RUMBLE.

Thunder rolled across the sky as a torrential downpour began.

The Death Mountain Range was already a lifeless, somber place that gave off a gloomy feeling. Now, with the rain, the entire mountain range fell into an eerie silence.

BANG.

With a loud crash, a delicate figure was thrown back violently.

Blood trickled from the corner of Yue Lianxi’s mouth. Facing her was a Spirit Realm Demon Tiger. She had entered this place a short time ago in search of Ning Jiang, only to be attacked by this beast.

There were quite a few Spirit Realm Demon Beasts in the Death Mountain Range, which was why the Yanyue Sect disciples had suffered severe injuries while searching for Ning Jiang.

"Cough, cough."

Yue Lianxi coughed lightly, her face growing even paler.

She was already exhausted from her search for Ning Jiang, and this Demon Tiger’s strength was greater than hers.

ROAR.

The Demon Tiger roared and attacked again, its assault exceptionally fierce.

"Cyan Fur, come look! That tiger is fighting a woman."

"What good luck. We came here specifically for a Spirit Medicine that tiger was guarding. Now that it’s busy fighting someone, we can take the chance to grab it."

Not far away, the White Ape and the Cyan-Haired One-Horned Lion were secretly delighted. They had assumed they would have to fight for it, but who would have thought they’d stumble upon such a fortunate situation?

The two demons immediately snuck into the Demon Tiger’s territory and retrieved a Spirit Medicine from within.

BOOM.

With another deafening crash, Yue Lianxi was sent flying back. Her frail body slammed hard against a rock formation, shattering it on impact. She opened her mouth and spat out a mouthful of blood with a "WAH."

"Let’s go."

The two demons planned to leave, with no intention of saving Yue Lianxi. After all, she was a complete stranger to them.

’Ning Jiang, where in the world are you...?’

A bitter smile touched Yue Lianxi’s lips. ’Is this where it ends for me?’

’Is Ning Jiang really dead?’

She looked up at the sky, which was filled with dark clouds. The heavy rain fell everywhere. This rain felt so desolate.

’If you’re really gone, then... I’ll join you.’ Yue Lianxi slowly closed her eyes, giving up all resistance.

The Demon Tiger slowly approached, its eyes filled with nothing but cruelty. A Demon Beast would have no concept of showing pity to a beautiful woman.

"Damn it, she seems to know Ning Jiang! Quick, save her!"

The two demons had been about to leave, but they never expected to hear Ning Jiang’s name from Yue Lianxi’s lips. They immediately understood that she must be connected to him.

"Demon Tiger, get lost if you don’t want to die! You can’t touch this person," the White Ape and the Cyan-Haired One-Horned Lion shouted as they charged out.

ROAR.

The Demon Tiger let out a furious roar and lunged at them.

"Let’s attack together."

The two demons joined forces, using their techniques to fight the Demon Tiger.

After half a stick of incense, the area was a complete mess. The ground was covered in cracks, and the Demon Tiger fled with heavy injuries.

"If you want to see Ning Jiang, come with us."

The two demons were also injured. They said this to Yue Lianxi and led the way.

An endless light burst forth from Yue Lianxi’s beautiful eyes, and her delicate body began to tremble uncontrollably. ’Is Ning Jiang still alive?’

...

Half an hour later, inside a mountain cave, Yue Lianxi finally saw the person she had been searching for for so many days.

’How did he get so badly injured?’

The moment she saw Ning Jiang, Yue Lianxi was shocked. Inside the white crystal, Ning Jiang’s entire body was covered in terrifying cracks.

"He used a special technique to fight the Blood Demon King and paid a terrible price," the two demons explained.

After hearing their explanation, a look of heartache and pity appeared in Yue Lianxi’s beautiful eyes.

He had been willing to risk his own life to seal the Blood Demon King. This earned her respect, but it pained her heart even more.

’Why did Ning Jiang have to bear such a heavy burden?’

’If I hadn’t brought Ning Jiang to Qing Province back then, he wouldn’t have met with such a disaster...’

CRACK.

Suddenly, a cracking sound was heard. A fissure had appeared on the white Crystal Stone.

