Everyone's gazes were different.
They didn't know the identity of the black-veiled woman Lin Xueshuang brought, nor her intentions.
Ning Qi's eyes carried a look of inquiry. He had already noticed this black-veiled woman before, originally thinking she was a member of the Lin family, but now it seemed otherwise. Sensing the strange aura on this woman, he was deep in thought.
While pondering, the black-veiled woman gave a slight bow to Daoist Longshan:
"I am Lan Yiyi, the Southern Alliance Saintess. Greetings, Daoist."
Her voice was clear and cold, but her words made everyone's eyes sharpen.
Southern Alliance!
Everyone knew the relationship between the Southern Alliance and the Zhenwu Sect, and now the Saintess of the Southern Alliance had actually come up to Zhenwu Mountain. This was truly baffling. Lin Ruhua felt a bit anxious, unsure why her mother would bring a key Southern Alliance figure to Zhenwu Mountain, but Lin Xueshuang simply gestured for her to stay calm.
Daoist Longshan scrutinized Lan Yiyi for a moment, fleeting thoughts passing through his mind. He withdrew his smile and said calmly,
"I wonder, Miss Lan, what brings you to Zhenwu Mountain?"
He did not speak harshly, thinking perhaps recent disasters at the Demonic Sect had caused the Southern Alliance to reconsider and avoid worsening relations with the Zhenwu Sect.
But the next moment,
The calmness on his face froze.
Lan Yiyi looked directly at everyone and softly said,
"I have come to save Qin Yun."
These words stirred a thousand waves.
The most excited was Jiang Baishan.
His eyes lit up instantly as he rushed to Lan Yiyi, cupping his hands respectfully:
"Miss Lan, can you really save my eighth junior brother?"
Everyone's hearts lifted.
Qin Yun's calamity had always been a pain in their hearts. Though they all vowed to save him one day, no one knew when hope would arrive. Even Ning Qi was no different. Lifespan was intangible, relating to the mysteries of the human body. He had no idea how to prolong lifespan, especially not in large amounts within such a short time.
Ning Qi sat upright. His eyes were calm but held a certain dignity:
"May I ask, Miss Lan, by what means will you save my eighth senior brother? Why do you wish to save him? Are there any conditions?"
These questions were crucial. If they carelessly allowed an enemy to intervene in saving Qin Yun, what if they struck with malice during the process? The regret would be irreparable.
Everyone fell silent.
Ning Qi's questions were important.
Lan Yiyi looked at Ning Qi, stunned momentarily by his commanding presence as a young Daoist, but then she sighed softly:
"I save him simply because he is Qin Yun. No conditions are needed. You need not doubt me. Though I come from the Southern Alliance, no one there knows of this matter."
Though she did not elaborate, everyone understood the deeper meaning.
Ning Qi's gaze became slightly strange. It seemed... this Southern Alliance Saintess actually had feelings for his eighth senior brother? Respect arose within him. To venture alone into a deep cave was enough to prove much. This Southern Alliance Saintess's will was extremely firm.
Lin Xueshuang stepped forward:
"Everyone, I can vouch for this matter. Qin Yun's situation in the Demonic Sect was not good. It was with the help of Miss Yiyi that he went to the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains. The two have a deep bond. Before departing, Qin Yun told Miss Yiyi about this."
"Later, Qin Yun did not return for a long time, and the Demonic Sect suffered a crisis. Miss Yiyi then came to me. I informed her of Qin Yun's situation, and she said she wanted to ascend the mountain with me."
"If none of you have a solution, perhaps you can hear Miss Yiyi's method."
Everyone was enlightened.
Daoist Longshan stood and bowed, but Lan Yiyi quickly avoided his gaze, her delicate face flushed beneath the black veil.
"Miss Lan, please forgive me. If there is anything you need our cooperation with, please say so," Daoist Longshan said with hope in his eyes.
Lan Yiyi said:
"In the Southern Alliance, there is a miraculous gu worm called the Shared-Life Gu."
Hearing the name alone made everyone shudder.
"The recipient of the gu can share lifespan with the gu planter. This is the shared life. I will plant the Shared-Life Gu on Qin Yun. He will then receive half of my lifespan and awaken. But this gu has a flaw: since Qin Yun's lifespan depends on mine, if one day I perish, his lifespan will instantly vanish."
"Therefore, after Qin Yun awakens, if possible, you should find him rare items to prolong life. That way, even if I fall someday, he will not immediately lose his lifespan and die."
Her calm words caused everyone to fall silent, unsure what to think.
