Chapter 874: Divine Intellect Returns to the Body

When Li Luo and his companions passed through the teleportation platform, left the Dark Realm, and once again set foot in the outside world, they gazed at the azure sky where clouds rolled and unfurled, feeling the clear breeze flowing against their faces; within it, the oppressive negative energy was gone, and the eerie whispers that had constantly lingered in their ears had completely vanished.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, their tense bodies gradually relaxing.

This journey into the Dark Realm was fraught with peril for Li Luo; he had encountered no fewer than a dozen True Demon Abominations. Although they ultimately emerged unscathed, the experience still left the group somewhat shaken.

Fortunately, they possessed the power of "Unified Qi." Though this power carried numerous drawbacks, it was the only means to counter the True Demon Abominations. Without the existence of "Unified Qi," even with their superior numbers, facing a single True Demon Abomination would have amounted to an overwhelming slaughter.

"In the future, without the protection of 'Unified Qi,' I dare not enter this Dark Realm again," Zhao Zhao Yanzhi said with a bitter smile from the side of the Green Mist Banner.

Li Shi, Mu Bi, and others felt the same unease. Their strength at the Earth Fiery General stage was indeed insufficient within the Dark Realm; if they entered alone or in small groups, encountering even a single Catastrophe-level Abomination would be enough to wipe them out entirely. As for the True Demon Abominations... they dared not even think about it.

For their true strength, this place was still far too dangerous.

Li Luo, Li Li Fengyi, and the other two knew that the members of the Four Banners had suffered considerable fright this time, so they offered some comfort, told them to rest briefly, and then walked toward Li Feng and others who had been waiting outside the sealed entrance.

"Four Great Banner Leaders, you have finally emerged," Li Feng said as he hurried over. Seeing the four of them safe and sound, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Among these four, three were direct descendants of the Pulse Leaders, holding extraordinary status; if anything had happened to them on the Xi Ling Jing side, he, the City Lord, would likely have been implicated.

"A few days ago, we saw the people of Zhao Li Tianwang's faction fleeing in a wretched state; Zhao Zhao Jingyu even lost both arms, looking utterly miserable. This made this old man worry that you might have encountered some danger, so if you hadn't emerged, I would have sent people to search for you inside," Li Feng said with a bitter smile.

Had he not considered that Li Luo and the other three, each leading a banner, possessed strength comparable to four First-Rank Marquises, and that within the Xi Ling Jing Dark Realm, while they couldn't necessarily walk with impunity, few True Demon Abominations would be able to harm them, he likely would have sent people in long ago.

"We did encounter some trouble, but fortunately, we emerged unscathed in the end," Li Luo said with a smile.

Li Feng nodded and said, "Since you have emerged from the Dark Realm, as per custom, you must first undergo purification of the Evil Intent Qi."

He waved his hand, and a Sealed Marquis strength cultivator from Xi Ling Jing stepped forward, holding a silver mirror and releasing a torrent of purifying light that enveloped all the members of the Four Banners.

However, Li Luo avoided the purifying light, then, under Li Feng's puzzled gaze, pulled him aside and asked, "Does City Lord Li Feng know whom I saw in the Xi Ling Dark Realm?"

Li Feng shook his head in confusion.

Li Luo said calmly, "I saw my cousin Li Li Lingjing."

Li Feng's pupils instantly contracted. "How is that possible? Li Lingjing's divine intellect was injured, and for most of the time she has been in a daze; she can't even leave the Old Manor. How could she possibly appear in the Dark Realm!"

Li Luo paused for a moment, then said, "Does City Lord Li Feng know about the Soul-Eroding True Demon that consumed half of my cousin Li Li Lingjing's divine intellect?"

Upon hearing this name, Li Feng's expression turned much graver. He said in a deep voice, "Li Lingjing told me about this True Demon. Afterwards, I entered the Dark Realm multiple times when the seal was open, attempting to find and slay this True Demon, but I never discovered its traces. Moreover, I heard no one else encounter this True Demon, so even I am not entirely certain whether this True Demon truly exists."

"Previously, I even thought this mysterious True Demon might merely be a hallucination produced by Li Lingjing when she was previously contaminated by Evil Intent."

Immediately, his expression changed slightly. He stared at Li Luo and said, "Could it be that Great Banner Leader Li Luo encountered it?"

Li Luo nodded slowly.

He then recounted his previous encounters in full detail to Li Feng.

When Li Feng heard that Li Li Lingjing had hidden half of her divine intellect within a jade pendant, then voluntarily thrown herself into the mouth of the Soul-Eroding True Demon to clash with it life and death, resulting in her taking its place, the shock on his aged face became almost impossible to conceal.

"This... how is this possible? With Li Lingjing's strength, how could she possibly contend with the Soul-Eroding True Demon?" Li Feng said, unable to believe it.

