Chu Xingchen's face broke into a faint smile at these words. His gaze swept over the surrounding Tribulation Transcendence cultivators, whose expressions held a hint of curiosity:
"You won't take them, but others might be curious. Anyone want to try? The effects are incredible."
The Tianyan Sect Tribulation Transcendence cultivator retreated two steps, unable to hide his look of disgust. The other Tribulation Transcendence cultivators showed no particular desire to sample them either.
After all, the legendary Ten-Complete Great Tonifying Pill of Tianyan Sect had likely been crafted by Chu Xingchen's own hand.
The fearsome reputation of the Ten-Complete Great Tonifying Pill had, in a sense, begun to rival even Bai Xuanling's.
Seeing no one respond, Chu Xingchen continued:
"The nearest location is Yunxiao Hall. I'd ask everyone to head there together to recuperate."
The Tianyan Sect Tribulation Transcendence cultivator spoke up:
"It sounds like you don't intend to come with us."
Chu Xingchen nodded slightly: "Correct. I have other arrangements."
The Tianyan Sect cultivator's tone carried a note of worry: "Your injuries are no lighter than ours. If not for the Primordial Chaos Twin Spirit Beads, you'd probably be lying flat while talking to us."
In this encirclement battle, Xu Linglong's primary target had always been Chu Xingchen. In terms of raw firepower received, Chu Xingchen was undoubtedly first.
Many of the attacks had been absorbed solely by Xuanqing Tianzong's supreme treasure.
And the return journey would require the group of Tribulation Transcendence cultivators to fly back—they could not simply set up a formation and teleport.
At the Tribulation Transcendence realm, teleportation talismans could no longer transport cultivators any great distance.
Cultivation realms were like mountains—even the highest-grade talismans had their limits.
Even teleportation formations operated on the same principle, requiring near-overload conditions to move a Tribulation Transcendence cultivator.
True high-level cultivators mostly traveled under their own power—saving time and effort.
After Chu Xingchen advanced to the Tribulation Transcendence realm, under ordinary circumstances, teleportation formations were essentially off-limits to him.
The return journey would be entirely on foot—or rather, on wing. If Chu Xingchen left the group, he would be traveling alone. Xu Linglong was dealt with, but what if another Celestial Demon ambushed him en route, specifically targeting him?
Chu Xingchen answered: "Another cultivator is coming to meet me."
"Then why don't we wait until they arrive before setting off?"
"It's Bai Xuanling coming to meet me."
"Ah, well then…"
The Tribulation Transcendence cultivators exchanged glances, then each activated their concealment techniques and began flying toward Yunxiao Hall.
Chu Xingchen watched their streaks of light depart, then exhaled heavily. He raised his hand and a Gilded Spirit Pet Bag appeared, which he shook gently.
Donggua's figure tumbled out of the bag.
At this moment, Donggua's cultivation had fallen all the way to the Qi Refining stage.
Chu Xingchen's gaze swept over him, and in the end he could only offer one remark—one tough life.
To endure injuries of this magnitude and still be clinging to life, and for Chu Xingchen to have managed to scoop him out during the chaos of battle…
If it had been any later, the entire East Sea would have been Donggua soup.
In truth, Chu Xingchen had originally not intended to save him. After all, no matter how you looked at it, Donggua had ultimately chosen to betray him. Though the betrayal was also part of Chu Xingchen's own plan, having been anticipated long ago.
Chu Xingchen couldn't quite articulate his thinking at the time. Perhaps it was simply—a backstabber doesn't get to die that easily. That would be too merciful.
No need for regret then.
Donggua's breath was faint as a whisper, every meridian in his body severed.
His Spirit Sea was in ruins, his cultivation platform shattered.
For a cultivator, this was already a death sentence. And Donggua's vital signs had weakened to the point where he could die at any moment.
Chu Xingchen didn't hesitate. He produced a pill and used spiritual energy to force it into Donggua's mouth.
In just a moment, the previously deathly pale and unconscious Donggua suddenly furrowed his brows.
Before long, a weak, pained moan escaped his lips.
Chu Xingchen pulled a chair from his spatial ring and sat down wearily to wait.
During the wait, Bai Xuanling also received the news and arrived.
Chu Xingchen first raised a hand, signaling Bai Xuanling to hold off—they would talk later. He motioned for her to wait until Donggua woke.
Fortunately, the wait was not long.
Donggua forced his eyes open, gazing up at the vast blue sky.
"You're free now." Chu Xingchen spoke softly. "Xu Linglong is dead. The other Celestial Demons probably won't remember a small fry like you."
"Without Xu Linglong, you're of no further use to me."
"The only thing keeping you alive is that feeble wisp of Qi Refining cultivation. If you tried to fight, you'd die on the spot before your fist even landed."
"No one can heal you. Not even me. With no threat remaining, you're granted your freedom."
"But you absolutely won't survive past a week. Your injuries have already reached their end."
"Stay here and savor it. You have about three days of freedom—this hard-won freedom."
Donggua tried to turn his head to look at Chu Xingchen, but found he couldn't manage it at all.
Chu Xingchen's expression was utterly cold:
"So endure the pain, drag yourself up, and breathe in the freedom you craved most—through the agony."
"Count down the final moments. Feel every second slip away with unwillingness. And then die like this."
"I'm not particularly generous. So what I give you as your final punishment is a brief, limited freedom."
Chu Xingchen finished speaking, then stood, stowed his chair, gave Bai Xuanling a slight raise of the brow, and paid no further attention to Donggua lying on the ground.
Bai Xuanling glanced at the moaning figure on the ground, followed after Chu Xingchen, and asked with curiosity:
"You gave that Donggua the pills you refined?"
Chu Xingchen nodded slightly:
"Yes. Otherwise, he probably wouldn't have made it through today."
Bai Xuanling clicked her tongue softly: "Tsk, I get the feeling he could've lasted three days without them. With them, he might not make it through today."
"But honestly, I think it would've been more fitting to just chop Donggua into chunks. Leaving a breathing one around always makes me a bit uneasy. If he weren't breathing, I'd feel much more comfortable."
Chu Xingchen nodded in understanding at these words:
"Put that way, I'm starting to regret it a little. But I am a Tribulation Transcendence cultivator now, and my word should carry weight."
Bai Xuanling laughed as if reminded of something:
"Tribulation Transcendence cultivators don't keep their word either. Those old fossils—words come out of their mouths like sworn oaths, but in practice, most of them aren't worth a dog's fart."
"You'll understand in time. After all, you yourself are hardly the type to keep every promise you make."
Chu Xingchen had been about to retort that Bai Xuanling was also a Tribulation Transcendence cultivator, but then remembered she was no longer one.
No wonder she fired off her broadsides with such conviction.
Back in the day, Bai Xuanling at the Tribulation Transcendence realm had done her fair share of bamboozling too.
Donggua listened to the sound of their footsteps fading away, feeling the extraordinarily strange, soul-searing sensation inside his body, while also sensing that his injuries had been stabilized ever so slightly by something utterly bizarre.
This must be the effect of the pill Chu Xingchen had mentioned.
Once the pill's effect wore off, he would truly reach the end.
Donggua endured the unspeakable agony, and he didn't know how much time passed before he finally managed to sit up from the ground.
His gaze fell on the setting sun over the sea.
His final freedom?
If this was how he died…
It actually didn't seem half bad.