Healing Wounds

Inside the Ancient Realm, deep within the Pill Hall.

The rich fragrance of medicinal herbs was so dense it felt almost tangible, refreshing the spirit, yet it could hardly mask the weak and chaotic auras emanating from the several figures sitting in meditation.

Gu Yuan had personally delivered the highest-quality healing pills from the Ancient Clan's collection—the Grade Nine Treasure Pill, the Life-Cycle Reincarnation Pill—along with several medicinal salves highly beneficial to the physical bodies of magical beasts.

The pill melted the moment it touched the tongue, and a vast, sea-like surge of pure medicinal power rapidly dispersed into every limb and bone, temporarily suppressing the agonizing pain that threatened to tear apart soul and meridians, stabilizing injuries that had been on the verge of collapse.

The cracks on the bodies of Lin Hai and the four Western Beasts—the Heaven-Burning Crocodile, the Blazing Earth Lizard, and the Flowing Fire Sky Owl—began to close at a speed visible to the naked eye; though their auras remained withered, they no longer flickered like a candle in the wind.

"Many thanks, Brother Gu Yuan." Lin Hai slowly opened his eyes; his face remained pale, but his gaze had regained a hint of vitality. "While the medicinal potency here is abundant, it is not the ideal place for my recovery. I must return to Wutan City to cultivate in seclusion."

Hearing this, Gu Yuan nodded slightly without insisting. He understood that everyone had their own secrets and habits.

"In that case, take care, Brother Lin Hai. Should you have any needs, the Ancient Clan stands ready to support you."

"If there are any developments, I will send word." Lin Hai did not say more, struggling to his feet. The four magical beasts also let out low growls as they forced themselves to stand, the luster of their crystal armor and fur significantly dimmed.

Lin Hai flicked his sleeve, and a spatial rift slowly tore open.

In his current state, long-distance spatial travel was quite taxing, but returning to the Gama Empire was still within his capabilities.

He stepped inside with the four beasts, and the spatial rift closed behind them.

Wutan City, Xiao Clan.

In a secluded courtyard, the space rippled slightly, and a rift appeared abruptly. Immediately after, Lin Hai stumbled out, accompanied by the four fierce yet visibly wounded giant beasts.

Such a disturbance immediately alerted the two people deep within the Xiao Clan.

"Who goes there?!" A sharp shout rang out, and the figure of Xiao Yan, dressed in black combat gear, shot out like lightning, his eyes piercing. When he saw who it was, he froze: "Uncle!?"

Almost simultaneously, the soul form of Yao Chen drifted out. Upon sensing the terrifying, lingering fluctuations of injury on Lin Hai and the four magical beasts—even through their best efforts to suppress them—his aged face was instantly filled with incredulous shock!

"Saint Venerable Lin! What has happened to you...?!" Yao Chen's voice trembled.

He could not imagine what kind of terrifying enemy could have forced someone as powerful as Lin Hai, along with four beasts comparable to high-level Holy Spirits, into such a wretched state!

The faint trace of cold, deathly silence and soul pressure remaining in the air made even the depths of his soul tremble.

Lin Hai waved his hand, signaling the four magical beasts to find their own places to lie down and rest. They immediately curled up, breathing in the energy of heaven and earth to silently lick their wounds, clearly having reached their limits.

"It is nothing. I had a clash with the Soul Clan." Lin Hai's voice carried a distinct weariness, his words concise.

"The Soul Clan?!" Yao Chen and Xiao Yan exclaimed in unison, their expressions changing drastically.

Yao Chen, in particular, had the most profound understanding of the Soul Clan's terror.

"Uncle, you..." Xiao Yan looked at Lin Hai's pale face and then at the four scarred giant beasts, a stormy sea of shock rising in his heart.

Lin Hai sat on a piece of bluestone, caught his breath, and continued: "The Soul Clan launched a major operation. We joined forces with the Ancient Clan and others to fight them. That fellow, Hun Tiandi, is indeed difficult to deal with."

The understated sentence caused Yao Chen's heart to quake violently.

"What was the outcome?" Yao Chen asked urgently, his voice dry.

"Both sides suffered," Lin Hai said calmly. "I sealed the Void Devouring Flame, and Hun Tiandi was also heavily wounded; he had to detonate the foundation of the Emperor Soul Banner to escape. Their casualties were no less than ours. Rest assured, after this battle, the Soul Clan has been severely crippled. They will not be able to recover their vitality for at least three to five years, let alone have the energy to come looking for trouble."

Upon hearing this, Yao Chen let out a long sigh of relief, yet the shock in his eyes remained undiminished.

Sealing the Void Devouring Flame? Heavily wounding Hun Tiandi? Forcing the opponent to self-destruct the origin of the Emperor Soul Banner?

Any one of these feats would be enough to shake the entire continent!

He looked at Lin Hai with complex emotions that were hard to describe—gratitude, awe, and an unprecedented sense of security.

With such a powerful ally, resisting the Soul Clan no longer seemed like an unreachable dream.

"That is wonderful... truly wonderful..." Yao Chen muttered, his soul form flickering slightly from excitement.

Xiao Yan was also stirred to the core, his gaze toward Lin Hai filled with fervent worship. This was what a true peak powerhouse looked like!

"Enough, I need to cultivate in seclusion for a while." Lin Hai interrupted their thoughts. "During this time, Wutan City and the Xiao Clan are in your hands. Unless it is a matter of life and death, do not disturb me."

"Rest assured, Uncle! The entire Xiao Clan will ensure no one disturbs your recovery!" Xiao Yan immediately cupped his fists, making a solemn promise.

Yao Chen also nodded heavily: "Focus on your healing; we will handle everything else."

Lin Hai nodded and said no more, rising to walk toward the secret chamber in the deepest part of the back courtyard that had long been prepared. The four magical beasts struggled to follow; they, too, needed an absolutely safe environment to recover.

The stone door of the secret chamber slowly descended, sealing off the inside from the outside.

Yao Chen and Xiao Yan stood outside the stone door, silent for a long time, their hearts still surging with waves.

They, too, had to seize these three to five years of the Soul Clan's dormancy to improve their strength as quickly as possible!