Chapter 67

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Chapter 67

"Child," the old lady called out, "Can you see me?"

The young boy, while sweeping the mountain path, turned his head at the sound and smiled, nodding even with his eyes closed.

"Earlier, my senior brother and I picked jade dew plums in the strange realm and distributed them to each palace. He drew a lot and coincidentally opened his Spiritual Orifice," Gong Wu explained. "Now, Brother Zhong is diligently practicing and even teaching the new students who just started. He does everything very well."

Kan Jixuan examined him for a moment, then handed him the bottle, briefly outlining the situation.

Upon hearing it was related to Sister Gong, Zhong Shiguang immediately bowed to them and solemnly agreed.

In the following days, Gong Wu stayed close to him, never leaving his side.

Just as the old lady from the Demon Realm had said, the human world had the essence of the sun and moon, and Moonfire Valley now had many powerful ones who were continuously breaking through their realms, with rich spiritual energy, making it even more suitable for her recovery.

In less than ten days, she faintly felt her body gaining weight, and her sense of smell began to recover little by little.

The scent of the charcoal fire in the morning medicine furnace, the sweet aroma of buns being steamed in the kitchen, and the delightful fragrance of blooming flowers in the spring.

Being alive is wonderful, Gong Wu couldn’t help but think.

Only by being alive can she see the vibrant world and everyone she loves.

But compared to the surprise of slowly stepping into rebirth, her heart ached more for Ji Yang.

He remained isolated in the dark depths of the Demon Realm, unable to see everything happening before her.

I must save you.

Senior brother, wait for me.

Tu Xuixin received news from Kan Jixuan and soon came to explore the secret of the Qiongjin bottle.

He twisted open the bottle and poured out the pill he had refined earlier, noticing it began to faintly glow again.

"Little Wu, I’m worried this bottle may trap your torso and limbs," the Master pondered. "Do you need to use something like lotus roots to create a body like in ‘Investiture of the Gods’?"

Gong Wu floated in mid-air and shook her head firmly.

She just wanted her own body! She didn’t want any substitutes made of flowers or grass!

Fortunately, after another fifteen days, with the full moon and enriched spiritual energy, she felt her body suddenly become heavy in her dreams, causing the bottle to roll off the table with a clatter.

With a loud crash, the little girl sat up in pain.

"Ow."

Zhong Shiguang, who had been meditating and comprehending in the late night, saw Gong Wu regain her human form and called out excitedly, "Senior sister!"

"How is your pulse, senior sister? Are your lungs and internal organs complete? Do you need me to call the Master to brew some medicine for you to strengthen your foundations?"

"Don’t rush."

Gong Wu winced from the pain in her backside as she leaned on him, slowly standing up. She looked at the battered Qiongjin bottle, feeling a bit heartbroken.

The Master had spent a long time refining this little bottle; she would have to soothe him later.

She touched her skin and cheeks again; everything felt just like before, without a single scar or pockmark.

"Good, very good!"

Zhong Shiguang observed her carefully, stepping back with a smile of joy, his eyes closed in delight.

"Senior sister, you seem to be emanating an immortal aura. Could it be that you’ve advanced?"

Gong Wu suddenly realized that she had indeed progressed from the Opening Sun Realm to the Jade Balance Realm, and with just one more step, she could face the tribulations and ascend to immortality.

Now that her spiritual energy had returned to her dantian, there was no sign of her previous plight when she was turned into a medicinal pill!

Overjoyed, she hugged her junior brother tightly and dashed back to Tianhua Palace.

"Master!!"

Tu Xuixin was in a deep sleep when he heard Gong Wu pounding on the door. He hastily wrapped himself in a blanket and rushed to greet her.

"You’re back, you’re back!!" Tu Xuixin’s tears flowed freely. "Finally, one of you has returned. You can’t imagine how lonely it felt to be alone in the deep palace."

"Let’s gather our strength and bring your senior brother back," he said, rubbing his eyes and choking back tears. "Then we can visit your senior sister and pay our respects at her grave."

Gong Wu inhaled the fresh air deeply, laughing heartily as she spun around, encircled by Gong Hua Ji.

Tu Xuixin carefully presented her with her umbrella, saying earnestly, "I’ve kept all your belongings safe. Not a single item has been lost over these ten years, not even a speck of dust on your chopsticks."

"Good disciple, rest well tonight; there are important tasks awaiting you tomorrow."

Gong Wu immediately declared, "I intend to return to the Demon Realm to see senior brother."

"Of course," Tu Xuixin replied, retrieving a book from the treasure shelf nearby. "This was prepared by Elder Kan after several discussions with me. It outlines your training path."

"When was this written?"

"Two or three years ago," Tu Xuixin sighed. "Your other masters and I feared you might have already reincarnated, but Elder Kan believed you were still alive and would surely return."

Due to the bond formed by Ji Yang and the jade dew plums, Kan Jixuan gradually grew close to the inhabitants of Moonfire Valley, becoming a frequent visitor.

By rights, as a ruler of the Demon Realm, she should have been shunned by the immortals, never to be associated with.

Yet, Kan Jixuan had personally aided in unifying the Demon Realm and completely eradicating the Wuxuan Sect.

After the collapse of the Southern Bone Abyss, the demons that once raided and pillaged the human world dwindled significantly, and both sides coexisted peacefully, achieving a rare state of tranquility.

Kan Jixuan left an avatar to maintain the imperial throne in the Demon Realm, dispatched another to roam the human world, and even stationed one in Moonfire Valley to plant plums and enjoy chicken soup, living a rather carefree life.