Even among fathers and brothers, not everyone would willingly give up half their lifespan. But Lan Yiyi was unwavering, and everyone bowed with respect.
Daoist Longshan sighed:
"I, this old Daoist, thank Miss Lan on behalf of that scoundrel disciple. But can the Shared-Life Gu be planted by me?"
He felt Lan Yiyi's method was already excellent, and giving half her lifespan was an enormous sacrifice.
Jiang Baishan said:
"Master, let me plant it! This is my debt to Little Eight."
His eyes pleaded earnestly.
Others also wanted to speak.
But Lan Yiyi shook her head slightly:
"None of you can plant it. This gu is symbiotic with me, already fused as one. Only I in the entire world can plant it."
Seeing everyone's disappointed expressions, she felt glad for Qin Yun. At least after waking, he would still have such good masters and senior brothers.
Ning Qi sighed quietly.
He had thought his lifespan was most sufficient and that he was the best candidate to plant it, with plans to gradually find a way to replace it later. But Lan Yiyi's words shattered all such thoughts.
Daoist Longshan fell silent, bowed once more, and Lan Yiyi again avoided his gaze.
"Miss Yiyi, this kindness is unforgettable. When Qin Yun awakens, we will surely let him repay your lifesaving grace properly!"
Lan Yiyi shook her head:
"I have one condition."
"Please speak, Miss Yiyi."
"When Qin Yun wakes, do not tell him that I saved him."
Everyone was stunned, unable to understand her reasoning.
But Lan Yiyi was resolute:
"This is my only request. I ask the Daoist to agree."
Silence.
After a moment, Daoist Longshan exhaled deeply and said gravely:
"Very well, I agree."
Though unsure of the exact relationship between Lan Yiyi and Qin Yun, there must be feelings outsiders could not understand. The one who unties the bell must be the one to tie it. They had no choice but to agree first and discuss it later.
Lan Yiyi relaxed.
"Take me to see Qin Yun." Her eyes began to flicker with emotion.
Daoist Longshan reached out, guiding everyone toward the innermost part of Mingwu Pavilion.
Then,
A lifelike ice sculpture appeared before them.
Looking at Qin Yun lying on the black ice jade bed, Lan Yiyi instinctively clenched her fingers. Her heart twitched slightly. The aged body before her was as if not the same person as the handsome, heroic youth from before. But in Lan Yiyi's eyes, the two images continuously overlapped, merging into one.
Her eyes reddened, but she lowered her head to hide it from others.
Taking a deep breath, she gradually calmed:
"Begin planting the Shared-Life Gu. This process takes at least three months, up to six. During this time, I will fall into a deep sleep. Daoist, please protect me and ensure no one disturbs us, or the effort will be wasted, and both Qin Yun and I will face mortal danger."
Daoist Longshan said solemnly:
"Very well, Miss Yiyi, rest assured!"
Lan Yiyi slowly approached, then lay down on the black ice jade bed beside Qin Yun. The bone-chilling cold made her shiver instinctively. Then she circulated qi force and closed her eyes slowly.
She did not ask others to leave, which made them feel more at ease. After all, no matter how sincere her words were, there was still some risk.
If something went wrong, Ning Qi could immediately intervene.
Everyone held their breath and watched.
They saw a faint glow begin to gather around Lan Yiyi. Then, her ruby lips parted, and a small jade-colored worm flew out, hovering between her and Qin Yun.
Everyone was amazed. Ning Qi's eyes shimmered with golden light, exploring the mystery.
This was both an insurance and a way to see if there was room for improvement, perhaps for future use. He was somewhat astonished—some methods of the Southern Alliance were truly arcane. The previous Blood King Gu had already made him feel it was quite different from the Great Yan martial path, and now the Shared-Life Gu was even more magical.
The jade-colored worm emitted ripples. Faintly, similar light gathered on the other side. Everyone realized this was the formation of the offspring gu.
Once the offspring gu fully formed, it would be implanted inside Qin Yun's body.
Lan Yiyi had said the lengthy process was due to this: both forming the offspring gu and grafting the lifespan bridge.
Lan Yiyi's aura gradually retracted, and she finally fell into a deep sleep.
After the initial guidance, the rest depended entirely on the instinct of the Shared-Life Gu.
Daoist Longshan glanced at Ning Qi subtly. Seeing Ning Qi nod, he relaxed.
He dismissed the others:
"From now on, except for you few, no other disciples may approach Mingwu Pavilion."
Everyone respectfully agreed.
They looked again at Qin Yun and Lan Yiyi, feeling mixed emotions and some hope. Unexpectedly, a way to save Qin Yun had been found through someone from the Southern Alliance. Their feelings were complicated.
