Chapter 1040: Li Lingjing's Decision
Cold murderous intent surfaced within Li Lingjing's eyes as soon as the Spirit Eye Other King finished speaking. Her slender fingers gripped the Aquamarine Bamboo Python Staff with so much force that it trembled in her grasp.
Her knuckles were completely white.
The old man had made an incomparably vicious threat.
Nonetheless, the Spirit Eye Other King remained nonchalant towards her icy stare. After all, her reaction was proof of how effective his words had been.
As his black robes fluttered slowly in the air, the bloody eye on them continued to stare at Li Lingjing. It seemed to possess a life of its own, as human emotions were present within the gaze.
"Li Lingjing, this is a great opportunity for you. Be true to those ambitions in your heart. You desire strength much more than anyone else. If you're truly not interested in it, why have you kept No.2 with you? Wouldn't it have been better to just annihilate it completely? When Li Jingzhe cleansed you of the Other corruption in the Dragon's Fang Lineage, you only pretended to cooperate. I know that you secretly stashed a strand of corruption in the deepest depths of your heart."
"Nonsense!" Li Lingjing exclaimed.
The Spirit Eye Other King grinned slightly. "You know best whether I'm speaking nonsense or the truth. So, what's your final decision? I do not have much time left. A massive commotion was caused earlier, and the various powers standing guard outside must have noticed my presence as well. If we drag it on any longer, we may even attract the Kings from the Heavenly Emperor powers."
As Li Lingjing stared at the smile that hung on the aged face of the Spirit Eye Other King, she understood that this was his final ultimatum for her.
She thought about it for a moment before turning her head slowly. She looked at Li Luo. He was frozen in place like a mosquito in amber, unable to move even a single muscle. His senses had been stripped away, leaving him unable to see, hear, or feel anything.
"Can you let him hear my final words?" Li Lingjing said with a hoarse voice.
The Spirit Eye Other King flicked his finger, and Li Luo regained his sense of hearing. However, he was still unable to speak.
Li Luo instinctively felt a sense of unease.
At this point, he heard a soft voice coming from Li Lingjing.
"Li Luo, I don't think I can return to the Dragon's Fang Lineage with you."
Li Luo's heart was pounding like a violent tide hitting the shore. Frustration and anger welled up within him, but he was restrained to the point that it prevented him from even making a single sound.
"There's no need to feel so agitated over this. Although this decision was forced upon me... To tell you the truth, my heart does not resist it. The Dragon's Fang Lineage is a wonderful place, but it's simply not suitable for me. Ever since you pulled me out of the darkness and into the bright outside world, I've constantly been thinking about what the future holds for me. If I went to the Dragon's Fang Lineage, I could try to forget all the depressing, dark years and attempt to fit back in, eventually joining the Dragon's Fang Guardians and continuing my cultivation there. However, I now realize that that was not the path for me. Those years spent languishing within the depths of my own mind ended up molding me into someone who is ruthless and indifferent to the world. It wouldn't be good for anyone if I joined the Dragon's Fang Guardians like this..." Li Lingjing said gently.
"Please let me go. Apart from my aunt, just tell the rest that the one they knew as Li Lingjing died in the Spiritual Resonance Cave. I don't think that anyone would care either way. Most importantly, thank you for the Aquamarine Bamboo Python Staff. I will take good care of it. Li Luo... you must take care."
As Li Luo listened to her say those hard words in a gentle voice, his heart sank. He knew that Li Lingjing's departure was set in stone.
He would have liked to give her a proper farewell, but that was impossible.
Once again, he felt powerless and helpless. He was simply too weak.
When Li Lingjing finished saying farewell, she smiled warmly and etched Li Luo's handsome face into her mind. She had special feelings for him, but not ones of love for the opposite sex. With her current temperament, it was impossible for her to experience something of the sort.
It was just like what she had said earlier. Li Luo was the last strand of light that had lifted her from the depths of her despair. He was like a beacon of hope and direction for her.
With him as her guiding light, she was able to hold onto herself regardless of the corruption and despair that engulfed her.
If she were to discover that Li Luo had died one day, she might truly lose herself completely, merging with the darkness within.
At that time, Li Lingjing would truly cease to exist.
"So you have to keep on living, Li Luo," Li Lingjing whispered to herself.
With that, she did not hesitate any longer. She grabbed the ice-cold Aquamarine Bamboo Python Staff with her jade fingers and walked towards the Spirit Eye Other King.
