A Bit Drained

"Sisters... this radish seems to be a rank-six spirit sprite!" "So what? Don't tell me soaking in the pool with it will make us stronger?" another woman asked with a frown, feeling that something about this was bizarre. The first woman smiled confidently. "Haven't you noticed the spiritual power in the pool has grown stronger? I don't care! Even if I get a thrashing today, I'm seizing this chance!" With that, she scooped up the streak of white residue and shoved it into her mouth. To everyone's surprise, even though it was only Pengluo's nosebleed, it was still an exceptional tonic. Before Pengluo could even react, the woman pounced forward, shouting, "Don't move! It's all mine!!" His eyes squeezed shut, Pengluo suddenly felt warmth and softness beneath his nostrils, along with a faintly sticky sensation. Inside, he cried out in wild jubilation, *Master Qin!! You are my true, living grandfather!!* *** Meanwhile, the others rushed in a fluster to a secluded courtyard on the rear mountain—a place Lu Kangnian had prepared for Meng Wanshu just in case. No one had expected it to come in handy like this. Sun Miao rested his fingers on her wrist, his brow knitting slightly. But after a brief moment, his brow smoothed out, and he let out a long breath. "Rest assured, nothing critical. Though some remnants like scarlet thunder linger in her body, she has mostly expelled them herself. Her wounds look terrible, but an incomparably pure spiritual liquid within her is aiding a rapid recovery. She should awaken before long." Ye Feng looked at the gruesome injuries on the young woman, his brow furrowing deeply. Meng Jiangchu was an out-and-out doting father; Meng Wanshu carried no fewer than ten defensive magic treasures on her person, all of them extremely high-grade defensive dharma artifacts. Yet now, the accessories and dharma artifacts across her entire body were completely gone. It was hard to imagine what sort of ordeal she had survived. In particular, the horrifying claw marks across her back—flesh torn open, bones shattered... Just looking at them was chilling. Still, everything would have to wait until Meng Wanshu woke up. Qin Xian, who had just rushed back, still had no idea what was unfolding over at Tianshui Peak. The moment he entered and saw her grievous condition, worry filled his face. "This... just what kind of battle did she go through?! For it to have been so fierce!!" At that, the old man turned to Ye Feng and raised an eyebrow. "Ye Feng, how does Miss Meng's strength compare to yours...?" Ye Feng shrugged, speaking frankly without embellishment. "Even if I went all out, I doubt I could force Eldest Sister-in-law to unleash her Spirit Ruins Apocalypse. I'd even say she is noticeably stronger than Big Brother." He paused, then turned and murmured, "Sect Master, Elder Qin, please watch over Eldest Sister-in-law here. I'll go check on things over there." Lu Kangnian nodded and said in a grave voice, "Go on. Elder Sun has already examined her and found no danger. Once she wakes, I'll let you know. Hurry over to Guanqi. Tell him to steady his mind and not worry." *Whoosh!* Ye Feng arrived outside the cave-dwelling peak on the rear mountain, raised a barrier of primal energy, and stepped into the storm of lightning. Approaching Cao Yan, he asked, "How is it?" Cao Yan pursed his lips and looked at the lightning crashing on all sides. "Second Brother, you can see it too. The stray primal energy is being suppressed bit by bit. But..." Ye Feng gritted his teeth. Just as he was about to speak, Li Guanqi's low voice reached his ears. "Say no more. Until Wanshu wakes, there is no way I can cultivate in peace." Left with no choice, everyone could only wait in silence for Meng Wanshu to regain consciousness. *** On the rear mountain of Tianshui Peak. Pengluo was plastered from head to toe in crimson lip prints. The sight was an absolute mob of chaos. Yet right then, Pengluo suddenly remembered something and sat bolt upright from the pool with a splash. The sudden movement startled quite a few female cultivators. However, many latecomers noticed intense surges of primal energy churning within some of the female disciples who had partaken, and they threw all caution to the wind. Figures plunged into the water one after another, *plop, plop*, like dumplings dropping into boiling soup. Pengluo, however, swept his divine sense outward. Tearing himself away from this den of feminine indulgence, he darted straight toward the rear mountain courtyard. Snapping completely back to his senses, he sped through the air, turning into a streak of white light that cut across the night sky. He muttered under his breath, "Ninth Brother... Ninth Brother... I really should've stayed a bit long—Bah! I truly deserve a beating!! How could I be so ungrateful? To linger so longingly in such—*cough, cough*, hurry up, get over there!" *Swoosh!!* Lu Kangnian caught a faint ripple of space in the corner of his eye, and a flash of white light zipped past. When he turned his head, he was shocked to find Pengluo already kneeling beside the young woman's wrist. Pengluo cradled the motionless Jiuxiao—utterly devoid of primal energy fluctuations—and shook it frantically with both hands. "Ninth Brother!! Oh, my Ninth Brother!! How could you..." He then looked at the unconscious young woman. "Mistress!! Oh, my Mistress!!" Both Lu Kangnian and Qin Xian stared with dark lines on their brows at Pengluo, who was wailing dramatically without shedding a single tear, completely at a loss as to what it was up to. Pengluo gritted his teeth and, with a sharp *snap*, broke off another of his arms. Seeing this for the first time, both men were stunned. Old Qin's eyes filled with deep emotion. "This spirit creature is so fiercely loyal to its masters! How extraordinary!" Yet Pengluo glanced down at the snapped arm, only to find it was completely hollow inside... He shot an awkward glance at the two men beside him, then crushed the arm, squeezed out its spiritual liquid, and poured it over Jiuxiao. A faint purple spark flickered across Jiuxiao's body. Its form squirmed faintly, but it still did not awaken. The rest of the spiritual liquid was poured entirely into Meng Wanshu's mouth. By the time he finished, Pengluo's cheeks were sunken hollow. His legs trembling, he leaned against the edge of the bed to stand. Turning toward Lu Kangnian and Qin Xian, he couldn't help but mumble, "Drained... I'm feeling a bit drained..." As he spoke, he blinked at Lu Kangnian, his eyes flicking repeatedly toward Sun Miao. It took Lu Kangnian several breaths to realize what he meant. He quickly instructed Sun Miao to bring over some medicinal pills and spirit herbs. Pengluo showed zero modesty. He popped off the jade stoppers and threw back his arms, pouring the contents down his throat. Heaven only knew how much vitality he had lost lately. This time, he was determined to gorge himself full. Before long, the eyelashes of Meng Wanshu lying on the bed fluttered softly. When her eyes opened, they were dull and unfocused. Only after a long while did her gaze sharpen. She sat up abruptly, but the sudden movement pulled at her wounds, making her squeeze her eyes shut in searing pain. Seeing this, Lu Kangnian and the others were startled and rushed forward to support her. "Miss Meng! Don't move! Your wounds haven't healed yet." Lu Kangnian's worried gaze was like that of an elder looking after his own junior. His hands hovered awkwardly in the air, unsure of how to assist. Meng Wanshu turned her head, saw the lightning-filled sky, and spoke in a weak, pale voice. "Quick... take the things... send them... to him..." Forcing her severely injured body, she circulated her primal energy. A flash of light erupted, and in midair appeared an enormous heart alongside a monster core larger than a human head.