Who wants to become a god? Aren't you all forcing me?

After several rounds, Li Chenqiu finally released his grip.

The Black Hell Dragon, tormented like this, had already rolled its eyes back, sprawled on the ground like a puddle of mud.

With a thought from Li Chenqiu, the fifty-meter-long arm abruptly dissipated. Amidst the water mist, Li Chenqiu, his body scorched black, staggered out as if drunk, his unfocused gaze locking onto a piece of wood engulfed in flames.

According to Li Chenqiu's deduction, as long as he was burned to death, he would be reborn, just like the last time he drowned.

"Close… I can… I can… become stronger again…"

A faint joy welled up in Li Chenqiu's weary eyes as he conjured an ice pick out of thin air and plunged it into his heart.

Pfft!

Red blood flowed down the ice hammer, and his muddled brain cleared up a bit from the pain.

"Almost… almost there…" Li Chenqiu grinned.

He was getting closer and closer to the flame, only three steps away.

Just as Li Chenqiu was about to take the third to last step, the Black Hell Dragon lying behind him opened its eyes, its eerie blue vertical pupils suddenly dilating.

The next second, the Black Hell Dragon's massive body transformed into wisps of black smoke, scattering with the wind, but one wisp rushed towards Li Chenqiu in the opposite direction.

Just as Li Chenqiu was about to take the final step, that wisp of black smoke shot into the back of his head, and his already teetering body collapsed to the ground.

...

...

In boundless darkness, Li Chenqiu stood wearily in place.

"Where is this?" Li Chenqiu looked around blankly, then looked at his own body, which was as transparent as glass.

"I really underestimated you. You are far more powerful than I expected!" In the darkness, a pair of eerie blue pupils slowly lit up, followed by streams of blue flames rising from the darkness, and the Black Hell Dragon's figure appeared before Li Chenqiu.

Unlike its previous hundred-meter-tall form, the current Black Hell Dragon was quite petite, only a little over two meters tall.

"Although the process was a bit tortuous, the result is still the same. Your soul is indeed weak. Next, as long as I destroy your soul, this body will be mine!"

Before the words were even finished, the Black Hell Dragon flapped its wings and pounced on Li Chenqiu.

It was truly afraid, afraid that Li Chenqiu would suddenly blurt out, "You're not worthy to weigh me!"

The Black Hell Dragon's speed wasn't fast, but Li Chenqiu's speed was even slower, because he didn't even think about dodging.

With a "thud," Li Chenqiu was pinned to the ground by the Black Hell Dragon: "You have no chance. Your soul is too weak!"

The Black Hell Dragon locked Li Chenqiu down with its limbs, and the blue flames on its body gradually spread to Li Chenqiu's body.

In an instant, a heart-wrenching pain shot straight to the top of Li Chenqiu's head, but he didn't show any discomfort. This pain was too light for him, or rather, he could still endure it.

Li Chenqiu looked calmly at the Black Hell Dragon, a faint smile on his lips: "Your fire isn't strong enough!"

"You…" The Black Hell Dragon widened its eyes: "You're really stubborn!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh~

The blue ghostly flames burned even more intensely, and wisps of black smoke floated from Li Chenqiu's soul.

"Enjoy it!"

The Black Hell Dragon released Li Chenqiu and flew into the air, silently waiting for the moment of his death.

The fire grew larger and larger, and Li Chenqiu was completely covered by the flames. From the outside, it was impossible to see anyone inside.

"How long does it have to burn to be considered dead…" Li Chenqiu bit his lip, instinctively curling his entire body together in the scorching heat, hugging his knees with both arms.

He didn't know how long it had been, but Li Chenqiu could no longer see the color of the flames, nor could he hear any sizzling sounds. He felt as if he had fallen into a deeper level of darkness, and a feeling of indescribable loneliness enveloped him.

...

...

Warm and gentle sunlight streamed through the old windows into the room, and Li Chenqiu slowly opened his eyes.

What came into view was a ceiling with several cracks, and peeling paint was taped to the wall. The old tungsten lamp swayed in the morning breeze.

An alluring aroma of steamed buns wafted in from outside the window. Li Chenqiu knew that Uncle Wang's steamed bun shop on the second floor had opened for business.

"How…" Li Chenqiu's eyes were dull, and his pupils trembled slightly.

He just lay there on the bed, motionless, greedily staring at the ceiling, breathing in the surrounding air, and listening to the clanging and clattering of pots and pans coming from the kitchen.

Li Chenqiu's lips trembled, as if he wanted to shout something, but he didn't dare to open his mouth, fearing that he would fall into darkness again.

After hesitating for a long time, he called out in a somewhat hoarse voice: "Mom."

Perhaps the sound from the kitchen was too loud, as she didn't seem to hear Li Chenqiu's voice.

So he raised his voice and called out again: "Mom."

"Eh, what's wrong?" A gentle and familiar voice came from the kitchen.

Li Chenqiu, lying on the bed, was stunned. A certain string in his heart seemed to be plucked, and drops of tears uncontrollably slid from the corners of his eyes.

He trembled as he reached out and lifted the quilt, leaning against the wall as he walked step by step from the bedroom towards the kitchen.

This was the shortest road he had ever walked in his life, and also the longest.

Li Chenqiu leaned against the kitchen doorframe, his eyes red as he looked at the middle-aged woman wearing an apron. The woman's temples were already streaked with white, and the wrinkles around her eyes were growing deeper.

Xu Yue seemed to notice the movement at the door and turned her head to look at Li Chenqiu: "Eh, why are you crying?"

"I…" Li Chenqiu rubbed his eyes, forcing a somewhat unnatural smile: "It seems like something got into my eyes."

"Go wash your face quickly. The food will be ready soon. Go next door and call Xiaoyue," Xu Yue said without suspicion, continuing what she hadn't finished.

"Okay." Li Chenqiu obediently nodded, turned and left the kitchen. Before he could even reach the door, a series of "dong, dong" knocks came from there.

"Coming," Li Chenqiu responded, trotting to the door and opening it.

As soon as the door opened a crack, a hand reached out and grabbed the doorframe, and then a bright face appeared before Li Chenqiu.

"Yo, what's with those red eyes? Did you cry?" Qi Mingyue pointed a finger at the corner of Li Chenqiu's eye as if he had seen something rare, his eyes full of surprise.

"Get lost. I wouldn't cry even if you died," Li Chenqiu reached out and pushed Qi Mingyue's hand away.

Qi Mingyue smiled: "You're still stubborn. If one of us really has to die someday, I'll definitely die before you, so I can see you cry for me, and you won't be able to see me cry for you. A double whammy."

Li Chenqiu was slightly stunned, asking in the form of a joke: "Could a heartless guy like you cry for me?"

Qi Mingyue clenched his fist and gently punched Li Chenqiu's shoulder: "Don't joke about dying, even if it's a joke. If you really get cursed to death by your own words one day, what will I do when I'm lonely and want someone to talk to? I can't just go to heaven with you, can I!"