Chapter 56: Medicinal Pill’s Persistence

Sunlight filtered through the dense layers of lush leaves, casting mottled spots of light, yet it failed to dispel the deep gloom and chill within the forest.

Ji Siyu, dressed in a moon-white gown, was now stained with a considerable amount of mud and grass debris.

She held her breath, suppressing her aura to its lowest point, weaving through the shadows of giant trees and shrubs like a nimble cat.

Her cultivation in the Ming Quan Realm was as fragile as glass in this mountain range where Demonic Beasts roamed; a single moment of carelessness would lead to eternal damnation.

Her mind was highly focused, her ears twitching slightly to catch every stray noise in the wind, as she struggled to avoid areas emitting heart-palpitating auras.

In her mind, Chen Chuan’s figure was impossible to shake off.

The obsession in her heart was the sole pillar supporting her as she stepped into this perilous land.

However, the dangers of the Demon Beast Mountain Range far exceeded her estimates.

Just as she was cautiously bypassing a stretch of woodland thick with the smell of rotting humus, a sudden gust of fishy wind came from her side and rear.

Swoosh!

An azure shadow, fast as a lightning bolt, suddenly pounced out and blocked her path.

It was a giant wolf covered entirely in azure fur.

The azure wolf had long, powerful limbs, and its eyes flickered with a cruel and cunning green light. Its bared fangs glinted coldly, and a low, threatening growl emanated from its throat.

A faint azure current swirled around its body, a sign of wind-attribute demonic power in operation.

A Third-Rank Late Stage Peak Demonic Beast!

Azure Wind Wolf!

Ji Siyu’s heart instantly sank to the bottom.

Azure Wind Wolves were known for their speed, and it was rare for a Cultivator of the same Rank to match their movement techniques.

With her strength at the Third Level of the Ming Quan Realm, her chances of winning a direct confrontation were slim.

Without the slightest hesitation, Ji Siyu turned and sprinted toward the dense forest to her side.

She poured spiritual power into her legs, pushing her speed to the limit, her moon-white figure tracing a blurred path through the trees.

But the Azure Wind Wolf was faster!

With its four paws striking the ground, it seemed to ride the wind. In a few leaps, the azure figure rapidly closed the distance.

The sharp sound of breaking air followed her like the whisper of the Grim Reaper.

In less than twenty breaths, a massive force struck from behind. Ji Siyu only had time to twist her body to avoid a vital blow, but her left shoulder was viciously struck by a wolf claw.

Rip!

Her sleeve tore, and three deep, bone-deep bloody gashes instantly appeared on her snow-white skin. Blood gushed out, staining her moon-white clothes red.

The intense pain made her groan, and her figure staggered, nearly causing her to fall.

She knew she couldn’t escape.

The absolute disadvantage in speed made even running away a luxury.

Ji Siyu stabilized herself and suddenly turned around, her long sword unsheathed, the tip pointing toward the Azure Wind Wolf.

Since there was no way to retreat, there was only one option: to fight.

A flash of determination crossed her eyes as she executed her Family Legacy, the Autumn Water Sword Technique.

The sword light flowed like a trickling autumn stream, carrying a sense of density and resilience, attempting to use finesse to break brute force and neutralize the Azure Wind Wolf’s fierce attacks.

However, the gap in strength was not something that exquisite sword Moves could easily bridge.

The Azure Wind Wolf was not only powerful but also possessed ghostly speed. Often, before Ji Siyu’s sword stance could fully unfold, the wolf’s shadow would strike from an unbelievable angle.

Puchi!

Another wound appeared on her calf.

Clang!

The wolf’s claw collided with the sword blade, sparks flying everywhere. The immense force caused the webbing between Ji Siyu’s thumb and forefinger to split, and the long sword nearly flew from her hand.

She was like a small boat in a storm, struggling to cope under the Azure Wind Wolf’s violent attacks. The wounds on her body increased, and blood soaked her clothes; every movement brought intense pain.

Her moon-white dress was stained with patches of tragic red, like red plums blooming in the snow, yet carrying the desolation of wilting.

Her consciousness began to blur, and her spiritual power was nearly exhausted.

Watching the Azure Wind Wolf roar and pounce again, its bloody maw wide and reeking, a bitter smile involuntarily appeared on Ji Siyu’s face.

