The barrier Qian Renxue had deliberately held back finally broke.
The remaining medicinal power of the eight-petal immortal orchid no longer drove her soul power into a steep climb. Instead, under her guidance, it slowly sank into her meridians, flesh, and bones. The golden light of the six-winged angel filled the secluded chamber, then withdrew into her body little by little with each breath. Only when the last feather of light vanished did silence return.
When Qian Renxue opened her eyes, dawn had already broken outside.
Lu Yuan leaned against a stone wall nearby. Only when she rose did he walk over. "How do you feel?"
"Better than I expected."
Qian Renxue flexed her wrist. A wisp of golden soul power swept between her fingers, flowing more smoothly than before. She made no further attempt to break through to the next level, merely looking down at the now-empty jade box. "Did you keep watch all night?"
"I had to make sure my gift didn't upset your stomach."
Qian Renxue looked up at him, her lips curving slightly. "Then you can rest easy."
The two did not linger in the chamber.
Afterward, the remaining medicinal power of the eight-petal immortal orchid continued to settle slowly within her. Lu Yuan also spent some time adjusting to the changes brought by Ice and Fire Body Tempering and the Return-to-Ruin Spear.
One year later, in the Sunset Forest.
Tang San followed Dugu Bo through the outer poison formation. When he first saw the spring at the bottom of the valley, its red and blue waters reflecting one another, his steps noticeably slowed.
The farther he walked, the harder it became to tear his gaze from the strange plants around him. Dugu Bo merely assumed he had recognized a few medicinal herbs, until Tang San