The fierce confrontation at the soul level turned Xu Zhan's body into the center of a storm. The demonic entity fragment's rage and desire for control, the Soul-Controlling Jade's cold imprisonment, and Xiaoqi's purification light and Four Symbols balance intention forcibly poured through the bloodline connection, along with those blood-soaked cries, fiercely collided and tore within the deepest part of his soul.
This extreme pain, far exceeding the limits a physical body could endure, was like the most fierce catalyst, briefly yet intensely pushing that suppressed, distorted hundred-year-old self-consciousness out from the deepest demonic barriers.
"Huff, huff" A sound like a broken bellows came from Xu Zhan's throat. This was not the demonic entity's roar but his own sound, filled with infinite pain and struggle. His hands that held his head had veins bulging, fingernails deeply digging into the edge of his helmet, making a sound that made people's teeth ache.
He abruptly raised his head.
Those eyes originally filled with scarlet and death, now like being washed clean by clear water. Though covered in bloodshot, filled with exhaustion and pain, that belonging to "Xu Zhan" sobriety, wisdom, and the infinite love hidden deep within and guilt were as clear as sunlight penetrating clouds, shining through exceptionally brightly.
His gaze first passed over Liu Yun still desperately blocking the demonic energy's backlash, over Mu Qingfeng barely supporting, precisely, greedily, carrying indescribable heartache, landed on that blood-soaked, tear-streaked youth still stubbornly maintaining that origin light column connecting them.
His son, Xiaoqi. That young child he had desperately sent away on the night of the family's destruction. Now he had grown so strong, so like his mother.
"Xiao, Qi" His lips moved. His voice was hoarse to the point of being almost unrecognizable, but those lip shapes, those eyes filled with a thousand words, were like the heaviest hammers,heavily struck Xiaoqi's heart.
Next, his gaze with difficulty turned toward the distance, toward Aunt Su lying beneath the stone pillar, breath faint, mask shattered, revealing her pale face. Seeing her miserable appearance, infinite grief and deeper guilt instantly surged in Xu Zhan's eyes. He knew it was this sister-in-law for whom he had always felt complicated emotions, who had used her life to create this final, brief opportunity for him and Xiaoqi.
A hundred years of imprisonment, soul torment, close relative's sacrifice. All these scenes rapidly flashed through his thoroughly sober consciousness. He understood his situation, understood the demonic entity's scheme, and understood everything Xiaoqi and Aunt Su had done for him.
There was no time. The demonic entity fragment was fighting back desperately. Though the purification light transmitted through the bloodline connection could momentarily awaken him, it could not last long, could not truly destroy the Soul-Controlling Jade connected to the underground demonic energy. Xiaoqi's state was already his last strength. If it continued like this, it would only drag him into the abyss of destruction as well.
He must make a choice. A choice as a father, as the Lord of Xu Lan Mountain Manor, as the final thing a soul imprisoned for a hundred years could do.
The complex emotions in his eyes receded like an ebbing tide, ultimately condensing into a nearly burning, carrying infinite love and apologetic resolution.
He looked at Xiaoqi, using his soul's last strength to transmit a clear, filled with final instructions and farewell divine sense.
"Child, live, take care of yourself."
The next moment, within the demonic entity fragment's shocked roar, under the continued input of the purification light, Xu Zhan made an action no one had anticipated.
He did not attack anyone, did not try to break free from control. Instead, he forcibly reversed the demonic Yuan within his body that the demonic entity fragment had pushed to its extreme.
"Pui."
He spat out a large mouthful of pitch-black blood containing his life-bound essence. This was the symbol of the deep fusion between the demonic seed and his life origin. Forcibly reversing the demonic Yuan was equivalent to destroying his foundations, tearing his soul.
But he did not care at all. Seizing this moment of instant interference with the demonic entity's control brought by this self-mutilation, and the soul gap created by Xiaoqi's purification light, he obtained the final, also the briefest absolute control over his body.
He abruptly turned around, no longer looking at Xiaoqi but directing those eyes filled with resolution and final gentleness toward above the altar. Toward that floating Soul-Controlling Jade radiating black light that had imprisoned his soul for a hundred years.
Then, he moved.
Not retreating, not defending, but like a moth drawn to flames, using the last strength within this body soaked in demonic energy for a hundred years, transforming into a black meteor burning with life and soul fire. Fearlessly, carrying the determination to charge forward without turning back, he fiercely crashed into that Soul-Controlling Jade.
He was going to self-destruct his Golden Core. With this body that the demonic entity had nurtured for a hundred years, and the abundant demonic energy within it considered by the demonic entity as half of a perfect vessel's origin, along with his own last remaining soul strength, he would destroy this damn Soul-Controlling Jade.
This was the only method he could think of to destroy the Soul-Controlling Jade, rescue Xiaoqi, and end his tragic fate.
"No. Xu Zhan. You dare." The demonic entity fragment let out an unprecedented, carrying a trace of panic shriek. It frantically urged the Soul-Controlling Jade, attempting to regain control, to stop this suicidal behavior. But Xu Zhan's resolution against the control from the depths of his soul and the interference from his self-destruction made it momentarily unable to completely control him.
"Father. No."
Xiaoqi let out a heartrending mournful cry. He instantly understood his father's intention. That resolution toward destruction transmitted through the bloodline connection from his father's soul made his liver and gallbladder nearly split. He wanted to withdraw the light column, wanted to rush up to stop him. But everything was too late.
Mu Qingfeng and Liu Yun were also stunned. They watched that figure burning with life charging toward the Soul-Controlling Jade. Their hearts were filled with infinite shock and grief.
Under the gazes of everyone filled with despair, shock, and grief, Xu Zhan's burning figure and that ominous black-light-radiating Soul-Controlling Jade drew closer and closer.