Chapter 125: The Turmoil in Jizhou

The second level was a world of blazing red. The moment Che Wuyou stepped out, he was met with waves of searing energy. Beside him, Li Zhen sat pale-faced, cross-legged atop a massive stone, white steam rising continuously from his head like a steaming chamber. Astonishingly, he was using the fire attribute energy of the second level to heal his wounds.

Carrying the gravely injured and unconscious Zhang Qing’er on his back, Che Wuyou gazed blankly at the misty crimson surroundings. Visibility stretched only about ten meters around them; beyond that, everything was an indistinct sea of red.

Gently setting Zhang Qing’er down, Che Wuyou carefully examined her injuries and couldn’t help but furrow his brow. Her condition was grim. She had suffered heart vein injuries from the edge-less sword of the Steel Giant and had been further worsened by the tyrannical, spirit-infused roar of the Steel Giant. The young girl was gravely wounded.

Che Wuyou looked at her delicate, flawless face tinged with a sickly flush, then touched her feverish forehead, hot as burning coals. A heavy weight settled in his heart. If only he had some elixirs or medicinal herbs, perhaps he could still treat her. But after entering the Tower to the Heavens, all such items had been confiscated. Even though he had made some progress in alchemy, he had no effective means to apply it here.

Che Wuyou sat cross-legged and first tended to his own injuries. Though he was badly hurt as well, his recovery was almost superhuman. In less than an hour of meditation and healing, his wounds had mended to about seventy or eighty percent. The "Qi Huang Canon" was truly a miraculous tome, its body-refining techniques at the core. Though Che Wuyou had only scratched the surface, his resilience and healing far surpassed others.

“I wonder how Yun Fan is doing,” Che Wuyou murmured. From the energy pillar, he had glimpsed the fierce battle between the Steel Giant and Yun Fan. The giant’s aura had been rising wildly, like a slowly awakening ancient beast, its bloodthirsty madness sending chills even from afar.

The Steel Giant’s aura was undoubtedly beyond the Realm of Return. Che Wuyou secretly worried for Yun Fan’s safety. If not for his instigation, Yun Fan might not have fought over the Steel Giant’s edge-less sword. Now, for that sword and to fulfill a promise to save Che Wuyou once, Yun Fan’s fate was unknown. Che Wuyou felt a pang of guilt.

“Let’s wait for him a while… Even if he escapes with his life, he’s likely severely injured and near death. Though the second level may not be able to care for him fully, any little help is something,” Che Wuyou resolved silently. Yet, his hands did not idle, his fingers moving swiftly over Zhang Qing’er’s body.

“It’s the first time using the Golden Touch to heal someone. I wonder if it can halt the deterioration of her wounds.” Che Wuyou employed one of the three ancient alchemical techniques—the Golden Touch. Said to transform decay into miracle, it greatly benefited alchemy and, when applied to the body, could bring tremendous aid. Since his spiritual power had broken through to the third rank, his mastery of the Golden Touch had advanced. Now, not only had he fully comprehended it, but he had reached its entry level.

Che Wuyou’s hands flowed like clouds and water, moving swiftly across Zhang Qing’er’s body. Watching was oddly pleasing to the eye. With a single continuous motion, his final fingertip pressed directly on her brow. Zhang Qing’er winced slightly in pain, furrowing her brow, then slowly opened her eyes.

She looked around at the crimson haze in confusion. After adjusting, her beautiful eyes fixed on Che Wuyou’s face. She stared for a long moment before asking, “Brother Wuyou, where are we? Why do you look so pale? Are you badly hurt?”

“Don’t move. You’re seriously injured,” Che Wuyou hastily pressed down on her as she tried to sit up. “You need to rest properly. I don’t have any suitable medicine right now, so I can only try to stop your condition from worsening... But don’t worry. The second level should have the herbs you need. If we search carefully, we will find them.”

After speaking, Che Wuyou sighed, doubting their chances. He didn’t even know what was on the second level. Then he asked, “How did you come to Qingchi? Has anything happened in Jizhou? Is the Miao family alright? Have you heard any news about Liu Lanzhi? Has she assumed her position as head of the Miao family?”

This was the question Che Wuyou cared most about. Liu Lanzhi had told him she would come to Qingchi and join the Qingchi Sword Sect, which was why Che Wuyou was determined to stay there.

A complex expression flickered across Zhang Qing’er’s face. Then she said, “Brother Wuyou, don’t you know what’s been happening in Jizhou? It’s utter chaos now.”

“What? Why is it chaos? What exactly happened?” Che Wuyou’s face turned even paler. He looked at Zhang Qing’er intently, clenching his fists tightly, fearing bad news.

“Ever since the uproar over the Supplement Pill in Jizhou, rumors about the Miao family’s Great Embrace Pill trial have spread... In such a barren place as Jizhou, to produce so many young alchemical prodigies capable of refining the Great Embrace Pill has naturally caught the attention of those with intentions,” Zhang Qing’er paused, thinking: this young man before her was the very alchemical expert who had taken first place in the pill trial.

When Zhang Qing’er fell silent, Che Wuyou anxiously pressed, “And then? What happened next?”

But Zhang Qing’er, weak from her injuries, soon felt dizzy. Seeing Che Wuyou’s earnest, concerned gaze waiting for the rest, she grew uncomfortable. Che Wuyou still cared so deeply for Liu Lanzhi, regardless of what had happened with the Miao family or how they treated him.

Zhang Qing’er had already heard of what happened to Che Wuyou at the Miao family. Given the vast power of the Xuanqing Sect, learning such things was not difficult. The incident had been scandalous: two of Miao Shilin's most favored disciples had died, and a young alchemical genius had mysteriously disappeared. Though the Miao family kept it tightly sealed, how could such things be hidden from the all-seeing Xuanqing Sect?

Lost in thought and growing bitter, Zhang Qing’er, frail and irritated, said, “I’m very tired. I’ll tell you slowly later. I don’t want to talk about it now.” She then closed her eyes and turned her head away, ignoring him completely.