"There are vows... once spoken, they are etched into the Heavenly Dao.
The vow-breaker – body destroyed.
The vow-keeper – heaven destroyed."
Realm between heaven and earth – after the pursuit battle
The ashen space had not yet dissipated, the lingering Dao power still covered the fractured plains.
Lin Mo stood there, his body battered, his ash-covered eyes still looking up at the white-clad woman who had just blocked the Soul Lord's Dao attack.
He asked:
"Why... did you appear?"
She didn't answer, only looked at him for a long time, then turned to the Soul Lord:
"Do you still remember the 'Pure Blood Pact' of the Primordial Responding Emperor and the Ash Empress?"
The Soul Lord's face paled.
"That vow... was broken eighty thousand years ago!"
"No."
"I am still alive. He... is also still alive.
Therefore, that vow... is still in effect."
In a flash, a fragment of memory from deep within Lin Mo's soul surged back –
He saw an ancient scene:
A man in ash-gray battle robes, standing before the entire heavenly realm, used his blood to carve a vow onto the Heavenly Mandate Talisman:
"If she dies – I vow to burn the nine heavens with my Dao."
"If I betray – my blood shall be drained to the very last generation."
The woman stood beside him, her white robes fluttering in the wind, her eyes filled with emotion yet icy cold.
She – the Empress – without hesitation, bit her fingertip and drew an ancient runic seal in the void:
"Heavenly Oath: Ash Meridian Undying, Human Dao Unbroken."
An ash-gray light erupted from her chest, spreading into space.
The Soul Lord's expression changed dramatically:
"You're insane! That vow will cause you... to be unable to cultivate further!"
"I have died once. One more time... what is there to fear?"
BOOM!!!
The entire battlefield was enveloped in an ancient barrier – the Heavenly Oath Forbidden Seal, completely sealing the Soul Lord's Dao pressure, forcing him to retreat with half his power.
She waved her hand lightly, and the void cracked, a sword formed from ice solidified from ash flying out from her soul.
The sword was not sharp, but every strike made the Heavenly Dao shriek.
"Lin Mo – stand behind me.
Just this once... let me defy heaven for you."
He – who had never trusted anyone, at this moment... felt his heart waver.
"She... is using her entire Dao soul to protect me.
For a vow from some past life that I don't even clearly remember?"
Lin Mo's fist clenched.
"I cannot let her defy heaven alone."
Lin Mo stepped out, summoning his ashen divine consciousness, two auras intertwined:
One was the destructive power of the Rebellious Dao, the other was the mercilessness of the Ice Empress.
Both combined their strength to unleash a final strike.
BOOM!!!
The Soul Lord – though merely a clone – was shattered, his soul-phantom retreating to the Divine Palace with heavy injuries.
After the battle, the Empress collapsed, her face pale.
Lin Mo caught her – his hand touched her back, feeling her Dao soul shattering into pieces.
"Why... did you do that?"
She looked at him, her eyes still as before – warm, yet despairing:
"Because you... were once the only one who dared to die for me.
So I... want to live for you, just once."
And... she fell into a coma.