The Moment of Decisive Battle Between Brothers (2)

Li Luoning followed Li Minghan's gaze, his eyes filled with sudden realization and horror.

Mi Xingzhe, who had just been unconscious, suddenly opened his eyes wide and lifted his head. His entire body was surrounded by demonic energy, and he stiffly picked up the dagger from the ground, unhesitatingly stabbing it towards Yun Qingyi.

"Qingyi!" Li Luoning shouted, but it was too late.

The dagger in Mi Xingzhe's hand pierced through Yun Qingyi's body with such force that half the blade was embedded in him.

Yun Qingyi, caught completely off guard, looked at his master with wide eyes, filled with horror. He then felt the pain in his back.

Turning his head slowly, he saw Mi Xingzhe standing behind him, eyes blank, staring at the dagger now lodged in his body.

Yun Qingyi raised a trembling hand, gently touching Mi Xingzhe's cheek, his eyes still full of the same affection as always. Then, his strength gave out, and he collapsed, closing his eyes.

"Qingyi!"

Li Luoning screamed, his voice breaking, as he rushed over, breaking the barrier around them with a wave of his hand. He caught Yun Qingyi just as he was about to hit the ground and sent Mi Xingzhe flying with a powerful strike.

Mi Xingzhe crashed into a nearby rock and fell unconscious.

"Ma-Master~" Yun Qingyi's mouth was filled with blood, his voice garbled and weak.

"Qingyi, it's alright. I'm here. I'm right here. You'll be fine," Li Luoning said, his eyes red and his voice trembling. He held Yun Qingyi's face, trying to stop the blood pouring from his mouth, but Yun Qingyi weakly pushed his hand away.

"Master... Xingzhe... protect him," Yun Qingyi forced out his last words, glancing at the unconscious Mi Xingzhe with a look of deep regret. A single tear fell silently onto Li Luoning's sword as he closed his eyes.

"Qingyi!"

Li Luoning cried out, holding Yun Qingyi tightly. Tears streamed down his face, each drop feeling like a stab to his heart.

Though they were master and disciple, they were also close in age. They had taken care of each other for so many years, more like family than mere teacher and student. Li Luoning loved hearing Yun Qingyi call him "Master" and was used to seeing him bustling about the courtyard every morning. They enjoyed discussing herbal medicine together, and Li Luoning trusted him to manage many matters. Yun Qingyi's presence had brought light into his once monotonous life. He had saved his life, but Yun Qingyi had saved his heart.

*Why must everything be taken from me? The memories, the bonds, all gone in an instant...* Li Luoning thought, recalling the poem he had composed when naming Yun Qingyi: *"From withered leaves, memories grow green. One branch hangs in the moonlight, no leaves fall from the full moon."* He had never told Yun Qingyi the second half of the verse.

Li Luoning, overwhelmed by grief, held Yun Qingyi's lifeless body, memories flooding his mind—how he had found Yun Qingyi, taken him as a disciple, and even given him half of his own core to save his life. Yun Qingyi had become an inseparable part of him.

Nearby, Qingyuan and Yue Ruling watched with reddened eyes.

Feeling Yun Qingyi's life slipping away, Li Luoning reluctantly laid him down, then withdrew the core that had originally been his.

Looking at the core floating in his hand, Li Luoning closed his eyes, a tear slipping down his cheek. He took a deep breath and reabsorbed the core.

"This... is the end," he whispered, feeling the full weight of his loss.

"Hmph, it seems the poison of the Demon Spirit Mushroom was quite effective. Too bad it can only be used once. But the result is very satisfying," Li Minghan said, glancing dismissively at Mi Xingzhe.

Li Luoning's eyes, filled with indescribable sorrow, turned cold as he stood up. His palm summoned a sword, red and gold light glowing from it. His hair fluttered in the wind, and his eyes burned with a cold fury.

"You were born with the Moon Shadow Pill; this was fate. But you willingly let it lead you to demonic practices; that was your choice. No one forced you. All your suffering is your own doing. What does it have to do with others? What does it have to do with me? What does it have to do with the Three Realms?" Li Luoning's voice was filled with righteous anger.

Li Minghan smiled cruelly, blood-stained fingers pointing at Li Luoning, speaking as if to himself.

