173: Vine Vein Life Extension

Inside the Pill Chamber, the deadly silence was instantly shattered!

That emerald green root, which had broken through the hard obsidian ground, was as thin as a hair yet crystal clear like carved jadeite. It was like a tentacle of life reaching out from the netherworld, gently and precisely wrapping around Lin Feng's cold, pale wrist!

Buzz—!!!

An indescribably pure, majestic spiritual aura, carrying the pristine vitality of nascent flora, erupted like a volcano dormant for ten thousand years! Emerald green radiance instantly filled the entire Pill Chamber, illuminating the cold stone walls like a jadeite palace! The light was not static; it flowed like a river of life, surging frantically along the slender root and into Lin Feng's depleted body!

“Ah!” Aunt Li's withered fingers, resting on Lin Feng's wrist pulse, sprang back as if struck by electricity! Her cloudy old eyes instantly widened, and her wrinkled face was filled with unbelievable shock! In her perception, Lin Feng's faint heart pulse, which was like a candle in the wind ready to be extinguished, was forcefully... reconnected by the immense flood of life, like a dry riverbed receiving a surging torrent! That weak, almost scattered pulsation was suddenly injected with boundless power, becoming... steady and strong!

“This... this is...” Lei Zhenyue's tiger eyes widened. Feeling the majestic vitality that permeated the Pill Chamber and cleansed the Divine Soul, his breathing stopped! The purity and vastness of this vitality far surpassed any Spirit Pill or miraculous medicine he had ever seen! It even... surpassed the aura emanating from the reconstructed foundation of the myriad medicine mother cauldron!

“The vine... it's that vine!” Wei Rong suddenly raised his head, his bloodshot eyes bursting with ecstatic light! He stared intently at the emerald green root wrapped around Lin Feng's wrist, then looked at the crystal hole broken open in the ground, as if seeing boundless hope! “It's that thing from the bottom of the valley! It... it came to save the Alliance Lord!”

The emerald green root trembled slightly, the gentle spiritual light at its tip pulsing like a heart. A clear yet nascent wave of consciousness, carrying a hint of “eagerness” and “worry,” flowed along the root:

“Mountain... hurts...”

“Light... give...”

It was using its Origin vitality to extend Lin Feng's life!

Majestic life force surged within Lin Feng's body. His shattered Meridians, like cracked earth nourished by spring rain, greedily absorbed this pure fountain of life. The breaks visibly healed and reformed! Deep within his depleted Qi Sea, the Dantian, which was like a silent desert, was washed by the emerald spiritual aura, and a faint but resilient vortex of spiritual power began to re-condense and spin!

An even more astonishing change occurred deep within the Sea of Consciousness!

The fengpan world foundation dao platform, covered in cracks and completely dimmed, was nourished by the vast vitality, as if thrown into a life furnace! The spiderweb-like cracks were forcefully healed and reinforced by the emerald spiritual light! The dim platform base regained a warm, jade-like luster, becoming even more condensed and weighty than before! Within the circulating wind essence, there was faintly added a trace of gentle water intent and... the true meaning of flora growth!

The guixu dragon bone phantom, submerged deep in the Sea of Consciousness and whose aura was so weak it was almost dissipated, was injected with a new Soul! The phantom trembled violently, letting out a low, joyful Dragon roar! The Ink Vine projection wrapped around it, whose core was originally a faint emerald green light spot, now resonated with the vitality pouring in from the outside, suddenly blazing with unprecedented brilliant radiance! A weak yet clear bond of consciousness, like a newborn vine, rewrapped itself around the guixu dragon bone phantom—no longer the previous ignorant reliance, but carrying a kind of... Bloodline affinity!

The severed mountain soul contract bond, nourished by the dual vitality from inside and out, reconnected like chains reforged by a divine craftsman! A resonance force, tighter and tougher than before, instantly pierced through Lin Feng and the Soul Pulse core of the entire Qinglan Mountain Range!

