Without a shred of hesitation, Mu Xueyan chose the second option—to take Luo Xiu to the altar.

This came as quite a surprise to Master Ping.

"When there's a better choice, why pick the harder path?"

"Do you humans truly value that kind of physical intimacy more than life itself?"

Mu Xueyan remained silent.

Master Ping continued, "Besides, I can sense that you like this boy. Since you like him, what are you so worried about?"

Mu Xueyan's lovely face flushed red. "Don't be ridiculous. I don't like him."

"Heh. You should know that my Dao Technique can read the heart. How could the thoughts of a mere Mahayana Realm cultivator like you possibly hide from me?"

"I really don't understand you humans and your complex emotions and desires. Liking someone is a beautiful thing. Why can't you just admit it freely?"

"I..." Mu Xueyan was at a loss for words.

She couldn't help but think back to what had happened when Luo Xiu had treated her illness. In truth, she had already given her heart to him back then. It was just that she had been unwilling to face it, unwilling to admit it, and had been running from her own feelings ever since.

I can give him everything I have without reservation. He saved my life, after all, and this is to save his.

Master Ping was even more confused. "Then why did you still choose the second method?"

Mu Xueyan said, "I just don't want it to be under these circumstances, while he's unconscious... to be with him like that."

"Besides, it's not the only way. There are other options."

"Oh, forget it. You women are nothing but trouble. I can't be bothered to argue with you. Hurry up and take him to that cave from before."

***

The cave where the Ancient God Killing Jade (Crystal Skull) had been hidden had long since collapsed during the fierce battle. Fortunately, the entrance wasn't completely blocked.

Mu Xueyan carried the unconscious Luo Xiu over the rubble, crossed the molten lava, and stepped before the shattered altar. Beneath the altar seemed to lie another world, pitch-black and impenetrable to the eye. An incredibly dense Fiendish Qi and foul Yin winds gushed out from below, carrying with them a cacophony of strange noises.

Just getting close made Mu Xueyan feel an bone-chilling cold. It was an extremely unpleasant sensation that left her dizzy and nauseous.

Master Ping floated beside her. "Young lady, you'd better think this through. With your Mahayana Realm physique, absorbing this kind of Fiendish Qi directly will leave you half-dead, even if it doesn't kill you. You'll fall gravely ill afterward."

"I know." Mu Xueyan gave a small nod. She resolutely carried Luo Xiu forward, placed him cross-legged on the broken altar, and then sat down in the same position behind him.

"Senior... what do I do?"

Master Ping said nonchalantly, "Simple. Absorb the Fiendish Qi the same way you normally absorb Spiritual Energy during cultivation. Then, use your Dantian to filter out the Yin Essence Power contained within it and transfer it into Luo Xiu's body."

Mu Xueyan took a long, deep breath and said no more.

The next moment, her delicate body began to tremble violently, her face contorted in agony. Although she had already experienced the feeling of Fiendish Qi entering her body when the members of the Swordfire Divine Sect had thrown her onto the altar, it was still unbearable to endure it again.

Master Ping spoke suddenly, "It's not too late to regret this."

Mu Xueyan asked, "How long will it take?"

"Although the Fiendish Qi is dense, there isn't much Yin Essence Power left after filtration, so you'll have to accumulate it little by little," Master Ping explained.

"At your speed, it will probably take about a month."

"In other words, you will have to endure this torment for an entire month."

Mu Xueyan clenched her jaw, pressing her palms forcefully against Luo Xiu's back.

"Bring it on!"

A short while later, as the Fiendish Qi surged into her meridians, Mu Xueyan couldn't help but scream in agony. Only now did she realize that the pain from before was nothing compared to the torment of the Fiendish Qi now invading her meridians.

Master Ping said, "If you really can't take it, just give up. You have a much simpler way to save him."

But Mu Xueyan paid him no mind.

Master Ping chuckled and said no more, simply standing guard quietly to the side.

This woman's disposition is indeed excellent. Once she sets her mind on something, she sees it through to the end. To put it bluntly, this is stubbornness, but it also proves her Dao Heart is firm.

Actually, the first time I saw her, I sensed she had the makings of a Great Emperor.

Since that's the case... if she can truly hold on for a month for Luo Xiu's sake, I shall grant her a gift of Fortune-Forming Power. I hope she can be of help to him in the future.

