The crater still burned.
Stone glowed faintly violet where the Sun of Extinction had struck.
The air above it twisted in uneven ripples, heat and corrupted qi tangling together like dying serpents.
Smoke rolled low across shattered terraces, swallowing broken pillars and splintered halls.
At the center—
Lin Shu lay unmoving.
Her robes were torn through in multiple places, fabric fused to skin by heat.
Blood ran freely from her shoulder, from her ribs, from the corner of her mouth.
One arm trembled uncontrollably. Her sword lay beside her—
Cracked down the middle.
Its blue glow flickering weakly.
Her breathing was shallow.
Thin.
Barely there.
Across the battlefield—
Qin Morian stood.
Unhurried.
Violet aura coiling lazily around him.
And he laughed.
Not loudly.
Not wildly.
Just… pleased.
"Protect her!"
Elder Wu roared, slamming his palm down.
