Hearing the familiar voice, Lin Yu became excited and replied, "We've been prepared for a long time. We're just waiting for you to come out!"
"Haha, that's for the best. Don't hold me back this time!"
Qin Shi laughed heartily and landed beside them. Then, he respectfully cupped his fists towards Xiao Yue and the woman in red, "Seniors!"
Xiao Yue and the woman in red sized up Qin Shi and nodded in satisfaction, "Not bad, kid. You've improved so much in just a few days. Looks like you've found the Divine Pregnant Tree Fruit?"
Qin Shi chuckled, tacitly agreeing to their response.
Although they'd expected it, Xiao Yue and the woman in red were still shocked when they received confirmation. They'd spent a lot of time in the Bejewelled Lava Volcano, so they naturally knew how terrifying it was. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been listed as one of the three forbidden areas.
"Haha, if that's the case, you can head to the imperial city. Don't let Xiao Chong get the upper hand. I won't be able to help you with the rest."
Xiao Yue affectionately rubbed Lin Yu's hair and smiled, "Yu 'er, you must remember. Don't let the Crimson Flame Empire fall into the hands of villains."
Lin Yu didn't agree in a hurry. Instead, he asked in confusion, "Grandmother, aren't you coming with us?"
Xiao Yue's heart trembled and she revealed an embarrassed expression. She forced a smile and said, "No, grandmother is old. I'm used to staying in the Bejewelled Lava Volcano. It's been many years since I've asked about the trivial matters of the mortal world. I won't join in the fun. I'll leave the Crimson Flame Empire to you.
Lin Yu frowned and said, "Grandmother, the empire is in danger now. We need you. How can you disregard the empire's safety for a moment of comfort?"
"I …!" Xiao Yue choked.
"If that's the case, then I've misjudged her. It turns out that my grandmother is a coward." Lin Yu shook his head in disappointment and was about to leave without looking back.
At this time, the woman in red who had been silent all this time suddenly stepped forward and grabbed Lin Yu's sleeve. She raised her hand and released several strands of spiritual power towards Lin Yu's chest. "What nonsense are you talking about? You heartless thing, I will teach you a lesson on behalf of your grandmother!"
Bang!
Lin Yu couldn't react in time. In a moment of panic, he was forced back several steps.
"Yu, Little Yu!"
Zhou Qin and Qin Shi quickly stepped forward and shielded Lin Yu behind them. Qin Shi said coldly, "Senior, what do you mean by this?"
"What do you mean?"
The woman in red snorted and said angrily, "That ingrate. Xiao Yue has sacrificed so much for him, yet he's making sarcastic remarks here."
When she said that, she became even more furious. She raised her hand and pointed her spiritual power at Lin Yu. "Do you know that your grandmother doesn't have much time left?!"
"Wu Tong!
That's enough! "
Xiao Yue frowned and leaped forward to block the woman in red. "Alright, that's enough!"
"Why not?"
The woman in red called Wu Tong shouted indignantly. She choked and said, "You don't have much time left. In the last few days, you've been continuously exhausting your spiritual power to teach him. Now, he doesn't know what's good for him and taints you. Why won't you let me tell him?"
When he heard that, Lin Yu was shocked. Without giving Xiao Yue a chance to speak, he grabbed the woman in red and asked, "What did you just say?
My grandmother doesn't have much time left?
What do you mean by that? "
"What do I mean?
What else can I mean?
Isn't this all thanks to you?
Xiao Yue and I have been relying on each other in this Bejeweled Magma Volcano for a hundred years. Everything has been destroyed because of you! "
Wu Tong howled sorrowfully. It was clear that she had an extraordinary relationship with Xiao Yue. Her voice grew weaker and weaker until it became a trembling voice in the end. "It's all good now. The Bejeweled Magma Volcano has been extinguished, and her spiritual body has been greatly depleted. Before long, her soul will disperse!"
Lin Yu's heart skipped a beat. His pupils dilated rapidly, and he turned to look at Xiao Yue in disbelief. "G-grandmother, is what she said true?"
Xiao Yue could only smile helplessly when his secret was exposed. "Haha, really. I wanted you to leave in peace, but you still found out in the end."
Her words were very clear.
Lin Yu could not describe how he felt. He had actually misunderstood his grandmother before this. Pain and remorse surged in his heart. He raised his hand and smashed it against his chest a few times. He said angrily, "Arghhhhh!!!"
Xiao Yue hugged Lin Yu in her arms, her heart aching. "Silly boy, don't blame yourself. This isn't your fault. Grandmother died a hundred years ago. It's already a blessing from the heavens that she was able to live for a hundred years here. Now that I've seen my grandson, I have no regrets in this life."
After saying that, she raised her pale head and looked at the dark sky. Tears fell from her murky eyes. "Now, my son and daughter are no longer here. I've been a lonely ghost for so long. It's time for me to be reincarnated."
"Is there no other way?" Lin Yu asked while sobbing.
Xiao Yue shook her head helplessly. Her body had already started to fester, and she became extremely weak. Even the arm she used to hug Lin Yu started to tremble. "The dead cannot come back to life. This is fate!"
Lin Yu clenched his fists tightly. He was in so much pain that he wanted to die.
They had only reunited for a short time, but they had to be separated forever. No one could understand this feeling.
"Fate?"
Unexpectedly, at this moment, Qin Shi suddenly laughed. His laughter was unusually wild. "Haha, it is indeed fate to be born, grow old, get sick, and die. However, who said that fate cannot be defied?"
"What do you mean?" Xiao Yue frowned.
