Life Pact, the Azure Lotus Revival, and a Glimmer of Divine Inheritance

The road back to Heaven Dou City was the longest journey of Tang San's life.

Lin Ye lay on a makeshift stretcher, his breathing faint. The Golden Crow Fire around him had nearly gone out, leaving only a few feeble flames dancing at his fingertips like a guttering candle in the wind. Tang San stayed by his side every step of the way, pouring the Azure Lotus Soul Bone's power into him without pause, trying to stabilize his ebbing life force.

Powerful as the Blood Dragon Fruit was, it could only slow the loss of his life force; it could not repair the origin gravely damaged by the Netherworld Ghost Claw. Whenever Tang San saw Lin Ye's paper-pale face, his heart felt as though an invisible hand had clenched around it, spreading a suffocating pain through him.

"It's all my fault," Tang San murmured more than once. "If I were stronger, if I'd spotted the trap sooner..."

"It's not your fault." Xiao Wu sat beside him and gently took his hand, her voice choking. "Lin Ye did it to protect us. He won't regret it."

Dai Mubai followed silently behind them, carrying a heavy pack. Ever since Yue Guan had injured him in the swamp, he had rarely spoken, but the self-reproach in his eyes had grown ever deeper. Oscar kept making Recovery Sausages of every kind. Even knowing they would do little for the damage to Lin Ye's origin, he never stopped-it was the only thing he could do.

Tang Hao walked at the head of the group, his back hunched but his bearing exceptionally resolute. Now and then, he looked back at Lin Ye on the stretcher, complicated emotions flashing in his eyes: sorrow, guilt, and, more than anything, an indescribable hope.

By the time they reached Heaven Dou City, Ning Fengzhi, Yu Luomian, and Tang Xiao were already waiting at the city gates. The joy on their faces froze the moment they saw Lin Ye on the stretcher.

"Quick! Carry him to the medical hall!" Ning Fengzhi acted decisively. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda appeared above his head, bathing Lin Ye in gentle light. "Brother Yu, prepare the Spring Water of Life!"

Inside the medical hall, the finest physicians worked around Lin Ye. Spring Water of Life was slowly poured into his mouth, while the seven-colored light of the Azure Lotus Soul Bone intertwined with the remnants of Golden Crow Fire, forming a strange vortex over his chest.

"How is he?" Tang San asked anxiously.

The physician in charge shook his head, his expression grave. "The origin of his Soul Power has already collapsed, and his life force is like a guttering candle in the wind. The Spring Water of Life and the Soul Bone's power can keep him alive, but they can't wake him, unless..."

"Unless what?" everyone asked in unison.

"Unless we can find the legendary Nirvana Fire." The physician sighed. "It's said to be a flame older than the Three-Legged Golden Crow, capable of reforging a Soul Master's origin and reversing life and death. But it's only a legend from ancient texts. No one knows whether it truly exists."

Nirvana Fire?

Tang San's heart sank. If even Golden Crow Fire could not heal him, how could a legendary flame be found so easily?

Just then, Tang Hao suddenly spoke. "Perhaps we don't need to find Nirvana Fire."

Everyone turned to him.

Tang Hao walked to the sickbed and gazed at the vortex over Lin Ye's chest. "The life force of the Azure Lotus Soul Bone contains the power of nirvana to begin with," he said slowly. "The Chaos Azure Lotus was born when heaven and earth first opened and has endured countless cycles of destruction and rebirth. Its origin shares a remarkable similarity with Golden Crow Fire's power to burn away the old self and nurture new life."

"You mean..." A keen light flashed in Ning Fengzhi's eyes.

"Using the Azure Lotus Soul Bone as a catalyst to awaken the latent origin of Golden Crow Fire might allow him to undergo a true nirvana." A trace of uncertainty entered Tang Hao's voice. "But it would be extremely risky. If it fails, his soul will be utterly scattered."

"I'll do it!" Tang San stepped forward without hesitation. "I'll guide the Soul Bone's power. I believe in Lin Ye. He'll make it through!"

Tang Hao looked at his determined eyes and nodded. "All right. But this requires more than the Soul Bone's power. It also needs a Life Pact linked to him by blood. You'll use your life force to pave the way for him, so he won't lose himself during nirvana."

