The chains rattled as Zhao Tian hung in the vast open space of the Citadel with his body suspended by his wrists as the thick metal digging into his skin.


    His robes were in tatters, drenched in sweat and blood, clinging to his battered form.


    His silver-white hair is now matted with dried blood, cascading down, obscuring part of his face.


    "Haa..." His breath came in ragged gasps as each inhale send a sharp, stabbing pain through his ribs.


    His body trembled with exhaustion, but he refused to let himself fall into unconsciousness.


    The scent of iron was thick in the air, mixing with the damp coldness of the night.


    All around him, the vampires watched.


    Some perched on balconies, others stood in groups, whispering amongst themselves as they waited for the next dose of divine blood.


    He don’t know how many hours have passed.


    He has already been stabbed many times, and the vampires took his blood and drank it.


    A vampire with a light elemental affinity sometimes comes to heal him, and again, the big buff guy stabs him.


    He has already grown numb to the pain, but what concerned him the most was...


    ’Jing’er...’


    Hearing faint footsteps, Zhao Tian lifted his gaze and looked at Kaelith.


    Kaelith chuckled "Still holding on?"


    Without another word, he drove his fist into Zhao Tian’s gut.


    *cough* A violent cough tore from Zhao Tian’s throat as the impact sent a fresh surge of pain rippling through his body. Stay connected via novelhall.Co?m


    His muscles clenched involuntarily, and his breath hitched as blood dripped from his lips.


    Kaelith pulled back, watching as Zhao Tian’s body trembled from the force of the hit.


    The gathered vampires murmured among themselves while some were impressed and others were annoyed at his stubbornness.


    Kaelith reached for the hilt of his sword "You cultivators are always so proud."


    Without hesitation, he drove the sword into Zhao Tian’s shoulder.


    "URGHHH!"


    A strangled groan escaped Zhao Tian’s lips as pain erupted like fire through his body.


    The blade tore through muscle and sinew, embedding itself deep within his flesh.


    Blood spurted from the wound, cascading down his arm like crimson rivers.


    Yao Jing has lost one of her eyes as the dark clotted blood streaked her cheek and it seemed like someone had stabbed her eye with a sword.


    "J-Jing..."


    Faint noises of boots clicking against the floor echoed through the area, and everyone turned their gaze to Selena.


    Selena took a deep breath and spoke "Do you remember... you killed my Elvoria."


    She nudged Yao Jing’s limp body with the tip of her boot, just enough to elicit a weak groan from the woman "How do you feel?


    "Now to defile her... You see the vampires here? They are really hungry."


    The vampires also looked at Yao Jing with a sadistic grin.


    Zhao Tian’s body shuddered upon hearing this and a swirling rage erupted in his heart looking at the cocky smile on Selena’s face.


    "T-Tian."


    Hearing a strangled voice, Zhao Tian’s eyes quivered and he hastily looked at Yao Jing who was trying to get up "T-Tian..."


    "I heard you... a bit of astral energy... artifact...."


    Yao Jing gritted her teeth, and her fingers dug into the stone as she pulled herself forward, her broken body betraying her with every inch.


    But she didn’t stop.


    She suddenly stood up and began running to the Citadel where Zhao Tian was being tied.


    Zhao Tian was taken aback, but then he remembered murmuring about the artifact when they were tied in chains.


    ’I-Is she trying to... release my chains, so we can escape from here?’


    As soon as Yao Jing reached Zhao Tian, a smile bloomed on her bloodstained lips "Tian..."


    But in the next instant, a delicate gasp escaped her lips as she felt her world turning upside down and saw the reflection of her head flying in Zhao Tian’s blue eyes.


    "H-Huh?"


    *thud* Her head fell on the Citadel and rolled down the blood of Zhao Tian.


    Her headless corpse stood for a second before falling to the ground with a loud thud.


    Her head stopped rolling on the citadel and her remaining eye glimpsed the figure of Zhao Tian hanging on the chains.


    "So... rry, Tian.. I couldn’t sav...e yo..."


    She know her time is ending soon and she saw the face of Zhao Tian through her blood-stained eyes ’If I am ever reborn... please Tian, fall in love with me again...’


    The flowing blood seeped into her remaining eye, and during her last seconds, the smile of Zhao Tian and her playful banter with him flashed in her mind.


    Thinking that she couldn’t enjoy this anymore, a single tear slipped down her cheek, and the light in her eyes dimmed.


    "I... love yo..."