Chapter 169: Shared Life Gu
The congregation’s gazes varied.
No one knew the identity of the black-veiled woman Lin Xueshuang had brought, nor her intentions.
Ning Qi’s gaze carried an inquiring look. He had already noticed the existence of this black-veiled woman earlier and originally thought she was a member of the Lin Clan, but now it seemed she was not. Sensing the peculiar aura on her body, he pondered thoughtfully.
While pondering, the black-veiled woman gave a shallow curtsy to Dragon Mountain Daoist:
“Southern Border Saintess Lan Yiyi, greetings to True Person.”
Her voice was clear and cold, but her words made everyone’s eyes narrow.
Southern Border!
Everyone knew what kind of relationship the Southern Border had with True Martial Sect, and now the Southern Border Saintess had actually come to True Martial Mountain. This was truly unbelievable. Lin Ruhua felt somewhat anxious in her heart, not knowing why her mother had brought a core figure from the Southern Border to True Martial Mountain. Lin Xueshuang merely signaled her to remain calm.
Dragon Mountain Daoist sized up Lan Yiyi before him, several thoughts flashing by in an instant. He restrained his smile and said indifferently:
“I wonder what business Miss Lan has coming to my True Martial Mountain?”
He did not speak harshly, thinking in his heart that perhaps the recent calamity of the Demonic Sect had given the Southern Border different ideas, not wanting to continue being hostile with True Martial Sect.
But the next moment.
The indifference on his face froze.
Lan Yiyi looked straight at everyone and said softly:
“I have come to save Qin Yun.”
One sentence stirred up a thousand waves.
The most excited was none other than Jiang Baishan.
His eyes lit up instantly, and he rushed to Lan Yiyi, cupping his hands in a salute:
“Miss Lan, can you really save my Eighth Junior Brother?”
Everyone’s hearts were lifted.
Qin Yun’s ordeal had always been a pain in their hearts. Although they were all determined to save Qin Yun in the future, no one knew when they would see hope, not even Ning Qi. Lifespan was an intangible thing, involving the mysteries of the human body. He currently had no idea how to extend lifespan, and moreover, it needed to be done in an extremely short time with a large amount.
Ning Qi sat upright, his gaze calm yet possessing a natural demeanor:
“May I ask Miss Lan, by what means will you save my Eighth Senior Brother? Why save my Eighth Senior Brother? Are there any conditions?”
He knew best the difficulties involved, and the key points needed to be clarified.
The congregation fell silent.
The questions Ning Qi asked were very important. If they casually let an enemy act to save Qin Yun, and they suddenly struck viciously during the treatment, it would be too late for regrets.
Lan Yiyi looked at Ning Qi and was momentarily stunned to see a youth with an extraordinary demeanor, but she soon sighed softly:
“I save him simply because he is Qin Yun. No conditions are needed. Gentlemen need not doubt me. Although I come from the Southern Border, no one there knows of this matter.”
Her words did not spell it out, but the congregation already understood some of the deeper meaning.
Ning Qi’s gaze was slightly odd. From this, it seemed… this Southern Border Saintess actually harbored feelings for his Eighth Senior Brother? He immediately felt some respect. For her to venture alone into the underground lair, this act alone was enough to make people believe her mostly. This Southern Border Saintess’s resolve was also extremely firm.
Lin Xueshuang stepped forward:
“Gentlemen, I can guarantee this matter. Qin Yun’s situation in the Demonic Sect was not good before. With Miss Yiyi’s help, he went to the Hundred Thousand Mountains. The two truly have an inseparable bond. Before Qin Yun set off, he told Miss Yiyi about this.”
“Later, when Qin Yun did not return for a long time and the Demonic Sect also suffered a change, Miss Yiyi came to find me. I told her about Qin Yun’s situation, and that’s when she said she wanted to come with me up the mountain.”
“If gentlemen have no method, why not hear Miss Yiyi’s approach.”
The congregation suddenly understood.
Dragon Mountain Daoist stood up and gave a salute, but Lan Yiyi quickly dodged it, her pretty face slightly red beneath the black veil.
“Miss Lan, please forgive us. If there is anything you need us to cooperate with, just say it.” Dragon Mountain Daoist’s eyes carried expectation.
Lan Yiyi said:
“In the Southern Border, there is a miraculous Gu Worm called the Life-Sharing Gu.”
Just hearing the name made everyone’s bodies tremble.
“The one affected by the Gu can share lifespan with the one who plants the Gu. This is the Life-Sharing. I will plant the sub-Gu of the Life-Sharing Gu into Qin Yun, and he can then receive half of my lifespan, waking up from then on. But this Gu also has a flaw: because Qin Yun’s lifespan comes from me, if one day I unfortunately perish, his lifespan will also be emptied.”
“So, after Qin Yun wakes up, if possible, you can find him lifespan-extending treasures. That way, even if I fall one day, he won’t immediately perish.”
These plain words made everyone fall silent, not knowing what to feel in their hearts.
