Chapter 381: Rift

The silver light was about to touch Youying's brow when, as if seized by an invisible hand, time froze mid‑air.

That was not Wang Ping's Chaos Domain, nor a variant of the Power of Order—it was a far older, more primal force, a divine ability sharing the same origin as the Void Eternal Seal.

Time stood still.

The Void congealed.

The entire battlefield became a still scroll at that moment.

Wang Ping's body still lunged forward, his eyes locked on that slender figure, the blood at the corner of his mouth hanging in midair, unshed. The despair on the refugees' faces, Cangxuan's anxious gaze, Yuliuli's tears—all were frozen.

Only Youying's eyes moved.

Those violet‑black eyes slowly turned, scanning the frozen world. She saw the Power of Order suspended in midair, the blood‑soaked figure beyond the rift, the refugees kneeling far off, and the shattered ruins of the Immortal Palace.

Thirty thousand years.

She had slept for thirty thousand years.

Thirty thousand years ago, the Immortal Palace shattered and the Myriad Phenomena Stargazers perished almost to a one. She paid with eternal slumber, unleashing the Void Eternal Seal to seal the last fragment of the Immortal Palace deep in the Void, letting the surviving refugees eke out existence and preventing the rift that tore the Void from collapsing completely.

Thirty thousand years later, she awoke.

Because someone was desperately calling her.

That person was drenched in blood, his eyes terrifyingly red, and he charged the rift like a madman. His natal magic treasure shattered, his natal sword snapped, his domain reduced to a thin film—but he kept rushing, kept striking, desperately throwing himself at her.

Why?

Youying remembered him.

Thirty thousand years ago, she had seen him—no, wrong, thirty thousand years ago he hadn't even been born. How long ago was that? She felt hazy; sleeping too long had blurred her sense of time.

She only recalled that a group had broken into the Chaos Immortal Palace, into the ruins she had sealed. Among them was a young man whose aura bore chaos, whose eyes held something… that reminded her of the past.

What from the past?

She couldn't recall.

She only remembered that, at the final moment, she turned and said one word to them—

"Go."

Then she sank into eternal darkness.

But now, she has awakened.

Because that young man was desperately calling her.

Youying's eyes twitched slightly.

She saw the Power of Order. It was the strength of the Pure World Hall, the destroyer of the Immortal Palace, the force that had compelled her to sleep thirty thousand years. Those silver lights made her instinctively feel loathing, anger, a killing intent suppressed for thirty thousand years.

She raised her hand.

That hand was slender and pallid, seeming as if it would shatter at a touch. Yet when she lifted it, the entire Void trembled—not with fear, but with… submission.

The Void Eternal Seal is her innate divine ability.

This Void has been her domain since thirty thousand years ago.

And yet the Power of Order dares to intrude?

A flicker of icy cold crossed Youying's eyes.

She gently clenched her fist.

At that instant, all the Power of Order in the Void let out a shrill wail, twisting wildly, struggling to escape—but they could not. The Void Eternal Seal locked them in place, then inch by inch crushed, ground, and obliterated them.

Those silver lights, like crushed fireflies, turned into countless tiny motes that drifted away in the Void.

Youying lowered her hand.

Then she gazed at the rift.

The rift was as thin as a hair, a gap torn open by the puppets' self‑destruction. Though the silver Power of Order had been annihilated by her, the rift remained, still leaking strands of Void energy.

Youying frowned slightly.

She remembered this rift.

Thirty thousand years ago, it was precisely this rift's appearance that caused the Immortal Palace to collapse utterly. She sealed it with the Void Eternal Seal and held it down with her own slumber. Thirty thousand years later, it ought to have healed—but the ants of the Pure World Hall have torn it open again.

She reached out and lightly pressed her hand against the rift.

At that moment, the rift shuddered violently, as if sensing something terrible.

Youying's brows knit tighter.

She sensed a change.

