Time ticked by; every single second felt incredibly drawn out. Qian Renxue's body grew weaker by the minute, and the agony from the depths of her soul intensified. Her consciousness began to blur, yet she refused to let go of Lin Mo's hand, holding on with sheer willpower. Zhao Feng checked in from the battlefield every so often to ask about Lin Mo's condition, his heart heavy with anxiety. He had already contacted headquarters multiple times. They had agreed to immediately dispatch someone with the Crystal of Purification, but due to the distance, it would still take some time to arrive.
Just as Qian Renxue's consciousness was on the verge of fading entirely, Lin Mo's finger suddenly twitched. The movement was incredibly faint, but Qian Renxue caught it immediately.
Her heart leaped. She immediately rallied her spirits, staring intently at Lin Mo's face as she spoke with excitement, "Lin Mo, are you awake? Can you hear me? Just hold on a little longer! The Crystal of Purification will be here soon. You're going to be alright!"
Lin Mo's eyes slowly opened to a narrow slit. His gaze was still dull and gray, but a faint glimmer of light had returned to them. He looked at Qian Renxue before him. His lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but no sound came out—only a faint breath escaped. He could feel the warmth of Qian Renxue's hand. He could sense her worry and her desperate hope. He could also feel the overbearing Void power inside him relentlessly gnawing away at his body. The pain penetrated his very marrow, making him want to just give up.
But when he saw Qian Renxue's pale face, when he saw the tears and unwavering resolve in her eyes, his will to live was reignited.
He couldn't die. He couldn't leave Qian Renxue all alone. He still wanted to stand beside her and protect this land. He still wanted to fulfill their unfinished mission together. Summoning every ounce of strength in his body, he gave a faint nod, signaling that he would hold on.
Seeing Lin Mo nod, tears slipped down Qian Renxue's cheeks once more. This time, they were tears of joy. She gripped his hand tightly, a faint smile breaking through her pale expression. "Thank goodness, Lin Mo... thank goodness. You have to hold on. Just a little longer, and the Crystal will be here."
About half an hour later, the sound of hurried footsteps and the roaring of soul tools echoed in the distance.
Zhao Feng immediately went to meet them. Several Soul Masters dressed in headquarters uniforms were sprinting toward the camp. Leading them was a white-haired elder with a profound cultivation and a powerful aura. This was Elder Xuanfeng, a headquarters elder and the very person entrusted with safeguarding the Crystal of Purification.
"Elder Xuanfeng, you're finally here!" Zhao Feng hurried forward, his voice thick with anxiety. "Brother Lin Mo was struck by Void power and is on the verge of death. I beg you, please use the Crystal of Purification to save him!"
Elder Xuanfeng nodded with a grave expression. He asked no questions and immediately followed Zhao Feng into the temporary camp. When he saw the frail, dying Lin Mo on the cot and the black Void energy continuously spreading through his body, a heavy look flashed in his eyes.
"Such an overbearing Void energy. It has already eroded into the very depths of his soul. If we had been even a moment later, not even the Crystal of Purification could have saved him."
With that, Elder Xuanfeng pulled an exquisite jade box from his robes. As the box opened, a snow-white crystal radiating a gentle glow appeared before everyone. The crystal was about the size of a fist, completely translucent. Faint golden runes flowed across its surface, radiating a pure and formidable purifying force. Just by standing near it, one could feel a comforting warmth that instantly dispelled any irritability or dark thoughts from the mind.
"This is the Crystal of Purification," Elder Xuanfeng said. He carefully lifted the crystal and walked over to Lin Mo's cot. "The power of the Crystal of Purification is simply too immense. In his current weakened state, Lin Mo cannot withstand it directly. Someone needs to guide this purifying force, slowly channeling it into his body to suppress the Void energy and repair his damaged meridians and soul."
Qian Renxue spoke up immediately, "Elder Xuanfeng, let me do it. I am an Angel Soul Master. I can guide sacred power, which means I can control the purifying force much better. I won't hurt Lin Mo."
Elder Xuanfeng glanced at Qian Renxue and shook his head. "Lady Xue Yan, your Angelic power is already completely drained, and your soul has suffered severe trauma. You are in no condition to guide the crystal's power. If you try to force it, you won't just harm Lin Mo—you will scatter your own soul."
"Then what do we do?" A flicker of despair crossed Qian Renxue's eyes. "Is there really no one who can save him?"
"I'll do it." Zhao Feng stepped forward, his voice filled with resolve. "Elder Xuanfeng, while I'm not an Angel Soul Master, my cultivation is solid. More importantly, Lin Mo and I share a deep bond. I am willing to try guiding the purifying force. Even if it costs me all my cultivation, I will save him."
Elder Xuanfeng pondered for a moment before nodding. "Very well. Given the circumstances, it's the only option we have left. Zhao Feng, remember this: when guiding the purifying force, you must be extremely careful. Divide the power into countless microscopic threads and slowly channel them into Lin Mo's body. Follow his meridians, suppressing the Void energy bit by bit and repairing his damaged veins and soul. You absolutely must not rush this. Otherwise, not only will you fail to save Lin Mo, but the purifying force will backlash against you."
"I understand, Elder Xuanfeng!" Zhao Feng nodded solemnly. He walked over to Lin Mo's cot, reached out, and carefully grasped the Crystal of Purification.
The moment his hand made contact with the crystal, a warm, formidable wave of purifying energy surged into his body. His entire frame shuddered, and the agonizing wound on his chest actually felt a measure of relief. At the same time, however, he could clearly feel just how overwhelmingly powerful this energy was. Controlling it would be incredibly difficult.
Zhao Feng took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and focused his entire mind. He began to guide the purifying force within him. Following Elder Xuanfeng's instructions to the letter, he split the purifying force into countless fine threads and carefully channeled them into Lin Mo's body. These threads of purifying force flowed into Lin Mo's meridians like a gentle stream, making their way toward the areas that had been corrupted by the Void energy.
The moment the purifying force collided with the Void energy, Lin Mo's body violently convulsed, and he let out a muffled groan of pain. The Void energy acted as if it had met its natural nemesis; it began to thrash and retreat frantically. Meanwhile, the purifying force advanced methodically, neutralizing the Void energy bit by bit and repairing Lin Mo's ruined meridians.
Qian Renxue stood guard right by the cot, her eyes locked onto Lin Mo's face, her heart caught between nervousness and fervent hope. She could see the inky blackness on Lin Mo's face slowly receding, and his breathing becoming a bit steadier, which brought her a small measure of relief. At the same time, however, she noticed that Zhao Feng's face was growing alarmingly pale. His forehead was drenched in cold sweat, and his body was trembling slightly. It was obvious that guiding the purifying force was taking a massive toll on him.
As time slowly ticked by, Zhao Feng persevered. His soul power was draining rapidly; his face was as white as paper, and his lips were cracked and dry. His entire body was soaked in cold sweat, yet he never gave up. With meticulous care, he continued to guide the purifying force, systematically purging the Void energy from Lin Mo's body piece by piece.
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