Invincibility starts when I see the BOSS health bar.

Chapter 1036 Waste
Her gaze became somewhat unfocused, as if she had traveled through time and space back to that fateful night.

Back then, it was she who personally killed Ruru.

It was she who made that difficult choice.

Now, facing the issue of "resurrection," her feelings are incredibly complex.

Take a deep breath, as if to suppress all emotions into the deepest part of your heart.

She looked up and met Fang Yu's deep, questioning eyes.

Slowly, yet forcefully, Ding Hui nodded heavily:

"Alright! Then, let's revive Diao Ruru!"

Finally...

Fang Yu's heart pounded like a drum on a battlefield, each beat striking his chest.

It was a complex emotion mixed with anticipation, anxiety, and determination.

The long wait, the countless schemes, the brushes with death, even the blood and filth on our hands—weren't they all for this moment that is about to arrive?

The hope of reviving my second sister, that light in the darkness, has never been so clear and within reach.

He could even imagine Ruru opening her eyes again, looking at him with a bewildered expression.

The thought warmed his heart, but then suddenly made him feel a pang of sadness.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his turbulent emotions, and turned to the woman beside him who had been silently supporting him.

Ding Hui's face showed some fatigue, but her eyes remained clear and firm, as if she would stand behind him no matter what decision he made.

"There's no time to lose," Fang Yu's voice was low and hoarse from suppressing his emotions, his eyes burning. "I'll go to Juemen to find Lulu right now."

Ding Hui's understanding remained unchanged. She nodded gently, without any further questions, only complete trust and support: "Okay, I'll wait for your message."

She knew the importance of those materials and fully understood Fang Yu's burning urgency at that moment.

She looked at Fang Yu and added, "Be careful."

Fang Yu would never take Ding Hui into danger like that.

Nodding, Fang Yu looked up towards the inner courtyard of the Ouyang residence.

Under the corridor ahead, Hei Ao and Zuo Lü were like caged beasts, pacing back and forth anxiously, their faces filled with unease and worry.

Previously, when Master Ouyang activated the mansion's grand formation to deal with the Foolish Underworld's investigation, the inner courtyard also activated its formation, and the powerful barrier isolated the two of them in a side hall of the inner courtyard.

Despite their formidable martial prowess, the two were as powerless as children before the profound array, trapped in a corner, completely unaware of the earth-shattering commotion outside. This intense sense of powerlessness and worry for their companion tormented them.

Hei Ao tried several times to forcefully break through the array's light barrier, but was bounced back by a gentle yet resilient force, like punching cotton, with no effect.

Zuo Lü remained relatively calm, but her tightly pursed lips and the way her eyes constantly scanned the blurry scene outside the formation betrayed her inner turmoil.

Only when Master Ouyang returned and dispelled the formation with a wave of his hand did the two regain their freedom.

Master Ouyang briefly explained the situation, offered a few words of reassurance, and then instructed them to return to their rooms and wait.

But how could they sit still? They couldn't face themselves without seeing Ding Hui and Fang Yu return safely, and they couldn't imagine how they would face the consequences if something happened.

Seeing Fang Yu and Ding Hui return safely side by side, the two men's hearts, which had been in their throats, finally settled down, and they quickly went to greet them.

"Diao Deyi." Hei Ao's voice remained steady, but the concern and inquiry in his eyes were obvious.

"What happened outside? Why is there such a commotion?"

Zuo Lü was more direct. She frowned slightly and quickly glanced at Fang Yu and Ding Hui. After confirming that there were no obvious injuries, she asked the question that had been bothering her.

Fang Yu waved his hand, deliberately making his tone relaxed in an attempt to ease the previous tension: "It was just a minor incident. The people from the Foolish Underworld somehow managed to sneak over, but Master Ouyang has already dealt with them and sent them away. It was a false alarm."

Upon hearing this, Hei Ao and Zuo Lü's tense expressions finally relaxed, and the invisible pressure in their hearts dissipated.

"That's good."

The two of them almost simultaneously let out a long sigh of relief.

Fang Yu looked at them, his expression turning serious, and instructed them, "Help me escort Ding Hui back to her room. She needs to rest well and cannot be disturbed in any way."

“Okay!” the two replied.

Fang Yu glanced at Ding Hui, who nodded slightly, indicating that he could rest assured.

Fang Yu didn't linger any longer. He nodded to Hei Ao and Zuo Lü, then turned and started walking.

His figure quickly disappeared at the end of the winding corridors of the Ouyang Mansion, heading swiftly towards the Juemen stronghold.

