Undying Life

Chapter 89: Osmanthus Cake

A loud, continuous buzzing sound filled the air.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhh!"

Zhong Shan roared. At the moment of contact, a massive surge of electricity flowed through his hands and into his body. His eyes widened in agony, feeling as if he was on the brink of being electrocuted to death.

The pain was excruciating. His arms went numb almost instantly, the sensation spreading rapidly throughout his body. Zhong Shan wanted to use his Demonic Body Refinement Technique, but he resisted, choosing instead to endure and scream.

With his willpower, Zhong Shan could have suppressed the urge to scream, but he chose to let it out, not just to alleviate the pain in his arms but to let everyone hear his suffering. Besides, the pain was indeed unbearable.

Nearby, Tian Ling'er was also trembling violently. The internal currents were so strong that even she couldn't withstand them, but she gritted her teeth and didn't make a sound.

"Hahaha, Your Majesty, let's go," General Thunder laughed.

Seeing General Thunder's actions, the onlookers smiled with satisfaction. It was clear that Zhong Shan and Tian Ling'er were doomed, and before their deaths, they would endure endless torment from the lightning without being able to escape.

"Very well," the Emperor nodded in satisfaction.

On the other side, another person removed the purple lightning needle from the Thunder Scorpion.

"Let's move," the Emperor commanded.

He then flew ahead, with everyone following suit. Mr. Corpse gave Zhong Shan one last look, a strange expression flashing in his eyes, before he joined the group in leaving swiftly.

In no time, everyone had flown out of the valley.

At that moment, Zhong Shan's screams abruptly stopped. His arms were completely numb, the pain cutting deep into his heart, but his willpower held firm.

Tian Ling'er's arms were also numb. Despite her true energy resisting, it seemed ineffective. Panic filled her eyes, but when she saw Zhong Shan beside her, her initial fear turned into a sense of contentment. Perhaps they would both die here today. Dying together with Zhong Shan didn't seem so bad after all.

Zhong Shan watched the departing figures with intense rage in his eyes.

He didn't use the Demonic Body Refinement Technique because doing so would leave him extraordinarily weak for a period afterward. He also didn't release his grip, as doing so would free the Thunder Scorpion, ensuring their deaths.

Most of the giant scorpions in the valley had been killed by the previous lightning strikes and the overwhelming aura of the powerful warriors. The remaining few quickly fled the valley.

Zhong Shan's entire body trembled, but he gritted his teeth and endured. This lightning was nothing to General Thunder and his men, but to Zhong Shan and Tian Ling'er, it was a bone-chilling pain.

Turning to look at Tian Ling'er, Zhong Shan saw the despair in her eyes. It seemed truly over now. Zhong Shan was restrained, and she couldn't move, her whole body wracked with pain. Would they die?

Zhong Shan glanced at Tian Linger with a pained expression and gritted his teeth, "Let go."

Tian Linger's arm was already completely numb, yet she still blocked the entrance of the mucous membrane. Hearing Zhong Shan's words, a trace of a bitter smile flashed in her eyes. She thought Zhong Shan had chosen to abandon her and flee to gain a slim chance of survival. However, with the Thunder Scorpion possessing at least Nascent Soul level strength, how could he possibly escape?

But seeing Zhong Shan's resolute demeanor, Tian Linger still nodded. Everything was left to fate. Staying here meant certain death, while running away offered a glimmer of hope.

Looking at Zhong Shan, Tian Linger loosened her arm and swiftly retreated. A torrent of lightning surged out from the entrance, striking the ground and carving a deep black trench.

Zhong Shan also let go at the same time, but what made Tian Linger's mind buzz was Zhong Shan suddenly using his broad back to cover the four large holes.

Covering the four holes with his back?

The four holes quickly expanded and merged, stopping only when they matched the size of Zhong Shan's back, seamlessly fusing with it.

For a moment, Zhong Shan's body flashed with intense electric light, enveloping him in a massive amount of lightning. In an instant, Zhong Shan turned into a being of pure lightning, countless bolts wrapping around him as if he were submerged in an ocean of electricity.

"Zhong Shan---"

Realizing what was happening, Tian Linger's heart ached, and she cried out loudly, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably.

Seeing Tian Linger reaching out to him, Zhong Shan, enduring the torment of the lightning, roared, "Don't come over!"

The lightning on Zhong Shan's body was so intense that even his shout seemed to emit sparks of electricity. Yet, his shout indeed had a deterrent effect, causing Tian Linger to halt.

