Chapter 124

A flower… one less. Fatboy’s hope… gone.

Ye Lingxi walked to his side, gently grasping his slightly trembling hand, offering silent comfort. Her eyes were filled with the same sorrow.

Qin Hao sighed. He had never gotten along with this cousin, and knowing his cousin’s character well, he said nothing more.

At that moment, the secret realm began to violently shake, and the three-colored light spring started to tremble.

“The secret realm is closing!” someone cried out in alarm.

No one dared to linger; everyone rushed toward the exit.

Jiang Xia cast one final glance at the Three Light Sacred Spring, now dimmed without the Starlight Flower, took a deep breath, and turned away with Ye Lingxi.

Back at the Heaven’s Mechanism Pavilion, the atmosphere was even heavier than before.

Master Mu examined the Sunlight Flower and Moonlight Flower Jiang Xia had brought back, confirming they were genuine and rich in primordial energy.

Yet when he heard that the Starlight Flower had been destroyed by Qin Wushang—and that Jiang Xia had killed him on the spot—even the Master of Qingyun Pavilion fell silent for a moment.

“I will mediate with the Qin family.”

Qingyun finally spoke, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable force.

“Qin Wushang brought his own destruction upon himself; no one else is to blame. But the Qin family will not let this go. Itachi must prepare.”

Jiang Xia nodded. At this moment, his heart was hollow and cold; he cared little about the Qin family’s revenge. What he cared about was Wang Teng.

“Master, without the Starlight Flower, is there truly no way at all?”

Qingyun walked to the window, gazing at the sea of clouds. After a long silence, he spoke slowly: “Of the three flowers, the Sunlight Flower rebuilds the physical body, the Moonlight Flower preserves the soul. The Starlight Flower extends lifespan.”

“For now, we can only protect his body and soul.”

As for lifespan, we’ve heard of a special clan among the beast races—the Mayfly Clan. Their innate talent is extraordinary.

But their lifespan is even shorter than that of humans. Yet some discovered that their life laws are contained within their spirit cores. If we can kill them and obtain their spirit cores, we might have a way to heal Wang Teng.

Jiang Xia’s face lit up with relief. “That’s excellent! If we find the Mayflies, Fatboy is saved!”

Qingyun nodded. “I’ll send people to locate the Mayflies. First, let’s awaken Wang Teng.”

By Wang Teng’s bed.

Jiang Xia stood beside it, tightly clutching the Sunlight Flower and Moonlight Flower, both radiating vast and pure primordial energy.

Without the Starlight Flower, symbolizing lifespan, it was like a medicine with all ingredients except the most crucial one—the king herb. Hope was slim.

Master Qingyun and Master Mu exchanged a glance, both seeing the gravity in the other’s eyes.

“There is no other way now.”

Master Mu’s voice was hoarse. “Use the Sunlight Flower to rebuild his physical foundation. Use the Moonlight Flower to stabilize his scattered soul. Perhaps we can forcibly awaken him.”

“But the lifespan lost… I cannot restore it. His body will show the corresponding aging—this is the manifestation of primordial depletion. Irreversible.”

“Please, Elder, perform the technique!”

Jiang Xia did not hesitate. His voice was hoarse but resolute. “As long as he wakes up, as long as even a shred of consciousness remains, no matter how hard, I will find a way to restore his life!”

Qingyun gave a slight nod. “Begin.”

Master Mu said no more. He carefully took the Sunlight Flower from Jiang Xia’s hands—the flower burning with faint golden flames.

He formed hand seals, channeling pure wood spiritual energy to guide the Sunlight Flower’s yang and vigorous life force into countless golden streams, slowly pouring into Wang Teng’s withered body.

Visible to the naked eye, a faint flush of color returned to Wang Teng’s paper-white skin. A weak heartbeat, growing clearer and stronger, echoed in the silent chamber.

His withered meridians and organs, drained of vitality, began to revive under the nourishment of this pure life force.

Then Master Mu took the Moonlight Flower.

A cool, luminous lunar energy spread out, forming a wondrous balance with the Sunlight Flower’s heat.

The Moonlight Flower’s power enveloped Wang Teng’s nearly vanished soul fragments, re Ningju and stabilizing them.

The entire process lasted a full day and night.

When the Sunlight and Moonlight energies reached balance within Wang Teng’s body and perfectly merged—

“Hum!”

Wang Teng on the cold jade bed suddenly shuddered, drew a long breath, and let out a faint moan.

Slowly, with great effort, he opened his eyes.

His gaze was initially dazed and unfocused, but soon sharpened, locking onto Jiang Xia and Ye Lingxi beside the bed—both pale with exhaustion, yet their eyes blazing with wild joy.

“L-Lao Xia… Lingxi…” His voice was dry and hoarse, yet unmistakably real. “I… I didn’t even die properly… the hell clerks… their service quality is terrible…”

Still able to joke—his mind was clear!

Jiang Xia’s tensed nerves snapped. Overwhelming joy surged through him, his eyes stinging. He lightly punched Wang Teng’s shoulder. “Fatboy! Itachi scared the hell out of us!”

Ye Lingxi turned her head away, quietly wiping away tears at the corner of her eyes.

But joy quickly faded before the sight before them.

Wang Teng, though awake and his body and soul stabilized, now had hair once black and short—now snow-white like an old man’s.

His once plump, lively face was lined with fine wrinkles, aged and weary.

This was the visible manifestation of depleted primordial energy—especially the portion tied to lifespan—irreparable.

Wang Teng sensed his own change. He raised his withered hand, touched the wrinkles on his face, and pulled at his lips into a smile worse than a sob.

“Tch… now I’m really a fat old man… how am I supposed to make a living off my looks anymore…”

He spoke lightly, but Jiang Xia caught the fleeting sorrow and fear deep in his eyes.

“Fatboy, don’t worry.”

Jiang Xia gripped his shoulder, eyes blazing, voice firm as iron. “Itachi’ve only lost some lifespan temporarily! I’ll get it back for Itachi!”

We already have a lead. Among the beast races, there’s a creature called the Mayfly. Its spirit core contains the laws of time and life—it may restore your lifespan!

“Fuyou spirit core?” Wang Teng’s eyes flickered with renewed hope.

“Yes!” Jiang Xia nodded firmly. “No matter how hard, I will get it for Itachi!”

Just as the atmosphere in the chamber eased slightly with Wang Teng’s awakening—

“Boom!!!”

An indescribable terrifying pressure, as if the entire sky were collapsing, descended upon the entire Tianmen Pass!

Sacred power! And it was filled with rage and murderous intent!

“Jiang Xia, brat! Come out and face death!!!”

A roar like thunder from the heavens exploded in every mind, wielding the force of cosmic law, shaking the blood and qi of countless low-tier cultivators, some collapsing unconscious.