The Spirit Eye Other King smiled. "Congratulations. You've chosen an unprecedented path. In the future, you might just thank yourself for the decision you've made today."
"When that time comes, it might also be the day of your demise," Li Lingjing said calmly. She did not hide any of her murderous intent towards him.
However, the Spirit Eye Other King was not angry about her comment at all. His smile turned even warmer as he replied, "If such a day really comes, I might be absolutely delighted instead. It would mean that I have paved the way to greatness."
He shook the sleeves of his robes, and the blood-red eye jumped out. Bloody light shot out, creating a vortex with an unknown destination.
"Let's go."
Li Lingjing looked at the vortex silently for a moment. Then she stepped forward without any further hesitation. But just as she was about to step inside, she paused.
She seemed to contemplate the idea of turning back. However, the feeling of the ice-cold staff in her hand kept these emotions under control, and she did not turn back in the end.
She took a step forward and immediately disappeared into the vortex.
After Li Lingjing was gone, the smile on the aged face of the Spirit Eye Other King gradually faded too. His gaze turned towards Li Luo.
"I don't think I ever promised to spare him if you made the right decision." The Spirit Eye Other King rubbed the blade scar on his left eye, and a chill surfaced in his good eye.
Staring at Li Luo, blood-red flames began to flow out of his remaining eye.
However, just as the Spirit Eye Other King directed his murderous intent towards Li Luo, a faint light flew out of the pocket sphere on his wrist.
The light hovered above Li Luo for a moment before it transformed into an ancient plaque.
The plaque was labeled with the character "Li."
The "Li" character was glowing at this moment. There seemed to be an unusual aura coming from it.
When the Spirit Eye Other King sensed the aura, his expression changed slightly and became more solemn.
He stared at the plaque and commented slowly, "Who would have expected a Heavenly Pearl brat to attract the attention of Heavenly Emperor Li?"
The blood-red flames in the Spirit Eye Other King's eye gradually faded. He knew that the plaque had acted up in reaction to the murderous intent from him.
The aura the plaque was emitting came from a Heavenly Emperor.
Heavenly Emperor Li, Li Jun.
The plaque had shown up as a warning to the Spirit Eye Other King. If he continued his act, he would attract the attention of Heavenly Emperor Li.
Although Heavenly Emperor Li was busy fighting at the World Border, it would be really troublesome for him if such a man decided to interfere with his plans.
As such, the Spirit Eye Other King decisively gave up on his plan to kill Li Luo.
"Sorry about that," The Spirit Eye Other King said with a laugh. He bowed slightly towards the plaque and moved back one step at a time. The red vortex expanded, and he was swallowed into it.
As soon the Spirit Eye Other King disappeared from the scene, the surroundings returned to normal once again.
The plaque above Li Luo transformed back into a light and flew back into the pocket sphere.
When Li Luo recovered from his frozen state, he looked up into the vast sky. There was a faint fragrance lingering in the air.
The fragrance was still around, but the person it belonged to was gone. How long would it be before they could reunite? Would she still be human or not?
In fact... would she be friend or foe then?
Li Luo's expression was complicated. He didn't know how to react to this situation. He should obviously be anxious and furious now that Li Lingjing had been taken away by the Spirit Eye Other King. He should try his best to rescue her... But just like she had said earlier, this decision might not be all due to the Spirit Eye Other King's coercion.
Perhaps she really didn't want to stay in the Dragon's Fang Lineage. Ordinary life might not be suitable for her anymore.
Li Luo was a little confused. In the end, he was too weak to do anything about it.
If he was stronger, Lu Qing'er would not have needed to freeze herself in order to help him and Li Lingjing would not have been taken by the Spirit Eye Other King. Regardless of whether it was her own will or not, she would at least get to have a choice if Li Luo was stronger. She would not have been forced into a decision.
"Spirit Eye Other King..." Murderous intent flashed across Li Luo's eyes. Although the gap in their strength was extremely huge now, this grudge would remain in his heart for a long time. Although he had been stripped of his senses earlier, he knew for sure that the Spirit Eye Other King had used him as a bargaining chip to threaten Li Lingjing.
Li Luo lowered his head and picked up the broken pieces of the Golden-Jade Onyx-Elephant Blade. The Spirit Eye Other King was a very distant target. His primary goal now was to reach the Duke Stage as soon as possible.
Li Luo was silent for a long while as he looked into the sky ahead. Finally, he let out a sigh.
"Take care, Cousin Lingjing."