Thirty thousand years of slumber had fused her Void Eternal Seal too deeply with this Void. The rift was not merely sealed within her body; it was linked to the very foundation of the Void. Forcing it to heal would tear the Void apart; leaving it alone would let it keep seeping.

She needed time.

She needed time to slowly refine the rift, time to completely sever it from this Void.

But would the people of the Pure World Hall give her that time?

Youying lifted her head, looking toward the distant silver light still frozen in place. That was the direction the Void God had fled—though for now her Time Still held it, a being of that level could not be restrained for long.

She needed help.

Her gaze fell on Wang Ping.

That young man, drenched in blood, eyes crimson, still held the posture of charging toward the rift. His face was full of despair and madness, an expression that stirred an unfamiliar emotion in Youying's heart.

She had not felt that emotion in a long time.

Thirty thousand years ago, when the Immortal Palace fell, when the Myriad Phenomena Stargazers fell one by one, when she realized nothing could be saved, she too had felt this emotion.

Despair.

Madness.

Unwillingness.

That young man was undergoing exactly the same feeling she had once endured.

Why?

Youying couldn't figure it out.

She had merely slept for thirty thousand years, with no connection to this young man. Why would he risk his life to save her? Why would he rush into this rift that could tear him apart? Why would he wear that expression?

Her gaze fell upon Wang Ping's eyes.

Those eyes, even if frozen, stared locked onto her.

That kind of gaze…

Youying's heart stirred.

She suddenly recalled that long ago, someone had once looked at her with that kind of gaze.

Who was that person?

She tried to remember, but could only grasp a faint, blurry shadow. Too much time had passed; thirty thousand years of sleep had blurred too many memories.

But that kind of gaze, she remembered.

It was the gaze of "not wanting to lose".

Youying fell silent.

After a moment, she made a decision.

She withdrew her hand from the rift, turned her head to look at the civilian soldiers kneeling on the ground. Yunhao's face was frozen mid-air, his eyes full of despair and self-blame. Some of the soldiers were crying, some shouting, some kneeling in worship—all frozen.

Youying let out a soft sigh.

She raised her hand and lightly tapped the void.

In that instant, time began to flow.

The first to recover was Wang Ping.

He only felt his vision blur, and all those frozen moments came back to life. The power of order had vanished, the rift remained, but before it now stood a slender figure.

Youying.

She simply stood there, quietly watching him.

Wang Ping froze.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but couldn't make a sound. His throat felt blocked, all his words stuck in his chest, not a single syllable could escape.

Youying looked at him, a hint of complex emotion flashing in her eyes.

"You…"

She spoke, her voice hoarse and ethereal, as if coming from far, far away.

"Why did you save me?"

Wang Ping still couldn't speak.

He merely looked at her, at those violet-black eyes, at that face unchanged after thirty thousand years, at that slender figure that seemed it would shatter at a touch.

Tears suddenly slid from the corner of his eyes.

He didn't realize he was crying.

He didn't even feel the tears flowing.

He merely looked at her, at her still being alive, at her standing before him, at her not being eroded by those silver lights—and then the tears simply fell on their own.

Youying froze.

She looked at the tears on Wang Ping's face, and that unfamiliar feeling in her heart grew stronger.

Thirty thousand years ago, someone had also wept for her.

Who was that?

She couldn't remember.

But she knew that feeling was called "heartache".

She raised her hand, wanting to wipe the tears from Wang Ping's face.

But as soon as she lifted her hand, it froze in midair.

Because in the distance, that silver light suddenly surged.

That God Transformation cultivator broke free.

Time's stillness could not last long for a being of God Transformation level.

That God Transformation cultivator, having just broken free from the immobilization, sensed the change in the void. He saw that the arranged puppets had all self-destructed, saw that the rift remained, and saw that the figure who had slept for thirty thousand years—had awakened.

His face instantly turned extremely grim.

Youying had awakened.

That Youying, who thirty thousand years ago single-handedly sealed the void rift, causing the Pure World Court's merit to fall one brick short, had awakened.

