Chapter 646
The strong wind on the top of Tianyun Mountain was like a knife, slashing Fu Shaoping's face painfully. He tightened the blood-soaked bag on his shoulder, which contained the "Nine Turns Resurrection Grass" he had just picked from the cliff. Nangong Wan's pale face appeared in front of him - in the fierce battle three days ago, she took the poisonous palm of the snake mother to protect him and has been in a coma ever since.
"Hold on for another half a day." Fu Shaoping bit his tongue to stay awake, and the black iron sword vibrated in its sheath. The cedars on both sides of the mountain road suddenly moved without wind, and the pine needles fell down, piercing the snow with dense black dots.
Not right.
He suddenly stopped, and the scabbard of his sword scraped against the rock, creating a string of sparks. A pile of snow ten feet ahead suddenly exploded, and a giant red wolf blocked the middle of the road - a third-level monster "Burning Heart Wolf", with the third eye on its forehead half open, and dark purple demonic power flowing in its pupils.
"Get out of the way." Fu Shaoping's voice was colder than the ice on the mountaintop, his sword still unsheathed. His right fingernail had already dug into his palm, and the scabby wound was bleeding again. Nangong Wan couldn't wait, he had to fight quickly.
The Burning Heart Wolf suddenly stood up, its front claws transformed into sharp blades, leaving six charred marks on the snow. The moment its third eye fully opened, Fu Shaoping finally drew his sword -
“Zheng!”
The sword light was like a white rainbow piercing the sun, but it struck at nothing. The beast split into three afterimages at the moment the sword tip touched his body, forming a triangle to surround him. The wolf shadow on the left pounced first, and the heat from its claws burned his eyebrows and hair.
Fu Shaoping turned and stepped sideways, the tip of his sword drew a semicircle on the snow. The black iron sword suddenly glowed with green light, and the sword energy condensed into a substantial barrier. With a "swish", the wolf claws tore a crack in the barrier, but its true form was already exposed.
It's now!
He abandoned defense and went on the offensive, stabbing the wolf's belly with his sword. This sword seemed reckless, but in fact, the moment the tip of the sword touched the wolf's fur, he suddenly changed his move - "Green Dragon Swinging Tail"! The sword tip was like a spirit snake, stabbing upwards and going straight for the third eye.
"Ah--" The Burning Heart Wolf howled in pain and retreated violently, with purple blood spurting from its eyes. Fu Shaoping's heart trembled, and he quickly withdrew his sword. The blood fell on the snow and corroded a hole several feet deep. The rising poisonous mist instantly covered the mountain road.
The moment he lost his vision, he felt a bone-chilling chill on his back. Fu Shaoping did not dodge or evade, but thrust the hilt of the sword behind him. With a dull "puff", the short spike hidden at the end of the hilt sank into the wolf's belly, and at the same time, he felt a sharp pain in his right shoulder - the wolf's fangs had penetrated the iron armor.
The venom spread along the blood vessels, and Fu Shaoping's eyes went dark. In a trance, he saw Nangong Wan coughing up blood on the couch, and his chaotic mind suddenly became clear. He shouted loudly and dragged the wolf's body towards the rock wall!
"boom!"
The rocks collapsed, and the Burning Heart Wolf let go in pain. Fu Shaoping took the opportunity to soar into the air, with the sword pointing downward like a meteorite falling to the ground. The beast's third eye suddenly turned strangely, reflecting the illusion of Nangong Wan's death.
The moment the sword's momentum stagnated, the wolf's tail swept over like a steel whip. Fu Shaoping was whipped back three feet, and only stopped after crashing into two cedar trees. Ice slag mixed with blood foam choked his trachea. He knelt on one knee and saw the black iron sword inserted diagonally into the ice five steps away.
The Burning Heart Wolf approached, its third eye glowing purple. Fu Shaoping suddenly smiled, his bloodstained teeth looking terrifying in the snow. He clenched his right hand, the scabbard suddenly exploded, and nine demon-sealing nails shot out!
"Ding ding ding——"
Seven nails sealed the acupuncture points, and two nails pierced the eyes. The Burning Heart Wolf howled miserably and rolled over, its demonic power running wild in its body. Fu Shaoping took the opportunity to pounce on his sword, but changed his tactics the moment he touched the hilt - the tip of the sword penetrated deep into the ice, and he used the force to do a kite flip, with the tip of his boot hitting the wolf's throat cartilage.
"Crack!"
Amid the teeth-grinding sound of bone cracking, Fu Shaoping caught the falling sword in mid-air. The sword light was like a waterfall, and the wolf head flew up three feet high. Purple blood condensed into strange runes in the air. His pupils suddenly shrank, and he quickly made a sword gesture: "The sky and the earth are boundless, the universe borrows the law!"
The black iron sword flew out of his hand, nailing the blood rune that was about to take shape to the rock wall. The rune twisted and exploded, and the shock wave blew away a large piece of snow. When the snow and fog dissipated, Fu Shaoping leaned on the sword and gasped, and found that the entire cliff had been cut down by three feet.
He staggered towards the wolf corpse, opened the skull with the tip of his sword, and took out a purple demon pill the size of a pigeon egg. There seemed to be flames flowing inside the pill, which was the holy medicine for detoxification.