“Ugh...” an extremely faint yet perfectly clear groan escaped Lin Feng's lips.

His tightly closed eyelids trembled violently, his eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings. The consciousness shrouded in boundless darkness was split open as if by an emerald lightning bolt tearing through the sky! A warm, majestic torrent carrying endless vitality forcibly dragged him back from the cold abyss of death!

His eyelids were heavy as mountains, but he used all his strength to slowly... open them!

His vision was blurry, as if seen through a layer of mist. But what came into view were the familiar stone patterns on the ceiling of the Pill Chamber, and... the refreshing emerald halo filling the entire space. A gentle sensation came from his wrist, as if it were wrapped by the softest stream.

“Alliance Lord! The Alliance Lord is awake!” Aunt Li's voice trembled with excitement, tears streaming down her face!

“He's awake! He's really awake!” Lei Zhenyue's tiger eyes were wet with tears, his tightly clenched fists trembling slightly.

Wei Rong sprang up from the ground with a “tseng,” his bloodshot eyes fixed on Lin Feng's slowly opening eyes. On his honest face, tears mixed with a joyous smile, distorting his features: “Alliance Lord! Tie Zi! You... you are both fine! You are both fine!”

Lin Feng's gaze slowly shifted, sweeping past the excited and haggard faces of Aunt Li, Lei Zhenyue, and Wei Rong, finally resting on his own wrist. The crystal-clear emerald green root was still wrapped around it, like the most loyal guardian, continuously transferring pure vitality into his body. He could clearly feel the nascent consciousness from the root's other end, coming from the distant valley bottom, carrying a hint of exhaustion but immense joy.

“Tha... thank you...” Lin Feng's lips moved. His voice was hoarse and weak, yet carried the strength of survival. He struggled to raise his other hand, his fingertips gently touching the warm root. A feeling of warmth and intimacy, like a Bloodline connection, instantly passed into his heart.

The light spot at the tip of the root flickered happily, conveying the clear intention of “you're welcome” and “happy.”

Just then—

Buzz!

A gentle, vast will, carrying tolerance and approval, descended quietly upon the Pill Chamber like a spring breeze. It was the living water essence spirit! Its will swept over Lin Feng's revitalized body, then over the emerald green root, conveying clear “relief” and “protection.”

Immediately, this will gently wrapped around the emerald green root, guiding it home like a mother guiding a child. The light spot at the root's tip flickered slightly, conveying an intention of “reluctance” and “obedience,” then slowly released Lin Feng's wrist, retracting like a spirit snake into the crystal hole in the ground and disappearing. Only a faint fragrance of flora remained in the air, along with the continuously surging, majestic vitality rapidly repairing the injuries within Lin Feng's body.

Lin Feng took a deep breath, feeling the strength flowing anew within his body, and the refreshed, more condensed and stable Dao platform and Dragon bone phantom in his Sea of Consciousness. He slowly sat up. Though his movements were slow, they carried a profound stability, as if he had been reborn.

“Alliance Lord! How do you feel?” Aunt Li hurried forward, her withered fingers resting on Lin Feng's wrist pulse again, and then her face showed unbelievable ecstasy. “His pulse... his pulse is stable as before! It's even... stronger than before! This... this is simply a miracle!”

“It was the Spirit Vine... and the Water Essence Spirit.” Lin Feng's voice was still hoarse, but clear and strong. He glanced at the others. “How long was I unconscious? What is the situation outside?”

“The Alliance Lord was only unconscious for half a day!” Lei Zhenyue quickly replied. “The Polluted Origin Pool in Feng Hui Valley has been sealed by Heavenly Thunder, and the Spirit Vine at the bottom of the valley broke its cocoon and was born, brimming with vitality! The Earth Guard at the mouth of the valley has set up the 'Li Huo Liuli Formation' and the 'Nine Yang Burning Evil' Restriction, defending fiercely! However...” He paused, a hint of solemnity on his face. “Although the three people from the Heavenly Sword Sect retreated, they will definitely not give up! Moreover, the thunder-inducing grand Formation just now caused too much commotion, I'm afraid...”