Even for father and son or brothers, not everyone would be willing to share half their lifespan, but Lan Yiyi did so without hesitation. The congregation felt deep respect.
Dragon Mountain Daoist sighed:
“This old Daoist thanks Miss Yiyi on behalf of that unworthy disciple, but can this old Daoist plant the Life-Sharing Gu instead?”
He felt that Lan Yiyi providing the method was already extremely good, and for her to also pay half her own lifespan was too great a sacrifice.
Jiang Baishan then said:
“Master, let me plant it! This is what I owe Little Eight.”
His eyes carried a plea.
The others also wanted to speak up.
But Lan Yiyi shook her head slightly:
“You all cannot plant it. This Gu is innate to me and has fused with me as one. Under the heavens, only I can plant it.”
Seeing the disappointed expressions of the congregation, she felt happy for Qin Yun in her heart. This way, at least after Qin Yun woke up, he would still have such a good group of Master and Senior Brothers.
Ning Qi sighed inwardly.
Originally, he thought his lifespan was the most abundant, so it would be most appropriate for him to plant it, and then slowly find a way to replace it later. But Lan Yiyi’s words cut off everyone’s thoughts.
Dragon Mountain Daoist fell silent, saluting again, but Lan Yiyi dodged once more.
“Miss Yiyi, this kindness will never be forgotten. When Qin Yun wakes, we will surely make him properly repay your life-saving grace!”
Lan Yiyi shook her head:
“I have one condition.”
“Please speak, Miss Yiyi.”
“When Qin Yun wakes, do not tell him it was I who saved him.”
The congregation was all stunned, not understanding Lan Yiyi’s idea.
But Lan Yiyi was extremely firm:
“This is my only request. Please agree, True Person.”
Silence.
A moment later.
Dragon Mountain Daoist let out a long breath and said solemnly:
“Very well, I promise you.”
Though he did not know exactly what relationship Lan Yiyi and Qin Yun had, there must be some affection between them that outsiders could not understand. The one who tied the bell must untie it, so he could only agree for now and speak of it later.
Lan Yiyi breathed a sigh of relief.
“Take me to see Qin Yun.” Her eyes began to fluctuate.
Dragon Mountain Daoist gestured with his hand, and the congregation headed toward the innermost part of Mingwu Pavilion.
Then.
A lifelike ice sculpture appeared before the congregation.
Seeing Qin Yun lying on the Mysterious Ice Jade Bed, Lan Yiyi subconsciously clenched her fingers, her heart twitching slightly. The aged body before her seemed completely different from the previously handsome and valiant youth, but in Lan Yiyi’s eyes, the two constantly overlapped, merging into one.
Her eyes reddened slightly, but she lowered her head to not let others notice.
Taking a deep breath, she gradually regained her composure:
“Let’s begin planting the Life-Sharing Gu. This process takes at least three months, up to half a year. During this time, I will also fall into a deep sleep. Please protect us, True Person, and ensure no one disturbs us, or it will all be for naught, and both Qin Yun and I will be in mortal danger.”
Dragon Mountain Daoist said solemnly:
“Very well, Miss Yiyi, rest assured!”
Lan Yiyi slowly approached, then lay down on the Mysterious Ice Jade Bed alongside Qin Yun. The piercing chill made her instinctively shiver, then she circulated her Gang Qi and slowly closed her eyes.
She did not ask the congregation to leave, which would make them even more at ease. After all, no matter how sincerely she spoke, there was still some risk.
If there was truly anything amiss, Ning Qi could immediately intervene.
The congregation held their breath and watched intently.
They saw a faint glow beginning to condense on Lan Yiyi’s body. Then, her red lips parted slightly, and a small insect glowing with jade light flew out, hovering between her and Qin Yun.
The congregation felt astonishment, while Ning Qi’s eyes gleamed with golden light, inquiring into its mysteries.
This was both insurance and to see if there was anything that could be improved for potential future use. There was some astonishment in his eyes. The methods of the Southern Border people were indeed profound. The previous Blood King Gu had already made him feel vastly different from Great Yan’s Martial Way, and now this Life-Sharing Gu was even more miraculous.
The jade-colored small insect emitted fluctuating sounds. Vaguely, points of the same glow condensed on the other side, and the congregation realized in their hearts that this was condensing the sub-Gu.
Once the sub-Gu was fully formed, it would be planted into Qin Yun’s body.
And the time-consuming process Lan Yiyi mentioned was precisely this: both condensing the sub-Gu and bridging the lifespan connection.
Lan Yiyi’s aura gradually withdrew, ultimately falling into a deep sleep.
After completing the guidance, the rest relied entirely on the Life-Sharing Gu’s instincts.
Dragon Mountain Daoist imperceptibly glanced at Ning Qi, and upon seeing Ning Qi nod, he immediately felt relieved.
He dismissed the congregation.
“From now on, no other disciples may approach Mingwu Pavilion except for you few.”
The congregation respectfully acknowledged.
They glanced again at Qin Yun and Lan Yiyi, feeling emotion in their hearts while also some anticipation. They had not expected such a twist; to obtain a method to save Qin Yun from the hands of someone from the Southern Border. This made their moods somewhat complex.
