The silver longsword, stained with blood like frost, still danced around her, as if striving to protect her.
But after a moment, the sword's strength seemed to dissipate, and finally, its spiritual luster grew dim.
This was an indescribably murky glow, completely unlike the boundless majesty from before; it was as if it were a different weapon altogether.
Without its endless brilliance and spirituality, this sword now was merely a finely crafted, dainty, feminine silver longsword.
It was like a mysterious ice fairy, revealing a plain and unadorned essence after shedding all her outer garments.
"A sword with spirituality, though still that same sword, its essence has changed. It seems her cultivation is far more powerful than I imagined to evolve a sword she carries to such a level."
Zhou Yan murmured to himself, still standing there for a moment before thoughtfully walking over.
This mysterious woman had an extraordinary identity and background and seemingly just experienced an intense battle, clearly suffering severe injuries.
If it were an ordinary person, Zhou Yan, with his current nature, might not have saved them. After all, reality is harsh, and there are always those who pretend to be injured to trap cultivators, all to kill and plunder treasures. Such extremes in cultivation are not uncommon.
But this woman, her earlier words, also proved that her relationship with the Palace Master of Bixue Palace was not shallow, and Zhou Yan owed thanks to the favor of the cultivation resources bestowed.
That assistance was immense for him; even if the whole Zhou Family exerted all its strength, they couldn't bring together such wealth.
For this reason alone, someone connected with the Palace Master of Bixue Palace, Zhou Yan wouldn't simply ignore.
He walked over and found her lying in the rain-soaked grass, her body soaked in blood, looking in dire condition.
Her brows were gently knitted, her willow-leaf eyebrows appearing elegant, and her face, smooth as jade, was exceedingly beautiful.
She had her eyes closed, her long and slightly curled eyelashes quivering occasionally, each tremor seeming to hint at the unimaginable pain she was enduring.
Such pain, reflected against her pale complexion and the blood on her, was like an evil ghost gnawing at her soul.
Zhou Yan glanced at this Heaven and Earth, unsure what would happen next, so he gathered her up by the waist and set off toward the distance.
Zhou Yan didn't understand the injuries like those of this woman's, but with the Grandmaster's inheritance, he knew the method of healing with Inner Qi. Besides that, there was also the Bone Strengthening method from the "Nine Yin Nine Yang Heart Sutra."
Thus, after walking a certain distance and not sensing anyone pursuing, Zhou Yan found a relatively peaceful place.
The wasteland didn't stretch out as a boundless flatland; instead, small mountains and hills existed, though humble compared to grand mountain ranges.
Zhou Yan sat with her beneath a steep boulder, helping her sit cross-legged, and took a seat facing her.
During this process, Zhou Yan inevitably touched her body.
Until—he vaguely heard her softly whimper, at which point he came back to his senses.
Then, he spoke to himself with feigned propriety, "Hmm, the heart seems fine, no severe injury there. After careful inspection, there's nothing major to worry about."
Saying this, he took out his ring and retrieved two mid-grade Spirit Crystals, placing them on her lap as she sat cross-legged. He then began circulating the Sword Energy within him, controlling it to flow along the meridian paths, and placed his hands opposite hers, gradually forcing the Sword Energy into her body.
He was now capable of inner visualization, and with his Primordial Energy, he could vaguely see the situation inside her body. Unfortunately, this was just a comparatively shallow judgment, otherwise, with Zhou Yan's temperament, it might not have been impossible to use this ability to thoroughly examine her.
Currently, since the sensing wasn't very clear, he could only determine the meridians and didn't get distracted, focusing on healing her wounds.
The energy from the Spirit Crystals was gradually being refined by Zhou Yan's Qi Column. This time, the difficulty was evidently much greater, but it was still possible to refine. The energy from each refining was, to Zhou Yan, somewhat powerful and terrifying; however, for this woman, it was like a drop in the bucket, swiftly absorbed completely by her.
Zhou Yan didn't know if this was effective. He continued this cycle until he himself began feeling very tired. This wasn't physical exhaustion but a kind of fatigue in the will and spirit—a sensation akin to being mentally drained.
How much time passed, Zhou Yan didn't know; he started feeling truly at a loss. His only hope was for this woman to regain consciousness, enabling her to recover and rest actively, which would considerably ease the burden on him.
He persisted until the woman's breath remained weak, and he himself could no longer sustain his efforts.
"It seems I can't save you. I've done my best. If you die, don't blame me," Zhou Yan said, finally letting go of his hands.
The woman's face, which had somewhat improved, suddenly paled again. Her body seemed incapable of retaining any energy; as much energy entered, as much exited. Fortunately, Zhou Yan's special meridians allowed her body to absorb some Sword Energy.
Otherwise, given her condition, she would have had no hope but death.
After saying this, looking at the woman whose face was growing increasingly pale and at her grace, Zhou Yan truly felt regretful.
This was a supremely beautiful woman, whether in temperament or physique.
Moreover, she was a friend of the Bixue Palace Master, and in her earlier state, knowing her sword bore the imprint of a Sword Soul Illusion from the Bixue Palace Master, she spared him even in her life-and-death moment.
If it were him, heavily injured and surrounded by strangers, he likely wouldn't have asked for reasons before slashing with a sword to ensure his safety.
Thinking of this, he felt some reluctance in his heart.
He had never been a kind person, and after merging with the Grandmaster's memories, had grown even more ruthless. Yet, at this moment, he inexplicably felt a sense of loss.
The woman's body began to soften, as if lacking a soul, about to collapse. At this moment, that snow-colored sword flew out, sounding a mournful cry, pitiful and tragic.
In Zhou Yan's eyes was a flicker of astonishment and shock. This was an unimaginable touch; the sword was wailing and crying, like a person!
A sword, possessing life?
Even Zhou Yan, who had accepted the unparalleled technological inheritance from Earth, couldn't help but be profoundly affected by this scene.
The sword bounced, blooming again with brilliance. This time, it was a ghastly brilliance that gave Zhou Yan the impression of imminent destruction.
"Wait—you mustn't be hasty... Let me think of a way. Don't destroy yourself; if she recovers and you are gone, she surely won't continue living!"
Zhou Yan, seeing the sword's actions, was deeply shaken!
He finally understood why, in the later stages of Sword Dao, there were many sayings like, "As long as the sword exists, so does the person; destroy the sword, the person perishes," because the sword too held affection!
This was truly an affectionate sword, an Affectionate Sword Dao!
Zhou Yan took a deep breath, speaking to the sword with great sincerity, his heart full of reverence.
Afterward, he carefully sensed the sword—following his words, the sword finally ceased its self-destructive glow.
It still quivered and cried, but Zhou Yan felt it was no longer a woeful lament but held emotions filled with endless gratitude.
Zhou Yan took a deep breath, clenched his teeth, and pulled out two top-grade Spirit Crystals. Simultaneously, he retrieved a jug from the Qiankun Ring left by his father—the kind of invigorating wine his father enjoyed!
Within the ring, besides some carved statues and uncarved iron blocks, the jug was filled to the brim with such wine.
It was an unknown type of wine; previously, Zhou Yan had never tasted it, but that one time, while speaking with his father, something about it struck him profoundly when his father smashed a jug, the scent of the wine gave a strong stimulation!
Now, in desperation, he thought of using this wine to energize his spirit to aid the woman.
This was his final attempt. If even this proved ineffective, regardless of the woman's origins or significant background, he would be powerless to help her.