Chapter 259: The Limit
Danba smiled and pulled a small, exquisite Snow Lotus from his clothes. Its petals were so clear they were translucent, like the finest glass-type jadeite, and it radiated a divine aura on par with the Dragon Horn.
"Ziqing, this is my Companion Snow Lotus. It’s supremely yin and pure, so it won’t damage the Celestial Doctor True Essence in any way. Go on, use it!"
Nangong Ziqing’s eyes lit up. ’What an incredible treasure!’ Although it was tiny, it contained the entirety of Su Zhe’s Essence of Life from his past life. Its Medicinal Power was absolutely on par with a thousand-year-old Snow Lotus!
"The Companion Snow Lotus is key to you regaining your peak strength. Are you sure you’re willing to part with it? If it’s used as a medium, it will lose at least half its energy."
"As long as we can save Third Brother, no price is too high! And those people... they must pay for their arrogance and despotism!!"
Nangong Ziqing nodded gravely. "I understand."
With that, Nangong Ziqing called out, "Zihan, we’ve worked it out. Come back!"
Nangong Zihan shuffled awkwardly back into the room, not quite daring to meet anyone’s eyes. She whispered, "Matron, Seniors, and Miss Hu, could you please step outside for a moment..."
Nangong Ziqing fondly ruffled Nangong Zihan’s hair. "Silly child, you don’t have to perform the healing yourself. Miss Hu is willing to act as the Tripod Furnace, Danba has provided his Companion Snow Lotus, and all you need to do is transfer your True Essence to Miss Hu."
Nangong Zihan frantically shook her head. "No! That’s completely unfair to Miss Hu! The Celestial Doctor True Essence is incredibly harmful to women! It could even damage her very foundation! The best-case scenario would be all her Meridians getting severed!"
Hu Shishi cut Nangong Zihan off. "Nangong Saintess, I’m willing to give anything for Xiaoyuan! My mind is made up. Let’s begin!"
"This..."
Nangong Zihan’s feelings were a complex mix.
There was a sense of relief; after all, she had only met Cheng Yuan today. If she really had to... it would be too humiliating! She wouldn’t have been able to live with herself.
There was also a tiny pang of disappointment, mostly due to the attraction between their Special Physiques, but also because Cheng Yuan was, admittedly, gorgeous.
But mostly, she felt admiration for Hu Shishi, and worry.
Nangong Zihan gave Hu Shishi a long, deep look. "Sister Shishi, you’re the bravest woman I’ve ever met! I truly admire you! I know I wouldn’t have the courage to become a Tripod Furnace! If you don’t mind, I’d like to call you my big sister from now on!"
"I would be honored, little sister Zihan."
"Since your mind is made up, Sister Shishi, I won’t try to change it. Here, bite down on this silk scarf. It’ll keep you from breaking your teeth."
Hu Shishi didn’t hesitate. She took the scarf, bit down on it decisively, and gave Nangong Zihan a slight nod, signaling she was ready.
Nangong Zihan said in a solemn voice, "Sister Shishi, please sit cross-legged and focus your mind."
Hu Shishi quickly sat down cross-legged and tried to empty her mind.
Nangong Zihan held the Companion Snow Lotus in both hands and carefully placed it on the Baihui Acupoint atop Hu Shishi’s head. She then warned her, "Sister Shishi, you need to be prepared. This process is going to be incredibly painful. You have to endure it! And you absolutely cannot resist the Celestial Doctor True Essence! It’s no big deal if I suffer a little backlash, but your own heart meridians could be shattered instantly. If that happens, there will be no one left to save Cheng Yuan!"
A chill ran through Hu Shishi’s heart. She nodded firmly. "I understand! Don’t worry, I will hold on!"
"Okay. I’m beginning now!"
Nangong Zihan sat cross-legged, her hands a blur as they formed a series of seals, and began to circulate the Celestial Doctor Heart Method with all her might.
Gradually, shimmering streams of iridescent light, visible to the naked eye, began to flow around Nangong Zihan’s body.
Like a Fairy from the Celestial Palace descending to the mortal realm, Nangong Zihan slowly levitated into the air.
Upon reaching the height of Hu Shishi’s head, Nangong Zihan slowly inverted herself until her own Baihui Acupoint pressed against the Companion Snow Lotus. Then, she began to pour her Celestial Doctor True Essence into it!
Streams of misty energy poured out!
The Companion Snow Lotus instantly lit up, transforming into a magnificent Snow Lotus Lamp.
The Snow Lotus Lamp looked as if it had been meticulously designed, with ribbons of multi-colored light flickering on every petal. It was an absolutely beautiful sight.
But Hu Shishi was in no mood to appreciate such beauty.
The Companion Snow Lotus was supremely yin and pure. Empowered by it, the chill of the Celestial Doctor True Essence intensified severalfold.
Goosebumps erupted across Hu Shishi’s skin, and every hair on her body stood on end.
It felt as if she were walking down a street in the dead of winter wearing only a short-sleeved shirt, the biting wind slicing at her like countless tiny knives, leaving a trail of wounds.
And that was exactly what was happening.
Hu Shishi didn’t have a Special Physique, and the resilience of her Meridians couldn’t compare to monsters like Cheng Yuan and Cheng Hongbing.
In a single instant, dozens of wounds were torn open in Hu Shishi’s Meridians.
Even with the incredibly harsh training she had endured in Dragon Flame, Hu Shishi couldn’t withstand such pain.
Hu Shishi’s face turned deathly pale in an instant. A sheen of cold sweat broke out on her forehead. Her hands were clenched into fists so tight that her knuckles went white.
If not for the silk scarf between her teeth, she would have bitten her own gums raw.
As expected of a female Warrior handpicked by Dragon Flame, Hu Shishi’s willpower was incredibly strong.
Even though the pain had long surpassed her limits, she didn’t resist in the slightest.
Her conviction ran deep.
She had to heal Cheng Yuan.
She was willing to pay any price for it.
But sometimes, willpower isn’t enough.
It was a long process, and it was no exaggeration to say that every second felt like a year.
The hour felt like half a century to Hu Shishi.
Whether Hu Shishi was willing to admit it or not, she was only human, and she had her limits. No matter how resolute her will, her body was beginning to give out.
As more and more Celestial Doctor True Essence flowed into her, the pain caused Hu Shishi’s consciousness to blur. Her vision doubled, and then the world began to spin.
Hu Shishi felt her eyelids growing heavy. She was on the verge of passing out, her body about to initiate its self-preservation response.
Nangong Zihan was a skilled healer and immediately noticed something was wrong. "Sister Shishi!" she shouted urgently. "Stay with me! You can’t fall asleep! If you pass out, it’s all over!"
Hearing her, Hu Shishi struggled to stay conscious.
But her consciousness was fading fast.
Steeling herself, Hu Shishi spat out the silk scarf and bit down hard on her own tongue.
She was ruthless with herself; a trickle of crimson flowed from the corner of her mouth.
Seeing this, Danba Duan Yanming and Nangong Ziqing exchanged a look, their expressions filled with solemn respect for Hu Shishi.
’This woman is something else!’
’Her innate talent isn’t the best, and her physique is only above average, but with that ferocity, she’s bound to become a force to be reckoned with in the future!’
To Hu Shishi’s frustration, her normally foolproof trick had failed.
It wasn’t surprising, though. The pain wracking her body far surpassed the sting of a bitten tongue. Even if she bit it clean off, it would be useless.
Hu Shishi’s consciousness was fading, and she was about to pass out.