A golden avenue leading to a brand new world seemed to be slowly unfolding before their eyes.
Just then, Ye Lingling, who had been silent, finally spoke.
She looked at the lively discussion in the Chat Group, looked at the familiarity in Dugu Yan's words that others could hardly attain, and the entanglement and loss in her heart were finally broken through by an uncontrollable yearning.
She didn't want to wait passively like this anymore.
She didn't want to watch that figure move further and further away from her while she could only look up from where she stood.
She also wanted to become stronger.
She also wanted... to stand by his side.
[Nine Deaths, One Life: Big Brother Yi Fei, I also want to learn that Gene Primal Energy Method.]
Her message was short, yet it carried the decisiveness of burning one's bridges.
[Nine Deaths, One Life: Is that possible?]
After sending the message, Ye Lingling's heart raced uncontrollably. She stared nervously at the screen, her palms covered in sweat.
She was afraid of being rejected.
Afraid that she didn't even have the right to pursue him.
In the cave, Li Yifei looked at Ye Lingling's message and was slightly stunned.
He could clearly sense the cautious hope and the desperate courage behind the girl's words.
He smiled slightly and tapped his fingertip.
[Li Yifei: Of course, you can.]
[Li Yifei: When you all arrive at Heaven Dou City, I will help each of you find suitable Immortal Herbs based on your individual Physique and formulate a specialized Foundation Establishment plan for you.]
[Li Yifei: However, I must remind you first, the process of Cultivating the Gene Primal Energy Method is a hundred times more painful than Cultivating spirit power. You must be mentally prepared.]
Nine Heart Begonia, hailed as the number one healing Spirit on the Douluo Continent; as long as its spirit power is endless, the Spirit Master will never die.
The potential of this Spirit was far more than that.
If Ye Lingling could become a God, could her Nine Heart Begonia achieve true resurrection? Or even... resurrect a deity?
This was a topic of extremely high research value.
Li Yifei pondered. As for the shackles on the path to godhood for the Nine Heart Begonia, with the deduction of high-level wisdom combined with the assistance of Immortal Herbs, it might not be impossible to break through.
His reply acted like a calming pill, putting everyone in the Chat Group at ease.
It also acted like a strong stimulant, filling everyone with unprecedented fighting spirit.
Heaven Dou City.
This name, originally just the capital of an Empire, had, at this moment, become a Holy Land in the hearts of all the girls in the Chat Group.
There lay their hope, there lay their future.
And the only man who could open a new world for them.
...
A ray of sunset filtered through the gap in the cave, gently spilling onto Xiao Wu's long eyelashes, coating them with a faint golden-red halo.
Her eyelids fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes.
What met her gaze were the unfamiliar stone walls of the cave and a man's outer garment draped over her, carrying a faint trace of body heat.
"You're awake?"
A gentle voice sounded beside her.
Xiao Wu suddenly sat up, looking vigilantly toward the source of the sound.
Li Yifei was sitting by the bonfire, adding firewood to the flames.
Seeing Xiao Wu awake, he handed her a waterskin and a string of roasted wild fruits.
"Eat something first."
Xiao Wu looked at him, and her memories slowly returned.
She remembered.
She had been attacked by a mysterious person in black robes while rushing to Heaven Dou City yesterday.
That person was very strong; she had absolutely no power to fight back.
Just when she was about to fall into despair, she sent a distress message in the Chat Group.
And then... and then she passed out.
"Was... was it you who saved me?"
Xiao Wu took the waterskin and asked softly.
Li Yifei nodded.
"Yes, I have already dealt with the person who attacked you."
"Dealt with it?"
Xiao Wu was stunned for a moment. That person in black robes was a Titled Douluo level expert. Just like that... dealt with?
She looked at Li Yifei's calm profile, her heart filled with curiosity and gratitude.
"Thank you, Yi Fei... Brother."
She awkwardly called him that, imitating the way Ning Rongrong and the others addressed him in the group.
Li Yifei smiled.
"You're welcome. We are friends, aren't we?"
Friends...
A warm current surged through Xiao Wu's heart.
Ever since her mother died, she hadn't felt this sense of being protected by someone again.
She sipped the water and ate the roasted fruits, but her eyes kept sneaking glances at Li Yifei.
Was this person the omnipotent Brother Yi Fei from the group?
He didn't seem so unapproachable.
"That... who was the person who attacked me?"
Xiao Wu hesitated for a moment before finally asking.
She wanted to know who wanted to harm her.
Li Yifei glanced at her and said lightly.
"Tang Hao."
"Boom!"
That name exploded in Xiao Wu's mind like a bolt from the blue.
"Tang... Tang Hao? How could it be him? Isn't he Third Brother's father?"
Xiao Wu's face was filled with shock and confusion.
Li Yifei did not speak, but activated the live playback function of the Chat Group, displaying everything that had happened yesterday before Xiao Wu's eyes.
Watching Tang Hao's ugly face in the recording, listening to his vicious and selfish words, Xiao Wu's complexion turned pale bit by bit.
When she saw Tang Hao personally admit that he betrayed Ah Yin, that he tacitly allowed Tang San to undergo Possession, and that he intended to trick her into sacrificing herself for Tang San, Xiao Wu's body began to tremble uncontrollably.
She had always thought Tang San was her best friend, and Tang Hao was a respectable elder.
But now, reality had struck her with the cruelest blow.
It turned out everything was fake.
From beginning to end, she was merely a tool being used.
A hundred-thousand-year spirit ring and Spirit Bone that could be sacrificed at any time.
"How... how could this be..."
Xiao Wu's tears fell like broken strings of pearls.
She felt like her world had collapsed.
Li Yifei watched her quietly, offering no words of comfort.
Some things had to be understood by herself.
Some pain had to be endured by herself.
Only then could she truly grow.
At the same time, in the Chat Group.
Ah Yin felt a sharp sting in her heart watching Xiao Wu's heartbroken appearance in the live broadcast.
She seemed to see herself from back then.
The foolish self who was betrayed by the one she loved and ultimately had to sacrifice herself.
She curled up in a corner, burying her face deep into her knees.
Tang Hao was dead.
But her pain had not lessened in the slightest.
She didn't know where she should go from here.
This world no longer had a place for her.
She didn't even dare to speak in the group, fearing being recognized by Bibi Dong.
Although this Pontiff seemed not to know her, the hatred between Spirit Hall and the Blue Silver Emperor was etched into their very bones.
Just as she was in despair, a private chat window suddenly popped up.
It was Li Yifei.
[Li Yifei: Are you alright?]
Those four simple words made Ah Yin's body tremble violently.
She raised her head, looked at the profile picture, and her eyes blurred with tears again.