Two days later, in the southern border of the Eastern Continent.
Deep within the sea of clouds at an altitude of 10,000 meters, a fierce storm howled past.
The azure spirit boat tore through the thunderclouds, transforming into a long rainbow as it sped towards the Jade Firmament Sect.
Inside the ship's cabin, all was quiet.
Wen Jiao sat on the edge of the bed, her cold, trembling fingertips gently stroking Chu Yunfei's pale, bloodless face.
Two full days have passed since that night.
Chu Yunfei's eyes remained closed, showing no signs of waking up, and his internal energy was growing weaker and weaker.
Even after taking several Grade 5 life-saving pills, the injuries were only barely stabilized and could not be truly reversed.
Wen Jiao's eyes were slightly red, and she couldn't help but sob softly several times.
Just then, Chu Yunfei, who was unconscious, seemed to be in great pain. His brows were tightly furrowed, and he let out a very faint murmur in his sleep:
"Ling... Ling Xueyao..."
Upon hearing those three words...
Wen Jiao's delicate hand, which was resting on the bedding, suddenly froze.
A long, deathly silence fell over the sealed room.
After a long while, Wen Jiao slowly closed her eyes, a bitter smile appearing on her lips, and whispered:
" Chu Yunfei... you're almost dead, and all you think about... is she the only one you're thinking about?"
Just then, the door was gently pushed open.
Uncle Yao stepped in and whispered, "Miss, we are only three hundred li away from the Jade Firmament Sect's mountain gate."
Wen Jiao composed herself, wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and turned to ask, " Uncle Yao, has there been any new news from the capital?"
Uncle Yao's expression was solemn as he said in a low voice, "According to the information from the main branch, the earth-shattering battle outside the imperial city that night involved the Cangyun Sect and the Puppet Sect."
Wen Jiao's eyes suddenly turned cold. "Could it be that the people from these two sects are the ones who caused Young Master Chu to become like this?"
Uncle Yao shook his head, his eyes filled with shock and confusion:
It cannot be determined at this time.
"But the confirmed information we've gathered is... that night, Chen Xuanhai, the powerful elder of the Cangyun Sect, and Han Kui, the elder of the Puppet Sect, both perished!"
"The location where he fell was less than two hundred li from where we discovered Young Master Chu."
Wen Jiaojiao trembled, her beautiful eyes filled with disbelief. " Uncle Yao means... that Young Master Chu killed him?"
After pondering for a moment, Uncle Yao smiled wryly and said, "This is precisely what I cannot understand."
"Young Master Chu displayed a cultivation level of the Heavenly Origin Realm Fifth Layer in the Jingyuan Hall, while Chen Xuanhai has been at the Divine Sea Realm Sixth Layer for many years, and Han Kui is also at the Divine Sea Realm Fourth Level and possesses a battle puppet. The difference in their strength is as vast as the difference between heaven and earth, and I dare not make a hasty conclusion."
Wen Jiao nodded gently, feeling equally bewildered.
To use the Heavenly Origin to reverse the fate of two Divine Sea is unprecedented in the ten-thousand-year history of the Eastern Continent.
Uncle Yao hesitated, as if he wanted to speak but then stopped.
Wen Jiao frowned. " Uncle Yao, please speak frankly."
Uncle Yao took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "Experts from various sects have detected remnants of Imperial Dao Dragon Qi in the battlefield ruins."
Wen Jiao's pupils suddenly shrank. " Imperial Dao Dragon Qi?!"
Uncle Yao said solemnly, "That's right. Now, all the major sects are secretly speculating that that battle was clearly a scheme secretly orchestrated by the Great Qian Imperial Family."
"Some even speculate that it was the royal elder who was stationed deep within the palace who personally intervened."
At this point, Uncle Yao glanced at Chu Yunfei on the bed, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes:
"But this matter is strange. Why would Young Master Chu, as the prince consort, appear alone outside the city?"
Wen Jiao touched Chu Yunfei's cold forehead, her heart also filled with doubt.
Chu Yunfei was invited by Ling Xueyao to enter the palace to detoxify the emperor.
Knowing Ling Xueyao as she did, she would never allow him to venture out alone into danger at such a critical juncture.
Moreover, there were previous reports that Chu Yunfei had already moved into Ling Xueyao's palace.
Suppressing the bitterness in her heart, Wen Jiao decisively ordered, " Uncle Yao, have the Grand Secretary continue to monitor the situation in the capital. Also, send a trusted confidant to the palace to see Xueyao and ask her about the situation."
