Fighting: Practice makes it real, start with a poisonous body.

"Shh, shh, shh..."

The bleak wind swept across the barren mountains, stirring up clouds of dust and withered leaves, which landed on the ravine-covered rocks, making a soft, rustling sound.

It was a desolate and uninhabited land, with towering mountains that were lifeless and rarely visited by birds or beasts, only the howling winds.

"Shh-!"

At that moment, a golden streak of light pierced the gray sky and landed heavily in a wide valley.

As the light faded, Gu Yuan's disheveled figure was revealed.

He knelt on one knee, his only remaining right hand pressing on the ground to support his swaying body. Although his left hand and left leg were barely sealed by fighting spirit, faint traces of blood still seeped out, staining the yellow soil beneath him.

Leaning against the cold, rough boulder behind him, Gu Yuan gasped for breath, his face as pale as paper.

"Cough cough..."

A violent coughing fit struck, and Gu Yuan could no longer hold back, spitting out a mouthful of dark red blood, which splattered onto the ground.

His injuries never fully healed. The two months he spent in the Pure Lotus Demon Saint's Tomb only managed to stabilize his injuries and repair some of his damaged meridians; he was far from reaching his peak condition.

In order to break through the encirclement of the beast army, he forcibly unleashed his holy power. Although he successfully escaped, it also triggered the backlash of the Star Destruction Sword Intent hidden within his body.

"Fortunately, as long as I escape the Tianheng Mountains, I will no longer be alone and helpless..."

Gu Yuan took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turmoil within his body. He flipped his hand, and a pure white Soul-Guiding Jade with intricate patterns appeared in his palm.

"Buzz, buzz, buzz..."

He gathered a faint wisp of soul power at his fingertips and slowly poured it into the Soul-Guiding Jade.

In an instant, the Soul-Guiding Jade shone brightly, and invisible soul fluctuations spread out like ripples, spreading in all directions.

After doing all this, Gu Yuan finally breathed a sigh of relief and leaned against the boulder to rest with his eyes closed.

Three days passed quietly in the long wait.

Two golden streaks of light pierced the sky and instantly descended into the valley. As the light faded, the figures of two elderly men with gray hair, both weary and disheveled, were revealed.

"Clan leader!"

Gu Jian and Gu Ming immediately spotted Gu Yuan leaning against the boulder and exclaimed in unison.

They strode forward, their gazes falling on Gu Yuan's empty left arm and left leg, their expressions instantly turning grim.

"Of all the ancient clan's saints, only the two of you remain..."

Gu Yuan slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping over Gu Jian and Gu Ming, his voice hoarse.

In the past, the ancient clan was incredibly prosperous, producing numerous sages and dominating the Central Plains. But now, the once mighty ancient clan has been reduced to just these three barely clinging to life...

Even though Gu Yuansu was ruthless, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow at this moment.

Upon hearing this, Gu Jian and Gu Ming both fell silent.

After a moment, Gu Ming slowly raised his head and said in a deep voice, "Clan leader, the great edifice is about to collapse. Although the Gu clan has suffered heavy losses, as long as you are still here, we still have hope!"
You must pull yourself together, lead us to rebuild our ancient tribe, and avenge our defeat!

"Yes, Chieftain!"

Gu Jian quickly chimed in, "The son of the dragon and phoenix is ​​indeed powerful, but as long as the three of us work together, we might be able to make a comeback!"

"Ugh."

Gu Yuan looked up and sighed deeply.

Then, he raised his only remaining right hand and said to Gu Ming, "Come, take a look at my injury."

"Yes!"

Gu Ming dared not delay, and quickly stepped forward, squatted down, and gently placed his palm on Gu Yuan's shoulder. A wisp of pure soul power carefully probed into Gu Yuan's body, meticulously examining the extent of his injuries.

As the soul power deepened, a look of shock appeared in Gu Ming's eyes.

He could clearly feel that Gu Yuan's internal organs were completely damaged, and his meridians were torn in many places, like a tattered spider web. Even more terrifying was that an incomparably sharp Star Annihilation Sword Intent was intertwined with another strange and cold blood energy, rampaging and eroding his body!

