29: The strange fire fell silent

Consciousness tumbled and tore amidst the kaleidoscopic colors and deafening roars.

Li Ao felt like a leaf thrown into raging waves; every time he thought he was about to be completely torn apart, the cold touch in his arms and the faintly burning spatial mark on his forehead forcibly pulled him back from the brink of collapse.

He did not know how long he had drifted between the Void Realm and reality, until the terrifying force that nearly ground his Soul into dust suddenly vanished.

"Bang!"

A heavy impact came, accompanied by the creaking of his bones under the unbearable weight.

He fell onto solid ground.

It was cold, hard, and rough with grit.

In his ears was the whistling wind, carrying the familiar air, hot and smelling of sand, which brutally poured into his mouth and nose.

The Tagor Desert!

They had returned!

This realization forcibly focused Li Ao's nearly scattered consciousness. He suddenly opened his eyes; his vision was blurred by intense pain and weakness, yet he could still distinguish the familiar, scorching sun above, and the surrounding, endless expanse of undulating golden dunes.

They were alive! They had escaped from that pale, desperate place!

The ecstasy lasted only an instant before being replaced by deeper worry.

He immediately looked down at his arms.

Medusa was still unconscious, her face utterly devoid of color, her breath as weak as a flickering candle in the wind. The cyan flame lotus mark on her forehead was dim, and a subtle, space-crack-like distortion even appeared at its edges. Forcibly activating her Heavenly Flame Origin to resist the spatial turbulence, and then enduring the final passage traversal, her condition was even worse than when they left that alternate dimension.

As for himself, his situation was equally grim. His body was empty, the power of the Black Iron Hegemon Body was nearly depleted, his Meridians were cracked like a dry riverbed. The wound on his left arm had burst open again, blood gushed out, staining the sand beneath him. What was more troubling was that he could feel a trace of extremely subtle, yet cold and deathly "gui xu" rule power, clinging to the depths of his Soul like a maggot on bone. Although the System interface had recovered some functions, the option to clear this rule erosion was still grayed out.

He had to treat his injuries immediately! Otherwise, even before the rule power took effect, blood loss and weakness alone would be enough to kill them!

Li Ao forced himself to sit up and look around. This was an unfamiliar stretch of desert, the sun was scorching, and there was no sign of an oasis or any shelter.

He gritted his teeth, carefully placed Medusa in a sheltered depression behind a dune, and then used his last remaining strength to start digging the sand beneath him with both hands. The grit was rough, tearing his fingertips, and blood mixed with the sand, but he didn't stop.

Soon, a crude pit large enough for two was dug out. He picked up Medusa, placed her in the pit, and then slid down himself. The pit could barely block some of the direct sunlight and wind-blown sand; it was the only thing he could do right now.

Having done all this, he was nearly exhausted, leaning against the sand wall and panting heavily.

[System, perform a full scan of my status and the target's status, and formulate the optimal recovery plan!] He communicated telepathically, his voice carrying unmistakable exhaustion.

[Ding! Scan complete.]

[host Status: Low vital signs, severe Qi and blood depletion, Black Iron Hegemon Body Realm has dropped to the First Layer Early Stage, Meridians severely damaged, open wound on left arm, Soul suffering unknown rule erosion (minor, not yet spreading).]

[Target (Medusa) Status: Extremely weak vital signs, Dou Zong Origin is near depletion, Soul severely damaged, Heavenly Flame Origin is dissipating and contaminated by spatial power, currently in a state of deep self-imposed Seal protection.]

[Recommended Plan: 1. host should prioritize repairing Physical Body injuries and replenishing Qi and blood. Can attempt to absorb the local fire-attributed energy for assistance, but efficiency is extremely low. 2. Target's status is critical, conventional methods are ineffective, requiring nourishment from higher-level life energy or rule power. Warning: If the target cannot stabilize her Origin within 72 hours, she will fall into irreversible Soul annihilation.]

72 hours!

