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What came into his view were seven human figures in different shapes and forms, full of primitive and wild atmosphere!

Each picture is extremely simple, yet it contains an indescribable and profound rhythm! The human figures are in bizarre and unparalleled poses, some roaring to the sky, some bowing to the earth, some twisted like snakes, some stretching out like roc... Their lines are ancient and vigorous, as if they were not painted on, but rather patterns naturally formed by heaven and earth!
What's even more astonishing is that next to the seven pictures, there are also densely packed oracle bone script annotations. Those characters seem to come alive, jumping and combining in Yi Huawei's eyes, exuding an indescribable Taoist charm!

Yi Huawei's gaze was fixed on the first image! It was a human figure looking up and absorbing energy, surrounded by oracle bone script like stars. His mind was instantly drawn into it! The few wisps of primordial true energy within his body, under the guidance of this image, began to flow extremely subtly and spontaneously, following an unprecedented trajectory that was more in line with the primordial energy of heaven and earth!
Although it was still incredibly difficult and heavily suppressed by the rules of the world, the profound truth contained in this trajectory itself made his soul tremble!
"So that's how it is... It's not a cultivation technique... It's a key... A key to unlock the origin of heaven and earth..."

A tremendous wave of emotion surged within Yi Huawei!
This "Longevity Manual" isn't some kind of internal energy cultivation method at all! It's more like a key to unlock the treasure trove of energy in the universe, a "beacon" that directly guides cultivators to communicate with, absorb, and refine the most primal and purest energy in the world! It skips the tedious process of accumulating internal strength and opening meridians in traditional martial arts, pointing directly to the source of power! No wonder no one has mastered it! Without a profound understanding of the ultimate principles of the universe, without a strong and resilient body and will capable of withstanding the onslaught of primordial energy, forcibly cultivating it is tantamount to playing with fire!

My gaze continued to sweep over the outlines of the other images, trying to imprint every line and every oracle bone script character deep into my mind. Time seemed to lose its meaning at that moment.

Kou Zhong was so nervous that his palms were sweaty. It felt like an eternity had passed (in reality, it was only a dozen or so breaths). He couldn't hold back any longer. He suddenly rolled up the scroll and shoved it back into the bamboo tube with lightning speed. With a "click," he sealed it and quickly wrapped it again with oilcloth, clutching it tightly to his chest as if afraid it would be taken away. He took several steps back, his back slamming heavily against the earthen wall of the dilapidated temple. He gasped for breath, staring at Yi Huawei in shock.

The fanatical light in Yi Huawei's eyes slowly faded, returning to a deep, still calm. He slowly closed his eyes, as if processing the immense shock of that fleeting glimpse. His charred face was expressionless, except for a faint, almost imperceptible aura of purple-gold, which seemed to be circulating within him along some new and extremely profound path, struggling yet resolute, drawing faintly from the omnipresent yet repulsive primordial energy of heaven and earth.

"rest assured."

Yi Huawei's hoarse voice rang out, carrying a strange sense of satisfaction, as if he had obtained the most important thing. He didn't look at the oilcloth wrapping again.

Kou Zhong was stunned for a moment, seemingly unable to believe that the other party really kept his promise. He hugged the bamboo tube tightly in his arms, stared at Yi Huawei warily, and slowly moved further away from him.

An eerie silence fell over the dilapidated temple.

Only in the corner, where Fu Junzhuo had been meditating with her eyes closed, did her fingers, resting on her knees, twitch almost imperceptibly the moment the scroll was unfurled. At that moment, beneath her tightly closed eyelids, her pupils seemed to move slightly. She wasn't fully meditative; she clearly sensed Kou Zhong and Yi Huawei's conversation, as well as the faint, strange fluctuations emanating from the unfurled scroll of the "Longevity Manual."

Three days later, outside the dilapidated temple.

As dawn broke, a thin mist, like a veil, enveloped the distant, undulating mountains. Birds chirped in the woods, and dewdrops rolled off the leaves, dripping onto the damp earth with a soft "plop."

Yi Huawei sat cross-legged on a flat bluestone in front of the temple. Most of his charred skin had faded, revealing new, jade-like skin underneath. Although still covered in hideous scars, his mobility was no longer greatly impaired. His eyes were slightly closed, his breathing long and even, and a faint purple-gold aura surrounded him, circulating slowly and steadily according to the new trajectory shown in the first diagram of the "Longevity Manual".

