132: Undercurrents of affection, the allure of an ancient temple

Chapter 99: Undercurrent of Affection, Traces of the Ancient Domain

Leaving the uncomfortable gray-purple poisonous miasma, the surrounding scenery did not become clearer; instead, it grew increasingly desolate and oppressive.

The sky was an eternal lead-gray, as if a huge, rust-stained metal plate pressed down overhead.

The land beneath their feet presented a dull color, scattered with more gigantic and strange skeletons.

Some skeletons even retained faint energy imprints that had not completely dissipated, speaking of their owners' power and unwillingness in life.

The three moved at a slow pace.

Although Xiao Yi Xian's toxic body was temporarily suppressed, her body, eroded over many years, was still weak, making her steps inevitably unsteady.

Li Ao deliberately slowed his pace, and whenever she stumbled, he would timely extend a steady and strong arm, either to support her lightly or to steady her.

"Thank you..." Xiao Yi Xian's voice was always as soft as a mosquito's buzz, carrying a hint of imperceptible shyness.

With each contact, she could feel the warmth from Li Ao's palm and the reassuring, steady Aura of the strange Nirvana Origin that remained.

This reminded her of the time many years ago in Qingshan Town, when that young man also provided warmth when she was most helpless.

The long-lost sense of security, like a trickling stream, quietly nourished her parched heart.

Her gaze lingered more and more on Li Ao's tall back.

Medusa took all of this in, her delicate jawline tightening slightly.

She still walked side-by-side with Li Ao, maintaining their unique tacit understanding, but the queenly Aura naturally emanating from her was even more cold and unapproachable than usual.

She said nothing, only striking more fiercely when the eerie, cold wind, carrying mental resentment, suddenly attacked.

Seven-Colored Dou Qi, like living silk, precisely shredded the invisible mental tendrils, completely purifying the most sinister whispers that attempted to approach Xiao Yi Xian.

"The resentment here has grown strong and specifically targets weaknesses of the mind; guard your Sea of Consciousness," her clear, cold voice rang out, both a reminder and a tone of undeniable protection.

Li Ao gratefully glanced at her, understanding in his heart.

Medusa might appear aloof, but she possessed a delicate inner nature and a sense of responsibility.

He likewise circulated his Soul Power, and the black iron in his Sea of Consciousness emitted a faint light, silently devouring the resentment attempting to invade him.

Passing through a ruin filled with sword marks and charred craters, Medusa stopped, her purple eyes fixed on a bottomless sword mark on the ground.

The sharp Sword Intent remaining within it had not completely dissipated even after countless years.

"This Sword Intent... is incomparably sharp.

The power of spatial cutting it contains is beyond what an ordinary Dou Zun can achieve," she said slowly.

"The one who left this mark was at least a Peak Dou Zun in life, perhaps even... touched the threshold of a Half-Saint."

Li Ao squatted down, his fingertips brushing the edge of the sword mark, sensing the faint residual meaning, his expression solemn: "Such a powerful expert also perished here.

What kind of tragic battle happened in this Ancient Domain back then?"

Xiao Yi Xian softly said, "I was trapped here for several years and once saw a few words on a broken stone tablet; it seemed related to a battle called 'Burial of Saints,' but the specific information has long been annihilated."

"Burial of Saints..." Li Ao murmured, his assessment of the danger Rank of this deadly place rising again in his heart.

The black iron within him showed an increasingly obvious affinity and... craving for the desolate and terminal meaning permeating this land.

After several days of trekking and recuperation, the injuries of all three had recovered considerably.

During this time, Li Ao attempted to control the wisp of Nirvana Origin more precisely, discovering that it could not only devour Soul backlash but also had miraculous effects in refining the chaotic energy of this place.

It could first "annihilate" and remove the Evil Qi and Impurities within it, leaving relatively pure energy for absorption.

This greatly increased his recovery speed, and his cultivation even subtly improved.

With Li Ao's help, Xiao Yi Xian also began to attempt to guide the power of Nirvana Origin to sort out the restless poisonous Qi in her body.

This process required immense trust and precise control, and each successful sorting added a point of tacit understanding between the two.

