After being corrupted by demonic energy, Master Xuan Zhen lost his rationality, but his instincts remained. As Xiao Chen suddenly turned to counterattack after fleeing, Xuan Zhen hesitated briefly. The next moment, he roared ferociously, his palm shrouded in raging demonic flames, and struck straight toward Xiao Chen's chest.
Boom! Xiao Chen's fist pierced through layers of demonic energy, landing squarely on Xuan Zhen's chest. A burst of bright golden light erupted from Xiao Chen's hand, like a rising sun, unleashing its destructive force. The Gengjin Sword Qi, embodying unparalleled sharpness, tore through Xuan Zhen's chest, leaving a massive hole before dissipating completely.
Xuan Zhen howled in agony. Half of his torso was shredded by the sword qi, his mangled form barely held together by the swirling demonic energy patching the wound. Yet, instead of falling, he became even more frenzied.
An ebony palm shot toward Xiao Chen. Although Xiao Chen barely shifted his body to avoid a direct hit, the strike landed on his shoulder with a sickening crack, crack, crack as his bones shattered. A surge of black light erupted from Xiao Chen's shoulder, mitigating most of the damage, but the force left his body battered. Blood gushed from his mouth as his body was flung far into the air.
"You insane fool! You dared to clash head-on with a corrupted cultivator! If it weren't for me stepping in, you'd be nothing but minced flesh by now! If you want to die, don't drag me down with you!" A voice, laced with fury and exasperation, boomed in Xiao Chen's mind. Strangely, the voice also carried a hint of weariness.
In his critically weakened state, Xiao Chen's protective light flickered precariously, as if it could vanish at any moment. Falling from such a height in his current condition would undoubtedly spell his death.
"I see you've awakened," Xiao Chen rasped, coughing up blood. "I didn't expect your awakening to coincide with my imminent demise. Perhaps choosing me was your greatest mistake. But I'm sorry—I can't undo the pact binding us. If there's a next life, I'll repay your trust."
The voice fell silent for a moment before sighing. "Death? Preposterous. I've weathered countless storms over eons. Do you think I'll perish to a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator?"
Hearing this, Xiao Chen's flicker of hope reignited. "Do you have a way to help us survive this crisis? If we make it through today, I swear on my heart demon that I'll do everything in my power to help you regain your former strength."
"In your storage pouch, there are two treasured talismans—one for a flying needle and the other for a flying sword. I'll impart a blood-refining technique to you. Use it, and this predicament will be resolved."
With those words, the mysterious voice, belonging to none other than Yu Ji, sighed once more. In truth, she had awakened long ago, back at the Receiving Immortals Pavilion, silently observing Xiao Chen.
She had seen him risk his life saving Li Xiaoyi outside the city, outwitting and defeating one Foundation Establishment cultivator while escaping the other unscathed. She had seen his integrity when resisting temptation in the mountain cave and his selflessness in leading Xuan Zhen away to ensure Li Xiaoyi's safety. Now, she saw him facing death with unwavering resolve, ready to make a final stand.
Though she hadn't spoken, her view of Xiao Chen had subtly shifted.
But Xiao Chen was unaware of her thoughts. Desperately clinging to consciousness, he memorized the blood-refining technique Yu Ji imparted. Fortunately, the method was straightforward, and he mastered it within moments.
Focusing his fraying will, Xiao Chen retrieved a jade box from his storage pouch, revealing two talismans within. He selected the Flying Needle Talisman, spat a mouthful of blood onto it, and began chanting the incantation Yu Ji had given him.
As his life force drained further, his pale complexion worsened, and his vision blurred. Xiao Chen's body had already reached its absolute limit; he persisted solely through sheer force of will.
I cannot die. My parents are still alive—I cannot leave them to grieve their son.
I've barely begun to tread the path of cultivation. Without reaching its pinnacle, how could I resign myself to death?
Visions of his parents' loving faces flashed in his mind, followed by the dimming eyes of Ji Yuewu and the determined visage of Li Xiaoyi.
"I cannot die. I will not die!" he roared inwardly, defying the looming darkness. This surge of resolve brought a fleeting clarity to his mind. With trembling hands, he completed the final gestures, and the talisman ignited.
The burning talisman unleashed a small yet fearsome needle-like artifact, no larger than a few inches. Though diminutive in size, the artifact radiated an overwhelming aura, causing even the demonic Xuan Zhen to hesitate, his eyes flickering with fear. He turned to flee, shrouded in swirling demonic energy.
"Go!" Xiao Chen expelled his last shred of spiritual energy to command the needle. In a blink, it vanished. Xuan Zhen, mid-flight, froze in place. His body spasmed before falling lifeless to the ground. A small, crimson dot marked both his forehead and the back of his skull—the needle had pierced through, obliterating his soul entirely.
Seeing Xuan Zhen slain, Xiao Chen let out a faint breath of relief before succumbing to exhaustion. His body fell toward the earth.
Before he hit the ground, a spectral figure of unparalleled beauty materialized beside him. With a mere wave of her hand, the figure—Yu Ji—gently lowered him to the ground. Casting a complex gaze upon Xiao Chen's broken form, she sighed softly before dissipating once more.
Pain. Searing, unrelenting pain coursed through Xiao Chen's body, both in flesh and spirit, dragging him to the brink of unconsciousness. Gritting his teeth, he forced his eyes open. The world around him was shrouded in the deep black of night. Struggling to sit upright, he felt the sticky pull of dried blood clinging to his back. Peeling himself free from the ground sent fresh streaks of blood cascading down his wounds.
Peering inward, Xiao Chen grimaced at his injuries. Most of his bones were shattered, his meridians torn to shreds, and his dantian utterly depleted. He was nothing more than a broken husk, kept alive by a faint trace of residual medicinal energy deep in his bone marrow.
"Good thing I've been popping pills like candy all these years," Xiao Chen muttered bitterly. "The leftover medicinal essence in my marrow might just be the reason I'm still breathing."