However, it was ultimately a good thing.
A major matter had found resolution, and everyone's mood brightened, especially Jiang Baishan. This had almost become his mental knot.
At this moment, he was deeply grateful to the Southern Alliance Saintess.
Daoist Longshan then discussed with Lin Xueshuang arrangements for the Lin family members to settle.
Though Lin Xueshuang and the Lin family had decided to sever ties with the Demonic Sect, a small number had exposed themselves before the court, so now they could not act openly. After the situation calmed, the Lin family would gradually establish itself naturally.
For now, finding a place near Zhenwu Mountain to rest and recuperate was the best choice.
Afterward, they set the wedding date for Jiang Baishan and Lin Ruhua on the eighth day of next month.
With this, it would be a double celebration.
The dark clouds in Daoist Longshan's heart finally dissipated. The fifth disciple no longer faced a dilemma, the eighth disciple had hope to awaken, the threat from the Demonic Sect and Southern Alliance greatly reduced, and the Zhenwu Sect was flourishing. Everything was heading in a good direction.
Ning Qi was also in a good mood.
Though firmly believing he would one day create a method to awaken Qin Yun, sooner awakening was naturally better.
...
Time passed slowly.
Jiang Baishan and Lin Ruhua's wedding day arrived.
That day was decorated with lanterns and festivity, joyous but limited to the Zhenwu Sect elders' quarters. This matter was not overly publicized, as Lin Ruhua's identity was still somewhat sensitive.
On the Zhenwu side, only Ning Qi and a few disciples including Luo Nian Chu attended. On the Lin family side, Lin Xueshuang and several important figures were present.
Though few in number, all were close acquaintances.
Everyone sincerely offered blessings and gifts, making it lively.
The newlyweds wore faces full of happiness.
Ning Qi watched this scene with emotion. Time flew. When he was one, his fifth senior brother had told him to focus on martial arts and never marry. Yet in the blink of an eye, he had completely forgotten that. Indeed, when one meets the person they love, everything changes.
He wondered if one day he would be the same, meeting such a woman.
But then he shook his head with a smile.
Life was unpredictable; no one knew what would happen. He did not reject it, nor did he crave it.
The only thing he was certain of was that any woman who caught his eye must share his aspirations.
After the wedding, the Zhenwu Sect returned to calm.
Yet the Zhenwu Sword Stele and Myriad Dao Tower remained bustling, constantly attracting martial artists. Especially the Myriad Dao Tower, its foundation deepened and no longer limited to swordsmanship. In a short time, other martial paths had already begun to rival the sword path's foundation within.
However, Ning Qi need not worry. He only needed to periodically communicate with the martial path imprints inside, absorbing useful nutrients to advance his own path.
His martial intent advanced at a speed difficult for ordinary people to comprehend.
This was just one aspect.
Ning Qi now focused mainly on cultivating the Three Blossoms.
With the support of the Heaven-Penetrating Pills, his cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds, terrifyingly fast every moment, boosting his combat power continuously.
This feeling fascinated him.
He eagerly awaited the day he would reach Heaven-Man Completion.
For him, this was an extremely crucial milestone.
At Heaven-Man Completion, his divine intent would be strong enough to clearly see the depths of White Ape's bloodline.
With the Three Blossoms united at the summit, he could officially begin exploring the Martial Sage realm. Otherwise, previous speculations were only conjecture.
Furthermore, he could begin investigating the mysteries of the Martial Sage power within the Yu King Bead.
Recently, he had studied the Yu King Bead multiple times. Aside from controlling the Martial Sage power more consciously, his greatest gain was triggering its explosive killing power. But understanding its mysteries was completely impossible.
This made him realize that the Three Blossoms uniting might be a vital condition.
Therefore, besides studying scriptures and comprehending the Dao, Ning Qi devoted all his energy to cultivation.
Time passed slowly.
He consumed the Heaven-Penetrating Pills steadily.
One day, inside the Seeking Dao Courtyard,
A gentle breeze blew pleasantly.
Now the Enlightenment Tea Tree, nurtured by dozens of Heaven-Man Realm flesh and blood, had grown lush branches and leaves. Years ago, Ning Qi imagined lying under the Enlightenment Tea Tree, cooling off and reading scriptures. That vision had already partially come true, and it continued to grow, perhaps one day covering the entire Seeking Dao Courtyard.
Ning Qi sat beneath the Enlightenment Tea Tree, drifting between sleep and wakefulness.
His state was peculiar—he was on the verge of breaking through.