Finish

Gu Tinglan leaned against the still-humming, cold iron door and quickly pulled a small jade bottle from his bosom. The bottle was warm, and a light green, translucent liquid swirled within. He uncorked it, and a refreshing, refreshing medicinal aroma immediately dispelled the slight stench of blood in the air.

"Don't move, open your mouth." His voice was still hoarse, but with unquestionable urgency, he carefully brought the bottle mouth close to Xixi's pale lips.

Xixi followed his instructions and slightly opened her mouth. A few drops of cool liquid slid down her throat, instantly transforming into a gentle yet powerful stream of spiritual energy that surged through her limbs and bones, rapidly repairing her damaged meridians and nearly shattered magic core. The blood at the corner of her lips dried up at a visible speed, and the paleness on her face faded slightly.

"Feeling better?" He stared at her reaction, his fingertips still trembling slightly.

"Yeah." Xixi nodded, using his strength to steady herself. "What kind of medicine is this? It's really effective."

"This is the Gu family's secret recipe for 'Rejuvenation Condensate'. It's used to keep us alive. Don't block it from me next time. It makes me look useless." Gu Tinglan explained briefly, collected the remaining jade bottle, and glanced sharply at the deeper darkness inside the door. "Let's go."

He reached out and lifted Xixi up.

Seeing that he seemed genuinely a little angry, Xixi had no choice but to say, "Okay." As if that wasn't enough, she added, "You're very useful."

Gu Tinglan's frown softened quietly, but his tone remained cold, "No matter how useful something is, it's useless if you don't use it."

Xixi: “…”

He is such a stingy guy.

The two of them observed the space beyond the door, which was even larger than they had imagined, like a hollowed-out mountain. The air was thick with energy, almost condensed into a substance, oppressing them and making it difficult to breathe. Their feet were no longer stone slabs, but a dark red crystal surface that pulsed with life, feeling uncomfortably warm. In the distance, they could faintly hear the cacophony of voices and a rhythmic, heavy roar, like the beating of a gigantic heart.

The two followed the sound, carefully making their way through the jagged crystals. Finally, they came upon a stone door, even more ancient, yet exuding a soul-shaking aura. The door was tightly closed, but the rhythmic pulsating sound and noisy voices emanated from behind it.

Gu Tinglan signaled Xixi to silence him and pulled from his sleeve a thin, nearly transparent jade slab, inscribed with intricate musical runes. He gently placed the jade slab against a tiny crack in the stone door, injecting a barely perceptible trace of spiritual energy through his fingertips.

Suddenly, the sound from inside the door was clearly amplified and transmitted out——

"...The time is approaching. The core of the Tree of Life is already restless. Its 'heart' urgently needs nutrients to stabilize!" An old and majestic voice sounded, with unquestionable urgency. "This transport must be foolproof! What is the condition of those sacrifices?"

"Reporting to the master, all the 'containers' are in place, and the magic power has been extracted to the peak. Once the magic circle is finally activated, its life essence and the heart can be dedicated to the 'heart'." Another slightly flattering voice answered.

"Very good. Move quickly!" The old voice sounded again, revealing a hint of unease. "Gu Chen and Ji Yunbai... their restraints are showing signs of loosening. If they break free before the ceremony is completed, the consequences will be disastrous! We must..."

Before he finished speaking, the old voice suddenly paused, and then became extremely sharp: "Huh?! Who is lurking outside the door?!"

The jade cicada magic weapon attached to the door suddenly made a crisp sound as if it could not bear the weight, and was instantly covered with cracks!

"Tsk, we've been discovered!" Gu Tinglan's face changed drastically. He suddenly retracted the completely scrapped magic weapon, turned to Xixi and whispered, "Let's go!"

Almost as soon as he finished speaking, the ancient stone door before him let out a loud rumble, and a crack suddenly appeared in it! A terrifying pressure surged out from the door like a tangible tsunami!

Beyond the gap, a gigantic, eerie heart, pulsating like veins, could be vaguely seen suspended in mid-air. Below it lay an intricate, blood-colored magic circle, and dozens of chained, emaciated succubi, their magic power being frantically drained! Leading the group was a middle-aged man with slightly graying hair and sinister eyes—clearly the patriarch in question—who suddenly turned his head, his icy gaze piercing the crack in the door like an arrow, locking onto the rapidly retreating Gu Tinglan and Xixi!

"Catch them!" The man's roar was like thunder, echoing in the huge space.

The heavy stone door was opening at an accelerated speed, and the powerful aura behind the door swept out like a storm!

Gu Tinglan grabbed Xixi's hand and turned without hesitation, rushing towards the dark corridor filled with crystals that they came from!

Behind him, the stone door suddenly opened, and the rapid and murderous footsteps and the sharp sound of breaking through the air followed closely!

Gu Tinglan suddenly pushed Xixi toward the crystal path next to her that led to where the giant heart was suspended. The force was so great that she staggered a few steps before she could stand firm.

"I'll leave the formation to you," his voice was largely drowned out by the roars and footsteps behind him in the vast space. He resolutely turned around, facing the stone door that was now opening completely, and the Lin family's elite soldiers rushing out from it, their murderous intent boiling!

"Gu Tinglan!" Xixi turned around in horror, only to see that the soft sword in Gu Tinglan's hand had already been unsheathed. With his other hand, he was quickly drawing a magic circle on the talisman paper and throwing it towards the stone gate.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Thunder roared, rubble flew! It wasn't meant to kill, but to—collapse! Huge crystal fragments, mixed with the residual force of thunder, fell with a crash, instantly blocking nearly half of the stone gate's exit, temporarily slowing the pursuit!

