Su Mu tightly gripped the mysterious artifact glowing with an enigmatic light, murmuring a series of obscure incantations under his breath.
As his chanting echoed, brilliant golden runes shot forth from the artifact like shooting stars. They intertwined in the air, forming a stunning ring of runes that quickly encircled Ye Qiu.
These golden runes radiated warmth akin to the gentle sunlight of spring, soft yet bright. Wherever they passed, the cold aura emanating from Ye Qiu retreated and dissipated as if confronted by a natural enemy.
However, the dark sorcery wielded by the Xuanming Old Man was immensely powerful and not easily dispelled.
Just as the golden runes touched Ye Qiu's body, a surge of pitch-black evil energy erupted from within her, resembling a monstrous maw that mercilessly swallowed the approaching golden runes.
Seeing this, Su Mu's heart sank; he knew he could not afford to be careless.
Without hesitation, he bit down hard on his tongue, drawing blood, which he then spat onto the artifact in his hand.
In an instant, the artifact erupted with blinding light; its previously faint glow transformed into an intense blaze, akin to a burning sun radiating overwhelming power.
Then, Su Mu resumed chanting the mysterious incantation, his voice rising in fervor.
This time, the golden runes shooting from the artifact were no longer ethereal but had become solid and weighty. Each rune was like a razor-sharp sword, striking with relentless momentum against the chaotic black energy within Ye Qiu.
Thanks to Su Mu's unwavering efforts, Ye Qiu's condition finally began to improve.
Her once-pale face gradually regained a hint of color, and her trembling body calmed down little by little.
Yet despite this progress, Ye Qiu remained with her eyes tightly shut, showing no signs of awakening. It was clear she was still trapped in the illusion created by her inner demons, engaged in a fierce struggle against the Xuanming Old Man's dark sorcery.
Deep down, she understood that the horrifying and shocking scenes before her were all illusions—carefully crafted phantoms designed by the Xuanming Old Man to shatter her indomitable will.
However, despite knowing this, she found it hard to suppress the surging waves of her emotions.
The gruesome and bloody images relentlessly crashed against her fragile heart like a violent storm, bringing her endless pain and torment that left her in despair.
“Hahaha! Useless, Ye Qiu! The more you struggle and resist, the deeper you will sink into this mire of suffering, unable to extricate yourself!”
The voice of the Xuanming Old Man, chilling and terrifying as if it came from the depths of hell, echoed around Ye Qiu's ears like a demonic chant.
“Quickly give up your futile resistance! Obey my commands and willingly become a puppet in my hands. Only then can you free yourself from this sea of suffering and escape this unbearable pain!”
“Never! I will never submit to you!”
Ye Qiu gritted her teeth, forcing those words through clenched jaws while silently reciting the calming mantra that Su Mu had taught her to dispel her inner demons.
She exerted all her strength to maintain that rare sense of tranquility deep within her heart, slowly recalling the happy moments she had experienced in the past.
The first scene that emerged in her mind was the warm moments spent with her parents: the family gathered around the dining table, joyfully enjoying delicious meals together;
the holidays spent traveling together, laughter filling the air... Then,
she recalled the passionate scenes of fighting alongside her friends: everyone trusting and supporting each other as they faced numerous challenges, bravely moving forward without fear...
Finally, Ye Qiu remembered her journey with Su Mu—from their first meeting to understanding each other and finally standing by each other’s side. Every sweet moment between them shone like a brilliant pearl, glimmering in the river of memories.
These precious memories served as guiding lights in the dark night sky, steadfastly illuminating Ye Qiu's path forward, granting her endless courage and strength to resist the mental oppression and psychological attacks imposed by the Xuanming Old Man.
She slowly broke free from the heavy shackles formed by fear and guilt, rediscovering the powerful strength hidden deep within her heart.
At this moment, in the dreamlike realm of the heart's demons, Ye Qiu's roar suddenly erupted: "Xuanming Old Man, your despicable and shameless dark arts will never trap me!"
The sound was like thunder rolling down from the heavens, carrying with it an endless might that violently struck against Xuanming Old Man's mental defenses, causing him to tremble involuntarily.
"Absolutely impossible! How could you so easily break free from my control?"
Xuanming Old Man exclaimed in disbelief, his voice filled with astonishment and deep resentment.
However, in response to his doubt, Ye Qiu merely offered a cold smile and disdainfully replied, "Do you really think the illusory scenes you've created can deceive my mind?
It's nothing but a fool's dream!
My heart is as solid as rock and as resilient as reeds, far stronger than you can imagine!"
With that, Ye Qiu slightly closed his eyes, his body continuously infused with true energy from Su Mu. He quietly summoned the surging true energy within him.
In an instant, dazzling golden light erupted around him, rapidly converging into a brilliant golden beam.
Then, Ye Qiu abruptly opened his eyes and waved his hands forward. The golden light, imbued with immense power, surged toward Xuanming Old Man like a blazing sun, carrying an overwhelming force.
As this golden light descended, the heavy darkness that had pervaded the realm of heart demons was instantly dispelled without a trace, replaced by a scene of radiant brilliance.
Under this illuminating glow, Xuanming Old Man let out a piercing scream of agony.
Within the blinding golden light, his figure gradually became blurred and ultimately vanished into nothingness.
Meanwhile, in the real world, Ye Qiu suddenly awoke as if from a long slumber, abruptly opening his tightly shut eyes.
She took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. With each breath, her previously pale face gradually regained its color, slowly returning to its normal appearance.
Beside her, Su Mu had been watching Ye Qiu intently. Seeing her finally show some signs of life, he hurriedly stepped closer, concern etched on his face. "Ye Qiu, are you okay? You really scared us just now!"
Ye Qiu looked at the worried expression on Su Mu's face and smiled gently, a reassuring smile that put him at ease. "I'm fine now, don't worry, Su Mu. I owe my escape to you for being by my side and supporting me."
As she spoke, Ye Qiu raised her hand and lightly patted Su Mu's shoulder to express her gratitude.
At that moment, Ye Qiu felt an endless surge of power welling up inside her, a sensation that filled her with both excitement and joy.
She knew all too well that after this ordeal, she had not only completely freed herself from the evil control of the Xuanming Old Man but had also significantly enhanced her strength—far beyond what she had been before!
Instinctively, she clenched her fist tightly, feeling the waves of power radiating from her palm. In her heart, she silently vowed, "Xuanming Old Man, you despicable villain! Your insidious schemes will never work on me again!"
However, even though Ye Qiu had successfully broken free from the Xuanming Old Man's control, the path ahead remained fraught with uncertainty and challenges.
What actions would she take next to counterattack the Xuanming Old Man?
And how could they resolve the massive crisis that he had created over the entire Yun City…?
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