Medusa often stood by as a Protector, occasionally pointing out slight areas of stagnation in Xiao Yi Xian's energy circulation.

Although her tone was cold, it greatly benefited Xiao Yi Xian.

A subtle yet stable triangular relationship slowly formed in the perilous environment.

Finally, they traversed the black mountain range that lay like the skeleton of a giant.

Standing at the pass, the sight before them made all three hold their breath simultaneously.

It was a vast, boundless basin.

In the center of the basin, an unimaginably grand black giant hall stood silently, like a sleeping primeval beast.

The entire edifice was constructed from an unknown black material, with a rough and ancient style, covered in massive claw marks, fist imprints, and energy impact depressions.

Many parts had already collapsed, and the broken walls spoke of the past tragedy.

Even from a distance, one could feel a wild, heavy Aura that made one's Soul tremble, rushing towards them.

And directly above the giant hall, the sky seemed to have a large hole, a slowly rotating, thousand-zhang-diameter gray-white energy vortex, like an ancient eye, coldly observing below.

An extremely dense meaning of Nirvana Death Qi emanated from the center of that vortex, enveloping the entire basin, causing the space within the basin to exhibit a distorted sense of instability.

The black iron in Li Ao's brow emitted an unprecedented hum and tremor at this moment, the strong sense of guidance almost breaking out of his body!

A brilliant light also burst forth from Medusa's purple eyes, and the Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python Bloodline within her body subtly boiled uncontrollably: "It's there!

The source of the call to this King is deep within that great hall!"

Xiao Yi Xian felt the power contained within the vortex, capable of returning all things to nothingness, her face slightly pale, but her eyes were exceptionally firm: "That power... if I can guide a trace of it, perhaps it can truly and completely balance the poison pill within my body..."

The Opportunity was right before them, but all three understood that the Dao leading to the Opportunity would undoubtedly be fraught with thorns and death.

Chapter 100: Bloodshed at the Hall Door, Love at First Sight

At the edge of the basin, there was a deathly silence; even the sound of the wind seemed to be swallowed by the massive Nirvana vortex.

An invisible pressure, as heavy as mercury, permeated every inch of the air.

The three cautiously descended along the edge of the basin.

The closer they got to the black ancient hall, the stronger the oppressive feeling originating from their Souls became.

More complete skeletons began to appear on the ground.

These skeletons were no longer scattered but maintained certain combat or guarding postures, encircling the ancient hall, as if in their last moments of life, they were still resisting something or guarding the existence within the hall.

The main gate of the ancient hall was a hundred zhang high and tightly closed.

The gate was also made of black iron material, carved with countless intricate and ancient runes.

These runes were not static but flowed slowly, like living things.

At the crack of the door, a solidified gray light membrane rippled like water, emitting a heart-palpitating repulsive force and a sense of termination.

"This light membrane is an extremely strong Seal, containing pure Annihilation Rule," Li Ao said with a solemn expression.

He could feel that without the correct method, forcibly attacking this light membrane would likely invite a destructive counterattack.

He stepped forward, holding his breath and concentrating, trying again to communicate with his own wisp of Nirvana Origin.

Gray Qi flowed from his fingertips, gently touching the gray light membrane like a tendril.

"Om..."

The light membrane rippled again, and the repulsive force weakened, but it was far from opening.

Li Ao could feel that the light membrane was "examining" him, examining the authenticity and strength of his Origin.

He had no choice but to concentrate all his mind, deeply Fuse his Soul Power with the Nirvana Origin, and cautiously increase the output, attempting to establish a deeper connection with this ancient Seal.

This was an extremely delicate and mentally taxing process; his forehead quickly became covered in fine beads of sweat, and his body trembled slightly, almost putting all his defenses into breaking the Seal.

Medusa and Xiao Yi Xian guarded him on his left and right, fully alert to their surroundings.

The atmosphere within the basin was terrifyingly eerie; the skeletons encircling the ancient hall, illuminated by the gray-white light of the Nirvana vortex, cast menacing shadows, as if they could come alive at any moment.

