Qinghe Village was a hive of nervous energy.
Villagers huddled in the streets, their voices hushed as they looked toward the horizon. "Did you feel that?" one asked. "It felt like a hand reaching into my chest and squeezing my soul.
"I saw them," another whispered. "The cultivators... flying toward the forest like streaks of falling stars.
"It wasn't just the sight," another whispered, clutching his chest. "That wave... it felt like it was the wave that reach into my chest."
Amidst the fear, a wooden door creaked open. Old Lady Shen stepped out, her face a mask of iron as she supported Xinyi. Her sharp eyes scanned the sky, sensing the residue of the shockwave. A power that can rattle the foundations of the soul from this distance... she thought. Even I felt my core tremble.
A wet, ragged cough broke her thoughts. "Cough!"
Xinyi slumped, a spray of dark, stagnant blood hitting the dirt. Her body began to vibrate, her muscles twitching as if an invisible ghost were trying to tear its way out of her skin.
"It's a miracle I arrived when I did," Old Lady Shen said, her voice tight. She grabbed Xinyi's hands, forced her own Qi into her to stabilize the. "If I had stayed in the forest longer without returning, you would have died today.l
She looked into Xinyi's eyes, her gaze finally dropping to the ground. "I'm sorry."
Xinyi blinked weakly. "Sorry... for what?"
Old Lady Shen looked away. "Even with my help... the death aura in your marrow has reached its final stage. You have three days left or four, if the Heavens are merciful."
Old Lady Shen's heart ached. What will happen to Fang when he hears this? It will destroy him.
But Xinyi didn't cry. She reached out and placed Old Lady Shen's hand over her heart. She smiled, a thin, beautiful thing that seemed to hold more light than the sun. "It's alright. You have carried enough for us.She took a shallow breath. I understand.
She sat down slowly in a wooden chair, leaning back to conserve what little strength remained. "Just... do one thing for me.
Old Lady Shen closed her eyes and nodded. "...I'll bring him home.
With a roar of spiritual energy, Old Lady Shen leapt into the sky, defying gravity. Mid-air, her blue-steel sword flew from its sheath, glowing with a brilliant light as she stepped onto the blade. BOOM! She vanished into the clouds.
Down in the village, Doctor Lu Cheng watched the streak of blue light with horror. Is she going to face those experts alone? Has she lost her mind?! He didn't hesitate. He summoned his own sword with a flick of his fingers, jumped onto it, and shot into the air to chase her. "Old Lady Shen!" he roared, pushing his speed to the limit. "Stop! Look at the direction you're heading!"
Old Lady Shen didn't even look at him.
"Old Lady Shen, listen to me!"
Finally, she snapped. Mid-flight, she twisted her body and threw a punch that carried the weight of a falling star. BANG! It caught Lu Cheng square in the chest.
You senile idiot!" she roared. "I'm not going there to fight! I'm looking for the boy!"
Lu Cheng wheezed, flying backward a few meters before stabilizing his sword. I was worried. I thought you were going on a suicide mission.
Me? Die?" Old Lady Shen scoffed, her eyes burning with a fierce blue light. "I'm not dying until I see you in the ground first. Understand?"
Lu Cheng straightened his robes, nodding sheepishly. "...Yes, Ma'am."
They dived toward the forest clearing where Wang Fang had been training. But as they landed, the silence was deafening. The golden light barrier was gone. Only the four Tier-3 beasts lay scattered across the grass, their hearts stopped by the previous sound wave.
Old Lady Shen's face went deathly pale. She looked toward the mountain of holes in the distance.
"No..." she whispered, her fists clenching until her knuckles turned white. "He went there. The fool actually went there."
Her eyes flared with an intense, lethal blue light