Chapter 137 Severing the Spiritual Veins No wonder people say, "I only envy the mandarin ducks, not the immortals..."

Before his brain could process what was happening, Jiang Yu's body stiffened. The panic in his heart overcame the joy of his successful ascension, because this was not a natural ascension, nor was it something he had attracted himself with heavenly lightning.

It was also because someone had protected him and taken the damage from the heavenly lightning for him.

"sorry."

Lian Quesheng's voice was so weak that it was almost inaudible. His body was covered in large patches of blood, and his bright red clothes made it impossible to see where the blood and fabric were. The nose was surrounded by a strong smell of blood, as if he were in a mountain of blood and a sea of ​​corpses.

"Master—"

"Quesheng." Lian Chisu's pupils widened instantly when she saw the figure kneeling on the ground in mid-air. She was extremely shocked and never expected to see Lian Quesheng at this time.

"Quesheng?"

Chu Jue's voice was filled with doubt, but he quickly understood everything. Lian Quesheng was his own disciple. Even though they were separated by two major sects, and he knew that Lian Quesheng might eventually return to Bailuzhou, he still unhesitatingly imparted everything he knew to him, because he understood Lian Quesheng's sense of responsibility and commitment.

What just happened made it clear to those below that such heavy heavenly lightning could only be survived by ascending to immortality and having one's body repaired. If even the slightest other mistake occurred, that person would definitely lose their life.

Xi Chuang didn't care about Chen Jiuxu anymore. The hairpin in his right hand slipped to the ground. He rushed over and hugged Lian Quesheng tightly. "Master, I will save you. I will save you."

He glared at Jiang Yu, then with a flick of his wrist, the red thread danced in the air like a deadly hook. Jiang Yu had thought his actions would be restricted, and hesitated for a moment when drawing his sword. However, the wooden sword spun nimbly in his hand, and the red thread, upon approaching his body, suddenly changed direction, heading towards Shen Jiuxu behind him.

“Shen Jiuxu”.

Jiang Yu flipped forward, his sword blade blocking Shen Jiuxu's path, entangled with the red thread. Xi Chuang twisted his wrist, and the red thread, winding and twisting, broke in the middle and a new one emerged. He pressed his palm down, and Shen Jiuxu was as if he were being crushed by an extremely heavy boulder, unable to straighten up at all.

He transferred Jiang Yu and Xichuang's life-sharing technique to himself, just as Xichuang had intended. However, Shen Jiuxu wanted to save Jiang Yu's life and help him ascend to immortality. Xichuang, on the other hand, wanted to save Lian Quesheng's life, making Jiang Yu a complete sacrifice.

Jiang Yu wanted to take the blame for Shen Jiuxu, but he couldn't. Even if he stood right in front of Shen Jiuxu, he still couldn't undo the damage caused by the west window.

This helplessness is incomparable even to someone pouring cold water on him when he is at his most triumphant, or breaking his most powerful sword move.

The overwhelming fragrance of flowers filled the air, like the vitality of a person in their final moments, relentlessly assaulting the noses of everyone present.

It carried a deathly aura that Jiang Yu had rarely smelled before.

In an instant, every branch, every leaf, and every flower bud that had once smiled at Jiang Yu withered. Shen Jiuxu wanted to comfort Jiang Yu and say that everything was alright, but he couldn't speak. His hands hanging down by his legs and his half-closed eyes both aggravated Jiang Yu.

Having just ascended to immortality, which should have been one of the most joyous occasions in his life, he was suddenly confronted with a scene he never wanted to face and dared not face in his entire life.

Jiang Yu experienced extreme highs and lows, and he didn't even feel a trace of joy. This ascension made him completely lose his desire for the Jade Terrace and Silver Palace. Even if he were to become an ordinary person without cultivation now, as long as Shen Jiuxu could be safe and healthy, Jiang Yu would be content.

No wonder people say, "I envy the mandarin ducks, not the immortals."

The red thread was repeatedly severed by his sword, only to be reborn time and time again. Even after his ascension, Jiang Yu was not unable to defeat Xi Chuang, but when he attacked Xi Chuang, it was Shen Jiuxu who was injured instead.

The cultivation he once pursued has now become the most useless thing. As if it were a cruel twist of fate, Jiang Yu felt Shen Jiuxu's hand trembling on his body.

"You—" Lian Quesheng tried to break free from Xi Chuang's grasp, but he was holding on too tightly. Those eyes, which he had once thought were innocent and pure, were now filled with bloodlust. How could such a forbidden technique have no effect on the caster?

"Lian Quesheng, I won't let you die. I mean what I say. I don't care whose body it is. You will live. Live well."

Xi Chuang spoke recklessly, "Master, I never expected that the biggest change in this matter would be you. Were you already awake and lying to me all along, or did you only wake up when you sensed that your good friend was about to die?"

“I clearly told Xiang Zhanyi to stay by your side, but he’s a good-for-nothing. How could he let you come here? Master, you completely disregarded your own body to block that heavenly lightning for Jiang Yu. I really underestimated the friendship between you two.”

"You saved Jiang Yu's life, so it's only right that Shen Jiuxu should repay you with his life, isn't it?" Xichuang sneered. The sense of chaos from his plans being ruined made him furious, and he wanted to kill everyone present. However, Lian Que's life was hanging by a thread, so Xichuang could only put the others aside for the time being.

“You saved Jiang Yu, so I won’t touch him for now.” Xi Chuang grabbed the red thread and was about to pull it forward when Lian Quesheng suddenly opened his mouth and bit his arm.

