When Liu Lixue arrived, he saw Su Xuan standing at the gate of the small courtyard from a long distance away.
His expensive black robe was torn by a thunderbolt, and his waist-length silver hair was half-tied with a wooden hairpin. Su Xuan cherished this hairpin; he never wore it during battles or when crossing tribulations, only on important occasions or when there was meaning behind it.
His aura was overwhelming, as if he had become a different person compared to a month ago. The gap between the Grand Ascension and tribulation-crossing realms was like a chasm. Except for Ling Yin, Liu Lixue had never seen a tribulation-crossing cultivator.
But Ling Yin had fallen into the Ghost Path after having her spiritual root extracted, and her cultivation was sustained by yin energy. Even though her cultivation was high, the surrounding yin energy was thicker, and staying close to her would eventually erode one’s meridians with her ghostly energy.
Now, however, Su Xuan radiated pure spiritual power, his spiritual energy…
Very pure.
So pure that it felt powerful at first glance.
But just a month, just one month, how could he possibly reach the tribulation-crossing stage?
Liu Lixue was shocked, but Su Xuan sensed his presence and turned to look at him.
Perhaps after spending a month with his beloved, Su Xuan was nearly soft to the bone when facing Sang Dai. His eyes now held a gentle smile, full of vigor and spring-like radiance, looking in excellent condition.
“You’ve worked hard these days,” Su Xuan said.
Liu Lixue turned his head and smiled, walking over to him, and gave his shoulder a friendly punch.
“You’re speaking more nicely now. After all, I’m the steward of the Xingque Palace. Naturally, I have to do the job after taking the money you gave me.”
The two had known each other since childhood, sharing a bond that could be considered life-and-death. Su Xuan not only entrusted the Xingque Palace to Liu Lixue but also intended to pass the position of Beast King to his future children.
Su Xuan chuckled lightly, his gaze falling on the woman in the courtyard.
She was crying, holding the white-clad sword cultivator as she wept.
Ying Heng was comforting her, also shedding tears.
Su Xuan knew how hard Sang Dai had had it in the past, and he understood that Ying Heng was like a father to her. Ying Heng pampered her greatly.
Sang Dai had been searching for him for a long time.
Too long. Apart from practicing swordsmanship to exorcise evil, the only spare time she had was spent looking for Ying Heng, and she had nearly searched the Four Realms.
“In the future, she’ll have to be called Madam,” Liu Lixue sighed. “Our Beast Realm’s Lord, who has been without a wife for over a hundred years, finally has a Madam.”
Su Xuan gave him a side glance. “The steward of the Xingque Palace, who has been without a shadow for over a hundred years, still has no sign of one.”
Liu Lixue: “…”
He shook his fan and said nothing more.
Sang Dai quickly wiped away her tears, stepped out of Ying Heng’s embrace, and adjusted her disheveled hairpin.
The sword cultivator’s face was full of joy, and she smiled as she spoke, “Master, have your five senses fully recovered?”
Ying Heng smoothed out her messy hair and replied, “Not yet, my sense of smell and taste are still not restored.”
Sang Dai raised an eyebrow slightly. “Then Master can’t taste the food my husband makes. His cooking is really good. But don’t worry, Master, we’ll find the third section of spiritual roots soon. At that time, please ask Young Master Nangong to help you integrate them, and your five senses will be fully restored.”
Speaking of Su Xuan, Ying Heng looked over to Sang Dai’s back.
Su Xuan stood with his hands behind his back at the entrance of the small courtyard, beside him stood a handsome young man in red.
Ying Heng immediately recognized that the man with black clothes and silver hair was Su Xuan. The silver hair was characteristic of the Nine-Tailed Fox clan, and his aura was powerful and pure, though his cultivation level could not be determined.
Chun Ying had described Su Xuan’s appearance to him, and Ying Heng had thought that his disciple would prefer someone with a more refined look, but he did not expect Su Xuan’s appearance to be so striking and imposing.
He was strikingly handsome with dazzling features. The Nine-Tailed Fox clan was known for their exceptional looks, and Su Xuan, the seventh son of the former Beast King, an awakened fire-element Heavenly Spirit Root user, was even more so. His appearance was renowned throughout the Four Realms, and now that Ying Heng saw him in person, it was exactly as described—completely different from what he had imagined.
Su Xuan gave a polite nod and cupped his hands in greeting. “Greetings, Immortal Lord.”
Ying Heng descended the stairs and approached Su Xuan. “There is no need for such formalities, Beast King. You saved Dai Dai’s life, and now you are her husband. From now on, we are family.”
Su Xuan had always respected Ying Heng, and he had become much more reserved, behaving obediently in front of Ying Heng. Previously, he had held back because he was not yet officially recognized and feared Ying Heng’s opposition.
Now, with the marriage contract with Sang Dai, he did not dare to be disrespectful, as Ying Heng was the only elder for him and Sang Dai.
Su Xuan responded politely, “It is what the younger generation should do.”
He quickly glanced at Sang Dai, and the sword cultivator’s eyes were still glistening with tears.
