Between Life and Death

Eternal darkness.

Ning Xiaochuan felt like he was floating in the void, with no up, down, left, or right. He couldn't even feel his own body. Only his mind was still functioning, but it was like a bug trapped in amber, unable to move.

"Am I... dead?" He tried to recall the last scene—the giant of light, the screams of the hunters, and then... endless fatigue.

"No, not yet," a familiar voice echoed in the darkness. "But you're close."

Light gradually emerged, outlining a blurry figure. As the silhouette became clearer, Ning Xiaochuan was surprised to find that the person standing before him was himself—or rather, another version of himself.

This "Ning Xiaochuan" wore the white robes of the Sacred Source Royal Family, with a complete Holy Source Imprint on his forehead, and his eyes held the wisdom of one who had experienced many vicissitudes.

"Who are you?" Ning Xiaochuan asked, though he already had a guess in his heart.

"I am your possible future," the other replied with a smile. "And the guide deep within your heart."

He waved his hand, and the surrounding darkness parted like a curtain, revealing a strange space—countless light spots floated like stars, each one flickering with a different scene.

"This is the Primal Rift, the transitional zone between life and death," the future Ning Xiaochuan explained. "You almost exhausted your life force by overusing the Trinity secret technique, and your soul has temporarily left your body."

Ning Xiaochuan looked at the nearest light spot, which showed the medical room of the Sacred Source Tower. Su Linger was guarding the bedside, holding his hand, tears in her eyes; the Sacred Spirit Dragon was curled up by the pillow, its scales dull and lifeless; Star Radiance and several elders were discussing something intensely.

"They... are very worried about me." Ning Xiaochuan's heart warmed.

"More than just worried," the future Ning Xiaochuan pointed to another light spot. "Look."

This light spot displayed a memory fragment of Su Linger—she stood alone by the Sacred Source Spring, talking to the water: "If he doesn't wake up, I'll use the Primal Covenant to give him my life force..."

"No!" Ning Xiaochuan exclaimed. "That's too dangerous!"

"She will," the future Ning Xiaochuan said calmly. "Just as you are willing to give everything for her."

Ning Xiaochuan was silent for a moment: "How do I get back?"

"That depends on you," the future Ning Xiaochuan pointed to the largest light spot. "First, you must face this."

The light spot expanded, enveloping them both. The scene changed, and Ning Xiaochuan found himself standing on scorched earth. The sky was an unnatural dark red, and in the distance, black flames burned unceasingly.

"This is..."

"A possible future," the future Ning Xiaochuan's voice became heavy. "If the World Devourers successfully descend, the Sacred Source Land will become like this."

The scene suddenly came alive. Countless monsters surged from the ground, devouring everything in sight. The Sacred Source Tower collapsed, and the city turned into ruins. Ning Xiaochuan watched in horror as Su Linger and the Sacred Spirit Dragon were surrounded by a group of hunters, eventually falling from exhaustion...

"No!" He wanted to rush to help, but was held back by the future Ning Xiaochuan.

"This is just an illusion, but it could come true," the other said sternly. "The World Devourers are far more powerful than you imagine; the Gray Robe Elder is just the tip of the iceberg."

The scene changed again, this time to Qingyun City. Ning Zhantian and Ning Yuan led the remnants of the army, desperately defending the last city wall, but they were soon swallowed by the Black Tide...

"Enough!" Ning Xiaochuan closed his eyes. "I know the consequences."

"No, you still don't understand," the future Ning Xiaochuan shook his head. "Look at this."

The final scene was the complete shattering of the Primal Gate, with countless World Devourers pouring in, devouring world after world. The entire universe plunged into eternal darkness...

"This is why you must go back," the future Ning Xiaochuan placed a hand on his shoulder. "The last hope of the Sacred Origin Tribe rests on you."

Ning Xiaochuan took a deep breath: "How do I go back?"

"Accept your mission and fully awaken your Sacred Source Bloodline," the future Ning Xiaochuan pointed to his chest. "Your power comes from the heart of protection, not the desire for slaughter. Remember this."

The surrounding scenery began to blur, and the figure of the future Ning Xiaochuan gradually faded. Before disappearing completely, he said his last words: "Su Linger and the Sacred Spirit Dragon are the source of your power, and also your greatest weakness. Protect them well... and let them protect you..."

