"You all…"
"Sigh, never mind." Helpless, Nangong Longjian could only let out a long sigh before turning to Chu Feng and the Compass Immortal. "Then I shall have to trouble you both."
With that, Nangong Longjian sat cross-legged. Before long, a wisp of black qi emanated from his dantian, spreading through his body like creeping vines, rapidly climbing until it covered him entirely.
At the same time, his complexion grew worse and worse. In the end, though nearly every inch of his body was engulfed by the writhing black gas, whatever skin remained uncovered was pale as paper — he looked exactly like a corpse.
"Black Vine Soul-Forging Body?!" The Compass Immortal's expression changed drastically at the sight of Nangong Longjian.
"Black Vine Soul-Forging Body? What is that?" Bai Ruochen asked.
"The Black Vine Soul-Forging Body is a congenital affliction. On one hand, it tempers the patient's physique, making them far stronger than ordinary people. On the other hand, it devours the patient's soul, cutting their life short."
"This disease is present from birth, hidden within the dantian and fused with one's very origin. Even if one sheds the physical body and becomes a divine consciousness, one still cannot escape the Black Vine Soul-Forging Body — not until death." The Compass Immortal explained.
"Can this disease be cured?" Bai Ruochen and Bai Suyan asked simultaneously.
"It is difficult. All that can be done is to slow its progression — there is no way to eradicate it. And judging by Nangong Longjian's condition, the Black Vine Soul-Forging Body has already reached its final stages. I'm afraid… even slowing it is no longer possible." The Compass Immortal shook his head repeatedly. Upon discovering that Nangong Longjian's illness was in fact the Black Vine Soul-Forging Body, he knew there was nothing he could do.
"Compass Immortal, please save my father — please save him!" Bai Ruochen dropped to her knees before the Compass Immortal, breaking down in anguish once more, her entire body trembling. His words seemed to have extinguished the last ember of her hope, but she truly could not bear to watch her father die.
"Please rise, miss. It is not that I refuse to help — I am truly powerless." The Compass Immortal's face was filled with helplessness.
"Ruochen, do not trouble the Compass Immortal any further. No one can cure this disease." Nangong Longjian spoke weakly. Though his words said one thing, Chu Feng noticed a trace of disappointment hidden within them. In the end, he still wished to go on living.
This was not because Nangong Longjian was a coward clinging to life. His past deeds made it clear he was no seeker of fame or fortune — even after death, he had wanted to pass his cultivation on to his daughter.
So it was obvious: what he was reluctant to leave behind was not anything material, but the bonds of family. Not the Nangong Imperial Clan, but Bai Ruochen and her mother.
"Senior, I know of a method that may be able to cure your illness." At that moment, Chu Feng suddenly spoke up.
"What method?"
"Is that true?"
……
……
Hearing this, the Compass Immortal, Nangong Longjian, Bai Suyan, and Bai Ruochen all turned to look at Chu Feng.
Though each asked a different question, their eyes shared the same glimmer of hope. They knew Chu Feng was not the kind of person to crack jokes, and even less the kind to boast.
"I am not familiar with the Black Vine Soul-Forging Body, but I know of a formation designed specifically to break through congenital illnesses. It may be effective against this disease." Chu Feng said.
"Young friend Chu Feng, what is this method? Tell us." At this moment, the Compass Immortal seemed more eager than even Nangong Longjian and the others. In his view, Nangong Longjian's illness was already beyond cure, so he was extremely curious to hear what Chu Feng had in mind.
"Elder Compass, I have never actually deployed this formation before, so I cannot guarantee it with absolute certainty."
"Moreover, Elder Compass, you understand the Black Vine Soul-Forging Body far better than I do, so I would like to ask you to examine whether this formation would truly be effective."
As he spoke, Chu Feng began tracing a diagram in midair with his fingertip, as though using it as a brush.
The diagram was woven from barrier energy, shimmering with brilliant golden light — it was a formation blueprint.
Chu Feng outlined the entire deployment process and the required materials.
However, tracing out this single diagram in its entirety took him a full hour, which spoke to just how complex it was.
Once the diagram was complete, setting aside Bai Suyan and Bai Ruochen, even Nangong Longjian — a Snake-pattern level Imperial-Robed Spirit World Master — was nearly dumbstruck.