Chapter 1235: Emotional Debt +1

“Ugh…”

A painful groan echoed. Luo Guxie’s body trembled, and he quickly leaned forward.

Amidst the rising profound light and medicinal aura, Luo Changsheng slowly opened his eyes, his parched lips parting with difficulty.

“Changsheng!” Luo Guxie called out urgently, “You’re awake… Don’t push yourself. Go back to sleep for a while, and by the time you wake up next, your injuries will be completely healed.”

However, Luo Changsheng didn't obediently fall back asleep. His eyes were clouded, yet they swirled with deep pain. His still-weak aura was chaotic. “I… lost… lost…”

For others, winning and losing was commonplace. But he was Luo Changsheng, the Young Master Changsheng, with the most distinguished status, the most powerful father, and a formidable master. He had never lost, could not lose, and had no right to lose. The impact of this defeat on him was immense, something no one else could truly comprehend.

Luo Guxie quickly said, “No, Changsheng, you didn’t lose, you merely…”

“You did lose, and it was a perfectly fair defeat.” A stern voice overrode Luo Guxie’s comforting words. Luo Chen stepped forward, his brows furrowed and eyes cold. “However, your confrontation with Yun Che isn’t over. In three days, you’ll have a second battle, which means you still have a chance to turn this defeat around!”

Luo Changsheng’s dim gaze abruptly sharpened.

“You possess extraordinary talent and were born into the Sacred Universe Realm. From birth, you stood at an unreachable starting point above everyone else. Your aunt is the unparalleled strongest person in the Eastern Divine Region, yet she has poured all her energy into you since your birth. Therefore, your constant dominance over your peers and your undefeated record are only to be expected, not something remarkable.”

Luo Chen frowned, his expression solemn. “Rather, it is this defeat today that will truly test whether you have what it takes to become the future ‘number one in the Eastern Region’! One who collapses after a single defeat and cannot recover is a coward. No matter how high their talent or how exalted their starting point, they will never achieve greatness. True strong individuals never fear defeat; instead, they grow stronger because of it, becoming more formidable with each loss, even craving defeat.”

“Understand? Now, stop acting like this pathetic, useless person…”

“Enough!” Luo Guxie suddenly interrupted him. She gently embraced Luo Changsheng, soothing his chaotic aura with profound energy. “Changsheng is still a child. He doesn’t need to understand these so-called grand principles that sound like heroic declarations but are actually useless.”

“…” Luo Chen moved his lips, then eventually turned away, sighing inwardly, and said no more.

“Changsheng,” Luo Guxie spoke softly; in this world, only when facing Luo Changsheng would her tone be so gentle. “When you were born, your father named you ‘Chang Ling,’ hoping you would soar above the world. It was I, your master, who forcefully changed your name to ‘Changsheng’ after taking you as my disciple.”

“Throughout my life, I’ve been accustomed to being alone, without any attachments, until I had you…” Luo Guxie’s chest rose and fell. “I never ask for great achievements or glory from you in the future; I only wish for you to live a long, peaceful life. But I also deeply understand that in this world, to achieve longevity and to avoid being bullied, one must surpass everyone else, making people respect, fear, and look up to you. That’s why I’ve been strict with you since childhood, never allowing you to be beneath anyone.”

“I ordered you not to display your full power outside and even went so far as to place a restriction on you, forcibly preventing you from breaking through, fearing that your brilliance would attract jealousy. I never expected that, because of this, that lowly little beast Yun Che would injure you to such an extent… It’s all my fault. Otherwise, how could he possibly be worthy of harming even a single hair on you?”

“…” Luo Chen hesitated, his gaze complex, and he sighed inwardly. He had always believed he understood Luo Guxie well enough, but ever since she returned to the Sacred Universe Realm and forcefully took Luo Changsheng as her disciple… she seemed to have completely changed when it came to Luo Changsheng.

“Master…” Luo Changsheng spoke with difficulty, each word hoarse. “I… am unwilling…”

“Please… Master, for me… lift the restriction…”

“Alright.” Luo Guxie nodded gently without hesitation. “You don’t need to listen to your father. You don’t need to forcibly suppress the resentment and unwillingness in your heart. Heal your injuries, then personally go… and settle today’s score!”

“Guxie,” Luo Changchen could no longer restrain himself and interjected, “This is ultimately a contest between juniors, each relying on their own strength, and there has never been any enmity between the two. Moreover, this defeat is by no means bad for Changsheng. Why must you…”

“Say no more!” Luo Guxie said coldly. “Changsheng is my life. Anyone who dares to injure him to this extent, for whatever reason—let alone a mere lowly mongrel who crawled out from who knows where, even if it were a son of a King Realm… I will never forgive them!”

