Overdraw the future and become a peerless martial god

Chapter 230 The Light of Guidance, Summoning the Soul
Looking at the pure unfamiliarity and unease in his eyes, Dong'er felt a mix of emotions.

The unruly Chu Ning, burdened with a heavy fate and capable of burning everything for the one he loved, seemed to have vanished along with that near-death ordeal.

What remains is a "newborn" person whose soul core has been reshaped, whose sea of ​​consciousness has been shattered, and whose memories are blank.

"Your name is Chu Ning." Dong'er's voice lowered, carrying a complex emotion, as she began to weave a "reality" that could temporarily soothe him.

“We… are comrades. We were ambushed by a powerful enemy here. You were seriously injured and almost died while protecting me.” She avoided Qingli and those heavy past events, only sketching a simple “present” full of danger and sacrifice.

“Chu… Ning?” He repeated his name, his eyes still blank, as if trying to connect the symbol with “himself”.

"Protect you...when you're injured?" He looked at Dong'er's withered face, then looked down at his own weak and powerless body, as if trying to understand the concept.

Just then, his hand, which was unconsciously pressed against his chest, touched the Soul-Guiding Stone, which was pressed against his skin and had a warm, milky-white glow.

Almost simultaneously, his empty eyes flickered.

A faint yet incredibly clear throbbing sensation, like a pebble thrown into stagnant water, instantly ripples outwards.

His brows furrowed sharply, and his fingers unconsciously gripped the Soul-Guiding Stone tightly.

An indescribable feeling, a mixture of intense heartache, endless longing, and deep-seated panic, swept away his nascent and fragile dam of consciousness without warning, like a tsunami.

"Ugh—!" he let out a painful growl, his body curling up violently as he clutched his head tightly with both hands.

The milky-white light that had just healed between his brows flickered violently, and the newly formed soul patterns seemed to be pulled by an invisible hand, sending out a tearing pain.

“Qing…Qing…” A broken syllable, filled with heart-wrenching pain and struggle, was squeezed out from his clenched teeth.

He abruptly raised his head, his bloodshot, empty eyes fixed on Dong'er, filled with unspeakable pain and an almost frantic urgency:

"Where...where is she?! She...she's in danger! I...I can feel it! She's...she's bleeding! She's...calling for me!"

Dong'er was struck dumb.

He stared at Chu Ning in shock.

A Soul-Guiding Stone! It's a Soul-Guiding Stone!

And the soul essence light that merged into his soul core.

They resonated with the deepest, most profound bond he had with "Qingli" deep within his consciousness.

Even though memories were buried in chaos, and consciousness was shattered, this instinctive call from the deepest part of the soul core broke through all obstacles and erupted at this moment.

“She…” Dong’er opened her mouth, but seeing the pain and urgency in Chu Ning’s eyes that seemed to burn her to ashes, all the comforting words she had prepared beforehand got stuck in her throat.

Deceiving such a soul torn apart by instinct made her feel an unprecedented heaviness.

"Tell me!" Chu Ning suddenly grabbed Dong'er's wrist with such force that it was completely unlike someone who had just woken up from a serious injury.

Those empty eyes were now burning with a terrifying flame—fear, despair, and the madness of needing an answer.

"Where is she?! Take me to her! Now! Right now!"

His condition is extremely unstable.

The newly formed soul core fluctuated violently under the intense emotional impact, and the milky white light between its brows flickered uncertainly. At the edge of the newly healed crack, there seemed to be a trace of black death energy seeping out again.

Forcibly suppressing or deceiving him will only plunge him into deeper chaos and self-destruction.

Dong'er's heart sank to the bottom.

She grabbed Chu Ning's wrist with her other hand, and a gentle but irresistible surge of soul power instantly flowed in, forcefully calming the fluctuations in his soul core that were on the verge of going berserk.

"Calm down!" Her voice was sterner than ever before. "Do you want to die?! Your soul core has just been rebuilt, it's incredibly fragile! If this continues, the soul rift will relapse, and even a god couldn't save you! How are you going to find her then?!"

"Where is she?!" Chu Ning seemed to hear no advice, staring intently at Dong'er, repeating the same question, the flames in her eyes almost scorching her.

It was an obsession that transcended reason and even life and death; it was the ultimate meaning of his existence.

Looking at the heart-wrenching pain and reckless madness in his eyes, Dong'er seemed to see the figure who resolutely stepped into the Well of Coffins back then.

She took a deep breath of the cold air, suppressing the complex emotions in her heart, and finally said in a deep voice:

"She is in the Eye of the Ruins."

"Deep within the ruins of the Ancient Soul Clan."

"To save you, she ventured alone into the perilous land; her fate... is unknown."

Every word struck Chu Ning's heart like a heavy hammer.

The mad flames in his eyes froze instantly, then were replaced by a deeper, colder despair.

He slowly loosened his grip on Dong'er's wrist, slumped back against the cold tree trunk, and stared blankly at the gray sky, utterly lost and dejected.