"Senior, I have a way to let you leave with us. It might even be able to bring you back to life. However, I don't know if you're willing to try!"
Qin Shi said proudly. The thing he disobeyed the most was fate. It was said that fate could not be defied, but he wanted to go against it.
As soon as these words were spoken, all of them were stunned, and they stared at Qin Shi with disbelief.
Lin Yu said excitedly, "Shi Tou, you have a way?"
"Indeed."
After receiving confirmation, Lin Yu's previous disappointment disappeared. He understood Qin Shi's character. Qin Shi was someone who would do what he said. Thus, Qin Shi would definitely not speak carelessly. He must have some sort of guarantee. "Tell me, what exactly is going on?"
After a moment of silence, Qin Shi took out the Explosive Flame Pearl. At this moment, the Explosive Flame Pearl's barrier was still open, and the Earth Core Flame was burning inside. He said, "This is the source of the Bejewelled Lava Volcano that has been burning for thousands of years. It is called the Earth Core Flame. I believe that since Senior Xiao Yue was able to preserve his spiritual body in the Bejewelled Lava Volcano, he should be able to do the same as long as the Earth Core Flame is here."
Sensing the power inside the Explosive Flame Pearl's barrier, Xiao Yue and Wu Tong tensed up. They were very familiar with the power inside. Wasn't it the flames that had once burned in the Bejewelled Lava Volcano?
However, compared to the flames of the past, the Earth Core Flame was even more violent and intense.
"Indeed, if we have the Earth Core Flame, we might really be able to preserve Xiao Yue's spiritual body."
At this point, Wu Tong's expression changed, and he said, "But you said that it can revive Xiao Yue. Just the terror of the Earth Core Flame isn't enough, right?"
Qin Shi nodded without hiding anything. He answered, "Yes. Just this Earth Core Flame can protect Senior Xiao Yue for a while, but it can't protect him forever."
"Then were you lying to us just now?"
"Lying?"
Qin Shi frowned. What he hated the most in his life was people saying this to him. He said unhappily, "If it's someone who understands me, they definitely won't say that. If I, Qin Shi, say that I have a way to revive Senior Xiao Yue, then I naturally have a way."
"Revive the dead?
That's easy for you to say. Over the past tens of thousands of years, the cycle of life and death has been the cultivation path that countless almighty cultivators have pursued. But how many people have been able to live forever in these ten thousand years? "Wu Tong said with narrowed eyes.
"Haha, if it were someone else who has been dead for more than a hundred years, wanting to revive the dead would indeed be a fool's dream. But to the current Senior Xiao Yue, it's a small matter!"
At this point, Qin Shi paused for a moment. He thought for a moment and asked the others, "I wonder if the few of you have heard of the Blood Bathing Formation?"
"Blood Bathing Formation?"
Clearly, the few of them were very unfamiliar with this term.
Seeing that the few of them were puzzled, Qin Shi explained, "Yes, this Blood Bathing Formation is a formation left behind from ancient times. It has the effect of condensing spiritual bodies and injecting spiritual energy. Do you think that with it, wanting to revive Senior Xiao Yue would be a small matter?"
"Condensing spiritual energy?"
Wu Tong's doubtful expression clearly changed, and he took a few steps forward anxiously. "Is that true?"
"I, Qin Shi, mean what I say!" Qin Shi said resolutely.
After receiving confirmation, Wu Tong's emotions surged. Perhaps the others did not know, but as an artifact spirit, she clearly knew that if this Blood Bathing Formation could really condense spiritual energy and inject spiritual energy, it might really be able to revive Xiao Yue.
Despite his excitement, Wu Tong did not lose his composure and asked the main point, "But since this Blood Bathing Formation is left behind from ancient times, how can it be easily found?"
Qin Shi smiled. "Haha, that's indeed the case. Fortunately, this Blood Bathing Formation just so happens to be in my Qin Sect!"
"What?" The few of them widened their eyes. "The Qin Sect has this Blood Bathing Formation?"
Faced with the few of them's doubts, Qin Shi nodded without hiding anything. "That's right!"
At this moment, the despairing aura from before seemed to be blown away by a gentle breeze, disappearing from their faces.
Wu Tong cried tears of joy. He turned around and hugged Xiao Yue. "Xiao Yue, did you hear that?
Did you hear that?
You're saved! You're saved! "
"That's right, grandmother!" Lin Yu was also extremely excited.
Of course, the person who was the most excited was undoubtedly Xiao Yue herself. She raised her head and looked at the vast clear sky. Tears rolled down her cheeks. "It's been 100 years, 100 years. I never thought that I could still leave this place!"
For hundreds of years, she had dreamed of leaving this place and seeing the dazzling world outside. However, she was clear that with her current soul state, it was impossible for her to do so. Therefore, when she heard that not only could she leave, but she could even be resurrected, she looked at Qin Shi excitedly. "Little doll, how should I thank you?"
"Senior Xiao Yue, you must be joking. You're Lin Yu's grandmother. This is something I should do. However, before returning to the Blood Bathing Formation, I might have to trouble you to stay in the barrier of the Explosive Flame Pearl for a few days," Qin Shi said with a smile.
"There's no hurry, there's no hurry." Xiao Yue shook her head gratefully. "I've already waited for 100 years. Do a few more days matter?
Return to the imperial city first. Don't let Xiao Chong's long-cherished wish come true. "
"Return to the imperial city first?"
Qin Shi's gaze turned cold. He sneered and said, "Haha, that's good too. Right now, your body has already festered. If you really want to be revived, aside from the Blood Bathing Formation, you also need a physical body that can endure three days of your cultivation."