Chapter 38

"This silly girl, after entering the miasma, became like a possessed soul—no one could stop her, and she didn't take the medicine in time."

Duan Bo scratched his head, somewhat ashamed:

"Before the evil qi overwhelmed her heart, she said she wanted to see you one last time."

Could this miasma have a mind-corrupting effect?

Chen Zhao frowned.

But the urgent matter was saving Xin Tong.

He sighed inwardly and fed her a Nourishing Spirit Pill.

He helped her sit down in the room.

This place has Xin Tong's Array, which concentrates Spirit Qi, aiding recovery.

Yet no sooner had she sat down than she fell completely still.

"Could she be turning into a beast?"

Chen Zhao pressed his lips together.

Unlike Murong De, this petite frame, even if she underwent demonic transformation, would still be adorable.

It seemed that in the next second, she would hide behind the table, gazing at him timidly.

But Chen Zhao knew.

If the evil qi spiraled out of control, the Discipline Hall would descend upon her and execute her on the spot.

"Still, I must try,"

Chen Zhao took a deep breath and thought:

"She's unconscious now—she can't metabolize the Nourishing Spirit Pill."

There was no time to worry about gender boundaries.

Chen Zhao unfastened her robe, pressed his fingers together, and channeled Qi to help her metabolize the medicine.

Tan Zhong, Ju Que... his fingers traced downward along the acupoints.

Grayish Spirit Qi glided over her smooth, pale skin; in the afternoon sunlight, every hair follicle trembled slightly.

Yet the evil qi continued to churn; Xin Tong's brows remained tightly furrowed, unawake, as if trapped in a nightmare.

Until—

Hui Yin... Cheng Jin, Zhi Yin.

Chen Zhao was drenched in sweat; success or failure now rested on fate.

When fighting Murong De, that man deliberately crushed the Qingxin Pill to prevent it from entering his mouth.

Perhaps the Nourishing Spirit Pill has a similar effect.

"Mmm..."

Xin Tong spat out a stream of black blood.

Her entire meridian system was gradually calming.

But she remained unconscious; her pupils slowly began to glimmer with a faint red hue.

Chen Zhao was startled.

It seemed the Nourishing Spirit Pill only treated the symptoms, not the root cause.

No choice.

He summoned the Qingming Naling Sword.

If he couldn't stop her demonic transformation and the Discipline Hall caught her, they'd all be suspected of conspiring with Evil Cultivators.

This sword has the effect of a Muchen Stone—might as well try anything, and if she truly can't be saved, then he'd have to kill her here.

Chen Zhao let out a quiet sigh.

At least—

Using this sword to slay the evil would let her die as a cultivator, preserving her final shred of purity.

Hum!

Pale mist enveloped Xin Tong.

The red in her eyes receded like a retreating tide.

At the same time—

Her pupils gradually focused, all her blood vessels fully calmed, yet her soul remained unstable, on the verge of dispersing.

Color returned to her small face; she slowly sat up.

Was this Xin Tong—or a malevolent entity?

Or merely a fleeting return of consciousness?

Chen Zhao dared not judge; the Muchen Spirit Breath continued to envelop her.

"Zhao... we meet again, but I'm about to die..."

Xin Tong forced her eyes open, her eyelashes trembling, a faint smile touching her lips.

Every time she neared death, Chen Zhao always returned, bringing her hope.

When fighting Robber Cultivators, it was so—yet today would be an exception.

Counting them up, Chen Zhao had saved her three times now.

"Don't speak. Focus on your breathing."

Chen Zhao pulled out a Low-grade Spirit Stone and channeled Spirit Qi into her.

But she shook her head.

"Your breakthrough is more important—don't waste this on a dying woman like me."

"This is also my fault... I didn't know the Nine Apertures Bright Jade had miraculous effects on the Empty Spirit Body—I only got close, and my soul nearly shattered..."

A trace of self-reproach and sorrow flowed from Xin Tong's eyes; she was still worrying about Chen Zhao.

"Within the miasma, spiritual power cannot exceed Qi Refining sixth layer, but the Nourishing Spirit Pill works—Duan Bo tested it. Next time you go, be careful."

Chen Zhao was about to speak, but a slender finger sealed his lips.

