentum causing him to stagger back several paces.

Qin Ming, having relished the thrill of flight, braced for a harsh landing, but it never came. Instead, she found herself in a soft embrace. Turning her head, her gaze settled on the somewhat disheveled figure who had broken her fall.

Both were thrown through the air simultaneously. Qin Ming felt no pain, but Duan Dali's experience was quite the opposite. He crashed violently into the unforgiving earth, a gush of blood spurting from his mouth. It was unclear whether the outburst was due to the pain of his injuries, a surge of anger, or a pang of jealousy.

Those eyes, how could one describe them? Deep and mysterious, shimmering with light, they were more profound than the deepest abyss and brighter than the moon high above. They radiated warmth and allure, captivating with their myriad expressions.

Chu Tianyu was momentarily spellbound, convinced he was beholding the most stunning view in the world. He lost control of his steps, tumbling backward and awkwardly rolling several times before coming to a halt. Yet, even then, his gaze remained fixed on those mesmerizing eyes.

Qin Ming, ever so proud, instinctively furrowed her brow. Every man she had encountered before had been handsome and impeccably dressed. But remembering that this man had come to her aid, she turned her head slightly.

Chu Tianyu, fearing he had offended Qin Ming, quickly looked away, only to see Duan Dali with eyes red as blood, struggling to retrieve a green pill from a small pouch. He popped it into his mouth and swallowed it whole without chewing.

The nature of the pill was a mystery, but the blood that had been pouring out visibly slowed to a trickle. Yet, instead of relief, Duan Dali was seething with rage. After all, this was the Level Nine Spirit Pill, the Heaven Creation Pill, capable of snatching life back from the brink of death itself, defying fate!

"Ah, you little pest, ruining my plans! I'll make you suffer the eighteen harshest tortures, day and night, without the mercy of death!" Duan Dali's bleeding had ceased, but the loss of such a precious Level Nine Heaven Pill, akin to a second chance at life, was a wound that bled internally.

He had never intended to use it. After eliminating Qin Ming, a few months of recovery would have sufficed. But now, he was forced to squander this miraculous gift.

Chu Tianyu and Qin Ming's faces paled considerably. They had assumed Duan Dali was on his last breath, easy prey for anyone, but to their surprise, a single pill had healed most of his wounds. Now, the tables had turned, and they were the ones in peril.

Chu Tianyu had an urge to claim he was just a bystander, merely 'passing the soy sauce,' but he knew such protests would be futile. Duan Dali was looking for a target to unleash his fury upon, and if not on him, then who? It was Chu Tianyu's misfortune to have appeared just as Duan Dali's rage peaked.

"Ah, my Heaven Creation Pill, the treasure I toiled half my life to acquire! I will flay you, strip your tendons, and carve out your heart."

As Duan Dali charged at them, Chu Tianyu instinctively glanced at Qin Ming, whose formidable presence had previously made a strong impression on him.

Qin Ming, puzzled by Chu Tianyu's gaze, returned the look, searching his face for answers, resulting in a standoff of intense staring.

Her eyes were captivating, even with her face covered in grime. Chu Tianyu couldn't help but think that a good wash would reveal stunning beauty.

Why was this disheveled young man so calm? Could he be concealing his true power? Yet, his youthful, almost childlike eyes suggested he was no ancient fiend. Qin Ming was riddled with doubts.

In a flash, Duan Dali had closed the distance, now just ten meters away. Seeing their composed demeanor, he grew wary. Qin Ming had previously cast a long shadow over his confidence, and he feared they might be scheming against him once more.

He halted, scanning the area with vigilance, meticulously checking for traps within a hundred-meter radius. Finding nothing, he finally eased his guard.

"Qin Ming, I never imagined you'd be so self-sacrificing. And you, facing death, still seek a final moment of solace. Very well, I shall send you both to hell as a pair of star-crossed lovers," Duan Dali proclaimed, exuding the authority of a sovereign passing judgment on life and death.

Chu Tianyu finally snapped out of it and said with a sense of urgency, "Hurry up and take him down."

Qin Ming was taken aback. "Aren't you supposed to be the one carrying me and making a run for it?"

"What?!" A jolt of alarm shot through Chu Tianyu, and a very ominous feeling surged in his chest.

"What are you waiting for? That last move drained all of my Genuine Qi. Your escape speed is all that matters now." Qin Ming's eyes crinkled into crescents, seemingly amused by the predicament.

Chu Tianyu's jaw dropped as he looked at Qin Ming in disbelief. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Duan Dali was less than fifteen meters away, sending a chill down his spine!

What a setup! Tears streamed down Chu Tianyu's face. Who on earth have I managed to upset?