217: Chapter 216 Sword Without Heart? I'll Give You a Chance to Return to Your Peak

The day after Xia Jin came out of seclusion was also his last day before leaving the Second Heaven.

The news of his success in the Demon Cave spread through the entire Second Heaven as if it had grown wings.

Some were shocked, some were envious, and some found it hard to believe. That newcomer, who had been in the Second Heaven for less than two months, had actually conquered the Demon Cave where even Jian Wuxin had met his downfall so easily?

But after the shock, everyone understood one thing: from now on, the name Xia Jin would circulate throughout the Second Heaven for a long time, even after he left.

Meanwhile, on a very ordinary island in the Second Heaven.

A weak figure draped in a long robe sat alone in a pavilion, drinking.

His gaze pierced through the heavy clouds, staring somewhat blankly in the direction where Xia Jin was. He drank cup after cup, yet he seemed unable to get drunk.

Suddenly, he coughed.

A few drops of blood fell onto the stone table in front of him, a piercingly bright red.

"My Lord, the wind is cold outside; please return to the house and rest quickly. Your health..." A maid nearby, hearing the commotion, hurried over and urged him with a face full of worry.

"Don't worry, it's no matter."

The man waved his hand, not caring much: "Don't worry, Xuer, it's just an old injury; it won't kill me."

The maid called Xuer hesitated to speak, but finally retreated silently to the side.

Indeed, this man who looked somewhat sickly was the former Heaven Grade Number One who had failed in the Demon Cave, Jian Wuxin.

That name, which once looked down upon all others, could now only hide on this island, accompanied by old injuries day after day.

He looked up again toward that direction.

Suddenly, he set down his wine cup.

"Xuer, I am going out for a while!"

Hearing Jian Wuxin's words, Xuer was a bit flustered and hurriedly stepped forward to stop him: "My Lord, your cultivation has not yet recovered; try not to go out. If you are seen by others and they find out your cultivation..."

"No! This time, I must go!! Otherwise, if I don't go this time, I'm afraid there won't be another chance."

Jian Wuxin's voice was very soft. He stood up, pulled his robe tight, and walked out of the pavilion.

A clear whistle sounded.

A moment later, a clear cry came from the horizon, and a White Luan pierced through the clouds, landing before him.

"Sorry to trouble you, Little White!" Jian Wuxin gently stroked its feathers and flipped himself onto its back.

The White Luan flapped its wings and took flight, carrying him toward the island where Xia Jin was located.

...

At this time, Yin Shixuan and Mu Pinger had not yet awakened. With nothing to do, Xia Jin could only lie lazily on a grand chair outside the hall.

He held a teacup, sipping it occasionally, enjoying a rare moment of leisure. He was to leave the Second Heaven tomorrow, so today was his final relaxation.

Suddenly, the hand holding the teacup paused slightly.

He lifted his gaze and looked toward the sky.

He saw a White Luan pierce through the clouds and slowly land before him. A sickly-looking man stepped down from it. His face was pale and his frame was thin, but his eyes still held a sense of sharpness.

Although he had never met the man, Xia Jin looked at those eyes and faintly guessed his name.

"Jian Wuxin?"

He spoke indifferently.

The man was slightly startled, then nodded and cupped his hands in greeting toward Xia Jin: "Greetings, Brother Xia."

Xia Jin pointed to another chair nearby: "Sit."

Jian Wuxin was not formal and sat down directly.

"So, why have you come to find me today?"

As Xia Jin spoke, he waved his hand, and another cup of tea flew steadily to land in front of Jian Wuxin.

Jian Wuxin took the teacup but did not drink. He stared at the clear tea in the cup, remained silent for a moment, and then looked seriously at Xia Jin: "I have come to disturb Brother Xia today only because I have a question, and I hope Brother Xia can answer it for me."

"Speak!"

"May I ask Brother Xia, how did you pass the trial of Passion in the final stage of the Demon Cave?"

He had kept this question in his heart for a long time.

Back then, he had fallen at this very stage.

In that stage, by the end, he could no longer distinguish between reality and illusion. He even knew some scenes were illusions, yet he was still unable to extricate himself.

He was unwilling to accept it.

Over the years, he had looked back countless times and asked himself: if he had been a bit more firm and clear-headed back then, would the outcome have been different?

So he came.

