I am the right way to defeat you

Memories of the past

Standing on the top floor of the Tianhe Alliance, Xiao Yan looked at the endless stream of people coming and going below, and gazed at the distant sky, lost in thought, not knowing what he was thinking.

"Xiao Yan."

A familiar voice approached, and Xiao Yan turned around to see Yun Ying walking slowly toward him, her face still bearing that gentle smile that seemed to never change.

"It's rare to see Xiao Yan so relaxed. Didn't he always go back to be with his wife when he had nothing to do before?"

Yunying came to Xiao Yan's side and asked with a light smile. Xiao Yan sighed and replied leisurely.

"I was just thinking about some things." Xiao Yan turned his gaze to the people below, frowned slightly, and said, "Yunying, do you still remember what my ideal is?"

"Without promoting the righteous path, can the world truly be at peace?"

Yunying gently pinched her chin, tilted her head, and then gave this answer.

After all, this was the purpose that Xiao Yan personally stated when he founded the Tianhe Alliance.

Xiao Yan chuckled softly and said leisurely.

"That was the purpose of founding the Tianhe Alliance, but it's not my ideal."

Xiao Yan turned around and leaned against the wall. Yun Ying was slightly taken aback, and then gave another answer.

"Abandon the law of the jungle?"

“Yes, this is what I’ve always wanted, and the world my late mother wanted to see.” Xiao Yan raised his hand, looking at his much thicker palm. His azure eyes flickered slightly, revealing a hint of bewilderment. “The development of Tianhe Alliance is going more smoothly than I imagined, but I’ve found that it’s actually getting further and further away from my ideal.”

Xiao Yan looked at Yun Ying and asked softly.

"Yunying, why do you think other forces on the continent obediently follow the rules of the Tianhe Alliance?"

"."

Yunying remained silent for a long time before speaking slowly.

"Because the Tianhe Alliance can bring them considerable benefits, and the power of Xiao Yan and his friends makes them unable to compete." Yun Ying paused, then added, "In fact, the latter is the main reason."

Indeed, everyone had high hopes for Xiao Yan, everyone agreed with Xiao Yan, and they seemed to willingly follow the various rules set by Xiao Yan.

However, the underlying reason for this acceptance is that Xiao Yan's power still cannot escape the concept of the survival of the fittest.

If I had to put it into words, it would be that Xiao Yan's "survival of the fittest" mentality is much gentler than the "survival of the fittest" mentality that once existed on the continent.

Seeing Xiao Yan's disappointed look, Yun Ying's heart tightened.

Since the Bodhi Tree incident, she no longer sees Xiao Yan as a toy, but genuinely and sincerely wants to give everything for him.

"Xiao Yan, you've already done very well. There's no need to be so hard on yourself."

Yunying came to Xiao Yan and gently comforted him.

Xiao Yan was slightly taken aback when he saw the undisguised worry in Yun Ying's eyes, and then he came to his senses.

"I'm sorry to have worried you." Xiao Yan smiled apologetically and continued, "It's alright. I was just expressing my feelings here. I know very well that my ideals are impossible to achieve."

Xiao Yan looked up at the blue sky dotted with white clouds and chuckled softly.

"After all, the law of the jungle is just a concept, not a specific enemy. No matter how strong you are, you can't even touch them."

"If the so-called 'survival of the fittest' is a specific enemy, then it's simple."

Yunying remained silent, watching Xiao Yan's dejected expression, a few ripples stirring within her heart.

Then Yunying raised her hand and gently patted Xiao Yan's shoulder.

"Don't be so pessimistic. Maybe in the future an enemy called 'survival of the fittest' will really appear. If you kill her completely, you can achieve your ideal."

To Xiao Yan, these words were nothing more than a consolation without any factual basis.

Therefore, Xiao Yan simply smiled faintly.

"hope so"

On the mainland, the people liberated by the Blood River gradually recalled what had happened before, including their memories of becoming part of the Blood River.

Immediately, everyone, regardless of their strength, felt fear from the inside out.

This feeling was one they had always been familiar with: the powerlessness of being controlled by the strong. Four words that they had always taken for granted, and which remained buried in their hearts even after so many years of the Tianhe Alliance, suddenly popped out.