Darkness descended again, but this time Ning Xiaochuan felt a warm pull, dragging him in a certain direction...

"His fingers moved!" a surprised voice exclaimed.

Ning Xiaochuan struggled to open his eyes, his vision blurry for a while before focusing. Su Linger's haggard face was close at hand, her eyes bloodshot, clearly having not slept for a long time. The Sacred Spirit Dragon was lying on his chest, and sensing the movement, it immediately perked up its head and pounced on his face with a "gu jiu" sound.

"Gently... little one..." Ning Xiaochuan's voice was hoarse, his throat feeling like it had been burned.

Su Linger quickly brought a cup of water and helped him drink slowly: "Don't rush to speak, you've been unconscious for seven days."

"Seven days?" Ning Xiaochuan tried to sit up in surprise, but the pain throughout his body forced him back onto the bed.

"The Trinity consumed ninety percent of your life force," Star Radiance said, walking over from the side, his expression grave. "If not for the power of the Sacred Source Spring, you probably..."

He didn't finish, but the meaning was clear. Ning Xiaochuan looked at Su Linger and noticed bandages wrapped around her wrist, with bloodstains faintly seeping through.

"What did you do?" he asked sternly.

Su Linger averted her gaze: "Nothing, just... a little blood sacrifice."

"She tried to use the Primal Covenant to give you her life force," Star Radiance directly exposed her. "If I hadn't discovered it and stopped her in time, there would be two people lying here now."

Ning Xiaochuan felt both heartache and anger: "Are you crazy? What if..."

"And what about you?" Su Linger suddenly looked up, tears in her eyes. "Who told you to play the hero and use secret techniques one after another?"

They stared at each other for a moment, and Ning Xiaochuan was the first to back down: "I'm sorry..."

The Sacred Spirit Dragon let out a timely "gu jiu," patting Ning Xiaochuan's face with its little claws, then patting Su Linger's hand, as if mediating the argument.

Star Radiance wisely excused himself: "I'll go prepare some recovery potions. Your Highness needs to continue resting; you cannot get out of bed for at least three days."

After the old man left, Su Linger quietly asked, "What... did you see over there?"

Ning Xiaochuan blinked, "How did you know..."

"You were talking the whole time you were unconscious," Su Linger said, holding his hand. "You mentioned darkness, destruction, the World Devourers' army..."

Ning Xiaochuan briefly described the possible future and his future self's warning. Su Linger listened and remained silent for a long time.

"So we must become stronger," she finally said. "We need to be prepared before the World Devourers launch their full invasion."

Ning Xiaochuan nodded, then suddenly thought of something. "Have you found out about the Gray Robe Elder?"

"Yes," Su Linger replied, her expression grave. "He was corrupted twenty years ago and has been gathering intelligence for the World Devourers. He's also responsible for the contamination in the trial grounds."

"Are there any other traitors?"

"I'm not sure," Su Linger shook her head. "Star Radiance is investigating secretly. But the Gray Robe Elder left a message before he died..."

"What message?"

"'When the twin moons bleed, the gate will open again.'"

Ning Xiaochuan's heart jolted. He had heard this sentence before in the Primal Rift, though he had dismissed it as part of an illusion at the time.

"'When the twin moons bleed...'" he murmured to himself. "The twin moon phenomenon in the Sacred Source Land, the next time it appears is in..."

"One month," Su Linger finished his sentence. "Star Radiance has already ordered reinforcements to guard the Primal Gate."

Ning Xiaochuan tried to mobilize the Sacred Source Power within him. Although it was weak, it had recovered better than he expected. Most miraculously, he could clearly feel a stronger soul link with Su Linger and the Sacred Spirit Dragon than before, as if three life threads were intertwined, nourishing each other.

"The Primal Covenant has evolved," he said softly. "I can feel every trace of energy flow within you."

Su Linger nodded. "The price of the secret technique is great, but it also allows us to understand each other better."

She hesitated for a moment, then leaned down and gently kissed his forehead. "Get well soon... I need you."

This sudden intimate gesture stunned Ning Xiaochuan. By the time he came to his senses, Su Linger had already run out of the room, her face flushed. The Sacred Spirit Dragon tilted its head, looking first at the door, then at Ning Xiaochuan, letting out a teasing "gūjiū" sound.

