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[How to make a picky child eat green peppers?]
[How to make a suspicious wolf take poison?]
[The answer, I've already told you.]
At this moment.
What appeared before all the players.
Were just three short lines.
No sound, no other visuals.
Yet, it carried an extraordinary weight!
"Cough... cough..."
"...A person without secrets... is just prey with their flesh torn open, waiting miserably for death."
Jiaoqiu's voice,
was so faint that only he could hear it.
"Drink my blood to your heart's content... Hoolay. It's a pity, though, that I am not a person without secrets. I still hide one insignificant secret..."
"Dianzhi Powder... I drank it long ago, and the poison has already spread throughout my body... Sooner or later... it will take effect on you."
"The deadliest poison in the world... if it can save innocent lives, it can also be called a good medicine..."
"I will do my best to heal... Feixiao, I've kept my promise. With this insignificant life..."
"...I've brought victory to Yaoging."
Jiaoqiu's voice was extremely weak.
Like a flickering candle in the wind.
But to all the players listening.
It was utterly shocking!
Like a thunderclap!
...
"???"
"Huh?"
"Dianzhi Powder—in small doses, it's an anesthetic, but in large amounts, it becomes a deadly poison."
"Damn, Jiaoqiu, you... (tactically leans back, gasping in shock)"
"[I held on... to the pride of being a strategist of Yaoging.]"
"Ahhhhhhh...!!!!"
"I even specifically placed a ward there, turns out it really was foreshadowing!"
"The strategist enters the game with his body, moving the pieces to outwit heaven by half a move!"
"Damn, I've got goosebumps..."
"Jiaoqiu, a true man!"
"Seeing this, my tears just burst out."
"The physicians of Xianzhou are so great!"
...
The screen slowly darkened.
Seemingly signaling Jiaoqiu's curtain call...
Meanwhile, on the martial arena, Hoolay.
Now covered in purplish-red wounds.
One hand clutching his head.
Staggered backward several steps.
Yunli swung Old Mettle.
Delivering a full-force strike without hesitation!
Hoolay had no way to defend himself.
His massive body was sent flying!
The blade stabbed into the ground, leaving a long scar, yet it couldn't offset the immense force.
Crashing into the arena wall, leaving a deep dent.
"Truly... ruthless."
Hoolay had already realized he was poisoned.
Though the Borisin's physical body was strong.
Their inner essence was still that of an organic being!
Detoxifying in such a short time was impossible!
However.
How could the trio let go of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?
A layer of frost began to fill the air.
"The air... is getting colder?"
Yanqing looked up.
Whirling vortexes of ice began to form around him.
"My sword… grows colder."
Flying swords arrayed themselves around him.
Beside him.
Yunli's body also emitted a red glow.
The greatsword Old Mettle seemed as if it had just been forged from a furnace!
Scorching and crimson!
...
"Activate full power mode!"
"Wuwuwu, thank you, Jiaoqiu!!!"
"Jiaoqiu indirectly saved Yanqing's life with his own!"
"Hoolay: Bu Dui Jin, this feels a bit familiar."
"Hoolay: Bu Hao, it's the familiar temperature!"
"Cloud Knight Lieutenant: Yanqing enters Phase Two."
"Kill him! Take down Hoolay hard! Avenge Jiaoqiu, aahhh!!!"
...
[Entering Battle]
The blood-red glow that had been burning on Hoolay's body vanished.
He returned to his normal state.
And on his status bar.
There was an additional debuff: Staggering Powder!
Hoolay roared, "Jiaoqiu, you actually…!"
"Just a dose of poison… did you think such a method could turn the tide of battle?"
Though he spoke these words.
It was clear that he was at the end of his strength!
His damage and speed were far inferior to before!
His health was already at the bottom!
At this moment.
Yanqing's voice rang out!
"You are indeed hard to kill, but that doesn't mean you can't be subdued!"
"Hoolay! Watch closely, the might of the Cloud Knights is in this sword!"
"Bang!"
Hoolay seemed to realize that the situation was growing increasingly dire!
He let out a furious roar!
"How is this possible? A mere whelp… how could you defeat me?!"
Like a beast enraged after being wounded!
Hoolay's counterattack was exceptionally fierce!
Yanqing used his own sword to block.
But it was actually shattered by Hoolay's strike!
In Yanqing's moment of shock.
Hoolay seized the opening!
He leapt into the air!
His massive figure even blocked out the sunlight at this moment!
March 7th and Yunli both sensed that something terrible was about to happen!
Hoolay was trying to force a one-for-one exchange!
Before being subdued…
He wanted to take someone down with him!
Yanqing's eyes widened at this moment.
He felt as if disaster was imminent!
However!
At this very instant!
The scene suddenly turned ashen and dim, like an old canvas.
Time seemed to slow down.
Memories… surged forth!
That day…
The blindfolded woman had slashed at him with her sword.
Beneath the icy sword energy flowed a madness that knew no end.
Like moonlight falling.
Piercing cold to the bone and heart!
Between life and death, he had mustered all his strength…
And blocked her strike!
And now.
Though not entirely the same, it was eerily similar!
Yanqing suddenly calmed down.
He held his breath and focused his mind.
With both hands, he gripped his broken sword.
Frost surged from the hilt!
Instantly forming a complete ice sword!
Then,
he turned,
and swung.
The entire martial arena seemed to pale in comparison.
All the light and air currents converged onto Yanqing's sword!
At the moment the blade's edge was revealed.
Yanqing's figure completely overlapped with Jingliu's!
"Hum!!!"
For a moment.
Some players couldn't even tell!
Whether Yanqing had achieved enlightenment…
Or if Jingliu herself had come to save the day!
A brief black screen.
What appeared next.
Was Yanqing, panting heavily after exerting all his strength.
And before him.
Was a river of ice.
Starting from Hoolay.
Everything behind him was covered in diamond-shaped frost!
Hoolay was frozen in place like a statue!
His body covered in ice crystals!
Seeing this.
Everyone was shocked!
In the live stream.
For a moment, even the live barrage stopped!
A vast blank space appeared!
A few seconds later.
Players finally snapped out of it.
The barrage erupted like a volcano!
...
"?"
"!!!"
"Yanqing! You little…!!!"
"Holy cow! Another life-and-death moment, and he had an epiphany!"
"Let this round of moonlight illuminate all rivers!"
"My ancestor's spirit possessed him!"
"I thought Jingliu would save the day this version, but it turned out to be Yanqing who swung that sword! He proved himself!"
"Yanqing: I'm not even sure what level I'm at right now."
"That sword strike might not be unreachable!"
"Hoolay: Aaaaah Jingliu! When did you get here!!"
"Hoolay: Who unleashed the 'Illuminating All Rivers'?"
"Let him taste defeat again! Well done!"
"It's back, everything's back!"
....