Chapter 225: Chapter 222: Jian Xinghe, Healed
The Star Sword Sect was a land of towering mountains and steep ridges, with waterfalls cascading down like silver dragons.
The peaks were straight and sheer, jutting up from the earth with the sharp aura of divine swords.
Atop these high mountains were numerous palaces and grand halls, all magnificent in their splendor.
White cranes soared and peregrine falcons traversed the skies, while on the various mountains, the tracks of other Spirit Beasts could be seen.
These were all Spirit Beasts raised by the Star Sword Sect, a display of the great sect’s majesty.
As the only Upper Grade Sect in Qing Province, the Star Sword Sect ranked thirtieth among the Seventy-Two Sects. Its power was such that even the other four Middle Grade Sects combined could not compare.
Within this Sect were over a dozen Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm experts, with an Earth Martial Realm expert presiding over them all. Such profound strength kept the entirety of Qing Province in check.
Atop a sheer, towering mountain.
Mountain springs fed cascading waterfalls amidst the beautiful scenery.
A young man sat there in a commanding posture, his figure tall and straight as a sword. His hair was the color of gold, each strand shimmering brightly.
He was about twenty-five years old, with flawless, radiant skin and eyes that held a natural authority, commanding respect without a hint of anger.
His name was Jian Xinghe.
That name was famous throughout Qing Province, for he was the prodigy of the Star Sword Sect, the number one expert of the younger generation.
Even someone as strong as the Twin Sword Sons had to admit inferiority before Jian Xinghe.
Beside him stood a beautiful woman in a red dress. Her figure was enchanting—alluring, but not vulgarly so.
"Lianxi, I’ve heard about the Yanyue Sect’s recent troubles," Jian Xinghe began. "Frankly, if you had just said the word, I would have helped you. Whether it’s the Fire Cloud Sect or the Cyan Splendor Sect, they would have given me face."
Jian Xinghe spoke lightly, but his voice, though calm, was filled with the domineering arrogance of one born to command the world.
From anyone else, such words would be arrogance. But from him, it was confidence, backed by power.
Beyond his Star Sword Sect background, what made him truly feared was his monstrous talent. Everyone in Qing Province knew that with his aptitude, he was destined to reach the Earth Martial Realm, and perhaps even ascend to the Heaven-Reaching Realm.
Not even the Sect Leader of the Fire Cloud Sect would want to offend such a young prodigy of limitless potential.
"I did come here today to ask for your help," Yue Lianxi said after a moment of silence. "I want a Longevity Fruit."
"A Longevity Fruit? Only one of those ripens every thirty years. Its value is immense. In the past, the use of every single Longevity Fruit had to be debated and decided by the Elder Hall."
Jian Xinghe’s gaze was as sharp as a sword. "What do you need a Longevity Fruit for?"
"That is my business. Will you give it to me or not?" Yue Lianxi didn’t beat around the bush, getting straight to the point.
"I can give you the Longevity Fruit, but you have to make it worth my while."
Jian Xinghe’s eyes shifted to Yue Lianxi. "You know how I feel about you, so I won’t waste words. In short: be my woman."
Yue Lianxi’s gaze fell, her eyes showing no ripple of emotion, as if they were already dead. "Fine."
She uttered the single word without any hesitation.
A single Longevity Fruit in exchange for a lifetime of happiness.
An hour later, Yue Lianxi left the Star Sword Sect with the Longevity Fruit in hand.
...
"Lianxi, you’re back."
In the Death Mountain Range, the Grand Elder looked at Yue Lianxi in astonishment. "You got the Longevity Fruit?"
"I got it."
A faint smile touched Yue Lianxi’s lips as she took out a Jade Box. Inside was a red fruit marked with white, crystal-clear patterns that resembled a tree.
An astonishing aura of life emanated from the fruit, and nearby plants actually began to slowly grow several inches, the change visible to the naked eye.
’As expected of the Longevity Fruit,’ the Grand Elder thought. ’With this, his injuries should be able to recover. It’s just...’
The Grand Elder looked at Yue Lianxi. ’What price did she have to pay for this Longevity Fruit?’
"Grand Elder, I know what you’re thinking," Yue Lianxi said. "This was my own decision. As long as it can save him, it’s nothing."
She spoke with a tone of feigned indifference, but the Grand Elder sighed softly. With his shrewd perception, how could he fail to see the sorrow and helplessness hidden in the depths of her eyes?
"Don’t you worry. I will help him recover right away."
The Grand Elder knew that the only thing that could make Yue Lianxi happy right now was seeing Ning Jiang fully healed.
He immediately channeled his Spiritual Qi, enveloping the Longevity Fruit. After refining it, the juice from within the fruit flowed out and dripped onto the white crystal.
After a while, as the energy of the Longevity Fruit gradually seeped into Ning Jiang’s body, the cracks covering him finally began to slowly heal.
"At this rate, he should recover in less than a week."
For the next few days, Yue Lianxi never left his side. She watched Ning Jiang within the white crystal, a genuine smile gracing her face as she saw his wounds gradually mend.
"I’m sorry. It’s all because I brought you to Qing Province that you suffered such an injury."
"It was me. I was selfish, wanting you to help the Yanyue Sect, and that’s what put you in danger."
"It’s all my fault..."
Yue Lianxi’s palm gently caressed the crystal, as if trying to forever etch the image of Ning Jiang into her memory.
「Seven days later.」
"Hm?"
On this day, the Cyan-Haired One-Horned Lion, which had been slumbering nearby, suddenly heard a sound. It whipped its head around to look at the white crystal.
CRACK.
On the surface of the white crystal, cracks like a spider’s web began to spread, inch by inch.
"Is he finally waking up?"
The White Ape was also startled awake, its eyes full of pleasant surprise as it stared at Ning Jiang.
BANG.
After more than a dozen breaths’ time, the cracks finally covered the entire crystal. With a loud crash, it shattered into pieces.
’My body...’
After waking up, Ning Jiang looked down at himself, slightly stunned. "Did the two of you heal my injuries?"
He knew all too well the enormous price of using the Immortal Slaying Technique. Recovering from such injuries was no easy feat. ’Did these two demons find some precious Heavenly and Earthly Treasure?’
"Well..."
The two demons exchanged a glance, looking as if they had something difficult to say.
"What is it?" Ning Jiang sensed that something was wrong and asked.
"Actually, it wasn’t us who healed you. It was a woman named Yue Lianxi," the White Ape said. "She used something called a Longevity Fruit to cure your injuries."
’Is that so? Now I owe her again.’ "Where is she now? I should thank her."
Ning Jiang remembered the first time he met Yue Lianxi. She had given him a Bone Shaping Pill, putting him in her debt. This time, she had saved his life.
’Without Yue Lianxi, I would have most likely died this time.’
"She’s already left. And according to your Grand Elder, it seems she made a deal with the Star Sword Sect to get that Longevity Fruit."
"What kind of deal?"
"It seems that during the Qing Province Convention, she will marry some guy from the Star Sword Sect named Jian Xinghe," the White Ape replied.
Hearing this, Ning Jiang fell silent.