"What are you looking at?" Ning Xiaochuan smiled and lightly flicked the little creature's dragon horn, a warm current surging in his chest.

Three days later, with the aid of the Sacred Source Spring, Ning Xiaochuan was able to get out of bed and move around. Despite Star Radiance's strong objections, he insisted on visiting the injured Sacred Source Knights.

In the infirmary, five of the twelve knights were severely wounded and bedridden. They had been injured fighting the hunters that the Gray Robe Elder had transformed into, their wounds bearing dark corrosion and healing slowly.

"Your Highness," the knights struggled to rise and salute upon seeing Ning Xiaochuan enter.

"Don't move," Ning Xiaochuan motioned for them to lie down. "I've come to thank you."

He walked to the side of the knight captain, who had the most severe injuries, and gently placed his hand on the wound that was entwined with dark energy. "Try this too."

Sacred Source Power flowed from his palm. Unlike the usual golden hue, this time it carried a faint blue-white halo – a new energy that had merged with Su Linger's Profound Ice Power.

Surprisingly, when the dark energy encountered this halo, it immediately dissolved like snow under a scorching sun! The knight captain's wound healed at a visible rate, and his complexion turned rosy.

"This..." The knight captain stared at his hand in shock. "The dark corrosion is completely gone!"

The other knights also showed expressions of awe. Ning Xiaochuan was equally surprised; he hadn't expected the new ability to be so effective against dark energy.

"The evolutionary effect of the Primal Covenant," Su Linger explained from the doorway. "The powers of the three of us have begun to merge."

She walked in and healed the other knights one by one. When the two of them combined their efforts, the effect was even more pronounced. The Sacred Spirit Dragon, not to be outdone, breathed out dragon's breath with golden threads, helping to purify the residual dark energy.

"This is amazing!" the youngest knight exclaimed. "Is this the legendary Trinity?"

Ning Xiaochuan shook his head. "No, this is just preliminary fusion. We dare not use the true Trinity for now."

The price is too great—he didn't say it aloud, but everyone present understood.

After the healing was complete, Star Radiance hurried to find him. "Your Highness, we've made an important discovery!"

They proceeded to the council hall, where the remaining eleven of the twelve elders were already waiting. An ancient map was spread on the table, showing various secret realms within the Sacred Source Land.

"A clue left by the Gray Robe Elder," Star Radiance pointed to a mark on the edge of the map. "This place might hide another stronghold of the World Devourers."

Ning Xiaochuan examined it closely. It was a place called "Shadow Valley," located at the northernmost end of the Sacred Source Land, perpetually shrouded in black mist.

"Legend has it that there's an ancient castle in the valley used by the Sacred Origin Tribe to imprison serious offenders," Star Radiance continued. "During the war a thousand years ago, some captured World Devourer vanguards were imprisoned there."

"You think the Gray Robe Elder tampered with it there?" Su Linger asked.

Star Radiance nodded. "Most likely. And..." he hesitated, "according to ancient texts, when the twin moons bleed, the black mist in Shadow Valley will temporarily dissipate, making it the best time to enter."

"Which is also when the World Devourers are most likely to act," Ning Xiaochuan understood. "We must get there first."

The elders debated, most of them opposing this risky plan. After all, Ning Xiaochuan had only just escaped danger, and the perils of Shadow Valley were well-known.

"I object!" a red-robed elder slammed the table. "Your Highness is the last hope of the Sacred Origin Tribe; you cannot take such risks!"

"Precisely because of that, I must go," Ning Xiaochuan said calmly. "If the World Devourers have made arrangements in the valley, the night of the twin moons will be their time to act. We cannot afford to wait."

The debate lasted the entire day. Finally, at Ning Xiaochuan's insistence, the Elder Council reluctantly agreed to the reconnaissance plan, but with the condition that he must bring sufficient guards.

"No, more people will only alert them," Ning Xiaochuan rejected the proposal. "Only the three of us will go."

He looked at Su Linger and the Sacred Spirit Dragon, both of whom nodded in firm support.

"But..." Star Radiance still wanted to dissuade him.

"This is an order," Ning Xiaochuan spoke for the first time as the Sacred Source King. "Prepare the teleportation array. We depart at dawn tomorrow."

