Chapter 661: Take her away—

The string of beads in his hand was covered in cracks, but the Forgetfulness Lord didn't lower his head or even glance at them, instead speeding up his twisting motion. With his extensive combat experience, he knew deeply that at this moment, he could not afford to spare or lament this foundational resource. If it was ruined, then so be it. As long as he could overcome this formidable challenge, his rewards would be immeasurable, and his entire cultivation career would be elevated.

As the Forgetfulness Lord relentlessly exploited them, the beads in his hand became increasingly fragile, beginning to shed tiny fragments. In return, the vortex in the tributary of the River of Forgetfulness spun faster and grew stronger. The Cold Abyss Ice Coffin was trapped at the center of the vortex, and tiny ice crystals were flung from its surface. And the Nether Serpent Scissors, sealed within the ice coffin, began to vibrate slightly as the coffin weakened.

A sharp glint flashed in the Forgetfulness Lord's eyes as he strained to sense it. A wisp of black-grey aura was drawn from the Nether Serpent Scissors, permeated the ice coffin, and flew out of the tributary. The black-grey aura suddenly expanded and stretched in mid-air, transforming into two flood dragons, complete with scales and claws, their whiskers bristling in fury. They intertwined and collided in the air, unleashing a terrifying aura. A clang of metal echoed through the clouds, and the black-grey flood dragon essence instantly condensed, forming the ethereal outline of exquisite scissors. This ghostly pair of scissors was three feet long and entirely semi-transparent, colored black-grey. Its handles were formed by two nether dragons with wide-open mouths, their fangs gripping the base of the blades. The blades themselves were curved, covered in fine scale patterns resembling a dragon's spine. A line of intensely condensed dark blue ethereal light constantly flowed along their edges.

The Nether Serpent Scissors' Phantom! The true power of the Nether Serpent Scissors' actual body was extremely restrained, not leaking a single trace, making it appear ordinary. However, its hidden power and wondrous uses were terrifying. It was precisely with this national treasure that the Forgetfulness Lord decisively secured victory in his battle against Yin Jiuzhu, his strongest lifelong adversary. The phantom's power, perhaps only one ten-thousandth of the Nether Serpent Scissors' true might, could not be contained, and its leaked aura shocked both Ning Zhuo and Luo Si to their cores!

Azure Iron Battle Armor! Ning Zhuo threw out a silver token. The token morphed, once again encasing him in a suit of Azure Iron Battle Armor. Previously, he had been able to craft a new suit of Azure Iron Battle Armor for Sun Lingtong, so naturally, he could make more for himself. Ning Zhuo was steady and cautious by nature. During his time in White Paper Immortal City, besides cultivating and investigating cases, he also took time to refine mechanical constructs. Not only mechanical golden swallows, but he had also crafted several spare sets of Azure Iron Battle Armor. The primary constraint on his ability to craft more previously was his lack of Golden Cores. Now, however, he possessed far more than just one or two Golden Cores! Moreover, with the three major mechanical pedestals assisting him, saving him significant energy and time, crafting the Azure Iron Battle Armor was no longer difficult.

The Azure Iron Battle Armor spewed forth blazing flames, and its golden wings erupted with dazzling white-gold light, carrying Ning Zhuo away rapidly like a startled fish, retreating backward. He tried his best to put distance between himself and the Nether Serpent Scissors' Phantom. Luo Si was locked in a difficult battle with the Earth Fiend Impurity God. The Nether Serpent Scissors' Phantom had not yet activated; it hung motionless in the air, and it was precisely this static state that made it even more formidable. The aura of the Nether Serpent Scissors' Phantom nearly made Luo Si's scalp explode. He had to divide his attention to remain vigilant, conserving strength to respond to a potential attack!

"Roar!" The Earth Fiend Impurity God let out a low growl, keenly seizing this tactical opportunity. His iron fist suddenly accelerated, its power surging, enough to shatter mountains and crack peaks. In this critical moment, Luo Si rapidly swung his arm, creating several afterimages. River of Forgetfulness Guiding Line! Fishing Art – Nine Abysses Water-Leaking Net! The translucent fishing line stretched in the air, transforming into a fishing net. The net grew larger and larger, encompassing the Earth Fiend Impurity God. The Earth Fiend Impurity God's powerful fist landed in the net, its force continuously slowed and dispersed. The fishing net deeply embedded itself into the divine body. The Earth Fiend Impurity God let out a low growl, a flicker of surprise and horror showing on his face. This was because he felt his divine power continuously leaking and dissipating through the numerous mesh holes of the net.

However, this meant Luo Si had lost one of his two most relied-upon magic treasures, leaving him with only the Three Lives Descending Hook. While fully maintaining the fishing net, he took out a replacement fishing rod and line, combining them with the Three Lives Descending Hook to reassemble his fishing rod.

"Hmph!" As more of the Earth Fiend Impurity God's divine power leaked away, his body began to shrink. "This avatar's methods are indeed a bit singular," he thought. After trying several techniques and realizing he couldn't break free from the net, he immediately changed his strategy. The Earth Fiend Impurity God tilted his head back and inhaled ferociously! Instantly, vast amounts of underground turbid qi surged toward him like rolling smoke, pouring into his body. His recently shrunken body rapidly expanded like an inflating balloon, returning to its previous peak state.

