In the room, Lu Yunxian lay on the bed with her eyes tightly closed, her face devoid of color. Her breath was faint; her life was hanging by a thread. Physician Liao was examining her, while Su Han paced anxiously by her side.
The moment Physician Liao finished his examination, Su Han quickly pressed for answers. "Physician Liao, how is Fairy Sister Yun Xian's condition?"
Hearing the question, Physician Liao's expression turned grim. He shook his head slightly, delivering terrible news. "She gave too much blood previously, which has damaged her very foundation. In addition, her Special Physique, while capable of saving others, also shortens her own lifespan. I'm afraid she now has less than a year left."
BOOM!
Physician Liao's words struck Su Han's heart like a heavy hammer, turning his face pale and causing him to stagger backward.
One year! Fairy Sister Yun Xian only has one year of life left? Impossible, this simply cannot be!
"Physician Liao, are you certain you didn't make a mistake? Can you please check again?" Unwilling to accept this reality, Su Han clung to a sliver of hope, but Physician Liao simply sighed.
"Your Highness, I have checked three times, and the results are the same. Her Qi-Blood is severely depleted and her vitality is weak. Combined with the ancient texts describing the Qingmu Spirit Body, there should be no mistake."
Though not a renowned doctor, Physician Liao had many years of experience. His medical skills were high, making a misdiagnosis unlikely.
"Empress, Great Crown Prince, I will make you pay for this with your blood!" Su Han's eyes turned bloodshot as he clenched his fists. His intense murderous intent radiated from his body, making even Physician Liao shiver.
If it were not for the Empress's deceit, Fairy Sister Yun Xian would never have given her blood to the Great Crown Prince, and her foundation would not have been damaged, leaving her so weak. This blood feud was now etched into Su Han's heart, indelible.
Fairy Sister Yun Xian, I'm so sorry. It's all my fault. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be in this state.
While hating the Empress, Su Han was also filled with self-blame, as Fairy Sister Yun Xian had also given her spiritual blood to him. Moreover, if he had not been crippled, she would never have agreed to the Empress's conditions.
But what was done was done, and self-reproach was useless. The most urgent matter was finding a treatment. The world was vast and full of wonders. If he could rise again after being crippled, he believed that Fairy Sister Yun Xian's lifespan issue could also be resolved. For now, the most important thing was to stabilize her condition and help her regain consciousness.
"Your Highness, I can write a prescription to help Miss Yun Xian regain consciousness, but it is only a temporary solution, not a cure," Physician Liao said, guessing Su Han's thoughts and offering his advice. "If Your Highness truly wishes to save her, you must find special elixirs or seek the help of a superior-grade physician."
He was only at the Foundation Establishment Realm and possessed ordinary medical skills, incomparable to the famous doctors renowned across the land. However, the world was vast and home to many brilliant physicians, as well as special elixirs that might just cure Lu Yunxian. Although such doctors and elixirs were exceedingly rare, where there's a will, there's a way.
"Thank you. Please write the prescription," Su Han nodded, committing Physician Liao's advice to memory.
Fairy Sister Yun Xian, you were injured saving me. How could I possibly stand by and watch you suffer? No matter how arduous the search for doctors and medicine may be, I will cure you. I want to spend this life with you!
"Your Highness, do not worry. Miss Yun Xian's vitality has been temporarily stabilized. She should regain consciousness in a day or two. However, because her foundation was damaged, she is temporarily unable to cultivate."
After Lu Yunxian was given the medicine, her complexion improved, and she showed signs of waking.
Just as Physician Liao finished speaking, the unconscious Lu Yunxian let out a soft murmur. Her tightly closed, beautiful eyes trembled slightly and then slowly opened. As the possessor of the Qingmu Spirit Body, Lu Yunxian was also a genius who cultivated at an incredible speed. But now, she was immensely weak with only a year left to live, making cultivation nothing but a distant dream.
"Xiao Han, I'm okay. As long as you are safe, I am at ease," Lu Yunxian said, her voice gentle as she comforted Su Han despite knowing her own condition better than anyone. The smile that blossomed on her pale, beautiful face sent a pang of pain through Su Han's heart.