"Didn't your mentor tell you? The Moon Shadow Pill and Chi Xi Pill are fated to clash until one destroys the other. Oh, I forgot. He didn't have the chance to tell you because I killed him," Li Minghan said, brushing off his hands disdainfully.

Li Luoning's hands clenched, his body trembling with rage. He looked down, hiding his expression.

"Li Minghan, you killed my disciple and my father. You will pay with your life!" 

Li Luoning's voice rose, the last words a furious roar, as he charged at Li Minghan with his sword.

Li Minghan, retreating leisurely, dodged Li Luoning's strikes with a smirk. He seemed to be waiting for something, taunting Li Luoning with every move.

"Angry already? Your temper is not as good as your senior brother's," Li Minghan said, dodging Li Luoning's attacks with ease.

"Shut up!" 

Li Luoning was consumed by rage, his attacks fueled by his fury. The burning sensation inside him grew stronger.

"Oh, what a shame about your beloved disciple. You must have loved him dearly to knock your other disciple unconscious so decisively," Li Minghan said, his eyes glinting with sadistic pleasure. He dodged Li Luoning's strikes effortlessly, each word a new barb.

"Shut up, shut up!" 

Li Minghan was a fraction too slow, and Li Luoning's blade grazed his face.

Li Minghan stepped back, touching the wound on his face, glancing at the blood on his fingers with disdain.

"This face of yours is the same as mine. Isn't it a pity to scar it?" Li Minghan said, launching another attack.

Li Luoning fought with all his strength, but Li Minghan evaded his attacks with ease, not taking him seriously.

"Still not awakening? Without the Chi Xi Pill, you are no match for me," Li Minghan taunted, arrogantly keeping his hands behind his back, dodging with just his body movements.

Li Luoning didn't respond, his teeth clenched, channeling all his rage into his swordsmanship.

Li Minghan continued to provoke him,

"I forgot to mention, your little disciple was poisoned by my Demon Spirit Mushroom. If the poison isn't treated, he will die a painful death by nightfall. But seeing as you won't survive today, it hardly matters," Li Minghan's eyes gleamed with madness, his laughter echoing.

The memories of everything that had happened piled up in Li Luoning's mind—Senior Brother Minghan's face, Yun Qingyi's death, Mi Xingzhe's happiness. Overwhelmed by emotions, his inner energy became chaotic, his core burning hotter. He couldn't control it, and blood sprayed from his mouth as he fell from the air, landing on one knee, gasping for breath.

### Continuation of the Translation:

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Li Luoning watched Li Minghan descend gracefully, a look of disdainful superiority on his face as he approached Li Luoning, who was kneeling on the ground.

"Still not awakened? I'm losing my patience," Li Minghan said, his voice dripping with mockery.

Qingyuan and Yue Ruling attacked from behind Li Minghan, but with a simple flick, he dodged effortlessly.

"Don't waste your strength. You may be the War God of The Liao Yin Immortal Realm, but you're just a guard dog for SiTu Fanzhi. You think you can challenge me?" Li Minghan sneered arrogantly.

"What if I join in?" A deep, authoritative voice sounded from behind Li Minghan.

Li Minghan's eyes widened in shock, his movements stalling as he slowly turned around.

Shentu Zhajia stood there, his powerful hand striking Li Minghan's face, sending him stumbling back a few steps, blood at the corner of his mouth. 

"Brother, why are you here?" Li Minghan wiped the blood from his mouth, looking at Shentu Zhajia with a mixture of surprise and confusion.

"You killed our father, usurped Wuming Demon Mountain, and now you've incited this war for your selfish desires. You've led our demon soldiers to their deaths and treated our people like dirt. As the Demon Lord, I cannot stand by and do nothing. Though we are sworn brothers, your actions have shown no regard for our bond. Today, I sever our ties. From now on, we are enemies," Shentu Zhajia declared coldly.

Hearing Shentu Zhajia's words, Li Minghan closed his eyes briefly, a pained expression crossing his face. To him, Shentu Zhajia was the most precious person, the one he never wished to harm. His heart ached as if pierced by a sharp blade, making his body sway slightly. He asked, "Brother, will you truly stand against me for the sake of others?"

