They performed the ritual at midnight in a forgotten crypt beneath the sect. Elder Wu carved sigils into the floor using Ling Feng's blood, while Su Mei chanted words that made the air taste like iron.
**[Lifespan Reduced: 10% (Remaining: 90%).]**
**[Bloodline Corruption: 25% → 15%.]**
As the ritual flared, Ling Feng glimpsed fragments of the elder's past—a younger Wu, weeping over a corpse with Su Mei's eyes. *Her ancestor?*
The vision vanished. Su Mei's color returned, but her fingers brushed Ling Feng's wrist. "Why risk your life for me?"
He grinned weakly. "Can't let my best party member die before the final boss."
She didn't smile, but her gaze softened.