Xie Shuci put on a serious, tense face.

"So much blood and it's still a minor injury?"

Xie Shuci spoke reproachfully, grabbed Xie An's wrist, and forcefully pulled him in front of her.

Xie An pulled back a little, but couldn't budge him much. In the end, he gave in and spread his palm out in front of Xie Shuci.

There was a wound on his palm, cut open by some unknown means, from which blood gushed out and dripped down his wrist to the ground, causing Xie Shuci a sharp pain in his heart.

"Are you stupid? Why didn't you tell me sooner? What if you got infected?" Xie Shuci frowned with concern, her tone scolding.

Although cultivators are physically strong and have a better healing ability than ordinary people, the little blind man has no spiritual power in his body, so it would be difficult to deal with if the wound got infected.

Deng Fengming sat not far from the two men, always on high alert towards Xie An, his attention constantly focused on him. Hearing their conversation, Deng Fengming couldn't help but glance over.

Who is Xiao Xun? A young man with profound cultivation, a dark and twisted mind, unpredictable emotions, and a monster who seeks enlightenment through killing. Let alone anyone who dares to offend him, he is an extremely wicked person who can kill anyone who even glances at him! How dare a mere alchemist speak to him like that?

He gripped the longsword at his waist, thinking that if Xiao Xun intended to kill, he would do everything in his power to save the alchemist. It wasn't that he was particularly kind-hearted, but rather that this alchemist's origins were unknown, and the top-grade pills he carried indicated he was no ordinary cultivator. He might be a disciple from some alchemy family within the Floating Pagoda Realm, out on a training expedition. If he could save him from Xiao Xun, he could seize the opportunity to kill Xiao Xun, and also gain a favor for the Free and Unfettered Sect—a win-win situation.

Just as he was waiting for Xiao Xun to make his move, the latter lowered his head slightly, appearing docile and calm, his lips opening and closing as if he were saying something.

Upon hearing this, the alchemist beside him immediately raised his eyebrows: "Nonsense! This is still considered a minor injury?"

Xie Shuci glared at him and tried to reach for the healing pill in her bosom, but Xie An stopped her.

“No healing pills are needed.” Xie An lowered his eyes, glancing over Helian Jue’s injured ankle. “His spiritual power is sufficient.”

Xie Shuci breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Xie An's wound carefully, as if he were dealing with a major problem. He gently gathered his spiritual energy in his palm and covered the wound. He was very careful, afraid that he might hurt the little blind boy if he was not careful.

"Does it hurt?" Xie Shuci asked, frowning.

Xie An pursed his lips. The gentle spiritual energy at the wound was gradually wrapping around his wound, absorbing his flesh and blood. That unfamiliar temperature made his body tremble slightly involuntarily. He even had the illusion that Xie Shuci had bound his body with spiritual energy, giving him an indescribable, suffocating feeling.

He suddenly realized that he had been too lenient with Xie Shuci.

In the past, anyone who dared to approach him with their spiritual power would be made to suffer excruciating pain.

But now, he even hoped that the spiritual energy would penetrate even deeper.

Xie An remained silent for a moment, then shook his head.

Deng Fengming noticed this scene, and although he found it hard to believe, his gaze couldn't help but linger on Xie Shuci.

After a short rest, the others discussed countermeasures.

Chu Guiyi and his companion approached the group, glanced at Xie An, and asked, "Is he alright?"

Xie Shuci said, "I was slightly injured, but it should be nothing serious."

"That's good." Chu Guiyi nodded.

Chu Wenfeng sat down next to Xie Shuci, glanced at Helian Zhu who was sulking alone in the corner, and sneered, "Idiot, you were easily controlled by others."

Helian Zhu froze, lowering his head even further.

Because of his talent, the entire Helian family treated him like royalty, and he had long been accustomed to this feeling of superiority, looking down on everyone. But how could he have imagined that his cultivation was nothing more than the result of forcibly seizing someone else's destiny? He was merely a tool for the family head to enter the Floating Pagoda Realm, a tool that could be discarded at will, and what awaited him in the future was eternal annihilation from this world.

