Old Man Gu's Concerns

Sure enough.

After Old Man Gu finished listening, the expression on his skull-like, withered face shifted violently.

Shock, wild joy, regret, anxiety, hesitation... all sorts of complex, indescribable emotions flashed across his face like a revolving lantern.

He had long since resolved to withdraw from the world and live out the rest of his days in peace, unwilling to become entangled in any more troubles.

He only wanted to safely pass on the last of his legacy to Zhua Yun.

Yet this sudden turn of events was like a massive boulder, ruthlessly shattering the peace he had struggled so hard to maintain!

He understood better than Zhua Yun what the "Heavenly Eye" signified!

Within the system of Body Martial Souls, the strength of a Martial Soul was closely tied to its "importance" and "special nature" within the human body.

The Brain, heart, skin, blood, and bones were known as superior Body Martial Souls, possessing tremendous potential.

Arms, legs, fingers, eyes, noses, and the like, on the other hand, were inferior Body Martial Souls and comparatively common.

But the "Heavenly Eye"... it had already completely surpassed the scope of ordinary human organs!

It was absolutely impossible for a third vertical eye to naturally grow on a human body!

It did not originate from the human body itself. It was more like an "imprint" or "projection" of the laws of heaven and earth, descending upon one blessed by fate in the form of an "eye"!

It could no longer be defined as "superior" or "inferior."

It was an existence beyond grades!

A legendary "Super Martial Soul," perhaps even the "God-Level Martial Soul" that existed only in theory!

A seedling possessing a God-Level Body Martial Soul, a genius who should have shone with Radiance Ten Thousand Zhang and might one day lead an era.

Yet now, because his Heart Martial Soul had been crippled, he stood at death's door, kneeling before this "madman" and begging for a sliver of hope...

That stark contrast made Old Man Gu's heart, which had long fallen silent and become as still as an ancient well, begin pounding madly once more.

A long-lost thrill, one he had nearly forgotten, abruptly seized him.

Only the uneven, heavy breathing of the three remained in the secret chamber.

Behind his tangled hair, Old Man Gu's eyes flickered with an uncertain light as the scales in his heart swayed and tipped wildly...

After a long while...

Old Man Gu still stood frozen in place, but thoughts churned madly in the depths of his eyes.

His gaunt fingers unconsciously twisted the corner of his clothes, and even his breathing grew heavier.

Keep him? Save him?!

The thought became ever clearer, ever stronger.

This youth before him possessed the legendary "Heavenly Eye" Martial Soul!

He was an earth-shaking anomaly that had not appeared in the Body Sect for decades—no, perhaps even centuries!

Such talent, such potential—if he were to quietly perish because of a shattered Martial Soul and devastated heart meridians...

That would not merely be this youth's tragedy. It would be an immeasurable loss for the Body Sect, perhaps even a great regret for the entire Spirit Master world!

What a waste! It was simply too great a waste!

Just as Elder Gu was locked in an inner struggle, Long Zhanye had already struggled to climb to his feet.

He raised his head, his face filled with pleading and the final glimmer of hope amid despair. "Elder Gu! I know... I know you must have a way!"

"This junior begs Elder Gu to act and save my life! This junior will never forget Elder Gu's great kindness for the rest of my life!"

"I am willing to devote this broken body and the rest of my life to serving Elder Gu, attending to your daily needs and obeying your every command without complaint!"

"Hmph!" Elder Gu gave an ambiguous snort through his nose.

He seemed unimpressed by this flattery and declaration of loyalty, but the turmoil in his eyes betrayed the unrest in his heart.

He cast a sidelong glance at the equally nervous Zhua Yun. "I suppose..."

"That brat Zhua Yun has already spilled all the secrets of our Secret of the Body to you, hasn't he?"

Long Zhanye glanced at Zhua Yun, who gave him a slight nod.

Long Zhanye nodded. "Yes, Elder Gu. Senior Brother Zhua Yun has already told this junior."

"Mm." Elder Gu stroked his messy beard.

"That's right. The Secret of the Body is indeed a theoretical framework that this old man barely managed to outline after drawing upon the painstaking efforts of generations of predecessors and extrapolating from countless cases."

