Chapter 85 Heavenly Dao (VII) Whether to discard it or not is just a matter of thought...

While the lifespan of mortals is fixed, cultivators transcend this boundary. Going against the will of heaven is essentially a struggle against fate.

Lian Qiang shuddered at the thought of another possibility. What if he was too resigned to fate? Would that be another form of waiting for death? A knife that was unique when it was in his hand, but what if it was no longer needed?

Is it not a matter of a single thought whether to discard it or not? So, does it matter whether it was a sudden death or the end of its lifespan?

Today it was him, tomorrow who knows who it would be… Lian Qiang, still terrified, grasped Chi Xingji's hand, only to be gently patted on the back. If she could imagine it, Chi Xingji could certainly do the same, but he whispered, "Don't be afraid."

There were so many unmarked corpses here, so many that they had become part of the place. But having witnessed his passing, the two men couldn't just leave them alone. They covered them with a light layer of dust and remained silent for a moment, a mark of mourning.

The two of them continued like this for a while, neither of them saying anything, which at this moment became a silent comfort. Chi Xingji suddenly spoke again: "Do you still want to go forward?"

They didn't know what was waiting for them in the future, and they came here out of an inexplicable sense of courage.

Lian Qiang gritted her teeth and said, "Let's go!"

At this point, there was absolutely no reason to give up. She couldn't believe it. With so much demonic energy trapped here, and no one having managed to escape for thousands of years, could this be achieved by ordinary hands?

She firmly believed that there must be something at the deepest level that could reveal all the truth.

As the two walked away together, Lian Qiang accidentally noticed that Chi Xingji's expression was becoming increasingly languid, his eyes filled with fatigue. He had been eroded by the demonic energy for too long, and the fact that he managed not to lose his mind in it was a testament to his exceptional concentration.

Lian Qiang spread out her five fingers, wanting to use her spiritual power to create a barrier around him, but Chi Xingji gently stopped her. He shook his head and said slowly, "I can still hold on. You should also save your energy."

"But..." Lian Qiang hesitated. Judging from his expression, he was not indifferent...

"If there is really any problem, I will ask you for help immediately." Chi Xingji promised, stroking her knuckles with his fingertips as he spoke.

Lian Qiang had no choice but to observe his expression again and again. Chi Xingji had no choice but to make another promise: "If you don't believe me, come and find out."

Since he said this and was so frank, Lian Qiang no longer forced him.

The two of them walked a little further before their view suddenly opened up, and the demonic energy grew thicker than ever, as if reaching a certain source. Lian Qiang's spirits perked up, and just as he was about to focus his eyes to get a closer look, the person beside him collapsed with a thud, barely breathing!

Lian Qiang was horrified and hurriedly leaned over to help him. She didn't care about anything else and called out urgently, "Chi Xingji!"

His eyes were tightly closed, his face was blank, and he seemed to be in a state of confusion.

"Chi Xingji... don't get into trouble..." No matter how calm she was, Lian Qiang couldn't help but panic when faced with the scene at this moment.

She was regretting why she had not been more resolute just now. If only she had seen earlier that Chi Xingji was in a bad situation... At the same time, she reached out to input spiritual power into him to protect himself.

After continuous fighting and traveling, Lian Qiang was exhausted at this point, but she no longer cared about conserving her strength and just kept sending it to Chi Xingji with all her might.

If something really happened to him... Lian Qiang hated the possibility, but couldn't help but think, is this heaven's punishment for the two of them? No, it can't be, the previous Jian Gu is dead, they should protect Chi Xingji...

Although this was obviously the most likely answer, Lian Qiang didn't dare to take the risk to confirm it... As she was daydreaming, a weak force held her down, stopping the flow of spiritual power.

"I'm fine..." Chi Xingji said softly, signaling her to stop, "Did I just fall asleep?"

He deliberately covered it up lightly, but Lian Qiang couldn't bear to expose it and nodded in agreement.

"I almost had a dream... You weren't in it. I was just trying to get some sleep when I heard you calling me. I think you must have encountered something extremely important."

At this point, Chi Xingji actually curled the corners of his lips slightly, raised his hand and brushed Lian Qiang's eyebrows, and said: "So I woke up, and my guess was right."

...He couldn't bear to leave him alone. Lian Qiang's nose felt sore, but she was afraid he would notice, so she pretended to be angry: "You still have the energy to laugh? Hurry up and get on with your journey."

Now the two of them walked away together, and no matter how Chi Xingji struggled, Lian Qiang did not let him go.

The destined end should be not far away. Lian Qiang had never been so convinced of the idea in his heart, but his eyes seemed to be aware of something and were twitching.

As if the heavens were deliberately trying to disappoint her, they reached the end of their path, where there was no longer a path. In the middle stood a monolithic, lifeless boulder. The boulder absorbed the foul air and exhaled an even thicker, more turbid aura, failing to clear or dispel the demonic energy.