He's stupid! How could he not be stupid!

When they were children, the eldest disciple was someone he looked up to. He was just an ordinary outer disciple of the Helian family, not even qualified to enter the inner sect. He could only admire the eldest disciple from afar, separated by several halls. When the eldest disciple appeared by chance, he would follow behind him with a look of worship, just like the other disciples, hoping that the eldest disciple would look at him more.

But his aptitude is so ordinary that he might never be able to enter the inner sect even after a lifetime of cultivation.

And so, one day, the patriarch sent people to recalculate their aptitudes. When everyone arrived at the main hall, which was only accessible to inner disciples, with trepidation, the eldest disciple was outside the hall competing with a rogue cultivator girl surnamed Lu.

"Helian Jue, if you can defeat me, I will stay for you."

Miss Lu met her senior brother while they were training outside. Later, the two returned to Luofang City together, but Miss Lu was born with a love for freedom and only stayed briefly wherever she went. Her cultivation was profound, on par with her senior brother.

At the time, Helian Zhu felt that this woman was not good enough for his senior brother.

Helian Jue stood tall and straight, like a pine tree, holding the Cloud-Piercing Spear in his hand, his expression carefree and unrestrained. "If you defeat me, I will leave with you, is that alright?"

Miss Lu was stunned for a moment, and was speechless.

"You... are willing to leave with me? To become a rogue cultivator?"

"Why not?"

Helian Zhu was also stunned. His respected senior brother was abandoning the immortal sect? He was going to leave with a woman and abandon the immortal sect?

"Senior Brother...you...you don't want us anymore?" Helian Zhu timidly stepped forward, his eyes red and brimming with tears as he looked at him.

The two of them looked at him at the same time.

In his youth, Helian Jue was a man of unparalleled talent and elegance. He turned around and saw a junior disciple from the outer sect. He greeted Miss Lu and walked towards her, holding the Cloud-Piercing Spear.

He half-squatted in front of Helian Zhu, patted his head with his large hand, and earnestly explained to him: "Senior Brother will not abandon you. No matter who I am or where I am, I will always be a disciple of the Helian family. However, a person's life has infinite possibilities, so there is no need to be confined to one point."

With tears welling up in his eyes, Helian Zhu said, "What will happen to the Helian family without you?"

The eldest brother's warm hand wiped away his tears, and he said with a smile, "Even if the Helian family doesn't have me, they still have you."

That short sentence had a huge impact on Helian Zhu's mind.

In the end, the senior brother lost that competition.

He was willing to accept defeat and decided to leave the Helian family after participating in the Immortal Sect Selection, become a rogue cultivator, and wander the world with Miss Lu.

Perhaps the eldest brother also likes freedom, which is why he likes the free-spirited Miss Lu.

However, shortly after the Immortal Sect Election, the results of Helian Zhu's second aptitude test came out—one in ten thousand.

Later, something happened that the eldest brother sealed the Cloud-Piercing Spear and stayed behind. Miss Lu also stayed in Luofang City with him.

People say that the senior brother was jealous of his talent and was thus discouraged.

How could someone as dashing as the eldest brother be bound by talent and aptitude?

But after hearing it so many times and for so long, Helian Zhu actually started to believe it.

He began to despise his senior brother, to look down on him, and even hoped that he would be expelled from the sect so that the position of chief disciple would be his...

He's just stupid without realizing it...

That's so stupid, so incredibly overconfident!

He buried his head in his chest, tears of regret soaking his clothes.

Seeing that Chu Wenfeng was in a bad mood, Xie Shuci nudged him with her hand and gestured to him not to say anything more.

Xie Shuci now only felt sorry for him, who had been used all his life without even realizing it.

"What? Did I say something wrong? Wasn't he very arrogant? Did he think he was so talented that he looked down on others?" Chu Wenfeng turned around and glared at him.