"Damn it!"

He gritted his teeth, let out a low growl, and without hesitation turned and fled.

But after fleeing just a hundred li, he suddenly stopped.

Because he saw that Youying was not pursuing him.

She merely stood still before the rift, as if guarding something.

A glint of sharp light flashed in the God Transformation cultivator's eyes.

He understood.

Youying had just awakened, her strength far from restored. That rift was even more her vital point; she had to guard it and could not leave.

"Great opportunity!"

He let out a vicious laugh, turned, and charged toward the fragments of the Immortal Palace.

He wasn't intending to clash head-on.

But rather —

"All puppets, hear my command!"

He formed seals with both hands, frantically channeling the Power of Order within his body. The puppets still lurking in various parts of the Void simultaneously glowed with silver light, frantically rushing toward the Immortal Palace Fragments.

He wasn't trying to kill Youying.

But rather to detonate all the puppets, completely tearing open that rift!

As long as the rift is fully opened, the Void Eternal Imprisonment will collapse, and Youying will also suffer heavy injury. By then, not only will the Immortal Palace Fragments be completely destroyed, but Youying will also be captured alive by him!

A Transformation God–level existence that masters the Void Divine Ability, offered to the Lord of Order, would be a great merit!

His eyes were filled with madness.

"Boom!"

Youying's expression changed.

She felt the madness of those puppets, felt them rushing toward the rift. Her current strength is less than a tenth of its peak, and she simply cannot block so many puppets at once.

Unless —

She turned her head, looking toward Wang Ping.

That young man still stood in place, his face streaked with tears.

Youying looked at him and suddenly smiled lightly.

That smile, like a snow lotus suddenly blooming on a ten-thousand-year-old glacier, was pure and cold yet infinitely gentle.

"You are Wang Ping, right?"

Wang Ping froze.

How could Youying know his name?

Youying gave no explanation.

She simply reached out and lightly pressed her hand against Wang Ping's forehead.

In that instant, countless pieces of information flooded Wang Ping's mind —

The principle of the Void Eternal Imprisonment divine ability.

The source of this rift.

And, a request.

"Help me guard this place." Youying's voice echoed in his mind: "I need time to refine this rift."

Wang Ping jerked his head up.

"But —"

"No buts." Youying cut him off: "I know you still have a trump card. I know you just forced back a Transformation God. I know you can."

She looked into his eyes, speaking word by word.

"I believe you."

Wang Ping's heart gave a hard jolt.

Three years ago, the Old Ancestor of Moving Mountain also looked at him that way.

"I believe you."

Then, the Old Ancestor of Moving Mountain used his life to blast open a path of survival for him.

Three years later, Youying also looked at him with the same eyes and said the same words.

"I believe you."

Wang Ping took a deep breath.

He raised his hand and fiercely wiped away the tears on his face.

"Good."

His voice was hoarse yet firm.

"You just focus on refining. I'll hold this place."

Youying looked at him, a flash of relief crossing her eyes.

She said nothing more.

She turned, sat cross-legged, formed seals with both hands, and began to fully refine the rift.

Wang Ping stood before her, gripping his Chaos Tribulation Sword, its blade covered in cracks.

His Heaven-Overturning Seal shattered.

His Chaotic Immortal Essence had dwindled to less than thirty percent.

His body was covered in wounds.

But he stood.

He stood before Youying, facing the madly charging puppets and the glaring Transformation God.

Cangxuan rushed to his side.

Yuliuli also came.

Yunhao led the remaining civilian warriors, forming a battle array to guard the surroundings of the rift.

The Venerable Mysterious Turtle, enduring his injuries, stood at the front.

The Immortal Maiden of Hundred Herbs set down Jiu Er, took out all the medicinal pills, and distributed them to everyone.

Nobody spoke.

Everyone was waiting.

Waiting for the puppets to rush forward.

Waiting for that Transformation God to launch its final all-out attack.

Waiting——

Fight to the death.