Oh, Luo Xiu, Luo Xiu... During my seclusion, I shattered time and space and glimpsed a vision of the future... Your fated tribulation has yet to begin, and you... you are destined to fight for your entire life, until you perish.

...

...

Time flowed like water.

A month passed in quiet solitude.

To Luo Xiu, it was but the blink of an eye.

To Mu Xueyan, it was an unbearably long month.

But in the end, she had endured.

What kind of suffering she had borne during that month, perhaps no one but she herself would ever know.

For this, Master Ping had only one word: admirable.

Seeing Mu Xueyan collapsed on the ground, her skin turned black, Luo Xiu was filled with guilt and worry.

"I didn't think she could actually last a month," Master Ping said. "To save you, she was truly willing to give up her life."

Luo Xiu's emotions were a tangled mess as he slowly helped Mu Xueyan up, attempting to draw the Fiendish Qi from her body.

"It's no use," Master Ping said. "Her entire body has been corrupted by the Fiendish Qi, turning her into a Fiendish Body. But don't worry, I can save her."

With that, Master Ping drew Mu Xueyan into the space within his bottle.

"Can you really save her?"

"Do I look like the kind of Master who tells jokes?"

Luo Xiu felt a wave of relief. "Good."

"Speaking of which, how are you feeling, kid?"

Luo Xiu circulated his qi and inspected his body with his Divine Sense. "It's suppressed for now," he said, "but it still hurts a lot."

Master Ping changed the subject. "Right, there's a cavern beneath this altar filled with good stuff. It must be the treasures collected by that son of a bitch. Go on down and have a look for yourself."

Without another word, Luo Xiu leaped down into the darkness.

「At the same time.」

On a meadow of lush, fragrant grass, Mu Xueyan slowly opened her eyes. She stood up and looked around, bewildered.

"Where am I?"

Master Ping's voice suddenly echoed from the void. "This is my World Inside the Vase. Young lady, I've used Fortune-Forming Power to stabilize your current condition, but it's only temporary."

"Speaking of which, I got this bit of Fortune-Forming Power from Luo Xiu."

Feeling the changes in her body, Mu Xueyan's heart sank. "Senior, am I going to die soon?"

"After being assaulted by Fiendish Qi for a month, you've been corrupted. Indeed, you don't have long to live," Master Ping stated. "The only way for you to survive is to switch to the demonic path of cultivation."

Hearing this, Mu Xueyan frowned.

"I can use my last sliver of Fortune-Forming Power to send you through the World Inside the Vase to the other shore of the Starry Sky Ancient Path," Master Ping continued.

"I know of a place in the Celestial Realm where beings cultivate themselves with Fiendish Qi; they are known as Fiend Demons. With a Fiendish Body like yours, you'd be considered a prodigy and nurtured accordingly."

"So, are you willing to be smuggled into the Celestial Realm and make your mark there?"

Mu Xueyan was silent for a moment. "I'll think about it."

Suddenly, a screen of light materialized in the void before her.

Within the light was an incredibly bloody and tragic scene.

Countless bodies—human bodies, bodies of giant beasts...

These innumerable corpses formed a spectacular, shocking stellar ring in the cosmos, encircling a broken continent pockmarked with enormous molten craters.

A long spear was planted upright on the continent.

Luo Xiu's body was impaled upon that spear, swaying in the deathly silent storm.

"This... what is this?" Mu Xueyan covered her mouth with her hands.

"When any living being transcends the mundane to achieve sainthood and steps into the Emperor Realm, they can perceive the past and future," Master Ping explained. "In short, they get one chance to see what was and what will be."

"What you are seeing now is the vision of the future I glimpsed when I stepped into the Emperor Realm."

"This is Luo Xiu's future. One day, he will die in battle, just like this."

"The future may seem set, but I refuse to believe that fate is set in stone. I believe the future can still be changed."

"So, what I must do now is find comrades for Luo Xiu in advance. This way, he won't have to fight alone in the future and will have a better chance of survival."

"Therefore, are you willing to fight alongside him in the future?"

"I am willing," Mu Xueyan answered without a moment's thought.

"But... Senior, could you give me some time? I want to spend a little more time with him before I leave."

"Alright, no problem."

***

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