Su Xuan wanted to wipe her tears, but with Ying Heng still here, he said, “Your injuries can be treated by Liu Lixue. As for the remaining segment of spiritual roots, we will find it as soon as possible.”
Liu Lixue nodded beside him. “Immortal Lord, rest assured, my medical skills are also well-known throughout the Four Realms. From here on, you will continue to stay with me in the Beast Realm, and I will help you heal.”
“As for your remaining two senses…” Liu Lixue narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at Nangong Zhu, who was standing with his back to them under a tree. The person was crying but was too embarrassed for them to see and seemed to want to hide behind the tree.
Liu Lixue had never seen him like this before. The proud and rude Lord of the Divine Healer Valley was nowhere to be seen.
He chuckled teasingly, “Young Master Nangong will help you.”
Nangong Zhu, hearing the amusement in his voice, wiped his tears harshly and turned around, glaring fiercely at Liu Lixue.
This damn peacock was really annoying, Nangong Zhu thought. He really wanted to poison him into silence.
“Immortal Lord Ying Heng, since you’ve remembered some things, I would like to ask if the matters I want to know can now be told to me?”
Nangong Zhu had once again transformed into the proud, sharp-tongued Lord of the Divine Healer Valley.
Ying Heng paused for a moment, then spoke in a gentle tone, “Let’s go inside and talk.”
Inside the house, there was a strong herbal scent. Ying Heng had relied on these herbs to sustain his soul for the entire month here. Sang Dai felt a bitter taste in her mouth upon smelling it, her heart growing even more sour. Ying Heng had truly endured so much suffering.
Inside, there was a round table. After Ying Heng sat down, they all took their seats, and the five of them filled the space.
Liu Lixue sensed the oppressive atmosphere in the room and cautiously took out some tea from his bag. “Um, how about we have some tea first?”
Ying Heng replied, “Thank you, Young Master Liu.”
Liu Lixue smiled awkwardly.
Ying Heng gently stroked the tea cup with his fingertips, his long lashes lowering to hide the emotions in his eyes. For him, the memories that had resurfaced seemed like they had suddenly emerged. After just a nap, he had woken up to realize how much he had gone through.
“After I defected from the Sword Sect, the Immortal Alliance sentenced me. At that time, I was severely injured, and I left the Chunying Sword with Hua Ling, fearing that it would be destroyed if it followed me. Later, I was pursued relentlessly and… collapsed at the door of the Divine Healer Valley. The Valley Lord and his wife saved me.”
“I stayed in the Divine Healer Valley for over ten days, and those people never found this place. The Valley Lord and his wife said they would wait until I recovered before I left…” Ying Heng lifted his gaze to meet Nangong Zhu’s. “Young Master Nangong, I feared implicating the Divine Healer Valley, so on the fifteenth day, I planned to leave. This Spirit Vine… it was actually given to me by your parents.”
Nangong Zhu immediately denied it. “Impossible! My Divine Healer Valley has never had such a thing. I am well-versed in the spiritual plants of the Four Realms. This vine, I have only seen it in a painting my mother left before she died. If the Divine Healer Valley had such a thing, how could they not have told me?”
Sang Dai asked Ying Heng, “Master, is that how it was in your memory?”
Ying Heng simply replied, “Yes, this is called the Guixu Spirit Vine. Before I left, your parents gave it to me. They were not killed by this vine, but… they were pursued because of it.”
Nangong Zhu suddenly slammed his hand on the table, standing up. “Ying Heng, if your memory is muddled, don’t spout nonsense!”
Su Xuan raised his eyes and glanced at him. “Nangong Zhu, you are asking for an answer, but now that you’ve asked, you say you don’t believe it.”
Liu Lixue quickly pressed Nangong Zhu back down. “Calm down, listen to Immortal Lord Ying Heng.”
Ying Heng had not yet drunk the tea. His finger unconsciously traced the rim of his cup.
Sang Dai softly asked, “Master, please continue.”
Ying Heng spoke, “Apologies, but this is the truth. When your parents found this Spirit Vine, you had not yet been born. They found it while gathering herbs in the East Sea. At that time, the vine had not yet awakened its spiritual consciousness. Your parents did not know what it was, so they brought it back to the Divine Healer Valley. They searched through medical books but couldn’t identify it. The vine was nurtured by them for over a hundred years.”
“130 years ago, the Divine Healer Valley grew an extinct Immortal Flower, and outsiders tried to break in to seize it. Young Master Nangong, you must know about this, right?”
Nangong Zhu’s face darkened. He had heard this story from his parents.
“The Divine Healer Valley was secluded, mostly occupied by medical cultivators. At that time, thousands of rogue cultivators came to the valley to steal the Immortal Flower, and many disciples of the Divine Healer Valley died. Young Master Nangong, do you know how you managed to turn the tide and save the valley?”
Nangong Zhu’s clenched fist tightened, and his eyelashes fluttered as a thought suddenly crossed his mind.
Ying Heng gave him the answer. “It was the Guixu Spirit Vine that killed those rogue cultivators.”
Nangong Zhu collapsed back into his chair.