……

Meanwhile, in a secluded dye house in the capital, the atmosphere was completely different from the temporary peace of the Ouyang residence, appearing heavy and oppressive.

The courtyard was spacious, with various fabrics drying in the sun, fluttering like banners in the afterglow of the setting sun. It should have been full of life, but at this moment, the presence of several people in the courtyard made it seem inexplicably desolate.

With a humble and respectful smile on her face, Lulu personally poured freshly brewed hot tea for the two elderly men sitting on the stone bench at the head of the table.

The tea was the finest Yunwujian variety, its aroma wafting gently, yet seemingly unable to dispel the invisible chill. "Elder Jielu, Elder Yingding, you have traveled a long way, and your journey must have been arduous. I apologize for not greeting you properly. I offer you this tea in place of wine to welcome you to the capital."

Lulu's voice was clear and crisp, and she kept a very humble posture.

These two uninvited guests were none other than the Discipline Elder and Shadow Cauldron Elder, who held high positions of power within the Absolute Gate and were in charge of the Criminal Affairs Hall and the Shadow Hall, respectively.

The elder of discipline had a stern and solemn face, with wrinkles as if carved by a knife and axe, and eyes as sharp as an eagle's, as if he could see into the depths of the human heart and the underworld.

Elder Yingding appeared thinner, with a pale face, sinister eyes, and an almost imperceptible aura, as if he blended into the shadows of the surrounding environment. If one did not pay special attention, it would be easy to overlook his presence.

They arrived much earlier than expected, and together, which was completely unexpected by Lulu.

Lulu thought to herself that the news of Elder Huxin's death had probably been quickly transmitted back to the sect through some unknown channel, which was why the two of them arrived in the capital ahead of schedule.

Unlike the deceased Elder Huxin, these two belong to a more conservative faction within the sect, emphasizing a steady and methodical approach. It would be extremely difficult to get them to willingly serve their audacious, even insane, plans.

As expected, the Discipline Elder did not touch the fragrant tea. His gaze was sharp and fixed on Lulu. He launched the first attack, his voice low and oppressive, each word like a hammer blow to the heart: "I heard that the Guardian Elder is dead?"

Lulu sneered inwardly, but her face instantly contorted with a perfectly timed expression of grief and indignation. She set down the purple clay teapot with a soft thud, her voice heavy with sorrow and a hint of a sob: "It was... Elder Huxin... who, while on a secret mission, was ambushed by a large number of demons and died fighting valiantly... He was surrounded, and even his remains couldn't be brought back intact..."

She raised her eyes, and there was indeed a glint of tears in them. "I, Lulu, will remember this grudge and will do everything in my power to avenge those demons!"

"Hmph!" Elder Yingding beside him let out an undisguised, mocking sneer. He was thin and his voice was hoarse like sandpaper. "You speak so grandly and sincerely! We old folks have known each other for decades and have been through so many storms together. Huxin died so inexplicably in a foreign land far from the sect. How can you just brush it off with a few empty words?"

He suddenly stood up, and his previously restrained aura suddenly emanated, instantly causing the temperature in the courtyard to drop a few degrees, and the cloths drying in the sun to move without any wind.

"Hu Xin's death proves that your plan is riddled with flaws and extremely risky, beyond our control! I hereby declare that, effective immediately, all personnel of the Juemen Sect shall withdraw from the capital and stay away from this place of trouble! We cannot allow you to continue your reckless behavior, otherwise, I fear that all the elites of the Juemen Sect will perish in this quagmire of the capital!"

His words carried an undeniable resolve, clearly indicating that he was genuinely angry.

Lulu's humble expression vanished instantly, her face darkened as if covered with frost, and her tone hardened.

"Elder Yingding, what makes you say such a thing? This is alarmist! We have already made progress in the capital, achieving crucial, even decisive, results! The matter of Elder Huxin was purely accidental. Those demons were too cunning and cruel. How can we give up such a great situation because of a minor incident?"

"An accident?" The Discipline Elder finally picked up his teacup and gently skimmed the foam off the surface with the lid. His movements were slow, yet carried an invisible pressure. He took a small sip, his tone calm but weighty, as if stating an undeniable fact.

"Once might be an accident. But let me ask you, why does even Elder Yan Jin, who always prioritizes the greater good, have reservations about you and even refuse to obey your orders on several occasions? Lulu, the sect leader values ​​your talent and courage, but that's not a reason for you to act recklessly and risk the lives of the sect's disciples. Losing a powerful elder is already a devastating blow to the sect, crossing the bottom line of the sect's tolerance! This matter is not for you to act arbitrarily!"

