Chapter Ninety-Eight: A Sea of Bitterness Beneath a Sky of Passion — The Soul of Falun Town’s Incense (Part Two)

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The Law of Dimensional Transactions, Uninterrupted

Mu Tou recalled Lu Daoxuan’s usual wisdom—like a drowning man clutching at a straw—but Lu Daoxuan remained silent, gazing calmly at Mu Tou. After a long moment, he said, “You want to save her?”

Anxious, Mu Tou felt an urge to punch him for his leisurely manner. “Don’t waste time! This is urgent—if you have a way, just say it!”

Lu Daoxuan continued unhurriedly, “She carries your immortal blood, which sustains her vitality. At least for the next hour, she has no threat to her life.”

Mu Tou exclaimed, “One hour? How is that enough?”

Lu Daoxuan replied, “It’s sufficient. Without your immortal blood holding her life together, I couldn’t save her.”

Overjoyed, Mu Tou’s voice trembled, “You really… can save her?”

Lu Daoxuan approached Yaxin Yi and said to Mu Tou, “Channel your vital energy into my body.”

Mu Tou hesitated, “Why?”

Lu Daoxuan said, “To save your woman, won’t you lend your strength?”

Realizing Lu Daoxuan likely intended to combine their powers to perform a miraculous feat, Mu Tou placed his hand on Lu Daoxuan’s. As soon as his energy flowed in, Lu Daoxuan closed his eyes and silently chanted. A massive Dharma Wheel appeared before him; his hands formed the Precious Vase Mudra as he softly intoned: “Dharma Wheel turns—borrowing power for divine skill!”

“Return the spirit!”

“Calm the soul—seal the soul!”

With Lu Daoxuan’s chanting, a beam of multicolored light radiated from the wheel, enveloping Yaxin Yi. Under the shimmering glow, one could see white particles of light emanating from her body. Yet, as the chant continued, these particles seemed drawn back into her, and her complexion visibly improved.

This was the second time Lu Daoxuan had demonstrated his skill before Mu Tou and the others, and indeed his abilities were extraordinary. The first time, he separated the Dragon King’s soul, enabling the group to slay the dragon successfully. Now, he forcibly restored the nearly lifeless Yaxin Yi.

Mu Tou hugged Lu Daoxuan, laughing heartily, “Brother Lu, you’re truly remarkable!”

But Lu Daoxuan’s next words poured cold water over his joy: “Don’t celebrate too soon. Her vital spirit is lost. I’ve only forcibly bound her soul within her body. The effect lasts but twenty-four hours.”

Mu Tou was stunned, exclaiming, “What? You mean by this time tomorrow, she’ll still be…”

Before Lu Daoxuan could answer, Shui Wufeng interjected, “Twenty-four hours is enough. Once this ends here, I’ll immediately take Yaxin Yi back. Using the celestial energy condensed by the Ginseng Fruit Tree, we can extend her life with the Sky Lantern Life-Extension Technique, borrowing longevity from Heaven, guaranteeing her twelve more years.”

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Lu Daoxuan said, “Oh! The cultivation world has such a method?”

Shui Wufeng nodded, “This Sky Lantern Life-Extension can be applied five times on one person, each time adding sixty years—a full sexagenary cycle. But…” She glanced at Yaxin Yi and continued, “Her vital spirit is lost; she will never regain her cultivation. Moreover, she will age faster than ordinary people.”

Mu Tou supported Yaxin Yi’s weak body and asked, “Apart from that, is there any other way?”

Shui Wufeng shook her head. Lu Daoxuan, however, said calmly, “There is.”

Mu Tou’s face lit up, “What way?”

Lu Daoxuan didn’t reply but pointed to the other side. Mu Tou looked and saw the group battling two fierce beasts. Baldy and the Moon Witch fought together, barely holding the Centipede Viper, though the outcome was uncertain. The death of the Mist Demon Lord had sapped the beast’s will to fight, seeking only to flee, so they weren’t in great danger.

Elsewhere, Zheng Yi Zhenren, Daoist Tianxin, Bai Yijian, and Gu Feng fought the ferocious Qiongqi. Three flying swords flashed gold, darting around the beast. Gu Feng continuously cast spells—Void Shatter Seal, True Void Slash, Airburst Bomb, Spatial Bind—all launched in succession. The beast was covered in wounds, its roar low and tinged with fear; its defeat seemed inevitable.

These two beasts were formidable. Mu Tou glanced at Yun Zhongxian, who understood without words. She floated up, golden light flashing from her hand as a golden scissor cleaved through the air toward the Centipede Viper. The beast was alert, dodging before the Golden Dragon Scissors arrived. Suddenly, two dragon souls surged from the scissors, howling as they entwined the beast.

The Centipede Viper shuddered, halted, then a golden light flashed with a sharp snap. Its eyes glazed over, and its head slid from its neck, blood gushing like a fountain.

Baldy laughed heartily, rushing forward to sheath the fallen beast in a containment suit, likely hoping to obtain the power of one of the Nine Sons of the Divine Dragon.