Before his voice fell—

Boom!

A muffled crash, like thunder from the Nine Heavens, suddenly came from the direction of the Council Hall on the Main Peak! Immediately afterward, an immense, terrifying aura carrying destructive pressure, like a breaching flood, instantly swept across the entire Qinglan Main Peak!

“Lin Feng junior! Get out here and die!”

An old, domineering roar, like the grating of metal, tore through the sky, carrying monstrous killing intent and violently slamming into everyone's Divine Soul!

Thump! Thump!

The Formation Masters and Artifact Hall Disciples in the Pill Chamber with slightly weaker cultivation instantly turned pale, spat blood, and collapsed to the ground, as if struck by an invisible giant hammer under the impact of this terrifying pressure! Even Cultivators at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage like Lei Zhenyue and Aunt Li felt their Qi and blood churn, and their spiritual power circulation stagnate!

A Golden Core! And it was... the pressure of a Golden Core Peak, far surpassing that of Emissary of Heavenly Sword Sect, Great Perfection Foundation Establishment and the other two!

Lin Feng's pupils suddenly contracted! He violently raised his head, his gaze piercing the thick stone walls of the Pill Chamber, as if seeing the terrifying figure descending like a demon god above the Council Hall!

The Heavenly Sword Sect... their true powerhouse... has arrived!

—

Above the Council Hall on Qinglan Main Peak.

Heavy, lead-gray rain clouds hung low, suffocatingly oppressive. Large raindrops smashed onto the broken lihuoliuze tiles of the hall roof, making sharp cracking sounds and splashing tiny droplets.

Three figures, like deities stepping on clouds from the Nine Heavens, hovered above the hall. The leader was not Emissary of Heavenly Sword Sect, Great Perfection Foundation Establishment, but an old man dressed in a Profound Black Sword Robe with white hair and beard. The old man's face was ancient and rugged, his eyes flashing like lightning when opened and closed. Although he did not release sharp Sword Qi, he exuded a terrifying pressure that was as heavy and profound as an abyss! Merely hovering there, the surrounding space subtly warped, and raindrops silently vanished a zhang away from his body! The strength of this person's aura was clearly that of a Golden Core Peak!

Emissary of Heavenly Sword Sect, Great Perfection Foundation Establishment and another Golden Core Initial Stage attendant stood respectfully half a step behind the elder, like subjects guarding a monarch. Emissary of Heavenly Sword Sect, Great Perfection Foundation Establishment's face was gloomy, and his gaze towards the messy ruins below was filled with cold killing intent and a hint of... apprehension.

“Hmph! A mere Foundation Establishment junior, yet capable of activating such a thunder Formation, sealing the Filthy Source, and even gaining the protection of the Water Pulse Essence Spirit and that strange vine... I underestimated you!” The black-robed elder's gaze was like lightning, sweeping over the overturned hall roof below, the scorched ruins, and the deep blue light pillar piercing the heavens in the distant Crouching Dragon Hollow. A trace of imperceptible surprise flashed in his eyes, immediately replaced by stronger greed. “What a pity! Before absolute power, all struggles are futile!”

He slowly raised a withered hand, fingers spread, and gently pressed down towards the Council Hall below!

Buzz!

There was no earth-shattering commotion! An invisible, yet terrifying force heavy enough to crush mountains, descended with a crash, like an unseen Celestial Dome Giant Seal!

Crackle—!!!

The huge roof of the Council Hall, constructed of hard obsidian and equipped with defensive Restrictions, instantly covered in spiderweb-like cracks, as if it were lihuoliuze thrown beneath a giant god's foot! The next moment, it collapsed with a roar! Countless shattered stones and debris rained down! The ruins inside the hall, which had not been fully cleared, were submerged again, and smoke and dust mixed with rainwater shot into the sky!

The dozens of Law Enforcement Hall Disciples on duty outside the hall were slapped hard onto the ground by the aftermath of this invisible force before they could even scream, their bones broken and muscles torn, their blood staining the mud!

