Chapter 448: The Core Responds

Xu Feng understood the gravity of the situation in an instant. In the world of Practitioners, the separation of the Spirit Body from the physical body is an extremely dangerous state; if it cannot return in time, the Spirit Body will dissipate, and the physical body will die along with it. Yet the state of Lin Xuan and Xiao Yuan at this moment far exceeded a conventional out-of-body experience, appearing more like some new form of existence.

"Immediately initiate the emergency Spirit Body recall procedure!" Xu Feng ordered. "Mobilize all resources; spare no cost to pull them back!"

The technical team acted immediately, activating equipment designed specifically to deal with Spirit Body crises. Around the energy field, dozens of special devices operated simultaneously, releasing energy waves of a specific frequency in an attempt to build a Bridge for Lin Xuan and Xiao Yuan's Spirit Bodies to return to their physical bodies.

At the same time, the medical team attempted to stimulate the two people's physical bodies through various means, hoping to strengthen the physical bodies' attraction to the Spirit Bodies. Several senior medical Practitioners even attempted to establish a connection directly with Lin Xuan and Xiao Yuan's Spirit Bodies through special secret arts.

However, all efforts seemed to be of no avail. Various instruments emitted shrill alarm sounds, showing that the two people's vital signs were continuing to drop, and their Spirit Body fluctuations were becoming increasingly weak.

"Why is there no effect?" Xu Feng asked anxiously. "What other methods can save them?"

An expert in energy Zhuanghua sighed deeply: "I am afraid... there is no way. In the final strike, the Five Elements Core completely fused, forming a brand-new energy form. As the guiding mediums, Lin Xuan and Xiao Yuan's Spirit Bodies have already deeply blended with this energy and cannot be separated..."

"No, there must be a way!" Xu Feng refused to accept this result. "Continue trying! Mobilize the entire Global Cultivation Network, pool our wisdom, and we will surely find a solution!"

Just as everyone was busy, the phantom of Lin Xuan's Spirit Body suddenly moved. He turned his head slightly to look at Xu Feng, a smile appearing at the corners of his mouth. This smile contained too many emotions: relief, contentment, gratitude, and a hint of reluctance.

"Xu Feng..." Lin Xuan's voice sounded as if it were coming from very far away, intermittent but clearly audible, "No need... to worry... this is our... choice..."

"Lin Xuan!" Xu Feng rushed forward, but passed through the Spirit Body again. "No, you cannot do this! There must be a way!"

Lin Xuan shook his head, his gaze calm and firm: "Yage has been defeated... humanity can continue... it is worth it..."

The phantom of Xiao Yuan's Spirit Body nestled beside Lin Xuan, looking up at him with a happy smile on her face: "I do not regret it... being able to protect this world... with you..."

Lin Xuan looked down at Xiao Yuan, his eyes full of tenderness: "I do not regret it either... this choice..."

The two Spirit Body phantoms nestled against each other, forming a heartbreaking yet beautiful scene in the center of the energy field. As time passed, their figures became increasingly blurry, appearing as if they could dissipate completely at any moment.

Everyone in the headquarters stopped their work and watched this scene quietly, tears in their eyes. This was a tragic and great moment; two heroes had exchanged their own existence for the future of humanity, and this sacrifice made everyone present feel incomparably awestruck.

Xu Feng knelt on the ground, tears blurring his vision: "Lin Xuan... Xiao Yuan... do not go..."

Just at this moment, a miracle occurred.

The fused Five Elements Core—that Energy Bead which had once emitted the pure white beam of light that defeated Yage—suddenly rose automatically into mid-air, releasing a soft glow. This light flowed like water, completely enveloping the phantoms of Lin Xuan and Xiao Yuan's Spirit Bodies.

Everyone watched this scene in astonishment, not understanding what had happened.

Within the light, Lin Xuan and Xiao Yuan's Spirit Bodies seemed to become clearer; they looked at each other and smiled, their eyes full of hope. Fine cracks began to appear on the surface of the Energy Bead, and light spilled out from the fissures, illuminating the entire room.

"The Core is... responding to them!" an energy expert exclaimed.

With a crisp cracking sound, the Energy Bead split apart, but instead of reverting to the original Five Cores, it formed Seven Cores that hovered in mid-air. Five of them radiated the light of the Five Elements—gold, wood, water, fire, and earth—while the other two presented in Yin and Yang colors—one primarily white with black patterns inside, and the other primarily black with white patterns inside.

Just as everyone was astonished, the phantoms of Lin Xuan and Xiao Yuan's Spirit Bodies began to merge into those two Yin-Yang colored cores. Lin Xuan's Spirit Body merged into the primarily white core, and Xiao Yuan's Spirit Body merged into the primarily black core. As the fusion completed, the two Spirit Body phantoms disappeared completely, leaving only the seven hovering cores rotating slowly in the air.

"What... what is this situation?" Xu Feng asked in shock.

The energy research experts looked at each other, unable to provide a definitive explanation for a moment. Finally, an older researcher spoke up: "I think... this is the final gift Lin Xuan and Xiao Yuan left for us. Although their Spirit Bodies could not return to their physical bodies, they have survived in another form—becoming the new cores!"

"You mean... they turned into cores?" Xu Feng asked in disbelief.

"Not entirely," the researcher said, weighing their words, "it should be said that their Spirit Body Origin fused with the cores, forming a brand-new energy form. They are no longer 'people' in the ordinary sense, but they have not completely disappeared either. They exist in another way, becoming the core power supporting the Global Cultivation Network."

Xu Feng looked up at the seven hovering cores, especially the two new Yin-Yang colored cores, his heart filled with mixed emotions. Sorrow and relief were intertwined; loss and hope coexisted. Lin Xuan and Xiao Yuan had sacrificed their human bodies, yet they continued to protect humanity in another form.

"Do they... still have consciousness?" Xu Feng asked cautiously.

The researcher shook their head: "That is hard to say. By all logic, after a Spirit Body fuses with a core, it should not retain a complete human consciousness. But Lin Xuan and Xiao Yuan were already unprecedented existences; their situation may exceed our range of understanding. Perhaps, on some level, their consciousness still exists, just in a way we cannot understand."

Xu Feng walked forward, stood beneath the seven cores, and said softly: "Lin Xuan, Xiao Yuan, if you can hear me... I want to say, thank you. Humanity will never forget your sacrifice. I promise, we will cherish the peace you exchanged your lives for."

The seven cores seemed to react to Xu Feng's words, their light flickering slightly as if in response. This scene made everyone present feel a touch of warmth and comfort.

Subsequently, the seven cores began to arrange themselves automatically, forming a specific formation—the five Five Elements Cores circled the perimeter, and the two Yin-Yang cores were positioned in the center, forming a perfectly balanced system. This system began to release soft energy fluctuations, connecting to every node of the Global Cultivation Network.