Uncle Yao nodded in agreement, then asked, "Miss, what about the Grand Master... should we ask him to return to the Jade Firmament Sect? After all, the Grand Master is also an honorary elder of the Jade Firmament Sect. With him there, we might have a better chance of saving Young Master Chu."
Wen Jiao pondered for a moment, then shook her head and said, "There's no need to disturb Father. The situation in the capital is constantly changing, and the Grand Secretariat needs him to be there to oversee things."
"Moreover, Master is currently within the Jade Firmament Sect, and his mastery of alchemy is in no way inferior to Father's."
"I understand." Uncle Yao bowed and withdrew.
After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
The azure-colored spirit boat tore through the thick clouds and descended from the sky.
The world ahead suddenly opened up, with verdant mountains, cascading waterfalls, and a faint, refreshing fragrance of herbs and plants permeating the air.
The gates of the Jade Firmament Sect are now in sight.
Before the spirit boat had even gotten close, several powerful auras rose into the sky from the sea of clouds in front of the mountain gate, stepping through the air and blocking the way for the flying boat.
"This is a sacred ground of the sect; all trespassers are prohibited!"
The young deacon at the head of the group shouted loudly.
Uncle Yao stepped out from the bow of the ship, displaying the golden token of the Pill Pavilion: " The Pill Pavilion Headquarters, escorting Wen Jiao back to her clan."
Upon recognizing the token, the young deacon's expression changed instantly. He suppressed his imposing aura, cupped his hands in a polite gesture, and said, "So you are a distinguished guest of the Pill Pavilion. Please come in."
The boat door opened, Wen Jiao carried the unconscious Chu Yunfei on her back, gracefully landing off the flying boat.
Upon seeing Wen Jiao, the young deacon's eyes flashed with admiration. He smiled and stepped forward, saying, "It's been many years, Miss Wen. You're as charming as ever. My Holy Son has been talking about you quite often lately..."
Before she could finish speaking, the young deacon's gaze fell on the man behind Wen Jiao.
The man was completely covered by a black cloak, but the corners of his clothing that were faintly visible were soaked with dark red blood, and he was barely breathing.
The dignified young lady of the Pill Pavilion, Wen Jiao, who is usually aloof and cold, is actually carrying a strange man on her back?
A hint of surprise flashed in the young deacon's eyes.
Wen Jiao had no interest in pleasantries, her expression as cold as ice. "I have returned to the sect for a life-or-death matter. Please inform Elder Wen Buqi, an elder of my Wen Family, and ask him to go to my father's residence in the inner sect immediately."
The young steward's heart skipped a beat. Not daring to be negligent, he quickly cupped his hands and said, "Miss Wen, rest assured, I will send the message immediately."
Wen Jiao didn't linger. She circulated her spiritual energy, transforming into a white light, and carried Chu Yunfei straight towards the depths of the inner sect.
Watching Wen Jiao's departing figure, the young deacon beckoned to a disciple guarding the mountain beside him and whispered, "Quickly go to the Holy Son's residence to inform Senior Brother Zhou Heng that Wen Jiao has returned, and... she's personally carrying a severely injured, dying stranger on her back."
The disciple guarding the mountain understood immediately and turned to leave.
Inside a secluded bamboo grove courtyard within the inner Jade Firmament Sect.
Just as Wen Jiao laid Chu Yunfei flat on the bed in the side room, a rapid whooshing sound came from outside the courtyard.
A sprightly old man with white hair, dressed in alchemy robes, rushed into the room; it was Wen Buqi.
When he saw Wen Jiao, his face was initially full of a kind smile, " Jiao'er, it's been more than half a year since I last saw you. Why did you suddenly return to the Jade Firmament Sect? Weren't you always the one who loved coming back to this sect?"
"Second Grandfather, let's catch up later."
Wen Jiao stepped forward, tightly grasping Wen Buqi's sleeve, her eyes red and her voice trembling. "You are a peak fifth-grade alchemist, well-versed in medicine, please help me save Chu Yunfei."
Wen Buqi's smile froze instantly, " Chu Yunfei? What's he doing here? Where is he?"
Wen Jiao turned to the side and pointed to the bed.
Wen Buqi walked quickly to the bedside, looked down, and his expression suddenly changed.
He lifted a corner of his black robe, placing three withered fingers on Chu Yunfei's wrist, while simultaneously probing into Chu's body with his divine sense without reservation.
Just three breaths.
The color drained from Wen Buqi's face at a visible speed, his brows furrowed into a tight knot, and he gasped for breath.
His internal organs were severely damaged, his eight extraordinary meridians were broken in many places, and his qi and blood were dried up like scorched earth. Even more fatal was that the power of his soul in his sea of consciousness was almost completely exhausted, and his spiritual pool showed signs of irreversible collapse.
