Breaking Through and Joining Forces

Chen Mo wanted to block it, but he was lying on the ground, unable to move.

Seeing that force about to seize Ning Rongrong—

Ning Rongrong suddenly looked up, staring at Shi Nian, her eyes terrifyingly bright.

"I may be out of strength," she said, "but he isn't."

She raised her right hand, palm facing Chen Mo.

Seven-colored light surged from her palm.

But the light was weak, so weak it seemed it might extinguish at any moment. She bit the tip of her tongue and sprayed a mouthful of fresh blood onto the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda suddenly flared.

It wasn't just bright; it was blinding.

As the light shone on Chen Mo, he felt a warm force surge into his body. The pain in his chest eased, and the agonizing pain in his left arm subsided as well. He tried moving his left hand—he could move it.

He braced himself against the ground and slowly stood up.

Shi Nian watched this scene, his expression changing.

"You—are you insane? Burning your life essence?"

Ning Rongrong ignored him, keeping her eyes fixed on Chen Mo.

"Hurry," her voice was hoarse, blood still trickling from the corner of her mouth, "I can't hold this for long."

Chen Mo didn't speak. He gripped the Fish Gut Sword tightly and walked toward Shi Nian's shadow.

Shi Nian took a step back.

But he couldn't retreat far—he was a remnant soul and could only drift within this area.

Chen Mo walked up to him and raised his sword.

Shi Nian looked at him and suddenly laughed.

"Do you think it's over just because you killed this remnant soul of mine?"

Chen Mo ignored him and thrust the sword down.

The blade pierced through the shadow's chest.

Shi Nian's remnant soul began to dissipate. Starting from his feet, he turned into black smoke bit by bit. Yet he was still laughing, a sinister sound.

"You will regret this... the God Realm will not let you off..."

The black smoke vanished completely.

Only the Illusion Wisdom Skull remained, falling from mid-air and rolling to Chen Mo's feet.

Chen Mo bent down to pick it up, then turned to look at Ning Rongrong.

Ning Rongrong stood where she was, swaying unsteadily. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda had already gone dark; her face was as white as paper, and blood was still flowing from her lips.

Chen Mo hurried over and caught her.

Ning Rongrong looked up at him, her lips moving as if to say something, but she only managed one word:

"Pain..."

Then, her eyes closed, and she went limp in his arms.

Chen Mo held her, stunned for a moment.

He looked down at her face—pale and bloodless, yet her brows were slightly furrowed, as if she were unwilling to pass out just like this.

He held her a little tighter.

"Fool," he said softly, "who told you to burn your life essence?"

Ning Rongrong, of course, could not hear him.

In the distance, the sun had fully risen. Golden light shone upon the ruins, dyeing the concrete blocks, rusted iron frames, and shattered windows in warm hues.

Chen Mo held Ning Rongrong, sat on a relatively flat stone, and waited.

He waited for her to wake up on her own.

The person in his arms was light, as light as a feather. Her breathing was shallow, but it was there. Her heartbeat was weak, but it was still beating.

Chen Mo looked at her pale face and suddenly remembered the words she had shouted in the illusion.

"You promised me! You said you would protect me! You cannot die here!"

He had promised her then.

And he still promised her now.

He looked up at the sky.

The sky was blue, cloudless for miles.

He suddenly spoke to that expanse of blue:

"Hey, System."

A purple light screen popped up.

[What does the Host require?]

Chen Mo said, "Is there any way to help her recover?"

The system was silent for a few seconds.

[Detected Ning Rongrong's current status: excessive loss of essence and blood, Spirit Power overdraft, weak vital signs.]

[Suggestion 1: Send to a hospital immediately. Blue Star's medical technology can sustain her vital signs.]

[Suggestion 2: The Host may transmit life force through the embryonic form of the "Life Bond." However, it requires mutual consent, and the Host will suffer an equal degree of weakness.]

Chen Mo froze for a moment.

"Embryonic form of the Life Bond?"

[Explanation: When the favorability between both parties reaches 60 or above and they have experienced deep emotional resonance, the "embryonic Life Bond" can be triggered. In this state, the Host can transmit life force unidirectionally, but cannot obtain the other benefits of the bond.]

Chen Mo looked down at Ning Rongrong.

She was still unconscious and could not "consent."

He was silent for a few seconds, then said:

"Count it as her consenting."

The system was silent.

[Is the Host certain? This operation requires the target's explicit consent.]

Chen Mo said, "She said it hurt earlier. If she were awake, she would definitely agree."

The system was silent again.

After a long while, the purple light screen popped up once more:

[Detected that the Host's intent intensity has exceeded the threshold... Initiating special judgment...]

[Judging...]

[Judgment passed.]

[Beginning to establish a Temporary Life Link...]

Chen Mo felt a warm current surge from his chest, flowing through the point of contact into Ning Rongrong's body.

It was very warm, like soaking in lukewarm water.

But at the same time, he felt his strength draining away. He had been able to hold her and sit upright, but now his body began to go limp, and his eyelids grew heavy.

He looked at Ning Rongrong in his arms.

Her complexion seemed less pale.

Her lips even had a hint of color.

He wanted to smile, but he couldn't.

His eyelids grew heavier and heavier.

He held her and slowly closed his eyes.

In the second before losing consciousness, he heard the system say:

[Temporary Life Link established. Transmission in progress...]

[Estimated that the Host will be unconscious for 12-24 hours.]

[Target is expected to wake up within 2-3 hours.]

Chen Mo thought:

12 hours?

That's fine.

Better than being dead.

Then, he completely lost consciousness.

The next day, Ning Rongrong was awakened by the piercing sunlight.

She opened her eyes and saw a golden expanse. The sun hung overhead, warming her.

She was stunned for a moment, then sat up abruptly.

Chen Mo lay beside her, eyes closed, motionless.

Her heart gave a violent jolt, and she reached out to check his breath.

There was air.

He was still alive.

She let out a sigh of relief, then noticed that she was covered by his jacket.

She looked down at the jacket, then at Chen Mo's pale face, suddenly recalling what happened before she lost consciousness.

Burning his essence blood to amplify Chen Mo, watching him slay the remnant soul of Shi Nian...

After that, she knew nothing more.

But now she was awake, while Chen Mo remained unconscious.

She bit her lip, suddenly noticing her own condition.

Her Spirit Power had recovered by about thirty percent. The depletion of her essence blood... it didn't seem as severe as it should have been. Logically, after burning essence blood, one would need to lie in bed for at least three days before being able to move.

She frowned, unable to understand what had happened.

Just then, the system's light screen popped up automatically.

[Ning Rongrong, current status: partial recovery of essence blood, 30% Spirit Power restored.]

[Reason: Host Chen Mo transferred his own life force to you through the Temporary Life Link.]

[Note: The transfer lasted for approximately two hours. The host is expected to wake up in 12-24 hours.]

Ning Rongrong stared at the text, stunned.

She turned her head to look at Chen Mo.

He lay there, his face frighteningly pale, his lips cracked, his breathing faint.

She suddenly remembered the words he had said earlier.

"Consider it her own choice."

She didn't know when he had said those words, but she suddenly understood.

This person, while she was unconscious, had given half his life to her.

Ning Rongrong looked at him, her eyes turning red again.

But this time, she didn't cry.

She simply shifted him closer to her, letting his head rest on her lap, then covered him with the jacket and sat there, shielding him from the sun.

The wind blew, and the wild grass rustled.

She looked down at his face and whispered:

"Are you stupid?"

Chen Mo, of course, did not answer.

She just sat there, and continued to sit.

Waiting for him to wake up.