Watching Zhong Shan blocking the lightning and giving her the chance to survive, Tian Linger's heart ached unbearably, far more than the pain from the lightning before. It felt as if her entire heart was shattering.

At this moment, Tian Linger finally understood how important Zhong Shan was to her. Important enough that she felt willing to die right now if it meant saving him.

"Linger, don't cry. Listen, listen to me," Zhong Shan said with difficulty, spitting out threads of lightning as he spoke. Veins bulged on his forehead, making the electric currents crackle even louder around his head.

However, Tian Linger could only shake her head at this moment, as if she refused to listen. Seeing Zhong Shan in agony seemed to transfer all the pain onto herself.

"Go back to Kaiyang Sect and find the sect master, bring him to save me. Otherwise, no one can save me," Zhong Shan said with difficulty, his head trembling from the relentless lightning.

"No, no, let me, let me block the lightning. You go find my father," Tian Linger cried out immediately. At this moment, Tian Linger was willing, even if it meant sacrificing her own life to save Zhong Shan, she seemed to accept it willingly.

Seeing Tian Linger disobeying, Zhong Shan anxiously shouted, "Quick, hurry!"

But Tian Linger kept shaking her head, refusing to leave Zhong Shan behind, no matter what. She reached out to grab Zhong Shan.

"Osmanthus cake," Zhong Shan called out again, enduring the lightning, his eyes fixed on Tian Linger.

Osmanthus cake? Tian Linger paused, memories from a few months ago flooding back into her mind.

"The secret code is that whenever I mention it, you must obey me, no matter how reluctant you are. If you don't, I will return and tell the sect master that you disobeyed me."

"What's the point of that? I don't want to."

"No, we must agree on this in advance. If what I ask you to do is wrong, you can inform the sect master, and I'll accept the punishment. But if you don't agree, we won't go out."

"Alright, alright, you're so naggy. I'll listen to you."

"Choose something unique. You like osmanthus cake, so let it be the code. Whenever I say 'osmanthus cake,' it means I'm very serious, and you must listen to me, no matter what. It's a must."

"Alright, alright, osmanthus cake, haha!"

Those words still echoed in her ears. Back then, the code was just for fun. But every time Zhong Shan said it, it was heartbreaking. The last time was bad enough, but this time, it was the one phrase Tian Linger least wanted to hear.

Too cruel! It was too cruel! Tian Linger stared at Zhong Shan, tears streaming down her face. How could he?

"Osmanthus cake, osmanthus cake, osmanthus cake!" Zhong Shan called out again. Each word crackled with the sound of lightning.

The crackling of the lightning felt like knives slicing through Tian Linger's heart, but the repeated "osmanthus cake" was like a thousand-pound boulder crushing her already breaking heart.

No! No! Tian Linger continued shaking her head, her tears nearly dried up, her heart filled with unbearable pain. Watching Zhong Shan being relentlessly tormented by lightning felt as if she herself was submerged in it.

"Go!" Zhong Shan roared once more.

Turning her head, Tian Linger wiped away her tears, stepped on the red silk ribbon, and shot towards the valley entrance. She didn't look back, she couldn't, because she knew that if she did, she would never be able to leave.

Osmanthus cake, osmanthus cake, why is it always osmanthus cake?

Pushing her true essence to the maximum, Tian Linger sped towards Kaiyang Sect as fast as she could. In this moment, she disregarded her own limits, focusing solely on speed—faster, faster, even faster, racing to Kaiyang Sect. Quick, quick, quick!

Along the way, it felt as if the entire world had come to a standstill. She couldn't even sense her own instincts anymore. Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably, but she didn't care. She had only one thought: Kaiyang Sect is that way. Fly.

She had never felt this way before, not even when Senior Brother rejected her. Tian Linger was terrified, terrified that Zhong Shan might die because of this. Zhong Shan couldn't die, he absolutely couldn't die!

As Tian Linger streaked across the sky, Zhong Shan continued to endure the excruciating torment of the lightning.

It hurt, it hurt immensely. Zhong Shan desperately wanted to use the Heavenly Demon Body Tempering Technique, but he didn't dare. He wanted to pass out, but he kept reminding himself that he couldn't. If he fainted, he would die. If he fainted, he would never be able to avenge Kuier.

His strong willpower sustained him, keeping him conscious as he waited for Tian Linger to bring back reinforcements.

In that situation, it was the only solution, the best and correct choice. Even his hidden body in the Great Kun Kingdom could do nothing but patiently wait in the secret chamber, healing and enduring.

Waiting for Tian Linger to return as soon as possible.