"Am I... going to die here?"

Endless fatigue and despair flooded her heart.

Perhaps, giving up like this would also be a form of release.

No!

A figure suddenly crashed into her mind; it was Chen Chuan.

It was the figure who haunted her dreams, for whom she did not hesitate to delve deep into danger to find.

She hadn’t found him yet, hadn’t begged for his forgiveness, and hadn’t had the chance to reconcile with him.

"I cannot die! I haven’t seen him yet!"

The strong obsession acted like a final fuel, igniting something dormant deep within her Soul.

In that split second between life and death, it was as if some barrier in Ji Siyu’s mind shattered.

A massive and ancient torrent of memories surged forth, instantly filling her Sea of Consciousness.

A profound Cultivation Technique named the Nine Heavens Frost Sword Scripture clearly emerged.

Every word and every diagram of the power circulation route felt as if they had been branded deep in her Soul long ago, only now being awakened.

With a sudden flash of insight and almost by instinct, Ji Siyu followed the guidance of the sword scripture, forcibly mobilizing the remnants of power in her body along with the strands of strange energy brought by those memories.

An aura cold to the extreme erupted from the depths of her Dantian, rapidly flowing through her entire body.

Her originally clear eyes were now veiled with a layer of icy blue radiance.

The ordinary long sword in her hand was instantly covered by a thick layer of frost. The surrounding air temperature plummeted, and white frost condensed on the grass and trees.

"Slash!"

Ji Siyu gave a clear cry and, using all her strength, swung her sword.

It wasn’t a particularly sophisticated Move, just the simplest of slashes.

A giant deep-blue sword made entirely of condensed frost appeared out of thin air, carrying a Soul-freezing chill and a sharpness that could rend anything, as it chopped down fiercely toward the pouncing Azure Wind Wolf.

Boom!

The giant frost sword collided violently with the Azure Wind Wolf, erupting in a powerful surge of energy.

The Azure Wind Wolf let out a pained howl as the azure wind vortex on its surface was forcibly shattered. Its tough fur was torn open, leaving a bone-deep wound, and the hot wolf blood was frozen by the chill before it could even spray out.

However, the vitality of a Third-Rank Late Stage Peak Demonic Beast was extremely tenacious; although this strike heavily injured it, it was not fatal.

An injured beast instead became even more ferocious.

The green light in the Azure Wind Wolf’s eyes surged as it fell into a total rage. Ignoring its injuries, it pounced frantically at Ji Siyu again, determined to tear the human who hurt it into pieces.

Ji Siyu gritted her teeth, enduring the sharp pains from all over her body and the dizziness brought by overexertion as she fully operated the Nine Heavens Frost Sword Scripture.

The ice sword in her hand danced, her sword Moves becoming ancient and sharp. Every strike carried a bone-chilling current; wherever the Sword Qi passed, ice crystals condensed on the ground, and the air seemed to freeze.

She no longer relied on the density of the Autumn Water Sword Technique but met attack with attack, using freezing ice to counter the wind wolf’s speed.

Ice shards and wolf fur flew together; blood and cold mist intertwined.

Finally, after paying the price of another bone-deep claw mark on her left arm, Ji Siyu found an opportunity.

The ice sword pierced into the Azure Wind Wolf’s vital throat area at an extremely tricky angle, exposed due to its fury.

Awooo—

The Azure Wind Wolf’s roar stopped abruptly. Its massive body convulsed a few times, the fierce light in its eyes rapidly dimmed, and it finally crashed to the ground, its breath completely gone.

The battle over, Ji Siyu was also nearly exhausted. Leaning on the crack-filled ice sword, she panted heavily.

The backlash of the cold Sword Qi, combined with the heavy injuries on her body, left her face as pale as paper.

But she didn’t dare to stay; the thick scent of blood would soon attract other predators.

She forced herself to take a breath and hastily treated her most serious wounds, not even having time to collect the most valuable Materials from the Azure Wind Wolf’s body.

She then staggered away from the battlefield, fleeing toward the outer edges of the mountain range.

After much trouble, she finally found a small cave hidden by vines beneath a steep cliff.

Only after confirming there was no danger inside did she slump to the ground, having almost no strength left to even Move a finger.

After swallowing the healing Medicinal Pills she carried with her, Ji Siyu began to circulate her power to heal.