“The Eye of the Ruins…” he murmured. The name seemed to touch a chaotic fragment deep in his mind, bringing a sharp pain, but he could not grasp any clear image.

Only the deep-seated panic and heartache became clearer.

"I want to go..." He struggled to get up again, his voice weak but with an undeniable determination, "Take me...to find her..."

"With your current abilities?" Dong'er ruthlessly shattered his illusions. "Your soul core is as fragile as glass, your sea of ​​consciousness is as chaotic as ruins, you can barely walk! What are you going to use to break into the Eye of the Ruins? What are you going to use to face those sleeping skeletons as guardians? Are you going to save her, or are you going to be buried with her?!"

Chu Ning's body stiffened, the desperate flame in her eyes was extinguished by the cruel reality, leaving only a deep sense of powerlessness and near-suffocating despair.

He looked down at his trembling, powerless hands and realized for the first time clearly how "useless" he was.

Looking at the despair in his eyes, Dong'er felt her heart sink as heavy as lead.

Qing Li's fate is unknown, Chu Ning's memories are confused and he has lost all his power, and he is surrounded by powerful enemies... The situation is extremely dire.

"The most urgent task is to help you stabilize your soul core and regain some mobility as soon as possible." Dong'er's voice regained its calmness. "We can't stay here any longer. Although the fluctuations of the Soul Source Essence Light were mostly covered up by the special domain of the Eye of Return to Nothingness, it's hard to guarantee that it won't attract the attention of some beings. We must move immediately."

She decisively stood up, preparing to help Chu Ning up: "Let's go back to the Fox Ancestor's fiefdom first. There's a barrier I've set up there, so it's relatively safe..."

The words have not yet been spoken!

"Hehehehe..."

A low, hoarse laugh, filled with sarcasm and greed, like the cry of an owl, suddenly rang out from the dead silence of the cold forest!
"Truly...a heartbreaking sight." The voice drifted on and off, as if coming from all directions. "Chu Ning...the 'Boundary Breaker' of the First-Class Pavilion, the legendary leader of the Thirty-Six Ascended...I never imagined he would end up in such a state? And I never imagined that the legendary 'Soul Source Essence Light'...actually existed? Moreover, it seems to have fallen into your hands?"

Dong'er's expression changed drastically.

A terrifyingly cold light suddenly flashed in his withered eyes.

She suddenly shielded Chu Ning behind her, instantly raising the last of her soul power as she warily scanned the gradually fading snow-covered forest.

In the shadow of a few withered trees not far ahead, the air seemed to ripple like water.

Three figures dressed in uniform dark green outfits, their faces covered with pale, faceless masks, appeared silently like ghosts.

The leader was of medium height, carrying a strangely shaped, long, narrow curved sword on his back. The only eye visible beneath his mask was his eyes, which, like those of a venomous snake, were coldly fixed on Dong'er and Chu Ning, radiating undisguised greed and murderous intent. The two behind him had slightly weaker auras, but they also carried a chilling murderous aura.

"The 'Faceless Soul Hunter' of the Tianquan Palace?!" Dong'er's voice was as cold as a knife, and she instantly recognized the other party's origin.

This is a secret force affiliated with a powerful ancient sect called "Tianquan Palace," specializing in tracking and hunting down valuable targets. Their methods are ruthless, like a persistent, malignant infection.

"Good eye." The faceless leader chuckled sinisterly, his gaze sweeping over the weakened Chu Ning and the milky-white light between his brows, his greed growing stronger. "Hand over the original aura of the Soul Source Marrow Light, and... the whereabouts of that little girl who triggered the Marrow Light. Perhaps, I can grant you a quick death."

The two Soul Hunters behind him moved slightly, spreading out in a horn-like formation, their invisible killing intent instantly locking onto Dong'er and Chu Ning.

The crisis had already arrived the moment Chu Ning awoke.

The forest was deathly silent; though the wind and snow had stopped, the air was still as still as ice.

Three dark green figures, like ghostly apparitions, their pale, faceless masks appearing even more eerie against the backdrop of withered branches and snow.

The leader of the Faceless Soul Hunters had his snake-like eyes greedily fixed on the milky-white light between Chu Ning's brows that had not yet completely faded. His killing intent was like a tangible ice needle, chilling one's soul to the bone.

"It seems I'll have to do it myself?" The leader of the Soul Hunters' voice carried a teasing tone, like a cat playing with a mouse, as his fingers lightly touched the hilt of the long, narrow, curved sword behind him.

A cold, viscous soul pressure, carrying a penetrating spiritual force, descended upon Dong'er and Chu Ning like an invisible spider web.

They attempted to directly undermine their will to resist.

A cold glint flashed in Dong'er's withered eyes.

The target was extremely clear—the still unstable Soul Source Essence Light within Chu Ning's body.

Never let the other party get close.