The weak eat the strong.

Yes, it's a dog-eat-dog world.

They used to think this was something they should take for granted.

After the establishment of the Tianhe Alliance, everyone felt that life was better, but deep down they still believed that the law of the jungle was right.

After all, the Tianhe Alliance that Xiao Yan established could not have been established, let alone developed to its current scale, without the support of Yao Chen and many other powerful figures.

But this beauty is undeniable.

However, just when everyone thought this beautiful dream would last forever, the river of blood shattered everyone's illusions.

No matter how hard you try to build happiness and beauty, it can be destroyed in an instant, all because of those four words.

The weak eat the strong!

Suddenly, a phantom image appeared in the sky above various parts of the continent, and everyone saw a person through that image.

That Soul Emperor who unleashed the Blood River and devoured the entire continent!
Before the Soul Emperor, Nalan Yanran stood proudly, her hunched figure revealing unwavering resolve.

(Although the Blood River being dispelled was unexpected, it was just right.)
The corners of the Soul Emperor's mouth curled up slightly beneath his mask, his scarlet eyes fixed on Nalan Yanran, his words filled with contempt.

"Heh~ You actually managed to dispel the Blood River. That's quite unexpected for me."

"But it doesn't matter."

"Once I've dealt with you, I can still unleash the Blood River, and no one will be able to stop me."

Upon hearing this, everyone who witnessed the scene through the video was instantly overwhelmed with despair.

The most fortunate thing in life is to escape death.

The most despairing thing is to be told in advance that death is coming again!

Nalan Yanran stared intently at Hun Tiandi through her hair, slowly raising her scarlet sword and pointing it at him, her hoarse voice questioning him in a low voice.

"Why are you doing this?"

Upon hearing this question, the Soul Emperor tilted his head slightly and asked in a puzzled tone.

"Does the law of the jungle need a reason?"

These words struck everyone's heart like a heavy hammer.

Does the law of the jungle need a reason?

They used to think this was a matter of course and didn't need to be questioned at all.

However, now that they have experienced it firsthand, they can no longer agree.

You'll never truly understand until the knife falls on your own head.

Survival of the fittest
Screw the law of the jungle!

Everyone's eyes were filled with anger and hatred as they stared intently at the Soul Emperor in the image on the other side.

Who that person was and what their identity was, is no longer important.

In everyone's eyes, she, the Soul Emperor, is the embodiment of the law of the jungle!
Absolutely not! We will never agree to this!
Survival of the fittest, damn it!
Upon hearing the Soul Emperor's reply, Nalan Yanran's eyes twitched slightly, and the killing intent in her eyes intensified.

"It seems there's no need for dialogue." Nalan Yanran's aura suddenly surged, endless blood energy erupting from her body, her killing intent locking onto the Soul Emperor before her. "You deserve to die!!!"

The crimson shadow transformed into a streak of light, flashing in front of the Soul Emperor in an instant. The crimson sword in its hand, imbued with the power to cleave through the void, cleaved the Soul Emperor in two above his head.

puff!

The Soul Emperor slightly raised her hand to block the attack, and the space behind her was cleaved open by a void rift resembling an abyss canyon!
Feeling his trembling arm, the Soul Emperor's brows furrowed slightly beneath his mask.

She was absolutely certain that Nalan Yanran had not reached the level of Dou Di.

But this is really too unusual.

Below the level of Dou Di, one should not be able to compete with Dou Di, and it would be impossible for one to even stand in front of Dou Di.

However, Nalan Yanran was not bound by this rule.

The Soul Emperor even tried to seal the fighting spirit within Nalan Yanran's body, but found that it was impossible.

At this moment, the fighting spirit within Nalan Yanran's body had mutated due to the berserk blood disease, and had become a different kind of energy from fighting spirit.

Blood and Qi.

The Soul Emperor suddenly realized what was happening.

This Nalan Yanran has pioneered a path different from fighting spirit!

Even without the unique powers and pressure of a Dou Di, she is undoubtedly a being on the same level as a Dou Di!

Soul Emperor's thoughts were fleeting. Before she could regain her senses, a giant claw made of blood suddenly lashed out at her.

