Xiao Tian controlled his soul power and shattered the Illusory Spirit Energy lurking within the medicinal liquid. Her soul body's consciousness returned, and a subtle look of relief surfaced on her face.
"Focus your mind. I will help you absorb the medicinal liquid."
Xiao Tian poured his soul power directly into her soul, preparing to guide her through the absorption.
The moment Xiao Tian's soul power touched her soul, she felt a warm and mighty force surge into her being, instantly dispelling the pain that had wracked her spirit.
Xiao Tian guided the medicinal liquid with his soul power, directing it to flow gently through her soul and repair the damage.
As the medicinal liquid gradually diminished, an unprecedented sense of ease and comfort washed over her.
Time slipped by. The last of the medicinal liquid was absorbed. Her soul trauma had fully healed, and her entire soul body had become remarkably solid.
"It truly is the peak of the Mortal Realm."
Seeing that no other issues remained, Xiao Tian withdrew his soul from her Sea of Consciousness.
Roughly five minutes later, she opened her eyes. They were now bright and brimming with spirit. Even her pallid complexion had grown considerably rosier.
She felt as though her soul had been reborn, now brimming with vitality and life. She gazed at Xiao Tian with gratitude and instinctively threw her arms around him. "Thank you. You have saved me yet again."
"It was a trifling matter. You provided compensation in return. We are even."
Xiao Tian perceived the depth of her emotion. Her nature was inherently confident and strong. This prolonged feeling of weakness had left her in a state of extreme panic.
"Alright. My clothes are getting wet."
Xiao Tian patted her shoulder gently, his voice light with humor.
At his words, she sprang out of his embrace as though jolted by lightning. Her face flushed crimson all the way to her ears. Like a cooked crab, she was dyed completely red.
She lowered her head and turned away, not daring to meet Xiao Tian's eyes. She wiped away the tears of emotion and joy as she murmured,
"I only did that out of excitement to thank you. Do not overthink it. Thank you."
"Also, I was not crying."
"Of course. Whatever you say."
Xiao Tian ceased his teasing. Leaning against the tree hollow, he studied her back and asked, "How do you feel now?"
"My soul has fully recovered. There is no discomfort whatsoever. In fact, my soul has grown quite considerably."
She set aside her shyness and carefully examined the condition of her body and soul.
"The growth stems from your previous trauma. It can be regarded as a breakthrough followed by reconstruction. Furthermore, you absorbed the Illusory Spirit Energy from the medicinal liquid. Should you cultivate this Illusory Spirit Energy in the future, you may reap unexpected rewards."
While assisting her recovery, Xiao Tian's own soul had also absorbed a small measure of Illusory Spirit Energy. If this energy were infused into a soul technique, it might even be capable of generating an illusion potent enough to disorient an opponent.
"Indeed. This could be considered a blessing in disguise. How are you feeling?"
She turned around, observing his slightly paler complexion with concern.
"I am fine. It is merely ordinary soul depletion and mental fatigue. A night's rest will suffice."
Guiding the medicinal liquid had demanded the utmost caution. A single misstep could have resulted in damage to both their souls.
"Then you must rest quickly. My soul has now recovered, so I shall stand guard tonight. Also, take this."
A jade bottle materialized in her hand. She offered it to Xiao Tian.
"This is a fourth-grade pill, the Spirit Nurturing Pill. It is specifically for restoring vital energy and spirit."
Xiao Tian accepted the jade bottle without ceremony. He poured out a single pill and consumed it.
"Keep the remainder. They are all yours."
Seeing Xiao Tian offer back the remaining pills, she shook her head and spoke with a gentle smile.
"Very well. Consider it an additional fee from you. I shall leave tonight in your hands."
Xiao Tian stowed the jade bottle, cast a glance at her, and slowly closed his eyes to rest and recover.
She sat opposite Xiao Tian, her slender frame leaning gently against the tree wall. Her gaze was soft and intently fixed on Xiao Tian's sleeping face.
Her arms were folded across her chest. Lost in thought, a faint smile occasionally flickered in her eyes.
---
The fourth day within the secret realm.
In the early morning, rays of sunlight streamed through the gaps in the leaves.
Xiao Tian, still in slumber, slowly opened his eyes. A full night's rest had completely restored his spirit.
"You are awake!"
A gentle voice reached his ear.
Xiao Tian raised his head and looked toward the source of the voice.
"Mm. Thank you for your hard work last night."
"It was nothing. It was my duty. It was not truly difficult."
Xiao Tian smiled at her words, rose to his feet, and stretched his body. A series of satisfying cracks echoed from his joints.
The two washed up briefly, ate a small meal to fill their stomachs, and then continued pressing deeper into the forest.
"We have not encountered anyone along the entire way. It seems this place is vast."
Xiao Tian recalled from her earlier explanation that quite a number of people had entered this time.
"It is somewhat strange. There are not even any traces of people having passed through."
Xuan Qingying furrowed her elegant brows as she scanned the surroundings.
As the two traveled onward, they encountered increasingly frequent and potent illusions. Some nearly ensnared even Xiao Tian.
Despite the dangers, they did manage to collect many fine medicinal herbs. They even found two ingredients for the Marrow Cleansing Pill—the Fire Cloud Fruit and the Orchid Bloom.
Their spoils were generally divided equally. Everyone contributed their strengths and made full use of their respective abilities.
As the two spent more time together, they gradually became exceptionally close friends and developed a deep, mutual trust.
---
As Xiao Tian continued forward, the scene before his eyes abruptly warped.
He found himself in a deeply familiar place—his own Xiao family courtyard. A beautiful figure garbed in a pale cyan dress stood within it.
The woman possessed delicate features and a clear, spirited countenance. Her bright eyes seemed to pierce directly into one's heart. Her temperament was cool and indifferent, like a green lotus—elegant yet pristine.
"Xun'er."
"Brother Xiao Tian."
Though he had many women, the one he cherished most profoundly in his heart was Xun'er—his childhood companion who had remained by his side since his earliest days.
Seeing Xun'er again, a gentle smile curved Xiao Tian's lips. Memories of every moment spent with Xun'er flickered through his mind.
"Alas. Though it resembles her so closely, an illusion is, in the end, merely an illusion. It possesses form but no substance."
"But I am still grateful that you allowed me to see her once more."
*To use an illusion against the World-Purifying Emperor... this forest must be truly foolish.*
Xiao Tian's soul power spread outward in a surge, shattering the illusion in an instant. The fabricated scene fractured and ultimately dissolved into nothingness.
"Xun'er, wait for me. I shall come to find you very soon."
Xiao Tian opened his eyes. The smile on his lips vanished in a heartbeat. He turned and looked at the woman beside him.
Her expression was shifting ceaselessly, as though performing a face-changing act—fear, smiles, even a faint blush, then anger.
Xiao Tian secretly lamented that if only he possessed a recording device, he might have been able to make her experience utter social death in the future.
*You would not want your embarrassing images to leak out, would you? Hehehe.*
"Wake up."
Xiao Tian saw that she was incapable of breaking free on her own and appeared to be sinking deeper. He directly deployed his soul power to forcefully rouse her.
"So it was an illusion! I could not even distinguish it from reality."
She sobered instantly, speaking with a dazed expression.
"By the way, I am very curious. What exactly did you see within the illusion? Your expression shifted over a dozen times."