Each cycle of the Heavenly Dao was like trudging through a viscous swamp. The Heavenly Dao of this world still strongly rejected him, but the cultivation method of the "Longevity Scripture," which directly addressed the origin, allowed him to find a sliver of a crack in the rules. Although the recovery speed was far from his peak, it was a world of difference compared to his previous tortoise-like progress.

"Shh~"

There were soft footsteps behind me.

"senior."

Fu Junzhuo's voice was still somewhat weak, but her breathing was much more steady. She had changed into coarse cloth clothes, a long sword hanging at her waist, and although her face was pale, the stubbornness in her eyes had not diminished at all: "We are ready. Are you really willing..."

Yi Huawei slowly opened his eyes, a flash of purple-gold light disappearing deep within his pupils. He stood up, his movements slow yet steady, and turned to look at the temple entrance.

Just as he turned around, the morning light shone softly on his face through the sparse branches and leaves.

Fu Junzhuo's voice abruptly stopped!

Her pupils contracted sharply, and her breath seemed to freeze for a moment! She stared intently at Yi Huawei's face, her eyes filled with unparalleled shock and... disbelief!
The face before her was completely different from the charred and hideous one she had seen before! Most of the charred crust had been removed, and the new skin, bathed in the morning light, possessed a near-perfect, warm, jade-like hue, so delicate that pores were invisible. The brow bone was clearly defined, the nose high and straight, and the lips sharply defined. Most unsettling were the eyes—deep as a cold pool, calm and still, yet seemingly holding the mysteries of the universe, possessing a penetrating insight. The few fine lines at the corners of the eyes, far from indicating age, added an indescribable air of vicissitude and majesty.

This...how is this possible? !
Fu Junzhuo's heart was filled with shock! During the few days she spent with Yi Huawei, he was unkempt and disheveled, so she had never been able to see his face clearly. She had assumed that someone who could trigger heavenly punishment and withstand the purple lightning without dying must be a reclusive master, or at least an old monster over seventy years old with a profound and dignified aura!

But the face before me... although it bore several charred scars that hadn't completely faded, it was clearly an extremely young face, one could even say so handsome as to be almost otherworldly! Judging by its bone structure, it was definitely no more than thirty years old!
However, this young face is adorned with eyes that have witnessed countless years and understood the vicissitudes of life! The indifference, calmness, and absolute control over all things in those eyes are not something a young person could possess!
What terrified her even more was that the moment her eyes met his, a chilling and oppressive aura emanating from the depths of her soul instantly seized her, making her almost want to kneel down and submit! This contradictory feeling, this extreme contrast, left her mind in complete chaos!
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were also startled by Fu Junzhuo's sudden outburst. Following Fu Junzhuo's gaze, they also saw Yi Huawei's current appearance. Kou Zhong gasped and whispered to Xu Ziling, "Wow! Young Master Ling, look! So that's what it looks like under the charcoal... so..."

He couldn't find the right words to describe that youthful, handsome, yet almost blinding feeling. Xu Ziling's eyes widened in disbelief; he remembered just a few days ago this man looked like burnt charcoal, but now…

The two looked at each other in bewilderment. Kou Zhong had a sudden thought and wanted to ask Yi Huawei if he had understood the 'Longevity Manual', but he lowered his head under Yi Huawei's indifferent gaze.

Fu Junzhuo snapped back to reality, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in her heart. Realizing her loss of composure, she quickly lowered her head, concealing the surprise and uncertainty in her eyes, her voice trembling slightly: "Senior... Senior..."

She was momentarily at a loss for words; the face was so young, yet the gaze and the aura...

Yi Huawei took in Fu Junzhuo's instantaneous shock, bewilderment, and the barely suppressed suspicion. His gaze remained unwavering, as if he were already accustomed to such reactions. He was completely unconcerned about his current appearance; a century of imperial life had long since taught him to see through appearances. He was more concerned with restoring his strength and the purpose of his journey.

"Since I promised you, I will definitely send you to the South!"

Yi Huawei's voice was still hoarse, but his original cold tone could be heard, and he completely ignored Fu Junzhuo's loss of composure.

Fu Junzhuo composed herself, forcing herself not to look at that mind-blowing face, and turned her gaze southward: "The Song Clan's fleet has a base in Yuhang. I have an agreement with Song Shidao that if I can escape, we will meet there." She paused, her fingers unconsciously tracing the wound under her ribs, her voice regaining its usual coldness: "Although Yuwen Huaji is dead, the Yuwen Clan's power is immense, and the north is already a den of dragons and tigers. Only by heading south can we temporarily avoid their sharp edge."