This is the Yellow Spring Claw, a fighting technique that Nalan Yanran once learned from the Yellow Spring Demon Saint, which combines the Yellow Spring Finger and Yellow Spring Palm.

Now, released through the mutated blood energy, this move has undergone a complete evolution.

Scarlet Claws!
The blood-red claw marks seemed to tear apart heaven and earth, ripping four voids into space. The Soul Emperor's figure had already disappeared, reappearing from the other side, his scarlet eyes fixed on Nalan Yanran.

That claw strike just now was no joke if it had hit you.

Soul Emperor can now be completely certain that Nalan Yanran is now a being on the same level as a Dou Di.

(This trouble is bigger than I imagined.)
The corner of the Soul Emperor's mouth twitched slightly.

If it were Xiao Yan fighting her right now, things would be much easier.

There's no other way, I'll just have to use that one in advance.

If you calculate the time, it's about time.

The Soul Emperor slowly raised his hand, and a strange emblem appeared in his hand. Then, the Soul Emperor suddenly crushed it, and a deep voice slowly flowed out from under the mask.

"Emperor-Slaying Formation, activate."

Hundreds of blood-red formations appeared one after another on the battlefield, shining brightly and dyeing the entire sky of the continent blood-red!
The next moment, the entire continent was dragged into the formation and transported to another world.

The moment they arrived in this world, almost everyone had the same premonition.

Within this formation, the Soul Emperor could take everyone's lives with just a thought!

Immediately afterwards, an endless stream of wronged souls emerged from all parts of the formation, lingering and emitting mournful howls as they attacked the people.

The appearance of those wronged souls initially plunged people into fear.

Because they clearly felt that their lives were completely in the hands of the Soul Emperor.

But soon, another emotion emerged, completely extinguishing this fear.

That was anger toward the Soul Emperor and toward the law of the jungle!
Do not make jokes!
Why?
Why should your strength determine everything?
Why should your strength give you the right to deprive us of our happiness?

I don't acknowledge it! Absolutely not!
Even if we are the weak in your eyes, we will absolutely not accept it!!!
At this moment, everyone launched a resistance.

They rebelled against the Soul Emperor, against the law of the jungle, and against the arrogant and disdainful powerful figures!

Even if it might be futile, even if it's just the humble struggle of an ant, we must fight to the very end!
The law of the jungle prevails, and I will never accept that again until the day I die!

Everyone, regardless of whether they were cultivators or not, resolutely launched an attack against those wronged souls.

To protect our loved ones, to prove our dignity, and to forge a future!
Don't expect the strong to have pity on the weak, and don't expect Nalan Yanran to defeat the Soul Emperor.

At this moment, facing these wronged souls, only they themselves can save them!
Just as everyone was fighting desperately for their vengeful spirits, Nalan Yanran's battle with the Soul Emperor had also reached its climax.

The Soul Emperor wielded the Ghost Blood Blade, formed from the Emperor-Slaying Array, while Nalan Yanran gripped the Crimson Sword, which was one with her. The interplay between the blade and the sword continuously shattered the void, causing the entire Emperor-Slaying Array space to shake and tremble incessantly.

Nalan Yanran is really strong; she's definitely at the Dou Di level.

However, with the blessing of the Emperor-Slaying Formation, the Soul Emperor undoubtedly improved upon this level.

puff!

A single, blood-red blade flash nearly cleaved Nalan Yanran in two at the waist. The Soul Emperor, wielding the Ghost Blood Blade, remained as elegant as ever, while Nalan Yanran was already covered in wounds.

Clearly, Nalan Yanran has fallen into a complete disadvantage.

"The Emperor's Grievance".

The Soul Emperor raised his palm, and purplish-black battle qi burst forth from his palm, suddenly manifesting a battle qi as wide as a stone pillar, completely enveloping Nalan Yanran.

Nalan Yanran had no way to dodge this attack, and she even gave up on dodging and prepared to take it head-on.

But can it really withstand it?

For the first time, Nalan Yanran had a question about this.

The energy contained within this battle aura was undoubtedly aimed at completely destroying him, including the crimson sword in his hand.

