The Northern Song Dynasty returned south, seeking the truth of the Dao.

Wang Zhenhuan sat on the ground, using his sword for support. He was dizzy and his vision was blurry. He watched helplessly as the weasel disappeared into the mist.

His spiritual energy was already nearly depleted, and he had just used a talisman. He was now completely exhausted. Once his spiritual energy was depleted, he would not only be extremely weak, but if he were to cast another spell, it would damage his vital energy and spiritual consciousness.

Wang Huanzhen had only managed to hold on until now thanks to sheer willpower. But now, overwhelmed by the stench, he immediately gave up. His body went limp, and he collapsed to the ground.

At this moment, the antidote pill that Ao Shuang had taken began to take effect. After clutching his chest and spitting out a mouthful of black, stagnant blood, he immediately felt much better. He struggled to his feet and staggered to his knees before Wang Zhenhuan.

He lifted him up and placed him on his lap; these simple movements almost exhausted him. He knelt on the ground, with Wang Zhenhuan lying on his waist, and the two of them remained motionless, panting heavily.

Wang Huanzhen looked at the still howling wind inside the barrier and blinked. If only people could be like this wind, never stopping, always forging ahead.

His physical weakness left him with no desire to move. The intermittent throbbing pain in his forehead reminded him that the weasel hadn't gone far. As the pain intensified, Wang Zhenhuan opened his mouth.

He struggled to move his neck, looked at Ao Shuang, and said in a hoarse voice, "Since I caused this, I should pay for it myself. It will be back soon, brother, you should go and leave me alone."

"What nonsense are you talking about? Besides, where can I go? This barrier not only traps him, but it also traps us, doesn't it?" Ao Shuang looked at the misty sky and smiled.

Upon hearing Ao Shuang's words, Wang Zhenzhen remained silent. As the saying goes, even the wisest can make a mistake. He had considered everything, but he hadn't expected this evil Taoist to be so troublesome.

Despite possessing only a pale blue cultivation level, he employed a multitude of techniques, some of which were even difficult for him and Ao Shuang to withstand. He sighed, and the pain in his forehead subsided.

He raised his head slightly, watching the weasel slowly emerge from the thick fog not far away. It was clear that it was nearing its limit; Ao Shuang's palm strike just now had been delivered with full force.

At this moment, it walked with a slight sway. But compared to the two of them, it was much better. At least it could still move, and Wang Zhen watched as it slowly approached them.

Even though he clearly had the intention to fight the enemy, his body wouldn't obey him, and he lay on the ground. Three zhang, two zhang, one zhang. He wondered if the weasel was enjoying this slow, insidious process of instilling despair in its enemy.

It was still quite badly injured; the short distance of only three zhang took it a full dozen breaths to cover. When it was about one zhang away from the two of them, it stopped and stood there watching them.

Its eyes were filled with mockery and the pleasure of revenge. It raised its head and roared, then opened its mouth and spat out a brown bead the size of a thumb. After the bead left its body, the weasel clearly felt much weaker.

They couldn't even stand steadily and began to sway from side to side. After the bead left their bodies, it didn't show any abnormalities, but instead flew directly towards the two of them slowly.

Wang Huanzhen glanced at Ao Shuang, who then whispered, "This is the inner core of an alien. It's something like a sea of ​​qi after an alien has transformed. It's rarely used in combat."

Since this thing has even resorted to using its inner core, it means it has truly run out of tricks.

After hearing Ao Shuang's explanation, Wang Zhenhuan gave a wry smile and said, "Aren't we in the same boat? How can this inner core harm an enemy?"

"The only way is self-destruction. After the inner core self-destructs, the alien will lose its Qi Sea and have to start all over again." Ao Shuang smiled at Wang Zhenhuan and then opened her mouth, spitting out the same round bead.

However, his was a different color from the yellow-skinned one; it was a deep blue. He patted Wang Zhenhuan on the shoulder and whispered, "It is my good fortune, Ao Shuang, to be able to meet you in this life."

If there is an afterlife, shall we be brothers again?

Wang Zhenhuan looked at his pale face, unable to utter a word, tears silently streaming down his face. He nodded gently, then raised his hand and grasped Ao Shuang's hand.

The two inner cores of different colors slowly drew closer, little by little. What gradually shortened was not only the distance between them, but also Wang Huanzhen's heart, as turbulent as a river overflowing and the moon setting.

"This day last year, I, your elder brother, lived in a daze, watching the snow fall in my cave. This day this year, I am fortunate to have met my younger brother who has not abandoned me and is willing to become my sworn brother. This day next year..."

We may never see each other again. Don't be sad for your brother; some things can't be found by going back the way you came. There is no past in this world, only the acquaintance of you and me.

"Little brother, look at this snow falling all over the sky, the changing of the seasons. Isn't it telling you, 'Don't look back?'" Ao Shuang said, then gently lowered her head, pressed her forehead against Wang Zhenhuan's, and whispered in his ear.

"Perhaps it's only by becoming a regret that we can never forget... Brother, you've gone first. Remember, look forward, and never look back..."

"elder brother!!!!!"

boom!!--

A deafening roar, like the collapse of the heavens, drowned out Wang Zhenhuan's heart-wrenching screams. A violent blast of air hit him, lifting him up and sending him flying backward.

He then crashed into the courtyard wall and landed on his feet. Wang Huanzhen lay on the ground, struggling to crawl forward with his hands, trying to get back to where he had been. But as Ao Shuang had said, some things cannot be found by simply retracing your steps.

The explosion also completely depleted the last wisp of spiritual energy in the barrier. As the smoke and wind dissipated, the snowflakes that had been flying in the air fell back to the ground, like scattered clouds in the sky, falling piece by piece.

Wang Huanzhen lay prone on the ground, letting the cold, frozen earth slowly steal his warmth. Snowflakes fell on him, gradually engulfing him. His heart, too, was sinking deeper and deeper into the abyss…

Squeak——

A slight sound of the door opening was heard, followed by footsteps. Wang Zhenhuan felt someone come to his side, lift him from the ground, and bring him into the house.

Inside, a heated kang bed stood, a stark contrast to the cold outside, creating a world apart. Wang Zhenhuan lay on the kang, his eyes wide as he stared at the Big Dipper above him. The kang warmed his body, but it couldn't warm his heart.

In his hazy state, Wang Huanzhen vaguely heard Master Lu's loud shouts coming from outside the door, accompanied by the sound of running footsteps. He was shouting...

"Master Tongmiao is back!!"