Lian Qiang, unconvinced, searched the entire structure from top to bottom, but her conclusion remained the same: no one else, no other passages, only this single stone.

In other words, there is no foolproof way to save the Demon Abyss. All they can do is watch the demonic energy regenerate, and everyone head towards their predetermined doom.

As soon as she grasped this realization, her instincts frantically called for Lian Qiang to stay away. This was not the outcome she wanted to see. Lian Qiang gritted her teeth and repeatedly touched every bump and dent on the boulder, fearing she might have missed a clue.

Lian Qiang used too much force, so much so that her ten fingers were rubbed by the rough stone surface and bled. She deliberately ignored Chi Xingji's calls from behind her, pretending to be unaware until she was violently pulled back by a force -

"It's useless! Don't try again! Your hand is injured!" Chi Xingji growled, but met a pair of bloodshot eyes.

Lian Qiang just stared at him blankly. "How could it be useless? We put so much effort into it, how could it be useless? I don't believe it. I won't accept it. I will find a way!"

She must, must find a way to dissolve this pervasive demonic energy, rescue everyone in the Demon Abyss, and prevent Chi Xingji from... facing certain death.

Perhaps the determination and stubbornness in Lian Qiang's eyes were too clear, and Chi Xingji was caught off guard, letting her break free and twist away again. He knew Lian Qiang would never give up, so he simply let her do it.

But after repeated attempts, only deep red blood stains were left on the stone. Lian Qiang tried to inject spiritual power, but it returned all to no avail.

In the end, she simply picked up her sword and chopped at the boulder, leaving not even a trace. Another heavy blow, but the sword slipped out of her hand and flew far away.

She tried to pick it up, but was stopped.

"Lian Qiang! That's enough! You need to rest!" Another solemn call. This time, Lian Qiang seemed to be exhausted and did not resist anymore. Ren Chi Xingji pulled her aside to treat her wound.

"...Why," Lian Qiang lowered her head and looked at her wound. The pain could not be ignored, but there was something deeper than the pain. "Why can't I do this?"

Giving up halfway is more frustrating and hopeless than stumbling at the very beginning.

Lian Qiang's face suddenly wrinkled with grievance, and tears as big as beans fell one by one, but she was still able to speak completely: "...Is it true that I can't save you? Can't save them?"

Even with all this cultivation, is it still powerless?

She thought about what she had questioned Chi Xingji that day. Now, with the roles reversed, there were things she was unable to do, and she really tasted the bitterness of it.

...Perhaps the only solution was already told to them when the previous Sword Bone was destroyed.

"...This is not your fault." Chi Xingji racked his brains but could not think of a word of comfort, so he just kept saying this over and over again.

Lian Qiang looked at him, and Chi Xingji's eyes reflected her own shadow, a worried look on her face. But it was clear that she was not the only one who was desperate.

At this moment, Chi Xingji witnessed the death of another "self" with his own eyes. He should have endured more than her, but he still had to consider her emotions and could not tolerate his own frustration.

Thinking of this, Lian Qiang took a few deep breaths to suppress the turbulent thoughts in her heart, and said, "...you should take good care of your breathing first, and I will look for a way out."

Chi Xingji wanted to stop her, but was rebuked by Lian Qiang's look. He knew that Lian Qiang was not the type to surrender without a fight, and seeing that she seemed to have calmed down, he said nothing more, only asking her to be careful.

After calming down, she could actually see more. Lian Qiang used her rich spiritual power to perceive and found that the boulder, though seemingly ordinary, was located in a crucial position.

Lian Qiang boldly guessed that without it, these demonic energies would not be able to flow, let alone stay in the Demon Abyss.

So...was it that bound the demonic energy, and also bound the people inside? Lian Qiang's mind moved, and he placed his palm on it, changing to a gentler method. Spiritual energy slowly poured out, covering that small area.

As expected, the flow of demonic energy there slowed down at an extremely slow rate. Lian Qiang was startled. The difference was subtle, but she could feel it!

However, Lian Qiang bit her lip. Even at the peak of her spiritual power, she wasn't sure she could completely envelop the boulder...

What's more important is that, because her realm has now entered the stage of ascension, Lian Qiang can still sense some inexplicable power from it, which is most likely the mysterious way of heaven.

She couldn't guarantee that she could directly contend with this power. She had just tried, and ordinary weapons were completely ineffective...

In a flash of inspiration, Lian Qiang turned to look at the figure sitting cross-legged. Although Chi Xingji was regulating his breathing, he was also looking at her. He didn't say anything, but silently stared at her.

Just by looking back at him, Lian Qiang felt a surge of courage. She quickly walked over to Chi Xingji, squatted down, and took his hand on her knee. She said solemnly, "I've figured it out. I've figured out a way."

Chi Xingji intuitively felt that Lian Qiang's method was "crazy." Her eyes held a captivating persistence and menacing ambition that made him hold his breath, unable to refute: "What are you going to do?"

"You become my sword," Lian Qiang paused, "and together we will destroy this stone."