We must not let Chu Ning suffer any further shocks.

"Go!" A sharp shout rang out like a thunderclap.

Dong'er's gaunt figure suddenly took a step forward.

With that step, the remaining soul power around her exploded like a piece of withered wood being ignited.

It is no longer the gentle protection, but the resolute determination to burn everything away.

The plain blue fox fur robe fluttered and rustled even without wind.

"Fox Ancestor's Secret Technique: Qinglan Barrier!"

Om-!
A solid, crystalline wall of cyan light, shimmering with ancient fox patterns, instantly rose up in front of her.

The light wall was not purely defensive; countless tiny cyan runes on its surface spun wildly, emitting a strong force of mental interference and soul energy dissipation.

Chi Chi Chi -!
The chilling soul pressure released by the Faceless Soul Hunter crashed into the blue light wall, like boiling oil splashed on snow, producing a violent melting sound, and was mostly blocked.

However, the light wall also fluctuated violently, clearly indicating that it was barely holding on.

"Hmph! At its last gasp!" The leading Soul Hunter snorted coldly, and suddenly pulled his hand away from the hilt of his sword.

Clang——!
The long, narrow, curved sword was drawn from its sheath.

The blade was not metal, but rather a pale white material, resembling the spine of some enormous creature, with eerie, ghostly green runes flowing along its edges.

The blade trembled, emitting a nauseating buzzing sound.

"Soul Shattering Slash!"

A pale white blade of light, tinged with eerie green, like a bolt of lightning from the netherworld, accompanied by a piercing shriek that seemed to tear at the very soul, ignored spatial distance and instantly struck the azure barrier erected by Dong'er.

boom--! ! !
A deafening explosion.

The cyan light wall dented violently in response, and countless runes instantly collapsed.

Dong'er felt as if she had been struck by a heavy blow. She let out a muffled groan, her withered body swayed violently, and a trickle of dark red blood spilled from the corner of her mouth.

The already depleted soul power was instantly drained by more than half.

"Take him away! To the North Wind Pass! Quickly!" Dong'er's voice was hoarse and urgent, carrying an unquestionable command, directed at the two fox clan elites who had been silently guarding behind her.

A flash of grief and determination crossed the eyes of the two fox guards, and without hesitation, they lifted Chu Ning, who was still in a state of great panic and chaos.

Chu Ning was struck by the sudden battle and the pressure of the soul, his head throbbing with pain. A milky-white light flickered violently between his brows, and the newly formed soul patterns twisted in agony. He unconsciously let out a low, painful growl.

"She...is in danger...go...don't..."

"Young Master! Forgive me!" a guard shouted, forcefully suppressing Chu Ning's weak struggles. Together with his companion, they burst forth at top speed, dragging Chu Ning like two wisps of smoke, fleeing desperately into the depths of the dense forest in the northeast of Hanlin.

"Trying to run?!" Another faceless Soul Hunter shrieked, his figure swaying like a ghost as he bypassed Dong'er and the area of ​​fierce fighting, heading straight for the three fleeing individuals.

He held a pair of short daggers that gleamed with a cold, eerie blue light, moving so fast that they left afterimages in the air.

"Stay here!" A fierce glint flashed in Dong'er's eyes. Ignoring her own swaying precarious state, she pointed her finger like a knife and pointed it at the back of the pursuer.

"Foxfire - Soul-Chasing Nail!"

laugh!
A single, intensely concentrated, azure foxfire appeared instantly behind the pursuing Soul Hunter, as if by teleportation, regardless of distance.

Sensing a deadly threat, the Soul Hunter turned around in horror to block! The dark blue short daggers crossed and aimed at his heart.

puff!

The Foxfire Nail pierced precisely through the gaps in the short spikes' defenses and sank deep into his left shoulder! It wasn't a wound to flesh and blood, but rather a direct burn to his soul.

The Soul Hunter let out a shrill scream, his body suddenly froze, and the ghostly blue foxfire burned fiercely on his shoulder, corroding his soul.

"You're courting death!" The leading Soul Hunter was furious upon seeing this.

Chu Ning's escape and the heavy losses suffered by his subordinates thoroughly enraged him.

He no longer held back, and the pale bone knife in his hand glowed with a bright green rune.

"Heavenly Authority Secret Technique - A Thousand Souls Weep!"

Woohoo!!!!
Countless overlapping, twisted, and agonizing screams of souls, like a tangible sonic tsunami, suddenly erupted from the bone knife.

This sound ignored physical defenses and directly impacted the soul.

Target—Dong'er!
Dong'er's soul power was already depleted, and her spirit was exhausted from the previous treatment and battle.

This terrifying soul-piercing sonic wave impact was like millions of steel needles instantly piercing into the sea of ​​consciousness.

Suddenly everything went black before her eyes, and blood seeped from all seven orifices at the same time.

The azure barrier that had been erected could no longer be maintained and shattered with a crash.

(End of this chapter)