Seeing this, Luo Si's pupils constricted to the size of needlepoints. He had not witnessed the Earth Fiend Impurity God's previous clashes with several Spirit Transformation realm experts. Since the start of this battle, it was the first time Luo Si had forced out such a technique from his opponent. "What terrifying regenerative power is this?!" "And he can rapidly convert underground turbid qi into divine power?" "Is this a Nature God?!!!" Deities come in various types and categories. Many deities require absorbing incense, receiving worship, and drawing upon emotions to convert them into divine power. However, there is a rare class of deities who can easily draw upon natural elements and transform them into divine power. These are Nature Gods. By conventional understanding, the Forgetfulness Lord was a soul cultivator, so his avatar should be a type of Incense God. It was unexpected that the Earth Fiend Impurity God turned out to be a Nature God! Clearly, the Forgetfulness Lord had a unique fortuitous encounter, allowing him to forge a more advantageous avatar.

Luo Si inwardly cursed, realizing he was at a disadvantage due to insufficient intelligence. He had intended to wage a war of attrition, but despite sacrificing a valuable treasure, the effect was minimal. Luo Si reached out, intending to retrieve the fishing net. But how could the Earth Fiend Impurity God let him? His divine body trembled, releasing billowing underground turbid qi that seeped through the net's many holes like layers of foam, engulfing the net within his divine body. Luo Si immediately felt his connection to the net weaken; his drawing power was insufficient to counter it, and the retrieval failed!

When it rains, it pours! The Forgetfulness Lord's main body ceased its build-up and directly activated the Nether Serpent Scissors' Phantom. The Nether Serpent Scissors' Phantom sharply spiraled in mid-air, emitting a piercing screech! It did not target Ning Zhuo, nor did it attack Luo Si. Instead, it followed the Forgetfulness Lord's gaze, pointing directly at the Path of Quietude. This temporary passage, created by the combined efforts of the Quietude Path Candle Body and the Grand Primordial Dispersing Ruler to open space, immediately faced a fatal blow!

The Forgetfulness Lord's gaze was like ice. Ning Zhuo and Luo Si both changed expressions simultaneously. The Forgetfulness Lord's combat experience was exceptionally rich; this choice was somewhat unexpected but struck directly at the most crucial point of the battle. The unconscious Qing Chi lay within the path. Once the path was destroyed, Qing Chi would surely die! Don't forget, the Azure Scorch Army had already returned, moved to the previous black cloud battlefield, and set up the Sacrificial Barracks to station themselves. Once the path was destroyed, isolating inside from outside, Luo Si would become like water without a source! He would no longer be able to receive a continuous stream of military support from the Azure Scorch Army. With only his own combat power, and now having lost the River of Forgetfulness Guiding Line, he would inevitably be swiftly defeated in front of the Earth Fiend Impurity God.

"Qing Chi!!!" Ning Zhuo shouted loudly, transmitting his consciousness to try and awaken Qing Chi, but without success. Qing Yan was also rushing rapidly through the passage! Ning Zhuo frantically lunged towards Qing Chi. The pain of his injuries and the mortal danger were, at this moment, completely forgotten by Ning Zhuo. Qing Chi had helped him greatly, and as the commander of the Azure Scorch Army, while not the absolute core, she was absolutely indispensable!

His new set of Azure Iron Battle Armor instantly overloaded. The complete Golden Cores within the Five Elements Golden Core Dial hummed, wildly spewing Golden Core power. The sharp metal qi of the White Tiger Army-Breaker Formation tore through the air, and the entire propulsive force of the Blazing Fire Tongue Array was fully squeezed out! Coupled with the military power amplification from the Azure Scorch Army, Ning Zhuo became like a burning meteor, dashing recklessly towards the entrance of the Path.

"Stop this now—!" Ning Zhuo roared, chasing after the Nether Serpent Scissors' Phantom! "Get away!" Luo Si roared as well!

Within the tributary of the River of Forgetfulness, the Forgetfulness Lord revealed a cold, disdainful smile. Although his condition was extremely poor and his combat power had severely declined, a single strike was enough to directly overturn the battle. This exquisitely precise target selection was like a lethal poisoned blade, poised to pierce directly through the enemy's heart!

"Don't you dare succeed!" In this critical moment, Luo Si let out a soul-splitting roar. Luo Si no longer cared about the massive fist delivered by the Earth Fiend Impurity God. As a commanding general, he knew all too well what was most important. Immediately, disregarding his own safety, he cast his rod with all his might! The fishing rod erupted with a dark light, and the rod and line instantly went taut. Despite being replacements, they were still of a magical artifact grade. Fishing Art – Soul-Fixing Life-Snaring Hook!! The Three Lives Descending Hook was violently flung out, shining brilliantly like a meteor in the air, tracing a straight line of light. This slender line of light moved at astonishing speed, intercepting the world-destroying Nether Serpent Scissors' Phantom mid-flight.

