Chapter 40
“Don’t let go. Let me handle it!” The voice rang out, sharp and urgent.
It was as if the Guardian of the Veil was afraid Linda would act impulsively and mess things up again.
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In that critical moment, it transformed into a streak of spiritual light and shot straight toward the Amethyst Band.
The Amethyst Band shimmered, its aura surging and fluctuating
Linda instantly realized that the Guardian of the Veil was actually merging with the Amethyst Band.
Linda raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t you say you didn’t want out?”
Emmett gritted his teeth. “You’ve cleaned me out and taken over my turf. Seriously, what am I supposed to do now?”
His voice was still childish, but Linda could hear the panic and annoyance in it.
Linda shrugged, but kept her spell going.
“I’m just here for the Alchemical Arbor and Lucent Mere. Whether you show up or not doesn’t matter to me,” she said. “Those two are literally what keep me alive. You’re taking both. If I don’t tag along, I will be dead,” Emmett snapped.
Linda just grinned. “Hey, I was just worried you’d dig your heels in and throw a fit.”
But Emmett just tuned her out.
His mana merged with the Amethyst Band.
Since Linda had claimed it with her blood, the ring was bound to her soul. She could sense the changes happening to the Amethyst Band.
The space inside was morphing.
The appearance of the ring was changing too.
As the inner space grew, Emmett said, “That’s enough.”
By the time Linda finally stopped, she’d already burned through most of her mana. She was nearly depleted.
Hearing Emmett’s words, Linda didn’t hesitate. She gathered every bit of her focus and swept the Lucent Mere and the Alchemical Arbor into the Amethyst Band.
Even the last shimmering drop from the lake disappeared into the ring’s inner world.
All around them, a thunderous shattering sound erupted.
It was like a mirror breaking. Webs of cracks raced across every surface in an instant.
Emmett shouted, “Let’s go!”
Linda sprinted for the entrance, which was her only way out, while the space behind her started caving in fast.
The sound of shattering glass kept getting closer.
In a split second, it was right at her heels.
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Chapter 40
Emmett screamed. The void’s collapsing. If you don’t make in our and get sucked in pol be cool hur
Linda wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth
Pushing her cultivation too hard had taken a heary soll, and the exhaustion from overexerin e coing er her an
MITES
When she heard Emmett’s scream. Landa just grinned and joked Hey, that’s not so bad I wont ces need a coffin”
Emmett was speechless.
What a freak he thought.
Linda gave a low chuckle. Behind her, the void was collapsing, and a terrifying awa of destruction was sering from fe abyxx
She could feel it closing in without even turning around
It was like a monster about to swallow her whole
She kept running. At the last critical momen her power surged
Emmett’s face went deathly pale at that moment. Linda suddenly maleated the senga of her mid–sage Astral Songs
Form
Emmett szar that she’d just activated her second golden charm
At that moment, Linda dove through the exit and the lake water fooded in
Linda realized the was back at the bottom of the valley kie. Wikou missing a beat, she burn through the water and landed on solid ground above.
We made it out Examnet shouted
Ben Lioda didn’t sop.
Emmen looked back and instantly realized it wasn’t over ger
The valley late was collapsing a breakneck speed, the whole plate caring in from the center and spreading or in
directio
If they besitated even for a split second, they’d be toru…
Ennunent’s heart was pounding so hard in felt like it was about to keep out of his throat
Leads her own a low chuckle. “Exciting, but no
The ground shock viclently.
Maroma and Toney were wall harden in the dark for working
agamus Toney and the other.
18:55 Tue, Jan 20
Chapter 40
“Toney, something’s wrong.” Marietta shouted.
Toney had just cracked the enchantment and grabbed the whole Alchemical Arbor.
When he turned around and saw what was happening behind him, his eyes went wide in alarm.
“Run!” he shouted.
Marietta bolted, not daring to stick around for even a second.
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55 vouchers
Toney moved just as fast. He snatched a few Sovereign Pips, grabbed Marietta’s hand, and the two of them took off together.
The fog that had been shrouding them was now sucked away by the devouring void, vanishing without a trace.
The scene behind them was gradually swallowed by darkness.
Alfredo was running too, but as he fled, he spotted Mario and his companion’s corpses lying not far from Toney and Marietta. His eyes went wide with fury.
“You killed my friend!” Alfredo shouted, voice cracking with rage
Toney didn’t even bother to respond. He just bolted, the devouring force coming in way too fast.
Alfredo was heartbroken, but he didn’t dare stop. As the storm closed in, all three of them watched as Mario and his companion’s bodies were swallowed up by the darkness, disappearing without a trace.
Not even a speck of bone was left behind.
The sight sent a chill down all three of their spines.
Toney didn’t even have the guts to ask what was going on.
There was no time for questions.
The two of them kept racing toward the entrance of the valley. Out of the corner of her eye, Marietta spotted a figure fleeing right alongside them.
They were just off to their right and dangerously close.
She tried to get a good look, but even glancing over would slow her down and risk everything.
Toney snapped, anxious, “Marietta, what are you doing? Are you seriously spacing out when we’re running for our lives?”
After his warning, Marietta didn’t dare look back again.
She went all out, giving it everything she had.
The whole valley was getting swallowed up behind them. Even their bodies seemed to be sucked back. At this point, they had to do whatever it took to survive.
Alfredo ignited his bloodline power, boosting his speed, and was about to blow past Marietta and Toney.
Marietta was quick to notice the hatred flashing in Alfredo’s eyes She knew he was up to something. She shouted, “Toney. he’s going to attack us.”
Toney understood instantly. He bit his tongue, ignited his core ana, and managed to shake Alfredo off for a moment.
But Alfredo lunged at them, grabbing onto Marietta’s long dress
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Chapter 40
“If I’m going down, you’re coming with me.” Alfredo snarled.
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Marietta’s eyes turned icy. She whipped around, drew her Ethereal Blade, and slashed at Alfredo’s arm and her own dress. She was ruthless, ready to kill in a heartbeat.
Right then, they burst out of the valley entrance. Alfredo was barely a step too slow. The darkness swallowed him whole.
Once they made it out of the valley, Toney finally stopped, still shaken by what just happened.
Toney gave Marietta a weird look. “Marietta, just now…”
Marietta’s cold stare and decisive strike were something. She looked nothing like the soft, timid girl Toney used to know.
Marietta’s eyes were rimmed with tears as she nervously fiddled with her fingers. “Toney, did I mess up? I mean, if I hadn’t killed him, both of us would’ve died.”
Toney paused and thought, ‘Yeah, why am I even doubting her? If Alfredo hadn’t died, we’d be the ones gone.
He gently ruffled her hair and smiled, “You did the right thing. Honestly, you handled it like a pro. If you hadn’t been so quick, we’d both be history.”
Marietta wiped away her tears and managed a smile. “What about the Alchemical Arbor?”
Toney chuckled. “Relax, I’ve got it right here. Once we’re out, just say the word and it’s all yours.”
Marietta brightened up. “You better
not forget. Don’t go back on your words.”
“Come on, when have I ever flaked on you?” Toney shot back.
They were still joking around when Toney glanced nervously at the yawning black abyss. “This isn’t somewhere we want to hang around. Let’s bail while we still can.”
Marietta said, “Yeah, let’s go.”
They hurried away, and out of the corner of her eye, Marietta spotted a figure standing just beyond the valley entrance.
She froze, her eyes landing on a face she knew all too well. her heart skipped a beat.
“Linda?” Marietta gasped, barely believing what she saw.
C