“You…” Luo Chen’s face tightened, but seeing Luo Guxie’s gloomy expression, he could only flick his sleeve and sigh heavily in resignation. “Fine, Changsheng, just focus on healing your injuries for now.”

True to her name, Luo Guxie’s personality was extremely reclusive and eccentric. What she decided, no one could reverse.

Compared to the Sacred Universe Realm, the Snow Song Realm was far more chaotic.

As night fell, all the disciples stood guard outside the courtyard. Mu Huanzhi and the other elders and palace masters gathered around Yun Che, their faces filled with worry.

Yun Che was covered in blood, his breath barely a whisper. Mu Bingyun’s snowy hand gently rested on his chest, a faint icy glow emanating from it. Aside from Mu Bingyun, the other elders and palace masters, though consumed by anxiety, none dared to intervene on their own.

Various healing elixirs were laid out around them, a significant portion of which had been sent by the Flame God Realm. However, they dared not use even a tiny bit. Yun Che’s current state meant he couldn’t withstand any profound energy impact, and naturally, no medicinal force impact either.

“Bingyun, you should still take Yun Che back to the sect. The Sect Master will surely have a way. His current condition is simply too dangerous,” Mu Huanzhi said with concern.

Yun Che’s recent fame in the Eastern Divine Region had naturally brought unprecedented glory to the Snow Song Realm. When they first arrived at the Brahma Heaven God Realm, they had to walk with their necks hunched, feeling inferior in the presence of various higher star realms, truly not daring to even breathe heavily. But now, the gazes other star realms cast upon them were something they would never forget. Even those higher star realms they usually only looked up to were filled with astonishment, envy, and even jealousy—something they had never dared to dream of before. Their disciple from the Snow Song Realm had fought among all the young prodigies of the Eastern Divine Region in the Conferred God Battle, stepping over numerous top-tier geniuses, defeating Lu Lengchuan, Jun Xilei, Shui Yingyue… and now, he had defeated Luo Changsheng, the head of the Eastern Region’s Four God Children, known as the ‘undefeated myth.’ If he were to suffer permanent damage or fail to recover from these severe injuries, it would be an immeasurable loss for the Snow Song Realm.

Mu Bingyun’s eyes had remained in a state of turmoil. After a long silence, her palm finally moved away from Yun Che’s chest, and she said, striving for calm, “Great Elder, I trouble you to accompany me in taking Yun Che back to the Snow Song Realm.”

“Why only you and the Great Elder?” Mu Tanzhi was startled, then asked in surprise, “Are you planning to return?”

“Not us, but Yun Che must return,” Mu Bingyun replied. “Don’t forget, in three days, he has another battle with Luo Changsheng.”

“What?” The elders and palace masters were all startled. Mu Huanzhi said, “Bingyun, Yun Che’s injuries are so severe that even if we used all Time Wheel Pearls, whether he can fully recover is unknown. How could he possibly fight Luo Changsheng again!”

“This is Yun Che’s wish. Even if he hasn’t fully recovered by then, he must be brought back,” Mu Bingyun stated without hesitation. “Great Elder, Yun Che cannot endure any bumps right now. You must protect him well.”

“Leave it to me,” Mu Huanzhi nodded.

Just then, an Ice Phoenix disciple rushed over and whispered, “Elders and Palace Masters, Young Master Ninety-Nine of the Glazed Light Realm is here to see you.”

“Young Master Ninety-Nine of the Glazed Light Realm?” Mu Huanzhi frowned but said, “Didn’t I say no one was to disturb us? Yun Che’s condition is most important right now, even if it’s someone from the Glazed Light Realm…”

“Wait!” Mu Bingyun’s eyes flashed. “Bring him in immediately.”

Soon, a young man dressed in a long, water-blue robe entered. However, this esteemed Young Master Ninety-Nine of the Glazed Light Realm was slightly hunched, his neck slightly retracted, his eyes flickering, and he walked silently—altogether appearing rather furtive.

“Young Master Ninety-Nine, you…”

“Shh!” As soon as Mu Bingyun spoke, Shui Yinghen frantically waved his hand and shushed her, causing everyone to stare in confusion.

Shui Yinghen turned around and cautiously swept his spiritual sense behind him for a while before turning back. He suddenly tossed a thumb-sized blue jade vial to Mu Bingyun, then whispered in a voice so low it was almost inaudible, “I… I’m telling you, I absolutely did not come here tonight, and you haven’t seen me, understand?! Understand?!”