He glanced again at Chu Guiyi in the wheelchair not far away, his voice gradually weakening, "What does talent matter? What good is talent if you don't have it?"

Chu Guiyi glanced at him, "Wen Feng, stop talking."

Chu Wenfeng clenched his teeth and turned his head to the side.

Because the ground had cracked in several places, the wheelchair couldn't easily get any closer, so Chu Guiyi struggled to his feet, supporting himself on the armrests. He wasn't completely numb in his legs, but he just couldn't put much weight on them.

Having spent the past few days with Chu Guiyi, Xie Shuci knew that he was just as proud as the little blind man at heart. Therefore, she did not go forward to help him, but as he walked slowly towards her, she couldn't help but feel worried for him.

Chu Wenfeng glanced at it only once before quickly lowering his head.

Helian Jue stared at him, stunned, his expression becoming much more complicated.

"You flatter me," Chu Guiyi said with a gentle smile.

His outstanding demeanor meant that even though he walked slowly and with difficulty, he didn't appear disheveled.

Xie Shuci couldn't help but sigh in his heart. If Chu Guiyi's legs were healthy, he wondered how glorious he would be.

Although Helian Jue was seriously injured, he had taken a Soul-Returning Pill and his leg wound had been healed by Xie Shuci's spiritual power, so his body had regained a lot of strength.

Perhaps it was because he was thinking of the time when he met Chu Guiyi. Both of them were young and spirited, living freely in the martial world. He never expected that when they met again after so many years, neither of them could find their former selves.

Helian Jue smiled bitterly and said, "The outcome of my return is unpredictable."

Chu Guiyi smiled calmly, "It's just fate."

"Thank you for speaking up for Xiao Zhu."

Chu Guiyi's expression became much more complicated. "Ajue, you shouldn't have kept this from me."

Helian Jue chuckled, "This is Helian's own business, why should I involve you? Besides, even if I told you, you couldn't stop the family head, and you would only harm Xiao Zhu."

"Senior Brother, have I killed many people?" Helian Zhu, who had been silent all along, suddenly asked.

Helian Jue paused, remained silent for a long time, and did not speak.

Helian Zhu's voice was hoarse, "Who are they?"

Helian Jue took a deep breath and said, "Do you remember how long it's been since you last saw that group of outer disciples who were around your age?"

Helian Zhu was shocked, and Xie Shuci and the others also opened their eyes wide in disbelief.

Xie Shuci was flanked by Xie An on his left and Chu Wenfeng on his right. He nestled between the two, close to Xie An's shoulder, and felt a chill run down his spine.

Xie An paused for a moment, then gently turned his body to let him lean on half of his shoulder.

Now that things have come to this, there's no point in hiding it any longer.

Helian Jue sighed heavily and said, "The forty-seven outer disciples who were about your age died twelve years ago. There was a little girl among them. I promised to bring her a string of candied hawthorns, but when I returned, I searched the entire Luofang City and couldn't find her. In the end, I learned that, apart from you, all of that group of outer disciples had mysteriously disappeared. I found the patriarch and confronted him before I learned the truth."

Helian Zhu's breathing became rapid, his hands and feet were ice-cold, his pupils were dilated, his face was deathly pale, and the spiritual power within his body was stirring restlessly.

The others also gasped simultaneously.

Helian Jue continued, “At that time, you were young, and the method of solidifying the soul and locking the fate was always too difficult for you. It would inevitably be risky to use it on outsiders, but it would be very effective if used on fellow disciples who are blood relatives and live together day and night. After I discovered this, the patriarch promised me that he would not let you kill innocent people indiscriminately again. I knew that you were innocent as well, so I kept quiet and secretly searched for a way to break the array of solidifying the soul and locking the fate.”

How ridiculous! They stopped him from indiscriminately killing innocent people, yet he was allowed to murder forty-seven of his fellow disciples, whom he had spent every day with, without his knowledge! How old were they? The same age as Helian Zhu at the time, seven years old!