Today, Su Han did nothing but quietly stay by Lu Yunxian's side.
The next day, he asked Physician Liao to look after Lu Yunxian while he himself stepped once more into the Underground Treasure Vault. The pungent stench of blood had not dissipated, and the bodies of Lu Mingxuan and the four elders still lay on the ground.
"Devouring Heaven Demonic Art!"
With an expressionless face, Su Han used the Devouring Heaven Demonic Art to consume Lu Mingxuan's corpse. Soon, the body was completely devoured, and Su Han's strength advanced to the Second Layer of the Divine Sea Realm. The higher one's realm, the more energy was required for a breakthrough. Furthermore, since Su Han's Demonic Qi had been refined hundreds of times, a single Lu Mingxuan was only enough to raise his realm by one layer.
My physical body is too weak right now, reaching its limit after just a small amount of devouring. The true power of the Devouring Heaven Demonic Art lies in consuming those with Special Physiques to strengthen my own body and potential.
Having lost the Heavenly Dragon Battle Body, Su Han now possessed only a Mortal Body—perhaps something even less than that. Although the Devouring Heaven Demonic Art could help him devour others and increase his strength, it couldn't change his body's fundamental essence or its innate talent. The only solution was to devour a Special Physique, but such physiques were exceedingly rare. He certainly couldn't go seek revenge now and devour the Great Crown Prince's Dragon Phoenix Saint Body. For the moment, Su Han had no good solution to this problem.
I still have a month. Even if I can't change my physique, I can continue to raise my realm with the Devouring Heaven Demonic Art. Although my physique is inferior, I might stand a chance in a fight with the help of the Ghostly Face Mask. However, that would expose it. Demonic Path Practitioners are hunted by all, so if the Ghostly Face Mask is revealed, it will bring me endless trouble. Still, I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. The immediate priority is to find a cure for Fairy Sister Yun Xian.
Putting these difficulties aside for now, Su Han's main purpose here wasn't to devour but to sort through the treasures. The Lu Family's vault contained an enormous number of treasures, most of which had been provided by Su Han, with only a small portion acquired by the family itself. In the end, Su Han plundered the entire vault.
Thirty thousand Spirit Stones, and not a single Law-Grade treasure!
The currency used by common people was gold and silver, while Martial Artists used Spirit Stones. Spirit Stones were divided into four grades—lower, middle, upper, and extreme—on a hundredfold scale. Thirty thousand Spirit Stones was not a large amount for a family as prominent as the Lu Family, and due to their modest foundation, the highest-quality item they possessed was merely a Superior-Grade Spiritual Artifact.
Su Han set aside the elixirs and spiritual medicines, packing up everything else to take with him. He planned to sell all these treasures and use the money to purchase items that could restore life force for Fairy Sister Yun Xian.
Such treasures are incredibly rare and might not even exist in the Imperial Family's treasury, but I know a place that might have them.
Under the fearful gazes of onlookers, Su Han stepped out of the Lu Family compound. The wide streets bustled with people, alive and vibrant. This was the Imperial Capital, the largest city in the Tianqing Dynasty, a prosperous metropolis with a population of ten million.
Su Han crossed three major streets and arrived at the most prosperous Central Avenue. This avenue was even more bustling, with crowds of people packed shoulder to shoulder. He tilted his head up slightly and saw a towering pavilion standing majestically in the center of the street. The pavilion was magnificent, glittering with gold and adorned with carved dragons and painted phoenixes, exuding an imposing aura. Above the entrance, a plaque bore golden characters that seemed to dance like dragons and phoenixes.
"Myriad Treasures Pavilion!"
The Myriad Treasures Pavilion is said to have trade routes that span the entire Eastern Region. Compared to it, the Tianqing Dynasty is like an ant to an elephant. This pavilion before me is merely one of its branches. Life-restoring treasures might not be found in the imperial treasury, but the Myriad Treasures Pavilion will definitely have them.
Su Han strode forward, heading directly for the Myriad Treasures Pavilion. However, he was unaware that his every move was already being watched.
"Su Han, I have come on the Empress's order to kill you," a youth in fine robes said with a smirk, his eyes glinting with both mockery and murderous intent. "Today, you will not escape from the palm of my hand!"