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"Hiko, Onijiu, step back," Shi Mi said calmly.

Kanoko and Oniusu, who were standing beside Ishimitsu, bowed and stepped back upon hearing the command.

In an instant, the countless black needles trembled, like the forked tongues of venomous snakes, poised to strike. Shi Mi's expression remained calm and indifferent, but beneath that calm, the undercurrents were turbulent, as dangerous as those restless needles.

Ba Jitian took a deep breath, placed his left hand behind his back, and extended his right palm outward. As he focused his energy, his expression gradually became calm and dignified.

Shi Mi spoke, saying, "Ba Ji Tian, I'll give you one more chance. Where is the 'Heavenly Coffin' now?"

Bajitian laughed loudly and then fell silent.

Shi Mi raised her hand, and the magic needle moved with the magnetic pull, attacking the Morinda officinalis.

Bajitian leaped forward to meet the attack, her body enveloped in an invisible aura. Although the divine needles attacked swiftly, they were disrupted by the aura and could not get close.

In the blink of an eye, Morinda officinalis had broken through the array of divine needles and arrived in front of Shi Mi.

Shi Mi didn't hesitate and directly struck with her palm.

Knowing that his inner energy was depleted and that it was not advisable to fight head-on, Ba Jitian stepped aside to avoid the palm strike. After taking a few steps back, he struck out with his own palm.

Seeing him make his move, Shi Mi immediately leaped up to dodge. The invisible airflow struck several walking corpses behind her, and the force was so strong that it shattered them.

When Xiaoxiao saw this scene, she felt an indescribable sadness.

Ba Jitian unleashed his full power, his palm strikes previously only forcing out the Gu worms, but now he shattered even the corpse, clearly using all his strength. In contrast, Shi Mi appeared calm and composed, seemingly handling the situation with ease.

"Sect Master," Gui Jiu, standing behind Shi Mi, spoke, his tone slightly tense.

Shi Mi spun around and stood still, picked up several magic needles in her hand, and then stuck them into her chest.

Seeing her actions, Ba Jitian frowned and said softly, "Divine needle acupuncture to open acupoints..."

Before he could finish speaking, Shi Mi had already launched another attack. Her speed had increased several times over; her movements were as swift as the wind, impossible to predict.

The Divine Needle Opening of Acupoints. When she was practicing acupressure, her master had mentioned it. Shennong's "Needle Stone Flow" technique involves stimulating acupoints with needles to unleash potential and enhance speed and strength—a unique skill known as "opening acupoints." She never imagined she would witness it firsthand…

Ba Jitian's expression held a hint of heaviness, but he was able to suppress his impatience and make steady moves.

However, this only widened the gap in strength between the two sides. Shi Mi already possessed the divine needles and had mastered the "Flame God Awakening Heaven" technique; now, with the addition of "Opening Acupoints," she was truly unstoppable.

What should I do...? Xiao Xiao tried hard to calm herself down. How could she turn the tide? There must be a way. No one is invincible; otherwise, how could Bajitian have subdued Shimi back at Jiyu Mountain Villa...? What's the difference between then and now?

A series of images flashed through Xiao Xiao's mind. Back then, at Jiyu Manor, Shi Mi's usual coldness crumbled, and her angry eyes revealed an unfathomable sadness.

"The Fiery God Awakens to Heaven," devoid of joy or sorrow; the Five Elements reversed, divine power boundless—this is the inner strength of the Daoist school, originating from Daoist internal alchemy cultivation. All human emotions deplete inner energy, hastening aging. The so-called "seven emotions causing internal injury" are a major taboo in internal alchemy cultivation. Anger injures the liver, joy injures the heart, worry injures the spleen, grief injures the lungs, and fear injures the kidneys. If one can abstain from the seven emotions, one can reverse the Five Elements and attain longevity…

However, there is no one in this world without emotions. Since Shi Mi desires resurrection, she still harbors attachments. "Flame God Awakening Heaven" is the Daoist sect's solar-flow internal energy, extremely fierce and prone to self-injury. Abstaining from the "seven emotions" is likely merely a method of cultivation, not a true annihilation of the human heart. Therefore, it seems that once the "seven emotions" are broken, Shi Mi will be utterly defenseless!

