CHAPTER 272: HUAN TIAN’S END!

"Cough!" Coughing out blood, Cang Chao answered, "I don’t know. My body moved on its own as if being controlled by someone else. Even my mouth didn’t open when I tried to shout. Grrr."

His voice was decreasing in volume as if life were leaving his body.

Hu Shui froze for a moment, staring at him in disbelief. She turned sharply toward Huan Tian, anger burning behind her eyes. Her fists tightened at her sides as she took a step forward, but when she saw him—lying there, half-conscious and coughing blood—her rage tangled with grief.

Her chest rose and fell heavily before she swallowed her fury.

"Master Huan Tian," she asked in a trembling voice, "why did you let Cang Chao take that attack?"

Huan Tian raised his head weakly, his eyes clouded with pain. He tried to speak, but another violent cough racked his body.

"Cough!"

Thick blood spilled from his mouth, staining his chin crimson.

"Don’t you see his condition?!" Qin Feng roared, his eyes blazing. "You’re his enslaved beast—yet you don’t feel even a shred of sorrow when your master’s dying before you?!"

"No... don’t yell at her."

Huan Tian’s voice was faint but calm, cutting through the tension like a whisper carried by the wind. He turned his tired eyes toward Hu Shui, a faint, pained smile curving his lips.

"Hu Shui... Cang Chao was the only one close enough to reach Qin Feng in time. I didn’t force him—I only wanted to save my friend." His breath hitched, every word dragging a piece of his strength away. "I’m sorry... that I had to sacrifice him."

Hu Shui’s lips quivered. She turned toward Cang Chao, hoping to see his chest rise again—some faint sign of life. But his eyes were already lifeless, his expression frozen in pain.

"No... Cang Chao!" Her scream shattered the stillness.

She rushed over to his corpse.

She fell to her knees beside his corpse, her tears darkening the earth beneath her.

Around them, chaos quieted.

Most of Huan Tian’s beasts were busy fighting when Huan Tian sacrificed himself.

It was only after the emperor realm cultivator appeared that they stopped; however, they were still too far away from Huan Tian to save him.

Gang Zhao, Moyun, Du Ya, and Hao Anye all encircled the wounded Huan Tian with worried expressions.

They knew that they won’t be able to return to the forest even if Huan Tian dies.

Since they fought on the humans’ side, the beasts won’t accept them, and the humans would enslave them.

They worried about their own future.

"Lord Huan Tian..." Princess Fanrong’s voice trembled as she knelt beside him, her tears flowing freely. "Is there any way to save you?"

However, instead of grief, she felt worry.

If Huan Tian died, how would she maintain her position as the deputy leader?

She was more worried about her own future.

Moreover, the death of Huan Tian would be a heavy loss to the Zhuji tribe.

Huan Tian gave a slow nod. "There is... a way."

The air shifted. Every wounded beast and human nearby lifted their heads, hope flickering in their tired eyes.

"Really?" Fanrong asked, almost in disbelief.

"Tell us!" Qin Feng said, stepping closer. "Whatever it takes, I’ll do it!"

The others echoed his words with desperate determination.

Huan Tian pressed a trembling hand to his wound, blood leaking between his fingers:

"I... must return to the inheritance site. Only there can I heal. But it will take... two hundred years."

"Two... hundred..." Fanrong murmured, exchanging uneasy glances with the prefecture lords.

Qin Feng, however, didn’t hesitate. "Then where is it? I’ll take you there myself!"

Another fit of coughing seized Huan Tian. He shook his head slowly. "No need... It’s connected to me. I can teleport there whenever I wish."

A collective sigh of relief escaped the crowd.

"Then go!" Qin Feng urged, voice trembling. "You’re bleeding out, my friend!"

But Huan Tian only smiled faintly. "Not yet... There’s something I must tell you first."

Everyone fell silent.

Fanrong leaned forward. "We’re listening, Lord Huan Tian."

Huan Tian’s gaze shifted toward Qin Feng. "Qin Feng... my friend, I know you needed that treasure urgently."

Qin Feng’s eyes widened. "How did you—?"

Huan Tian lifted a weak hand, stopping him. "Listen. That cultivator who attacked us... He’s far beyond your strength. But I might have a way to help you."

From his space ring, Huan Tian took out a worn token plaque, its golden edges etched with the insignia of the imperial court.

"This," he said, handing it to Qin Feng, "is the token of the Ninth Prince—Fang Ashen. I received it from one of his close subordinates when I saved them in the forest months ago."

The moment Qin Feng touched it, the token pulsed faintly with spiritual energy—the royal seal unmistakable.

Huan Tian’s voice grew weaker, yet his words carried weight.

"Since it was forbidden for an emperor realm cultivator to intervene. I’m sure the empire will take action against that cultivator, but I’m afraid that it will take too long to find him. Moreover, if he uses the treasure, it will become useless for a hundred years."

Qin Feng’s breath hitched. The gravity of those words sank deep into his heart.

"Qin Feng, go to the ninth prince and ask for his help." Huan Tian said firmly. "With his support, the empire will take action right away. It is your only chance, my friend."

Qin Feng grasped Huan Tian’s hand tightly, his eyes brimming with tears. "Why, Huan Tian... Why help me this much?"

Huan Tian smiled softly, his expression filled with a strange peace. "I... don’t know..."

He paused, then added, "I only ask that when you visit the ninth prince, take my Tiger kings, Princess Fanrong, and Ni Yan along with you."

"Ni Yan??" Qin Feng asked confusedly, looking around for who she was.

"She’s not here," Huan Tian replied faintly. "I left her in camp—to keep her safe."

Qin Feng nodded. "Alright. I’ll fulfill your request, my friend. I swear it."

Huan Tian exhaled deeply, his gaze softening. "Good... then I can leave without regrets."

His eyes drifted toward a distant cliff.

Fixing his gaze at the cliff,

SightStep!

His body was consumed by spatial qi as he was teleported to the cliff.

After another thirty seconds, he teleported to a faraway distance again using SightStep!

"He really vanished..." Qin Feng mumbled along with others present grimly.

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(A/N - Thanks for reading. ^..^)