Chapter 162: Third Trial (8)

Chapter 162: Third Trial (8)

The risk is acceptable now. You can enter, I tell the two of them and the door opens.

This is the first time that they have been allowed into Yun Feis room. Before now, the toxicity within the room has always been enough to seriously injure, cripple or outright kill the two, depending on how long they stayed. For the most part, Lan Xiaohui would open the door and float me to Yun Feis side, where I would perform the work necessary to keep Yun Fei alive.

Though I told them that I can keep her alive for six to twelve months, the reality is a bit different. I can keep her alive for two to three weeks, and induce a change in her Physique that would allow her to endure another treatment, extending her life another two to three weeks.

Eventually, her Physique will outgrow my ability to improve it and the balance in her spiritual veins will collapse and she will die.

The method of inducing this change in her Physique is to refine her body with my refining flame as if she was an inanimate object of high grade. The residual energy and fumes of this method are so toxic that I almost regret being unable to collect it and store it for my own use.

I dont consider it that great of a loss because I already possess an infinite source of extremely powerful poison the same poison I am using to treat Yun Fei.

Though they had seen Yun Fei before, it was only through the curtains. Now that they could approach and see her countenance once more, it leaves them deeply shocked and disturbed.

Yun Feis skin is so pale that her black veins are visible through the myriad scars left behind by the refining process. Each time her body expels the impurities of her previous, weaker Physique, it comes up through her skin, cutting and burning its way through.

Her skin is so delicate that it is see-through, almost like sheer silk.

Lan Xiaohuis eyes tear up immediately and even Wu Yulan, who has no ties to this girl, cannot help but try her best to suppress sorrow and pity in her heart.

Yun Fei Lan Xiaohui says, her fingers reaching out to touch the girls cheek.

She is no longer dangerous to the touch, so I do not stop Lan Xiaohui.

Can can she hear me? Lan Xiaohui asks, gently brushing her fingers against Yun Feis cheek.

No, I tell her.

Yun Fei has not been awake for two months. She will remain in a coma for a long time to come. At the moment, the pain she is enduring is so great, that if she were to regain consciousness, she would die from shock.

Why is she like this? Wu Yulan asks, her voice low.

She is beyond the point where medicine can help her, I tell them. Since she is already so, the only option left is to refine her like an object.

At my words, Wu Yulans eyes widen a mix of shock and anger. Lan Xiaohuis eyes close, desperately trying to hold back her tears.

Wu Yulan is equally surprised by my words. What do you mean?

Do you still not understand the fundamentals of the sword? No matter how hard you cultivate, only the violent power of your energy will improve. The true force and sharpness of sword methods come from the refinement of your sword intent; your mind and your soul.

A single mote of pure sword energy appears in the air between the three of us, and its stable existence is nothing like the trembling speck that the two of them can summon.

Yet its appearance drives deep fear into their bones. Their pupils narrow to tiny points, and cold sweat begins to slide down their foreheads.

Wu Yulan swallows. I you are right, she says. But is it really this big of a difference?

The mote of sword energy disappears. It is the most important factor, I tell them. Having a weak soul and mind, but deep cultivation, is like wielding a very large, but blunt sword or even a club. But with a mind and soul that can fuse into a peerless sword, even a blade of grass can become a weapon to kill thousands.

But how do we learn something that is impossible to comprehend? That Empty Moon Prana it might take months or even years to gain an enlightenment, Lan Xiaohui says, with a heavy sigh in her tone.

Wu Yulan nods. Xuelian is right. You have seen it too, Yaoyue. It is too fragmented.

They are not wrong. Even if I had my [Critical Analysis] available, I doubt it would be possible for me to learn the method to any degree of mastery. It truly is garbage left over from an ancient era. Even though the latter parts of the method are barely legible, it would take an immense amount of reverse engineering to understand the most important fundamentals.

There is an entity that I observe in my Inner World that has taught me something important in recent times, I explain to them. Whenever it visits this Secret Sword Realm Nexus, it returns with knowledge of new methods and a deeper understanding of the laws of the universe.

Wu Yulan looks confused, but my words strike a chord with Lan Xiaohui. The Second Layer reward

Correct, I tell them.

What is this Secret Sword Realm Nexus? Wu Yulan asks.

I do not have that information. It is most likely a formation that induces forced enlightenment like that Ancient Sword Graveyard.

When I mention the three words Ancient Sword Graveyard, their eyes come to life full of hope. They have personally witnessed and felt the power of this forced enlightenment and the method they have learned and managed to fuse with their own martial arts was incomparably powerful.

When is the next Cycle? Lan Xiaohui asks.

Tomorrow at dusk.

Lan Xiaohui smiles and strokes Yun Feis hair. You will be fine, Yun Fei, she says. I will save you.