"First, I need a drop of blood from each of them," Shen Yulan said.
Ling Han nodded without asking and immediately fetched a bottle, carefully slicing the skins of each person to collect their blood.
Shen Yulan waited patiently, aware that she could have allowed Long Ju to continue his technique, even though it would have resulted in his death in the end.
She was still somewhat taken aback by the Long family's massacre of thousands of people, but she understood they had no other choice. Long Tian was extremely precious to them.
Furthermore, she had to heal Long Tian since they formed a contract where if Long Tian died, she would also perish.
After more than 10 minutes, Ling Han had completed the task Shen Yulan gave him. The bottle he brought was now almost full, containing the blood of more than 200 Mount Hua sect disciples and elders.
"You can heal young master now, right?" he inquired.
"Yes, I can start now," Shen Yulan nodded, then added, "Feed the blood to Long Tian."
"Okay," Ling Han nodded, and then gently opened Long Tian's mouth, pouring the blood inside.
That was quite a lot, equivalent to a large glass of beer, considering it was the blood of hundreds of people.
Slowly but surely, Long Tian consumed the blood, taking a few minutes to finish the bottle's contents.
"Now you can start," Ling Han said.
"Yes," Shen Yulan nodded, transforming into her spectral form and entered Long Tian's body.
In this form, Shen Yulan was free from physical limitations. She could penetrate anything and possessed formidable soul power, enabling her to execute attacks and enter the bodies of others.
This time, just like before, she found herself in a dark place devoid of light. After a while, a pair of gigantic eyes appeared, but this time, she sensed no threat from them.
Shortly after, a light emerged, forming a pathway. Shen Yulan was somewhat surprised, realizing she was granted access to Long Tian's sea of consciousness.
Without hesitation, she flew along the path, guided by the light, until she arrived in front of an immensely radiant brilliance.
Without further ado, she ventured inside.
The brilliant light slowly dissolved, revealing an ethereal sight that left Shen Yulan in awe.
Before her lay an enchanting cosmos, adorned with billions of twinkling stars and veiled in mesmerizing nebula clouds. The vastness of this celestial landscape filled her with a sense of wonder, as if she was standing at the very edge of the universe itself.
"Long Tian, how many secrets do you have? Such an attractive boy," Shen Yulan mused, her voice carrying a hint of fascination, as if she had stumbled upon a hidden treasure.
Amidst the breathtaking spectacle, Shen Yulan refocused on her purpose, understanding that she had ventured into Long Tian's sea of consciousness for a reason.
She closed her eyes, and a subtle aura enveloped her body, becoming an invisible force working within her. Slowly and methodically, the energy collected from hundreds of individuals started to flow through Long Tian's dantian, its essence mingling with his own, as they joined forces to purify the dark and malevolent energy that plagued him.
Time seemed to stand still as Shen Yulan worked tirelessly to heal him.
***************
As the night gradually gave way to the morning, the first rays of the sun touched the world outside, painting the sky with hues of pink and gold.
In the Long family residence, the entire area was heavily guarded by members under Long Zhan's orders, this was done for the sake of keeping Long Tian safe should anything happen. Moreover, last night they had just destroyed one of the top 10 sects.
Meanwhile, within the Wudang sect, Han Yuan couldn't hide his impatience, his hopeful eyes searching for any signs of Qin Chen's awakening. Finally, Qin Chen's fingers twitched, a promising indication that he would soon regain consciousness.
Han Yuan had been eagerly anticipating this moment ever since he had placed Qin Chen into the purification pond. The water had been fully absorbed by Qin Chen, leaving it empty, and Han Yuan had remained by his side, anxiously waiting for him to awaken.
After what felt like an eternity, Qin Chen's eyelids slowly fluttered open. His gaze met Han Yuan's, who wore a relieved and grateful expression.
"Oh, thank God. You've finally woken up, Qin Chen," Han Yuan exclaimed with a sigh of relief, warmly embracing him.
Qin Chen, still groggy and disoriented, tried to piece together what had happened while he was unconscious.
"What happened to me, Elder Han?" he inquired.
"You were unconscious, and your dantian was in a state that was almost shattered. It would have taken about five years to heal naturally. But with the purification pond, you are now healed. How do you feel?" Han Yuan asked with a mix of excitement and concern.
Qin Chen glanced at his hands, flexing his fingers experimentally. "I feel... strong and fresh. Elder Han, did you heal me?" he asked with gratitude.
"No, Qin Chen. It was the purification pond that saved your life. Now, can you stand? Let's go meet Master Shi Huang, the leader of the Wudang sect. We must personally thank him for his assistance," Han Yuan said, guiding Qin Chen to his feet.
"Okay," Qin Chen nodded, feeling a newfound strength in his body as he rose from the pond. The cool breeze caressed his face as they stepped out of the cave.
**********
Han Yuan and Qin Chen arrived at the peak of the Wudang sect, the residence of the sect leader.
However, several elders and high-ranking members of the sect were also rushing there.
Han Yuan raised one of his eyebrows. If the elders were gathering at the peak, there must be an important matter to be discussed.
At that moment, he saw Shi Huang also approaching the temple. He quickly went over to him, with Qin Chen following closely behind.
"Master Shi, wait," he called out.
Shi Huang stopped and turned around. "Oh, Elder Han, and you, Qin Chen, it seems the purification pond has healed you," he said with a smile.
"Yes, your assistance has been invaluable, master Shi, and we are deeply thankful. Qin Chen, extend your gratitude to Master Shi," Han Yuan suggested, giving Qin Chen an encouraging nod.
Qin Chen immediately bowed respectfully. "Thank you for allowing me to enter the purification pond, Master Shi," he sincerely said.
Shi Huang smiled, "It's no problem, Qin Chen. I see that the pond worked well for you. Your cultivation base has reached the Qi Foundation realm, right? That's good. But, nothing comes for free, you know?" He said with a deep voice.
"I understand, Master Shi. I will definitely repay your kindness multiple times over," Qin Chen vowed.
"I'm glad you understand. Well, I can't chat much right now as there are important matters I need to discuss with the elders. You can join if you want, Qin Chen," Shi Huang said.
"Alright," Qin Chen nodded.
"Well then, follow me," Shi Huang said and began walking towards the temple.
As they walked, Han Yuan asked, "Is something serious happening, Master Shi?"
"Yes, something serious indeed. One of the largest sects, Mount Hua Sect, has been completely destroyed. All their disciples, and even old Yu Xiao, have been killed," Shi Huang said earnestly.
"What?" Han Yuan was shocked and couldn't believe it. Mount Hua Sect was one of the most powerful sects, and their strength was not inferior to Wudang Sect.
Qin Chen was also surprised. Although he didn't know much about Mount Hua Sect, he had read news about their powerful sword techniques. He never imagined that such a large sect would be destroyed.
"When did this happen, Master Shi? I remember nothing unusual was happen yesterday," Han Yuan asked again, his tone becoming more serious.
"Last night, the sect's remains were still fresh, indicating that it was destroyed overnight. Whoever did this must be one of the major powers. Mount Hua Sect had few enemies, but they had a very powerful one, the Long family."