Cang Yan's expression changed slightly.
> "I can't see her cultivation level…?"
That could only mean one thing — her strength was at least three realms higher than his own. Yet, she was on the brink of death.
> "Someone capable of injuring such a person… must be terrifying," he thought grimly.
"And the Heavenly Peak Sect… I've never heard of it. Could it be from another continent?"
He steadied his breathing and spoke in a calm, low tone.
> "Who are you?"
The woman lifted her gaze weakly. When her eyes met his, there was a flicker of confusion. She saw a calm young man surrounded by faint golden light — his presence gentle yet deep like an ancient sea.
> "Please… help me…" she whispered.
Before she could say more, her body collapsed.
Cang Yan reacted instantly, appearing beside her in a flash. He caught her before she hit the ground. Her pulse was fading fast, and her meridians were shattered in many places.
> "If I don't stabilize her life force now, she won't survive the night."
He carried her to the bed and laid her down carefully. Golden light shone from his hands as his Heavenly Concealment Eye activated once more. Spiritual runes formed across her body, mapping every wound and broken meridian.
> "Severe internal injuries… soul power almost gone. I'll have to use my healing Qi directly."
He took a deep breath, formed a complex hand seal, and pressed his palms lightly above her dantian without touching her. A soft golden radiance flowed from his hands, entering her body like threads of sunlight.
The energy inside her began to stabilize — chaotic Qi slowly returning to balance.
From his spatial ring, Cang Yan retrieved a jade vial filled with a rare liquid that shimmered faintly blue.
> "This is my best life-essence elixir. If even this fails…"
He channeled his Qi into the vial, letting droplets of glowing energy merge with the golden light enveloping the woman. Gradually, her breathing steadied, her pale complexion gained color, and her shattered meridians began to knit together.
Time flowed silently.
After nearly an hour, the final surge of healing Qi faded. Cang Yan exhaled slowly, sweat dripping down his forehead.
> "She'll live," he murmured.
"But whoever did this to her… they're far beyond what I can face right now."
He looked down at the unconscious woman — Su Ling Yan, the mysterious Heavenly Peak Sect leader — and his eyes deepened.
> "Fate truly plays strange games," he whispered, glancing toward the distant core of the Great Wild Forest.
"Just what storm is about to begin?"
Cang Yan stood frozen for a moment, his eyes widening in disbelief. The woman before him… he couldn't sense her cultivation at all. That could only mean one thing—her strength was far above his, at least three major realms higher
But why was she so grievously injured? Who could have harmed someone of such power? And the emblem on her robe—Heavenly Peak Sect.
What sect was that?He pushed his questions aside and steadied his breathing. "Who are you?" he asked calmly.The woman raised her head weakly, her pale face illuminated by the faint glow of the room
She saw a striking young man standing before her, his aura calm yet powerful. Her lips trembled.
"Please… help me…" she whispered before collapsing.Cang Yan darted forward and caught her in his arms.
Her body was frighteningly cold, her pulse faint. "If I don't treat her now, she'll die," he thought grimly.Carrying her to the bed, he laid her down gently.
Channeling his eye technique, he scanned her body—her meridians were shattered, internal organs ruptured, and blood energy fading fast.
He frowned. To treat her properly, he needed to apply medicinal elixirs directly onto the wounded areas… but that meant removing her outer garments.He hesitated.
"If she wakes up and finds out, she'll kill me for sure," he thought, shaking his head. Yet the urgency of the situation left him no choice. "If I don't act now, she'll die anyway."Resolute, he unfastened her upper robes. Heat flushed through his face as he caught sight of her fair skin, but he quickly forced himself to focus.
Summoning a delicate jade vial from his spatial ring, he uncorked it. The rich fragrance of a precious healing elixir filled the air."This is my most powerful medicine," he murmured. "Let's hope it's enough."Carefully, he applied the glowing liquid to her wounds. The cuts began closing instantly, flesh knitting together with astonishing speed.
The process continued for half an hour until all external injuries had faded.
Still, her internal damage lingered.Cang Yan's brows knit tighter. "Her core is still collapsing. I'll have to infuse my Qi into her directly…"He placed his palms on her abdomen and began channeling energy, but the healing progress was slow. Time was slipping away.
After a moment of fierce inner conflict, he clenched his jaw. "There's no choice… mouth-to-mouth Qi transfer might be the only way."