Lu Xueqi and Bi Yao (28)

He had wanted to say, "Her chances of survival are slim," perhaps even, "There is no chance of survival," but seeing Su Han on the verge of collapse, he could not bring himself to utter the rest. He understood the price of Tian Ya Ice Extreme better than Su Han did. It was a forbidden strike that sacrificed one's life, cultivation, and even soul to the divine sword in exchange for a fleeting moment of brilliance—Absolute Zero. Lu Xueqi had faced the furious attack of a Star Spirit Guard at the peak Golden Core Stage head-on while freezing a vast number of pursuers. That was already a miracle beyond miracles. But the price of miracles was usually the caster's complete annihilation.

"No... she isn't dead..." Su Han abruptly raised his head. His eyes held an almost crazed stubbornness, mingled with bloodshot veins and tears. "She promised me! She said, 'Trust me'! She won't die! She can't die!"

He struggled to rise, but the violent backlash from the Star Seed in his dantian and the severe depletion of his Life Origin sent him crashing heavily back to the ground. Forcibly drawing upon the altar's remaining power had already shattered his meridians and pushed his dantian to the verge of collapse. At this moment, he was scarcely stronger than an ordinary mortal.

"Su Han! Calm down!" Elder Mu pressed him down with one hand, sending a stream of pure, gentle spiritual energy into his body. It barely protected his heart meridian, but it could do nothing for his ravaged dantian and broken meridians. "If you rush back now, you'll only be throwing your life away! Not only will you fail to save Xueqi, but this bottle of Star Source Marrow—and her final sacrifice—will all be wasted!"

"Star Source Marrow..." Su Han stared