The masked assassin's blade descended toward Lan Xue's throat.
She could not move in time.
Her spiritual power was drained, her vision blurred from blood loss. The late Core Formation enemy had waited patiently, striking only when she faltered.
"Die."
Before the blade could complete its arc—
A shadow cut between them.
Lan Xue felt a sudden force wrap around her waist.
Mo Xuan.
He pulled her backward in a single motion, his arm firm around her hip as the enemy's blade struck down where she had stood.
The stone shattered.
Dust exploded outward.
The masked man's eyes widened.
Mo Xuan's gaze lifted slowly.
His pupils were no longer dark.
They burned crimson.
Spiral patterns rotated faintly within them, ancient and cold.
Lan Xue froze.
That pressure—
It was not ordinary spiritual energy.
The assassin attacked again, furious, unleashing a full-force palm strike.
Mo Xuan did not use a named technique.
He simply raised his hand.
Spiritual force condensed around his palm and collided with the attack.
The impact detonated like thunder in the narrow cavern.
Both were pushed backward—but the masked man coughed blood instantly.
"How…?!" the assassin staggered. "You're only—"
Mo Xuan's voice was calm.
"You talk too much."
He stepped forward again.
This time, he moved faster than the enemy's perception.
His palm struck the man's chest directly.
The spiritual force did not explode outward—
It invaded inward.
The assassin's meridians shattered from within.
Blood sprayed as he collapsed lifeless.
Silence.
Lan Xue stared at Mo Xuan's profile.
His aura had changed.
At the same moment—
Ling Yue's blade flashed behind them.
The second assassin lunged toward her with killing intent.
She blocked once.
Twice.
Her arms trembled.
Then—
Something stirred in her forehead.
A faint mark glowed.
Warmth surged through her veins.
She stepped forward instead of retreating.
"Frost Veil — Severing Bloom."
Her sword cut cleanly across the enemy's neck.
He fell.
Han Wei and Lan Jian stood stunned.
Moments ago, they were losing.
Now—
Both late Core Formation enemies were dead.
But Mo Xuan and Ling Yue swayed slightly.
The marks at their foreheads flickered, then faded.
They had forced something ancient to awaken.
Before anyone could speak—
The mountain trembled violently.
A roar echoed from deeper within the chamber.
Stone cracked.
From the shadows emerged a monstrous demon, twice the size of the earlier creatures. Black horns spiraled from its skull, and its aura pressed down like crushing gravity.
Lan Jian's face paled.
"Half-step into Nascent Soul…"
The demon charged.
Lan Xue stepped beside her brother.
"Ice Forbidden Art — Glacial Binding Chains!"
Ice erupted from the ground, wrapping around the demon's limbs.
Han Wei activated talismans midair.
"Thunder Sealing Array!"
Golden lightning coiled around the frozen restraints.
The demon roared and shattered half of it instantly.
Ling Yue stepped forward.
Mo Xuan moved beside her.
Their hands brushed.
Neither pulled away.
They intertwined their fingers.
Life energy flowed from her.
Death energy stirred from him.
The cavern trembled.
Silver and black spiritual currents spiraled around them.
Lan Xue felt chills across her spine.
"What is that…?"
The demon broke free and lunged.
Mo Xuan pulled Ling Yue with him.
Together—
They struck.
A spiraling blade of intertwined energy pierced straight through the demon's chest.
The explosion that followed shook the mountain's core.
But the backlash came immediately.
Ling Yue was thrown backward violently.
The ground beneath her shattered.
A massive crack opened.
She fell.
"Ling Yue!"
Mo Xuan didn't hesitate.
He jumped after her.
Behind them, their friends shouted—but the sound vanished into the abyss.
They fell through endless darkness.
Wind roared.
Mo Xuan caught her wrist mid-air.
Pulled her close.
Wrapped his arm around her waist.
She was limp.
Unconscious.
They plunged into freezing water.
The impact stole his breath.
The underground lake dragged them downward.
Ling Yue's body did not respond.
Her spiritual aura was faint.
Bubbles escaped her lips.
Mo Xuan tightened his grip.
"Ling Yue…"
No response.
Without thinking—
He lifted her chin gently underwater.
And pressed his lips to hers.
Not for romance.
Not for hesitation.
For survival.
He forced air into her lungs.
Spiritual energy flowed between them, life and death intertwining once more.
Her fingers twitched faintly.
He kicked upward through the crushing weight of the water.
His bones screamed from earlier fractures.
His vision blurred.
But he did not let go.
With a final surge—
They broke the surface.
He dragged her onto the stone shore.
Water pooled beneath them.
"Ling Yue."
He pressed his palm against her back, channeling stabilizing energy.
No response.
Her body remained still.
Cold.
He brushed wet strands of hair from her face.
"Don't leave first."
He pressed his forehead lightly against hers.
Moments passed.
Finally—
A weak cough escaped her lips.
Water spilled out.
Her chest rose slightly.
But her eyes did not open.
She remained unconscious in his arms.
Mo Xuan held her tightly against his chest, kneeling on the cold stone floor of the underground cavern.
Darkness surrounded them.
Only the sound of dripping water echoed.
His crimson eyes slowly faded back to normal.
He tightened his hold around her fragile form.
And in that silent, hidden place beneath the mountain—
He waited.
End of Chapter 21...