Just now, Bajitian mentioned the person Shi Mi insisted on saving, so she probably has the same intention. But unlike at Jiyu Manor, Shi Mi wasn't angered by this; it seems she has even given up "anger." Joy, anger, worry, thought, grief, fear, shock—which one is her weakness?

Xiao Xiao thought for a moment, then straightened up, looked at the battle before her, took a deep breath, and said loudly, "Stop fighting! Elder Ba, stop fighting! Don't you understand? What's wrong with wanting to bring the dead back to life? Why can't we hand over the 'Heavenly Coffin'..."

Bajitian frowned upon hearing this, but ignored it. Shi Mi also turned a deaf ear and continued the battle.

“I understand…” Xiao Xiao stepped forward and continued, “Elder Ba, you were able to revive my uncle’s life, which shows your compassion. Don’t you understand that?! Don’t you have anyone you can’t bear to lose?”

Her small voice was tinged with sorrow, "I wanted to save my uncle too... When I was in the East Sea, I was wronged by my fellow disciples, and only he believed me. When I was punished to reflect on my mistakes, he stayed with me at Cloud Cliff for a night. Since Master passed away, no one has been so kind to me... When I was poisoned and stranded on a deserted island, he took the poison from the South Sea to save me. And for me, he betrayed our sect, suffering the Nether Thunder Palm, and was on the verge of death..."

As she spoke, the short story stirred up long-suppressed emotions within her, and tears streamed down her face. Her voice choked with sobs, deeply moving the listeners.

“When a person dies, nothing is left…whether they laugh or get angry…you can never see them again…” she cried, “What do you mean by ‘life and death are predestined’…how can I accept that! I want to save him, I want to save him no matter what, I’ll do anything, I just want him to live!”

Ba Jitian was filled with doubt and confusion, but at that moment, Shi Mi's moves became chaotic. Her face was deathly pale, and pain etched on her brow.

“…I want to save him…” Xiao Xiao clenched her fists, her shoulders trembling slightly, and cried out, “Is this thought wrong…? Is it wrong to want to keep those memories!”

Shi Mi suddenly took a few steps back, her pupils contracted, her whole body trembled slightly, and cold sweat appeared on her forehead.

"Sect Master!" Upon seeing this, Gui Jiu leaped forward and stood in front of her to protect her.

Shi Mi's breathing gradually became erratic, and she involuntarily knelt down. Although she tried to calm herself down, she couldn't do it no matter what. The "magnetic guide" in her hand rolled to the side, and the surrounding divine needles moved erratically, no longer posing a danger.

Looking at everything before her, Xiao Xiao was overwhelmed with mixed feelings. Many people had advised her to give up on Wen Su and leave the rest to fate. But had she truly let go? Those words were meant to provoke Shi Mi. But uttering them herself filled her with terror… Deep down, wasn't she thinking the same thing…?

"Thoughts"... all the memories of the past can now become sharp knives, wounding invisibly. The more one suppresses them, the more one tries to forget, the deeper the pain becomes, and the more uncontrollable the longing. Standing in another person's shoes, a little thought is enough to understand their sorrow and despair. That so-called "obsession" is so desolate, so impossible to escape.

“I’m not wrong…” Shi Mi’s voice was tinged with agitation. “I’m not wrong… Why does Fei Ling have to die… I’m not wrong!”

Bajitian sighed, glanced at Xiaoxiao, and nodded slightly. Then, he raised his palm to attack.

Oni-usu immediately stepped in to block, and Hiko, standing beside him, also drew the rapier from the handle of the palace lantern and charged forward. However, the two were no match for Bajitian and were defeated within a few moves.

Ba Jitian frowned as he looked at Shi Mi, who was kneeling and panting, and struck down with his palm.

Xiao Xiao closed her eyes, unable to bear watching any longer.

Suddenly, the divine needles floating around suddenly moved and attacked Morinda officinalis. This change caught everyone off guard. Although Morinda officinalis dodged nimbly, the divine needles still pierced her arm, rendering her powerless.

