Two months later, in the outskirts of Lingsu City, the group from the Heavenly Sword Sect returned from the Northern Plains without any delay. Because they were carrying the unconscious Xiao Yuhan, their journey was much slower.
Another winter snow fell, but the mountain path of Tianzong was so quiet. Even the guards of the past could no longer be seen. Nangong Ling'er led a group of people, carrying Xiao Yuhan up the mountain. She told everyone not to meet her, because she sensed something was amiss the moment she stepped into the territory of Tianjian Sect.
The observation post used for defense was deserted, and the surroundings were eerily quiet. So much had happened during this time, and Nangong Ling'er's tense nerves had not yet relaxed, so she was being extremely cautious even on her way home.
As you ascend the towering mountain path, the first thing you see is devastation. Everywhere you look, there are signs of burning, ruins, and bloodstains that haven't been cleaned up yet. In this early winter with its swirling snow, you can see these bloodstains on the ground as far as the eye can see. Who knows the horror that lies beneath the snow?
So much time has passed since we left the Heavenly Sword Sect for the Northern Plains. If these were traces left when the Demon Sect disciples besieged the mountain gate, they should have been cleaned up long ago. How can we still see such a scene now?
Feeling uneasy, Nangong Ling'er immediately found a disciple who was cleaning the sect grounds. After some questioning, she learned that a powerful demon had recently arrived, and the Heavenly Sword Sect had experienced a fierce battle. In the end, the sect leader activated the sect's protective formation to repel the enemy.
Nangong Ling'er's expression changed drastically. "Where is the sect leader? Where is he?"
"The sect leader...he..."
Nangong Ling'er was very anxious, "What's wrong with him? Tell me!"
"The sect leader is seriously injured. If Elder Liu hadn't returned to the mountain, I'm afraid..."
Nangong Ling'er's expression changed, and she turned to look at Lu Yuan behind her. "Have Bai Yao take Senior Brother Xiao back to the Discipline Hall. Lu Yuan and Ai Yue, come with me!"
The group rushed to the sect leader's villa, but it had not been spared either. Even their senior brother's former room had been burned to the ground. What appeared before them now was a makeshift house.
Pushing open the door, Nangong Ling'er saw Liu Jiantang sitting alone in the room with a sword, looking haggard. When he saw Nangong Ling'er, he opened his eyes and said, "Junior Sister! It's so good that you've returned safely. I'm sorry, I received your letter, but I dared not leave the Heavenly Sword Sect. Please go and see me."
Nangong Ling'er felt uneasy and walked to the bedside. She saw Ye Qingyun lying quietly on the bed, his face pale. When she took his pulse, Ye Qingyun woke up. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, he withdrew his hand. "Junior Sister, you're back? Where's Junior Brother Xiao? Why didn't he come with me to see Senior Brother? That brat, he probably went to sleep again as soon as he got back. Sigh... But it's good that you all came back safe and sound."
Hearing this, Nangong Ling'er lowered her head, "Senior Brother Xiao, he..."
Seeing their junior sister's expression, Ye Qingyun and Liu Jiantang both frowned. "What's wrong with him?"
Nangong Ling'er pretended to be calm and said, "It's alright, I'm watching over Senior Brother Xiao. But what happened to you, Senior Brother? Let me take a look at your injuries."
Ye Qingyun shook his head. "What? What happened? I have the Wuding Qiankun Sword in my hand within the sect. What could possibly happen to me? Who could possibly hurt me? Tell me quickly, what happened to Junior Brother Xiao?"
Seeing that her senior brother was unwilling to let her take his pulse, Nangong Ling'er became increasingly uneasy. She turned to Liu Jiantang and said, "Senior Brother Liu, tell me! What's wrong? I'm also a member of the Heavenly Sword Sect. What are you hiding from me?"
Liu Jiantang hesitated for a moment, sighed, and frowned, saying, "Senior brother, what is there to hide? Can you hide this for a lifetime? If you don't want to tell me, I'll tell you for you. Not long ago, a demon king came. She was an ancient divine beast, a phoenix. Senior brother fought her for three days and finally seriously injured her. However, the Heavenly Sword Sect's Qiankun Sword Formation was destroyed, the Wuding Qiankun Sword was broken, and senior brother was also... seriously injured."
Nangong Ling'er grew increasingly anxious and immediately said, "So what's there to hide about your injury? Don't you trust my medical skills? Senior brother, let me take a look!"
At this moment, Ye Qingyun still wanted to dodge, but Nangong Ling'er grabbed his arm directly and he couldn't break free. The moment she grabbed Ye Qingyun's arm, Nangong Ling'er realized something, because she could no longer feel the spiritual power in her senior brother's body. When she checked his pulse, she found that the spiritual power in his internal organs was flowing away and slowly weakening.
The woman in green immediately reddened her eyes and asked with trembling hands, "Senior brother, your cultivation is gone... How could this happen? No... Senior brother, your golden core is destroyed, your cultivation is gone, but your meridians and bones are still intact. Even so, your body shouldn't be so depleted, you should still be able to continue cultivating..."
Ye Qingyun smiled and shook his head. "The reason I kept it from you is because I know my own physical condition. No matter how hard I try now, my body is like a broken container. No matter how much I cultivate, it can't hold anything anymore. But it's okay, it just means I can't fight with others anymore."
Nangong Ling'er carefully examined Ye Qingyun's injuries, and after a moment breathed a sigh of relief. "Senior brother, there is indeed a way, but you need to rest and recuperate. It's not difficult to restore your cultivation, but you can't fight with anyone anymore. In other words, all I can do is maintain your original cultivation level, and this cultivation level is used to maintain your original lifespan. If you fight with someone, you will definitely not survive."
Ye Qingyun frowned. "Junior Sister, do you really have a way?"
"Senior brothers, aren't you underestimating your junior sister? You're only seriously injured, and it's not an irreversible injury. You're hiding it like this, it scared me! I thought you were on the verge of death! Humph! Next time you get injured, don't hide it, or even if you're my senior brother, I'll beat you up!" Although Nangong Ling'er said it angrily, she was actually relieved.
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