Once she and the Crimson Sword are destroyed, even if her berserk blood disorder has evolved to such an extent, she will...
Before Nalan Yanran could recover her senses, the fighting spirit was already close to her face!

hum!
After the deafening explosion, Nalan Yanran stared in astonishment at the person blocking her way, while Soul Emperor slowly lowered his hand.

Beneath the mask, crimson eyes revealed a subtle, almost imperceptible tenderness.

You've finally arrived.

The man, holding the Infernal Ruler, stood in front of Nalan Yanran and shielded her from the fatal blow.

As she watched the back of the man she loved walk away, memories of her childhood resurfaced in Nalan Yanran's mind.

I felt helpless, yet also incredibly at ease and warm.

In the end, I'm still being protected by you.
"Yanran," Xiao Yan said softly, glancing at her sideways, "Are you alright?"

Nalan Yanran snapped out of her daze, shook her head slightly, and swung her crimson sword to Xiao Yan's side. "Don't worry, we can still fight."

"Then let's go together."

With a resolute expression, Xiao Yan took a step forward into the void, and at that moment, his figure appeared in images from all over the continent.

At that moment, almost everyone felt a sense of security.

"Senior Xiao Yan!"

"It's Xiao Yan!"

"Leader Xiao Yan!"

"Yan'er!"

"Executor Xiao!"

One different name after another rang out from all over the mainland, but without exception, they all ultimately pointed to the same person.

Xiao Yan, the man who has gained everyone's trust, has now truly become a Dou Di!
Everyone firmly believed that no matter who the opponent was or what trouble they encountered, everything would be resolved as long as Xiao Yan arrived!

Xiao Yan's gaze was fixed on the scarlet eyes beneath the Soul Emperor's mask. His azure pupils held only unwavering determination, devoid of any other emotion.

"Soul Emperor," Xiao Yan spoke slowly, his expression solemn, as if he had made up his mind, and roared in a low voice, "For my ideals, please die!"

The Soul Emperor was slightly taken aback, feeling inexplicably uneasy.

These were indeed words that Xiao Yan could say, and the person in front of him was undoubtedly Xiao Yan himself.

But for some reason, the Soul Emperor felt a little uneasy.

However, things had already come to this point, and the Soul Emperor had no time to think too much.

The Soul Emperor slowly raised his hand and beckoned to Xiao Yan in a provocative manner.

"If you can do it, then let's do it."

Bang!
The three figures suddenly clashed together. The Ghost Blood Blade, the Crimson Sword, and the Infernal Purgatory Ruler clashed fiercely. With the support of the Emperor Slaying Formation, the Soul Emperor was actually able to withstand two opponents of the same level!

"Feng Tian!"

A deep voice flowed from Xiao Yan's mouth, and black flames resembling the starry sky suddenly ignited on the Infernal Purgatory Ruler, forcing the Soul Emperor back with a sudden burst of power.

Nalan Yanran seized the opportunity, flashed behind the Soul Emperor, gripped the scarlet sword tightly with both hands, her eyes gleaming with a scarlet light, and slashed down fiercely.

Creation of the world!
The Soul Emperor suddenly flung his hand, and the terrifying battle aura unique to the Dou Di level surged forth, blocking this world-destroying sword strike.

Despite missing her first strike, Nalan Yanran did not back down and raised her sword once more.

The creation of the world!
The double-hit sword technique forced Soul Emperor to dodge, and the instant she appeared across the void, Xiao Yan was already in front of her, wielding the Infernal Purgatory Ruler wrapped in flames.

hum!
Soul Emperor raised the Ghost Blood Blade to defend, but his hasty action was no match for Xiao Yan's full strength. In just a moment, the Ghost Blood Blade was knocked aside by that terrifying power.

Upon seeing this, the Soul Emperor immediately raised his free hand and aimed it at Xiao Yan's chest, uttering a deep, low moan.

"The Emperor's Grievance!"

The same attack as before struck Xiao Yan's body squarely. Even with his Dou Qi defense, it still severely injured Xiao Yan, almost causing his stomach to burst open!
However, the falling Infernal Ruler did not stop. It slammed heavily onto the Soul Emperor's shoulder, shredding half of his body into nothingness!

Even though the Dou Di's body recovers at an incredibly fast pace, such a life-for-life fighting style makes it hard to believe that these two are the strongest people standing at the top of the continent!
"Crimson Claws!!!"