"Beast! This kind of person deserves to be annihilated!" Xie Shuci said indignantly, wishing that a bolt of lightning would strike down from the sky and kill that Helian family head!

Even tigers don't eat their cubs, yet he allowed a seven-year-old child to have his hands stained with the blood of his fellow disciples?! He deserves to die!

Chu Wenfeng hadn't expected this person to be so vicious. He gritted his teeth and said, "Does he even deserve to be the head of a family? To enter the Floating Pagoda Realm, he murdered his own disciple. This is what deserves to be condemned by heaven and earth!"

Chu Guiyi sighed, "It's a pity that although the matter originated with him, it was never actually handled by him. All the consequences must be borne by Young Master Helian alone."

After hearing this, Helian Zhu stared blankly at his hands, as if for a moment he saw himself injured and covered in blood, the viscous liquid still warm, clinging to his fingers and between his fingers.

Xie Shuci sighed and asked, "Senior Brother, have you found a way to break this?"

Helian Jue didn't mind his form of address and shook his head sadly. "Using one's body as an array will inevitably result in sacrificing oneself to the array. This is a part of the laws of heaven and earth, and no one can change it."

Seeing Helian Zhu's distraught appearance, Xie Shuci felt a pang of pity. "Even so, is there no way to help him reincarnate?"

It is simply too hard to accept that a living person, after death, is forever rejected by this world, exists outside the cycle of reincarnation, and disappears forever.

Even in Xie Shuci's modern world, after a person dies, at least a skeleton and all the keepsakes from his lifetime are left behind, so there are at least some traces of his existence.

The cruelty of erasing a person's existence is something Xie Shuci cannot imagine.

Everyone fell silent. Chu Guiyi was the first to speak: "There's no way. As long as you're alive, you can't escape the rules."

"What exactly are the conditions that are rejected by the laws of heaven and earth? This is not Helian Zhu's fault at all!" Xie Shuci said angrily.

Chu Guiyi's expression also darkened. "Shu Ci, the way of Heaven is different from that of man. It only recognizes the result, regardless of cause and effect."

Helian Jue said, "It seems that since ancient times, there has only been one type of people who are clearly expelled by the laws, and that is the cultivators who have achieved the Great Perfection of the Slaughter Dao. They live by killing and achieve the Dao through killing. Their nature is flawed and their emotions are barren. On the day when their Dao heart is perfected, they will be struck by eighty-one lightning tribulations from the sky until they are reduced to ashes."

Upon hearing this, Xie Shuci's pupils dilated, while Xie An beside him lowered his head slightly, a vague smile playing on his lips.

"So, Xiao Xun will also be struck by lightning and die in the future?" Xie Shuci asked incredulously.

How could this be? How could Xiao Xun end up like this?

“If he were to cultivate the Path of Slaughter, he would surely be struck dead by five thunderbolts,” Chu Guiyi said.

Xie Shuci stared blankly, "If you'll eventually perish, why bother cultivating the Path of Slaughter?"

Chu Wenfeng pouted and said, "This kind of person is bloodthirsty by nature, and cannot be fathomed by the thinking of a normal person."

Chu Guiyi said, "Perhaps there is no reason. For people like Xiao Xun, a person only lives this one life. They don't care about life and death, and they do things only to please their own ambitions."

"But what's the point?" Xie Shuci asked, puzzled.

He truly couldn't understand Xiao Xun's way of thinking.

While reading the original book, he discovered that the protagonist's values ​​and worldview were completely different from his own. He couldn't approve of many of Xiao Xun's actions, and sometimes he could even sense that the author, after listening to much criticism, had tried to change Xiao Xun's personality and motivations, but she failed.

Xiao Xun has come alive from her writing; he has developed an independent thought system and survival system, and his every move is no longer under her control, which is actually a very scary thing.

Upon hearing Xie Shuci's question, Xie An paused for a moment.

