I wanted you to keep me company

Lin Xuan was knocked to the ground once again, his eyes rolling back slightly.

He quickly steadied his breathing, fighting to stay conscious.

Liu Ya’s face had turned pale. Earlier, Lin Xuan had told her he had a fifty percent chance of defeating the East Extreme Demon Lord.

But now, it looked like nothing more than a one-sided slaughter.

Liu Ya couldn’t help but regret agreeing to Lin Xuan’s plan so hastily. They should have waited for reinforcements from the Emperor Heaven Sect.

But there was no turning back now—they had to fight to the end.

“Attack!”

Liu Ya commanded the sword formation, lending her support to Lin Xuan.

The formation wasn’t overly complex—strength lay in numbers.

Still, it demanded skill, and Liu Ya, once a prodigy in her own right, was no pushover. Under her guidance, the formation, though newly assembled, unleashed seventy percent of its potential.

It wasn’t enough to defeat the East Extreme Demon Lord, but it should at least serve as a distraction.

Or so she thought.

The East Extreme Demon Lord countered the formation’s assault with effortless ease, deflecting every strike with a mere flick of his hand.

With a mocking chuckle, he unleashed a deafening Lion’s Roar technique, sending the formation’s members flying in an instant.

Liu Ya struggled to hold her ground, but it was futile—she too was blasted away, crashing through a small palace in the process.

The sword formation was shattered.

Now, the East Extreme Demon Lord stood alone, untouched.

“How dull,” Su Luo mused, watching Lin Xuan sprawled on the ground, barely clinging to life.

What could he possibly do in this state?

But Su Luo knew better—Lin Xuan never fought harder than when he was on the brink of death.

He began counting down in his head, waiting for Lin Xuan’s inevitable resurgence.

Lin Xuan’s mind flashed through memories—his arduous journey, the hatred of those women who had suffered under the East Extreme Demon Lord. He couldn’t die here.

“I can’t fall yet… I promised them I’d kill you.”

Trembling, he forced himself to stand, his eyes blazing like fire. Spiritual energy erupted around him, forming an ethereal cloak that lent him an almost sage-like aura.

Su Luo smirked. Perfect. Any further, and they might lose all hope.

This was Lin Xuan’s final burst of strength—just enough to stage a dramatic comeback.

With a furious roar, Lin Xuan charged again.

“Thirty Thousand Flames!”

A superficial move—Lin Xuan knew it wouldn’t be enough. He had other tricks prepared.

Yet, to his surprise, the attack landed. Before, he hadn’t even come close.

Maybe I’ve become terrifyingly strong.

Su Luo retaliated—but intentionally missed, leaving an opening.

Lin Xuan seized the chance, driving his fist into the East Extreme Demon Lord’s chest.

The demon lord stiffened, momentarily paralyzed.

Lin Xuan didn’t let up. A barrage of punches rained down, each strike fueled by desperation.

He couldn’t stop—if he did, it was over.

By now, Lin Xuan was running on fumes, his consciousness fading. Su Luo had truly pushed him to the edge.

At the critical moment, Su Luo collapsed.

Lin Xuan dropped to one knee, refusing to fall completely—not until the East Extreme Demon Lord was dead.

The demon lord lay motionless, his head lifting weakly. He tried to rise, but his body failed him.

“To think… I’d fall to the likes of you… Unacceptable!”

His head slammed back onto the ground, lifeless.

A feigned death.

Lin Xuan swayed, too gravely injured to even think straight. But seeing the East Extreme Demon Lord defeated, he allowed himself a sliver of relief.

Liu Ya staggered to her feet, disbelief in her eyes. She drew her sword and hacked wildly at the demon lord’s corpse.

Clang! Clang!

Her blade couldn’t pierce his skin.

But she didn’t care—this was vengeance, years of hatred unleashed.

Su Luo understood her rage, but he wasn’t the East Extreme Demon Lord. No reason to endure her fury.

Then, the corpse exploded, a shockwave blasting everything back.

Liu Ya barely managed to drag Lin Xuan to safety. The blast wasn’t fatal, but it was enough to knock Lin Xuan unconscious.

Silence returned.

When Liu Ya checked again, the East Extreme Demon Lord’s remains had vanished—only a pool of black blood remained.

She collapsed, laughing weakly.

Good riddance.

Su Luo, now free, began his exit.

Liu Ya tended to Lin Xuan’s wounds, but her supplies were meager. His healing pills were locked in his spatial ring, which she couldn’t access.

Luckily, the Emperor Heaven Sect arrived soon after, storming in with full force, ready to corner and execute the East Extreme Demon Lord before he could escape.

Instead, they found the battle already over.

When they learned Lin Xuan had slain the infamous East Extreme Demon Lord of the Heavenly Demon Sect, shock rippled through them.

That was the East Extreme Demon Lord!

This young man is terrifying.

Sure, he had inherited an immortal’s legacy—but this was beyond expectations.

Regardless, the demon lord was dead. They owed Lin Xuan their gratitude. Without him, the women trapped here would have suffered endlessly.

——

Outside, Su Luo resumed his true form.

The plan had gone smoothly. He’d left before the Emperor Heaven Sect arrived, avoiding complications.

But someone was waiting for him.

“You’re here?”

“I wanted you to accompany me,” Jiang Ningshu said.

“For what?”

“My final recovery stage. I’d feel better with you watching over me.” Rare concern flickered in her voice.

Once she regained her full strength, she would face the heavenly tribulation again.

Success meant ascending to the Tribulation Phase.

In ancient times, many had reached this stage—but in the last ten thousand years, none had been recorded.

Failure could mean death. Last time, she’d barely survived.

This time, the tribulation would be stronger—she could feel it.

“I know you’ll pass, but fine. I’ll stay.”

“Won’t I be a bother?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You come first.”

“Then I’ll rest easy. Stay with me till the end.”

“I’ll be here. Nothing will happen to you.”

“Really? Then I’ll face the tribulation without fear.” A faint smile touched Jiang Ningshu’s lips.

The thought of that final step had weighed on her.

But with Su Luo beside her, she felt ready.

“Let’s go.”

Su Luo knew Jiang Ningshu was more than capable of weathering the tribulation. Her restored strength surpassed even her former self.

A mere heavenly trial was nothing.

But her unease was understandable—lingering shadows of the past.

After this, they’d be gone for good.

Su Luo followed Jiang Ningshu into the distance.