Lu Li’s injuries were so severe that they even alarmed Master Shen. The healing net had very little effect on the burns from the Xuan Hua Fire. Eventually, several elders were called to use the Jade Snow Technique specifically to treat him. Even so, it took three days and nights to save Lu Li’s life.
When Master Shen emerged from the room, exhausted, A-Jiao was urgently questioning Bai Li Gelin about what had happened. For three days, Gelin hadn’t said a word, remaining pale and dazed no matter what anyone asked. Now, seeing Master Shen finally come out, Bai Li Gelin suddenly stirred, raising her bloodshot eyes to stare at him.
Master Shen was in no mood to reproach them. He simply said tiredly, “We’ve managed to save his life, but the Xuan Hua Fire is very strange. The fire poison is flowing through his meridians and can’t be eliminated. It’s likely impossible for him to advance his cultivation in the future. You… take care of yourself.”
Bai Li Gelin still didn’t speak. A Jiao finally couldn’t hold back and shouted angrily, “Gelin! What exactly happened?! There were four of you who went together. What happened?! At least say something!”
Bai Li Gelin’s lips quivered her expression a mix of terror and bewilderment. She suddenly closed her eyes and said in a low voice, “I don’t know… they both suddenly disappeared… so much black fire… I couldn’t see anything… No, no… I think I think I saw my sister… I don’t know…”
Before she could finish speaking, she fainted on the spot.
Gelin’s fainting was followed by high fever and delirious talk. No amount of water or wood elemental spiritual energy could soothe her. For someone who had already achieved immortality, even mortal doctors couldn’t make sense of her condition. It wasn’t until later that A Jiao understood that this symptom was called “heart demon entanglement.” Bai Li Gelin’s first tribulation after becoming immortal came very early and quickly. It was unclear what she had encountered, but it led to her eight extraordinary meridians becoming disordered, her qi unstable, and spiritual energy chaotically colliding within her body. She seemed to be in a life-and-death struggle with an invisible enemy.
It wasn’t until Lu Li regained consciousness at noon on the sixth day that everyone understood the specific situation.
Ji Tongzhou was indeed lingering near Heng Mountain. Legend had it that the divine beast Qilin could tread on fire and command thunder, unmatched by any. When the four of them arrived near Heng Mountain, the battle between this Xuan Hua Immortal and the Qilin had just ended. He seemed to have been severely injured, unable to stand, only leaning against a tree.
Bai Li Gelin immediately wanted to attack. It was rare to encounter Ji Tongzhou in such a weakened state. The opportunity couldn’t be missed. Only by killing this man with her own hands could she turn the resentment that had tortured her for many years into nothingness.
However, her attack collided with a wall of black fire. Ji Tongzhou silently observed them through the firewall. There was no imagined shock or the slightest guilt. He looked at them as if he didn’t recognize them, with a cold gaze.
This expression made Bai Li Gelin even more furious. She stepped forward and said grimly, “Ji Tongzhou! Don’t you recognize me?!”
He remained silent, the black firewall gradually weakening. The fierce battle with the Qilin had exhausted his strength. If they had been somewhat apprehensive before, now seeing him so weak, they felt more confident. This man couldn’t escape today.
Deng Xiguang threw out the Heart of Mirage. The four of them surrounded him. That long and complex immortal spell was released for them. In an instant, the Heart of Mirage turned into black powder, quickly and silently attaching to Ji Tongzhou’s body. Several black firewalls immediately disappeared before their eyes. Who would have thought this method would work? Overjoyed, the four didn’t dare to slack. Su Wan was about to throw out the Dragon Capture Chain to bind him when suddenly, black fire erupted from his body, engulfing Su Wan and Deng Xiguang, who were closest to him, in an instant.
Seeing the black fire surging towards Bai Li Gelin like a tidal wave, Lu Li, in a moment of desperation, summoned his tamed demon beast to snatch her away. He was burned on half his body by the black fire, the pain unimaginable. He couldn’t help but let out an agonized scream. The fire not only burned his skin but seemed to seep into his extraordinary meridians. Countless fire points raged inside his body, the suffering unbearable.
