Before long, Ye Feng and the others came speeding back!
The entire Seventh Domain had only just recovered from the earlier tremors.
When they discovered that Li Guanqi had returned severely wounded, everyone was thoroughly shocked.
After all, they all knew his current strength.
Within the entire Seventh Domain, he was a figure second only to the Realm Lord and Ling Tianchen!
How could he possibly suffer such grave injuries in the outside world?
Just what had happened?!
Meng Wanshu was also grievously injured at this moment. Had she not unleashed a sudden burst of power at the final juncture, she likely wouldn't have been able to wound the Realm-Breaking Immortal Butterfly.
Though she didn't know what consequences it might bring, wounding it was at least a good thing.
Xiao Chen had even hurled the God-Shooting Spear at the cost of an arm.
Ye Feng and the others had likewise exerted immense mental energy, and Gu Li had burned through tens of millions of inscribed talismans.
Every face was weighed down with solemnity.
Because this time, they had all come to realize the chasm between themselves and an Ascension realm cultivator!
Fortunately, Li Guanqi's injuries were not overly critical; with a period of dedicated healing, he would recover.
Upon returning to the White Jade Tower, the group immediately entered the Nirvana Pagoda.
The Immortal Burial Pavilion sent over numerous healing spirit herbs from the Immortal Realm.
After examining and sorting them, Cao Yan put them away.
Once the people from the Immortal Burial Pavilion departed, Cao Yan called out in a low voice:
"Pengluo?"
Immediately, a feeble voice sounded languidly.
"Com... coming..."
Shriveled, wrinkled, and slightly withered yellow, Pengluo crawled out from the void.
Pengluo's face was completely covered in wrinkles, resembling dried radish that had baked in the sun for three full years.
Cao Yan's mouth twitched. Right now, Pengluo looked truly... remarkably... ugly.
The others held their tongues as well, bringing out the Immortal Realm spirit herbs that had just been delivered.
"See if there's anything here you can use?"
Pengluo tottered toward the pile of Immortal Realm herbs, eyes glowing green.
"Can... eat them all..."
Grabbing a stalk of shimmering, radiant herb, he shoved it straight into his mouth.
Though these were the lowest-grade spiritual flora in the Immortal Realm, for Pengluo at this moment, they were immensely nourishing!
Covered in blood, Meng Wanshu stayed by Li Guanqi's side, crushing medicinal pills between her teeth and feeding them into his mouth.
The terrifying speed she had unleashed in that instant had nearly shattered all the meridians in her body.
Ye Feng, his face pale, leaned against the Nirvana Pagoda and spoke softly.
"Now... throughout the entire Human Spirit Realm, every enemy targeting Eldest Brother should be gone."
At those words, silence fell over everyone.
After so many years, they had come to understand a great deal.
Reaching this point had truly been arduous beyond measure.
This mountain path they had climbed was treacherous and winding.
Whether it was Ye Feng or Xiao Chen...
They had spent vastly more time away from their families than with them.
At times, terrified for their loved ones' safety, they hadn't even dared to return home, for fear that ill-intentioned figures might target them.
Thankfully, with Li Guanqi around, every return to the sect had left plenty of protective contingencies for their families.
Ye Feng and Li Qingchan had barely any time together, spending every single day cultivating desperately.
The others had likewise been straining with all their might to keep pace with Li Guanqi's footsteps.
Only today did they truly grasp the purpose behind Li Guanqi's relentless desperation.
It was so that when an opportunity finally appeared, he could seize it and slay the enemy.
Even if the chances of that opportunity appearing were vanishingly slim.
Yet Li Guanqi had pushed himself tirelessly to cultivate and elevate his strength.
At last, the instant that chance presented itself, he seized it.
The moment he had laid eyes on Lu Tiancheng, he had already resolved to fight to the bitter death.
For some reason, everyone felt that the man lying unconscious on the ground—the taut string of his heart that had been strained for so long—had finally relaxed...
In his stupor, the corners of Li Guanqi's lips curved slightly, bearing a faint smile.
The others one after another entered the pagoda to begin healing their wounds.
Throughout this time, Meng Wanshu never left Li Guanqi's side for a single moment.
Splash, splash.
The clear water in the basin beside them had long since turned crimson, yet Meng Wanshu patiently replaced it again and again.
After changing Li Guanqi into fresh clothes, she gazed at the man's slightly furrowed brow.
Unconsciously, Meng Wanshu reached out a jade-like hand to smooth the crease between his eyebrows.
She murmured softly in a tender voice:
"Now that the knot in your heart is untied, you don't need to keep frowning like this."
Perhaps Li Guanqi heard her murmur, for his knit brow slowly relaxed.
After three full days, Li Guanqi finally awoke from his coma.
When he opened his eyes, what met his gaze was Meng Wanshu's exquisite, utterly exhausted face.
"You're awake."
Her gentle words were like a morning greeting between the two of them waking together in bed.
A tender smile appeared on Li Guanqi's face as he slowly sat up.
Channeling a wisp of immortal primal energy into her body, he spoke with heartache in his eyes:
"I would have been fine healing on my own. Why did you keep watch over me the entire time?"
Tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear, the woman whispered:
"My injuries aren't serious. But as for you... until you woke up, I couldn't set my mind at ease."
With that, Meng Wanshu cupped Li Guanqi's cheeks in both hands, drawing close to look at him.
Her breath was like orchids, her face mere inches from his.
Pursing her lips, she held his face and said softly:
"Without all those burdens weighing on your mind, you're far more handsome."
Li Guanqi smiled softly, wrapped his arm around her slender waist, and leaned in to kiss her gently.
There was no prolonged passion, only two lovers whose hearts were entwined, conveying the deep affection they held for one another.
After they parted, Meng Wanshu could feel the shift in Li Guanqi's state of mind even more clearly.
Li Guanqi pulled Meng Wanshu tightly against him, burying his head in her shoulder.
Gradually, memories of the past welled up in his heart.
A sudden ache struck his nose, his eyes reddening slightly; pressing his lips together, his shoulders began to quiver.
Meng Wanshu stiffened for an instant, then relaxed, holding Li Guanqi and gently patting his back.
Seeming touched by his emotion, her own eyes reddened as she whispered:
"It's over. It's all in the past."
"You don't have to live in fear every single day anymore."
"You don't have to spend every waking moment worrying about when enemies will strike at the people you love."
Resting against Meng Wanshu's shoulder, Li Guanqi nodded vigorously.
After a long while, the two parted.
Li Guanqi looked upon the gentle woman before him, took a deep breath, and met Meng Wanshu's eyes with steady resolve. He said softly:
"Pick an auspicious day. We're getting married!"
Just those few words caused Meng Wanshu to weep uncontrollably.
Holding each other close, everything was understood in silence.
Who knew how much time passed before Li Guanqi, his complexion slightly pale, walked out of the White Jade Tower.
Taking a deep breath, he blinked away and reappeared outside the small courtyard in the Seventh Domain!
Looking at the old man lying on the chair, Li Guanqi frowned.
Stepping up to the old man's side, he said in a low, concerned tone:
"Grandpa... what happened to you?"
"How did you end up so heavily injured?"
Su Xuan had already recovered considerably by now. Opening his eyes, he looked at Li Guanqi and pursed his lips in a smile.
He raised a finger and pointed in the direction of his room.
Puzzled, Li Guanqi walked inside. When he returned, he murmured in an undertone:
"Ahem... well, getting a little beat up makes sense then..."
Chapter 1497