Li Ao's heart sank. Higher-level life energy or rule power? Where was he supposed to find that? The System store was still largely locked due to insufficient energy.

Had they escaped with such difficulty only for him to watch her... No!

A fierce glint flashed in his eyes. If there were no conditions, he would create them!

He glanced at Medusa, who was still frowning in her coma as if enduring immense pain, took a deep breath, and made a decision.

He extended his right hand and placed it over his heart on his left chest. The Black Iron Hegemon Body Mind-Cultivation Technique circulated again. This time, instead of drawing on his Qi and blood, he directly activated the most fundamental Essence Blood of the heart! This was the Foundation of a Martial Artist; losing even one drop required long years to recover!

One drop, two drops... five drops!

Five drops of Essence Blood, emitting a faint golden luster and containing vast vitality and pure power, were forcibly expelled by him, hovering in his palm. His face instantly turned ashen, and his breath flickered like candlelight, seemingly ready to go out at any moment.

But his gaze remained resolute. He carefully guided these five drops of vital Essence Blood into Medusa's cracked lips, simultaneously directing the vitality they contained to protect her rapidly depleting heart vessels and Soul core.

Having finished this, he could no longer hold on; his vision went dark, and he collapsed into the pit, falling into a deep coma.

After he fell unconscious, the five drops of faint golden Essence Blood dissolved within Medusa's body, like sweet dew sprinkled onto cracked earth, temporarily stabilizing her last thread of vitality. The distorted flame lotus mark on her forehead also seemed to brighten slightly...

When Li Ao regained consciousness again, the first thing he felt was the biting cold of the desert night.

He struggled to open his eyes and found himself still lying in the pit, covered by a thin layer of sand, evidently caused by the night wind.

The feeling of emptiness inside him was still intense, but at least he no longer felt on the verge of immediate collapse. He immediately looked beside him.

Medusa was still unconscious, but her face no longer looked so deathly pale, and her breathing was slightly stronger. The five drops of vital Essence Blood had worked.

He sighed in relief, struggled to sit up, and began checking his own condition.

His injuries were still severe, but they had at least stabilized. The Black Iron Hegemon Body was circulating automatically, slowly absorbing the sparse fire-attributed energy in the desert and... Hm?

Li Ao was suddenly startled.

He sensed that, besides the sparse fire-attributed energy, there were extremely minute traces of cold and deathly energy being stripped from the Void Realm and integrating into his body. This energy... shared the same Origin as the "breath of gui xu"! But instead of destroying his body, it was slowly being... refined and absorbed by the power of the Black Iron Hegemon Body and the mysterious energy within him?

[Ding! Detected that the host is passively absorbing trace amounts of 'annihilation' rule power (diluted variant of the 'breath of gui xu')! Black Iron Hegemon Body is undergoing adaptive evolution! Physical Body strength slightly increased! Soul resistance slightly increased! System energy recovery speed increased by 5%!]

The System's notification tone carried a hint of surprise.

An astonishing light burst forth in Li Ao's eyes!

A blessing in disguise?!

The "breath of gui xu," which had nearly buried them in the alternate dimension, its diluted rule power could actually be absorbed and refined by his Black Iron Hegemon Body, becoming fuel for his growth?! Was this because he had forcibly refined spatial energy, or because of the System, or the special nature of his Transmigration Soul?

Regardless of the reason, this was undoubtedly a huge piece of good news!

He immediately focused his mind, fully circulating the Black Iron Hegemon Body, actively guiding and capturing the sparse "annihilation" rule power in the air.

The process was still painful, like scraping bone with a dull knife, but feeling the subtle yet real strengthening of his Physical Body and Soul, all the suffering became worthwhile!

Time slowly passed as he Cultivated.

Dawn quietly arrived in the desert.

When the first ray of morning light illuminated the dunes, Li Ao slowly opened his eyes. Although his injuries were still severe, there was a sharpness and depth in his gaze that hadn't been there before.

A night of Cultivation had not only stabilized his injuries but also given him a new understanding of the Black Iron Hegemon Body and his own strength. His Dao seemed to have been broadened by this desperate situation.