"The Soul-Eroding True Demon and I fought to a stalemate, both sides injured. My cousin Li Lingjing chose a good moment, and... her willpower is far more tenacious than I imagined. After all, with only half of her divine intellect, enduring the day-and-night erosion of a True Demon Abomination while still maintaining a shred of clarity is something even some Sealed Marquis strength cultivators might not be able to achieve," Li Luo said calmly.

Li Luo raised his palm, and a black light pearl materialized. On the surface of the pearl, a pale Bai Xi face swirled, looking extremely eerie, while a thick aura of Evil Intent Qi emanated from it.

"Li Lingjing?" Li Feng gazed at that familiar face, and his heart trembled instantly.

Li Luo quickly stowed the object and said, "According to what my cousin Li Lingjing said, as long as this object is brought to her physical body, her divine intellect will return to her body, and the talents she once lost will also return."

Li Feng's expression was complex, filled with both joy and worry. He was joyful because Li Li Lingjing was the most talented junior of their clan in a hundred years; if she could recover, it would indeed be good news for the Li family of Xi Ling. However, she was now too deeply entangled with a True Demon Abomination, and Abominations were the most contaminating, so no one could guarantee what Li Li Lingjing had become now...

"I am telling you, City Lord Li Feng, because I want you to accompany me in monitoring my cousin Li Li Lingjing's recovery. After this matter, regardless of the outcome, you must accompany her and me to the Dragon Tooth Mountain Range, where the Old Master will examine this matter," Li Luo said in a deep voice.

Li Feng sighed and said, "This old man understands."

Li Luo wanted him to accompany them, perhaps more to keep an eye on Li Li Lingjing and prevent any sudden changes.

"Then let us proceed first," Li Feng said, glancing at the members of the Four Banners who were still undergoing purification, and made the suggestion.

Li Luo thought for a moment and nodded as well. He also wanted to resolve the issue of Li Li Lingjing as soon as possible; otherwise, having this black pearl with him was truly like having a thorn in his back.

He turned around and explained the situation to Li Li Fengyi and the others. Although they found it somewhat strange, they nodded and said they would meet up later in Xi Ling City.

After making these arrangements, Li Luo, under Li Feng's lead, sped back to Xi Ling City at full speed.

Half a day later.

The two arrived at Xi Ling City and, without even a moment's pause, descended directly into the Old Manor.

"What has been the situation with Li Lingjing these past few days?" Upon entering the Old Manor, Li Feng immediately summoned an old steward and asked.

"Clan Leader, Young Lady Li Lingjing fell into a coma the day after you left the Old Manor and has not awakened since," the old steward replied hurriedly.

Li Luo's eyes narrowed slightly. Li Feng had left Xi Ling City with him, and Li Li Lingjing's coma was likely because she had hidden the other half of her divine intellect in the jade pendant, causing her main body to lack divine intellect, naturally leading to her falling into a coma.

Li Feng nodded, then led Li Luo quickly toward Li Li Lingjing's boudoir.

Inside the boudoir, maids had been attending to her. Li Feng waved his hand to dismiss them, and Li Luo approached the bed, where he saw Li Li Lingjing lying quietly. Her pale and beautiful face lacked much color, and even her breathing had become barely perceptible.

Li Li Lingjing had used a special method to separate her remaining divine intellect, which was itself an extremely risky act. If she had delayed any longer, her divine intellect would have completely severed its connection with her physical body, and her body would have gradually lost its vitality as a result.

Her cousin's choice this time was truly a gamble; if there had been even the slightest error, she might never have returned.

This decisiveness was something even Li Luo admired.

As Li Luo thought this, he raised his palm, and the black light pearl materialized. With the pearl's appearance, the light in the entire room seemed to grow much dimmer, and an inexplicable chilling aura spread out.

Li Feng's face grew solemn. Behind him, surging energy erupted, and the faint outline of a Sealed Marquis Platform emitting boundless pressure became visible. He formed hand seals, and the surging energy completely covered the room, preventing any Evil Intent Qi from escaping.

Li Luo looked down at the black light pearl. On the surface of the pearl, that pale Bai Xi face now showed a hint of excitement.

"Cousin Li Lingjing, please return your divine intellect to your body."

As Li Luo spoke softly, a beam of light shot out from within the black pearl, directly entering the space between the eyebrows of the young woman lying on the bed.

When Li Li Lingjing's divine intellect left the black pearl, boundless Evil Intent Qi surged forth from within the pearl, eerie whispers sounded, and then, as if drawn by some force, it shot toward Li Li Lingjing.

"Wretched beast!"

At this moment, Li Feng roared loudly, and his surging, turbulent phase power transformed into layers of light wheels, protecting Li Li Lingjing.

However, the Evil Intent black light, upon merely contacting the protection Li Feng had exerted all his strength to create, easily penetrated it and finally drilled into Li Li Lingjing's lower abdomen.

This sudden change caused both Li Luo and Li Feng to have their expressions sink uncontrollably.