“Form the Formation! Resist the enemy!” A desperate roar echoed from the edge of the ruins! Zhao Baichuan was covered in blood, leaning on his mountain-shattering saber, forcefully holding up his shaky body! Behind him, hundreds of Earth Guard suppressed their fear and quickly formed a Formation in the heavy rain! Earthen yellow light shone, and the light barrier of the Black Tortoise Bedrock Formation was strained open!

“An ant trying to stop a chariot!” A look of disdain flashed in the black-robed elder's eyes, and the fingers of his pressing hand slightly clenched!

Boom!

The invisible Celestial Dome Giant Seal suddenly solidified! It transformed into a dark gold giant palm, composed of pure power, covering half the Peak! The palm had clear lines, like the hand of a god or demon, carrying brilliant Divine Might capable of crushing everything. It ignored the light barrier of the Black Tortoise Bedrock Formation and slammed down fiercely towards the area where the Earth Guard had formed their Formation!

“lihuo glaze! Rise!” Zhao Baichuan's eyes were splitting, and he roared hysterically! His mountain-shattering saber pointed resolutely toward the sky! The Earth Guard behind him roared in unison, burning their Vital Essence and Blood! The light barrier of the Black Tortoise Bedrock Formation instantly turned crimson! Countless lihuoliuze-like crimson fire threads intertwined within the Formation, transforming into a huge Flame Lihuoliuze Great Shield, charging upward!

Boom—!!!

The dark gold giant palm and the crimson Flame Lihuoliuze Shield collided with a crash!

It was like a meteor striking the earth!

The crimson fire threads frantically burned and eroded the dark gold giant palm, making sharp “hissing” sounds! Meanwhile, the dark gold giant palm pressed down fiercely with unmatched force, like a divine mountain toppling! The stalemate lasted less than an instant!

Crack!

A massive crack suddenly exploded on the surface of the crimson Flame Lihuoliuze Shield! Immediately afterward, countless cracks spread like a spiderweb!

“Pfft—!” Zhao Baichuan and hundreds of Earth Guard simultaneously spat blood! The Formation instantly collapsed! The crimson Flame Lihuoliuze Shield shattered with a crash! The dark gold giant palm continued its momentum, slamming down fiercely with the residual might of destruction!

Just as these hundreds of Earth Guard were about to be smashed into meat paste—

Buzz!

A beam of emerald light, like the dawn tearing through dark clouds, shot up into the sky from the ground without warning!

The radiance did not come from the Main Peak, but... from the direction of Feng Hui Valley!

The emerald radiance was incredibly fast, arriving in an instant! Just as the dark gold giant palm was about to fall, it transformed into an extremely resilient emerald vine phantom, flowing with fine Silver Lightning Patterns! The vine did not directly confront the giant palm; instead, like the most agile whip, it instantly wrapped around the dark gold giant palm's wrist!

Hiss, hiss, hiss—!

The moment the emerald vine shadow touched the dark gold giant palm, a harsh corrosive sound rang out! The Silver Lightning Patterns flowing on the surface of the vine shadow suddenly lit up! A pure and fierce Purification Force, mixed with the supreme Yang Qi remaining from the Heavenly Thunder, fiercely scorched the domineering Golden Core power contained within the giant palm, like a red-hot branding iron!

The dark gold giant palm violently trembled! Its downward momentum suddenly froze! The golden runes flowing on its surface flickered wildly and dimmed! A painful sense of being forcibly “purified” and “weakened” stabbed fiercely into the black-robed elder's mind along the connection of power!

“Hmm?!” For the first time, surprise appeared on the black-robed elder's rugged face! He sharply turned his head, looking toward Feng Hui Valley! His eyes were filled with disbelief! “This vine... it can actually purify Golden Core Dao power?!”

At the same time—

A figure in green robes appeared like a phantom atop the ruins of the collapsed Council Hall.

Lin Feng!