Lian Quesheng used all his strength. His feelings for Xichuang were very complex. He felt both hatred and love. He felt sorry for him and wanted to tear him to pieces. All these mixed feelings were incorporated into this tearing motion.

A sudden chill ran down his arm, and the water stains on his exposed skin were clearly visible. Even the tears in Lian Quesheng's eyes fell onto Xi Chuang, making him pause for a moment.

He never expected Lian Quesheng to cry at this moment.

Xichuang had never seen Lian Quesheng cry when he was sober. He always regarded himself as his apprentice and always pretended to be reliable and mature. Xichuang had envied Jiang Yu and Shen Jiuxu countless times because they could see the real Lian Quesheng, the Lian Quesheng who released all his emotions, who wanted to cry, scold, and laugh.

This was the first time he had seen Lian Quesheng cry in front of him.

The tear came unexpectedly, leaving Xi Chuang somewhat at a loss. His arm froze in mid-air, and he didn't react for a moment before Lian Quesheng smiled at him.

It was a very faint smile, different from his usual playful grin or casual smile when dealing with people. It carried a hint of grievance, but quickly turned into relief. He raised his hand and touched the hair of the west window. The west window had not been treated like this by him in a long time, and it felt like a lifetime ago.

The red line lay between the west window and Shen Jiuxu, motionless for a long time. The next moment, no one expected it, but their eyes were forcibly controlled. The intense spiritual energy fluctuations were like willow catkins flying all over the sky in spring. They appeared in large swaths when blown by the wind and then slowly dispersed, finally disappearing into the dust.

"What are you doing, Lian Quesheng!"

"Sparrow, no, no—"

"Lian Quesheng." Jiang Yu pushed open the west window. After ascending, his spiritual power was pure and gentle, like flowing water that could heal wounds. He desperately tried to channel spiritual power into Lian Quesheng, but it was like trying to fill a basket with water or climbing a tree to catch fish.

He couldn't find even the slightest place on Lian Quesheng's body where he could receive spiritual energy. No one would have thought that in the instant when Xi Chuang was distracted by Lian Quesheng's action, Lian Quesheng directly severed his own spiritual meridians with his hand.

His already meager spiritual energy dissipated rapidly. In truth, anyone else would have been able to salvage the situation. But Lian Quesheng was different; his body could no longer afford even the slightest mishap.

He had just come here from his residence to shield Jiang Yu from the last bolt of heavenly lightning, which had exhausted all his spiritual power. Now, this action was futile, and the matter was settled.

Xi Chuang never imagined that he would be hugged and then violently pushed away, and that the hug was just a pretense to lower his guard and make it easier to take action.

The scattered spiritual energy landed on his cold, pale fingertips, like butterflies illuminated by light. Such bright things seemed never to stay for him.

After the spiritual vein was gone, everything he had thought about—ascension, exchanging one's life for another—became a joke with no end. Xi Chuang was astonished that Lian Quesheng could be so resolute; he had never imagined that the usually suicidal Lian Quesheng could go to such lengths.

He laughed a few times, realizing that even with all his efforts, he still couldn't compare to others. What he did for Lian Quesheng was never what Lian Quesheng wanted.

Lian Quesheng was already surrounded by several people, unable to squeeze through the west window, so he stood on the outside, coldly watching them. The person he liked tugged at Jiang Yu's sleeve, a reassuring smile on his face, "I'm sorry, it's my fault for not... keeping him in check, which has implicated... you and Jiu Xu."

"It has been my long-held wish to be able to shield you from this heavenly lightning and witness your ascension." Lian Quesheng was older than Jiang Yu, and he had long regarded himself as the eldest of the three. Whether it was money or standing up for the two of them who were not good at speaking, he took on all the big and small matters.

“Jiang Yu, I said you would definitely ascend during the sect competition. Last time, it was Xi Chuang who triggered your ascension lightning. Otherwise, I would have already used my friend’s ascension to show off everywhere. When one person attains enlightenment, even his chickens and dogs ascend to heaven.”

Even at this moment, Lian Quesheng was still in the mood to joke. He smiled at Jiang Yu, blood flowing continuously from the corner of his mouth, unstoppable.

“In the months before your ascension, when those things happened to Shen Wuke one after another, I actually received letters from you and Jiu Xu, but... but I couldn’t show up. Yes, I’m sorry, I was deceived and lost my memory at that time. I slept for several months, and when I thought about it later, I didn’t know how to say it.”

This matter has always been a thorn in Lian Quesheng's side. Even though he knows that Jiang Yu and Shen Jiuxu will not blame him at all, he still can't let it go.

“I’ve severed my spiritual veins, so Xi Chuang can’t save me now. You can all be fine, just like the three of us said before, and roam freely in this vast world.” Lian Quesheng said intermittently, “I’m out of money… Remember the tokens I gave you, just mention my name and go get them.”

After explaining to his friend, he turned to look at the old man who often argued with him. "Master, your disciple is not bad, is he? It's just that he can't inherit your mantle. I'll trouble you to take on another disciple, but I will always be the eldest disciple, cough cough... cough cough cough."

"What nonsense are you talking about? I'm such a lousy old man, who would want to be my apprentice? If anyone's going to take one, it'll be me taking on a few more for you." Chu Jue said with a long face, a half-smile that was also a little tearful. "You're the only apprentice I can take care of. I don't want to take on any others, so you'd better get better soon."

"It's a pity... I couldn't bring back first place for Xingchenque." Lian Quesheng knew the high expectations placed on him, "and I'm afraid I won't be able to in the future either."