"Absorb the energy!" the Demon Soul roared.
Vines from the Tree of Life surged toward the sky like a tidal wave. Yang Yun gritted his teeth, grabbed two of them with both hands, and the demonic patterns on his body burst into view.
Those markings twisted and writhed like beasts, merging into a massive gaping maw that bit into the vines and began devouring them like a mad thing.
The Tree of Life tried to fight back—
But its roots had been tampered with, and no matter how hard it struggled, it couldn't break free!
Ji Wusi watched in disbelief.
Wasn't Yang Yun a demon, a Demon Sovereign of his race? And wasn't the Tree of Life supposed to be the mother tree of the demon race? Now Yang Yun was sucking away its power?
Well, that got awkward fast.
Should they stop him... or not? Both of them were targets they wanted gone anyway!
Ji Wusi glanced at Yun Jin.
She always seemed to know more than he did, so he decided to leave the choice to her. He might be Yun Jin's master, but he had absolutely no problem being a hands-off one.
The Demon Soul detached from Yang Yun's body, eyeing Yun Jin warily before speaking coldly. "You know as well as I do, only by destroying the Tree of Life can we eliminate the demons of this world. I'm not from this realm, and I don't care about its demon race. Once I've absorbed the Tree of Life, I'll leave this world and never return. Without the Tree, wiping out the demons will be child's play."
Even he had to admit—
Yun Jin gave him the creeps.
Until he regained his peak strength, he really didn't want to mess with this crazy woman.
"Oh? So you just want to leave this realm, not open the barrier and let the outer-realm demons invade again?" Yun Jin raised an eyebrow.
The Demon Soul's expression instantly darkened. He'd never told anyone about the barrier. How the hell did Yun Jin know?
He forced a stiff smile. "Outer-realm demons? I've no idea what you're talking about. I only wish to return to my homeland."
"Really?" Yun Jin's lips curled as she drew the Tai'a Sword. "I don't believe you."
His smile froze. "I don't know why you don't believe me, but I'm telling the truth. Besides, I'm helping you get rid of the Tree of Life. That benefits the human race, doesn't it?"
Yun Jin strolled closer, unhurried. "Is that so? Then tell me, why shouldn't I just eliminate you both while I'm at it?"
The Demon Soul's eyes narrowed. "You're too confident, Yun Jin. Don't think the Tree of Life is that easy to deal with. The only reason it can't fight me right now is because I sealed its roots with an array, but that array won't last. In three days and nights, it'll collapse. When that happens, with the Tree's accumulated power over countless ages, it'll wipe both of us off the map.
So instead of dying together, why not help me absorb it? After that, I'll leave this world, and you can take your chance to exterminate the demons. It's a win-win, don't you think?"
Smooth words poured out of him, trying to lure her in.
"Is that so?" Yun Jin smiled. "I still don't believe you."
The Demon Soul nearly lost it. "What the hell will make you believe me?!"
Yun Jin's tone stayed calm. "You've absorbed the Tree's body, but its spirit still exists. If that spirit takes root in another tree, give it a few million years, and we'll have a brand-new Tree of Life, won't we?"
The Demon Soul's face stiffened. How did she even know that?!
Trying to salvage the situation, he said, "The Tree of Life is cunning. No one knows where it's hiding its spirit."
"Hiding?" Yun Jin chuckled. "Isn't that blood-red moon in the sky its spirit?"
His pupils trembled. She really knew!
That was bad. He only wanted the Tree's physical energy, planning to take its spirit to the outer-realm demon world once the barrier opened, to grow another Tree of Life there.
He hesitated. "The Tree's spirit is immortal. Destroying it won't be easy."
"That's why I thought of you," Yun Jin said with a bright, terrifying smile. "My dear friend."
The Demon Soul: "???"
Yun Jin walked forward slowly.
Yang Yun was in agony, his demonic markings greedily draining the Tree's energy. They didn't care about restraint; as long as his body didn't explode, they just kept absorbing. But the pain was unbearable. He was already on the brink.
Yun Jin smiled faintly at him, and with a flash of Tai'a's light, she cut through the vine he was gripping. The demonic patterns lost their target, twisted together into a huge mouth, and lunged at Yun Jin instead.
"I don't like it when people are rude," she said coolly.
Chains of Yin and Yang burst forth, wrapping around the monstrous mouth and locking it tight. The marks writhed wildly but couldn't break free no matter how hard they struggled.
"What the hell do you want?!" The Demon Soul was almost hysterical.
Was this woman born to ruin his life?! Why did she keep showing up wherever he went?!
"It's simple," Yun Jin said flatly. "Tell me how to destroy the Tree of Life's spirit."
His face twisted. "How could I possibly know something like that?"
"Then you've got no use."
Without hesitation, Yun Jin swung her sword.
"W-wait, wait!!!"
The Demon Soul was losing his mind. What kind of lunatic was this woman? Normally, people negotiated in moments like this! Who just attacked outright?!
Too late.
The sword light was already in front of him.
He barely managed to merge back into Yang Yun's body. The two of them fought desperately, managing to dodge the blow—barely. Yang Yun's arm, however, was sliced clean off.
Yun Jin didn't pause. She raised her sword again.
"I said wait, damn it!" the Demon Soul screamed.
This time, they dodged again, but…
Both of Yang Yun's hands were gone. He collapsed, barely breathing, despair flickering in his eyes.
This wasn't how his life was supposed to go—And yet, this was exactly how it went.
Just as Yun Jin was about to swing her sword a third time, the Demon Soul shrieked, "I know! I know how to destroy the Tree's spirit!"
Yun Jin's sword still came down.
"…"
The blade carved a huge bloody hole in Yang Yun's chest.
Only then did Yun Jin calmly sheath her sword and smile. "My dear friend, why didn't you say so earlier? I almost thought you didn't want to be friends with me anymore."