"Hooked it!" Luo Si's spirits soared. He gripped the fishing rod tightly with both hands, and the next moment, terrifying power surged back to him. Luo Si allowed himself to be dragged, using the momentum to dodge the Earth Fiend Impurity God's punch. Creating a temporary safe distance, he reeled in with all his might. In an instant, the fishing rod bent into an exaggerated arc, and the line hummed, unable to withstand such abuse! The Three Lives Descending Hook shone brightly, caught on the intertwined joint of the phantom scissors! The standoff lasted for a full three breaths!

With a soft crack, the Three Lives Descending Hook instantly burst, shattering into countless fine powders. The fishing rod snapped inch by inch, and the fishing line directly dissolved into countless dark light points in the high sky. "Pfft—!" Luo Si felt as if he had been struck by a mighty hammer; a large mouthful of vital soul blood spurted out, and his aura flickered like a candle flame in a strong wind, threatening to extinguish. But his desperate, all-out interception was not in vain. The unstoppable Nether Serpent Scissors' Phantom, after destroying the Three Lives Descending Hook, had its forward speed reduced by a full thirty percent, and its invincible sharpness noticeably dimmed!

Inside the Azure Iron Battle Armor, Ning Zhuo's eyes were bloodshot. Seizing the opportunity created by Luo Si's desperate interception of the Nether Serpent Scissors' Phantom, he pushed all the Azure Iron Battle Armor's capabilities to their absolute limit! Layers of cracks appeared on the Five Elements Golden Core Dial, and the tips of the golden wings were scorched and deformed from the intense friction with the air. Ning Zhuo transformed into a comet burning with golden light and crimson flames. Though he started later, he arrived first, charging headlong into the turbulent and unstable entrance of the Path of Quietude at a speed beyond his own limits! Even though Qing Yan was closer, Ning Zhuo's desperate, insane speed allowed him to reach Qing Chi first.

"Qing Chi!" Ning Zhuo scooped up Qing Chi and held her tightly in his arms. The instant he embraced Qing Chi, the Nether Serpent Scissors' Phantom, half a beat late, struck the Path of Quietude directly with its destructive power! The Forgetfulness Lord's icy gaze, peering through the churning tributary of the River of Forgetfulness, witnessed this scene, and a cruel curve formed on his lips: "I have won."

The Nether Serpent Scissors' Phantom's dim yet still deadly blades, like the fangs of death, gently opened and swiftly closed. At that moment, everyone seemed to hear a phantom sound of rapid shearing. Immediately, the space at the entrance of the Path of Quietude exploded like fragile ice struck by a massive stone! Countless dark spatial fragments, radiating destructive energy, shot out wildly in all directions like the sharpest blades, sweeping everything before them! The explosions within the path occurred consecutively, starting from one end and rapidly spreading to the other with lightning speed.

Boom, boom, boom! Ning Zhuo, holding Qing Chi, flew frantically, feeling the cold touch of death. A glance back would mean turning to dust! Desperate flight! A violent spatial storm relentlessly pursued him from behind! Countless splashing spatial fragments, like the scythe of death, whizzed past Ning Zhuo's sides, over his head, and under his feet, narrowly missing him! The back of the Azure Iron Battle Armor continuously developed scratches, which then rapidly expanded into wounds, sending sparks and electric flashes everywhere! The surface wounds on the mechanical armor tore wider and wider during the frantic flight. Ning Zhuo's heart sank to the depths of despair. He absolutely couldn't switch to a new set of Azure Iron Battle Armor; even a momentary pause would mean being swept into the spatial storm and perishing. Even the small action of taking out the Mechanical Soaring Dragon became a luxury.

"Take her—!!!" A resolute figure passed Ning Zhuo, rushing directly into the spatial storm. It was Qing Yan! At the moment the passage collapsed, this Golden Core cultivator knew he had no chance of escaping the spatial turbulence. In the instant they brushed past each other, there was no fear in his eyes, only infinite devotion to his daughter and a resolute determination to protect her! He blocked behind Ning Zhuo, directly facing the terrifying spatial storm. The next moment, his entire body erupted with an unprecedented brilliant golden light.

Boom—!!! The self-detonation of a Golden Core cultivator, burning all his lifelong cultivation, unleashed a violent wave within the spatial turbulence! The wave collided with the spatial storm, creating an even more chaotic sympathetic detonation. The spatial storm's forward surge was curbed. Qing Yan sacrificed himself, buying Ning Zhuo one last chance at survival!

"Father—!!!" A heartbreaking, sorrowful cry suddenly rang out from Ning Zhuo's arms. Qing Chi, awakened by the violent jolting and energy impact, happened to open her eyes, witnessing the tragic and heroic scene of Qing Yan's self-detonation. The golden light reflected on her face, but what she saw was the father who was always taciturn yet silently protected her; the father who helplessly shook his head when she was willful and stepped forward in her times of danger; the father who sighed helplessly and conceded during her tantrums and arguments. Her father was gone. The heart-piercing pain of an eternal farewell to a loved one, in that instant, seemed to pierce Qing Chi's heart. She fainted once more.