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In the critical moment, Bilin Langjun commanded the green python to flip over and block Shen You's attack.

His soft sword rested against Shen You's broadsword, and with a skillful flick and deflection, he neutralized the force of Shen You's blade.

Shen You then realized that Bi Lin Lang Jun's techniques were actually superior to his own, and that the first-rank "Tiger-Slaying Saber Technique" was not enough to deal with Bi Lin Lang Jun.

"If I have to use a sword, I can only condense the 'Crimson Serpent Slash' again, or the 'Crimson Serpent Twin Slashes'..."

Shen You took a deep breath. What would the "Crimson Serpent Slash" be like if it were powered by the "Five Immortals' Great Strength"?

Ahead, Bi Lin Lang Jun straightened up. He had regained some of his composure, and his gaze toward Shen You was filled with astonishment and shock.

"You used your talent to find hope for yourself..."

A bitter smile appeared on his lips.

"So there really are people like you in this world..."

He was perhaps thinking of his past self. If he had been able to rely on his talent and good luck to forge ahead like Shen You, would he have been able to save himself countless pains?

He sighed softly, causing the green python to coil around his body, and extended his soft sword towards Shen You.

"You are now worthy of being my opponent. In that case, I will use this move on you as a sign of my respect..."

"This is no ordinary move; I haven't even used it against that Liu family member before..."

"So you'd better be ready..."

The Jade-Scaled Gentleman murmured to himself:

"If you can't withstand this attack, then... you'll have no choice but to die...!"

As soon as he finished speaking, an unusually dazzling emerald light shone from his body.

Shen You opened her eyes wide and saw the green python on his body slowly changing its form—

The snake's head has fleshy, soft horns, and its pupils glow with a pale golden light; its body is covered with round, tile-like scales, especially the thickest scales on its lower jaw; short limbs grow from its round, slender body, and sharp claws that gleam with a cold light extend out; its originally blunt tail has transformed into a tail fin like that of a carp.

Shen You could hardly believe her eyes. There was no mistake; what was wrapped around Bi Lin Lang Jun was clearly a small dragon!

Shen You felt her heart pounding so hard it was almost jumping out of her throat. The Green Scale Gentleman wasn't using any Green Python Strength at all; it was clearly the Flood Dragon Strength!

The dragon in Chinese mythology has always been an undeniable mythical creature, regardless of the era.

Even though the Azure Scale Gentleman was only transforming into a dragon, Shen You felt intense pressure. That awe-inspiring, superior power, even before it got close, almost crushed Shen You.

Shen You couldn't imagine how he could defeat a dragon.

This is the strongest power of the Jade Scale Gentleman!

Strangely, when Bi Lin Lang Jun used such power, his expression did not appear particularly excited, but rather carried a faint sadness and melancholy.

"Die...!"

He swung his sword as if commanding a dragon, making it fall towards Shen You along with the sword.

Shen You gripped the broadsword tightly, his entire body tense to the extreme at this moment.

This is an unprecedented offensive; if we can't withstand it, we will die.

"The only thing that can save me... is the 'Crimson Serpent Slash' unleashed with the 'Five Immortals' Great Strength'..."

Shen You gritted his teeth and commanded the Five Poisonous Immortal Beasts on his body to leap toward the greatsword in his hand.

The "Blade Aura" lit up, a blood-red light flashed, and a dazzling golden light continuously merged into the greatsword.

Shen You had truly given his all; his spirit and everything else were poured into his blade. The shimmering light from Xiao Hui became the final powerful ally, making Shen You's blade blaze as if it had been doused with hot oil, suddenly becoming intensely fierce.

A crimson light, edged with gold, shone three zhang high, seemingly burning fiercely.

Shen You gripped the broadsword tightly and swung it with a heavy, bloody aura, feeling as if the aura weighed a thousand pounds.

He had never swung such a heavy knife before.

He had never swung such a satisfying and exhilarating blade before.

But he wielded his broadsword, its blade gleaming with intense crimson light, and slammed it heavily into the dragon's body. The crimson light, carrying the sharp edge, flashed past, severing the dragon's head in two.

He still couldn't believe his eyes.

"I actually...did it...!"

The "Crimson Serpent Slash" is powered by the "Great Strength of the Five Immortals".

This move is called "Five Immortals Crimson Serpent Slash"!

Bang!

The soft sword in Bilin Langjun's hand also broke in two. His body crashed to the ground, and a terrible wound seemed to appear on his chest, with blood seeping out from under him.

Shen You, carrying a large sword and panting heavily, looked at this peerless demon with a complex expression.

Having finally succeeded in killing his opponent, Shen You surprisingly did not feel much excitement.

It was only because Bi Lin Lang Jun's expression was too calm; it was as if he had already known that he would have such an end, and had already prepared himself for death.

"Congratulations...you won..."

His face was deathly pale. He collapsed to the ground and said in a barely audible voice:

"As expected, I just couldn't grasp it... grasp that faint hope..."

"I always fail at the last moment... I always end up failing at the last hurdle..."

He gave a wretched yet mocking smile:

"Perhaps this is who I am... From the moment I first ran away from the person I loved, I was no longer able to do anything... My existence, along with that person, had long been erased from existence..."

"What can a walking corpse actually do...?"

He pressed his cheek to the dusty ground and wept weakly and silently.

Shen You saw tears streaming down his face and fell silent. This obsessive and gloomy demon had endured for a hundred years for an unattainable hope, and had killed dozens of people in Rongcheng on two separate occasions.

His entire life seemed to be like this moment, lying in the mud. And in the end, he was unable to climb out of it with his own hands.

"Could...you do me a favor...?"

Finally, Bi Lin Lang Jun raised his eyes and looked at Shen You with a gloomy expression.

"What kind of busy?" Shen You replied calmly.

"Help me... throw me into the black water..." Bi Lin Lang Jun smiled palely.

"The 'Creation Elixir' is only missing one final ingredient to be successfully made... I finally know what that ingredient is... that ingredient is actually me...!"

The Jade Scale Gentleman's eyes held a mesmerizing quality: "If one didn't willingly dedicate their life and everything to that flower bud... how could the person in the pond possibly make the delicate lotus bloom for them...?"

"Like that girl, even though she was unconscious, she still unintentionally chose you... She used the essence of her body to bring you to fruition, instead of sacrificing herself to the lotus flower..."

"So, it was only me... only me who was willing to give everything for this delicate flower..."

Please help me...

He murmured unconsciously:

"Please help me put me in the pool..."

Shen You fell silent.

He didn't want to help Bilin Langjun.

Because that could be a despicable conspiracy.

Upon entering the pool, the Jade Scale Gentleman may be able to recover his strength and make a comeback with the help of the lotus buds within.

But if I don't help Bilin Langjun.

Shen You felt that every night when she closed her eyes, she would see Bi Lin Lang Jun's sorrowful and bewildered face.

This sorcerer has already suffered enough punishment for his actions, and now he only wants to fulfill one last wish in his life.

Should I help him?