152. Heal Faster

Hearing these words, a glimmer of hope once again lit up in Ling Qingzhu's beautiful eyes.

Trapped within the spatial barrier, she endured the torment of the Heart-Devouring Gu every single day—a living hell.

If she had known this earlier, she would have followed Lin Dong to escape that day. If she had, she wouldn’t be suffering like this now.

If she manages to escape this time, she swore to make Chen Xuan pay for everything he’s done!

Not long after Zhao Guangjun left, he returned with several burly men.

These men carried hoes, shovels, and other tools over their shoulders. Ling Qingzhu quickly realized what Zhao Guangjun intended to do—dig a tunnel from the outside to reach her beneath the barrier.

Sure enough, in the next moment, Zhao Guangjun commanded, "Start digging here! Dig a tunnel that leads over there! Understand?"

One man holding a hoe nodded. "Got it."

The man with the shovel patted his chest. "Piece of cake. We're professionals at digging."

Another man chuckled mischievously, "Exactly, but what's in it for us?"

"Don't worry. Do as I say, and you'll all be well compensated!" Zhao Guangjun's eyes flashed darkly.

And so, the men began digging, their tools clinking as they worked tirelessly.

Finally, before sunset, they completed a tunnel as instructed, leading directly to the spatial barrier where Ling Qingzhu was trapped.

As they neared the barrier, the men exerted all their strength, but they couldn't break through the flooring at the bottom of the barrier.

Impatient, Zhao Guangjun instructed Ling Qingzhu to crawl to the corner of the barrier. Then, he entered the tunnel himself, gathering Yuan Energy into a glowing sphere at his fingertips.

With all his strength, he struck upward at the flooring above him.

Bang!

The first strike failed to pierce through.

Undeterred, Zhao Guangjun struck again.

Bang!

Still nothing.

Again.

Bang!

...

One strike after another, Zhao Guangjun's fingers were soon bloodied and mangled, yet he refused to give up.

The man with the hoe winced. "Hey, maybe you should pay us first before you kill yourself doing this."

"Yeah, what if you end up dead? How are we supposed to collect our pay then?" added the man with the shovel.

Frustrated by their remarks, Zhao Guangjun turned to glare at them, his eyes filled with murderous intent. "Can you shut up already?!"

Already irritated by his earlier failures and Ling Qingzhu’s dire situation, their complaints only stoked his anger.

"Hey! I'm telling you, we’ve worked hard, and we won't stand for it if you don't pay us!" the man with the shovel retorted.

"Won't stand for it?" Zhao Guangjun stopped his actions, turned toward the group, and gave them a cold, sinister smile. "Fine. Let’s talk."

Encouraged by the apparent change in attitude, the men approached eagerly.

However, before they could react, Zhao Guangjun unleashed a blinding Yuan Energy sphere that morphed into a gray longsword.

Shing!

In one swift motion, he killed three of them simultaneously.

Then, moving at lightning speed, he dispatched the rest and destroyed their corpses.

"Trash like you dare to threaten me?" Zhao Guangjun spat on the ground before turning his focus back to breaking through the barrier's flooring.

After nine hundred and ninety-nine strikes, he finally succeeded.

Overjoyed, Zhao Guangjun climbed out of the tunnel and rushed to Ling Qingzhu’s side. Seeing her weakened, battered form, his heart ached.

“Chen Xuan! That bastard! I’ll make him pay for this!” Zhao Guangjun cursed, furious.

“Qingzhu, how are you feeling?”

“I... I’m okay,” Ling Qingzhu weakly replied.

“Let’s go. I’ll get you out of here now!” Zhao Guangjun said, helping her up and guiding her toward the tunnel.

Right now, his priority was healing Ling Qingzhu’s wounds. Revenge on Chen Xuan would come later.

Ling Qingzhu held her abdomen, a faint smile playing on her pale lips. “Thank you...”


---

Meanwhile, deep within the Nine Heavens Supreme Purity Palace, two figures sat inside a dimly lit cave, illuminated by faint light from luminous stones embedded in the walls.

One of them was Yun Yun.

Listening to the story of the beautiful woman across from her, Yun Yun's dignified and noble expression twisted in anger.

“So, since then, you’ve been imprisoned here?”

The woman nodded. “Yes.”

“I can’t believe she’d be so heartless!” Yun Yun said venomously.

The woman sighed. “It’s my own fault for being too trusting.”

“That’s what they call knowing someone’s face but not their heart!” Yun Yun huffed.

The woman gave a wry smile, trying to lighten the mood. “By the way, Yun Yun, why were you captured?”

“She thought I stole Chen Xuan from her—that I was the reason he didn’t return to her,” Yun Yun explained bitterly.

“She’s insane...”

“Don’t worry. Chen Xuan will definitely come to save us,” Yun Yun reassured her.

The woman forced a faint smile. “I hope so.”

...

The Western Xuan Region

The Western Xuan Region had completely fallen into the hands of demonic entities, turning into a haven for the sinister creatures. Demonic energy polluted the atmosphere everywhere.