He wanted to know how the person before him had passed it.

Xia Jin looked at him and suddenly smiled.

"You are asking how this Prince passed the final trial of Passion?"

"If this Prince said that I am not clear on it myself, that perhaps it was just luck... would you believe me?"

Xia Jin's answer immediately made Jian Wuxin fall silent.

He frowned, his gaze lingering on Xia Jin's face for a long time, as if trying to discern the truth of those words.

Then, he actually nodded: "I believe you."

The hand Xia Jin held the teacup with paused slightly, and he looked at him with a strange expression: "You really believe what I said?"

"I do."

Jian Wuxin said seriously, "Since you have passed the Demon Cave, you are already preparing to go to the Third Heaven of the Divine Temple. With your strength, there is no need to lie to me. If you did not want to say, you could have just refused directly; why bother making up a reason?"

Xia Jin raised an eyebrow, and then a smile appeared on his face.

"Well, what you say makes sense."

"This Prince indeed did not lie to you. As for the trial of Passion, this Prince also needed some luck to pass."

Luck?

Perhaps not entirely.

The figure of that white-haired woman flashed through his mind, and that soft and warm sensation seemed to still linger on his lips. If not for her, he might already be...

Xia Jin withdrew his thoughts and looked at Jian Wuxin.

After hearing this, Jian Wuxin was silent for a moment and then slowly stood up.

He bowed deeply toward Xia Jin.

"If it is truly as Brother Xia said, then perhaps I still have a chance to challenge the Demon Cave again."

"Hmm!?" Xia Jin looked at Jian Wuxin with some surprise. This fellow had almost died here before, yet he actually had the idea of challenging the Demon Cave again?

"Last time, your cultivation was completely ruined because of the Demon Cave and you nearly died. Now you actually want to go again? Are you truly not afraid of death?"

"What is death!?" Jian Wuxin shook his head, but a trace of sorrow flashed in his eyes.

"During the last World-Ending Catastrophe, my entire Family almost perished, leaving only my branch to barely struggle on."

"Perhaps I have some talent and some luck. I was able to enter the Divine Temple and reach my current position. But so what? Under the new World-Ending Catastrophe, I don't want to... just stand far away, still powerless."

"This guy actually has such thoughts?" Xia Jin looked at the sickly man before him, a trace of appreciation flashing in his eyes.

He stood up, walked to Jian Wuxin's side, and patted his shoulder.

"Do you want to recover your former cultivation?"

Jian Wuxin's body trembled violently, and he suddenly turned to look at Xia Jin, his eyes flashing with doubt and shock.

"Brother Xia... what did you say?"

His voice was trembling uncontrollably.

How many years had it been?

He had woken from dreams in the middle of the night countless times, hoping to return to his Peak. But the internal injuries left by the corrosion of the demon spots had already destroyed most of his Foundation.

And now, this young man before him actually asked him...

"This Prince is only giving you a chance to recover; I did not say I could definitely make you fully recover your previous cultivation."

As he spoke, before Jian Wuxin could react, Xia Jin struck the center of his back with a palm!

Jian Wuxin's whole body shook, and he subconsciously wanted to resist, but in the next moment, a vast power of life force surged into his body!

The Nine Turns Creation Sutra operated frantically!

That power, carrying rich Creation Qi, instantly enveloped his Meridians and all his internal organs. Those internal injuries that had been corroded by the demon spots for many years actually stopped further corrosion under the nourishment of this power, and instead showed signs of healing!

A moment later, Xia Jin withdrew his hand.

"This power will repair the areas in your body corroded by the demon spots, but it is only an auxiliary force. Whether you can fully recover depends on your own fortune."

Jian Wuxin took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed his inner excitement. He turned around and bowed solemnly with cupped hands toward Xia Jin.

"I, Jian Wuxin, will remember this great favor."

"If there is a chance, I, Jian Wuxin, will repay it with my life and everything I have."

"Alright, go back and recuperate well. This Prince hopes that one day, I will see your figure in the Third Heaven!!" Xia Jin waved his hand, lay back down on the grand chair, and closed his eyes.

Jian Wuxin took a deep look at him and said nothing more.

He turned and mounted the White Luan.

"An interesting person indeed."

The corners of Xia Jin's mouth curled up slightly, and soon his thoughts were entirely placed on his anticipation for the Third Heaven.