Chapter 830: A Feigned Collapse and a Misdiagnosis
Xiao Fan had nothing of value on him, but Xiao Qingtian's storage bag was a different story. It was filled with a trove of treasures he had managed to secure from the Yunhai Sect. Before the sect's annihilation, its disciples had been instructed to scatter, taking with them whatever resources and ancient texts they could carry to preserve their legacy.
Xiao Qingtian had received his share. However, as he was only at the peak of the Qi Refining Stage at the time, the items he was entrusted with were limited. Aside from the treasure-grade White River Divine Sword, his bag contained a collection of the Yunhai Sect's ancient manuals and various pills suitable for cultivators in the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment realms.
"These pills aren't half bad," Shen Anyu remarked, a faint smile gracing his handsome face. He counted hundreds of bottles. No wonder Xiao Qingtian had managed to break through to the Foundation Establishment realm in the Secular World, where spiritual energy was so scarce.
As for the Yunhai Sect's ancient texts, Shen Anyu couldn't be bothered. He already possessed the complete inherited memories of Heavenly Venerable Chen Yuhua. Why would he care for the legacy of a sect whose strongest cultivator had only ever reached the Nascent Soul stage?
'Hiss… what's this?' Shen Anyu's Divine Sense swept through the bag, his eyes narrowing as he spotted an object tucked away in a corner. He couldn't help but draw in a sharp, quiet breath.
It was a pill the size of a baby's fist, its surface a lustrous, purplish-black. complex patterns, like naturally formed veins, covered its entirety, giving it the appearance of some demonic fruit from a forgotten legend.
It was a top-grade Heavenly Lightning Orb, a treasure meant for those at the Golden Core Stage.
And its power? If detonated, the terrifying heavenly lightning contained within would instantly incinerate everything in a hundred-li radius. It was more destructive than a three-megaton nuclear bomb, capable of obliterating a small island, its force approaching the full-powered strike of an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator.
'Good thing I finished him instantly with the Two-Aspects Life-Death Mystical Light,' Shen Anyu mused. 'If he'd had a chance to pull this out and go for mutual destruction… I would have had no choice but to use Love Infinite Teleport to get away.'
A soft chuckle escaped his lips. Possessing a skill that allowed him to teleport to the side of any woman with a favorability of ninety or higher made him virtually invincible. He could even take Liu Ruyan, Zhong Lingyin, and his Third Senior Sister, Murong Jieyu, with him.
Still, unless absolutely necessary, Shen Anyu had no desire to reveal such a powerful trump card.
"That old man was absolutely terrifying! Thank goodness my good… my good husband, you were so powerful you killed him in an instant!" Liu Ruyan leaned in close. She had been about to say 'dog man,' but she caught Shen Anyu's half-smile and was instantly reminded of the lingering soreness in her waist and knees. She quickly changed her tune, her voice dripping with praise and admiration.
In her heart, she was cheering: My good husband is invincible under the heavens!
"Brother Shen, are you alright?" Zhong Lingyin asked, her small, delicate, palm-sized face a canvas of joy and deep relief.
The power Xiao Qingtian had displayed was even more monstrous than that of a Land Immortal. She had been sick with worry, consumed by a despair that made her think she and Shen Anyu were destined to die here together. Fortunately, Brother Shen was powerful enough to slay even a monster like Xiao Qingtian.
Murong Jieyu's eyes, as deep and clear as autumn pools, also rested on Shen Anyu, filled with undisguised concern. What had happened today was something she would never forget. It was as if she had glimpsed an incredible, hidden world, and at its center stood a man who seemed like an immortal banished to the mortal realm.
Shen Anyu nodded and offered the three women a reassuring smile, then suddenly broke into a series of violent coughs. "I used a forbidden technique to kill Xiao Qingtian, and my body is… suffering the backlash. I'll leave the rest to you. For now, don't go near Baiwu Mountain Valley, and make sure to tie up Xiao Fan…"
After giving a few brief instructions, Shen Anyu's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed, falling straight into Murong Jieyu's embrace.
'A formidable bosom!' A slight, almost imperceptible curve touched Shen Anyu's lips.
"Shen Anyu!" Murong Jieyu cried out in surprise, her alarm momentarily overriding her shyness.
"Brother Shen!" "Dog man!" Zhong Lingyin and Liu Ruyan's faces went pale with fright.
…
At dusk, the sunset blazed like a splendid fire, draping the Qinling Mountains in a veil of crimson, like a beautiful bride on her wedding day. Light and shadow danced among the leaves as a gentle wind rustled through the trees. Occasionally, a bird returning to its nest would let out a few crisp chirps.