When Xiao Xiao opened his eyes, he saw a group of soldiers riding towards him with guns in hand. The leader of them was none other than Qian Zhu Xi Yuan.

Xi Yuan held the "Magnetic Guide" in one palm, and the divine needle was controlled by the "Magnetic Guide," moving with unparalleled agility. Xi Yuan raised her eyes and said, "To be an enemy of the Shennong Sect Master is to be an enemy of the imperial court!" Her gaze slowly swept over the crowd, landing on Xiao Xiao, and then on Ba Ji Tian. "Elder, those who know when to yield are the heroes. Hand over the 'Heavenly Coffin,' submit to the imperial court, and you will enjoy endless wealth and honor."

Bajitian snorted coldly and did not respond.

Xi Yuan dismounted and said, "Since that's the case, don't blame me for being ruthless!" She raised her hand, drew her needle, and looked coldly at everyone. "I will kill one person every quarter of an hour until you change your mind."

Ba Jitian's anger shone in his pupils, but the divine needles within his body, controlled by magnetic attraction, flowed through his blood, preventing him from condensing his qi. He watched as the jet-black needles slowly floated, heading towards Yin Xiao and Li Si beside him.

Without another thought, Xiao Xiao leaped forward and stood in front of the two men.

Xi Yuan had not expected her to do this. The movement of the divine needle was already set, and there was no time to change it.

Black needles rained down like a storm. Xiao Xiao shielded her face with her arms, her "Exquisite Embroidery" protecting her vitals from certain death. The needles pierced her limbs, but the pain wasn't too severe; the strange sensation in her blood made her groan softly. She lowered her arms, looked at Xi Yuan before her, and said calmly, "If even one person dies here today, the secret of the 'Nine Emperors' will forever remain a secret..."

Xi Yuan coldly replied, "Miss Zuo, I have been very tolerant of you because you are a disciple of the 'Ghost Master.' Now it seems that I can no longer be so polite!"

Xi Yuan stretched out her hand, and the "magnetic guide" on her palm faintly emitted a cold blue light. In that instant, the divine needles in her small limbs immediately began to move. In a moment, pain swept over her, forcing her to kneel down.

"Miss Zuo, you're refusing to listen to reason, so don't blame me..."

Before Xi Yuan could finish speaking, a beam of white light shot towards her. She reacted swiftly, immediately manipulating her divine needles to block it. However, unexpectedly, the needles were deflected by the white light, losing momentum and scattering on the ground. Then, the white light struck precisely the "Magnetic Guide" in her palm. Xi Yuan looked closely and saw that the white light was actually a pure white arrow.

Xi Yuan suddenly looked up in the direction from which the arrow had come. Not far away, he saw several riders. Lian Zhao stood at the forefront, his left hand holding a pure white longbow, while his right hand's fingers remained on the string.

“Only a weapon of the Nine Emperors can break through the defense of ‘Nan Dou Yan Shou’…” Xi Yuan said, “‘Shuang Tian Lan Yue’ can only unleash its power in the hands of Young Master Lian.”

Lian Zhao lowered his bow and arrow, his gaze falling on Xiao Xiao, which filled with anger. He spoke with a restrained rage, "My lord, Zuo Xiao Xiao has already submitted to the court. What is your intention in using such a harsh punishment?"

Xi Yuan was slightly surprised upon hearing these words. "Submit to the imperial court?" She glanced at Xiao Xiao, somewhat incredulous.

Lian Zhao said, "Knowing her identity, you still injured her so badly... Master Qian, where is your sincerity in cooperating with me?"

Xi Yuan pondered for a moment, then curtsied and said, "Young Master Lian, you flatter me. It was just an accidental injury, and I had no intention of offending you. Now that you are here, please handle this matter."

Upon hearing this, Lian Zhao waved his hand. All the soldiers around him lowered their weapons and stepped back. Without a word, he dismounted and slowly walked towards Xiao Xiao.

Xiao Xiao watched him approach step by step, unable to hold back her tears. The poisonous signs around them had gradually dissipated, and the sunlight became dazzling, making everything before her eyes dazzle.