Over the past decade, Moonfire Valley’s reputation soared. With Ji Yang guarding the demon gates, no one dared to criticize them.

He traded his lifelong freedom for the world’s stability, and now everyone owed him a debt of gratitude.

"Elder Kan has traversed the world’s famous mountains and rivers, mapping out the locations of dangerous and ferocious creatures, specifically for you."

"Only through repeated deaths and rebirths can I swiftly ascend to immortality," Gong Wu took a deep breath. "I understand, Master!"

"Uh, actually," Tu Xuixin scratched his head. "There are actually three steps in total."

He found it difficult to continue.

Gong Wu was eager to return to the Demon Realm and retrieve Ji Yang; sleep was the last thing on her mind. She urged cheerfully, "Just say it; it’s alright."

"Elder Kan said the simplest method… is for her to end your life with a single sword."

Quickly die, quickly be reborn.

As Tu Xuixin spoke, he felt a tumult of emotions but pressed on, "If you can withstand her demon sword and my immortal sword, then you are already on the brink of the Heavenly Authority realm."

"Once you are immune to the elements, the five phases, the miasma, and the evil toxins, perhaps ascending to immortality won’t be far off."

As he spoke, he worried she might feel sad, so he quickly reassured her, "We have no intention of hurting you, but this process will definitely be painful…"

Gong Wu not only didn’t feel sad but also looked radiant as she nodded earnestly.

"Master, I noticed earlier that I can withstand the fiercest flames of the human world, and I can be impervious to blades and spears. Ordinary methods can’t harm me anymore," she said with a smile. "Although it is indeed painful, enduring it a few more times will make me immune. Elder Kan’s method is definitely correct!"

Tu Xuixin remained silent for a moment and pinched her cheek hard.

"Could you please show some concern for yourself!"

The next morning, Gong Wu closed the door of Tianhua Palace with a few close companions and prepared to face death in the courtyard.

She didn’t want to dirty her robe, so she transformed herself into a long black gown and neatly tied her hair into a bun.

Kan Jixuan drew her sword from its scabbard and blew on the blade.

"Thank you for your hard work, Elder." Gong Wu looked at her and said, "My Master has already checked my pulse, and everything is fine now."

Kan Jixuan nodded and said, "I practice celestial demonic arts, and my sword energy is very intense, so endure it."

Before her words fell, the long sword pierced through Gong Wu’s heart and then was suddenly pulled out again.

Gong Wu felt as if her five organs were enveloped in ice and fire, and the world turned black as she lost consciousness.

Outside, Tu Xuixin pinched his hands tightly, and Hua Tingxiao cried out in pain.

"I told you not to come look!"

"This is my last disciple in this world!!" Tu Xuixin said. "How can I not feel sad?!"

"Then don’t pinch me!"

Kan Jixuan was very steady and precise in her actions. It took Gong Wu about six hours to awaken. Once she felt her breath return, her spiritual energy surged dramatically.

The old woman watched this unfold, still surprised.

This girl had nearly been drained of her soul in the Soul-Melting Furnace, yet now she not only survived completely intact but also gained even greater power, which was truly astonishing.

"I’m a bit hungry," Gong Wu admitted. "But let’s do it again; after I come back to life, I’ll go eat."

Kan Jixuan wiped her sword and, after Gong Wu steadied herself, attacked again.

The blood-red blade plunged sharply into her chest, but unlike the previous time, it did not penetrate smoothly; something blocked it.

Gong Wu winced in pain, "Elder… you didn’t pierce through."

Kan Jixuan pushed harder, "What’s going on…"

"Push harder," Cheng Ji shouted as he forcefully squeezed Hua Tingxiao. "Give her a quick end!"

Hua Tingxiao exclaimed, "Are you guys ever done?!"

Kan Jixuan drew her sword out, realizing that this time she could only injure Gong Wu’s skin, as the Invisible Barrier blocked the sword, preventing even the Demonic Energy from seeping in.

"Why is it getting harder on the second try…" the old woman ground her teeth and said, "I need to attach a malicious curse; this will hurt a bit."

"You go ahead,"

Kan Jixuan summoned a skeletal artifact, pricked her middle finger for blood, and began to chant a curse using ghost blood for the demon sword. She then turned and, taking advantage of Gong Wu’s moment of inattention, lunged forward.

The blade appeared poised to stab into Gong Wu’s body, but it was still half a finger’s distance from piercing her heart.

Gong Wu was trapped in a painful limbo between life and death, struggling to restrain herself from fleeing. "Elder, go a bit deeper…"

"Kan Jixuan!!" Tu Xuixin shouted desperately from the side. "Can you still do this? Just kill her already!!"

The old woman, unable to maintain her composure, swiftly unleashed another three-layer curse, finally piercing through Gong Wu’s chest.

The little girl collapsed onto the soft bed prepared by Cheng Ji, and she would likely awaken in two to three hours. Meanwhile, Kan Jixuan was drenched in sweat from exhaustion.

"This won’t do; you all take the next turn."

"You’ve ascended to immortality; you handle it," Hua Tingxiao said, patting his good friend’s shoulder. "Be steady, precise, and ruthless—remember that."

Tu Xuixin pulled out an elixir. "I came prepared; here’s a vial of potent poison."

"Are you sure it’s strong enough?" Cheng Ji asked worriedly. "What if she writhes in pain on the ground? You’ll still need to finish her off with a sword."

Tu Xuixin’s expression darkened.

Little Wu!! Sometimes being too strong isn’t a good thing!