Those puppets rushed into the edge of the Void Eternal Seal.

Youying was in the midst of refining the rift, but the divine ability of the Void Eternal Seal remained, and the speed of those puppets was greatly reduced. However, their numbers were too great, densely packed, at least over a hundred.

The core of each puppet flickered with blinding silver light.

That was a sign of impending self-detonation.

Once they rushed near the rift and detonated together, the rift would be instantly torn apart, and Youying would suffer fatal heavy injuries.

"Don't let them get close!"

Wang Ping shouted sternly, and the Chaos Domain unfolded to its fullest.

But the Chaos Domain, upon just touching those puppets, suddenly contracted.

Those puppets were covered with order runes, specifically designed to counter chaos power. His Chaos Domain's suppressive effect against them was greatly diminished.

"Damn it!"

Cang Xuan gritted his teeth and slashed out with a sword.

The sword light struck a puppet, leaving a deep sword mark, but that puppet continued to charge madly, its speed unchanged.

Yun Hao led the refugee warriors in firing a rain of arrows, but those arrows striking the puppets left only faint marks.

The Mysterious Turtle Venerable exerted all his strength to blast out a palm, blowing up one puppet, but he himself was shaken back several steps, spitting blood.

Those puppets are too hard.

Their bodies were forged from special materials tempered with order power, specifically designed to counter the chaos way and the Void Eternal Seal's divine ability. Each one's defensive power equals that of a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

And there are over a hundred of them.

"We can't hold them back……"

Someone murmured.

But no one retreated.

Everyone was desperately attacking, desperately blocking, desperately buying time.

Because behind them was Youying.

It was that Youying who, after sleeping for thirty thousand years, exchanged it for thirty thousand years of peace for them.

They owed her.

Now, it's time to repay.

Wang Ping gritted his teeth, striking those puppets with sword after sword.

Cracks on the Chaos Calamity Sword increased, each slash widening them a bit more. But he dared not stop, nor could he.

He must block them.

He must give Youying enough time to refine that rift.

But……

His vision began to blur.

He had lost too much blood, expended too much energy, and his body was nearing its limit.

Those puppets drew ever closer to the rift.

Three hundred zhang.

Two hundred zhang.

One hundred zhang.

Fifty zhang.

Thirty zhang.

Ten zhang——

Just as those puppets were about to rush into the rift——

A golden light suddenly shone from the depths of the rift.

That light was warm and gentle, yet contained an indescribable vitality. Like the rising morning sun, it dispelled the darkness of the void and dispelled those silver order forces.

Everyone was stunned.

Including that Transformation God cultivator.

That golden light came from the depths of the rift—no, more accurately, from the deepest part of the Immortal Palace fragments.

There, was the place where the Establishing Tree sapling took root.

Wang Ping jerked his head back.

He saw it.

Within that golden light, a small figure was slowly rising to stand.

Jiu Er.

She had awakened.

Jiu Er stood there, her whole body enveloped in golden light.

Her eyes were open, but they were completely different from before. No longer the timid eyes of the little girl who always hid behind Wang Ping, they were…… as deep as if they contained an entire starry sky.

On her forehead, a faint golden pattern appeared. That pattern resembled a sapling, its branches spreading, as if seeking to uphold the entire heavens.

The Establishing Tree Mark.

That was the true imprint of the Establishing Tree inheritance.

"Jiu Er……"

Wang Ping murmured.

Jiu Er looked at him, a trace of warm light flashed in her eyes.

Then she turned her head, looking at the madly rushing puppets.

She lightly raised her hand.

In that instant, countless golden vines suddenly sprouted in the void.

Those vines sprang from the void, emerged from the ruins of the Immortal Palace fragments, and spread wildly from the edge of the rift. Like living things, they swept toward those puppets, instantly wrapping them tightly.

The puppets struggled madly, trying to break free. But the vines, though appearing soft, were incredibly tough. The tighter they wound, the more the golden light and silver order power clashed violently, bursting out sharp, earsplitting booms.

