He knew the little monkey had a good memory and an even better talent for holding grudges. Chen Da Chang tilted his head slightly: “It was stealing things.” He knew Hu Tian would complain afterward. “Can’t the monkey use its powers normally?”

“Hu Tian is mischievous. I usually keep its cultivation sealed with a magical artifact. Unless I release it with a secret technique, it cannot use its powers at will.”

Chen Da Chang immediately thought of the monkey’s golden armband, which must be the artifact sealing its powers.

Yu Haizhen spoke slowly: “The protective formation of Ying Gong City is called the Six Ao Grand Formation. It requires six great demons to maintain it for extraordinary defensive effects.” Chen Da Chang’s face showed surprise as he turned toward Yu Haizhen and said solemnly: “We didn’t know Hu Tian’s identity, nor its relationship with you or Ying Gong City. Otherwise, we would never have confined it.”

“It had stayed in the formation for too long. That day, taking advantage of a lull in the battle, it sneaked out to play, leaving only a substitute in the formation,” Yu Haizhen showed no anger. “By the time we discovered this, it was already too late. The Yan army seized the opportunity to break the Six Ao Grand Formation, enabling them to bombard the front lines with cannons. You know what happened after that.”

Chen Da Chang was speechless. If Yu Haizhen wanted to blame the loss of the Battle of Ying Gong City entirely on him and Feng Miao Jun, he wouldn’t accept it. But tracing back to the source, was there truly no connection?

In the mysteries of fate, there are predetermined errors.

This thought had barely flashed through his mind when Yu Haizhen softly said: “Perhaps this is heaven’s will.”

When heaven wishes to destroy Xi, human effort cannot prevent it.

The war between Xi and Yan had lasted too long. Everyone knew it was a hopeless battle, but she still couldn’t give up. Could it be that even heaven couldn’t bear to watch anymore, so it used a series of accidents to extinguish the last hope of the Xi Kingdom? Yu Haizhen closed her eyes slightly: “I’m dying too. After all your efforts, I’m afraid it will be all for nothing in the end.”

Chen Da Chang felt a bitterness in his throat. Since the day he saw Yu Haizhen, whether it was to save her or to hold her hostage, he had kept her here, determined to help Her Majesty the Queen accomplish her mission. But so many days had passed with no news from Feng Miao Jun, while Yu Haizhen grew increasingly weak. The last drop of blood tree honey had been given to her, and its medicinal effect would dissipate in about ten hours. Her death was inevitable.

At that moment, he suddenly didn’t know what to do. “The cultivators from the Yan Kingdom, can’t they save you?” She had been the State Preceptor, commanding all the cultivators in the country. Weren’t there any capable ones among them?

Yu Haizhen gave a light laugh, not without mockery: “Are you willing to let me go now?”

Chen Da Chang said in a low voice: “If it could save you, I would do my utmost.” He felt a slight sadness, thinking that a dead Yu Haizhen would be of no use to Her Majesty the Queen.

His tone was very sincere. Yu Haizhen was startled and glanced at him sideways before saying: “The corpse poison requires pure yang energy to dispel it. Six thousand li from here, there is a volcano that erupts frequently. The fire elemental energy there is very active and can counteract the yin malevolence of the drought demon’s corpse poison. However, even if I could reach it, it would be useless. The spiritual power of the earth’s fire is too violent. I have a water spirit constitution, which is opposite to its attribute. With my severely injured body, forcibly absorbing it would only destroy my meridians, perishing along with the corpse poison.”

She was now exhausted in spirit and body. After saying so much, she lazily yawned, showing no fear of approaching death in her expression.

What joy is there in life, what bitterness in death? Her life had not been easy; perhaps death would be a release.

But when she turned her head, she saw Chen Da Chang staring at her with startlingly bright eyes, murmuring: “Pure yang energy, pure yang energy…”

She felt uneasy under his gaze and said displeased: “Yes, and it needs to be gentle.”

Chen Da Chang licked his lips and said eagerly: “Perhaps there’s another way.”

The two were originally sitting not far apart, and he unconsciously moved closer. Seeing the light flashing in his eyes, Yu Haizhen immediately became alert and rebuked: “What are you trying to do? No!”

Seeing the fire about to burst from her eyes, Chen Da Chang was stunned: “How do you know it won’t work without trying?” Women were so strange; even at death’s door, they would refuse one thing after another. “Don’t you need gentle pure yang energy?”

Yu Haizhen said harshly: “That method won’t work. If you dare touch even a finger of mine, even if I die… even my soul won’t let you off after death!”

The cave suddenly grew quiet.

Chen Da Chang’s expression became very peculiar as he suddenly reached for his belt.

Yu Haizhen was greatly alarmed: “Stop!”

She summoned the last bit of spiritual energy from her dantian, intending to subdue him by surprise.

Even in death, she would maintain her purity!

However, Chen Da Chang didn’t undo his belt; instead, he took out a small box from it and placed it beside Yu Haizhen—this belt was merely a storage magical artifact: “Open it.”

The box was made of ice crystal, extremely cold to the touch, immediately revealing its extraordinary nature. Yu Haizhen hadn’t yet recovered her senses but instinctively followed his words and lightly pressed the switch at the bottom of the box. The lid sprang open on its own, revealing a brightly glowing spherical pearl inside.

It was as dazzling as the midday sun, almost too bright to look at directly.

She exclaimed in rare surprise: “A Fire Spirit Core!” This ordinary-looking fellow possessed such a rare treasure!

“Is this the pure yang energy you need?”

“This power is sufficient, but…” Although only the size of a grape, she could still feel the surging fire elemental spiritual energy contained within, as if she were holding a volcano at her fingertips.

So, he wasn’t thinking of doing that kind of thing.

Yu Haizhen understood Chen Da Chang’s intention and couldn’t help but blush, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

However, Chen Da Chang didn’t even look at her, only adding “but it’s not gentle enough” before taking out a second item from his storage pouch.

This was a small basin with a wide rim and three feet, resembling both a washbasin and a flowerpot, with nothing remarkable about it from any angle. Holding it in his hand, Chen Da Chang earnestly said to her: “If I can heal your wounds, can we put aside our past grievances and not pursue them further?”

Was he that confident? Yu Haizhen agreed without hesitation.

She wasn’t an unreasonable person. Although Chen Da Chang had taken her from Hu Tian and restricted her movements, regardless of his purpose, he had at least used the blood tree honey to extend her life by a few days and had not harbored improper thoughts or bullied her. Therefore, there was no deep hatred between them. As for the Battle of Lu Qiao, though Chen Da Chang and his companion indirectly led to the failure of the Six Ao Grand Formation, the little monkey’s mistake was the main cause.

Now that there was hope for healing, she was willing to let bygones be bygones and not hold grudges against them.

Chen Da Chang’s method was also very simple. He had Yu Haizhen throw the Fire Spirit Core into this basin. Without doing anything else, the bottom of the basin began to glow faintly red. Soon after, cyan water droplets started to seep through the basin walls.

One drop, two drops, more and more, like steam condensing on its surface. Both Chen Da Chang and Yu Haizhen smelled a fragrant aroma, immediately feeling mental clarity and spiritual contentment.