Time passed bit by bit, and under Li Ao's efforts, the gray light membrane on the hall door visibly thinned.

A small vortex even began to appear in its center, faintly echoing the giant vortex above.

Victory was in sight!

However, just as the light membrane was about to be completely assimilated and the hall door was about to open—

The sudden change erupted at the most improbable moment, in the most cunning and vicious manner!

It did not come from the surrounding skeletons, nor from the whirlpool in the sky, but from the palace gate itself!

Among the countless flowing ancient runes on the door, an extremely hidden dark gray rune, almost merged with the others, suddenly lit up! It seemed to possess self-awareness, seizing the moment when Li Ao was breaking the restriction with all his might and his mind was completely unguarded!

"Sizzle—!"

A gray ray, condensed to the extreme and only finger-thick, shot out silently, like a venomous snake dormant for ages! Where it passed, space did not shatter, but directly dissolved into a sliver of nothingness! Its target was the vital spot on Li Ao's unprotected back!

This strike contained pure and terrifying Nirvana Power, far surpassing any attack encountered before, and its speed transcended thought!

"Li Ao!"

"Be careful!"

Two sharp cries, filled with extreme terror and resolve, tore through the deadly silence of the basin!

Medusa, standing to Li Ao's rear left, instantly had her purple eyes filled with seven-colored light! She had no time to think; the Dou Qi and Bloodline Power within her body burned frantically at an unprecedented speed! She knew she couldn't fully block the attack in haste, but she absolutely could not let Li Ao take the blow!

Her figure transformed into a seven-colored streak of light that surpassed the limits of speed, appearing almost instantaneously behind Li Ao. She crossed her arms, instantly covering them with Seven-Colored Dou Qi and snake scales, condensing the strongest defensive posture she could achieve, resolutely facing the deadly ray!

And almost simultaneously, Xiao Yi Xian, standing slightly to the rear right, moved as well! Her strength was far inferior to Medusa's, but when she saw the ray's target and Medusa lunging forward, an emotion driven by instinct and surpassing fear compelled her—she could not just watch! Even if she could only obstruct it for a fraction of a second!

She did not possess Medusa's powerful defense. The only thing she could do was use her own body to try and buy that insignificant extra instant for the two people in front of her!

Her pure white figure, carrying a hint of desolate resolve, charged forward without hesitation, trying to interpose herself between Medusa and the ray!

"Puff—!"

There was no earth-shattering explosion, only a dull, grating sound of a sharp object piercing through energy!

That condensed Nirvana Power ray, like a hot knife slicing through butter, instantly tore through Medusa's hastily deployed seven-colored defense, violently penetrating her crossed, blocking arms. The residual power, still carrying a destructive impact, slammed heavily into her chest!

"Ugh Ah—!"

Medusa let out a choked groan of uncontrollable pain, and crimson blood sprayed wildly from the corner of her mouth. Her arms instantly went limp, the sound of shattering bone clearly audible. Her enchanting figure flew backward like a kite with a broken string, a terrifying gray energy mark rapidly spreading across her chest, frantically eroding her vitality!

The direction of her backward flight caused her to crash right into the arms of the lunging Xiao Yi Xian.

"Your Majesty!" Xiao Yi Xian held Medusa. The massive impact caused her own throat to sweeten, and she spat out a mouthful of blood, both of them falling heavily to the ground.

Medusa's face was ashen, her vital signs rapidly fading at a visible speed, and the light in her purple eyes quickly dimmed. She looked at Xiao Yi Xian, who was holding her, a complex look flashing in her eyes. She tried to speak, but only more blood surged out.

"No—!!!"

Li Ao had sensed the fatal danger the moment the ray appeared, but he was at the most critical juncture of breaking the Seal. His mind and Origin Power were closely linked to the light barrier, and the backlash from forcibly interrupting would have instantly severely injured him, making it impossible to defend in time!

He could only watch helplessly as Medusa blocked that fatal blow for him, watched Xiao Yi Xian rush forward without regard for herself, and watched both of them spit blood and fly backward!

A heart-wrenching pain and towering rage instantly drowned out all his rationality!

"Ah—!!!"