This injury is even more serious than the one the clan leader suffered when Xiao Jibai caused havoc in the ancient realm!
Is there any hope that my severed arm and leg can be reattached?

Gu Yuan stared intently at Gu Ming, a hint of barely perceptible anticipation in his eyes.

Gu Ming opened his mouth, a bitter expression on his face. The strange regenerative power of the blood energy was still destroying the life force at the broken end.

"Clan leader, this..."

Gu Ming spoke with difficulty: "This blood energy is too strange and domineering, far beyond my comprehension."

It intertwined with the Star Destruction Sword Intent, destroying all life force within your body. With my abilities, I'm afraid... I'm afraid I won't be able to reattach your limbs.

"That's all."

Gu Yuan waved his hand gently, a knowing, bitter smile on his face.

In fact, he didn't have much hope from the very beginning.

Gu Ming was unable to deal with Xiao Jibai's Star Extinction Sword Intent back then and could only barely suppress it.

And the strange sword in the hands of the Dragon-Phoenix Son is probably not much weaker than the Star Extinction Sword Intent.

The limbs he lost will probably never come back... unless he reaches the Emperor Realm!

"However, things haven't gotten to the worst point yet."

Gu Ming pondered for a moment, a glint of inspiration flashing in his eyes.

He took out a huge jade box from his storage ring, and when he opened it, it was filled with all kinds of rare and precious medicinal herbs.

The ancient snow lotus exuding rich vitality, the dragon blood vine containing immense energy, the phoenix feather flower shimmering with seven-colored light... each one is a priceless treasure, enough to drive any alchemist crazy.

"As you instructed before, when my clan and the Lei clan formed an alliance through marriage, we only asked for the precious medicinal herbs treasured by the Lei clan."

As Gu Ming spoke, he took out the medicinal herbs from the jade box one by one and placed them in front of Gu Yuan.

"With these medicinal herbs, and supplemented by the remaining stock in my clan's medicinal herb treasury, I can refine a Grade 9 Profound Pill, the Tribulation-Crossing Pill."

Although this pill cannot heal your injuries or reattach your severed limbs, its power should be able to temporarily suppress the Star Annihilation Sword Intent and the strange blood energy within you, allowing you to recover some of your strength...

However, all the medicinal herbs I have are only enough to refine this one Tribulation-Crossing Pill. After that, my clan's medicinal herb reserves will be completely exhausted..."

His injuries were equally severe, and he and Gu Jian had been barely surviving on ordinary healing pills.

Gu Jian stood to the side, a hint of frustration on his face.

Back then, the ancient clan was incredibly wealthy. Their treasure trove of medicinal herbs was piled high with rare herbs. Even just picking out a single one could cause a sensation in the Central Plains!
But now, they've fallen so low that they have to exhaust all their reserves to refine even a single healing pill!

When had their ancient clan ever fallen to such a destitute state?!

"Medicines, marriage alliances..."

Gu Yuan frowned deeply, a complex emotion rising in his heart.

"The Thunder Realm has completely fallen, and the Thunder Clan has probably been wiped out... What happened to that wicked creature?"

Gu Ming said in a deep voice, "When I broke through the Thunder Realm with the ancient sword, I happened to see Xiao Xuan and his son Xiao Yan rushing into the core area of ​​the Thunder Realm."

Given Xiao Xuan and Xiao Yan's strength, if the young lady hadn't perished, she would probably have been rescued by them.

Gu Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly, then slowly closed them. The remaining holy power within his body surged forth as he carefully sensed the mark he had left on Xiao Xun'er.

A moment later, Gu Yuan opened his eyes.

He sensed it; the mark still existed, located far away in the very center of Zhongzhou.

"Hmph, the three of us have suffered terribly here, on the verge of life and death, while she's doing just fine!"
He's probably enjoying a peaceful life under Xiao Xuan's protection now!

The complex emotions in Gu Yuan's eyes vanished completely, replaced by a cold expression. (End of Chapter)