Chapter 283 - I Am Myself

"Oh, I really thank you so much. Please don't take the elixir back, please."　　The woman hugged the elixir, her eyes blurry with tears.　　Chen Xia frowned, not quite understanding, and asked in return, "Are you really one of the candidates for the Great Dead Region battle?"　　"Yes, yes. As long as you give me the elixir, I... I can heal your injuries in the Great Dead Region," the woman nodded quickly.　　"But aren't the candidates for the Great Dead Region battle all exceptionally talented scions of noble families? You shouldn't be this short of money, right?"　　Chen Xia questioned, puzzled, and continued.　　"Or is your path the Path of Wealth, where you cannot let go of even the slightest bit?"　　The woman shook her head, her shoulder-length hair swaying, and she said through tear-filled eyes, "No, I'm really short of money. I'm not a noble family's offspring; I came from outside."　　"How did you come here?" Chen Xia asked.　　"I was captured," the woman replied sadly, hugging the elixir tightly, sobbing twice, and continued, "They said I could use my lifespan to heal others, that I have an extremely rare constitution, making me an excellent choice for the Great Dead Region battle."　　Chen Xia was taken aback, somewhat empathizing, shook his head, and asked again.　　"They want your help but won't give you money?"　　"There's no money," the woman pursed her lips, tears almost falling, and said in a weak voice, full of sadness,　　"They cast a vow spell on me, then made me seclude myself for cultivation, not allowing me to leave, just telling me to improve my cultivation. Now, as the Great Dead Region battle approaches, they've let me meet you."　　"That's pretty dark," Chen Xia commented.　　"Yes, I really have no money at all. I can't even buy food, and I don't dare to steal. My Third Layer Sea-Inverting Realm cultivation is utterly useless."　　The woman said sadly, lowering her dark eyes, showing how poorly treated she was.　　"Here's another one." Chen Xia tossed another spirit medicine to the woman, taking the opportunity to ask,　　"What's your name?"　　The woman caught the elixir, hesitated, not daring to look at Chen Xia, slightly turning her head, and replied.　　"Nalan Ziyue Bailian Sanshishixian."　　"I mean your real name," Chen Xia emphasized.　　The woman stiffened, not understanding how Chen Xia saw through her. She had no choice but to honestly reply.　　"Ma... Ma Xiaohong."　　"Really common," Chen Xia remarked sharply.　　"S-Sorry," Ma Xiaohong lowered her head, not daring to look at Chen Xia, only able to apologize.　　Her fair face flushed with nervousness, turning her head away, not daring to look at anything, though she held the elixir tightly, her whole body trembled in fear.　　When she arrived, she heard from other places that Chen Xia's reputation wasn't too good, even killing several Heaven-Filling Realm cultivators.　　She was only at the Third Layer Sea-Inverting Realm; even if Chen Xia gave her just a punch, it would hurt terribly.　　Anxiety was written all over Xiaohong's face.　　"If the gift has been delivered, you can go back now," Chen Xia suddenly spoke.　　"Okay, okay," Ma Xiaohong hurriedly nodded, straightened up, bowed slightly trembling to Chen Xia, and bid farewell.　　"Sorry for the disturbance."　　She quietly closed the door and left without making a sound.　　Chen Xia glanced sideways, meeting Zhang Daoming's gaze.　　"Poor girl," Zhang Daoming sighed.　　"Indeed," Chen Xia agreed.　　He could empathize.　　Using one's lifespan to heal others, isn't that just a thinking healing potion?　　It's rather similar to him being a life-prolonging pill.　　This is the path of immortals, the law of the jungle never changes from ancient times to today.　　The weak have no say.　　For the next twenty years, everything was peaceful.　　The heart demon within Chen Xia didn't appear again, even when he occasionally zoned out, the heart demon wouldn't show up, a rare tranquility.　　Today, Wang Yangzi came.　　He was looking for Chen Xia to discuss the Great Dead Region battle.　　"The first batch of candidates going to the Great Dead Region consists of thirteen cultivators, eleven of whom are at the Heaven-Filling Realm, led by a grand elder of a certain sect at the twelfth layer of the Heaven-Filling Realm."　　"This grand elder will serve as your anchor. Due to the special nature of the Great Dead Region, he usually stays at the eighth layer of the Heaven-Filling Realm and doesn't easily intervene."　　"If he must use his full strength, it means you've faced a disaster."　　Chen Xia nodded and said, "I'm only responsible for alchemy, right?"　　"Yes, generally, you don't need to fight. You just need to ensure the supply of elixirs. Besides you, there's another support member you've met before, a rather shy little girl," Wang Yangzi replied.　　"I've met her. Rather than shy, I'd say she's scared," Chen Xia calmly responded.　　Wang Yangzi was silent for a moment and replied, "She was found by other entities in the realm, called their ace in the hole. I didn't expect it to be a person."　　"The realm has suffered too much oppression from other realms, so the masters of the forbidden zones want to regain some face in the Great Dead Region battle."　　"Although this face seems laughable and fragile."　　"It's indeed the last dignity of the realm."　　Chen Xia shook his head, "When you can't win, there's no dignity."　　"Yes, but self-deception must still be done," Wang Yangzi answered, and continued,　　"I don't want anything to happen to this little girl, but the vow is on other entities. Her constitution is truly powerful, better than any healing elixir, capable of recovering from severe injuries or even saving someone who has fallen in cultivation."　　"The only drawback is that it requires consuming lifespan, which is why your role in this Great Dead Region battle is crucial."　　"Do you need me to refine elixirs to replenish lifespan?" Chen Xia asked.　　"Yes," Wang Yangzi nodded, "As long as you can keep up with the elixir refinement, this little girl's lifespan shouldn't have any major issues. If we can successfully return from this Great Dead Region battle, I'll pave a path to freedom for her."　　"But the prerequisite is that none of you thirteen die. Once dead, the vow will force this little girl to save you, and the lifespan required for resurrection..."　　Wang Yangzi's tone became heavy, speaking each word deliberately.　　"Is all!"　　Chen Xia was slightly stunned, then chuckled lightly, shaking his head.　　"No wonder you don't care. It turns out she's just a simple expendable resource."　　Wang Yangzi didn't respond, sighing, looked at Chen Xia, and changed the subject.　　"There's something wrong with your body, well... saying body might not be accurate, it should be mind and spirit."　　"Yes, there's something wrong," Chen Xia acknowledged with a nod.　　Wang Yangzi stroked his chin and continued, "I once heard a theory that seemed reasonable, and I'll share it with you now."　　He pondered and said,　　"Don't fear your heart demon. Learn to accept it, don't see it as an outsider."　　"Your heart demon is part of you."　　Chen Xia was slightly startled, furrowing his brows, lowering his head, and began to think. After a while, he asked blankly,　　"Am I myself?"