Final Preparations

When tackling anything, Xu Yuan had always preferred methodical order and preparing for rainy days. Knowing full well the terrifyingly high fatality rate of cultivating the Blood Yuan Heart Calamity Art, he naturally attached even greater importance to the preparations beforehand. As his cultivation under Ran Qingmo deepened, Xu Yuan gradually broke down the preparations for the Blood Yuan Heart Calamity Art into five distinct steps in his mind. Step one: learn the fundamental knowledge of this world, and have Ran Qingmo teach him an entry-level cultivation method so he could practice and familiarize himself with the circulation of a cultivation method. Step two: begin attempting to mobilize Source Qi while fully conscious and guide it along the circulation pathways of the Blood Yuan Heart Calamity Art. Step three: with Ran Qingmo's help, adapt to a near-death state while remaining conscious. Step four: with Ran Qingmo's help, begin circulating the pathways of the Blood Yuan Heart Calamity Art while in that near-death state. And step five was to formally begin cultivating. Over the course of a month, Xu Yuan had already completed the preparations for the first two steps. Given another month, Xu Yuan was confident he could flawlessly carry out the plan he had set. But with only five days remaining on his death countdown, there was nowhere near enough time to proceed through the remaining three steps methodically as planned. Left with no way out, Xu Yuan did not hesitate in his choice. There was no time left for him to adapt little by little. He had to take the risk. The cramped cave abode fell silent for a moment. Watching Xu Yuan's calm yet earnest gaze, Ran Qingmo slowly nodded. "Alright." After a brief pause, a hint of hesitation entered her voice. "But why?" Xu Yuan looked up at the dim ceiling of the cave. After a long silence, he said, "To save both your life and mine." A flicker of confusion crossed Ran Qingmo's eyes. "But... my injuries have healed." *Because my injuries have healed, I can take you out of here.* That was her confidence speaking. Xu Yuan shifted his eyes to look at her and said softly, "I know your injuries have healed, but have you ever seen Xu Changge?" Ran Qingmo's beautiful eyes flickered for a moment before she shook her head. "He has always stayed in the Imperial Capital. I've never seen him. Are you saying he came too?" Her master had once said that the Eldest Young Master of the Chancellor's Manor was even more of a genius than she was. Like her, Xu Changge had broken through to the Grandmaster realm at the age of sixteen. Unfortunately, he had made no further progress afterward; by now, Xu Changge had been stuck in the Grandmaster realm for over fourteen years. With fourteen years of accumulated depth, Xu Changge would certainly be formidable, but she should still be able to hold her own—or at the very least, escape. Xu Yuan's meridians could now barely endure her qi. Channeling her qi into his meridians could temporarily protect him from being harmed by the air pressure generated by high-speed flight. Therefore, she could break through the siege and carry Xu Yuan away even if surrounded by their enemies. What was more, thanks to the Nine-Returning Pill and the month of cultivation here, her cultivation had progressed significantly compared to a month ago. "Yes, he really came." Xu Yuan cast a slightly helpless look at her, his voice gentle. "But do you know something?" "Know what?" asked Ran Qingmo. "As early as ten years ago, Xu Changge's qi had already reached the Origin Realm." The moment the words fell, the cave plunged into absolute dead silence. "..." Ran Qingmo's quiet, cool eyes cast downward slightly. Xu Yuan looked at her expression and offered a faint smile, speaking with what sounded like a sigh of lament. "Actually, Mr. Ran, your idea of using Xu Changtian's life to threaten that man was feasible to a certain extent. "He truly does value family; otherwise, he wouldn't have sent Xu Changge here." Pausing, Xu Yuan gazed steadily into Ran Qingmo's eyes. "Mr. Ran, do you still feel confident about escaping now? Even escaping by holding this body of mine hostage counts." "..." Ran Qingmo did not reply. Xu Yuan slowly closed his eyes and sank into silence as well. An air of despair permeated the narrow cave abode. Back in *Cangyuan*, the boss that required players to use cheats to defeat was