hhnovel Chapter 188: Rising from the Brink of Despair
Chapter 188: Rising from the Brink of Despair
At last, Ji Mingxiu fulfilled his wish and set Jiang Chen and Ji Ruxue free.
As the couple left the Purple Heaven Grand Hall, their fingers intertwined, they were met with a wave of enthusiastic applause from the onlookers, their faces bright with smiles and admiration.
Ji Ruxue glanced sideways at the cheering crowd, then down at her hand, held securely in Jiang Chen’s.
"Look at what you’ve started," she muttered, a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
Jiang Chen, an amused grin spreading across his face, took her playful scolding in stride.
After all, it had been his idea to make such a dramatic exit from the hall.
Amid the celebrations, the elders’ focus shifted as well. Mo Yu and the other senior members observed the scene with warm smiles, their words of congratulations echoing as Ji Mingxiu returned to his seat.
However, Xie Xiaojing’s grandfather, Xie Zhen, usually so reserved, observed with a hint of concern. His gaze shifted back and forth between Jiang Chen and Ji Ruxue, his mind weighed down with worry for his granddaughter.
Driven by a grandfather’s instinct, he scanned the private section, bracing himself to find her devastated. But instead, he saw her smiling brightly—a sight he hadn’t anticipated. His eyebrows arched, then furrowed as he tried to make sense of this unexpected turn.
His thoughts were interrupted when he noticed Jiang Chen and Ji Ruxue making their way toward Xie Xiaojing. Watching their interaction, he began to slowly grasp what was unfolding.
...
As the day slipped into evening and the sky blushed with the colors of twilight, the rank competition finally came to an end.
"Let’s head back," Jiang Chen suggested, rising from his seat. A gentle smile touched his lips as he called forth the Purple Orchid Meteor Leaf.
Without a word, Ji Ruxue and Xie Xiaojing quickly took their places on the magical flying artifact.
Jiang Chen channeled his Origin Power into the Purple Orchid Meteor Leaf, which transformed into a dazzling streak of light, carrying them toward Ji Ruxue’s residence.
It appeared the three had come to an unspoken agreement to continue living together. Naturally, whenever privacy was needed, Jiang Chen would retreat to his own quarters.
...
Meanwhile, in the healing sector of the Purple Sky Sacred Land, within a vast and magnificent hall, Fang Yuan lay in the finest healing chamber, his gaze distant and unfocused.
His blood-stained clothes had been replaced by a spotless white robe, but his face was as pale as the fabric he wore.
’I was defeated. Truly defeated,’ he thought bitterly.
’Why can’t I surpass Jiang Chen?’
’Despite all my efforts, and with the help of Nangong Wan and Shangguan Ning, why am I the one who keeps falling?’
’Is this my fate?’
’Curse the heavens, why do they mock me so?’
Fang Yuan’s heart roiled with a mix of anguish, despair, helplessness, and a faint hint of decay.
Once, he stood at the pinnacle, admired by countless people, only to be plunged into the depths, his dignity shattered beyond repair.
He had believed he could rise again, reclaim his place at the top, but Jiang Chen had cast him down once more, nearly breaking him to pieces.
And with him, his confidence had crumbled too.
At that moment, Nangong Wan’s voice, resonating from within the Soul Embodying Ring, echoed in Fang Yuan’s ears. "Fang Yuan, cheer up!"
His eyelashes fluttered, and a faint spark of life returned to his eyes.
But that spark quickly faded.
Compared to her ordeals, Fang Yuan’s defeat in the competition seemed like a mere trifle.
Eventually, Shangguan Ning found an opportunity to confront Nangong Wan, and their battle was fierce and unrelenting. Both fought to the bitter end, perishing in the conflict, leaving only a fragment of Shangguan Ning’s soul preserved within the Soul Embodying Ring.