"This... this is..."

That God Transformation stared wide-eyed.

World Tree.

The legendary divine tree that holds up heaven and earth, the legendary source that nurtures all things, the legendary existence that restrains all order power.

It actually awakened here?

He looked at Jiu Er in disbelief, at that slender figure, at those countless golden vines.

World Tree, hasn't it long been extinct?

How could there still be an inheritor?

And it's still such a young girl?

No one answered him.

Jiu Er simply stood there quietly, controlling those golden vines, tightly binding all the puppets.

Sweat continually seeped from her forehead.

She had just awakened, her power far from restored. Controlling so many vines drained her greatly.

But she gritted her teeth and persisted.

Because she knew she had to persist.

Behind her were her clanspeople, her benefactor, and that older brother who had protected her all the way, never giving up on her.

She could no longer hide behind others.

She also had to protect them.

"Damn it!"

That God Transformation roared and charged forward personally.

He knew this was the last chance.

The World Tree had just awakened, its power limited. As long as he could break through those vines, reach the rift, and detonate all the puppets, there would still be a chance.

He turned into a silver streak of light, instantly reaching before the vines.

He thrust out a palm, and silver order power surged forth like a tsunami, slamming onto those golden vines.

The vines trembled violently, countless branches and leaves shattered, and the golden light dimmed somewhat.

Jiu Er let out a muffled groan, a trace of blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.

"Jiu Er!"

Wang Ping shouted, wanting to rush forward.

But Jiu Er shook her head.

She looked at that God Transformation, her eyes devoid of any fear.

She raised both hands, slowly pressing them together.

In that instant, all the golden vines simultaneously burst forth with blinding light.

They were no longer merely entangling, but began—

They grew.

They grew madly.

They drew strength from the void, drew nutrients from the ruins of the immortal palace fragments, and drew vitality from the Jianmu power surging from within Jiu'er's body.

They grew faster and faster, denser and denser, thicker and thicker.

In the blink of an eye, those vines had completely engulfed all the puppets, turning each into a huge golden cocoon suspended in the void.

The puppets struggled madly, the self-destruct symbols flashing frenziedly—but the golden light held them down firmly, preventing them from exploding at all.

That Divine Transformation cultivator's face turned ashen.

He attacked the vines frenziedly, palm after palm, causing the golden light to continually dim. But there were too many vines—cut one and ten would sprout instantly; destroy a patch and ten would grow instantly.

He couldn't get through.

He watched helplessly as the puppets were trapped, watched helplessly as the rift was gradually refined by the nether shadow, watched helplessly as everything he had painstakingly arranged was about to fall short.

"No——!"

He roared, unleashing a palm strike with all his might.

That palm strike contained all his strength, his hidden ace.

The silver palm print slammed onto the vines with a boom, shattering countless vines and forcibly blasting open a passage.

He rushed in.

Charging toward the rift.

Charging toward the nether shadow.

Ten zhang.

Five zhang.

Three zhang.

One zhang——

He saw Youying.

That slender figure sat cross-legged before the crack, hands forming seals, focused on refining that crack. Fine sweat beaded on her forehead, her face was as pale as paper, her breath so weak it was barely detectable.

But she still persisted.

The God Transformation sneered, slamming a palm toward her back heart.

This palm was enough to take her life.

Then—

A hand blocked in front of his palm.

Wang Ping.

He had rushed to Youying's side at some point, using his body and his hand to forcefully block this palm.

"Boom!"

The silver palm print slammed onto his hand.

His arm instantly burst open, blood gushing, bones shattered.

But he did not retreat.

He stared fixedly at the God Transformation, his eyes burning with mad battle intent.

"You……don't even think……of touching her!"

He spoke each word with a pause, his voice hoarse to the point of being barely audible.

The God Transformation froze for an instant.

He did not understand.

This Nascent Soul Great Perfection guy, clearly completely exhausted, clearly having no strength left to fight, why did he rush forward?

