Chapter 1669: Wounds Everywhere

Furthermore, there were several other local protectors outside the sect. Even if some had ill intentions, they wouldn’t dare act openly now. And those two vanished Spirit Transformation masters—if they were from the upper realm, the winner of their fight would surely pay a heavy price. Even if the enemy won, his strength would be greatly reduced. With so many masters here, there was no need to worry excessively.

The two quickly confirmed news only they could know. Since they both needed to heal the wounded, Gu Jiuqi gave a few more updates to the Nascent Soul group. He made it clear that the enemy’s arrival was mysterious. He also said he would contact his true body as soon as possible and share any results. This gave everyone a sense of peace, and they understood the Chimera Emissary would remain visible for a while. He would only hide again once the matter was resolved.

Afterward, Gu Jiuqi and Li Yan went to a pill-refining room on Old Monarch Peak, where all the injured Nascent Soul cultivators were gathered. Previously, they had only provided basic treatment. Now, they needed to be thorough. The Ghost-Severing Sect had been somewhat lucky; despite the death of Qianji, most were just heavily injured.

Wang Tian and Wei Chituo had similar injuries—both had launched suicide-style attacks, and their Nascent Souls were heavily damaged. They were on the brink of death. But with Li Yan and Gu Jiuqi’s divine abilities, they managed to mend the cracks in their souls. They would need pills and time to recover. Du Sanjiang and Li Yuyin were also heavily injured, but better than the first two. After taking pills, they could circulate their power, though they needed long seclusion. Baili Yuan and Chu Weili had the lightest injuries but still needed time.

A day later, Li Yan stepped out of the room where Bai Rou was resting. He saw Zhao Min, Gong Chenying, and Li Zhaoyan waiting outside. Everyone else was busy, with Wei Zhongran, Li Changting, and Li Wuyi helping the others heal.

“How is Junior Sister Bai?” Zhao Min asked immediately. She was visibly anxious.

After leaving the hall, Li Yan had checked Bai Rou again and brought her back to Little Bamboo Peak. Except for Gu Jiuqi, no one had really had a chance to speak with him. Behind Zhao Min, Li Zhaoyan looked at Li Yan with a hint of fear. The first time she saw him, he had used thunderous methods to kill the villains. They hadn’t seen him act, but it had all happened so fast. Previously, all the sect’s experts were fighting for their lives, yet they were covered in blood. This man’s arrival had ended it in a breath.

What made Li Zhaoyan even more afraid was that her master was in such a state because of her. Unlike the others, who could recover in seclusion, her master’s life was uncertain. Looking at Li Yan’s solemn, dark face, she was terrified. She had caused a disaster.

“The situation is not good. Gu Jiuqi and I checked her thoroughly. Junior Sister Bai was fighting across realms against a late-stage Nascent Soul master, focusing everything on that fight. When the Spirit Transformation master sneak-attacked her, the ancient ape blocked most of the force, but her sea of consciousness was still damaged when the array broke. Her consciousness is currently in total chaos. The pills I have are not very effective for stabilizing her; there is a chance of collapse!”

Li Yan took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over Zhao Min and Gong Chenying before resting on Li Zhaoyan. He knew the story—Bai Rou had been attacked by two experts while trying to save his daughter. A weak-willed woman had been so heroic. Even Li Yan, who knew her well, was shocked. Her combat power was staggering; as an initial-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, she had killed a late-stage enemy after being struck by a Spirit Transformation master. Li Yan almost couldn’t believe this was the same cowardly Senior Sister Bai he knew.

“How can we save her?” Gong Chenying asked directly. Their own injuries were not light, but Li Yan’s upper-realm pills were doing wonders for their tough bodies. Given the sect’s state, Wei Zhongran and the others hadn’t gone into seclusion yet.

“I need to think. My pills can only temporarily prevent her consciousness from collapsing, and not for long—a year at most. I have a preliminary plan: we must ascend to the Immortal Spirit Realm as soon as possible. There should be a way to save her there. The sooner, the better!” Li Yan looked at them. The two women’s auras were still unstable, but they refused to focus on their own healing.

He never expected that his return would bring chaos instead of joy. The situation was dire. He had to leave the mortal world and find Elder Hao and the others to see if the two Body Integration masters had a solution. This meant he might not have time to go to the Forsaken Continent. He would have to find the Return-Home Trade House to send a message to Mu Guyue. After saving Bai Rou, he would come back for Mu Guyue and their son.

Zhao Min and Gong Chenying felt a surge of tension. They hadn’t expected Bai Rou’s injuries to be so severe. They had checked her and thought she was just badly hurt, but that Li Yan’s pills would eventually work. Now he was saying he had no way and had to return to the upper realm. They had no objections; they had planned to ascend anyway.