He looked at Medusa beside him.

In the faint morning light, she was still sleeping peacefully, her long eyelashes casting faint shadows beneath her eyelids. Stripped of all her usual sharpness and severity, only a breathtaking, fragile beauty remained.

Li Ao reached out and gently brushed away the sand clinging to her cheek, his movements possessing a tenderness he himself hadn't realized.

Just then, Medusa's eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes.

They were still her seven-colored eyes, but their brilliance remained dim, carrying the confusion and weakness of just waking up. She first looked around with some confusion, then her gaze fell upon Li Ao's face, which was close at hand.

Their eyes met.

Gone was the madness of desperation, the decisiveness before the coma, and the usual barriers of status and calculation.

After experiencing life and death together and entrusting their lives to each other, a subtle yet genuine emotion flowed silently between the two in this moment of tranquil dawn.

Medusa looked at his pale yet resolute face, saw the unconcealed concern in his eyes, and felt the strand of his overbearing yet gentle vitality stubbornly supporting her within her body. The last icy barrier in her heart finally completely melted away.

She slightly moved her cracked lips, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz, yet clearly audible to Li Ao:

"... Thank you."

Li Ao was slightly stunned. Then, the corner of his mouth twitched upward almost imperceptibly. He didn't speak, only reached out and brought the waterskin to her lips.

Medusa looked at him and did not refuse again, drinking a few sips of water from his hand.

The clear water moistened her dry throat, and seemed to moisten something else as well.

After drinking the water, she leaned against the sand wall, breathing lightly. Her seven-colored gaze fell on Li Ao, carrying a hint of inquiry: "Your injuries..."

"They won't kill me," Li Ao said, putting the waterskin away, his tone returning to its usual brevity. "How do you feel?"

Medusa performed an internal inspection and frowned slightly: "My Origin is still depleted, and the Heavenly Flame is dormant, but... I am temporarily out of mortal danger." She paused, looking at Li Ao, "Was it you who used..."

"Just a small price," Li Ao interrupted her, unwilling to dwell on the matter. "Can you move? We must leave here as soon as possible and find a safe place for you to fully recover."

Medusa attempted to mobilize some power and shook her head: "I'm afraid... it will still take some time." Her current state was barely better than that of an ordinary person.

Li Ao nodded, not rushing her. He stood up, gazing at the distant, rolling dunes, his eyes deep.

"That place... and that rule power..." Medusa's voice carried a hint of lingering fear and solemnity.

"That wasn't the end," Li Ao looked back at her, his gaze sharp as a blade. "It was just the beginning. It showed us... the sky beyond the well."

Medusa's mind trembled. She looked at his gaze, which seemed capable of piercing the heavens, remained silent for a moment, and softly hummed in acknowledgment.

She knew that after this ordeal, some things had completely changed. Whether it was the relationship between them or their understanding of this world.

Li Ao sat down again, closed his eyes, and continued to guide the sparse "annihilation" rule power to temper himself while communicating with the System.

[System, prioritize analyzing the characteristics of the 'annihilation' rule power and deduce the subsequent advancement direction for the Black Iron Hegemon Body. Simultaneously, scan the surrounding area for locations with relatively dense energy or hidden resources.]

[Ding! Mission received. Analyzing and deducing... Scanning...]

Strength! He needed to recover faster and become stronger faster! Medusa's Origin injury required high-grade Medicinal Pills or rare natural treasures to repair, and acquiring these required strength. Xiao Yan's growth trajectory would inevitably change because of him, and he had to seize the Opportunities mentioned in the original work ahead of time! Plus, the glimpse he had caught of higher-level power and worlds... Everything pointed to the same goal—increase his strength at all costs!

The sunlight gradually became scorching, baking the endless sea of sand.

In the shadow of the sand pit, one sitting and one lying, the two circulated their remaining power, racing against time and their injuries.

The road ahead was still long and fraught with danger.

But this time, they were no longer alone and helpless.