"Senior Martial Uncle, is there no other way?" Bai Yunqing asked.
"It's too difficult. This isn't a problem that barrier technique can solve. Her life has already been lost — the fact that she's still alive is truly a miracle."
"To restore her, you would need an extraordinarily powerful treasure as support, and it must be the right kind of treasure."
"I just remembered. There is a treasure that might truly be able to alleviate her condition," the one-eyed elder suddenly said.
"Senior, what treasure is it?" Chu Feng hurriedly asked.
"It is an exceedingly rare treasure with an extremely potent healing effect on Spirit Realm beings. Once you see it, you'll understand what kind of power it holds."
"But I need to warn you about two things."
"First, this treasure must be awakened before it can be used. But awakening it is exceedingly difficult. Over the years, countless Spirit World Masters have tried."
"Spirit World Masters from the Seven Realms Holy Mansion have tried. Even my senior martial brother — that is, Yunqing's Master — has tried. But none of them could awaken it."
"Because no one has been able to awaken it, very few people pay attention to it anymore."
"After all, if it can't be awakened, no matter how powerful the energy it contains, it's nothing more than a decoration."
"Furthermore, your Spirit Realm companion's injuries are too severe. I've said it before — the fact that she can survive in this form is already a miracle."
"Restoring her to her original state would be akin to ascending to the heavens — an almost impossible feat. Even if that treasure contains such power, it can only alleviate her injuries. A complete recovery is absolutely impossible," the one-eyed elder said.
Hearing such despairing words from the elder, Chu Feng was not shaken in the slightest. His expression didn't even change.
Because Chu Feng had long understood the difficulty of healing Her Majesty. Otherwise, why would he be in such a rush? Why would he beg Xiao Yueya? Why would he seek out Xianhai Shaoyu?
"Senior, is there a chance I could obtain this treasure?" Chu Feng asked.
"There is. If you have the ability, you might actually be able to get it. This treasure is located on the Ageless Peak in the Yuan'an Upper Realm of the Mirror Extinguishing Star Domain, within the Totem Heavenly River."
"That Ageless Peak is managed by Old Man Zhou. He placed the treasure at the summit and declared that whoever can awaken it may take it."
"That old man is quite agreeable, but let me give you a word of warning — never underestimate him."
"If you have the ability to awaken the treasure, he will naturally let you take it. But if you can't awaken it and try to seize it by force, I advise you to give up that notion entirely."
The one-eyed elder paused here and looked at Chu Feng.
"Let me remind you once more — that thing is almost impossible to awaken. If you want to try your luck, you can go, but absolutely do not harbor any expectations. Do you still intend to go?" the one-eyed elder asked.
"I'm going," Chu Feng said.
"If you're going, then take this."
As the one-eyed elder spoke, he casually sketched out a map with the location of the Ageless Peak marked on it.
"Thank you for the warning, Senior." Chu Feng accepted the map.
Though the one-eyed elder had said the chances were slim, Chu Feng had at least caught a glimpse of hope. Of course he was going.
"Yunqing, let's go back." With that, the one-eyed elder turned and entered the estate.
"Brother Chu Feng, you go ahead first. I have something to take care of. Once I'm done, I'll come find you at the Ageless Peak," Bai Yunqing said.
"Brother Bai, if you have matters to attend to, go ahead and handle them. Don't worry about me — I can manage on my own." Chu Feng didn't want to trouble Bai Yunqing any further.
"It's nothing major. I'll have it sorted out quickly. Wait for me at the Ageless Peak — no need to wait long. Give me ten days. Within ten days, I'll definitely arrive. If I'm not there by then, don't wait any longer," Bai Yunqing said.
"Yunqing." At that moment, the one-eyed elder's call came from inside the estate.
"Brother, it's settled then." Without waiting for Chu Feng's reply, Bai Yunqing headed straight into the estate.
Seeing this, Chu Feng didn't know what to say. It wasn't that he didn't want to wait for Bai Yunqing — he was simply too eager to heal Her Majesty.
If this trip turned out to be in vain, Chu Feng likely wouldn't stay but would leave immediately.
When Bai Yunqing entered the estate, the one-eyed elder was waiting for him just inside the entrance.
Upon seeing his senior martial uncle, Bai Yunqing said directly, "Senior Martial Uncle, thank you."
"Prepare yourself. We'll begin the tempering," the one-eyed elder urged.
"Senior Martial Uncle, no need for tempering. Let's start directly," Bai Yunqing said.
"No tempering?" The one-eyed elder's eyes widened in surprise.
"Senior Martial Uncle, I'm pressed for time. Let's speed things up this time," Bai Yunqing said.
"Yunqing, don't blame me for not warning you. Skipping the body tempering beforehand — this will be extremely painful. You may not be able to endure it," the one-eyed elder said.
"Yunqing understands, but I can endure it," Bai Yunqing said.
"Just because that young man saved your life?" the one-eyed elder asked. He knew that Bai Yunqing was in such a hurry because he wanted to catch up with Chu Feng and travel alongside him.
"I have nothing going on lately anyway. I want to follow him and see the world. Senior Martial Uncle, you know I've never really had any friends growing up," Bai Yunqing said.
"In that case, come along." The one-eyed elder led Bai Yunqing deeper into the estate.
But as they walked, Bai Yunqing suddenly stopped and looked in a certain direction.
He sensed many powerful auras from that direction.
And there was an immensely powerful formation energy.
That was the place where his Master usually went into seclusion — a place even he himself had no right to enter.
"Senior Martial Uncle, are there guests in the estate?" Bai Yunqing asked.
"Don't ask what you shouldn't ask," the one-eyed elder said coldly.
At that, Bai Yunqing asked no further questions.
Soon, the one-eyed elder brought Bai Yunqing to an underground palace.
The underground palace was vast but sparsely furnished.
However, the walls were covered with intricate barrier patterns and rune talismans, lending the place an eerie air.
In the center of the great hall, there was a pool and a coffin.
The pool was connected to the coffin.
The coffin was transparent, but its four sides were plastered with talisman papers.
Inside the coffin lay a man — emaciated and skeletal, like a dried corpse, yet still breathing.
Moreover, this man's entire body was scarred by burns. The marks left by flames covered him from head to toe, looking truly terrifying.
When Bai Yunqing entered the hall, he first bowed to the man, then stepped into the pool and sat cross-legged.
The one-eyed elder opened seven jars, from which different liquids flowed out and poured into the pool.
Though they were seven different colors, they all emitted a foul, metallic stench. They were all blood — not just human blood, but the blood of other races as well.
But Bai Yunqing seemed long accustomed to this and raised no objections.
After the pool was filled with the seven types of blood, the one-eyed elder looked at Bai Yunqing.
"Are you truly determined to begin this way?" the one-eyed elder asked.
"Senior Martial Uncle, begin," Bai Yunqing said.
Hearing this, the one-eyed elder produced a formation command token and a talisman paper.
Talisman in his left hand, token in his right.
"Formation, activate!!!"
In an instant, the entire great hall shook violently. The previously dark hall surged with brilliant light.
It turned out that the entire great hall was itself a formation.