Dual Cultivation God Returns Chapter 1091: Price to pay
Previously on Dual Cultivation God Returns...
With exceedingly long, dark gray hair braided into two twin tails that nearly brushed her ankles, she possessed perfect, pale skin, untouched by the sun yet free of sickly pallor. Her petite, graceful frame was adorned with curves in all the appropriate places.
A mask concealed the lower half of her face, but even so, her beauty was undeniable.
This was none other than the formidable leader of the Bahshi Assassination Group, a senior council member of the Hong Family, once known as the Hand of Silent Death, and currently the Supreme Demon Ghost, Ruler of a Myriad of Ghosts – Hong Xinyi.
Despite her legendary reputation, her current condition was so dire it was difficult to reconcile with the same person. Blood, both old and fresh, caked her from head to toe, dripping from numerous grievous wounds, leaving her listless and weakened beyond measure.
Witnessing her state inflicted a pang in Wu Long’s heart, yet he found himself unable to avert his gaze from her face.
The spatial rift that had opened above vanished as abruptly as it had appeared, mere moments after Hong Xinyi tumbled through it, as if its sole purpose was now fulfilled.
However, neither Wu Long nor Fen Baihu could escort Hong Xinyi into the Dream Realm.
"She's too strong," Fen Baihu stated, her brow furrowed. Despite her persistent efforts, her swirling mist recoiled against Hong Xinyi’s overwhelming presence and pressure. It was more accurate to say that Fen Baihu was currently too frail to forcibly induct Hong Xinyi into her realm, even with the assassin severely weakened and unconscious. Fen Baihu added, "But... her resistance is waning."
"That's because she grows weaker by the second. By the time she's feeble enough for us to take her, it will be too late for her survival," Wu Long responded, his expression etched with anxiety. He lacked any immediate means to aid her, caught in a paradox where she was too formidable for him to directly assist, yet too vulnerable to survive without help. "For now, let's move. Lingering here is unwise. We'll devise ways to help her as we travel."
The entire continent had observed the celestial phenomenon and the object that fell from the wormhole. Search parties would soon scour every corner for opportunities. Hong Xinyi’s very presence disrupted Wu Long’s and Fen Baihu’s concealment abilities, making them easy targets for discovery.
Unable to retreat into the Dream Realm, Wu Long soared towards the continent's most desolate wilderness at his top speed. Fen Baihu, transforming into her small fox form, landed on his shoulder. Meanwhile, Wu Long sifted through the vast repository of knowledge within his mind, seeking solutions to aid her.
Her cultivation level was so elevated that conventional medicine or pills would be utterly ineffective, much like any medical techniques. Consequently, Wu Long couldn't even enlist Gong Liwei's expertise in this predicament.
The fortunate news was that her cultivation level was plummeting rapidly. Upon her arrival, it had diminished to less than one ten-thousandth of its original strength. Otherwise, her mere unconscious presence in this world, devoid of aura control, would have annihilated nearly all life on the Soft Meadow Continent and devastated its non-living environment, mirroring the destruction wrought by the Great Calamity upon the Battle God’s Cradle.
Even so, she remained overwhelmingly powerful. Most cultivators in the Boundless Profound World would perish simply by being in her vicinity. Wu Long was unharmed due to his Chaos Refining Body Tempering Art, and Fen Baihu was unaffected by her presence owing to her unique constitution.
Numerous enigmatic details also presented themselves, such as her attire and belongings not causing a catastrophic disturbance or being too heavy for him to carry, and the absence of her spatial rings. He pushed these puzzles to the back of his mind for the immediate time being.
"There is a way," Wu Long declared. "I merely require a location where I can focus."
"It can't be that simple," Fen Baihu narrowed her eyes.
"Worry not, my life is not in peril. There is a price, but it is trivial under these circumstances."
The decision was made instantaneously, as if it incurred no significant cost. Yet, Fen Baihu harbored a suspicion that the 'price' would prove far from the simple and painless matter Wu Long implied.
As they ventured deep into the wilderness, Wu Long discovered a secluded spot. Thousands upon thousands of talismans materialized from his spatial ring, spreading out to construct concealing formations. Fen Baihu seamlessly shifted into her human form, landing beside him and extending her mist to shroud their surroundings as extensively as possible, thereby enhancing their concealment.
"Whew~, just made it before you did anything drastic," Wu Long exclaimed, quickly creating a stone podium with the Stone Rune to lay Hong Xinyi upon. A voice suddenly echoed from behind them, causing both Wu Long and Fen Baihu to turn with wary gazes. His eyes widened in surprise as a breathtakingly beautiful woman appeared, her golden eyes glowing and black hair cascading down. She regarded him with a smile. Meanwhile, the fur on the Celestial Fox's eight tails and ears stood on end, her eyes like saucers. Her body trembled, seemingly frozen in place, unable to move. Xun Yawen's smile grew wider upon seeing the fox's reaction. "Relax, Foxy, I'm a friend of Wu Long's," she reassured. Fen Baihu glanced at Wu Long, who gave a nod of confirmation. While this calmed her mind, her Mythical Beast instincts remained on high alert. "I'll answer a few questions later, but let's address the urgent matter that's causing you such anxiety first," Xun Yawen stated. She moved swiftly to appear behind them, positioning herself next to Hong Xinyi on the platform. "I cannot heal her directly, but I can instantly reduce her cultivation level to one that you can treat, without worsening her condition. The price, of course, is that her cultivation will be gone permanently, along with all the benefits derived from it, not just the cultivation base itself." Wu Long turned to face her. After a brief moment of contemplation, unlike the swift decision regarding his own price, he nodded. "Thank you." "Don't thank me; it's a type of transaction," Xun Yawen replied with a smile. "It happens to be beneficial to you, but the one I am making a transaction with is her." She raised her hands, her delicate fingers simultaneously touching Hong Xinyi's forehead and abdomen. Golden light radiated from her fingertips where they made contact with the beautiful assassin. Instantly, both Wu Long and Fen Baihu sensed the powerful, oppressive aura emanating from Hong Xinyi fade and then vanish completely as her cultivation plummeted to the Mortal Transcendence Realm. Simultaneously, her body, which possessed an ethereal quality as if truly otherworldly, reverted to a more human-like form of flesh and blood. The most striking transformation was her hair changing from dark grey to a midnight blue hue. This darker, yet vividly blue color caused Wu Long to pause slightly, a dawning realization about what had occurred. "Done," Xun Yawen announced in her usual tone, as if nothing significant had just transpired. She added conspiratorially, "I will return to discuss further once she is stabilized - don't take too long, however, as I may need to depart early to avoid drawing unwanted attention to you. And if you wish to talk, don't enter the Dream Realms of the Foxy here; I cannot access those places." Her figure vanished before the sound of her voice even faded, the last words echoing slightly. Wu Long, meanwhile, quickly retrieved several pill bottles, administered some to Hong Xinyi, and crushed others to apply them directly to her wounds.