"But—" His tone suddenly changed, becoming exceptionally grave.

"It is ultimately only theory! Empty talk on paper! This old man has never, and never dared to, truly put it into practice on a human being! Much less..."

"Your injury is to your heart! The slightest mistake—even the tiniest deviation in the application of Soul Power—could cause your heart meridians to rupture on the spot and scatter your soul!"

"This responsibility, this infamy of killing a possible future genius of the sect—this old man... cannot bear it!"

"Elder Gu!" Long Zhanye hurriedly said, his eyes blazing. "Since this junior made this decision, I have already cast life and death aside!"

"Whatever the outcome, whether I live or die, succeed or fail, this junior will not harbor the slightest complaint! I will bear all consequences myself!"

"Bear them? What can you use to bear them?" Elder Gu cut him off mercilessly, irritation in his tone.

"This is not about whether you dare to play the hero! It is that this old man has no confidence at all! Your injuries have nearly become a foregone conclusion; they are an almost irreversible process!"

"This old man knows you are still young, that your great vengeance remains unavenged, and that you are unwilling to accept this. But precisely because of that, this old man must persuade you."

"Let the sect elders use the finest resources for conservative treatment. Perhaps it can extend your time a little longer and spare you some pain."

"This Secret of the Body... the risk is too great, and the chance of success is minuscule. It is like walking a tightrope over a cliff—no, like jumping into a fire pit in search of survival!"

After saying that, as if to sever the restless impulse toward risk in his own heart, Elder Gu shook his head forcefully.

He turned his back to them, waved at Zhua Yun, then walked toward another tightly shut wooden door without looking back.

His steps were even somewhat hurried, as though he were fleeing this dilemma that tore him in two.

"Elder Gu! Elder Gu!" Long Zhanye knelt on the ground and cried urgently toward his retreating back.

But the wooden door had already slammed shut with a bang, sealing Elder Gu's figure and every possible response behind it.

The single ray of hope he had so painstakingly grasped in the darkness was ruthlessly extinguished once again.

Elder Gu was ultimately unwilling—or perhaps too afraid—to bear the possible lifelong infamy that came with saving a "dead genius."

He had chosen the safest refusal, and the most despairing one.

Zhua Yun looked at the tightly shut door, then at Long Zhanye, who knelt on the ground in a daze. He anxiously scratched at his head and ears.

He paced in circles, muttering incessantly, "How could this happen... how could this happen..."

The light in Long Zhanye's eyes completely faded. He slowly climbed to his feet and brushed the dust from his knees.

As though his soul had been pulled from his body, he staggered out of the underground cavern step by step like a walking corpse.

After returning to his quiet room, Long Zhanye threw himself onto the bed.

He pulled the blanket over his head, wanting to completely shut himself away from this world full of despair.

Sharp-eyed Elder Xu quickly noticed that something was wrong with him.

The old man gently pushed open the door. When he saw the lifeless figure curled into a ball on the bed, his heart could not help aching.

He walked to the bedside, sat down, and softened his voice to the utmost. "Child, what is wrong? Did something upset you?"

There was no movement beneath the blanket.

Elder Xu sighed. "Is it still... because of that matter?"

Those words seemed to puncture Long Zhanye's final forced pretense.

He suddenly threw off the blanket, tears and snot streaming down his face as he hoarsely shouted at Elder Xu, "My great vengeance is still unavenged! I cannot die! I still cannot die!!!"

Seeing the near-mad despair and unwillingness in the youth's eyes, Elder Xu was full of worry, yet had no idea how to comfort him.

Suddenly.

A flash of insight struck Elder Xu. He abruptly slapped his thigh.

"Zhanye! A few days ago, didn't you say you encountered a strange-tempered 'Mad Old Man' in the sect?"

Long Zhanye nodded and told Elder Xu everything, from how he had accidentally discovered the underground cavern these past few days to how Elder Gu had refused to treat him.

After listening, Elder Xu's expression first grew even more somber. The room fell into deathly silence, and the two sat facing each other without a word.