"A Life Pact?" Tang San stared.

"It means using your Soul Power and essence blood as a catalyst to establish a soul connection with him, share the pain he suffers during nirvana, and guide his consciousness back," Yu Luomian explained. "It will take a tremendous toll on you and might even damage your foundation."

"I'm not afraid." Tang San's gaze fell on Lin Ye's face, his voice utterly resolute. "He's given so much for me. What does this little price of mine amount to?"

Without further discussion, the ritual began in the medical hall. Tang San sat cross-legged beside Lin Ye, placed the Azure Lotus Soul Bone between them, and cut his finger, letting his essence blood drip onto the bone.

"In the name of Tang San, I borrow the Azure Lotus's power to forge a Life Pact and guide my friend Lin Ye back to his place!"

At his words, the Azure Lotus Soul Bone burst into dazzling light. Tang San's essence blood formed a crimson pattern on the bone, extending to the center of Lin Ye's forehead. Tang San could clearly feel his life force flowing through the pattern and pouring into Lin Ye without end.

At the same time, his consciousness entered a strange space-Lin Ye's sea of consciousness.

The sea of consciousness was filled with chaos. Only a few faint golden flames struggled within it: the remnants of Lin Ye's consciousness. Endless darkness surrounded them, steadily devouring the golden flames.

"Lin Ye! Wake up! It's me, Tang San!" Tang San's consciousness became a streak of blue light and rushed toward the golden flames.

The flames trembled slightly, as though they had heard his call, but remained weak.

"Don't give up! Think of the days we fought together! Think of our promise in the Soul Hunting Forest! Think of how we still have to stand against Spirit Hall together and protect the continent together!" Tang San's consciousness kept shouting as he poured his life force into the flames.

The golden flames gradually brightened and began to fight back against the surrounding darkness. But the darkness was too powerful. Several times the flames tried to blaze up, only to be ruthlessly suppressed.

"Not enough... still not enough..." Tang San felt his Soul Power being rapidly consumed, leaving him dizzy and lightheaded. But he gritted his teeth and squeezed out Soul Power from deeper within himself. "Lin Ye, get up! Don't you always love saying, 'The Golden Crow never admits defeat'? Prove it to me now!"

His words seemed to light a fuse. The golden flames suddenly burst into brilliant light, and the phantom of a Three-Legged Golden Crow slowly unfurled within the chaos, letting out a cry that rang throughout the sea of consciousness!

"Screee-!"

The cry resounded throughout the medical hall. Lin Ye's body began to tremble violently, and the Golden Crow Fire around him and the Azure Lotus Soul Bone's light surged at once, forming a huge cocoon of energy that enveloped him and Tang San.

"It's begun!" Tang Hao clenched his fists and watched the energy cocoon tensely.

Inside the energy cocoon, Tang San's consciousness merged with Lin Ye's Golden Crow phantom. He could feel the pain Lin Ye was enduring-the tearing sensation of his origin being reforged, as though every inch of his sinews and bones were being burned and reshaped. He endured the agony transmitted to him and kept using his consciousness to guide the Azure Lotus Soul Bone's life force, repairing Lin Ye's damaged origin.

Time passed bit by bit. Everyone in the medical hall held their breath, not daring to make a sound. Tang San's face grew paler and paler, his lips dry and cracked. Clearly, he had reached his limit.

Xiao Wu clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug deep into her palms, tears welling in her eyes. Dai Mubai and Oscar were just as tense, their gazes fixed on the energy cocoon.

No one knew how much time had passed when, just as Tang San's consciousness was about to disperse, an unprecedented light suddenly erupted within the energy cocoon!

Golden flames and seven-colored light of life merged perfectly, forming the phantom of an enormous Lotus Fire Golden Crow. It spread its wings, half covered in burning flames and half in blooming azure lotuses, sacred and majestic.

"We did it!" Ning Fengzhi cried excitedly.

The energy cocoon slowly dispersed, revealing the two inside.

Lin Ye slowly opened his eyes. They were no longer simply gold; a trace of seven-colored light now flowed through them. His hair had turned a dazzling gold, and the Golden Crow Fire around him burned more vigorously than before. Yet it was no longer scorching, instead carrying a warm, gentle vitality.