"From the day you killed our father and absorbed his demonic power, I ceased to be your brother," Shentu Zhajia replied angrily.

Li Minghan's face darkened, his eyes glinting with cold malice. "If that's the case, then you can all go to hell with me." As he finished speaking, he raised his arms, and the sky darkened, a storm of demonic energy swirling around, filled with deafening thunder and lightning.

Li Minghan's expression turned ferocious, his hands controlling the dark energy above, ready to crush everyone below. He laughed maniacally, his eyes wide with insanity.

To everyone's shock, Li Minghan unleashed a tremendous amount of power, pressing down on the protective barrier. The cracks spread rapidly under the immense pressure.

Li Minghan's eyes gleamed with madness, and he laughed loudly, his teeth stained with blood, looking especially sinister. His increased power made the barrier tremble, pushing it dangerously low.

Suddenly, Mi Xingzhe, who had regained consciousness, leapt in front of Li Luoning, using his full strength to counter Li Minghan's magic. A powerful golden seal erupted, dispelling the dark energy.

Li Minghan, struck by the golden light, coughed up blood, his internal injuries aggravated. "You troublesome insect, you're still alive," he muttered in annoyance, striking with the Yunyi Maojie, brimming with demonic energy, towards Mi Xingzhe.

"Watch out!" 

Li Luoning instinctively shielded Mi Xingzhe, taking the blow from the Yunyi Maojie across his back, the wound instantly gushing blood.

"Master!" 

Mi Xingzhe cried out, catching Li Luoning as he collapsed.

Li Luoning felt the searing pain of the wound spreading cold through his body. Sitting on the ground, he focused on stabilizing his energy. Mi Xingzhe, supporting his master, noticed the bone short sword lying nearby.

"You harmed my master, killed my senior brother—I will end you!" Mi Xingzhe picked up the dagger and charged at Li Minghan.

"Xingzhe!" Li Luoning called out, too late to stop him.

Li Minghan's advanced demonic cultivation made him a formidable opponent, but Mi Xingzhe's golden seal protected him. Their battle reached a stalemate—not because Mi Xingzhe was skilled, but because the golden seal countered the Moon Shadow Pill's power.

Li Luoning felt the demonic energy from the Yunyi Maojie being absorbed by his inner core, followed by an intense heat. Remembering Li Minghan's earlier words about their twin cores being interconnected, Li Luoning realized the truth and sprang into action.

Shentu Zhajia saw the opportunity and rushed to assist, but Qingyuan, attempting to follow, was stopped by Hua Qiuyuan.

"This is their fight. If you don't want to involve The Liao Yin Immortal Realm, stay out of it," Hua Qiuyuan advised.

Even with three against one, they were only able to hold Li Minghan at bay. However, Li Luoning noticed that every time he absorbed the Moon Shadow Pill's power, his own core grew hotter.

During the fight, Mi Xingzhe's bone short sword accidentally grazed Li Minghan's neck. Initially dismissive, Li Minghan felt an unbearable burning pain from the wound.

"Where did you get that sword?" Li Minghan asked, clutching his wound in pain.

Seeing the sword's effect, Mi Xingzhe attacked more fiercely. "Master, this bone short sword works on him. Use it!" Mi Xingzhe threw the sword to Li Luoning.

Catching the sword, Li Luoning and Mi Xingzhe coordinated their attacks, with Shentu Zhajia's help. Soon, Li Minghan was covered in wounds.

After dozens of exchanges, Mi Xingzhe saw an opening and thrust the sword at Li Minghan's left side. Li Minghan blocked it, but Li Luoning quickly followed up, driving the bone short sword deep into Li Minghan's side.

Looking at Mi Xingzhe's determined face, Li Minghan knew the golden seal worked best at close range. He gripped Mi Xingzhe's arms tightly, his eyes filled with malevolent intent.

"It seems your master never taught you how to properly use the golden seal."

With those words, Li Minghan's hands glowed with a sickly green fire, spreading up Mi Xingzhe's arms, engulfing them in searing pain.

Mi Xingzhe screamed in agony, unable to break free from Li Minghan's grip as the demonic fire consumed him.