161: Rebirth from the ashes, destruction followed by creation

The dizziness of tearing space intertwined with the excruciating pain of his Soul being crushed. Li Ao tightly held the unconscious Medusa, like a withered leaf in a storm, uncontrollably tumbling and colliding in the chaotic Void Realm currents.

Xiao Yi Xian's resolute yet heartbreaking smile, like the sharpest blade, flayed his heart repeatedly.

"Xian'er—!!"

A silent roar echoed madly in his Sea of Consciousness, mixed with endless regret and towering killing intent.

He hated his powerlessness, hated the Hun Clan's schemes, and even more, hated this damned fate!

Why must he experience such a deeply etched parting?!

He didn't know how long he drifted in the Void Realm, perhaps an instant, perhaps an eternity.

Finally, the pressure around him lightened, and the two fell from the sky like meteors, heavily crashing onto a cold, hard surface.

"Pfft!"

Li Ao spat out another mouthful of fresh blood, his vision blurring, but he still relied on his tenacious will to tightly protect Medusa in his arms, using his back to absorb most of the impact.

The sound of bones breaking was clearly audible, but he seemed oblivious.

He struggled to raise his head and looked around.

This seemed to be an underground grotto, dimly lit, with damp and cold air, completely different from the scorching Hell of the Flame Abyss.

Water droplets continuously dripped from the grotto's ceiling, making a monotonous "drip-drop" sound.

"Cai Lin... Cai Lin!" Li Ao ignored his own injuries and quickly checked Medusa in his arms.

Medusa's face was as pale as paper, her breath weak, and traces of blood remained at the corners of her mouth.

She had clearly suffered severe injuries at the last moment to resist the aftermath of the Flame Giant, and coupled with the weakness after her Bloodline burst, she had fallen into a deep coma.

A pang of pain shot through Li Ao's heart, and he quickly took out his best healing Medicinal Pill, carefully feeding it into her mouth.

At the same time, he circulated the remaining Nirvana Dou Qi in his body, which was like a flickering candle in the wind, to clear her disordered Meridians and stabilize her vitality.

After doing all this, he collapsed weakly to the ground, panting heavily, feeling the double, almost collapsing, excruciating pain and exhaustion of both body and Soul.

The scene of Xiao Yi Xian's sacrifice constantly flashed before his eyes like a nightmare.

That gentle woman, who was incredibly fierce at the critical moment, had resolutely ignited everything she had to save him...

"Ah—!!!"

An uncontrollable roar of pain finally burst from Li Ao's throat, echoing in the silent grotto, filled with despair and unwillingness.

Tears mixed with blood blurred his vision.

He had never yearned for power as much as he did now! He yearned for power strong enough to crush everything and protect everything!

Perhaps it was the extreme pain's stimulation, or perhaps the unwilling will's inducement, but deep within his glabella, the dormant black iron once again emitted a faint fluctuation.

This time, it was no longer a violent power output, but a strange, soothing and guiding cool essence, slowly flowing into his almost dry Sea of Consciousness and shattered Meridians.

At the same time, a stream of information, like unsealed memory fragments, quietly surged into his consciousness:

"Nirvana... not just an end, but also the beginning of Rebirth... breaking before establishing, born from death..."

This profound idea seemed to come from the black iron itself, and also seemed to be an enlightenment that already existed deep within his Soul.

After extreme destruction and loss, a deeper understanding of the true meaning of "Nirvana" sprouted in his heart like a seed.

He recalled the gray-purple energy that Xiao Yi Xian had unleashed at the end, which was a Fusion of the Calamity Poison Body and Nirvana Origin...

That was not pure destruction, but rather a strange "order" and "balance" brewing within the destruction...

Could it be... a crazy thought flashed like lightning through Li Ao's chaotic mind!

He suddenly sat up, disregarding the severe pain in his body, his Soul Power surging wildly towards the black iron, no longer to extract power, but with an almost devout understanding, to communicate and comprehend the true meaning of "Nirvana" that was "born from death"!

"Xian'er... I won't let you sacrifice in vain... Never!"

A fanatical and crazed light burst forth from his eyes, and he began to guide the faint trace of Origin power within his body in an almost self-destructive manner.

Instead of repairing his injuries, he actively "Nirvana-ed" his most severely damaged Meridians and internal organs!

This was an extremely dangerous act; a slight misstep would mean true death and the dissipation of his Dao!

But Li Ao plunged in without hesitation!

Under the domineering power of Nirvana Origin, the Meridians and bones in his body, shattered by the Flame Giant's pressure and torn by the Void Realm currents, began to accelerate their collapse and annihilation!

Excruciating pain swept over him like a tide, almost completely submerging his will!

However, just as this complete "destruction" reached a critical point, a change occurred!

The black iron suddenly burst into brilliant light, and a surge of vitality, far purer and closer to the nascent Origin than before, gushed out from deep within the black iron like a sweet spring, flowing towards the parts of his body that had been "Nirvana-ed"!

At the end of destruction, Rebirth quietly arrived!

Nourished by the Nirvana Origin that contained the meaning of "life," new Meridians began to regrow and reconstruct at a visible speed, becoming wider and tougher, faintly gleaming with a grayish-white metallic luster!

Shattered bones were reshaped, becoming denser and imbued with immense power!

Even the injuries on his Soul were slowly repaired and strengthened during this process of breaking before establishing!

Li Ao's aura, which had been extremely weak, now surged and soared at an astonishing speed, like a Phoenix reborn from fire!

One-Star Dou Zun Peak... Two-Star Dou Zun... Three-Star Dou Zun!

His cultivation, in this desperate situation, turned misfortune into a blessing, breaking through two stars consecutively!

Moreover, his newly born Dou Qi was even purer, and its Fusion with Nirvana Origin was even more perfect, carrying a strange meaning of the cycle of life and death!

After an unknown period, the energy fluctuations in the grotto gradually subsided.

Li Ao slowly opened his eyes, and deep within them, a profound grayish-white light flowed, as if containing the Reincarnation of creation and destruction.

All his injuries had fully recovered, his skin was radiant, and his aura was as solid as a mountain, many times stronger than before!

He had successfully taken that step, truly understanding that "Nirvana" was not merely destruction, but also an opportunity for Rebirth!

Breaking before establishing, born from death!

He stood up, feeling the surging new power within him, but his gaze remained cold and sorrowful.

His power had increased, but could the person he lost never return?

He refused to believe it!

He walked to the still unconscious Medusa, gently stroking her pale cheek, his eyes filled with tenderness and determination.

"Cai Lin, I will wake you up.

Xian'er... I will also find a way to bring her back!" His voice was low, yet carried an undeniable vow.

"Hun Clan... Flame Abyss... wait for me!"

This time, he would return to that purgatory in a new form, carrying the power after Nirvana and deep-seated hatred!

Whether it was the Eight Desolations Destruction Flame or the Flame Spirit that harmed his beloved, he would reclaim them all!

Li Ao carefully carried Medusa on his back, his gaze sweeping over the unknown grotto, then he chose a direction and walked out with firm steps.

His back was still tall and straight, but it carried an added sense of vicissitude and resolve from having experienced life and death and comprehended Nirvana.

A new journey, after this Rebirth from desperation, officially begins!

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