Elder Xuanfeng stood off to the side, closely monitoring the condition of the two, ready to lend a hand at any moment.
About an hour later, the Void power within Lin Mo's body was finally completely purged, and his damaged meridians and soul received preliminary repairs. The inky blackness on his face faded entirely, restoring his original complexion. His breathing became steady and robust, and his eyes slowly opened. Although his gaze was still somewhat weak, it was full of life.
"Lin Mo!" Qian Renxue cried out in excitement. She hurriedly stepped forward and tightly grasped his hand as tears slipped down her cheeks once more.
"You're finally alright. Thank goodness, you're finally alright!"
Lin Mo looked at Qian Renxue before him, a faint smile appearing on his face. His voice was hoarse as he said, "Xue Yan... I'm fine now... I made you worry..."
Meanwhile, Zhao Feng could hold on no longer. His body gave out, and he collapsed heavily to the ground. His soul power was completely drained, leaving his face as pale as paper. His breathing was faint as he slipped into a coma. Yet, a relieved smile lingered on his face, because he had successfully saved Lin Mo. He hadn't let down Qian Renxue's trust, nor had he failed the brotherhood he shared with Lin Mo.
"Zhao Feng!" Lin Mo and Qian Renxue exclaimed in unison, their eyes filled with worry.
Elder Xuanfeng hurriedly stepped forward, checked Zhao Feng's injuries, and said, "Rest assured, he has merely exhausted his soul power. Combined with his previous severe injuries, he has fallen into a coma, but his life is not in danger. With a good period of rest, he will recover."
Hearing Elder Xuanfeng's words, Lin Mo and Qian Renxue finally breathed a sigh of relief. Qian Renxue looked at Lin Mo, then at the unconscious Zhao Feng, her eyes brimming with gratitude and guilt. This time, if Lin Mo hadn't risked his life to save her, she probably would have died at the hands of the Void remnant. If Zhao Feng hadn't gone all out to guide the purifying force, Lin Mo wouldn't have survived either. And if not for the persistence and sacrifices of all the team members, this land would not have been preserved.
Elder Xuanfeng put the Crystal of Purification away and said, "Lady Xue Yan, young friend Lin Mo, thanks to you, we completely eradicated the Void Commander and its remnants, successfully sealed the Void rift, and protected this land. Headquarters will commend you for your achievements and arrange personnel to handle the subsequent battlefield cleanup and treatment of the wounded."
Qian Renxue shook her head. "Elder Xuanfeng, there is no need for commendations. We only did what we had to do. Although this crisis has been averted, we paid a heavy price. Many team members sacrificed their lives. We must quickly handle the aftermath, console the families of the fallen, and simultaneously strengthen our defenses to prevent the Void power from invading again."
Lin Mo also nodded. "That's right. The power of the Void Space is far too great. We only managed to destroy the Void Commander and seal the rift by luck this time. But who knows if there are even more powerful entities lurking within the Void Space, or if there will be a next invasion? We must improve our strength as quickly as possible, bolster our defensive deployments, and make thorough preparations. Only then can we truly safeguard this land."
Elder Xuanfeng nodded, a hint of approval in his eyes. "You are absolutely right. The threat of the Void has not been entirely eliminated, and we must remain vigilant at all times. Headquarters will take this matter very seriously. We will dispatch more experts to garrison the area and organize Soul Masters to train, elevating our overall strength to cope with any crises that may arise in the future."
Over the next few days, everyone became busy. The team members cleared the battlefield, collected the bodies of the fallen, and consoled their families. Elder Xuanfeng arranged for headquarters' personnel to reinforce the guard over the Void rift and set up even more powerful defensive formations. Qian Renxue rested in the camp while helping to treat the wounded. Although her Angelic power and life force had not fully recovered, and her soul had suffered heavy trauma, she still didn't stop. She used her remaining strength to help those around her.
Lin Mo was also actively recovering. The power of the Crystal of Purification had not only purged the Void energy from his body but also repaired his damaged meridians and soul, even bringing about a slight increase in his soul power. Every day, he set aside time to practice his soul skills and improve his strength. At the same time, he stayed by Qian Renxue's side, caring for her health, chatting with her, and helping to ease the guilt and sorrow in her heart.
After being in a coma for three days, Zhao Feng finally woke up. The very first thing he did upon waking was ask about Lin Mo. When he learned that Lin Mo was out of danger, a relieved smile appeared on his face. Under the care of Qian Renxue and Lin Mo, Zhao Feng's injuries also healed rapidly. Although he couldn't engage in strenuous activity yet, he was already able to move around normally.
One day, Lin Mo and Qian Renxue walked together to the site of the Void rift. By now, the rift had completely sealed shut. The corrosive scars on the ground had mostly healed, leaving only a faint mark, as if recounting the thrilling battle that had taken place there. Powerful defensive formations had been set up around the area, and the experts dispatched by headquarters were taking turns standing guard, watchful for any anomalies that might appear.
Qian Renxue looked at the sealed rift, a complex emotion in her eyes. "Lin Mo, do you think the Void power will invade again?" she asked.
Lin Mo held Qian Renxue's hand and said with gentle firmness, "I don't know what the future holds, nor do I know if the Void will invade again. But I do know that as long as we are together, as long as we work hard alongside all our comrades, improve our strength, and make thorough preparations, we will definitely be able to protect this land and the people we care about."
Qian Renxue turned her head to look at Lin Mo, a gentle smile gracing her lips. Sunlight spilled over them, warm and dazzling, as if it had dispelled all the gloom and sorrow. She knew Lin Mo was right. Although the future was full of unknowns and dangers, as long as she had Lin Mo and their comrades, she wouldn't be afraid. She would continue to hold her ground, using her Angelic power to protect this land and the people by her side.
Zhao Feng slowly walked over and stood beside them, a resolute smile on his face. "Lady Xue Yan, Brother Lin Mo, we will walk the road ahead together. No matter what dangers we encounter, we will face them as one. We will never retreat!"
Lin Mo and Qian Renxue nodded in unison. The three of them shared a smile, their eyes filled with resolve and hope.
But just at that moment, the sky suddenly darkened. The originally clear sky was blotted out by a thick layer of black clouds. Sunlight was entirely obscured, plunging the entire land into a dim twilight. An oppressive aura—several times more terrifying than the Void Commander's—swept down from above the clouds. Every Soul Master present couldn't help but shudder, their soul power instantly falling into disarray. Even a Title Douluo like Elder Xuanfeng had his expression turn grave. His soul power erupted subconsciously, forming an invisible barrier to withstand this horrifying pressure.
"This is bad! This aura... it's far stronger than the Void Commander's!" Elder Xuanfeng said in a deep voice, a flash of horror in his eyes. "It's a high-tier combatant from the Void Space! I'm afraid it's a general under the Void King's command!"
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