Why use his own life to block this palm?

Why?

Wang Ping did not answer him.

He merely stared fixedly at him, at those silver eyes.

Then he laughed.

That smile was grim and resolute.

"Cangxuan—!"

He shouted hoarsely.

Before his voice faded, a sword light slashed from the side.

Cangxuan.

He had somehow already gone behind the God Transformation, and a sword he had been charging finally struck out.

The sword light was peerlessly sharp, containing the ultimate power of the "Sword of Law", straight for the God Transformation's back heart.

The God Transformation suddenly turned, thrusting out a palm.

Palm and sword met, both annihilated.

But he only focused on blocking Cangxuan's sword, forgetting that Wang Ping stood before him.

Wang Ping raised his already shattered left hand, using the last of his strength, and punched his chest.

"Boom!"

The fist struck the silver light, like striking steel, shattering all finger bones.

But the God Transformation was also knocked back several steps by this punch.

He steadied his stance, about to counterattack—

He suddenly realized he could not move.

It was not that some force suppressed him, but… the void beneath his feet had changed.

There, at some point, a faint purple light had appeared.

Youying's Void Seal.

She was at the critical moment of refining the crack, unable to divert attention to battle. Yet she still drew out the last trace of her strength to cast this seal.

Although it could only seal for an instant.

But that instant was enough.

Cangxuan's sword had already slashed again.

Yunhao's arrow had already reached his face.

The Mysterious Turtle Venerable's palm had already slammed toward his rear skull.

The Herbal Immortal Maiden's silver needle had already pierced his acupoint.

The refugee warriors' spears had already pierced his protective light.

And Wang Ping, standing before him, gripped the cracked Chaos Tribulation Sword with his ruined hand.

"This sword—"

His voice was hoarse yet extremely resolute.

"Repaying Youying for you."

The Chaos Tribulation Sword pierced his chest.

In that instant, all the chaotic power on the sword surged into his body.

They violently collided with the order power, frenziedly tearing apart, crushing his meridians, dantian, and primordial spirit.

The God Transformation widened his eyes, opened his mouth, wanting to say something.

But no sound could be made.

His body began to disintegrate.

Starting from the chest, point by point turning into silver light dots, dissipating in the void.

One Void God.

Fell.

At the moment the silver light dots dissipated, the entire void fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone stood dumbfounded, staring at that empty place, unable to come back to their senses for a long time.

One Void God.

They, a group of Nascent Soul cultivators, a group of heavily injured dying people, jointly slew a Void God?

Cang Xuan was the first to react.

He stumbled over to Wang Ping's side and grabbed him.

"Brother Wang! Brother Wang!"

Wang Ping did not respond.

He was covered in blood, his left arm completely crippled, the Chaos Tribulation Sword in his right hand riddled with cracks, his whole body so weak it seemed he could collapse at any moment.

He was drenched in blood, his left arm completely crippled, his right hand gripping the Chaos Tribulation Sword covered in cracks, his whole body weak as if he could collapse at any moment.

He looked at You Ying.

Looking at that slender figure, still sitting cross-legged before the rift, focusing on refining that rift.

Watching that slender figure, still sitting cross-legged before the crack, intently refining that crack.

That smile was weak yet relieved.

"She... is fine..."

He murmured, then his vision went dark and he fainted.

Cang Xuan tightly embraced him, his eyes red.

Yun Hao rushed over, pulled out all his healing pills, and desperately stuffed them into Wang Ping's mouth.

The Immortal Maiden of Hundred Herbs trembled with both hands, checking Wang Ping's injuries, tears streaming as she checked.

"How... how could he... he obviously..."

She couldn't continue.

The Mystic Turtle Venerable stood aside, looking at Wang Ping, silent for a long time.

After a long while, he slowly spoke.

"Good lad."

His voice was hoarse, yet filled with deep respect.

His voice was hoarse, yet filled with deep reverence.

In the distance, before the rift, You Ying slowly opened her eyes.

