hhnovel Chapter 161: The Hope That Binds
Chapter 161: The Hope That Binds
At Ji Mingxiu’s feeble plea, Mo Yu and the others halted in their tracks, a collective sigh filling the room.
"Holy Lord, do not concede defeat!" Liu Mei urged. "Though there are no historical records of anyone recovering from the effects of the Bottomless Abyss’s spiritual Qi, who’s to say our efforts won’t yield success?"
"Yes," added Han Xu, his voice firm, "even if the outcomes are modest, stabilizing Ji Ruxue’s condition would be a victory in itself!"
"Ji Mingxiu, do not force me to admonish you. Now is not the time for despair or surrender," Mo Yu declared sternly.
The four Supreme Elders took turns attempting to rally Ji Mingxiu.
"No," Ji Mingxiu shook his head, "on my journey back, I exhausted every possible method, but none had any effect..."
Seeing Ji Mingxiu still resolute in his despair, Li Shang interjected angrily, "That’s simply because your methods weren’t effective! What if our strategies succeed?"
"Step aside promptly," Mo Yu commanded, his determination clear. "We are resolved to do everything within our power to save Ji Ruxue and Xie Xiaojing."
They continued to scowl at Ji Mingxiu, convinced that his despair was a direct result of the heavy blow he’d received.
Despite their efforts, Ji Mingxiu remained unmoved. "My dear Supreme Elders, you all know that I have already mastered all your techniques. Besides, I haven’t finished speaking." His voice carried a faint glimmer of hope through his grief. "Haven’t you noticed that Jiang Chen is absent from my side?"@@@@
"Hmm? Jiang Chen?" Li Shang paused. "Indeed, where has Jiang Chen gone? Why didn’t he return with you?"
"Holy Lord, are you suggesting that Jiang Chen might have a remedy for the girls? Have you lost your sanity?" Liu Mei’s voice carried a mix of disbelief and concern.
"Good heavens," Han Xu chimed in, "Jiang Chen is merely at the Heavenly Origin realm, hailing from the Everflowing Truth Northern Domain. How could he possibly know a cure for the Bottomless Abyss’s spiritual Qi infection?"
"Ji Mingxiu, don’t cling to delusions that Jiang Chen holds the answer. Let us proceed with our efforts," Mo Yu urged, trying to steer the group back to action.
The disbelief among the four was palpable; they collectively thought Ji Mingiu had lost his senses by placing his hopes in an inexperienced Heavenly Origin realm cultivator like Jiang Chen.
While Jiang Chen was recognized for his exceptionally high potential, it was just that—potential, not proven skill.
With these thoughts weaving through his mind, a faint smile played across Jiang Chen’s lips. Feeling a surge of vitality from his successful manipulation of the plot, he accelerated the speed of the Purple Orchid Meteor Leaf, slicing through the sky with renewed urgency toward the Purple Heaven Holy Land.
...
Time flowed seamlessly, and before he knew it, Jiang Chen approached the outer defensive formation of the Purple Heaven Holy Land.
A subtle light flickered upon his robe, seamlessly integrating with the formation’s glow, which granted him unimpeded access without a hitch.
Without hesitating, Jiang Chen headed straight for Fang Yuan’s secluded cave mansion.
The next phase was crucial—securing the cooperation of Nangong Wan and Shangguan Ning! This step was vital for his plans to unfold as intended.
Having previously built a rapport with Nangong Wan and Shangguan Ning, Jiang Chen knew the importance of their trust. However, he was also keenly aware that mere words wouldn’t be enough for their next interaction; he needed to offer something substantial.
’I must present them with tangible benefits,’ Jiang Chen mused as he activated the System Mall interface.
With a total of 18,600 Villain Value points accumulated, he had more than enough to acquire any high-grade pill suitable for cultivators in the Inquiring Journey realm.
Focused on his goals, Jiang Chen sought a particularly rare item—a unique pill capable of healing injuries to the soul, perfect for securing the crucial alliance with Nangong Wan and Shangguan Ning.
In just a few moments, Jiang Chen identified the ideal item in the System Mall—a prestigious Inquiring Journey rank pill known as the Heavenly Pearl Soul Nourishing Pill.
This pill was renowned for its broad efficacy in treating a variety of soul-related afflictions, making it almost a panacea for such conditions.
Resolved, Jiang Chen mentally commanded, "System! I wish to exchange for the Heavenly Pearl Soul Nourishing Pill!"
[Ding! You’ve expended 8000 points of Villain Value, successfully acquiring a top-grade Heavenly Pearl Soul Nourishing Pill×1!]
As the system prompt concluded, a small vial appeared in Jiang Chen’s palm. Inside it, the Heavenly Pearl Soul Nourishing Pill shimmered like a nocturnal pearl, its luminescence promising profound healing powers.
Jiang Chen’s eyes then fixed on his destination: Fang Yuan’s cave mansion, which now came into view. Over the past twenty days, most who sought an audience with Fang Yuan had been turned away, leading to a significant drop in visitors. Now, the area was deserted, not a soul in sight—a perfect scenario for Jiang Chen’s intended dealings.