He sat up and looked at the nearly exhausted Tang San beside him, his eyes filled with gratitude. "Little San..."

"You're awake..." Tang San smiled weakly. Darkness closed over his vision, and he fell unconscious.

"Tang San!" Lin Ye hurriedly caught him and poured his Golden Crow Fire into him. "I'm sorry. I made you worry again."

"Don't worry about us yet. Quickly, see how Tang San is!" Xiao Wu rushed over, speaking anxiously.

The physician hurried forward to examine him. A moment later, he breathed a sigh of relief. "He's merely exhausted too much Soul Power and life force. His life isn't in danger; a few days of rest will restore him."

Only then did everyone breathe a sigh of relief.

Lin Ye looked at the unconscious Tang San and felt the unprecedented power within himself. Not only had his Golden Crow Fire recovered, it had also fused with the Azure Lotus Soul Bone's life force. It could burn all things and nourish life, and his strength had apparently broken through level fifty, reaching the Soul King realm.

"Thank you, Little San," Lin Ye said softly, determination flashing in his eyes. "From now on, it's my turn to protect you."

Three days later, Tang San finally woke up. Lin Ye immediately transferred his Golden Crow Fire to him, helping him restore his Soul Power.

"How do you feel?" Lin Ye asked with a smile.

"Much better." Tang San stretched his limbs and was surprised to discover that not only had his Soul Power suffered no damage, but because of the Life Pact, his connection to the Azure Lotus Soul Bone had grown closer, and the power of his All-Encompassing Heavenly Net Soul Skill had increased considerably. "Your strength..."

"Thanks to you, I broke through to Soul King." Lin Ye held out his palm, golden flames intertwining with seven-colored light. "And I think I can sense where the other Azure Lotus Soul Bones are."

"Really?" Tang San was both surprised and delighted.

Lin Ye nodded and closed his eyes, sensing for a moment. "One is in the core sacred land of Spirit Hall. The other... seems to be in the Far North of the Star Luo Empire, sealed in ice and snow."

The discovery encouraged the entire alliance. The goal of gathering all five Soul Bones had finally come into focus.

Ning Fengzhi immediately gathered everyone to discuss the matter. "Now that we know where the Soul Bones are, we must act quickly. Spirit Hall is surely looking for the last one too. We have to get ahead of them."

"I'll go to the Star Luo Empire." Dai Mubai volunteered. "My older brother Dai Hao is in the Star Luo Empire Royal Soul Master Corps. With his help, finding the Soul Bone will be much easier."

"Leave Spirit Hall's sacred land to Lin Ye and me," Tang San said. "With the Azure Lotus Soul Bone's resonance, we might be able to slip in quietly and leave as soon as we get the Soul Bone."

"No." Tang Hao shook his head. "Bibi Dong is personally guarding Spirit Hall's sacred land. Going there would be throwing your lives away. Your eldest uncle and I will find a way to keep her occupied, and you can take the chance to sneak in."

With that, the plan was settled. The alliance began mobilizing its forces, and the atmosphere in Heaven Dou City grew tense once more. But this time, everyone's eyes were filled with hope.

Lin Ye stood by the window of the medical hall, watching the alliance's Soul Masters train outside and feeling the power of lotus fire flowing through him. His heart was filled with unprecedented resolve. He knew that nirvana had not only given him greater strength, but also made him understand the meaning of companionship: it was not about one person protecting another, but about supporting each other and moving forward together.

He turned to look at Tang San, who was cultivating, and gave him a radiant smile.

Gathering the Soul Bones, standing against Spirit Hall, awakening the Azure Lotus's true power... The road ahead was still fraught with danger, but as long as they remained together, there was no hardship they could not overcome.

Far away in Spirit Hall's sacred land, Pope Bibi Dong stood before the Angel God Statue, sensing the fluctuations of the Azure Lotus Soul Bone. A cold smile curved her lips. "You're finally going to gather them all... Good. Then let me use your blood to complete the Angel God's final revival."

A crimson light flashed in the statue's eyes, as though foretelling an earth-shaking catastrophe to come.