Let them offer their loyalty!

Seeing this scene, Qiu Tu's palms suddenly started to sweat.

It wasn't until he was directly facing Zhao Ji that Qiu Tu could clearly feel the overwhelming power of Zhao Ji.

Though both were Fifth Rank, though his strength was not weak, facing Zhao Ji felt like staring up at the towering Himalayas, or gazing at an endless ocean, or falling into the bottomless abyss of the Mariana Trench!

He wanted to resist, but in that instant, he couldn't muster any desire to fight back.

And what was even more terrifying..... Qiu Tu thought about activating "Order Space" and erasing Zhao Ji entirely.

But merely having the thought triggered an ominous premonition.

——Although he and Zhao Ji were of the same rank, and "Order Space" could indeed affect her, Qiu Tu couldn't afford the necessary price.

He would have to sacrifice his spiritual power, strength, vitality, lifespan, and even his soul to unleash "Order Space"—only then would he have a chance to perish alongside Zhao Ji.

As he contemplated this, Qiu Tu hesitated for a split second. In the end, gritting his teeth, he decided not to go down the path of mutual destruction.

Because..... he trusted the "Loyalty Game," trusted Larilo with her loyalty value of over seventy points, and believed he still had a sliver of hope!

Just as Qiu Tu was thinking this, Larilo stood up in panic, throwing herself between Qiu Tu and Zhao Ji. She glared at her elder sister and shouted, "Sister! If you're going to kill Qiu Tu, kill me too!"

Hearing Larilo's words, Qiu Tu exhaled deeply: he'd made the right bet....

But who could have predicted that Zhao Ji, at this moment, would completely disregard the usual rules?

Seeing Larilo's insolence, she let out a cold laugh and said, "Well, well, a double celebration."

"Then I'll send both of you to die together!"

As she spoke, her pupils began to spin in concentric circles, transforming once more into the pattern of tree rings!

In the next moment, the surrounding space seemed to freeze in place, as though sealed off, and then began to crack, threatening to shatter completely!

Witnessing this, Qiu Tu immediately expanded "Order Space," forcibly elevating his strength to the peak of the Fifth Rank!

He then unleashed all his power, lunged forward, and threw his arms around Larilo, shielding her within his embrace!

"Don't hurt Little Lar! Whatever you want, come at me!"

Zhao Ji remained completely unfazed, her pupils continuing their relentless rotation!

The space began to compress chaotically, the previously solidified area seeming on the brink of a cataclysmic explosion!

Larilo struggled, trying futilely to reason with her sister, but.... her strength was far too feeble to resist Zhao Ji's might!

All she could do was stiffen in place, eyes wide and frozen.

Time ticked by, second by second!

Just as Larilo was on the verge of collapsing under the immense pressure!

Suddenly, the terrifying force bearing down on the two of them withdrew sharply!

But power can only transfer—it cannot vanish into thin air!

Thus, in the next instant, a deafening thunderclap roared across the skies above Qiming City!

"Boom!" The sound was like an earthquake, as boundless Cataclysmic Power surged outward in all directions.

An innumerable number of organisms absorbed the Cataclysmic Power, triggering rampant growth and mutation.

Even though it was the dead of winter at that moment, tender grass sprouted, barren trees bloomed, birds took wing, and it seemed as if spring had arrived!

Zhao Ji ignored the phenomena wrought by her actions. Expressionless, she stared at the couple before her, then gestured with one hand.

In the next second, the massive "Earth Vein Flower," hovering silently above Qiming City, descended upon the three of them.

Zhao Ji supported it with her left hand while her right hand formed a knife-edge and swung fiercely.

In that instant, millions of transparent threads extending from Qiming City were severed!

The Earth Vein Flower erupted in blinding, multicolored light, then began to shrink rapidly!

Moments later, what had once encompassed the entire city diminished to the size of a bowl before gently descending into Zhao Ji's fragile yet formidable hand.

Fixing her gaze on the treasure in her palm, its vibrant glow dancing across her face, Zhao Ji coldly remarked to Larilo, "He will be the death of you one day."

With that, she flicked her wrist, sending the "Heart of the Earth Veins" floating softly into Larilo's arms.

In the next instant, Zhao Ji vanished wordlessly from the scene, leaving not the faintest trace.

Only after Zhao Ji's departure did Qiu Tu realize his back was drenched in sweat.

Even though he had brushed against death before, the terror of this near-fatal encounter left him far from composed.

He took the lesson to heart this time—never underestimate the heroes of this world.

The Great Evil God Zhaohui, Sixth Tier Evil God Yaksha, the Fog Hidden Association's "Emperor" and "Mask," and the infamous Kou Xuan—a cunning statesman said to rival demons in intelligence.....

Counting them all, there were truly no shortage of opponents on Qiu Tu's level.

He'd simply grown too complacent after his uninterrupted successes in the past.

"Caution, caution, utmost caution. Women and children can afford recklessness, but men cannot."

Murmuring these reminders to himself, Qiu Tu began analyzing the losses from today's "backstab by the lurking predator."

With Zhao Ji's deadly watchful eye, it was evident the "Heart of the Earth Veins" was irretrievable. But….. at least he regained control of the "Eastern City Region."

This wouldn't allow Qiu Tu to advance the energy level of his controlled area, but.... it would still enable him to connect nine regions, fulfilling the requirements to ascend as a Sixth Tier Cataclysmic.

Perhaps.... Qiu Tu wondered if this would turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

After all…. while the "Earth Vein Flower" was incredible, most Evil Gods achieved ascension through the Nine Stars Formation.