Night fell quietly, and the Demon Beast Mountain Range at night was even more dangerous, with various terrifying beast roars echoing one after another.

But this small cave provided her with a temporary moment of respite.

Just as her mind settled and she was immersed in healing and recovery, the awakened memories in her mind stirred once again.

This time, what appeared was not an offensive sword scripture, but a Cultivation Technique named the Nirvana Scripture.

This technique was incredibly profound, seemingly pointing directly to the Origin of the Great Dao, explaining the ultimate principles of destruction and rebirth.

Ji Siyu was filled with doubt, not understanding why she would suddenly remember such powerful legacies.

But they appeared so naturally, as if they had always belonged to her, only having been sealed away for a long time.

Her intuition told her that these two techniques were vital to her, her hope for surviving this desperate situation and finding Chen Chuan.

Thus, she did not hesitate to begin attempting to Cultivate according to the route of the Nirvana Scripture.

Strangely, when she ran this scripture, it was so effortless and without any obstruction.

Spiritual power flowed along those incredibly complex meridian routes as smoothly as if she had cultivated this way thousands of times. A sense of familiarity originating from the depths of her Soul surged within her.

She gradually became lost in it, forgetting the pain of her injuries and the dangers of the outside world.

As the Nirvana Scripture operated, with her as the center, the Spiritual Qi of heaven and earth began to gather frantically, forming a visible Spiritual Qi vortex that poured into her body.

Her body was like a bottomless pit, greedily devouring this energy.

The spiritual power originally in the Ming Quan Realm began to undergo qualitative change, compression, and purification. Like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, it launched an assault toward a higher level.

Outside the cave, night owls hooted and Demonic Beasts roared.

Inside the cave, Ji Siyu sat with a solemn expression, her entire body enveloped in a layer of faint spiritual light.

Damaged Meridians were being reconstructed, and bone-deep wounds healed at a visible rate, revealing new, lustrous skin beneath.

Her aura was also climbing continuously at a staggering speed.

When the first ray of dawn the next day filtered through the gaps in the vines and into the cave, Ji Siyu slowly opened her eyes.

In her eyes, a layer of icy blue radiance and the luster of nirvanic rebirth intertwined, deep and powerful.

She lightly clenched her fist, feeling the surging and boundless spiritual power within her that far exceeded what she had before. An expression of disbelief appeared on her face.

First Level of the Furnace Realm!

In a single night, not only had all the injuries on her body completely healed without leaving a scar,

But her cultivation had also jumped directly from the Third Level of the Ming Quan Realm across several Ranks, breaking through into the Furnace Realm in one go.

The effects of this Nirvana Scripture were simply Heaven-Defying.

She stood up and stretched her limbs, her body full of a sense of power.

The previous weakness and heavy injuries felt like just a nightmare.

Now, she felt that even if she faced the Azure Wind Wolf again, she would have the strength to fight, and even defeat it.

However, the joy was only fleeting.

She knew very well that the First Level of the Furnace Realm still counted for little in the Intermediate area of the Demon Beast Mountain Range.

That was the range of activity for Fifth-Rank Demonic Beasts, equivalent to the Mountain Sea Realm of human Cultivators, or even higher.

But so what?

Ji Siyu walked out of the cave and looked toward the deeper parts of the mountain range, her gaze firm and persistent.

Sunlight fell on her moon-white gown, which was now clean of bloodstains and had become bright again, as if draping her in a layer of holy radiance.

To complete the Inner Sect Disciple examination, Chen Chuan must still be deep within that more dangerous Intermediate area.

She had to find him; she had to find him before he returned to the Primordial Holy Land and officially became an Inner Sect Disciple.

This infatuation, having gone through life and death, had not weakened but instead became clearer and firmer due to the increase in her strength and the Awakening of her memories.

She tidied her clothes and clenched her fists, the Furnace Realm spiritual power within her body flowing slowly, giving her unprecedented confidence.

Without any hesitation, Ji Siyu’s figure once again turned into a moon-white streak of light, heading deep into the peril-filled Intermediate area of the Demon Beast Mountain Range.

Whether what lay ahead was a mountain of knives and a sea of fire, or a dragon’s pool and a tiger’s den, for the sake of that figure in her heart, she went forward without looking back.