Chapter 876: Life and Death Separation

Zuan never expected such a timely arrival. He immediately understood why the elemental forces in the earth and fire rooms earlier had triggered the disturbance here.

Hearing the emperor's demand, Zuan felt a dilemma. For anything else, he would not hesitate to trade it for Bi Linglong. However, the Everlasting Five-Colored Flower was linked to Mi Li's fate. If he missed this opportunity, he didn't know if he would ever encounter it again.

Mi Li, standing nearby, remained silent, but watched him with interest, curious to see what he would choose.

Zuan decided to buy some time. "First, release her," he said. "Otherwise, if I give you the item and you go back on your word, what can I do? Your cultivation is so high, we have no power to resist."

Hearing this, Mi Li's eyebrows subtly furrowed, though she did not show it outwardly.

"Enough talk. You have no choice now. Hand over the item, or I'll kill her immediately," Zhao Ruizhi said coldly. Given his status and temper, no one could bargain with him. He, of course, understood the advantage of maintaining control.

Bi Linglong hurriedly cried out, "A’Zu, don't worry about me! Even if you give it to him, he won't let us go."

Having been in the imperial palace for so many years, she naturally knew the emperor's character. If they didn't hand it over, there might be a slim chance of survival, but if they did, they would certainly die.

"Shut up!" Zhao Ruizhi tightened his grip, and Bi Linglong felt an intense pain in her shoulder. Her entire body was suppressed by an inexplicable surge of energy, rendering her speechless.

Zuan chuckled. "Your Majesty, aren't you mistaken about something? She's the Crown Prince Consort, your daughter-in-law—oh, no, in a sense, she's actually your intended wife. Isn't it rather laughable that you're using your own woman to threaten me?"

Bi Linglong knew he was saying this on purpose, but while her rationality understood, her emotions were a different matter. Hearing his words, her eyes reddened, and her expression instantly dimmed.

He Li, standing nearby, secretly scoffed. "So now you know she's the emperor's wife, huh? Why didn't you think of that when you two were hugging, embracing, and whispering sweet nothings?"

As expected, Zhao Ruizhi's eyes blazed with fury. "You two adulterers have wronged me, and yet you have the audacity to say such things!"

"But I haven't done anything," Zuan explained, trying to save Bi Linglong's life. "We are both innocent; she is still a virgin."

Bi Linglong's face flushed crimson with embarrassment. Although she understood his intention, discussing such a matter in front of so many people was truly awkward.

Zhao Ruizhi sneered, "Linglong, look for yourself. In daily life, he speaks eloquently, but when it comes to truly making a sacrifice, he makes excuses like this. Clearly, he doesn't truly care for you. Do you see how foolish you've been?"

Bi Linglong said calmly, "You don't need to try and sow discord between us. Our relationship should be even closer, but aren't you also using me to threaten him right now? What right do you have to criticize him?"

"Anyway, it's come to this. I no longer wish to live. Just kill me; there's no need to use me to threaten him."

Zhao Ruizhi was already seething with rage, having only suppressed his patience and played along for the sake of the immortality elixir. Now, seeing her eyes fixed on Zuan with deep affection as she spoke, he finally exploded in anger. "Do you really think I wouldn't dare to kill you?"

With that, he raised his hand and struck her back with a palm. Having observed his surroundings throughout, he had a clear understanding of the situation and felt calm. The distance between him and Zuan meant that even forcibly seizing the Everlasting Flower would pose no significant problem. Thus, his initial concerns vanished. This wretched woman dared to betray him and was now flirting with a wild man right in front of him; it was time to kill her and be done with it. Next, he would grind Zuan to dust to vent his deep hatred.

At that moment, Zuan was aghast, and even Mi Li's expression changed. Neither had expected the emperor to suddenly resort to killing. Given his terrifying cultivation, and at such close range, even another Earth Immortal would be utterly unable to save her.

However, Zuan was not one to resign himself to fate. He tossed the Everlasting Five-Colored Flower in his hand to Mi Li. Immediately afterward, two flashes of black and white light appeared, and Bi Linglong was now standing beneath the large tree. Zuan, meanwhile, had taken Bi Linglong's place!

Bi Linglong felt a bit dizzy, still processing what had happened, but Mi Li's face dramatically changed. Even with Zuan's body strengthened by three temperings, it could not withstand a single blow from the emperor.