But overall, it was good news.
With this major matter settled, everyone’s mood improved considerably, especially Jiang Baishan’s—this had almost become his heart demon.
At this moment.
He was immensely grateful to this Southern Border Saintess.
Dragon Mountain Daoist then discussed with Lin Xueshuang some arrangements for the Lin Clan members’ settlement.
After all, although Lin Xueshuang and the Lin Clan had decided to sever ties with the Demonic Sect, a small portion had ultimately shown their faces before the Imperial Court, so it was not suitable to be high-profile now. After the waves calmed and time passed, the Lin Clan would naturally establish itself.
For now, finding a place near True Martial Mountain to recuperate was the best choice.
Then.
The two also settled on the wedding date for Jiang Baishan and Lin Ruhua, set for the eighth of next month.
This way, it would be double celebrations.
The haze in Dragon Mountain Daoist’s heart finally completely dissipated. The Fifth Disciple no longer faced a dilemma, the Eighth Disciple had hope of waking, the threats from the Demonic Sect and Southern Border were greatly reduced, and True Martial Sect was thriving more than ever. Everything was turning for the better.
Ning Qi was also in a good mood.
Although he firmly believed he would one day create a method to wake Qin Yun, waking sooner was naturally better.
…
Time passed slowly.
The wedding day for Jiang Baishan and Lin Ruhua had arrived.
On this day, lanterns were hung and decorations made, full of joy, but limited to the pavilions in True Martial Sect’s Elder area. The matter was not overly publicized, after all, Lin Ruhua’s identity was still somewhat sensitive.
From True Martial Sect’s side, it was Ning Qi and the others, along with a few disciples like Luo Nianchu who attended, while from the Lin Clan’s side, it was Lin Xueshuang and a few important figures.
Though few in number, they were all close ones.
The congregation offered sincere blessings and gifts, and it was extremely lively.
The two newlyweds were full of happiness.
Ning Qi watched this scene with some emotion. Time passed so quickly. Back when he was one year old, Fifth Senior Brother had said to focus solely on the Martial Way and never marry, but in the blink of an eye, he had forgotten it completely. Indeed, once a person meets the one they love in their heart, everything changes.
He wondered if one day he would be the same, meeting such a woman.
But immediately, he shook his head and smiled wryly.
The affairs of the world are unpredictable; no one knows what will happen in the future. He did not reject it, but would not crave it either.
But the one thing he was certain of was that any woman who could catch his eye must be one with the same aspirations as him.
After the wedding.
True Martial Sect returned to calm once more.
But True Martial Sword Stele and Myriad Dao Tower remained bustling, with martial artists constantly arriving, especially Myriad Dao Tower. Now with deepening foundation, it was no longer limited to Sword Dao. In a short time, the other martial paths were already sufficient to rival the Sword Dao foundation within.
But Ning Qi did not need to worry about it. He only needed to communicate with the martial path imprints inside every so often, absorb the useful nourishment, and advance his own Martial Way.
His Martial Way Intent was advancing at a speed incomprehensible to ordinary people.
This was just one of them.
Ning Qi’s main energy now was focused on cultivating the Three Flowers.
With the aid of the Heaven-Connecting Pill, his cultivation advanced at a tremendous pace, improving at a terrifying speed every moment, driving his combat power to constantly grow.
This feeling fascinated him.
He eagerly anticipated the day he reached Heavenly Human Perfection.
For him, this was an extremely important key point.
At Heavenly Human Perfection, with his Divine Intent powerful enough, he could thoroughly see the scenes deep within the White Ape bloodline.
With Three Flowers Gathering at the Apex, he could formally begin inquiring into the Martial Saint Realm. Otherwise, all previous conjectures were mere deductions.
Moreover, he could start inquiring into the mysteries of the Martial Saint Power within the King Yu Bead.
During this period.
He had studied the King Yu Bead multiple times, but aside from controlling it more freely, the greatest gain was merely urging the remaining Martial Saint Power to erupt with astonishing destructive power. But inquiring into the mysteries of the Martial Saint Power was completely impossible.
This made him realize.
Three Flowers Gathering at the Apex was perhaps an extremely important condition.
Therefore, aside from reading scriptures and gaining enlightenment, Ning Qi focused fully on cultivation.
Time passed slowly.
Heaven-Connecting Pills were consumed at a steady rate.
This day.
In the Seeker’s Courtyard.
A gentle breeze was refreshing.
Now, the Enlightenment Tea Tree, nurtured by the flesh and blood of dozens of Heavenly Human Realm experts, had grown lush branches and leaves. The idea Ning Qi had years ago of lying on the Enlightenment Tea Tree to cool off and read scriptures had preliminarily come true, and it was still growing. Perhaps one day it could canopy the entire Seeker’s Courtyard.
Ning Qi sat beneath the Enlightenment Tea Tree, in a state between sleep and wakefulness.
His condition was somewhat wondrous, already at the edge of breakthrough.