Such terrifying injuries would have killed a cultivator at the Divine Sea Realm long ago.
How could this kid have managed to hold on until now with only a wisp of breath?
Wen Buqi withdrew his hand, his expression extremely grave. He asked in a deep voice, "Why was he injured like this? Could it be that those old bastards from the Heavenly Sword Sect preemptively killed him in the imperial city?!"
Wen Jiao bit her lip and quickly recounted the great battle outside the imperial city, the deaths of Chen Xuanhai and Han Kui, and the process of finding Chu Yunfei in the desolate mountains.
Upon hearing Wen Buqi's eyelids twitched wildly, and his beard trembled slightly.
" Heavenly Origin Realm Fifth Layer... caught in a deadly trap set by two powerful Divine Sea Realm experts, the scene even stirred up Imperial Dao Dragon Qi..."
Wen Buqi let out a long breath, looked at Chu Yunfei on the bed whose face was pale, and fell into a long silence.
Seeing Wen Buqi remain silent for a long time, Wen Jiao's panic grew stronger. She grabbed his wrist and pleaded in a tearful voice, "Second Grandfather, please speak! You must have a way, right? He is my savior. If it weren't for him, Jiao'er's Heavenly Yin Baleful Intent Physique would have already exploded and killed me."
Wen Buqi felt a pang of pain in his heart as he looked at his grandniece, who had always been proud and arrogant, now appearing so dejected.
He closed his eyes, shook his head heavily, and let out a long sigh:
" My Jiao'er, it's not that I'm unwilling to save you, but young friend Chu's life force is nearly gone. Your internal organs are shattered, your meridians are destroyed, and your soul is exhausted. Ordinary fifth-grade or even sixth-grade pills simply cannot repair the injuries caused by such severe damage."
Wen Jiaojiao trembled violently, as if struck by lightning. She staggered back two steps and almost fell to the ground.
Her pretty face turned deathly pale, tears welled up in her eyes, and she murmured absentmindedly, "Impossible... How could this happen... Second Grandfather, is there really no way at all?"
Looking into her despairing eyes, Wen Buqi finally couldn't bear it. After hesitating for a long time, he lowered his voice and said:
"It's not entirely without a chance, but... this method simply won't work."
A strong sense of hope instantly ignited in Wen Jiao's eyes, and she urgently asked, "But what? Second Grandfather, please tell me!"
Wen Buqi turned his head to look out the window towards the main hall of the sect, and said in a deep voice:
"Sixth-grade pills are not potent enough. Only a seventh-grade legendary divine pill, ten times more potent than a sixth-grade pill, can bring the dead back to life, heal the wounded and rebuild his collapsed spiritual pool. Only after the spiritual pool is rebuilt will there be a glimmer of hope for his survival."
"But looking across the entire Eastern Continent, there is only one Grade Seven pill, and that is our Jade Firmament Sect's most treasured possession, the Nine-Aperture Life-Restoring Pill!"
"That divine pill is sealed within the sect's ancestral hall, a treasured artifact. The Jade Firmament Sect would never use such a divine object for a complete outsider."
Wen Buqi looked at Wen Jiao and shook his head bitterly. "So Jiao'er... give up."
I won't give up!
Wen Jiao bit her pale lower lip hard, her nails even piercing her palms, a resolute look she had never seen before shining in her eyes.
She raised her head, looked directly at Wen Buqi, and said, word by word, "No matter the cost, even if it means risking the entire Pill Pavilion, I will save him! Second Grandfather, the Pill Pavilion and the Jade Firmament Sect have been allied for a hundred years. I beg you to intercede with the sect elders on my behalf."
Looking at the resolute light in her eyes, Wen Buqi knew that this girl had an extremely strong personality; once she made up her mind, nothing could sway her.
He sighed deeply, then finally nodded. "Fine, I'll disregard my old face and go to the sect's main hall for you."
After saying this, Wen Buqi turned around and quickly walked out of the courtyard.
Wen Jiao leaned against the bedside, exhausted, and tightly grasped Chu Yunfei's large, icy hand. She pressed his hand against her tear-streaked cheek and sobbed softly:
" Chu Yunfei, did you hear me...? Hold on, I will definitely save you..."
Before the words were finished, the half-closed door of the room was suddenly pushed open from the outside.
Accompanied by a series of steady footsteps, a young man's voice, tinged with a hint of teasing yet gentle, suddenly rang out at the doorway:
"Junior Sister Wen, it's been so many years, what has made you so sad?"