She succeeded in refining.

The rift that had troubled her for thirty thousand years was finally thoroughly refined by her, merging with this void, and will no longer threaten the fragments of the immortal palace.

The crack that had troubled her for thirty thousand years was finally completely refined by her, merging with this void, and would no longer threaten the Immortal Palace fragments.

She looked at the distant unconscious figure, at the figure covered in blood, left arm shattered, yet still smiling at her before losing consciousness.

A feeling she had never felt before welled up in her heart.

Was that... heartache?

She did not know.

All she knew was that she owed him a life.

She stood up and walked to Wang Ping's side.

Cang Xuan watched her warily, but did not stop her.

You Ying crouched, extended her hand, and lightly pressed it on Wang Ping's forehead.

Her brows slightly furrowed.

The injuries were too severe.

The meridians were largely broken, the dantian nearly exhausted, the left arm bones completely shattered, excessive blood loss, the primordial spirit so weak it was barely detectable.

Had it been an ordinary person, he would have died long ago.

But he still lived.

His heartbeat remained, though weak, yet extraordinarily resolute.

You Ying remained silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke.

"Help me guard the Dharma."

Cang Xuan was startled.

"What are you going to do?"

You Ying did not answer.

She simply lifted Wang Ping gently and walked to the front of that Establishing Tree sapling.

Jiu Er was weakly sitting there, seeing You Ying bring Wang Ping over, she hastily stood up.

"You Ying older sister, big brother him..."

You Ying looked at her and spoke softly.

"Lend me the power of your Establishing Tree for a moment."

Jiu Er stared for a moment, then nodded desperately.

Jiu Er froze for a moment, then nodded frantically.

Good! Good! As long as I can save big brother, anything goes!

You Ying nodded slightly.

She placed Wang Ping before the Jian Mu sapling, sat cross-legged herself, and formed hand seals.

At that moment, the Jian Mu sapling burst forth with a rich golden light, enveloping her and Wang Ping together.

Jiu Er closed her eyes, exerted all her strength to activate the power of Jian Mu, continuously transmitting that power to You Ying.

You Ying received this power, transformed it into the purest life energy, and infused it into Wang Ping's body bit by bit.

His meridians began to slowly heal.

His dantian began to recondense immortal essence.

His left arm, the bones began to regenerate.

His primordial spirit, light began to shine.

Time, little by little, passed.

One hour.

Two hours.

Three hours.

When You Ying finally withdrew her hand and opened her eyes, the sky had already brightened.

Wang Ping lay there quietly, his breathing steady, his complexion flushed.

His wounds were healed.

Although he had not yet fully recovered, he was already out of mortal danger.

You Ying looked at him, a hint of complex emotion flashing in her eyes.

She stood up, turned, and was about to leave.

But just after taking a step, her hand was suddenly grasped by someone.

You Ying startled, lowered her head to look.

Wang Ping woke up.

He opened his eyes, looked at her, his eyes full of fatigue yet bearing a smile.

"You... where are you going?"

You Ying remained silent for a moment, then spoke softly.

"Healing wounds."

Wang Ping looked at her, then suddenly tightened his grip on her hand.

"Don't go."

You Ying froze.

She looked at Wang Ping, at those eyes, at that hand tightly holding hers, refusing to let go.

That unfamiliar feeling in her heart grew stronger and stronger.

She did not know what it was.

But she knew she did not want to break free.

After a long while, she softly sighed.

"Good."

She sat down beside Wang Ping, allowing him to hold her hand.

The two sat quietly like that, neither speaking.

In the distance, Cang Xuan watched this scene, a hint of smile flashing in his eyes.

He turned and strode away.

Yun Hao and the refugee soldiers also turned away, pretending not to have seen anything.

Only Jiu Er, crouching before the Jian Mu sapling, tilted her head and curiously watched them.

"Big brother and Sister You Ying, what are you doing?"

No one answered her.

But everyone knew——

Some things were quietly changing.