He let out a roar like a wounded beast, no longer caring about backlash or his Foundation! The dormant black iron within his body was completely activated in the most violent manner! The Nirvana Origin, ten times more immense than before and carrying the furious will to destroy everything, erupted from his body like a breached flood!

"Rumble—!!!"

That already precarious gray light barrier, under the impact of this more tyrannical, yet homologous, power, shattered inch by inch like fragile glass, turning into scattered gray light particles and completely dissipating!

"Clang—!!"

The heavy black palace gate, having lost the support of the Seal, slowly swung inward with a heavy roar that seemed to come from ancient times, carrying an Aura that crushed all resistance! It revealed the bottomless darkness behind it, a void that seemed capable of swallowing all light.

But Li Ao did not look at the open palace gate at all.

He spun around abruptly, his eyes bloodshot, and stumbled as he rushed to Medusa and Xiao Yi Xian's side.

"Medusa! Xiao Yi Xian!" His voice was hoarse, trembling uncontrollably. He saw the shocking gray mark on Medusa's chest and felt her life force rapidly dissipating like a candle in the wind. His heart felt as if it were being fiercely clutched by an invisible giant hand; he could barely breathe.

He quickly knelt down, stuffing the best healing Medicinal Pills into Medusa's mouth as if they were worthless. Simultaneously, he placed his hands over the gray mark on her chest, and the Bone Chilling Flame and his own raging Nirvana Origin Power surged out together, recklessly fighting and dissolving the stubbornly invading Nirvana Power.

"Hold on! You must hold on for me!" He roared at Medusa, whose consciousness was already blurring. Veins bulged on his forehead, and sweat mixed with the blood from when he broke the restriction streamed down.

Xiao Yi Xian suppressed the surging Qi and blood within her body, anxiously watching Li Ao treat Medusa, tears silently falling: "Li Ao, Your Majesty she..."

"She will be fine! I absolutely won't let anything happen to her!" Li Ao's voice was firm and decisive, carrying a kind of obsessive madness. The strange flame and Origin Power were consumed frantically, engaging in a tug-of-war with the corrosive energy. Threads of gray Death Qi were forcibly expelled, but Medusa's vitality continued to slowly ebb away.

Just then, Medusa's long eyelashes fluttered, and she struggled to open her eyes slightly. Those purple eyes that usually looked down upon the world were now only filled with weakness and haziness. She looked at Li Ao, whose face was distorted by anxiety and was so close, and felt the power emanating from his palms—a force determined to save her at any cost. A curve, barely visible, faintly and extremely difficultly formed on her paper-white lips.

"Id... iot..." Her voice was barely audible, faint as a gossamer thread, "...too... loud..."

After speaking those few words, as if exhausting her last reserves of strength, her eyes slowly closed, and she completely fell into a deep coma.

But this brief moment of lucidity caused a sharp pang in Li Ao's heart, followed by an even more frantic determination. He ignored his own depletion and poured more Origin Power into her.

At the same time, he freed one hand and tightly grasped Xiao Yi Xian's cold hand beside him. He looked at her, his expression filled with guilt, gratitude, and a heavy sense of entrustment: "Xian'er, be my Protector. No matter what, don't let anyone disturb us!"

This was the first time he had called her by such an intimate name. Xiao Yi Xian felt the strength and warmth coming from his hand, and seeing the unquestionable resolve and trust in his eyes, she nodded heavily, wiped away her tears, and forced herself to stand up. She vigilantly stood guard beside the two, despite her own internal injuries.

After this moment of bloodshed at the palace gate, a hairline away from death, all decorum, testing, and subtle balance were completely shattered. A profound and genuine emotion, bought at the cost of life, was deeply engraved upon the Souls of the three, like a brand.

Li Ao lifted the unconscious and weakly breathing Medusa onto his back, took the hand of the pale but determined Xiao Yi Xian, and resolutely cast his gaze toward the dark palace gate that had opened, seemingly capable of swallowing everything.

Inside the hall lay unknown Opportunity, or perhaps a deeper abyss of despair.

But at this moment, he only had one belief—save her! No matter what was inside the hall, he had to find a way to save her!