none other than the Chancellor's eldest son, Xu Changge! Driven by the Chancellor's towering wrath, this Eldest Young Master relentlessly hunted Ran Qingmo down, finally cornering her near the ruins of a mysterious little village called "Burial Village" at the border of Great Yan. The battle had ended swiftly. With the first punch, the three-foot black sword flew straight out of her hand. With the second punch, Ran Qingmo was sent flying backward, left lying on the ground with her breath clinging to a gossamer thread. Two moves, and the battle was over. Without the slightest chance to fight back, unable even to unleash a single sword strike, she was gravely wounded at the hands of the Eldest Young Master. The disparity in strength was suffocating. How long this deathly silence persisted within the cave abode, neither knew. Xu Yuan slowly opened his eyes. "Mr. Ran, let's begin." His voice was quiet, yet resolute. Because only by cultivating that art could he survive. "..." Ran Qingmo's eyes flickered, her red lips parting slightly as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she merely nodded gently and said softly: "Thank you." Xu Yuan shook his head. "I've told you before—don't say thank you. It's a useless word." Ran Qingmo stared at him with complete earnestness. After two seconds of silence, she said: "Then... then I will owe you another favor." Hearing this, Xu Yuan smiled wryly and said under his breath: "Mr. Ran, when you owe too many favors and can't repay them, you usually end up having to offer yourself up in the end. Besides, you're helping me with this, and taking this risk is for my own life, so there's no need to owe me anything." Ran Qingmo's eyes flickered for a moment, and she insisted: "No. I must owe it." Silence. Their eyes met. Xu Yuan let out an exhale. "Have it your way. "Time is short. Can we begin now?" Ran Qingmo nodded and slowly raised a slender, jade-like hand to grasp Xu Yuan's wrist. The icy-cold sensation of her hand immediately seeped through his skin. Xu Yuan glanced down and asked calmly, "What method do you intend to use?" Ran Qingmo explained in a low voice, "I will use my qi to create profound ice to encase you, and afterward channel my cultivation to heal your injuries." Xu Yuan considered this for a moment. By now, with qi already present within his body, the two of them could employ qi transmission to treat injuries. Cutting his thoughts short, Xu Yuan gave a slight nod, signaling that she could begin. Without a word, a chilling cold instantly manifested within the cramped cave abode. The diffusing cold mist even caused a thin layer of frost to freeze over the surface of the spiritual spring in the cave. Xu Yuan felt only a bone-marrow-freezing chill rapidly spreading from his wrist. From his wrist to his arm, across the entire right side of his torso, until his entire body felt plunged into ten-thousand-year glacial ice. Amid the permeating cold, Xu Yuan noticed his consciousness growing sluggish at a rate palpable to his senses, and the stench of death clung to his heart like maggots on rotten bone. Minutes and seconds ticked away, and everything before his eyes gradually faded into darkness... At some point, Xu Yuan groggily woke once more. Looking up at the dim ceiling of the cave, he remained silent for a long time. He had thought that falling unconscious from hypothermia back in the cavern had already counted as being near death, but when true impending death befell him, Xu Yuan discovered that hypothermic unconsciousness was nothing in comparison. After holding out for merely a few minutes, his consciousness had plunged into darkness. A somewhat parched voice sounded softly within the silent cave abode: "How... how long was I out?" "Two shichen," Ran Qingmo's clear, calm voice came from his side. Xu Yuan pressed a hand to the center of his brow and rubbed it firmly. *Two shichen...* Out of roughly five days, at least two days had to be reserved to formally cultivate the Blood Yuan Heart Calamity Art. At two shichen per session, that meant he had at most around twenty more opportunities to adapt. Slowly sitting up, Xu Yuan looked at her and said without wasting words: "Continue. "If possible, as soon as you finish treating my injuries, wake me straight up. No need to rest." "..." Looking at his weak yet resolute eyes, Ran Qingmo gently pursed her lips and silently grasped his wrist once more.