"This is bad!"

The two demons’ expressions changed drastically. They quickly took out the Spirit Medicine, refined it into a liquid, and sprinkled it onto the white crystal.

As the Spirit Medicine’s liquid was sprinkled on it, the crack healed slightly.

"What’s going on?" Yue Lianxi asked.

"You saw it for yourself. He’s only alive now because this crystal is protecting him. But the crystal’s Energy isn’t infinite; it’s being slowly depleted. Once the crystal’s Energy is gone, he will surely die."

"His injuries are just too severe. We’ve been searching for Spirit Medicine this whole time, but it’s just a drop in the bucket. The Spirit Medicines can barely maintain the crystal’s Energy, let alone heal his injuries."

The White Ape’s voice was grave. After a pause, he said, "In his current condition, I’m afraid that in less than seven days, he will..."

He didn’t finish his sentence because it would be bad luck.

Ning Jiang’s situation was indeed terrible. His injuries were too severe for ordinary Spirit Medicines to cure.

After all, that one move, the Immortal Slaying Technique, had killed a Blood Spirit War General who was close to the Heaven-Reaching Realm. How could the aftereffects of such a powerful technique be resolved with ordinary Spirit Medicine?

"The Yanyue Sect has some healing medicines, but given his injuries, I’m afraid they won’t be very effective either."

Yue Lianxi’s fists clenched. ’Am I just going to stand by and watch Ning Jiang die?’

"I’ll go back to the Sect first and bring those medicines here."

Even if those Spirit Medicines couldn’t completely cure Ning Jiang’s injuries, they could at least buy him some more time.

...

A day later, Yue Lianxi rushed back from the Yanyue Sect. She not only brought back a large quantity of Spirit Medicines but was also accompanied by the Sect’s Grand Elder.

Upon seeing Ning Jiang, the Grand Elder’s expression immediately grew heavy. "With injuries this severe, the Spirit Medicines we brought will be of no use. In fact, if too much time passes, his injuries will likely worsen."

"Grand Elder, with all your knowledge, is there really no way to save him?"

Yue Lianxi’s expression changed. She had brought the Grand Elder precisely because he was worldly and knowledgeable, hoping he might know of a solution.

But the Grand Elder’s words were tantamount to a death sentence for Ning Jiang.

"With injuries as severe as his, it would take a Treasure of at least the Earth Martial Realm Level to have any chance of healing him. How could our Yanyue Sect possibly possess such a thing?"

As he spoke, the Grand Elder paused, his brow furrowing. "Unless..."

"Unless what?"

Yue Lianxi pressed him urgently. As long as there was a way to save Ning Jiang, she would not give up.

"I know that within the Star Sword Sect, there is a Tree of Longevity. The Longevity Fruit it bears might be able to heal his injuries."

The Grand Elder shook his head. "But the Longevity Fruit is the Star Sword Sect’s most important treasure. It is incredibly precious and priceless. The Star Sword Sect would never part with it. It’s said that even an expert at the Fourth Realm, the Immortal Realm, who once asked the Star Sword Sect for a Longevity Fruit was refused."

"No, it’s not entirely impossible!"

At that moment, Yue Lianxi spoke slowly.

"Oh? Tell me more."

"Given that prodigy’s status in the Star Sword Sect, if I were to ask him for a Longevity Fruit, do you think he would agree, Grand Elder?"

"That prodigy is the son of the Star Sword Sect’s Old Sect Leader. He certainly has the ability to get one, but..."

The Grand Elder hesitated, then said, "Lianxi, you once fled to the Cyan Cloud Country, far from Qing Province, specifically to avoid his advances. You’ve always despised him. Are you really going to go and beg him?"

Yue Lianxi smiled but said nothing.

But the Grand Elder could see the determination in her eyes.

’I’m so proud of you.’

Gazing at Ning Jiang inside the crystal, Yue Lianxi murmured, a hint of sorrow suddenly appearing in her beautiful eyes, "But... I just want you to live..."

With that, she turned and left.

The Grand Elder reached out his hand, wanting to call out to Yue Lianxi, but in the end, all that escaped was a soft sigh that echoed in the cave.