Although they didn’t know what caused this sudden change, this ambush had ended in a disastrous defeat. The black fire danced fiercely, and Su Wan and Deng Xiguang disappeared without even a cry. Could this be how Ye Ye and Bai Li Chang Yue had vanished before? It was hard to imagine. No matter what, Su Wan and Deng Xiguang were already immortals. Even if there was a gap in strength, it shouldn’t have been this extreme. When he first heard the rumor that Ye Ye and the others had died at Ji Tongzhou’s hands, he had always harbored doubts. Now, witnessing it firsthand, he still found it hard to believe.
Throughout all this, Ji Tongzhou maintained his position leaning against the tree. He clutched his chest, blood gushing between his fingers, his face extremely pale. He stared at Bai Li Gelin for a while, then suddenly said in a low voice, “It’s you… Yes, many years have passed. It’s time for you to come.”
Bai Li Gelin, faced with this tremendous change, first looked pained and panicked but quickly turned to a look of desperation. She shouted fiercely, “That’s right! I’ve always said, as long as you don’t kill me, I’ll hide in the shadows, waiting to take your life sooner or later! Unfortunately, my skills are inferior. I have nothing to say! If you want to kill me, then do it! Haven’t you killed enough people?!”
Ji Tongzhou said calmly, “Those I killed deserved to die.”
“Deserved to die?” Bai Li Gelin laughed bitterly, “Killing Long Ming Zuo, you can call that deserved. But what about Ye Ye and my sister? And Li Fei! Can you say you didn’t indirectly cause her death?!”
“Ye Ye…” Ji Tongzhou repeated this name, and finally laughed, “You want revenge. Very well. I’ve been waiting for you for many years too. It’s about time to end this.”
His hand raised slightly, and the black fire suddenly rose several zhang high, encircling her. Ji Tongzhou quietly gazed at her fearless eyes and said, “If you have anything else to say, say it now. We can be considered acquaintances from our youth. If you have any last wish I can fulfill, speak.”
Last wish? Bai Li Gelin couldn’t stop laughing, “Ji Tongzhou, I’ve always known you were all bark and no bite!”
She stared at him contemptuously and continued, “You even remember that we knew each other in our youth? You killed all your old friends for your selfish reasons, and now what? Do you want to act magnanimous? You’re just disgusted with yourself. Do you think killing us all will make you innocent? You dare to ask if I have any last wish! I’ll tell you, I want all my family and friends back! I want you to die right now! I wish I had never known a scum like you!”
Ji Tongzhou listened quietly, then said coldly, “You’ve made two mistakes. First, I am no longer Ji Tongzhou. You should call me the Xuan Hua Immortal. Second, you can only have one last wish. You’re the same as before, never asking questions one by one, always so noisy.”
The black fire engulfed Bai Li Gelin’s body. Lu Li’s heart raced with urgency. The fire poison raged within him, his spiritual energy completely out of control. Ji Tongzhou’s attention was focused on Bai Li Gelin, momentarily unaware of him. This was a good chance to escape, but he couldn’t seize it.
Lu Li bit his lip hard, taking out a charm from his sleeve. He soaked it in his blood and blew it out with his breath. The demon beast, infected by its master’s blood essence, stirred restlessly. It grew enormously against the wind and fire, roaring as it pounced on Ji Tongzhou, who was still leaning motionless against the tree. He didn’t notice in time, and even when he did, he couldn’t recall the black fire quickly enough.
The demon beast fiercely pinned him to the ground. The raging black fire weakened for a moment. Lu Li, disregarding everything, rushed into the black fire. Inside, it was a world of shadows and unbearable heat. He glimpsed Bai Li Gelin entwined in black fire. Surprisingly, her skin wasn’t burned; she just stood there, staring blankly.
Lu Li had no time to think. He grabbed her and pulled her out of the black fire. Bai Li Gelin suddenly cried out, her gaze unfocused as she stared at him, speaking incoherently, “Sister? Ye Ye? What… what did I see?!”
She must have been in shock and was hallucinating. Lu Li couldn’t spare time to explain. He hoisted her onto his shoulder and fled, running for hundreds of li before finally collapsing unconscious.
That was how everything had transpired.