Zhao Ruizhi was also stunned. Could someone actually rescue a person from him under such circumstances? However, with his vast knowledge, he quickly reacted, narrowing his eyes. "The Libationer's 'Discarded Piece'?"

Given his status, he naturally didn't pay much attention to disciples like Black and White Chess. He assumed such a skill must have been passed down by the Libationer to his disciples.

Bi Linglong now regained her composure. As the Crown Prince Consort, and having always been on good terms with the academy, frequently visiting it, she naturally knew that Black and White Chess possessed a magical item called "Discarded Piece," which allowed someone else to become a "discarded piece" and take damage in your stead. But no one had ever used it to make *themselves* someone else's "discarded piece"!

Earlier, when Zuan hadn't offered the Everlasting Five-Colored Flower in exchange for her, she understood it was the most rational decision, but deep down, she couldn't help but feel disappointed and even doubted her worth in his heart. Yet, seeing him protect her with his life at this moment, she burst into tears. "A’Zu!"

Zhao Ruizhi's cultivation allowed him complete control over his power. He pressed his palm against Zuan's back but did not immediately release his full force. He couldn't help but sneer, "I didn't expect you, kid, to be willing to sacrifice your life to save her. You really go all out to impress women, don't you? In that case, I'll grant your wish!"

His heart filled with extreme hatred, he showed no more mercy and slammed his palm directly into Zuan's back.

"Pfft!" Zuan spat out a large mouthful of blood, his whole body went limp, and he collapsed to the ground, utterly motionless.

He Li, standing nearby, couldn't help but sigh with emotion. "Indeed, beautiful women are trouble. No matter how pretty a woman is, how can she be more important than one's own life? Young people are just too impulsive."

"No!" Mi Li had actually rushed forward at that very instant, but she was still a step too late. With the emperor's cultivation, even against an opponent of equal level, life and death within three feet were entirely in his hands. What's more, Zuan's vital point was directly under his control, less than an inch away.

Seeing Zuan collapse to the ground, Mi Li's face was covered in frost, and her long hair instantly fanned out. "Die!"

A red flash appeared, and Zhao Ruizhi's pupils instantly contracted. He hurriedly raised his hand to defend himself. With a loud bang, Zhao Ruizhi was sent flying several yards away. He managed to stabilize himself with difficulty, but his throat moved, and a trickle of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth. This woman had actually injured him! He knew very well that he had sustained serious injuries earlier from the attacks of the terracotta warriors and the two mysterious generals, and his current state was less than half of his peak power. Yet, even so, he still had absolute confidence in suppressing everyone present. And yet, he was injured by a woman who looked so delicate!

At this point, Mi Li's soul-form also wavered, visibly dimmer than before. Clearly, direct confrontation with the emperor in this state was too draining for her. She didn't bother to pursue him but instead hurriedly picked up Zuan. "A’Zu, how are you?"

Bi Linglong also ran over, crying. "A’Zu, why did you save me with your life? I wasn't going to live many more years anyway. It's not worth it to save me like this." She had forcibly activated a forbidden move earlier, losing a significant amount of life essence, which theoretically meant she wouldn't live for many more years.

Zuan's face was ashen, covered in blood. Hearing her words, he smiled faintly. "How could I bear to see you suffer any harm? Saving you doesn't require so much thought. Before I die, could you give me a kiss?"

Bi Linglong felt her emotional defenses completely collapse. She was heartbroken and sobbing, without a moment's hesitation, she threw herself onto him and kissed him passionately. Unfortunately, this kiss held no joy, only the anguish of a broken heart.

He Li and the others in the distance sighed inwardly. Although this kid was annoying, he turned out to be quite the romantic.

Zhao Ruizhi saw his wife passionately kissing another man and was seething with rage. However, he was somewhat wary of Mi Li's strength and did not rush forward immediately.

Mi Li, however, couldn't help but scold him. "You rotten brat, when will you stop risking your life to impress women? You'll be the death of me eventually!"

Although Bi Linglong usually feared Mi Li somewhat, at this moment, she wouldn't stand for it. She stared at Mi Li angrily. "A’Zu is dying, and you're still scolding him!"

"Dying, my foot! This brat is craftier than a ghost; how could he die so easily!" The instant Mi Li picked him up, she realized that while his injuries were not light, they weren't fatal. Though she was somewhat puzzled as to how, she was certain he wouldn't die for now.

Zuan took out a broken scale from his embrace and chuckled sheepishly. "I didn't think I'd get anything past you."