Death's Door

At these words, Ximen Qing's eyes instantly narrowed, and the hand gripping Xiao Feng's neck tightened. "Are you playing me?"

"Do you think I'll believe whatever you say?"

Xiao Feng spoke with difficulty. "Am I playing you? Don't you feel it yourself?

"Or do you... naively think that crossing directly from the God Spirit Realm into the God Master Realm, such an enormous gulf, comes without any price?"

"You... can't be that childish, can you?"

Xiao Feng looked into Ximen Qing's eyes. There was not a trace of fear in his gaze, because he... was telling the truth...

He truly had not expected that Ximen Qing's direct absorption of Divine Source Power would have such severe side effects... It was only when Ximen Qing grabbed him by the neck this time that he deliberately checked his pulse and discovered the problem.

Just as he expected, Ximen Qing's expression began to change. This concerned his life—how could he not care? Especially when Xiao Feng was speaking the absolute truth.

Ximen Qing's expression shifted as he asked Xiao Feng, "You... have a way to treat it?"

Xiao Feng said, "Of course... I can tell you the method, but you have to let me go first..."

Ximen Qing narrowed his eyes. "Do you think that's possible?"

Just as Xiao Feng had expected... He had never counted on Ximen Qing sparing him... This was all for one thing only... to stall!

Under the current circumstances, Xiao Feng had no other choice. He could only trust what that voice had told him...

Even if there was only a one-in-a-billion chance...

"Nothing is impossible..." Ximen Qing loosened his grip around Xiao Feng's neck considerably, finally allowing him to speak normally. "If you lose your life, what's the point of slaughtering so many people?"

"You joined that so-called Creation God Sect to obtain supreme Mystic Energy, didn't you? Now your life essence is damaged, and your internal organs are withering away. In your current state... you will never make another breakthrough for the rest of your life!"

"And I can help you!"

Ximen Qing laughed. "With the hatred in your eyes, the way you want nothing more than to kill me, why should I believe you'd help me?"

Hatred filled Xiao Feng's eyes as he replied, "Because of my hatred for you! I want nothing more than to skin you alive and pull out your tendons with my own hands, but... I have to be alive first. If I die, everything becomes empty talk..."

"And you... have to live too. Otherwise, how will I vent my hatred?"

At these words, Ximen Qing's gaze kept changing. He remained silent for a long time, seemingly lost in thought.

Then he spoke. "You must tell me the method first... Otherwise, if I let you go and you refuse to tell me how to treat it, what then?"

A smile rose in Xiao Feng's heart. He knew Ximen Qing would say that!

Xiao Feng's face remained expressionless. "I can tell you, but even if I do, there is only one person in this entire abyss capable of carrying it out."

"Hehehe... I admit your medical skills are impressive, but there are always greater heavens and greater people. You really aren't afraid of talking so big that you bite off your own tongue! Since you're so confident, tell me, then..." Ximen Qing chuckled.

"The method is me." The moment the words fell, Xiao Feng's entire body was enveloped in holy white radiance as he released his Bright Mystic Force with all his strength. This was Xiao Feng's confidence.

Bright Mystic Force, something only those with a Sacred Heart or Sacred Body could cultivate!

The dense white radiance even enveloped Ximen Qing. The instant it did, his first reaction was to circulate his Mystic Energy to resist it. Yet when the holy white light completely wrapped around him, an indescribable sense of comfort instantly spread through his entire body.

Even the injuries he had sustained from Situ Hao and Qi Yunlong were healing at an inconceivable speed...

A look of astonishment appeared in his eyes. "What... is this power?"

A smile appeared on Xiao Feng's face. "Bright Mystic Force..."

"Bright Mystic Force..." Ximen Qing stood frozen. "The Bright Mystic Force recorded only in ancient texts, which can only be cultivated by someone with a Sacred Body or Sacred Heart?!!"

It was no wonder Ximen Qing was shocked. Everything he knew about Bright Mystic Force came entirely from ancient records.

Even now, he still remembered the final passage left behind by the compiler of one ancient text: "Bright Mystic Force represents purification and salvation. Should one who wields Bright Mystic Force fortunately appear within the abyss, it shall be a blessing for the abyss... They must be protected for a lifetime and must not suffer undeserved calamity...

"Those who follow them shall be blessed; those who oppose them shall meet tribulation!"

This was both advice and a warning.

Those words alone were enough to reveal how seriously that compiler regarded Bright Mystic Force.

And if he remembered correctly... that book had come from the Pure Land...

Watching Ximen Qing stand there in utter shock, Xiao Feng was also surprised. He had expected Ximen Qing to be astonished, since he had never displayed his Bright Mystic Force before outsiders. Whenever he used it outside, he concealed it with fire-element Mystic Energy.

But he had not expected Ximen Qing to react so strongly. He still had more to say...

So he added another heavy blow. "Or rather... the Miracle of Life originating from Lisha, one of the four Creation Gods!"

"Y-you... what did you just say? One... one of the four Creation Gods?!" At those words, Ximen Qing could barely speak properly.

Creation Gods... In ancient times, they had been the leaders of the true gods! Gods above gods, created by the Progenitor God using Progenitor Source Power—an realm true gods could never enter...

And since this Bright Divine Art came from Lisha... that meant it was a... Creation God Art!

The shock in Ximen Qing's heart was beyond measure. It took him a long while to suppress it. The way he looked at Xiao Feng had completely changed. No wonder Xiao Feng, with God Tribulation Realm cultivation, could defeat him, a God Spirit Realm expert. He had received a Creation God's inheritance. Everything suddenly became clear, and all those unreasonable matters were instantly explained...