As she said this, a thought flashed through her mind: With this person's strength, why would he need to avoid any confrontation? But since he asked, she answered.

Yi Huawei nodded slightly. He had no interest in the power struggles among these forces, but now that he had obtained the "Longevity Manual"—or rather, had memorized it—escorting these three people for a while would be a way of repaying the kindness he had shown them over the past few days. He always distinguished between gratitude and resentment.

"Walk."

He spoke succinctly and strode forward.

Fu Junzhuo gazed at his tall, imposing figure, which exuded an air of boundless indifference, her heart filled with mixed emotions. The impact of that young, handsome face still resonated within her, but now she felt an even deeper, unfathomable awe. She silently followed.

The four walked along the mountain path. Yi Huawei led the way, his steps steady. Fu Junzhuo followed closely behind, but subconsciously lagged half a step behind, her gaze lingering on Yi Huawei's back with complex emotions, occasionally glancing at his newly formed, jade-like skin and the lingering scorch marks, a strong sense of contradiction constantly lingering within her. Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling brought up the rear, occasionally whispering to each other, their eyes also involuntarily glancing at the figure ahead.

"Young Master Zhong, do you really think he'll escort us to the south?" Xu Ziling asked in a low voice, his eyes fixed ahead.

"Who knows."

Kou Zhong pursed his lips, but his eyes involuntarily glanced at Yi Huawei's profile, his tone tinged with uncertainty: "This...this kind of monster, how could we possibly fathom it? But since you promised, you shouldn't go back on your word, right?"

"Shh!"

Fu Junzhuo turned around and glared at them, and the two immediately fell silent, but the curiosity in their eyes only intensified.

At noon, the four of them rested by a stream. Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling rushed over to wash their faces with water, while Fu Junzhuo carefully checked the surroundings and only squatted down to scoop up a handful of clear water after confirming it was safe.

Yi Huawei stood on a protruding rock by the stream, gazing into the distance. Although his senses were limited by his injuries, he could still detect the sounds of horses' hooves and the clanging of metal several miles away—it was the Yuwen Clan's pursuers, a considerable number of them, searching the area in a fan shape.

He suddenly spoke, his voice calm: "There are pursuers."

Fu Junzhuo's hand trembled, and water leaked through her fingers. She abruptly stood up, temporarily putting aside the shock of that young, handsome face: "How many people?"

"More than twenty riders."

Yi Huawei said calmly, his gaze still fixed on the distance: "The leader's aura is similar to that of Yuwen Huaji." In his mind, he assessed that this person's skill was more profound and refined than Yuwen Huaji's, and he should be a clan leader-level figure.

Fu Junzhuo's expression changed drastically, and she exclaimed, "It's Yuwen Shang! The head of the Yuwen clan!" Turning to Kou Zhong and the other man who were still joking around, she said sternly, "Pack up quickly! We must leave immediately!"

When Yuwen Shangqin arrived, the danger he faced far exceeded that of Yuwen Huaji!
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were startled by her sudden nervousness and hurriedly grabbed their bags.

Yi Huawei remained standing, his gaze deep. He felt the less than 10% of his true energy recovering within him, and then looked up at the leaden-gray sky—there, a certain will was vaguely watching him, warning him not to "cross the line" again.

"senior?"

Fu Junzhuo looked at him with suspicion, her heart filled with anxiety.

Yi Huawei withdrew his gaze, leaped down from the rock, and his movements carried a composure and decisiveness that seemed incongruous with his youthful face: "I'll cover the rear."

Fu Junzhuo was taken aback, then understood. Yuwen Shang's target was her and the "Longevity Manual." Leaving Yi Huawei behind to cover their retreat was undoubtedly the most effective strategy, but also the most dangerous. She gave Yi Huawei a deep look; his handsome yet cold face now revealed a captivating sense of responsibility. Suppressing her complex emotions, without any affected refusal, she solemnly clasped her hands in a salute, her voice filled with unprecedented sincerity:
"I can't thank you enough! See you in Chengdu!"

After saying that, he grabbed Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling and quickly ran downstream along the stream, never looking back.

Yi Huawei stood still, waiting quietly. He drew the ordinary horizontal sword from his waist, his fingers lightly tracing the blade. The cold metallic touch sent a shiver through him, and the blade reflected his cold, prematurely young face, and his unfathomable eyes, like an abyss, filled with endless vicissitudes.

In the distance, the sound of horses' hooves drew closer, like the dull beat of drums striking the earth.

Startled birds scattered and fled through the woods, emitting sharp cries.

A bloody battle is inevitable.

(End of this chapter)