Sang Dai’s expression grew serious as she retorted, “So, the Valley Lord and his wife knew that the Spirit Vine was dangerous. The news that there was a powerful spiritual plant in the Divine Healer Valley, one capable of standing against a thousand enemies, spread. Many people coveted this vine. After you came to the Divine Healer Valley, the Valley Lord and his wife chose to entrust the vine to you, asking you to take it away and protect it?”
Ying Heng pursed his lips and spoke solemnly, “Dai Dai’s guess is partially correct. They entrusted the vine to me, not for me to protect it, but to take it to Guixu. I am an awakened Heavenly Spirit Root, as you know. Only those with a Heavenly Spirit Root can enter the Guixu Immortal Realm.”
But after leaving the Divine Healer Valley, Ying Heng was soon surrounded and nearly killed at the edge of the Demon Domain. He fell into the sea, and the Spirit Vine fell with him.
Later, Ying Heng was saved by the black-clad young man, and the Spirit Vine fell into his hands.
Nangong Zhu’s breath was unsteady. He had considered many times that it was the disaster caused by Ying Heng’s actions that led to the death of his parents, and he had hated him for many years. But now, he was suddenly told that it was because of a vine?
Just a vine that caused such suffering? This vine killed his parents?
“Why did my parents protect this vine? If others wanted it, why didn’t they say anything? Why would they rather bring about their own deaths than speak of it?”
Ying Heng lowered his head in silence. Sang Dai spoke softly, “Master, I don’t understand either. Please, explain it to us.”
Ying Heng suddenly turned to Liu Lixue. “Young Master Liu, where is the Guixu Spirit Vine?”
“Huh?” Liu Lixue snapped out of his thoughts, hurriedly nodding and taking out a wooden box. “Here, here it is. I’ve been carrying it with me all along.”
The wooden box was opened, revealing the blooming Guixu Spirit Vine inside, suppressed by Sang Dai’s seal and still in a deep slumber.
Ying Heng picked up the spirit vine, and seven red flowers bloomed on its vines.
“When I saw it many years ago, it hadn’t yet awakened its spiritual consciousness. It only had seven buds. Now, not only has it awakened its spiritual consciousness, but it has also bloomed.”
Ying Heng placed the Guixu Spirit Vine at the center of the round table, directly facing Nangong Zhu. “Your parents were the world’s foremost medical cultivators. The Guixu spiritual veins were corrupted in the Great Wild era. Your grandfather was an awakened Heavenly Spirit Root cultivator. A thousand years ago, he went to the Guixu Immortal Realm to investigate. He discovered that the roots of the Guixu spiritual veins were being corrupted by a black energy. After returning, he told your father, who was still a child at the time. Your father always kept it in mind.”
“And this Guixu Spirit Vine… it feeds on this black energy,” Ying Heng said in a deep voice. “Your parents discovered that this vine could draw the spiritual power from a cultivator’s body and swallow the black energy entangled with the spiritual power. Do you know why they kept it for a hundred years? The Valley Lord and his wife knew that this Guixu Spirit Vine might be related to the corruption of the Guixu spiritual veins, and perhaps—”
Ying Heng pointed at the vine, his voice calm. “It can consume the toxins in the Guixu spiritual veins.”
That is, the Four Sufferings.
This vine consumes the Four Sufferings, and the Guixu spiritual veins are filled with the Four Sufferings.
The revelation was too shocking, and the room fell silent for a while.
After a long time, Sang Dai spoke. “Master.”
Ying Heng looked over.
Sang Dai said, “The Guixu spiritual power that Snow Owl left for me can also cleanse the Four Sufferings.”
Suddenly receiving so much information, even though the group had seen much of the world, they were at a loss for words.
The Guixu spiritual veins had been corrupted for ten thousand years, and now, it seemed, they might finally know the way to save it.
Su Xuan took Sang Dai’s hand under the table and spoke. “Let’s try to guess. This vine has a lifespan of ten thousand years. It was nurtured by the purest Guixu spiritual power during the Great Wild era, and it stayed in the Guixu Immortal Realm. Perhaps because the Guixu spiritual veins were severely corrupted, the Four Sufferings grew stronger. At that time, when it hadn’t awakened its spiritual consciousness, it was too weak to absorb much of the Four Sufferings. The Guixu spiritual power that nourished it gradually became unsuitable, and it left the Guixu Immortal Realm, traveling along the East Sea until it was found by the Valley Lord and his wife.”
Although this was a guess, Su Xuan’s hypothesis was very reasonable.
Sang Dai’s Weisheng family contract seal could activate the Guixu spiritual power left for her by Snow Owl, and that Guixu spiritual power from the Great Wild era could reverse the corruption of the Four Sufferings. The spirit vine was found by the East Sea, which was also where the Guixu Immortal Realm was located. This spirit vine, which liked to consume the Four Sufferings, might have been instinctively feeding on it.
Or perhaps it wasn’t just feeding—
It was subconsciously swallowing the Four Sufferings.
It was purifying the Four Sufferings. Its method of purification was to swallow the cultivators who had been corrupted by the Four Sufferings. That way, the Four Sufferings would be gone.