He had simply gotten the wrong idea...

Seeing the shock on Ximen Qing's face, Xiao Feng finally breathed a sigh of relief. As long as he could shock him, his plan to stall could proceed smoothly.

But... something beyond Xiao Feng's expectations happened.

Suddenly, another immense surge of Divine Source Power poured directly into Ximen Qing's body. In an instant, the power within Ximen Qing began to soar wildly. As his strength surged, his eyes were completely dyed red, like a mindless beast.

"Hehehe... Xiao Feng, do you take me for a fool? Do you really think your clumsy words can deceive me?" Deep mockery filled Ximen Qing's crimson eyes.

Xiao Feng: "..."

Ximen Qing viciously tightened his right hand around Xiao Feng's neck. Leaning close to Xiao Feng's ear, he whispered, "Aren't you a divine doctor? I have a question for Divine Doctor Xiao... Tell me... if I shatter your Mystic Veins, can you... heal them?"

With his neck locked tightly in Ximen Qing's grip, Xiao Feng could not answer at all...

Ximen Qing hurled Xiao Feng high into the air, clenched his right fist, gathered all his strength, and smashed it brutally toward Xiao Feng's dantian... the location of his Mystic Veins!

Boom!

The immense force shattered the ground around them... Xiao Feng was already grievously injured, and his body had yet to recover from its compounded wounds. Now another tremendous force tore straight through his body!

Xiao Feng was like a ruptured bag of blood, his blood spraying in every direction...

The arc of his flight was streaked with blood.

His entire body slammed heavily into the shattered ground several miles away. In an instant, blood dyed the ground red...

Yet Ximen Qing gave him no chance to catch his breath. In the blink of an eye, he appeared before Xiao Feng, a mocking smile on his lips. "Looks like you can't heal it after all..."

Perhaps even Xiao Feng himself could not have imagined it... Ximen Qing's consciousness had already been eroded by the powerful Divine Source Power.

Before completely losing control, his greatest obsession had undoubtedly been to humiliate Xiao Feng as viciously as possible. Thus, the last shred of consciousness he retained was thinking only of how to torment Xiao Feng—not of his own future...

"Don't be in such a hurry. The show hasn't even begun yet. In a moment, I'll dislocate your arms, then your legs... sever your tendons one by one, and let you experience it properly... I can be a doctor for once too... Hahaha!"

Xiao Feng's body could no longer move... He could feel the Mystic Energy within his Mystic Veins about to lose control and spill out...

Am I... going to die?

Death... feels like this?

At this moment, he felt no fear at the thought of facing death. His heart and soul held only a deep, intense unwillingness...

Yao'er... I'm so sorry... Brother Feng is useless... I can't avenge you...

Ling'er, Qing Yun... I'll never... see you again...

If I die... can Qing Yun survive?

There was no answer... I'm sorry. I couldn't become the strongest. I failed your expectations...

In this world where Mystic Energy reigned supreme, weakness truly... was a sin!

Ximen Qing reached viciously for Xiao Feng's arm. He had already decided to remove all four of Xiao Feng's limbs first!

Bang!

But suddenly, a cyan-green barrier appeared around Xiao Feng, violently knocking Ximen Qing's hand away.

Ximen Qing looked shocked. Then he drew the Ice Soul Sword and slashed at it fiercely, but the cyan barrier did not budge in the slightest...

At that moment, Xiao Feng saw a pendant glowing with cyan light float before his eyes. Was this pendant what had activated the barrier?

Xiao Feng recognized this pendant. After Qi Qingyun had forcibly used the Heaven Severing Sword, the enormous price left her unable to move. She had then taken out this pendant and handed it to him...

Warmth rose in Xiao Feng's heart...

"Hehehe... I never expected Divine Doctor Xiao to possess such a treasure. But I'd like to see how long the barrier opened by this pendant can last!"

"Why don't you hurry up and use your Bright Mystic Force to heal yourself? Don't die before I've had my fill of fun." Ximen Qing sneered disdainfully.

Xiao Feng did not respond. Just as Ximen Qing said, this pendant could only allow him to cling to life a little longer...

Xiao Feng's thoughts drifted...

Come to think of it, he would soon turn eighteen...

It was his eighteenth year in the abyss... Back in his homeland, it should have been the day he came of age. Yet now, he was about to spend it with death closing in...

He did not use his power to heal his injuries... He had already accepted the fate of his impending death...

Perhaps this was for the best. If he could cling to life a little longer... then in his final moments, he could properly recall their figures and faces...

One figure after another appeared in his Soul Sea... Boss Wang, Old Wang next door... Huo Rulie, Huo Ling'er... Qi Panjian, Situ Yao!

But as each figure emerged in his mind, Xiao Feng, who had already accepted death, began to regret it...

What remained was an extreme unwillingness...

None of them had even left behind a corpse... Situ Hao and Qi Yunlong... They had died... in exchange for him surviving until now...

Qi Panjian and Situ Yao had defended his dignity...

Each of them should have had a wonderful life, yet all of their best years had been buried because of Ximen Qing's selfish obsession.

Many of them had not even reached twenty years of age!

They had left their hope of survival to him... He had not avenged them yet... How could he die!

How could he die!!!

No one noticed... dark clouds slowly gathering in the unreachable heavens above...

The time was now—midnight...

(12 a.m...)