Chapter 872: Life and Death Separation

Zu An was utterly surprised by the timing of his arrival. In that instant, he also understood why the elemental forces in the two previous rooms, earth and fire, had been triggered, causing the disturbance here.

Hearing the emperor's demand, he felt conflicted. If it were anything else, he wouldn't hesitate to trade it for Bi Linglong. However, the Five-Colored Everspring Flower was tied 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, instead watching him with keen interest, curious to see his choice.

Zu An decided to try and stall. “Release her first,” he said. “Otherwise, if I give you the item and then you go back on your word, what recourse do I have? Your cultivation is so high; we’ll be completely defenseless.”

Upon hearing his words, Mi Li's delicate eyebrows subtly furrowed, though she concealed her reaction.

“Enough talk. You have no choice now. Hand over the item, or I will kill her instantly,” Zhao Ruizhi said coldly. Given his status and temperament, no one could bargain with him. He clearly understood the advantage of holding the upper hand.

Bi Linglong urgently cried out, “A’Zu, don’t mind me! Even if you hand it over, he won’t spare us!”

Having spent so many years in the imperial palace, she knew the emperor's nature well. If they refused, there might be a slim chance of survival, but if they complied, death was certain.

“Silence!” Zhao Ruizhi tightened his grip. Bi Linglong felt an agonizing pain in her shoulder as an inexplicable surge of energy suppressed her entire body, rendering her speechless.

Zu An chuckled. “Emperor, aren’t you mistaken about something? She’s the Crown Princess, your daughter-in-law—or rather, in some ways, your intended wife. You’re threatening me with your own woman; how truly absurd.”

Bi Linglong knew he was speaking deliberately, but while logic was one thing, emotion was another. Upon hearing his words, her eyes welled up, and her expression instantly clouded with sadness.

He Li, standing by, secretly scoffed to himself, *So now you acknowledge she’s the emperor’s woman? Where was that thought when you two were embracing and whispering sweet nothings?*

As expected, Zhao Ruizhi’s eyes blazed with fury. “You two adulterers betrayed me, and you still have the audacity to speak like this!”

“I haven’t done anything at all!” Zu An explained, trying to save Bi Linglong’s life. “We are both innocent; she’s still a virgin.”

Bi Linglong’s face burned crimson with shame. Although she understood his intention, discussing such a private matter in front of so many people was utterly mortifying.

Zhao Ruizhi sneered, “Linglong, see for yourself. He speaks with flowery words normally, but when it’s time for him to make a real sacrifice, this is his excuse. Clearly, he doesn’t care for you at all. Do you understand now how foolish you’ve been?”

Bi Linglong calmly replied, “You don’t need to sow discord between us. In fact, our connection should be even closer. Yet, aren’t you also using me to threaten him right now? What right do you have to accuse him?”

“Anyway, it has come to this. I no longer wish to live. Just kill me; why bother using me to threaten him?”

Zhao Ruizhi was already boiling with rage, only suppressing his impatience and feigning civility for the sake of the elixir of immortality. Now, seeing her eyes fixed on Zu An with clear affection as she spoke, he finally erupted in fury. “Do you truly believe I wouldn’t dare kill you?”

With that, he raised his hand and struck her back with a palm.

Having observed the surroundings, he now had a clear understanding of the environment. His mind settled. The distance between him and Zu An was such that forcibly seizing the Everspring Flower would pose no significant issue, thus his initial concerns vanished. This harlot dared to betray him and was now even openly flirting with another man in his presence. It was better to kill her swiftly.

His next step would be to grind Zu An to dust, finally satisfying his burning hatred.

At that moment, Zu An was utterly aghast, and even Mi Li’s expression changed dramatically. Neither of them had anticipated the emperor would suddenly make a lethal move.

Given his terrifying cultivation, at such close range, even another Earth Immortal attempting a rescue would be utterly helpless.

However, Zu An was not one to resign himself to fate. He tossed the Five-Colored Everspring Flower he held to Mi Li. Instantly, two flashes of black and white light appeared, and Bi Linglong was already standing beneath a large tree.

Zu An, meanwhile, had taken Bi Linglong’s place!

Bi Linglong felt disoriented and hadn’t yet processed what had happened, but Mi Li’s beautiful face twisted in alarm.

Even if Zu An’s body had been thrice tempered and strengthened, it could not possibly withstand a single blow from the emperor.

Zhao Ruizhi himself was momentarily stunned. Could someone truly rescue a person from his grasp under these circumstances?

However, being widely knowledgeable, he quickly recovered, his eyes narrowing. “The Grand Master’s sacrificial pawn?”

