In the chaos, Gu Yuan couldn't remember exactly what happened afterward, only that...
I've already succeeded halfway.
Those evil energies did indeed successfully raise his physical strength by several levels.
If his previous physical body was comparable to a first-tier evil creature, then Gu Yuan now can be said to have reached the peak of the first tier!
This was without any spiritual roots. Although Gu Yuan did not intend to go all the way down this path, he had to admit that this adventure was worthwhile.
but....
The last bit of evil energy still overwhelmed Gu Yuan, making him almost unable to control his body.
To avoid being corrupted by evil and turning into a monster.
Gu Yuan had no choice but to muster his last bit of strength and stumble out of the Golden Gate before finally losing consciousness.
Now that he has woken up again, Gu Yuan opened his eyes and looked at the familiar thatched roof. He coughed a few times and was about to get up.
This is the thatched house where Gu Yuan lived with his sister when he was still a mortal. He never imagined that he would be able to return here one day.
However, this place seems much better than I remember, and there are many more things in the room.
in the end....
How long was he unconscious, and what happened during that time?
Gu Yuan mobilized his divine sense to examine the condition of his body.
The dantian was in chaos, and the place where the spiritual root had been was now empty.
My entire dantian has been ravaged beyond recognition by evil energy; it's unknown how long it will take to repair it...
Click.
The sound of a door opening came from behind him. Gu Yuan looked up and saw a familiar figure walking quickly toward him. The next moment, a woman's fragrance mixed with the scent of herbs wafted into his nostrils.
"Yun?"
Gu Yuan was grabbed by the long-haired woman who rushed into the room. The woman had tears in her eyes and kept tightening her grip on Gu Yuan's arm, as if she was afraid that Gu Yuan would fall down again.
"Yun, don't do this... Sister, sister! You're squeezing me, ouch, my wound."
Gu Yuan pretended to be very uncomfortable and coughed a few times.
Upon seeing Gu Yuan's expression, the woman quickly let go of his hand and took a few steps back. When she looked up, her teary eyes met Gu Yuan's smirking expression, and she was immediately furious.
"Gu Yuan!"
"Do you think you can mess with older sisters now that you've become a cultivator? Don't laugh, it's not funny at all!"
"Okay, okay, I was wrong, but it really hurts."
"Hey, where? I'll change your dressing, just wait a moment."
Watching the woman rush out of the room again, Gu Yuan tried to get out of bed, but he couldn't muster any strength.
But looking at the woman's back, Gu Yuan couldn't help but reveal a bitter smile.
The woman's name is Gu Yun, and she is Gu Yuan's only relative in both his past and present lives.
When Gu Yuan was very young, his parents died in a natural disaster. Since then, the family has been taken care of by his older sister, Gu Yun, who is a few years older than him.
Farming, raising chickens, doing odd jobs, performing on stage...
Gu Yun endured countless hardships in order to take care of the young Gu Yuan.
Gu Yun was born with delicate features and was a well-bred young lady. She was naturally of good character and hardworking. If she were willing, she would surely find a good husband in this small town.
But Gu Yun didn't leave; instead, she stayed by Gu Yuan's side. Later, Gu Yuan acquired spiritual roots, enabling him to cultivate, and was admitted to the academy. Everything seemed to be progressing smoothly until the academy's death row incident occurred...
If it weren't for the academy's death row, Gu Yuan in his previous life would have already been a cultivator. Presumably, it wouldn't have been long before Gu Yuan was able to find a good family for his sister, so she could live a peaceful and worry-free life.
When Wuxin City was destroyed and Gu Yuan escaped from prison, he could no longer find Gu Yun.
Nobody knows where she went, but there's no need to think about it.
Gu Yun was just an ordinary person. In such chaos, even if she didn't suffer in a death row cell, how good could her future be?
She is a knot in Gu Yuan's heart.
If he could go back in time, Gu Yuan would definitely change that future.
For Gu Yuan, he would repay those who had been kind to him, no matter the cost.
As for the others, Gu Yuan didn't care. Even if they were living people, Gu Yuan wouldn't blink an eye.
A short while later, Gu Yun returned with the medicine box.
"Come on, lie down first, I'll apply the medicine for you."
"What is this medicine?"
Gu Yuan was well aware that his family's situation was far from good.
This medicine box doesn't look cheap; it's not something an ordinary family would have.
Just as Gu Yun was about to explain, a gentle and mellow male voice came from the doorway.
"What happened? The medicine isn't ready yet, we'll have to wait..."
Gu Yuan looked towards the doorway and saw an unexpected figure.
There stood Shanggong Changqing, holding a clay pot in one hand and supporting it with the other, crimson flames emanating from his palm as he heated the pot.
A faint aroma of herbs wafted from between the earthenware pots, exactly the same as the medicinal scent on Gu Yun's body.
"Senior Shanggong?"
Gu Yuan immediately pretended to be eager to get out of bed, and Shanggong Changqing hurriedly stepped forward to support him.
"Gu Yuan, you need to rest now. Your body and spiritual root are severely damaged, and you can only be kept alive by herbs now."
"Then, I'll be rude."
"Hmm, no need to force yourself, you've been unconscious for two days."
"Has it been that long...?"
This timeframe was within Gu Yuan's budget.
Normally, when the evil energy goes berserk at the last moment, Gu Yuan would take a gamble, thinking that there would be cultivators outside to help him and that they would save him.
Afterwards, the evil spirits will be dispelled, and I should remain unconscious for one to two days.
Seeing that the two seemed to have a good relationship, Gu Yun smiled and added, "It was Young Master Shanggong who brought you back. He is your savior, so you should thank him properly."
"Yes, I must thank Senior Shanggong."
"No, no, no, I can't accept that. It's me, Gu Yuan, who is blessed with good fortune..."
Shang Gong Changqing quickly waved his hand, while Gu Yun happily brought over a stool.
Then, Shanggong Changqing continued to simmer the medicinal soup in his hand over the flame, while sitting by the bedside and telling Gu Yuan what happened next.
When Gu Yuan emerged, he was practically half an evil being.
Fortunately, Shanggong Changqing stayed there the whole time and dispelled the evil spirits from Gu Yuan the moment he escaped, which helped Gu Yuan protect his mind.
Then they advocated taking Gu Yuan away to treat him, even though the academy and the other three great families were unwilling.
But in the end, they compromised and allowed Shanggong Changqing to take Gu Yuan away.
Afterwards, Shanggong Changqing took Gu Yuan home and settled him there. Before that, Shanggong Changqing had actually visited Gu Yun earlier.
The furniture and household items in this house were all brought by Shanggong Changqing.
At this point, Shanggong Changqing paused, his eyes becoming somewhat unnatural.
"Gu Yuan, although it's a little difficult to say, but..."
"Could you tell us what exactly happened in this death row? Are you... the last survivor? After you left, the death row reopened to the public?"