Nine Desolate Records

After the Heart-Questioning Mirror in the Mingxin Hall examined the heart, the atmosphere in Courtyard No. 3 of the Yi-character section changed abruptly.

Pavilion Master Yan Baichuan, clad in purple robes, personally oversaw the operation, while several high-ranking disciples of the Pill Cauldron Pavilion filed in, continuously delivering the necessary spiritual herbs and array artifacts. Elder Su's purple-copper medicine furnace had been switched to a gentle flame, the medicinal liquid within amber in color, its fragrance lingering and not dissipating. The number of golden needles before Mo Xuan had increased to one hundred and eight, suspended in mid-air by true essence, arranged like a constellation of stars.

"The Nine-Turn Rejuvenating Needle consists of nine needles per turn, totaling nine times nine." Mo Xuan's voice was deep. "The first turn stabilizes the soul, the second unblocks the meridians, the third cleanses evil, the fourth continues the pulse, the fifth ignites the lamp, the sixth returns to the origin, the seventh shapes the spirit, the eighth strengthens the foundation, and the ninth returns to heaven. If there is the slightest mistake, all previous efforts will be wasted, or even the soul and spirit will be destroyed."

He looked at Lu Li behind the screen: "The insertion of the golden needles will trigger the body's resistance. You need to use the bloodline of the Yan Emperor as a guide to protect her heart meridian and spiritual platform, and balance the backlash from the Eye of Delusion."

Lu Li nodded and stepped forward, placing his palm lightly three inches in front of Yun Jin's forehead as instructed.

Mo Xuan said no more, his eyes suddenly closed, and when he opened them again, there was no emotion in his eyes, only a focused gaze.

"First Transformation, Soul Fixation."

Nine golden needles fell in response, piercing nine acupoints including Baihui and Shenting. The needle tips trembled slightly, emitting a clear and melodious resonance. Yun Jin's body trembled slightly, and the remaining gray energy from the Soul-Stabilizing Needle between her brows was slowly expelled.

"The second stage: unblocking the meridians."

Nine more needles were inserted into vital acupoints on her hands and feet. Beneath her pale skin, a thin, bluish-black stream was drawn by the force of the golden needles, flowing along the meridians towards her heart—the remnants of accumulated fear.

"The third transformation is the purification of evil."

Mo Xuan changed his hand seals, unleashing eighteen needles simultaneously. Where the needles landed, the thin, bluish-black liquid quickly dissolved and evaporated as if encountering boiling water. Yun Jin let out a very soft groan of pain, her body tensing.

"Now!" Mo Xuan shouted.

A faint crimson-gold light emerged from Lu Li's palm, gently yet firmly enveloping Yun Jin's brow. The source of the Breaking Illusion Eye sensed the threat and instinctively retaliated, but was gently enveloped and soothed by the power of the Flame Emperor's bloodline, like a raging torrent meeting a dam.

Fourth turn, fifth turn, sixth turn...

The golden needles fell more and more densely, and gradually a faint golden light shone from the acupoints all over Yun Jin's body, like stars in the night sky. Her breathing gradually became steady, the deathly look on her face faded, and a trace of vitality and rosy glow appeared.

"Seventh Reincarnation, God Shaper!"

Mo Xuan's forehead was beaded with sweat, but his hands remained as steady as a rock. Thirty-six needles simultaneously pierced Yun Jin's acupoints on her head and face, the technique intricate and profound, tracing brief, golden arcs in the air. Yun Jin's body shuddered violently, her eyes darting rapidly beneath her tightly closed eyelids.

"Eighth Transformation, Strengthening the Foundation!"

The needlework slowed, like a silkworm spinning silk, and the seventy-two needles were slowly inserted, sealing the major acupoints throughout her body. The scattered spiritual energy within her body was gradually gathered and stabilized.

"Ninth Revolution—" Mo Xuan took a deep breath, his voice like metal, "Return to Heaven!"

The final nine needles were thrust directly into the center of the chest. The instant the needles fell, Yun Jin's body shone with golden light, and a faint silver line appeared between her brows before slowly fading away. All the golden needles hummed in unison, the resonant sound like celestial music, lasting for three breaths before ceasing.

Mo Xuan withdrew his hand, staggered back half a step, and was supported by Elder Su. His face was pale, and his true essence was greatly depleted, but his eyes revealed relief: "It's done. The rift in my soul has been 70% healed, and the rest requires rest. The source of the Eye of Illusion is stable, and the backlash has temporarily subsided."

Almost simultaneously, Pavilion Master Yan Baichuan activated the Soul Nourishing Pool.

The array patterns on the courtyard floor lit up, and spiritual energy gathered into a milky-white pool of water, enveloping the two beds. A gentle, nourishing power seeped in, and Yun Jin's brows completely relaxed as she fell into a deep slumber. The black lines on Lin Qingyuan's neck also slowly faded in the pool's light; though not completely eradicated, they had stopped spreading.

"The Soul Nourishing Pool needs to be nurtured for three days." Yan Baichuan looked at Lu Li. "She should be able to awaken after three days. As for the erosion in that boy's body..." He frowned slightly. "We need to find another ingredient for 'Purifying Dew,' the main ingredient 'Evening Primrose,' or find a way to eliminate the source of the erosion in order to cure it completely."

Lu Li bowed deeply and said, "Thank you all for saving my life."

Elder Su said gently, "Let them rest in peace. Come with me, Elder Gu wants to see you about the thing inside your body, and... Xun Wenruo."

Outside the window, the morning light of Xinglin Valley is piercing through the thin mist and spilling into the courtyard.

A new day, a new game.