43: Third Life: How Am I the Villain? (Part 8)

The Grand Elder, who was at the most critical moment before self-detonation and completely defenseless, had no time to react at all.

Splurt!

A dark golden blade gleam flashed past.

The Grand Elder's bloated body suddenly stiffened, and his violent aura instantly dissipated like a punctured balloon.

The ferocity and determination on his face froze; a thin line of blood appeared on his forehead and extended downwards.

The next moment, his body silently split into two halves and crashed to the ground!

Before he could even complete his self-detonation, he was instantly killed by this terrifying strike of the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection!

However, at the exact moment the Grand Elder was slain, the blood-red light enveloping Ye Feng flickered violently to its limit, contracted sharply, and then exploded with a bang, turning into a subtle spatial fluctuation.

Ye Feng's figure instantly became blurred and illusory within that spatial fluctuation!

The spatial fluctuation subsided, leaving only the Grand Elder's corpse, split in two, and the slightly swaying Three-Leaf life Grass in the cave.

"Void-escape Talisman?! This old guy actually had such a life-saving item!" Chen Ping looked at the empty space, where only traces of spatial fluctuation remained, his face turning livid, and he couldn't help but curse under his breath, "He actually let this kid get away!"

His previously confident mindset was completely shattered by this sudden turn of events.

Recalling all of Xu Yuan's previous worries and his near-paranoid caution, Chen Ping finally realized the weight of them at this moment.

"Yuan'er, your previous concerns... were right."

Chen Ping took a deep breath, his tone heavy and filled with an unprecedented gravity: "This Ye Feng is truly strange! Even in such a desperate situation, he was able to find a glimmer of hope and escape! If this child is not removed, he will surely become a major threat to our Overlord Blade Sect in the future!"

Xu Yuan stood where he was, his face as calm as water.

He looked at the place where Ye Feng had disappeared, his eyes icy and bone-chilling, the killing intent surging in his heart almost turning into substance.

Disappointed?

Naturally, yes.

But more than that, it was a realization of "as expected."

If Ye Feng was truly that kind of so-called Luck protagonist, how could he have been so easily strangled in the cradle by a "villain" like himself?

This failure, instead, felt more like a confirmation—a confirmation of Ye Feng's uniqueness and certain future possibilities.

"It's fine, Father." Xu Yuan's voice was unexpectedly calm, "If we can't kill him this time, then we'll do it next time."

"He can escape once, but he can't escape for a lifetime!"

"Since it is already an irreconcilable feud, then it shall be... until death!"

Xu Yuan slowly turned around, his gaze falling on the "Three-Leaf life Grass" that was still emitting surging life energy and shimmering with brilliant colors.

"The priority is to handle the matter at hand first." Xu Yuan walked towards the Spiritual Plant, his tone returning to calmness, "This item can help Ye Feng recover, so it must be extraordinary and should not be wasted."

Chen Ping also reined in the frustration caused by Ye Feng's escape, looking at the Spiritual Plant with burning eyes, his tone filled with a hint of amazement:

"Yuan'er, you may not know, but this item is called 'Three-Leaf life Grass.' It is an extremely rare holy medicine for healing. Its medicinal properties are gentle and mellow, containing vast life essence, and it has miraculous effects on repairing injuries and healing severe wounds!"

"It is exactly what you need right now!"

Chen Ping turned to look at Xu Yuan, his eyes filled with joy: "You have just transplanted the Innate Blade Bone. Although it appears to have achieved perfect Fusion, there are inevitably some minor losses and discomforts within. You need this kind of gentle yet potent medicine to thoroughly consolidate your Foundation, nourish your Physical Body and Innate Blade Bone, and make it flawless!"

"This item is truly like sending charcoal in snowy weather for you!"

Upon hearing this, a flash of light appeared in Xu Yuan's eyes.

From Chen Ping's description, Xu Yuan realized that this item was of immense value. If he hadn't intercepted it this time, it would likely have been refined by Ye Feng, helping him embark on the path of cultivation once more.

But now that it was in his hands, Xu Yuan naturally did not intend to waste it.

"In that case, there is no time to lose." Xu Yuan decided decisively, "To avoid any complications, I will refine and absorb it right here! Please, Father, act as my Protector."

It was undoubtedly risky to refine it right here in the depths of Black Miasma Mountain, where other dangers might exist.

But since this item originally belonged to Ye Feng, Xu Yuan was worried that if he returned to the Sect with it, it might attract other troubles, so he intended to refine it on the spot, even though it might carry some risks.

However, only after consuming it would this Opportunity be truly and completely intercepted by him!

Chen Ping pondered for a moment, then nodded heavily: "Good! I will act as your Protector; refine it with peace of mind!" He immediately set up several warning and defensive Restrictions around the cave ruins, spreading his Divine Sense to its full extent, vigilantly watching for any movement around them.

Xu Yuan sat cross-legged and carefully held the Three-Leaf life Grass in his palm.

No special refining was needed; such heaven and earth Spiritual Plants were best absorbed directly. He operated his Cultivation Technique, and a suction force generated in his palm. The Three-Leaf life Grass immediately turned into an incomparably pure stream of green energy, emitting a rich, fresh scent of life, which flowed continuously into his body through the Laogong acupoint in his palm.

This medicinal power was exceptionally gentle, like the sunlight and dew of early spring, nourishing every inch of his Meridians, every acupoint, and every bone in his body.

Especially the Innate Blade Bone in his chest cavity; upon coming into contact with this vast life essence, it spontaneously emitted a faint humming sound, greedily absorbing the medicinal power like a long-parched land receiving sweet rain.

Xu Yuan could clearly feel that the originally extremely subtle, almost imperceptible traces of the transplantation on the Innate Blade Bone were being rapidly smoothed away.

The Innate Blade Bone itself became more lustrous and translucent, and its connection with his own bones and the Innate Blade Heart became even tighter, seamless, and perfectly integrated!

An unprecedented sense of "completeness" and "power" welled up from within.

Not only that, but the vast medicinal power also permeated his limbs and bones, nourishing his Qi and blood, widening his Meridians, and solidifying his Foundation.

I don't know how much time passed, but when the last wisp of medicinal power from the Three-Leaf life Grass was absorbed, Xu Yuan slowly opened his eyes.

His eyes shone with a brilliant light, and he was full of energy and Qi!

Xu Yuan sensed his own state slightly, and a surge of pleasant surprise couldn't help but rise in his heart.

Not only was the Innate Blade Bone completely and perfectly fused with no remaining obstacles, but its quality seemed to have become even tougher than when it was first transplanted under the nourishment of that vast life essence, and its resonance with the Innate Blade Heart became increasingly clear and strong.

And what surprised him even more was that he hadn't even fully absorbed the vast medicinal power of the Three-Leaf life Grass!

A considerable portion of the gentle and pure energy still remained settled in his Qi Sea and limbs and bones; with just a little guidance and refining, it would be enough to support his cultivation level to reach the next stage!

"It truly lives up to the reputation of an Opportunity targeted by a Luck protagonist..." Xu Yuan sighed inwardly, but in his eyes, there was a trace of imperceptible sternness, "With such miraculous effects, if Ye Feng had really obtained it, it might have truly allowed him to defy Heaven and change his fate, and resume his Dao path!"

Fortunately, now all of this has become his own resources!