Chimei, observing from the periphery, displayed a profound look of scorn. He possessed a clear understanding of Wangliang's formidable power, noting that the latter's beastly physique, a manifestation of a Ghost Beast from the infernal realms, rivaled the resilience of an Immortal Artifact.
"This strike, let alone Wangliang, even I could effortlessly parry. The so-called geniuses of your continent are utterly defenseless before us," Chimei declared with icy disdain.
Ye Mo watched, stunned, as his spear was so casually intercepted. He sensed that his opponent had not yet attained the Half Honor realm, yet had so easily nullified his most potent technique.
"Ye Mo!" Xiao Yue's delicate brows knitted together, her face etched with concern. Yet, she and the others understood that only Ye Mo himself could extricate him from this predicament.
"Ye Mo, your current offensive is sufficient to vanquish any cultivator at the Wheel of Reincarnation Peak, but to me, it is mere child's play," Wangliang proclaimed. With a sudden flick of his wrist, Ye Mo was sent spiraling through the air, hurtling backward for hundreds of meters before regaining his footing.
Ye Mo's countenance turned grim. The sheer might of his adversary surpassed his wildest imaginings, placing him leagues beyond his current capabilities. Even if he could evade Wangliang's grasp, Xiao Yue and Feng Chu remained ensnared.
He pondered his options: The Immortal Cycle of Life and Death technique was incapable of felling this foe, and the improved Intermediate Wraith Formation was also unsuitable. What other recourse did he possess?
However, Wangliang offered Ye Mo no respite. He materialized before Ye Mo with lightning-like speed, his Ghost Hand lashing out.
"So swift!" At virtually the same instant Wangliang moved, Ye Mo perceived his opponent's sudden appearance. Ye Mo's expression hardened, and he immediately shifted into his Dragon Form.
*Bang!*
Wangliang’s Ghost Hand impacted Ye Mo's body. The dragon scales protecting him began to fracture, then shattered completely, leaving him bleeding profusely.
Wangliang seized Ye Mo tightly, his voice a menacing growl. "Kid, you slew the woman I cherished. Today, you shall forfeit your life as recompense."
Wangliang then delivered a heavy blow to Ye Mo's body. The terrifying, overwhelming force coursed through him, rupturing his meridians and pulverizing his internal organs.
"Ah!" Ye Mo cried out in agony, blood erupting from his mouth. He collapsed to the ground, unable to rise.
"Ye Mo!" Xiao Yue and Mu Wanqing launched their own desperate attempts, but their efforts were futile against the impenetrable barrier holding them captive.
"Damn it! He's right there, and we can't save him," Feng Chu seethed through gritted teeth. He lamented the recurring pattern: Ye Mo always at the forefront, confronting the direst dangers while they could only watch helplessly.
The feeling of utter powerlessness was an unbearable burden for him.
"Ye Mo, escape quickly! Do not concern yourself with us; just flee, and seek vengeance once you reach the Half Honor level," Xiao Yue implored, her eyes glistening with tears, as she gazed upon the seemingly lifeless Ye Mo on the ground.
Each blow Ye Mo endured from Wangliang felt like a strike against Xiao Yue's own heart. If given the chance, she would have gladly taken his place.
"This is the true prowess of the Wraith Land's prodigies," Ye Mo murmured, struggling to his feet amidst the searing pain that still coursed through his battered body. The opponent's residual energy continued to crackle against his skin.
"Ye Mo, your current predicament is dire; your sole chance for survival lies in flight," the Wraith Demon Emperor advised. He explained that even if he were to lend Ye Mo his strength, it would be insufficient, and escaping the Devil Refining Gourd was an even greater impossibility due to the Array Power of the Vanquishing Martial Realm, which would instantly obliterate any Divine Venerate Realm cultivator who dared appear.
"Run?" Ye Mo inwardly recoiled at the suggestion.
"Indeed. Whether you flee or not, your five companions are doomed. Your adversary will surely show them no mercy," the Wraith Demon Emperor stated gravely.
"No, there must be some hidden opportunity!" Ye Mo declared, his mind suddenly recalling guidance from the Dragon God during his encounter with Wen Chichi. A resonance sparked within him.
"Elder, Elder!" the heart minion called out anxiously.
"Adhere to your true heart, and this crisis will naturally resolve itself. Embrace dissolution to achieve rebirth!" The Dragon God's words echoed in his mind.
By holding fast to his true heart, the crisis would indeed be overcome.
His true heart meant Ye Mo's unwavering refusal to abandon his companions and his deep-seated desire to protect Xiao Yue and the others.
"Wangliang, my life rests within your grasp now. I am aware that I am no match for you. Perhaps we can forge a pact? Release my companions, and-"
Ye Mo began, his words catching in his chest.
"What pact?" Wangliang inquired, his expression unreadable, though a flicker of curiosity crossed his features.
"The method to enhance the Wraith Formation."
With continuous seal formations, Ye Mo summoned a colossal Dragonfly King Fiend that immediately lunged towards Wangliang.
Wangliang regarded the approaching fiend with an impassive expression. As he prepared to counter, he noticed the fiend's unusual speed. Nonetheless, he dispatched it with ease.
"How did you accomplish that?"
Wangliang inquired, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
Sensing his opponent's intrigue, Ye Mo offered a subtle smile. "Release my five companions, and I will impart the method to you. My life is yours to command."
The other princes, captivated by Ye Mo's innovative improvements to the Wraith Formation, watched as the Third Prince appeared genuinely swayed.
"Haha, so this is the bargain you propose."
Wangliang strode towards Ye Mo, seizing him in an instant. "You are in no position to negotiate with me. While your enhanced Wraith Formation piques my interest, it holds no true value to me. I have no fondness for negotiations, and no one possesses the ability to negotiate with me."
With that, Wangliang thrust out his palm, grasping directly at Ye Mo's chest and brutally extracting his heart. The heart pulsed erratically in Wangliang's hand before he tightened his grip, crushing it into fragments. Simultaneously, Ye Mo's heart minion within the Butu Tower was annihilated.
"Yueyue!"
As his heart shattered, Ye Mo's gaze remained fixed on Xiao Yue, his expression hardening completely.
Not only had his heart been pulverized, but Wangliang had also employed some obscure technique to obliterate Ye Mo's heart minion. Though born from the heart, the heart minion, once cultivated, existed separately. Yet, Wangliang offered Ye Mo no chance of survival, destroying even this vital aspect.
Unbeknownst to anyone, in the very instant of his demise, Ye Mo achieved a profound comprehension of the Space-time Gate. Tragically, he would die before ever having the opportunity to activate it.
"Dead?"
Hong Ling, witnessing the grim spectacle, began to weep, seemingly unable to accept the reality. Her own heart minion was inexplicably linked to Ye Mo's, and now she could no longer sense any trace of it.
"Sigh, it appears I must seek another. Just as I began to recognize this brat's potential, he's gone again,"
Talisman Fatty lamented with a sigh.
"No, he's not dead yet!"
The Wraith Demon Emperor's voice boomed.
The reason for his assertion was clear: the items within Ye Mo's spatial domain had yet to materialize and explode outwards.