"I'm very strong, don't worry about me." Gu Tinglan continued to comfort her.

But what he said was also true. Those soldiers only had some magic arrays that were of no importance to him, and they didn't even have decent magic weapons. The ones who were threatening were those at the upper level, who had various types of magic weapons in their hands, including the Gu family.

But the Gu family's recognition of their master was of no use to him. He just needed to buy Xixi enough time.

But she, why doesn't she think about how to survive by destroying the magic circle? She always doesn't consider herself first.

It doesn't matter, he has already cast the "Conscience Contract" on her. As for the result, she can only wait and see.

Gu Tinglan gave a soothing smile.

Xixi's heart seemed to be tightly grasped. She knew that every second was precious at this moment. She bit her lips hard, used the pain to force herself to turn around, and ran towards the core area where the beating sound was getting louder and louder and the smell of blood was getting stronger and stronger!

Behind him, there was a constant sound of fierce fighting, Gu Tinglan's angry shouts, the enemy's screams, and the explosions of more falling rocks! He was obviously trying his best to create greater chaos and obstacles, trying to hold everyone back!

Xixi didn't dare to look back. All she could see was the huge and ferocious heart in front of her - that should be her heart!

There were still strange patterns on it, the same as the ones seen before at the Tree of Life. So, the heart sealed under the Tree of Life was just a fake, and the one here was her real heart?

Xixi looked up and saw that it was beating greedily at this moment. Blood was gushing into the sky from the formation below. Countless energy threads like blood vessels connected the imprisoned and dying tribesmen, frantically draining their last vitality and magic power and pouring them into the heart!

She could even see her own blurry and painful face appearing on the surface of her heart!

Just as she was about to rush to the edge of the magic circle, she heard Gu Tinglan's suppressed cry from behind her, "Xixi, be careful!"

Xixi was shocked and her steps subconsciously stopped!

In that moment of distraction, a sharp blade flashed from the shadows to the side, striking directly at her neck! It turned out to be a Lin family guard who had bypassed Gu Tinglan's blockade!

Xixi's pupils suddenly shrank, and it was too late to dodge completely!

At the critical moment!

"clang--!"

A dark purple magic arrow shot from behind and arrived first, accurately deflecting the fatal blade! The arrow contained such a powerful force that it numbed the attacker's arm and sent him retreating repeatedly!

Xixi turned her head sharply and saw Xi Yin's figure flash out from behind a towering crystal pillar not far away! Her face was pale, with bloodstains at the corners of her mouth. It was obvious that she had also experienced a hard battle to get here, but her eyes were unusually sharp and cold, and she held an amethyst longbow in her hand that had not yet dissipated.

"Xi Yin?!" Xixi was surprised and happy.

"Don't be distracted! Do what you should do!" Xi Yin shouted sternly, and at the same time, the bowstring vibrated, and several magical arrows whizzed towards the other Lin family members who were trying to approach, temporarily clearing a small area for her. "I'll block this place for now!"

With Xi Yin's sudden help, Xi Xi was determined and no longer hesitated! She suddenly rushed towards the blood-colored magic circle that was emitting disgusting energy fluctuations!

The closer she got, the stronger the aura, which was of the same origin as hers but twisted and filled with pain and greed, became! She could feel her soul trembling, and her suspended heart beating even more frantically, as if it longed for her return but also feared her approach!

The magic circle is surrounded by a powerful energy barrier!

Determination flashed in Xixi's eyes. She pressed her hands hard against her chest—a place so empty yet so central to all power and curses! She ignited her last, most fundamental magical power, even risking triggering the contract with the Tree of Life!

"In my name, trace back to the origin! Break!" She screamed, and an unprecedented dazzling purple light burst out from her body. Like a moth to a flame, she slammed into the blood-colored protective wall!

"boom--!"

The protective wall shook violently, fiercely battling Xixi's power, making a teeth-aching cracking sound! The backlash made her spit out a mouthful of blood, but she ignored it and just madly output everything!

Xixi looked at the violently fluctuating and cracked protective wall before her, then at the tribesmen who were rapidly withering under the magic circle's influence, their eyes filled with emptiness and despair. Finally, she looked at Gu Tinglan and Xi Yin who were fighting bloody battles for her...

She suddenly calmed down.

Will I die? It doesn't matter anymore.

Isn't the meaning of her existence to end all this?

She gave up all her defenses and concentrated all the remaining strength, even the source of her life, in her hands. The last bright light burned in her amber pupils. Like a meteor, she resolutely crashed into the core node of the blood-colored protective wall again!

"Break it for me!!!"

A deafening roar accompanied by countless fragments of light burst out! The blood-red protective wall finally collapsed completely!

The powerful energy turbulence instantly blew Xixi away, and she slammed heavily into the crystal wall, with blood continuously gushing out of her mouth and nose.

But she succeeded!

The massive heart let out a shrill, inhuman scream, its beating suddenly becoming disordered! The light of the blood-colored magic circle below flickered wildly, and countless energy vessels ruptured and collapsed! The succubi, whose magic power had been drained, collapsed to the ground. Although weak, the deadly drain had finally stopped!

The entire space began to vibrate violently, and the crystals on the top began to fall!

“No——!” The head of the Lin family, who had just broken free from Gu Tinglan’s entanglement and was now covered in bruises, roared in despair and anger.

The screaming and vibration of the heart suddenly stopped, and the light on its surface dimmed rapidly, as if it had lost all vitality in an instant, becoming like a huge and ugly tumor, suspended in mid-air, and slowly stopped beating.

Success... Xixi looked at the heart that no longer beat, her consciousness began to blur, and the last thing that came into her sight was Gu Tinglan's face that was getting closer and closer.

The world fell into darkness.