He put down his teacup, his gaze sharp as a knife. "Today, the two of us will join forces and exercise our elder authority to recall all the disciples in the capital!"

"Who dares!"

Lulu slammed her hand on the stone table and stood up abruptly, causing several fine cracks to appear on the tabletop.

She stared coldly at the two elders, her aura becoming dangerous and sharp, completely devoid of her previous humility.

She slowly took out an object from her bosom. It was a strangely shaped, dark black token, neither gold nor wood, and icy to the touch. Intricate cloud patterns and a powerful "绝" (jué) character were engraved on it.

"The sect leader's token is here! Seeing this is as if the sect leader is here in person! I am acting on the sect leader's orders and am fully responsible for all actions in the capital. I have the authority to make decisions on the spot! If you dare to disobey orders today, you will be openly betraying the Juemen Sect and defying the sect leader!"

Her voice rose, carrying an unassailable authority, "I'd like to see whether, upon returning to the sect, your crimes of insubordination and disobeying the sect leader's orders are more serious, or whether my actions of strictly carrying out the sect leader's orders and expanding the situation are more justified!"

The appearance of the sect leader's token was like throwing a boulder into a calm lake.

The expressions of the Discipline and Shadow Cauldron Elders immediately turned extremely ugly, their eyes filled with anger, fear, and a hint of helplessness.

They can question Lulu's abilities and motives, but they cannot openly defy the supreme authority of the sect leader represented by this token.

That was not just power, but also a symbol of the enduring legacy of a family line.

The atmosphere in the room froze, tense and ready to fight, as if even the air itself had stopped moving.

Seeing that she had intimidated the two, Lulu calmed down a bit, softened her tone, and sat down again, trying to ease the atmosphere by reasoning with them and appealing to their emotions.

"Elders, I know you are heartbroken over the passing of Elder Huxin, and so am I, as if I have lost a respected elder. But please believe me, our goal is near, success is just around the corner! This is precisely the time when we need your full support to make this a great achievement. How can we let a temporary setback ruin everything? If you two help me, when we succeed, the sect will surely remember your irreplaceable contribution! At that time, the sect will be revived and its power will shake the world, and you two will be among the greatest contributors!"

Elder Yingding snorted coldly, his face turning ashen as he sat down again. His tone remained harsh, but his attitude was no longer as resolute as before, clearly indicating that the sect leader's token had played a crucial role: "Words are meaningless! Eloquent words! We need to see Yan Jin first and ask him face to face how Hu Xin died and what the specific circumstances were at the place of his fall! We also need to find out whether you were carrying out the sect leader's secret orders or engaging in treacherous activities while leading the Juemen disciples in the capital, and where you placed the sect's power! Only then can we discuss whether to help you!"

Lulu knew perfectly well that with the sect leader's token, these two wouldn't dare to disobey orders on the surface, but it was inevitable that they would "obey orders but not proclamations" and "go through the motions without putting in any effort." They were just waiting for a suitable opportunity to make trouble or to find a definite flaw in her actions.

However, she didn't care too much. As long as the people stayed in the capital and didn't leave immediately, she had her own ways to slowly tie them to her own chariot, or... remove obstacles when necessary.

A bright and sincere smile returned to her face, and she quickly agreed, "Of course, of course! Leave this to me. I will arrange for the two elders to meet with Elder Yan Jin as soon as possible. You two have come a long way and must be tired from your journey. Please rest here first. I have already ordered someone to prepare a quiet room."

She clapped her hands, and immediately two elite disciples dressed in close-fitting clothes and exuding a sharp aura emerged silently from the shadows in the corner and stood respectfully in attendance.

The two elders' expressions softened slightly, and they nodded reluctantly before getting up to leave.

However, after taking only a few steps, they stopped simultaneously as if by telepathy, their sharp eyes, like those of hawks that have spotted their prey, fixed on the entrance to the courtyard.

Their keen senses, born of experts, allowed them to detect an approaching, undeniable aura.

Lulu was slightly taken aback. Following their gaze, she saw Fang Yu walk steadily and calmly into the courtyard.

The golden rays of the setting sun outlined a halo behind him as he walked straight in, seemingly oblivious to the slightly tense atmosphere in the courtyard.

"Young Master Diao!"

Lulu's face instantly lit up with a smile of surprise and delight, a smile that was at least ten times more genuine than when she faced the two elders. It was as if she had seen her closest ally, and she greeted him warmly, even inadvertently revealing a touch of girlish charm.

(End of this chapter)