Given his exalted status, he naturally held no regard for disciples like Black and White. In his eyes, this skill must have been a direct transmission from the Grand Master to his disciple.

Bi Linglong also regained her composure then. As the Crown Princess, and having always maintained good relations with the academy and visiting it frequently, she naturally knew that Black and White possessed a magical artifact called the “Sacrificial Pawn,” which allowed another to become a pawn and take damage on one’s behalf.

Yet, no one had ever used it to become *another’s* sacrificial pawn themselves!

Earlier, Zu An hadn’t offered the Five-Colored Everspring Flower in exchange for her life. Although she understood this was the most rational course of action, she couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of disappointment, even doubting her true value in his heart.

But at this moment, seeing him protect her with his own life, tears streamed down her face. “A’Zu!”

Zhao Ruizhi, with his cultivation under complete control, pressed a palm against Zu An’s back, though he held back his full power for a moment. He couldn’t help but sneer, “I didn’t expect you, boy, to be willing to sacrifice your own life for her. You truly spare no expense to win a woman, do you? If that’s the case, then I shall grant your wish!”

Consumed by extreme hatred, he held nothing back this time, pressing his palm directly onto Zu An’s back.

“Pfft!” Zu An coughed up a large mouthful of blood, his entire body instantly going limp. He crumpled to the ground, utterly still.

He Li, standing by, couldn’t help but lament, *A beauty truly is a harbinger of disaster. No matter how stunning a woman, how could she be more important than one’s own life? These young ones are far too impulsive.*

“No!” Mi Li had actually surged forward in that very instant, but she was still a step too late.

Given the emperor’s cultivation, even when facing an opponent of equal standing, life and death were within his command inside a three-foot radius. Moreover, Zu An’s vital points were directly within his control, with less than an inch separating them.

Seeing Zu An collapse to the ground, Mi Li’s face turned frosty, and her dark hair instantly fanned out around her. “Die!”

A crimson flash streaked forth. Zhao Ruizhi’s pupils instantly constricted, and he hastily raised a hand to defend.

With a tremendous crash, Zhao Ruizhi was sent flying several yards backward. He struggled to regain his balance, but his throat convulsed, and a trickle of blood escaped the corner of his mouth.

This woman had actually wounded him!

He knew well that he had sustained considerable injuries earlier from the onslaught of the terracotta warriors and those two mysterious generals. His current state was less than half of his peak strength. Yet, despite this, he still possessed absolute confidence in subduing everyone present.

And yet, he had been injured by a woman who appeared delicate and frail!

At this moment, Mi Li’s soul form also wavered, visibly dimmer than before. Clearly, engaging the emperor head-on in this state was too great a drain on her.

She paid no heed to pursuing him, instead hastily cradling Zu An. “A’Zu, are you alright?”

Bi Linglong also rushed over, weeping. “A’Zu, why did you save me with your life? I wasn’t going to live many more years anyway; saving me like this was hardly worth it.”

She had previously forced the activation of a forbidden technique, leading to a substantial loss of life essence. Theoretically, she indeed wouldn't live for many more years.

Zu An’s face was as pale as parchment, his mouth stained with blood. Hearing her words, he offered a weak smile. “How could I bear to see you suffer any harm? Saving you required no second thought. Before I die, could you… kiss me?”

Bi Linglong felt her emotional defenses utterly collapse. Heartbroken, she sobbed uncontrollably, abandoning all hesitation. She threw herself upon him, kissing him deeply and passionately. Alas, this kiss held no joy, only the agonizing pain of a broken heart.

He Li and the others in the distance secretly sighed, *Though that boy is annoying, who knew he was such a hopeless romantic?*

Zhao Ruizhi watched his wife passionately kissing another man, and his fury blazed. However, he harbored some apprehension about Mi Li’s strength and thus didn’t rush forward immediately.

Mi Li, however, couldn’t help but scold him, “You wretched boy, when will you stop risking your life for women? You’re going to be the death of me eventually!”

Though Bi Linglong usually harbored some fear of Mi Li, at this moment, she wouldn’t stand for it, glaring at her angrily. “A’Zu is almost dead, and you’re still scolding him!”

“Die, my foot! This boy is craftier than a ghost; how could he die so easily?” The instant Mi Li helped him up, she felt that while his injuries were severe, they weren’t fatal. Though somewhat bewildered by what had just occurred, she knew for certain that he wasn’t going to die anytime soon.

Zu An pulled a broken scale from his robe, chuckling sheepishly. “I didn’t expect I still couldn’t hide it from you.”