After being jilted by the saintess at the beginning, why is she crying?

Like a startled rabbit, he vanished into the forest in a flash.

Where is even a trace of the saint's demeanor?

His disheveled appearance left the disciples present speechless.

This...this is the Holy Son of their Heavenly Profound Holy Land?

Are you that scared?

……

The two Core Formation cultivators who were lying on the ground finally struggled to their feet.

They exchanged a glance and both saw deep fear in each other's eyes.

This place... is unbearable!

If we stay any longer, we'll all die!

The two staggered to the stone wall and pulled Xiao Qingtian, who was embedded in it, out of the rubble.

Xiao Qingtian had already fainted, his face was as pale as paper, his chest was sunken, and it was unknown how many bones were broken.

Where was the slightest trace of the demeanor of a Nascent Soul True Monarch?

The two dared not delay and quickly took out a talisman that glowed with spiritual light from their pockets.

"Walk!"

One of them gave a low shout and lit the talisman!

The talisman exploded, transforming into a pillar of azure light that enveloped the three of them!

The next instant—the three figures vanished from their spot!

Only lingering spiritual energy fluctuations remained in the air, along with a scene of utter devastation.

……

Lin Fengmian watched the Xiao family members flee in disarray, a cold smile curling at the corner of his lips.

"Trying to run away?"

He moved swiftly, about to give chase.

Press the attack!

We have to teach them a lesson they deserve!

however--

He had just taken a step when a gasp suddenly came from behind him.

"Senior Sister Nangong!"

"Saintess Nangong!"

Lin Fengmian's heart tightened, and he turned his head sharply to look.

Nangong Li's figure, which had been suspended in mid-air, was now falling straight down like a kite with a broken string!

Her eyes were tightly closed, her face was as pale as paper, and the crimson mark between her eyebrows had faded and was almost invisible.

"Li'er!"

Lin Fengmian's expression changed drastically, and he flashed away, flying directly towards Nangong Li!

He caught her in his arms and landed her steadily on the ground.

The body in his arms was so light it seemed weightless.

Lin Fengmian looked down and saw that Nangong Li's eyes were closed, his long eyelashes trembled slightly, and his breathing was weak.

That face, which was usually stunningly beautiful and aloof, was now so pale it was almost transparent.

His lips were bloodless, and his brows were furrowed with exhaustion.

"Li'er! What's wrong? Li'er!"

Lin Fengmian called out repeatedly, his voice trembling.

He reached out to feel Nangong Li's pulse—

weak.

Extremely weak.

The spiritual energy within his body was almost completely depleted, and his meridians were empty.

The mark between his eyebrows was so faint that it was almost invisible.

Lin Fengmian's heart sank.

He knew that Nangong Li had forcibly broken the seal twice, which had consumed too much of his own essence.

Although that force was powerful, it was clearly beyond her current capacity to withstand.

Every time the seal is broken, it drains her life force.

This time, she untied it twice in one go...

"How could you be so silly..."

Lin Fengmian murmured softly, his eyes slightly reddening.

He held Nangong Li tightly in his arms, as if she would disappear if he let go.

……

Xiao Xiyue, standing to the side, watched this scene with worry in her beautiful eyes.

She stepped forward and asked softly:

"How is Li'er?"

Lin Fengmian shook his head, his voice low and deep:

"He's exhausted; he's passed out."

Xiao Xiyue bit her lip, wanting to say something, but not knowing what to say.

She could only stand there and watch silently.

At that moment, the Supreme Elder also descended from mid-air.

She looked at Nangong Li in Lin Fengmian's arms, a complex look flashing in her beautiful eyes.

"Take good care of her."

She spoke, her voice clear and cold, yet tinged with weariness.

Lin Fengmian looked up and saw that beneath the veil of the Supreme Elder, that once beautiful face was now terrifyingly pale.

She clutched her chest, her breathing erratic, clearly indicating she was also seriously injured.

"Senior, you..."

Lin Fengmian was about to speak when he was interrupted by the Supreme Elder.

"I am seriously injured and may be in a coma for a while."

Her voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable authority.

"Be careful of the Xiao family."

She paused, her gaze deep:

"If anything happens, go find Xiao Fenghuang."

Lin Fengmian was taken aback.

Xiao Fenghuang?

Before he could ask, the Supreme Elder transformed into a streak of light and vanished from the spot.

Only one sentence remained, echoing in his ears:

"Remember, do not provoke the Xiao family before I wake up."

As soon as he finished speaking, the streak of light disappeared into the depths of the sky.

Lin Fengmian watched the disappearing streak of light, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

He knew that the Supreme Elder's old injury had recurred.

The clash with Xiao Qingtian earlier had already aggravated her old injuries.

In order to protect herself, she stubbornly refused to collapse.

Now that the crisis is over, her body finally couldn't hold on any longer.

"This old woman... she actually got hurt like this because of me."

Lin Fengmian murmured to himself, his heart filled with complex emotions.

"How desperate is this thing to possess me...?"

He shook his head, secretly on guard.

Although the Supreme Elder had helped me a lot, I should still be wary of others.

Nobody knows what she's really up to.

but……

Regardless of her motives, I truly owe her a debt of gratitude.

Lin Fengmian took a deep breath and hugged Nangong Li tighter.

He looked down at the woman in his arms, then at Xiao Xiyue, and then at himself.

One is unconscious, one is injured, and one is of weak strength.

He suddenly realized that he was really weak.

He's so weak he can't even protect his own woman.

So weak that he could only hide behind women and watch them fight for him.

"I want to become stronger."

Lin Fengmian murmured softly, his gaze resolute.

"I want to become stronger."

An unprecedented determination to become stronger ignited in his heart.

He raised his head and looked up at the sky.

The sky over that area has now returned to clear skies, without a single cloud.

It was as if everything that had just happened was just a dream.

But Lin Fengmian knew that it was not a dream.

That's reality.

The harsh reality.

"Let's go."

He held Nangong Li in his arms and looked at Xiao Xiyue:

"Let's go back first."

Xiao Xiyue nodded, saying nothing more, and simply followed silently behind him.

The two walked one after the other towards the cave.

The sunlight shone on them, casting long, long shadows.

The figure in the green robe appeared unusually frail at that moment.

……

Meanwhile, in mid-air.

A figure whose face was obscured was silently suspended there.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his clothes fluttering, emanating no aura whatsoever, as if he were one with heaven and earth.

He stood there quietly, as if he didn't exist, and no one noticed him.

His gaze followed the departing figure in blue robes.

"Little Sword Master..."

He murmured, his voice hoarse and complex.

"Your Daoist partner... is quite extraordinary."