The snakes began crawling toward the edge of the pond, their bodies slithering over one another as they prepared to attack.
"Don't try to run," Zeyan said firmly. "If we run, they will catch us."
"Then what should we do?" Yanlong asked anxiously.
"Come and hold her," Zeyan ordered, pointing toward Lingxi.
Yanlong hesitated.
"Come soon. We don't have time." Zeyan called him again.
Lingxi was struggling violently, ready to do anything just to reach the blood-filled pond.
Zeyan stepped forward, standing between them and the advancing snakes. He composed his hands and waved them sharply through the air. A powerful surge of lightning flashed, and an invisible barrier instantly formed around the pond.
The snakes slammed against it but were unable to cross.
A wide smile appeared on Yanlong's face.
"Yes, Master! I didn't think of that. We can't kill them, but we can seal them. Now these snakes won't be able to nourish the evil spirit anymore."
"But Master," Yanlong continued, his expression turning serious as he glanced at Lingxi, "there's something more urgent to handle."
Lingxi was still struggling fiercely, trying to break free and rush toward the pond.
"Lingxi!" Zeyan shouted, pulling her close and gripping her shoulders. "Come to your senses! Look at me! You can't have that! You don't need to have that!"
"I just want to drink that blood!" she screamed with all her strength, thrashing in his hold.
Zeyan tightened his grip, refusing to let her go even an inch closer.
"Now what do we do with her, Master?" Yanlong asked.
"The evil spirit is sealed inside her," Zeyan replied grimly. "It can't be destroyed from the outside. I have to enter her Soul Realm and destroy that aura."
"But Master," Yanlong said worriedly, "in her current condition she won't allow you to enter her Soul Realm. She has to be calm—even if only for a moment. She must stop struggling."
"I know," Zeyan said after a brief pause. "That's why we have only one option."
Yanlong's expression changed. "Master…?"
"We must fulfill her thirst," Zeyan said.
Yanlong froze, completely unprepared for such a response.
"You want blood?" Zeyan asked, looking straight into Lingxi's eyes.
"Yes," she replied hoarsely. "I want blood."
Zeyan released her for a moment. Then, with his index finger, he cut into his own skin. Blood immediately began to flow from the another finger he had just cut.
"Master!" Yanlong shouted. "What are you doing?!"
Zeyan ignored him and extended his bleeding finger toward Lingxi's lips.
"You wanted blood," he said faintly. "Take it. As much as you want."
"Master, stop!" Yanlong protested. "This is dangerous!"
"This cannot be more dangerous than her condition," Zeyan replied calmly. "She reached this state to save everyone. Now we have to save her."
Lingxi immediately grabbed his finger and brought it to her lips. But the moment a single drop entered her mouth, she recoiled violently and released his hand.
"What happened?" Zeyan asked sharply.
"I… I can't take it," she said, her voice trembling.
"But why?" Zeyan frowned. "You won't get purer blood than this. My body carries Blood Flame Veins. This blood should satisfy the evil spirit and also ease your pain. Don't stop—take it."
He extended his finger again, but Lingxi stepped back in terror.
"It hurts," she cried. "Even one drop burns like hell!"
Zeyan's brows knitted together.
"How is this possible?" he muttered.
"I want blood!" Lingxi screamed, clutching her head in agony. Her condition worsened with every second. She suddenly tried to run toward the pond again, but Zeyan caught her and pulled her back.
"Why isn't her body accepting my blood?" Zeyan asked sharply.
"Master," Yanlong said carefully, "your Blood Flame Veins may be the reason. The evil spirit doesn't want your blood to enter her body—it could destroy the aura. Your blood flame vein aura contradicts the evil spirit's essence, so it's resisting. And because Lingxi still has partial control over herself, we can't force the blood inside her."
"It hurts…" Lingxi whispered weakly. Her screams faded into broken cries as the evil spirit devoured her from within.
"You're right," Zeyan said, his jaw tightening. "The evil spirit won't allow my blood inside her body. We can't force it. But I can still do something."
Yanlong looked at him sharply. "What do you mean, Master?" "you know very well my blood will act as a poison in her body" Yanlong continued hesitately.
"I can enter her body with my aura," Zeyan said quietly. "Not through blood—but through myself. That way I can suppress the evil spirit and ease her pain."
"But how?" Yanlong asked. "Externally, nothing works. She isn't accepting your blood. What can you do?"
Zeyan pulled Lingxi tightly into his arms. He restrained her hands behind her back with one arm and pressed her body firmly against his.
"This is the only way to stop your pain," he said softly.
Lingxi looked at him through tear-filled eyes, trembling and helpless.
The next moment, Zeyan bent down and placed his lips against hers.
Her mouth was slightly open, and he sealed her lips firmly with his own.
Yanlong's eyes widened in shock. Completely unprepared for this, he immediately turned his back, unable to watch any longer.
Zeyan began channeling the aura of his Blood Flame Veins into her body—through the kiss.
Lingxi's body resisted instinctively, but she couldn't escape the Demon Lord's hold.
With one strong arm securing her hands behind her back, Zeyan placed his other hand behind her head, deepening the kiss and pressing her closer, forcing his aura to flow into her—determined to protect her, no matter the cost.