Many people, desperate to survive, were forced to abandon their homes and flee the region. Yet, the demonic creatures wouldn't simply let them leave. They dispatched demon generals to hunt down and devour the fleeing masses.


---

In the heart of the vast desert, within a sealed, dark chamber:

"Everything is ready. Go on in," said the Third King as he gestured toward Lin Dong.

Ever since Lin Dong had failed to rescue Ling Qingzhu from the Nine Heavens Supreme Purity Palace and was gravely injured by Chen Xuan, the three kings had been gathering materials to heal him.

After days of preparation, they had finally succeeded.

Lin Dong removed his garments, baring his upper body, ready to enter the dark liquid pool. Lin Qingtan, a slender woman with a striking figure, wearing a dark black dress, hesitated as she grabbed his arm.

"Brother, this black liquid... Are you sure it's safe to immerse yourself in it?" she asked with a furrowed brow.

Lin Dong affectionately patted Lin Qingtan's head. "Don’t worry, Qingtan. If it weren’t for them saving me when I was gravely wounded, I’d already be dead."

"But..."

"It’s fine. I know you’re worried. Once I recover, I’ll make sure we settle the score!" His fist clenched tightly, and his eyes burned with determination.

Chen Xuan, you just wait!

"Alright, be careful," Lin Qingtan relented, though her unease remained.

With a heavy splash, Lin Dong dove into the pool of black liquid.

Instantly, the liquid began bubbling violently, like boiling oil reacting to water. Explosions of air bubbles echoed continuously.

"Will my brother be alright?" Lin Qingtan asked, worry etched on her face, her hands clasped tightly together.

"Don’t worry. He’ll be fine," said one of the shadowy figures standing nearby. They observed Lin Dong's scarred figure, immersed in the liquid, with no trace of concern.

Though Lin Qingtan nodded, her intelligent gaze remained fixed on Lin Dong, her expression a mixture of worry and something more enigmatic.


---

The Third King hesitated for a moment before looking at Lin Qingtan. "Actually, there’s a way to speed up his recovery..."

"What way?!" Lin Qingtan's eyes lit up with hope.

The Second King interjected sternly, "Third Brother, that method isn’t viable. They’re blood relatives—such a process would backfire."

The proposed method involved using a woman’s body as a conduit to purify the energy within the dark liquid and then channeling it directly into the injured party. However, this process could not involve close blood relatives, or the backlash would be catastrophic.

Lin Qingtan hesitated before saying, "We’re not truly siblings by blood... I can do it."

Her words hung in the air, and she instantly regretted them. A part of her still couldn’t forget Chen Xuan. She should hate him, but the feelings were confusing.

Her statement shocked the three kings.

"Not blood siblings? Then why would he risk his life to save you?" The Third King wondered aloud.

The Second King shrugged. "Perhaps... a childhood betrothal?"

They didn’t dwell on it long. Lin Dong’s recovery was their priority.

The Third King exclaimed, "Excellent! Let’s begin. I’ll guide you through it."

Though reluctant, Lin Qingtan nodded and entered the liquid pool to carry out the process as instructed.


---

Meanwhile, in another part of the Western Xuan Region, the King of Shadows discussed a new discovery.

"News has arrived," said the Second King gravely. "Someone has destroyed the Devil Prison of the Dragon Clan in the Beast Realm."

"Who?" asked the First King from within a coffin-like chamber.

"Likely Chen Xuan," the Second King replied.

The hall fell into dead silence, the tension palpable.

"How soon will the Cosmic Evil Devil King recover?" the First King finally asked.

"Half a day at most," came the reply.

"Good. Begin preparations for the next phase."


---

Shortly after, the Fourth King entered the chamber, elated. "I have great news!"

The Second King frowned. "What’s causing this commotion?"

"The Thunder Master location has been found," the Fourth King announced triumphantly.

This revelation ignited excitement among the group.

"Where is he?"

"In the Western Xuan Region."

Immediately, the First King ordered a contingent of demon generals to converge on the location and ensure the Thunder Master was dealt with.

Upon arriving in a mountain range perpetually shrouded in thunderclouds, the scene was electrifying—lightning flashed continuously in the stormy skies.

Seeing this, the Second King grinned and began setting up a formidable formation, the "Demonic Bone Dissolution Array," designed specifically to suppress ancient masters.

Once activated, the array unleashed a torrent of malevolent energy, aiming to consume the being emerging from the ground.

From a massive fissure, an imposing figure wreathed in lightning rose steadily.

"Begin the array!" the Second King commanded.

The Thunder Master emerged fully, his silver hair glowing under the lightning-filled sky. His muscular form exuded an aura of power, his piercing eyes crackling with energy.

"You call this a proper welcome for an old friend?" the Thunder Master mocked coldly, his voice laced with suppressed rage.

The Second King sneered. "Thunder Master, your demise will mark the rise of our Devil Clan!"

And with that, the deadly battle began.