Nalan Yanran was not worried about Xiao Yan, or rather, she didn't have time to worry about Xiao Yan.

She absolutely cannot let go of the opportunity that Xiao Yan risked his life for!
The crimson giant claw suddenly slashed down. The heavily injured Soul Emperor had no time to defend himself, and even dodging was out of the question. He had to withstand this blow that could easily tear the void apart.

Despite enduring indescribable pain, the Soul Emperor was inwardly overjoyed and burst into laughter.

"Great! Great!!!"

"Even within the Emperor-Slaying Formation, you managed to push me to the brink of despair!"

"But don't think that's the end of it!!!"

"I am the supreme ruler of this world! No one can stop me!!!"

The Soul Emperor roared, and the entire space of the Emperor Slaying Formation began to tremble.

In an instant, the countless wronged souls in the Emperor-Slaying Formation surged toward the Soul Emperor, and boundless evil power entered the Soul Emperor's body, making her already terrifying power rise to another level!
Bang!
The powerful force instantly forced Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan back. Then, the Soul Emperor's half-body that had been annihilated instantly recovered, his body shrouded in dense black energy, and the scarlet eyes under his mask became even more sinister.

He pressed forward, his strength and speed now completely different from before, forcing Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran to retreat steadily, unable to resist!
"Your righteous path is nothing more than this!"

"Power is everything!!!"

The Soul Emperor repelled the two, mocking Xiao Yan so wantonly, completely trampling his righteous path into the abyss.

However, Xiao Yan showed no expression and simply stared at the Soul Emperor.

Looking into Xiao Yan's emotionless azure eyes, for some reason, the Soul Emperor's pre-battle anxiety intensified.

Why? Why does he look at me like that?

But soon, the Soul Emperor put the issue aside.

Because it will be over soon.

Nalan Yanran suddenly launched an attack, her body covered in blood, and crashed heavily into Hun Tiandi with unexpected speed. The scarlet sword in her hand also pierced through her chest.

The Soul Emperor's body trembled, and his battle qi suddenly erupted, slamming Nalan Yanran into the abyss. However, the wound on his chest seemed to be growing again, showing no signs of recovery. The Soul Emperor immediately came to a conclusion.

It has been corrupted by the power of the Crimson Sword!
"The Eight Extremes Collapse, the Eighth Level".

A detached voice flowed from Xiao Yan's mouth. By the time Soul Emperor focused his gaze, Xiao Yan had already appeared above him, the Xiao Clan's ancestral mark on his forehead shining brightly, causing his power to erupt with an aura even stronger than Soul Emperor's in an instant!
"Burning the Heavens!!!!!"

The condensed flames of the Netherworld Heart Flame grew larger and larger in the eyes of the Soul Emperor, crashing heavily onto her body and dragging her down into the abyss.

Pain filled the chest of the Heavenly Emperor of Souls.

Instinctively wanting to resist, but due to the corrosive effect of Nalan Yanran's final blow, it was unable to mobilize its power.

However, the Soul Emperor felt no resentment whatsoever.

(Finally, it's over.)
Beneath the mask of the Soul Emperor, there was no trace of pain. Looking at Xiao Yan, who was staring intently at him, his azure eyes remained devoid of any emotion.

The Soul Emperor understood this.

This is the last time I'll see it.

So, she wanted to watch for as long as possible at the end.

Even if it's just a little bit.

Gradually, his body was melted by the scorching power, and the vision in front of Soul Emperor became increasingly dim, and Xiao Yan in his eyes became more and more blurry.

A final smile appeared on the corner of his mouth beneath the mask.

(Xiao Yan.)

(It's so great to have met you.)

As he fell into the abyss, the Soul Emperor's body completely vanished into nothingness.

"Ok?"

The Soul Emperor suddenly opened his eyes and saw a black space, a completely empty black space.

What place is this?
The Soul Emperor frowned.

She should be dead by now.

She touched her face, and the mask on her face had disappeared, revealing a face of unparalleled beauty.

Could this be the so-called hell?

"Heh~" Soul Emperor couldn't help but chuckle, "If this is hell, then it's quite gentle for a heinous guy like me."