Lian Zhao walked up to her and looked down at her. Her hands and feet were injured by the divine needles, and blood was faintly visible through them. She looked up at him, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably. He had never seen her cry like this before, and his heart clenched tighter and tighter, slowly turning into regret and self-reproach. He should have known that, given Yin Xiao and the others' identities, they wouldn't take the main road. He was in a hurry to get on his way, but he forgot about the crucial task of tracking them down. He had also thought that the Shennong family was her ultimate target. Even if they didn't encounter them along the way, it wouldn't be a big mistake. But now, he was filled with regret. If only he had arrived a little earlier, if only he had known the location of this village a little earlier, none of this would have happened.

He knelt down on one knee, reached out and gently stroked her cheek, suppressing the urge to pull her into his arms, and smiled, saying, "It's alright..."

For a brief moment of relief, he could no longer bear the pain and collapsed.

Lian Zhao gently picked her up, then looked at the mess in the village with a solemn expression.

"Take everyone back to the Shennong family," he ordered, his tone grave.

Upon receiving the order, the soldiers immediately began their operation.

Xi Yuan watched Lian Zhao approach, smiled and stepped forward, about to say something. But Lian Zhao interrupted, "If you have anything to explain, let's talk about it when we get back to the Shennong family."

Xi Yuan sensed the displeasure in his tone and fell silent. She watched him leave, then turned to look at the pure white arrow on the ground with an incredibly complex expression.

"You were right..." she muttered to herself.

...

Helpless

This is the first time Xiaoxiao has dreamed of her master since his passing.

In her dream, she quietly followed her master along a mountain path lined with blooming peach blossoms. Her master was saying something, but she couldn't hear a word he was saying.

The peach blossoms, bathed in the moonlight, shimmered with a hazy glow, breathtakingly beautiful. As she stood beneath the peach tree, petals fluttered down, landing on her shoulders.

At that moment, her master suddenly sank into the ground. In a panic, she tried to grab him, but many Gu worms appeared on the ground. Ignoring her fear, she frantically shoved the worms aside, desperately trying to dig something out.

Beside her stood a person whose face was obscured, who kept saying, "Resurrecting the dead is against the will of Heaven..."

She ignored it and kept digging. Finally, she found it, but the person who appeared in the soil was Wen Su…

That's how she was woken up in fright...

The moment she opened her eyes, she saw a hand lying in front of her. It was delicate, smooth, soft, and white—clearly a woman's hand.

"Oh, you're awake." The voice was gentle and seemed familiar.

She tilted her head slightly, glanced at him, and said with some surprise, "Miss Shen?"

The person sitting on the edge of the bed wiping her sweat was Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan looked concerned and asked, "You've been muttering to yourself, does your wound hurt?"

Xiao Xiao then remembered everything that had happened before: she had been struck by the "Three Corpse Divine Needles," then Lian Zhao appeared and stopped everything, and then...

She hugged the blanket and slowly sat up, only to find that all her clothes had been removed, and there were faint red spots on her limbs. It didn't hurt, just a little numb.

Seeing her blank expression, Shen Yuan smiled and said, "All the needles have been removed. Let me get you some change of clothes." After she finished speaking, she got up and went to get the clothes from the side.

Little Xiao's thoughts were a bit slow to catch up. She looked around; it was a simply decorated room. A few rays of moonlight streamed in through the window, shining directly on her bedside.

"Miss Shen, what are you doing here?" Her gaze fell on Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan smiled and said, "I originally went with the owner of Qufang to 'Zuikeju' to find you. I was a step too late and happened to run into Brother Lian, so I came along."

She nodded slightly, still unable to make sense of it. She touched her forehead and closed her eyes.

Shen Yuan carried the clothes to the bedside and said, "Miss Zuo, please put on your clothes first. I'll go inform Brother Lian." After she finished speaking, she left with a smile.

Xiao Xiao watched her leave, then suddenly remembered something. "Miss Shen...where are the others?"

She shouted it out, but it couldn't reach Shen Yuan's ears.