“Little Junior Brother, since Junior Sister Bai is stable for now, you should check on Zi Kun. He is not right!” Gong Chenying said.

“Oh? Does it have to do with Qianji?” Li Yan looked at her.

Gong Chenying nodded, worry etched on her face. To them, Qianji and Zi Kun were family on Little Bamboo Peak. Qianji’s death was a blow to everyone, but such was the path of cultivation. As she spoke, Zhao Min’s eyes flickered. She intended to speak to Li Yan privately.

She had a True Essence Pill. That yellow-robed Daoist had told her about its effects. She knew Gong Chenying had given her own pill to her clan, which Zhao Min had found a bit of a pity at the time. Due to various reasons, she hadn’t told Gong Chenying how precious the pill was. But she felt it was worth it if it stabilized the clan and allowed her to ascend. Now, hearing about Bai Rou, Zhao Min felt her pill might save her. But the Daoist had told her not to let anyone know, including his existence. She would tell Li Yan privately.

After hearing about Bai Rou, Li Yan had intended to enter the Secret Realm to ask Ping Tu for a True Essence Pill. Hearing Gong Chenying’s words, he nodded and told them to wait before flying toward a spot on Little Bamboo Peak. Zhao Min watched him go, a thought occurring to her.

‘Once you’ve handled Zi Kun, I have something to tell you privately.’

Li Yan stiffened slightly mid-flight but didn’t look back or ask. He vanished. Zi Kun and Qianji had their own bamboo courtyard, as the sect officially recognized them as disciples. Zhao Min and Gong Chenying went inside to check on Bai Rou again. Li Zhaoyan felt a weight lift once Li Yan was gone. Her father’s presence was overwhelming. Li Yan hadn’t spoken to her yet; he had been too busy with the disaster. He had only given her a small, encouraging smile at the start.

In a bamboo courtyard, Zi Kun sat staring at a stone table. He hadn’t cleaned his blood or tended to his wounds. Qianji’s death had hit him hard, leaving him in a daze where everything felt unreal. Two days ago, they were laughing and drinking.

“You… can’t block even this much… still need this Mosquito Master to save you!”

Qianji’s last words echoed in his ears. Zi Kun’s eyes stung; the white light of the explosion wouldn’t leave his vision. It was as blinding as the summer sun.

“Qian… ji…”

Zi Kun didn’t cry, but memories of their time in the extreme north, their bickering, and their drinking flooded his mind. ‘We said we’d find Master together in the chaotic flow… we promised…’

Zi Kun felt muddled. He didn’t know when he had returned or how long he had been sitting there. He didn’t even notice his aura becoming unstable, the purple light on his skin flickering like a dying flame.

“Zi Kun!” A calm voice reached him.

“Mas… Master?” Zi Kun knew the voice. He looked up, his eyes lost. Had Master returned? He thought he saw him, but then he forgot. He thought it was a hallucination.

“Zi Kun!” The voice rang in his consciousness like thunder. Zi Kun’s red eyes gained a shred of clarity. Out of ingrained respect, he opened the gate.

Li Yan frowned outside. He sensed Zi Kun was inside but hadn’t responded to his calls. He recalled the scene; when Zi Kun revealed his true body, his aura was unstable, as if he had just broken through. Li Yan had been heartbroken over Qianji’s death, but he had to focus on the living.

Seeing Zi Kun now, he was shocked. The beast’s aura was in total chaos. The purple light on him had an eerie red tint, and his pressure was fluctuating between the mid and late-stages of the Nascent Soul realm, growing violent.

‘Oh no! Qi Deviation!’ Li Yan waved a sleeve toward Zi Kun’s head. Zi Kun’s clarity vanished as he felt the aura. A roar broke from him as purple runes appeared on his forehead. He glared at Li Yan, purple flames swirling in his eyes. His expression became savage, and he raised his hands, four small dragons flickering at his sides as he prepared to attack.

Li Yan remained calm. As his hand descended, he activated the blood-sacrifice connection. Zi Kun’s body slumped as he collapsed. The four dragons let out whimpers and shrank back into his body. Li Yan hadn’t severed the contract; Zi Kun’s life was in his hands. He didn’t even need force to subdue him. He just needed a thought to suppress him and knock him out.

He used magical power to hold Zi Kun upright and sent a thread of power into him. After a while, he let out a sigh of relief.

‘He broke through in the middle of a life-or-death struggle, making his realm very unstable. He killed a late-stage Nascent Soul master with pure force. He should have gone into seclusion immediately, but Qianji’s death shattered his mind. Without restraint, his power ran wild. He has suffered Qi Deviation!’