137: Chapter 137 Healing on a Desert Island

[Xu Changqing let out a cry of pain as he was sent flying backward, a massive, charred wound burned into his chest.]

[A cultivator at the peak of the Mid-stage True Immortal was heavily injured by a single strike from someone at the Late Stage of Tribulation Transcendence.]

[This was the terror of the Burning Heaven Phoenix Wings.]

[When activated with your cultivation at the Late Stage of Tribulation Transcendence, its power was already close to a full-strength blow from a Mid-stage True Immortal.]

[But combined with the special attributes of the Phoenix Fire—armor-breaking, soul-scorching, and suppression—its actual effect far exceeded that level.]

[The two Early True Immortals behind Xu Changqing had long since been scared witless.]

[They had never seen such a scene before.]

[A "Array Master" at the Late Stage of Tribulation Transcendence had grown phoenix wings and heavily injured their Protector Elder with one strike?]

[What kind of monster was this?]

[You didn't give them any time to think.]

[Forming hand seals, you combined the array with the Phoenix Fire.]

[Nine pillars of fire rose from the ground, trapping Xu Changqing and the two Early True Immortals together within the fire array.]

[With the fire array working in tandem with the Phoenix Fire from the Burning Heaven Phoenix Wings, the temperature was so high that even the physical bodies of True Immortal Stage cultivators were being scorched.]

[The two Early True Immortals struggled with miserable screams as their spiritual energy barriers rapidly melted under the high heat.]

[Xu Changqing barely resisted by relying on his deep cultivation, but his expression grew increasingly grim.]

["You," he stared at you, his voice hoarse, "Late Stage of Tribulation Transcendence... Phoenix Bloodline... Ninth-Rank Array... just who are you?!"]

[You looked at him coldly.]

[There was no answer.]

[You increased the output of the array.]

[The fire array contracted.]

[The temperature of the Phoenix Fire climbed once again.]

[The two Early True Immortals could no longer hold out.]

[Their spiritual energy barriers completely collapsed, and the Phoenix Fire engulfed their bodies.]

[After two short, shrill cries, all fell silent.]

[Only Xu Changqing remained.]

[He was covered in flames, his spiritual energy nearly exhausted, yet he still resisted tenaciously.]

["You can't kill me!" he roared, "I am a Protector Elder of the Qiongyao Holy Land! If you kill me, the Qiongyao Holy Land will not let you off!"]

["Is that so?" your tone was indifferent.]

[The fire array contracted for the final time.]

[The Phoenix Fire completely engulfed Xu Changqing.]

[But at the very last moment as his life faded,]

[Xu Changqing did one thing.]

[By self-detonating his soul, he sent out a transmission.]

[That transmission turned into a streak of dark purple light, piercing through the walls of the ancient tomb and shooting toward the horizon.]

[The target: Qiongyao Holy Land headquarters.]

[You frowned.]

[It was too late to stop it.]

[The transmission had already been sent.]

[This meant that the Qiongyao Holy Land would soon know that Xu Changqing was dead.]

[And they would know that the person who killed him possessed the Phoenix Bloodline and Ninth-Rank Array attainment.]

[Part of your identity information had already been leaked.]

[But you didn't have time to worry about that now.]

[The speed at which the ancient tomb was collapsing was accelerating.]

[Large chunks of rock began falling from the ceiling.]

[The ancient array was completely out of control, with exploding array patterns and flying shards of spiritual energy everywhere.]

[You retracted the Burning Heaven Phoenix Wings and rushed to Xia Chenchen's side.]

[She was still alive.]

[She was heavily injured, but her life was not in danger.]

[You scooped her up, not caring about propriety, then pushed your spiritual energy to the limit and sprinted toward the ancient tomb's exit.]

[Behind you was the collapsing ancient tomb.]

[Crumbling walls and out-of-control arrays were everywhere.]

[Your array attainment was pushed to the extreme at this moment—not for setting up an array, but for "reading" them.]

[You could predict the trajectory of every out-of-control array.]

[You could avoid every falling rock in advance.]

[You carried Xia Chenchen through the collapsing ancient tomb, as if dancing on the edge of a blade.]

[Finally, you burst out of the ancient tomb's entrance.]

[The stone door crashed down behind you.]

[Then followed the first floor, the second floor, the third floor...]

[The entire ancient tomb collapsed completely from the inside out.]

[Countless rocks and seawater flooded in.]

[A few breaths later, the once magnificent Nameless Ancient Tomb was turned into a field of ruins in the depths of the Biluo Abyss.]

[You floated above the ruins, holding Xia Chenchen.]

[The seawater churned and the rubble sank.]

[Everything returned to silence.]

[You looked down at Xia Chenchen in your arms.]

[She was unconscious.]

[But her breathing was steady.]

[You breathed a sigh of relief.]

[It's good that she's still alive.]

[The cultivation technique was obtained, and the person was rescued.]

[The only problem was Xu Changqing's transmission.]

[The Qiongyao Holy Land would soon send more people.]

[You had to leave this place as soon as possible.]

[Find a safe place for Xia Chenchen to recover from her injuries.]

[Then, find a way to deal with the pursuit from the Qiongyao Holy Land.]

[You glanced at the mist-shrouded waters of the Biluo Abyss.]

[There were many small deserted islands on the outskirts, hidden enough.]

[Holding Xia Chenchen, you turned into a streak of light and disappeared into the thick mist.]

[The outskirts of Biluo Abyss. A hidden island.]

[You laid down seven layers of arrays on the island: concealment, alert, defense, interference, confusion, anti-detection, and no-fly.]

[With the seven layers of arrays stacked, even a Late-stage True Immortal passing by might not necessarily discover anyone here.]

[Xia Chenchen's injuries were heavier than you had expected.]

[Xu Changqing's palm strike had shattered nearly a third of her meridians, causing a severe loss of spiritual energy. Combined with the blow she took for you in the labyrinth earlier, old and new injuries combined meant she would need at least half a month to recover.]

[Half a month.]

[You sighed.]

[The original plan was to leave as soon as the items were taken.]

[Now it had turned into being a babysitter for half a month on this tiny deserted island.]

[No, not a babysitter.]

[More like... a combat medic?]

[Forget it, call it whatever. You can't run away anyway.]

[For the first three days, Xia Chenchen was unconscious most of the time.]

[You fed her spiritual medicine twice a day, used a Healing Array to assist in repairing her meridians, and simultaneously used your own power to protect her heart.]

[On the fourth day, she woke up.]

[The first thing she said upon waking was: "Where am I?"]

[The second thing was: "You didn't leave?"]

["Do I look like the kind of person who leaves an injured person behind and runs away?" you said irritably.]

[Xia Chenchen looked at you, silent for a few seconds.]

["...Thank you."]

["Don't mention it. You owe me; just find a chance to pay me back later."]

[The corner of Xia Chenchen's mouth twitched. You thought it was probably a smile.]

[The following days were unexpectedly... peaceful.]

[Even a bit comfortable.]

[Xia Chenchen's injuries improved day by day.]

[By the fifth day, she could sit up on her own.]

[By the seventh day, she could walk slowly around the island.]

[By the tenth day, she began to take the initiative to help you with chores, such as starting a fire and cooking.]

[Although her cooking skills could be described as disastrous.]

[You never knew that grilled fish could be charred to charcoal on the outside while remaining raw on the inside.]