Nearby, Gu Feng saw Yun Zhongxian’s swift strike and shouted, “Don’t kill it! I want to keep this beast as a pet! Sister Xian’er, lend me your dragon soul to bind the beast!”

Yun Zhongxian paused, glanced at Mu Tou, who nodded, then summoned two dragon souls to trap the Qiongqi.

Gu Feng yelled to Zheng Yi Zhenren and others, “Don’t hurt it anymore. I’ll handle it!” He pulled a yellow beast-skin scroll from his bosom, murmured an incantation, and the scroll glowed red. He quickly pressed it onto the beast’s head. Instantly, the struggling ancient beast ceased moving, its eyes clouded with confusion.

Seizing the moment, Gu Feng bit his finger and inscribed a strange symbol on the beast’s head, chanting, “Under the extremes of heaven and earth, as witnessed by the contract deity, from this moment you are my pet, bound in eternal life!”

As the chant ended, a faint, aged image appeared on the beast’s head, responding in a deep voice, “I witness; contract established!”

Elated, Gu Feng exclaimed, “It’s done! It’s done!” He commanded Yun Zhongxian to release the dragon souls and beckoned the Qiongqi to him. The beast affectionately wagged its tail and rubbed against his legs, utterly lacking any ferocious demeanor.

Gu Feng laughed proudly, while Zheng Yi Zhenren and others stared, dumbfounded. Qiongqi was a divine beast; its soul was powerful, and normally only experts at the “Five Elements Unity and Yin-Yang Rebirth” realm, like the Mist Demon Lord, could tame one. Yet this peculiar youth clearly lacked such cultivation—how did he manage it so easily?

What they did not know was that, though the magical dimension also had the custom of taming magical beasts as pets or mounts, their method differed entirely from the cultivation world. They used a “Pet Contract” scroll to directly bind the beast’s soul. This contract was harsh: if the owner died, the pet would surely perish; however, if the pet died, the owner remained unharmed—an extremely unequal agreement.

“Boundless Celestial Venerable! Thank you, young friends, for your aid!” Zheng Yi Zhenren bowed but his eyes were suspicious. “These people wear strange clothes and behave oddly—not from the cultivation world. What are their origins? Especially the woman wielding the golden scissors—her cultivation may have reached the Immortal realm—and that strange youth who tamed the Qiongqi; his methods differ greatly from cultivation techniques.”

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In truth, Zheng Yi Zhenren’s doubts echoed those of Daoist Tianxin and Shui Wufeng. Given the circumstances, they had come to rescue Chen Mu, and no one knew what to say.

Zigu responded, “Oh! Daoist, you mean to thank us? Don’t just say it—show some real gratitude! This flying sword and crystal stones, I accept all comers. Or if you want, send me a female disciple as a maid; I wouldn’t mind!”

Zheng Yi Zhenren was embarrassed, speechless. The others sweated nervously—Zigu was always so audacious, never missing an opportunity to profit.

Mu Tou kicked him aside and asked Lu Daoxuan, “What exactly is this method? You haven’t told me.”

Lu Daoxuan pointed again, and Mu Tou followed his finger to see Gu Feng playing with Qiongqi.

Gu Feng noticed their gaze and asked puzzled, “Why are you staring at me? I don’t have flowers on my face!”

Mu Tou was curious, “You say Gu Feng has a way?”

Gu Feng was confused, “What? What way do I have?”

Earlier, Gu Feng and his companions had been locked in battle with the two beasts and hadn’t noticed anything else. Mu Tou hurriedly explained Yaxin Yi’s condition: “Her vital spirit is lost. Is there still a way to save her life?”

“Oh! Is that so? But what way do I have?” Gu Feng scratched his head, then suddenly realized, “Lu Daoxuan, how do you know I have that thing? Do you know how precious it is?” He covered the spatial bracelet on his hand, wary of theft.

Mu Tou rejoiced, “Brother Gu, you really have something that can save Yaxin Yi! Thank you so much!” He bowed deeply, thinking, “Not that you wouldn’t give it, but I hope you actually have it!”

Gu Feng’s expression flickered between embarrassment and helplessness. He came over and embraced Mu Tou, whispering, “Brother, you’re interested in this woman, aren’t you?”

Mu Tou glanced at Yaxin Yi, who smiled at him, her bright eyes reflecting his own image, stirring emotions he hadn’t expected.

Gu Feng also looked at Yaxin Yi and said, “She really is a beauty worthy of pity. But are you sure you like her? This thing I possess is rare and precious—I’m reluctant to part with it!” Then he added with a laugh, “As the saying goes, brothers are like limbs, wives like clothes; there are plenty of beauties out there.”

Mu Tou sensed that though Gu Feng joked, he was truly reluctant to part with the item. “Is it really that rare? Don’t worry, I’ll find a way to repay you!”

Gu Feng was about to say more when Lu Daoxuan cleared his throat nearby and said, “Mu Tou, there is actually another way to save your woman.”