He curled the five fingers of his right hand into his palm, his fingertips rubbing the wound that had not yet fully healed, and his expression was somewhat somber.

“Young Master Chu, we can’t delay any longer.” Ye Changxuan walked over as they were talking.

Her face was somewhat pale, and her figure was as frail as a willow swaying in the wind, making her appear very thin and fragile.

“We’re trapped here. Even if we aren’t killed by Helian Zhu, we’ll die from the depletion of our spiritual energy. The Fulong magic weapon absorbs spiritual energy too quickly.” Ye Changxuan frowned, her expression pained.

The Hehuan Sect relies most on spiritual energy, and their bodies are not as strong and resilient as other cultivators.

Xie Shuci then noticed that the other disciples from the immortal sects all looked rather pale, as if they had lost too much blood. However, looking at the people around him, not to mention the little blind man who had no spiritual power, the others who did have spiritual power remained expressionless and showed no abnormalities.

Ye Changxuan had obviously noticed this as well. She stared at the group in a daze and asked suspiciously, "Are any of you feeling unwell?"

Chu Guiyi was taken aback. After his cultivation went awry, his golden core was unable to gather spiritual power. He first looked at Helian Jue, then at Xie Shuci and Chu Wenfeng.

Xie Shuci shrugged and said, "I don't feel unwell at all; in fact, I feel better and better."

Chu Wenfeng looked puzzled. "I didn't either."

Helian Jue also shook his head.

Chu Wenfeng realized what was happening and nudged Xie Shuci on the shoulder, saying, "How could you not feel anything while treating Helian Jue and Xie An?"

Xie Shuci said innocently, "But I really didn't feel uncomfortable."

Xie An leaned leisurely against the wall, appearing indifferent to everything else, his fingers gliding over Xie Shuci's pouch.

Xie Shuci thought that something in her pouch was bothering him, so she gathered the small pouch into her bosom.

The others exchanged glances, then turned their attention to Xie Shuci.

Seeing their strange expressions, as if they were possessed, Xie Shuci clutched the pouch in his bosom tightly and shrank back towards Xie An like a turtle.

"What are you doing? Talk it out, everything can be discussed..." Xie Shuci leaned against Xie An, who helplessly opened his arms to let him in.

With his back against the little blind boy's warm chest, Xie Shuci calmed down a little.

Chu Wenfeng, that scoundrel, was deliberately trying to scare him. He curled his lips into a sinister smile and whispered, "Since things have come to this point, whether we can even get out of here alive is a question. We might as well just kill and rob..."

Ye Changxuan then revealed a meaningful smile, "Little Taoist priest, quickly hand over the item..."

Xie Shuci didn't care about anything else and quickly took off the small pouch, offering it with both hands, "Beautiful fairy sister, here's all the treasure for you, please let us go."

"Pfft—" Ye Changxuan had no idea he was so easily frightened and had such a sweet tongue. She immediately couldn't hold back and chuckled softly, supporting her waist. "You little rascal, you're so lovable. If the situation didn't prevent it, I really would like to..."

Xie An's expression turned cold, and he snatched the pouch from Xie Shuci's hand and threw it to Chu Wenfeng.

Xie Shuci realized what was happening and quickly shook his head, saying to her, "No! You don't want to!"

Chu Guiyi couldn't help but chuckle at the sight and explained, "Don't worry, Wen Feng is just being playful and joking with you. However, it is indeed a bit strange that you expended so much spiritual energy to heal them while still under the Dragon Subduing Formation, yet your spiritual energy is still abundant."

Chu Wenfeng raised an eyebrow at Xie Shuci smugly, making Xie Shuci grit his teeth in anger.

Chu Wenfeng opened the small pouch, and a faint blue halo appeared in their sight.

Chu Wenfeng glanced at them a few times, then carefully took out the bronze medicine cauldron from his pouch.

The medicine cauldron was only the size of a palm, its entire body gleaming with a bluish-green luster, and a continuous stream of spiritual energy emanated from the bronze vessel.