Xin Tong strained to push aside the Spirit Stones and leaned closer to him.

"Let me be still—I want to remember your scent one last time... when I'm reborn, I'll find you."

A single clear tear slipped from her eye.

"Zhao, do you know... how happy I was when you agreed to cure my Empty Spirit Body? I begged so many Alchemists—including Sister Li—and only you were willing, and you saved me... so many times."

"During that Evil Cultivator mission, I wanted to take you and flee the sect—escape Yue Guo, marry you, have children..."

She sniffled, smiling bitterly.

"This stupid mouth of mine is useless... even when saying something so intimate, I still stammer..."

Chen Zhao froze in place.

Even his sword wavered slightly.

Yet he still pushed forward the white mist, without pause.

Xin Tong took a deep breath, as if making a final decision.

"Zhao... before I die, can I kiss you?"

Xin Tong's face flushed faintly, but without waiting for his consent, she lunged forward.

At the same time, she formed a hand seal and pointed.

Instantly, the arrays on the walls and floor ignited one by one.

"Stop quickly—your spiritual power is limited..."

Chen Zhao was about to stop her, but his mouth was sealed.

He looked up.

On the ceiling, array patterns interwove, revealing a single character: Xin.

This was the Formation Master's romance.

"After I'm gone, let them aid you—may your Immortal Path endure forever."

Xin Tong, tears like pear blossoms in the rain, smiled faintly and collapsed into his arms.

As if smiling even in the netherworld.

Her sleeves lay scattered on the ground; Chen Zhao's chest felt heavy.

"To love this deeply—how can I ever achieve mental clarity?"

He sighed softly.

She had cared for him deeply, and treated him with sincerity.

She deserved his sincerity in return.

Chen Zhao cast a divination.

The auspicious character in his hand flickered and vanished.

His soul hadn't scattered?

Chen Zhao glanced at her head.

The evil qi had been completely cleared away.

His eyebrows lifted.

Does the Muchen Stone not only repel evil, but also stabilize the soul?

But if that were true,

Xin Tong should have been able to sense it herself—why did she think she was dying?

Could it be...?

"I... I haven't become a demonic thing?"

On his lap, Xin Tong's eyes fluttered open, bewildered yet faintly shy.

Chen Zhao tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"When did you find out?"

He had been manipulating others for so long—and nearly lost to a little girl!

"Only when you said 'mental clarity'—I dared to swear the Heart Demon Oath!"

Xin Tong's face flushed red; her tongue flickered lightly, her gaze darting away.

She quickly changed the subject:

"By the way... you won't ignore me after this, will you?"

"You, don't overthink it—just rest and heal."

Chen Zhao sighed and poked her forehead with his finger.

He helped Xin Tong lie down, but she gripped his hand.

"What I said—every word is true. Don't betray me."

Chen Zhao nodded slightly, bending down to gently brush her delicate nose.

Not long after,

Liu Chen and the others arrived to check on her.

Su Wanyao's eyes were slightly red; Liu Chen's expression was gloomy.

Meanwhile, the Juxian Pavilion's Defense Array was fully activated, and all Discipline Hall disciples were temporarily dismissed—to prevent Xin Tong from being executed by the Discipline Hall if she turned demonic.

Only after confirming Xin Tong was unharmed did Liu Chen and the others exhale in relief.

The atmosphere no longer felt oppressive, and the group began chatting casually.

Until late into the night.

Liu Chen received a secret letter.

The signature was Elder Zhang.

The letter stated that Zhang Sifan had not returned for a long time from the middle level, and they were to select two people to accompany Elder Zhang's trusted allies on a rescue mission.

It promised that, upon success, it would deduct one-tenth of its share from Juxian Pavilion and grant each participant a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation technique.

It seems Foundation Establishment practitioners fear miasma too...

Chen Zhao gazed at his palm, waiting patiently for midnight.

【Divination has been refreshed】

【Today's Divination·Auspicious】: Favorable for travel; resolving the omen requires five Low-grade Spirit Stones.

After resolving the omen,

【Today's Divination·Medium Auspicious】: You engage in a Dharma Battle with Su Muqing and seize the thousand-year Nine-Aperture Illuminating Jade, returning laden with treasure.