As Fang Yuan listened to her story, the thick aura of pessimism surrounding him—so palpable it seemed almost physical—began to dissipate. Slowly, under the guidance and persuasions of Nangong Wan and Shangguan Ning, it finally vanished.
"I understand it now!" Fang Yuan declared, steeling himself against the weight of his defeat. "What’s gone is gone, but in the future, I will surpass Jiang Chen. I must protect everything that is mine!"
Once more, he summoned his courage and resolve.
After all, Fang Yuan was the protagonist.
The force of Heavenly Fate ensured he would not easily succumb to despair.
Of course, this newfound courage and determination remained fragile, laced with a touch of doubt. It was a far cry from the confidence he had possessed before his defeat.
The blow Jiang Chen had dealt him was simply too devastating.
If Fang Yuan’s days ahead were filled with smooth victories and triumphs in successive battles, his confidence would surely be restored in no time. He could even transform the defeat Jiang Chen had inflicted upon him into his greatest training tool, tempering his spirit and forging his will into something unbreakable.
Such was the formidable advantage of being the protagonist.
However, if Fang Yuan were to face constant obstacles and repeated failures, this fragile confidence would shatter even more completely.
If Jiang Chen were just an ordinary villain, unaware of the precarious state he was in, then Fang Yuan would almost certainly make a triumphant comeback in their next confrontation.
After such a counterattack, his Heavenly Fate Value would surge once more, setting him on a path toward an even greater world.
"Excellent!" Nangong Wan exclaimed, clearly pleased with Fang Yuan’s recovery from the edge of despair.
After a brief pause, she continued, "Fang Yuan, we’ve devised the perfect solution for your damaged spiritual root. It won’t take too long—just a few months, and you’ll be back to your original state!"
She then grew more serious, her tone reflecting her concern. "However, we must tread carefully in addressing this issue. Any reckless actions could risk exposing our presence."
Hearing this wonderful news, a radiant spark lit up in Fang Yuan’s eyes. He asked tentatively, wanting to make sure he hadn’t misheard, "Can my spiritual root truly be restored?"
"Hmph, of course," Shangguan Ning replied confidently. "Such a problem is nothing in our eyes."
"That’s fantastic!" Fang Yuan exclaimed, his voice brimming with excitement. "Once I’ve recovered from my wounds, I’ll find an opportunity to apply for an external assignment, leave the Purple Heaven Holy Land, and begin repairing my spiritual root!"
"That’s a commendable plan," Nangong Wan agreed with a nod. "By leaving the headquarters of the Purple Heaven Holy Land, Shangguan Ning and I will have more freedom to maneuver."
Shangguan Ning nodded in agreement as well.
While the three of them were deep in conversation, planning their next steps, the door suddenly swung open, and a figure stepped inside.
Instantly, Shangguan Ning and Nangong Wan withdrew their presences and divine senses fully into the Soul Embodying Ring.
"A genius indeed; your recovery is impressively swift!" the newcomer remarked with genuine praise. He was an elderly man whose aura revealed him to be someone deeply skilled in the healing arts.
The old man continued to study Fang Yuan closely, and soon a glimmer of surprise flickered in his eyes. Just before, Fang Yuan had been consumed by a heavy aura of despair, but now he had regained a notable measure of his vitality.
"Master Wenren." With effort, Fang Yuan pushed himself up to show respect to the elderly man.
The elder, Wenren Kang, was renowned throughout the Purple Heaven Holy Land as a cultivator of profound skill in both alchemy and the healing arts.
When Fang Yuan’s cultivation base had inexplicably weakened two years ago, it was Wenren Kang who had devoted much time and effort to his treatment, forging a bond of familiarity and mutual respect between them.
This time, after Supreme Elder Mo Yu and the others had initially tended to Fang Yuan, they entrusted all further care to Wenren Kang.
"Do not strain yourself," Wenren Kang advised warmly. "Come, let me take care of your injuries." With a gentle smile, he retrieved a collection of pills and spiritual plants, carefully arranging them on the nearby table.