"Unfortunately, this is not hell, although I don't know if hell really exists."

A familiar voice suddenly rang out, and the Soul Emperor was startled. He turned around and saw the Bodhi Ancient Tree standing there.

The Soul Emperor frowned.

Why are you here? What is this place?

"This is the last soul space I created, where I pulled your dissipating soul here at the last moment," the Bodhi Tree said, coughing twice. "Ah, there is something I must apologize to you for."

"apologize?"

The Soul Emperor sensed something was wrong, and the Bodhi Ancient Tree continued.

"I showed him all the memories of those four lifetimes that you asked me to erase, including all the things you went through with him, and your true colors."

"I just feel that it would be unfair to him if he were kept in the dark until the very end."

Did you show it to him?

The Soul Emperor was taken aback at first, and then his face instantly turned angry.

You showed it to him?!
"you!!!"

The Soul Emperor's face was contorted with rage; this was the first time in countless years he had been so furious!
Suddenly, the Soul Emperor's expression froze.

Wait, so that means...
"Yunying".

That familiar voice, one that the Soul Emperor would never forget until his death, rang out from behind him.

"Or should I call you Soul Hero?"

The Soul Emperor's shoulders trembled slightly, but he never dared to turn around.

After a long while, she let out a deep breath, a bitter smile appearing on her lips, and turned around to look at the man standing there.

Xiao Yan.

Hun Ying looked at Xiao Yan, unsure of what to say, and simply watched quietly.

Xiao Yan simply looked at her quietly, remaining silent.

After an unknown amount of time, Xiao Yan slowly walked towards Hun Ying, who instinctively shrank back.

She is a villain, without a doubt.

She never cared about the many evils she had committed in the past.

But it's different now.

She didn't want the man in front of her to know, didn't want him to know how many evils she had done, which is why she tried to completely sever ties between Yunying and Hunying.

She hoped that, as Yunying, she could always be remembered by Xiao Yan as a like-minded person.

But in the end, it all came to naught because of the Bodhi tree.

Now Hun Ying finally understood why Xiao Yan's gaze had made her feel uneasy.

That was a look that knew everything.

Now that we're meeting here, what will Xiao Yan say to me?
Condemning one's own sins? Condemning everything one has done?
Or should she blame herself for deceiving him?

Hun Ying hadn't felt this uneasy feeling in a long time, but she was too guilty to move and could only watch helplessly as Xiao Yan got closer and closer to her.

Finally, Xiao Yan stood before Hun Ying, whose heart was filled with more trepidation than ever before.

then
"Well!!!"

Hun Ying's scarlet eyes suddenly narrowed, and his body tensed up.

Feeling the warmth of the embrace in disbelief, she looked at Xiao Yan, who was holding her tightly, incomprehensible.

Before Hunying could clear her mind, a gentle voice slowly sounded in her ear.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't save you. I'm so sorry."

At this moment, tears slowly slid down Hunying's cheeks, and her body completely lost its strength.

She slowly raised her hand to support Xiao Yan's strong back, feeling the warmth in his arms.

I don't know how much time has passed.

Xiao Yan slowly released Hun Ying and stared intently at her.

He spoke each word with unwavering conviction in a deep voice.

"Whether it's from that past life or in this reality, you are my wife."

"The sins you have committed, I, as your husband, must also bear."

"You, your sins, everything we went through together, I will never forget, never."

"I promise you, there will never be another one like you!"

Xiao Yan looked at Hun Ying and made a final promise to her.

Hunying stared at him blankly for a long time. Then, a smile appeared on her lips, her eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a smile that she had only ever shown in front of her mother. She nodded gently.

"Ah."

"Xiao Yan! Xiao Yan!"

A familiar voice rang in his ears, and Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes, only to see Nalan Yanran's worried expression.

Seeing that Xiao Yan had regained consciousness, Nalan Yanran immediately showed joy.

"you're awake!"

"Yes, I'm sorry to have worried you."

With Nalan Yanran's help, Xiao Yan sat up, glanced at the abyss around him, and recalled their last meeting. A moment of bitterness flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by tenderness.

He raised his head, looked into Nalan Yanran's bright eyes, and smiled slightly.

"I'm back, you little glutton." (End of Chapter)