171: The journey home is filled with tenderness and a heavy mission.

The spacecraft sailed smoothly through the void, with a kaleidoscope of shimmering light outside the porthole.

Inside the private luxury cabin, Li Ao sat cross-legged, seemingly meditating with his eyes closed, but his mind was immersed in his Qi Sea, closely monitoring the nirvana star core that floated in the center, slowly rotating.

Within the nirvana star core, in a vast, grey chaotic space, a faint glimmer of true spirit, so weak it was almost extinguished yet stubbornly flickering, was being carefully nurtured by pure Nirvana Origin.

That was Xiao Yi Xian.

Feeling the faint vitality transmitted by that wisp of true spirit, Li Ao's tightly clenched fists had slightly whitened knuckles.

Scenes from the Flame Abyss replayed before his eyes—that resolute back, her sacrificing herself by detonating her Calamity Poison Body to save him, turning all her vitality into power to protect him...

“Xian'er, just hold on a little longer... I will definitely bring you back,” he murmured in his heart, a mountain-heavy sense of responsibility and urgency pressing on him.

Just then, a faint fragrance wafted over.

A soft, delicate body gently leaned into his embrace, bringing with it a comforting, familiar scent.

It was Medusa.

She said nothing, merely extended her jade arm, gently wrapped it around Li Ao's waist, and rested her head on his firm chest, listening to his strong heartbeat.

In her purple snake eyes, the usual coldness of a queen was gone, replaced only by an unyielding tenderness and heartache.

She had personally witnessed all the dangers Li Ao had faced to save Xiao Yi Xian's true spirit and understood the heavy burden on his heart at this moment.

“It's good that you're back,” she whispered softly, her voice carrying a hint of imperceptible hoarseness, “This King will walk the path ahead with you.”

Li Ao's heart warmed, and he wrapped her tightly in his arms, his chin gently rubbing against her soft dark hair.

No need for many words; their body warmth and heartbeats were the best comfort.

Medusa's companionship was the warmest haven after his return from life-and-death struggles, exhausted.

“Shasha,” Li Ao said softly, “Xian'er's matter cannot be delayed any longer.

We must find a way to revive her as soon as possible.”

Medusa nodded gently in his embrace: “Mm.

Venerable Yao is knowledgeable, and Starfall Pavilion has many ancient texts.

We'll discuss it immediately upon our return.”

She looked up slightly, gazing at Li Ao's sharply defined profile and those eyes, deeper than before, occasionally flashing with a chilling grey light.

She said softly: “Whatever is needed, this King will bear it with you.”

Feeling the firmness of the jade-like person in his arms, Li Ao's anxiety seemed to ease a little.

He lowered his head and gently kissed her smooth forehead.

“I know.”

The spacecraft vibrated slightly, and its speed began to slow.

Outside the porthole, the familiar Starfall Pavilion mountain gate, enveloped by a spatial barrier, was already visible in the distance.

Chapter 172: Reunion in the Pavilion, Yao Chen's Deduction

Starfall Pavilion, Main Hall.

Yao Chen and Wind Venerable had already received the message and were waiting here.

When they saw Li Ao and Medusa enter the hall hand-in-hand, a hint of relief flashed in their eyes.

Especially when they sensed Li Ao's cultivation, which was now firmly at Peak Five-Star Dou Zun and even deeper and more profound, they were secretly startled.

“Good lad!

How long has it been, and your cultivation progress truly makes this old man ashamed!” Wind Venerable stroked his beard and laughed heartily, his tone full of praise.

Yao Chen's gaze was sharper; he scrutinized Li Ao from head to toe, his brow slightly furrowed: “Your aura... seems vastly different from before, with an added destructive intent that even this old man finds unsettling.

Moreover, your Soul fluctuations have also grown considerably.”

Li Ao respectfully saluted the two Venerables and, without concealment, briefly informed them about the nirvana star core acknowledging him as its master in the Flame Abyss, naturally omitting the core Legacy of the Nirvana Heavenly Scripture and other details.

“nirvana star core?!” Yao Chen exclaimed, abruptly standing up, his face filled with shock, “The rumored condensation of the Universe's Nirvana Origin?

You actually managed to get this item to acknowledge you as its master?!” He circled Li Ao twice, clicking his tongue in wonder, “No wonder, no wonder your aura has become so unique and powerful.

Deep fortune, truly deep fortune!”

After his exclamations, Yao Chen's expression turned serious, and he asked the most crucial question: “Then... how is that girl Xiao Yi Xian doing?”

Li Ao's expression also became solemn.

He said in a deep voice: “I did not fail in my mission.

Xian'er's true spirit has been saved by me and is currently being nurtured within the nirvana star core.

Her condition is temporarily stable, but extremely fragile.”

He described in detail the strange balance achieved between Xiao Yi Xian's true spirit and the Origin of destruction, as well as the fragile, 'living-towards-death' situation.

Yao Chen listened, pondered for a long time, and gently tapped his fingers on the armrest of his seat, silence falling over the hall for a moment.

After a while, he slowly spoke, his voice carrying a hint of heaviness: “The situation is even more complex than this old man anticipated.

The Calamity Poison Body's Origin detonated, yet the Soul could be maintained by the Nirvana Power, achieving such a strange balance... unheard of.

Ordinary Medicinal Pills or methods for repairing the Soul would likely not only be useless but could also break the balance, causing her true spirit to instantly dissipate.”

Li Ao's heart sank: “Even you, Teacher, have no solution?”

Medusa also squeezed Li Ao's hand, her purple eyes fixed on Yao Chen.

Yao Chen shook his head, then nodded: “A solution... is not entirely out of the question.

According to scattered records in ancient texts, in ancient times, there was a miraculous Medicinal Pill called—Soul-Shaping Creation Pill.”

“Soul-Shaping Creation Pill?” Li Ao and Medusa said in unison, hope igniting in their eyes.

“Indeed.” Yao Chen's expression was solemn, “This Medicinal Pill doesn't simply repair the Soul; it contains a trace of the power of Heaven and Earth's creation, capable of reshaping the Soul embryo and refining the true spirit.

It is most suitable for injuries where the Origin is damaged and the Soul body is in a peculiar state.

Theoretically, if the pill can be successfully refined, there is a great chance that the girl Xiao Yi Xian can fully recover, and even benefit from the misfortune.”

“Teacher, please tell me, where can I find this Medicinal Pill? Or its Pill Formula?” Li Ao urgently pressed.

Yao Chen looked at him and slowly uttered two words that made Li Ao's pupils contract.

“Medicine Clan.”

“As the oldest lineage of alchemists, one of the Ancient Eight Clans, the Medicine Clan's Scripture Pavilion might preserve this long-lost ancient Pill Formula.

This is currently the most likely place I know of to find a complete 'Soul-Shaping Creation Pill' Pill Formula.”

Medicine Clan!

Li Ao's gaze sharpened.

That ancient clan, which stood at the Peak of the continent with its alchemy, had a threshold far surpassing that of the Pill Tower.

“Medicine Clan...” He repeated the name softly, a challenging yet clearly defined path ahead, seemingly unfolding slowly before him at this moment.

The hope of reviving Xiao Yi Xian became so clear for the first time, even though it was hidden behind the unfathomable layers of mist surrounding the Medicine Clan.