Mu Bingyun glanced at the jade vial in her hand, frowning. “Young Master Ninety-Nine, what is this…”

“What Young Master Ninety-Nine!” Shui Yinghen hastily shook his head, then furtively glanced behind him again. “You don’t know me, and I don’t know you… In short, you absolutely must not say I was here. I know nothing, otherwise… otherwise, my father will surely beat me to death.”

As he spoke, Shui Yinghen cautiously backed away, retreating to the doorway, then, still uneasy, reminded them again, “Remember, you haven’t seen me. No one has seen me, or else, I’ll never let you hear the end of it!”

Having said that, he vanished into the night.

The people of the Snow Song Realm exchanged bewildered glances.

“What was that all about?” Mu Huanzhi was utterly confused. “Bingyun, what did he just throw to you?”

As Mu Huanzhi spoke, Mu Bingyun had already picked up the small jade vial, wiped away the profound formation seal on its surface, and carefully opened it. Instantly, an aura purer than even ice and snow slowly diffused. As this aura gently wafted over them, the elders and palace masters of the Snow Song Realm felt their eyes brighten. It was as if a refreshing breeze had swept over them, instantly dispelling all fatigue and leaving them feeling as comfortable as if they were floating on clouds. Even the anxiety caused by Yun Che’s severe injuries was imperceptibly eased.

“This… What kind of spirit medicine is this? It possesses such an extraordinary aura!” Mu Huanzhi exclaimed in surprise. As the Great Elder of the Snow Song Realm, he had encountered countless spiritual flowers and sacred medicines, most of which contained the Snow Song Realm’s unique pure ice and snow aura, yet he had never felt such divine spiritual energy.

Mu Bingyun stood frozen, her hand clutching the jade vial tightening unconsciously. After a long moment, she whispered as if in a trance, “It’s a drop of… Primordial Profound Water.”

Primordial Profound Water…

These four words instantly rendered the air completely silent. Then, all the elders and palace masters reacted as if pricked by needles, their bodies trembling violently. “Wh… What?!”

“Pr… Primordial Profound Water?” Mu Huanzhi’s pupils dilated, his face filled with shock, as if he had just heard of a divine artifact descending from heaven.

“There’s no mistake,” Mu Bingyun whispered. “Years ago, when the Sect Master last entered the Primordial God Realm, she obtained a single drop. I cannot be mistaken about this aura. And besides Primordial Profound Water, nothing else in the world possesses such pure spiritual energy.”

“Yun Che is saved!” After a moment of stunned silence, immense joy flooded her. Mu Bingyun’s snowy figure flickered, and she urgently appeared beside Yun Che.

“Wai… Wait!” Mu Huanzhi, however, spoke up to stop Mu Bingyun, his eyes wavering, unable to calm down. “Why would the Glazed Light Realm send us a drop of Primordial Profound Water? This debt of gratitude… our Snow Song Realm simply cannot repay it.”

What kind of existence was Primordial Profound Water? It was a true divine artifact that even Divine Masters would risk their lives to obtain. For a powerful realm like the Glazed Light Realm, acquiring a single drop of Primordial Profound Water was a heaven-sent blessing, occurring perhaps only once every few millennia, or even tens of thousands of years. If one were to say that the value of a single drop of Primordial Profound Water could buy half of the Snow Song Realm, no one would dispute it. Such a divine item… how could it be given away? What had the Snow Song Realm done to deserve receiving a drop of Primordial Profound Water from the Glazed Light Realm?

“This debt of gratitude does not need to be repaid by our Snow Song Realm,” Mu Bingyun said. “This is a debt of affection Yun Che himself owes. Let him repay it slowly in the future.”

Mu Huanzhi froze, then suddenly realized. “Are you saying… Princess Meiyin!? She, she, she…”

Mu Bingyun no longer had time to speak. Kneeling before Yun Che, she lightly traced with her jade finger, preparing to draw out the Primordial Profound Water, when she heard Mu Tanzhi speak again, “Wait… A divine item like Primordial Profound Water would offer infinite benefits if used for Yun Che’s body tempering in the future. Wouldn’t using it for healing be a bit wasteful?”

“We can’t worry about that much right now. His injuries must be healed in the shortest possible time.”

As Mu Bingyun’s voice faded, a colorless drop of water silently fell with the flick of her jade finger, landing on Yun Che’s chest.