The elders exchanged glances, then finally bowed their heads and accepted the order. After everyone dispersed, Star Radiance stayed behind alone. "Your Highness, there's one more thing..."

He produced a memory crystal. "This was found among the Gray Robe Elder's personal belongings. It might be useful to you."

Ning Xiaochuan took the crystal and infused it with a trace of Sacred Source Power. The crystal projected a blurry image—a person in a black robe stood at the entrance of Shadow Valley, with over a dozen similarly dressed individuals kneeling beside them. Although their faces were unclear, when the black-robed figure raised a hand, a unique snake-like tattoo on their wrist was revealed.

"This is..." Ning Xiaochuan's pupils contracted slightly.

"The mark of the Dark Ravens organization," Star Radiance confirmed his suspicion. "The Black Tide's branch on the Open Source Continent."

In the final scene of the image, the black-robed figure turned, and a flash of silver light glinted from beneath their hood—like white hair, or perhaps... a silver mask?

"Han Li?!" Ning Xiaochuan and Su Linger exclaimed in unison.

"Most likely," Star Radiance nodded. "The connection between the Gray Robes and the Black Tide is deeper than we imagined."

This discovery made the plan even more urgent. If Han Li was indeed active in Shadow Valley, then the remnants of the Black Tide on the Open Source Continent might have already joined forces with the World Devourers.

"Change of plans," Ning Xiaochuan decided immediately. "We depart tonight."

Star Radiance was shocked. "That's too sudden! At least wait until tomorrow..."

"Every moment we delay, the danger increases," Ning Xiaochuan was already getting up. "Prepare the fastest flying mounts."

Su Linger and the Sacred Spirit Dragon sprang into action. The former went to prepare the equipment, while the latter flew towards the kitchen—from Ning Xiaochuan's observation, the little one always had a hearty meal before a major battle.

As night fell, three enormous spirit birds were waiting outside the tower. These creatures, known as Cloud Wing Beasts, were the fastest flying mounts in the Sacred Source Land. They were pure white, with wingspans reaching up to fifteen meters.

"Remember, reconnaissance is the priority," Star Radiance cautioned them one last time. "No matter what you discover, do not act rashly. Wait for reinforcements to arrive."

Ning Xiaochuan nodded, and he and Su Linger each mounted a Cloud Wing Beast. The Sacred Spirit Dragon shrunk itself down and perched on Ning Xiaochuan's shoulder. At the command, the three giant beasts flapped their wings and soared into the sky, quickly disappearing into the northern night.

Star Radiance watched in the direction they departed, his old eyes filled with worry. "May the Sacred Source protect them..."

The speed of the Cloud Wing Beasts was indeed astonishing. In less than two hours, the silhouette of Shadow Valley appeared on the horizon. Even in the darkness, the area was exceptionally conspicuous—thick black mist enveloped the entire valley like a lid, forming a stark contrast with the clear night sky around it.

"Lower our altitude," Ning Xiaochuan transmitted to Su Linger via the Primal Covenant. "There's movement at the valley entrance."

The three of them quietly landed on a ridge not far from the valley entrance. In the moonlight, Ning Xiaochuan saw figures moving about at the entrance—over a dozen black-robed individuals were carrying something, transporting it into the valley.

"It's the Dark Ravens," Su Linger sent her senses through their soul link. "I can feel familiar dark Source Qi."

The Sacred Spirit Dragon suddenly bristled its scales and pointed its small claws towards the right side of the valley entrance. Ning Xiaochuan followed its gaze, and his pupils contracted sharply—a figure wearing a silver mask was overseeing the loading work. Although his attire was different, his distinctive posture and movements were unmistakably Han Li!

"It really is him," Ning Xiaochuan gritted his teeth. "A scoundrel from the Open Source Continent has come to the Sacred Source Land."

Just as they were observing, Han Li suddenly looked up, his gaze fixed directly on their hiding spot! Ning Xiaochuan's heart tightened, and he immediately suppressed all his aura.

"Did he find us?" Su Linger asked nervously.

"Not sure," Ning Xiaochuan kept a close watch on Han Li's movements. "But..."

Before he could finish, Han Li suddenly raised his hand and shot a beam of black light straight at them!

"Dodge!"