Upon seeing this, Helian Jue suddenly realized: "The bronze medicine cauldron first appeared in the territory of Futu."

Chu Guiyi instantly understood his meaning, "Like the Fulong magic weapon, it comes from a secret realm rich in spiritual energy."

Ye Changxuan's face lit up with joy, "The bronze medicine cauldron can refine anything, and it can be used to temper the Dragon Subduing Magic Weapon!"

As soon as she finished speaking, everyone's attention turned to Xie Shuci.

Seeing the barely concealed excitement in their eyes, Xie Shuci scratched the back of his head awkwardly, blushed, and stammered in a low voice, "I...I don't know how."

"You can't?! Then what are you doing carrying that bronze cauldron around all day?!" Chu Wenfeng said angrily.

Xie Shuci nudged him, "Didn't you know I couldn't do it?"

"I..." Chu Wenfeng was stunned for a moment, then realized that he did seem to know, and looked a little embarrassed. He then said, "How was I supposed to know you were so useless?"

Chu Guiyi gave him a reproachful look. "Wen Feng, don't talk nonsense."

Xie Shuci lowered her head in frustration. She had lost face big time, especially in front of the beautiful older sister. Xie Xiaoci's young heart was wounded, and like an ostrich, she buried her face in Xie An's shoulder.

Xie An lowered his eyes, his expression obscure in the dim light.

Chu Wenfeng picked up the bronze cauldron and examined it. He covered the cauldron with one hand and was about to use his spiritual power to activate it when Chu Guiyi stopped him.

"Don't act recklessly," Chu Guiyi said solemnly.

Ye Changxuan said, "The bronze medicine cauldron is not like other magical artifacts. Using it rashly could very likely result in a backlash."

Chu Wenfeng frowned. "Then what should we do?"

Just then, Helian Zhu, who had been silently processing his emotions in the corner, spoke up: "I'll do it."

He stood up from the corner. He looked pale and haggard, probably because he had suffered too much. But his eyes had become deep and serious, as if he were a different person.

Chu Wenfeng hesitated for a moment, then looked at Chu Guiyi and the others.

Chu Guiyi was undecided for a moment. As things stand, Helian Zhu was the most suitable candidate, but if he opened his spiritual veins, he might be controlled by the Helian family head again. He was unsure whether he should take the risk.

Helian Jue was also somewhat hesitant.

Helian Zhu seemed to know their doubts, walked directly to Chu Wenfeng, took the bronze medicine cauldron from his hand, and said to everyone, "Don't worry, I don't need to open the spiritual veins."

Upon hearing this, everyone finally agreed.

Helian Zhu took out a magic artifact from his bosom, twisted a black pointer on it, and with a "click", a wisp of dark spiritual energy emerged from the artifact.

The dark spiritual energy approached the bronze cauldron, but just as it was about to adhere to it, it was repelled by a burst of azure light emanating from the bronze cauldron.

"No, the bronze cauldron has been sealed," Chu Guiyi said solemnly.

"seal?"

Everyone was taken aback and looked at Xie Shuci in unison.

Xie Shuci was still leaning against Xie An, feeling lost, when he suddenly felt the surroundings become quiet. He looked up in confusion, wanting to turn around and see what had happened.

But Xie An placed his large hand on the back of his head, preventing him from turning around.

From everyone's perspective, the boy, in an extremely domineering manner, like a wild beast marking its territory, forcefully pressed Xie Shuci into his arms, safely isolating him from the others.

"Xie An?" Xie Shuci murmured in confusion.

Chu Guiyi was the first to react, shaking her head and saying, "No, Shuci's mastery of spiritual power is not proficient enough, making her more susceptible to backlash than others."

The oppressive aura emanating from Xie An disappeared, and the hand that had been hovering over the back of Xie Shuci's head began to move downwards.

The stalk slowly moved over Xie Shuci's vest and patted him reassuringly.