It was a stunning mountain evening. Had any literary or artistic backpackers been present, they would surely be praising it endlessly, taking photos and videos, writing essays and modern poetry.
But Murong Jieyu, Liu Ruyan, and Zhong Lingyin were in no mood to appreciate the scenery.
More than an hour had passed. Five li outside Baiwu Mountain Valley, a brand-new wooden house had risen from the ground. Inside, Shen Anyu lay on a simple wooden bed, still unconscious.
"Murong Jieyu, why isn't Shen Anyu waking up yet? What exactly is wrong with him?" Liu Ruyan stared at the unconscious man, her heart aching. Her usual charming and alluring demeanor was gone, replaced by brows furrowed with overwhelming concern. Even her breathing was shallow, as if she were afraid of disturbing his peaceful rest.
If she had known Shen Anyu would be injured today, she would have cooperated with him last night, no matter what. Liu Ruyan was filled with immense regret.
'Dog man, wake up,' she pleaded silently. 'If you wake up, Yan'er will agree to any of your requests. Anywhere you want is fine~'
"Sister Mu Mu, you're a Goddess Doctor! Can't you tell what's wrong?" Zhong Lingyin's tone carried an uncharacteristic hint of accusation.
She, who was always pure, beautiful, and gentle, who always spoke softly to her fans, the media, and her family, who never lost her temper—now, facing her Third Senior Sister Murong Jieyu, she was on the verge of panic.
'Aren't you a Goddess Doctor? Why can't you cure Brother Shen?'
If… if something were to happen to Brother Shen, she didn't want to live either. Zhong Lingyin was also annoyed with herself. She shouldn't have been so modest last night. Perhaps she could have at least left a seed for Brother Shen.
Murong Jieyu didn't blame Zhong Lingyin for her questioning tone; she knew the girl was just worried sick.
At that moment, Murong Jieyu's gaze was fixed on the unconscious Shen Anyu. His handsome face no longer wore its usual gentle smile, nor the spirited, confident look he had when fighting Xiao Qingtian. His brows were tightly furrowed, as if he were in great pain, lending him a touch of vulnerability.
'This must be that 'broken beauty' of a battle-damaged handsome man, right?'
[Ding! Detected Destined Heroine Murong Jieyu's favorability +3. Plundered +9000 destiny value!]
Murong Jieyu thought to herself as she gently wiped the hot sweat beading on Shen Anyu's forehead. Her fingers brushed against his furrowed brow, as if wanting to smooth away his pain.
Putting the damp towel aside, Murong Jieyu faced the anxious gazes of Liu Ruyan and Zhong Lingyin and let out a soft sigh. "My medical skills are not refined enough. I… I can't tell what's wrong with Shen Anyu."
"He isn't weak right now. On the contrary, his life aura is terrifyingly vigorous. Logically, he shouldn't be unconscious at all~"
Murong Jieyu was completely baffled. She wasn't called a Goddess Doctor for nothing. It was said she could cure the most difficult and complicated diseases with immediate effect; wealthy tycoons would offer a hundred million in consultation fees just for her to see them.
But she couldn't understand the problem Shen Anyu faced. She couldn't even see any injuries.
Of course, Murong Jieyu couldn't understand. This was far beyond her scope of expertise.
Shen Anyu cultivated the Two-Aspects Life-Death Mystical Light. The energies of life and death within his body were originally in perfect balance. But in his fight with Xiao Qingtian—fearing that anything less than an instant kill against the Child of Destiny's Master could lead to a disastrous accident—he had unleashed nearly all his power.
In that single attack, most of the death energy in his body was consumed, causing his life energy to surge to an overwhelming level.
The solution was simple: he just needed to expel the excess life energy. But Shen Anyu couldn't bear to waste it. Besides, with no powerful enemies around for the time being, he could afford to take his time, slowly balancing and absorbing this surplus.
Shen Anyu was perfectly fine.
But in the eyes of Murong Jieyu, Liu Ruyan, and Zhong Lingyin, the situation was dire. They were deeply worried.
Because Shen Anyu's current body temperature had exceeded sixty degrees Celsius. They had never felt anything like the searing heat radiating from his skin.
"Shen Anyu's current condition doesn't seem like an injury… it's more like…" Murong Jieyu hesitated, her words trailing off.
"Like what? Murong Jieyu, just tell us!" Liu Ruyan and Zhong Lingyin pressed, their anxiety mounting. Why was she being so cryptic at a time like this?
"Like he's been given… that kind of medicine~" Murong Jieyu's dignified and elegant face flushed a faint shade of pink.
"Eh?" Liu Ruyan and Zhong Lingyin were utterly dumbfounded.
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