"Wan'er, wait for me"
Fu Shaoping wrapped the demon pill and herbs in his shirt and stored them close to his skin. When he turned around, the black iron sword suddenly made a mournful sound - the sword body was covered with spider-web-like cracks, breaking into pieces in the morning light.
He stared at the hilt of the sword in his hand, and suddenly remembered that it was the gift that Nangong Wan gave him as a disciple. The mountain wind blew the broken sword fragments towards the sea of clouds, like a silver snow.
Fu Shaoping wiped his face and found his hands were covered in blood. He took off the bloodstained bag and tied it to the broken sword, then walked down the mountain. Behind him, the headless body of the Burning Heart Wolf suddenly caught fire, burning half of the mountain road into glass-colored crystals.
The morning sun from Tianyun Mountain finally broke through the clouds and shone on his back as he dragged the broken sword, casting a very long shadow.
It has been raining outside the window for three whole days.
Nangong Wan leaned against the window, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the carvings on the window frame. Her face was as pale as paper, but her eyes, like autumn water, still had a hint of stubbornness. She looked at the muddy mountain road outside the courtyard, and the rain dripped down the eaves, splashing tiny drops of water on the bluestone slabs.
"Shaoping...is it time for you to come back?"
Her voice was very soft, as if she was afraid to disturb the sound of the rain.
Three days ago, when Fu Shaoping left, he only said "wait for me" and stepped into Tianyun Mountain with his sword. It was a place where monsters roamed everywhere, and even the most famous swordsman in the world might not be able to escape unscathed. Moreover, he was going there to find the legendary "Nine Turns Resurrection Grass" - a miraculous medicine that could cure the snake mother poison in her body.
Nangong Wan's fingers tightened slightly, her nails almost digging into the wood grain. She recalled his back when he turned around that day, the black iron sword glowing coldly in the morning light, and he didn't even turn his head, as if he was afraid that if he looked at it for one more time, he would waver in his determination.
"Idiot..." She cursed softly, but her eyes were slightly hot.
The sky gradually darkened and the rain continued to fall.
Nangong Wan finally couldn't sit still anymore. She forced herself to stand up, but staggered because of the toxins in her body. She gritted her teeth, held on to the edge of the table to slow down, and then reluctantly walked to the door.
"Miss, you can't go out!" The maid Xiao Cui hurriedly stopped her, "Your body can't stand the cold!"
"Get out of the way." Nangong Wan's voice was light, but unquestionable.
Xiao Cui was so anxious that she almost cried: "Before leaving, Master Fu specifically told you to take good care of your injuries and that he would definitely come back!"
Nangong Wan was silent for a moment, but ultimately did not push Xiao Cui away. He just stood stubbornly at the door, looking into the rain.
"What if he doesn't come back?" she asked softly.
Xiao Cui was stunned, then shook her head: "No! Master Fu is a martial arts expert, he..."
"No matter how strong he is, he is just one person." Nangong Wan interrupted her with a tremor in his voice.
She remembered that before Fu Shaoping left, he had stayed by her bedside for a night. At that time, she was unconscious due to the effects of the poison, and she only vaguely remembered that he held her hand and whispered, "Wan'er, wait for me to come back."
She wanted to respond, but she didn't even have the strength to open her eyes.
And now, she could only stand here, watching the rain wash the mountain road, but there was no sign of him.
The rain finally stopped.
Nangong Wan's eyelids became heavier and heavier, but she still stubbornly refused to go back to her room. Just when she was about to give up, a heavy sound of footsteps suddenly came from outside the courtyard.
She looked up suddenly, her heart almost jumping out of her chest.
In the rain and fog, a familiar figure staggered towards me.
Fu Shaoping.
His clothes were already tattered, his body was covered in blood, his right arm was hanging limply, as if he was seriously injured. But his left hand was tightly holding a bundle, raindrops dripped down his hair, mixed with blood and fell to the ground. Nangong Wan's breathing stagnated, and tears instantly welled up.
"Shao Ping!"
She ignored the pain in her body, pushed Xiao Cui away, and stumbled into the rain.
Fu Shaoping looked up and saw her running towards him. His stern expression finally relaxed. He opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but coughed up blood first.
"Wan'er..." His voice was hoarse, but with a smile, "I'm back."
Nangong Wan held him, only to find that his body was frighteningly cold. The wound on his right arm was so deep that the bone was visible. His black iron sword - the sword he never left his body - was broken, with only half of the hilt still hanging on his waist.
"You lunatic!" Her voice trembled, tears mixed with raindrops falling down her cheeks, "Who told you to go and die?!"
Fu Shaoping just smiled, slowly raised his left hand and handed her the blood-stained bundle.
"Nine-turn Resurrection Grass... and the Burning Heart Wolf's demon pill." He whispered, "Your poison... can be cured."
Nangong Wan couldn't hold back any longer, so she hugged him, buried her face in his wet clothes, and cried silently.
Fu Shaoping was stunned for a moment, then he used his remaining strength to gently hug her and whispered, "Don't cry... Am I not back?"
The rain finally stopped.
On the bluestone slabs in the courtyard, the shadows of the two people hugged each other tightly, as if no wind or rain in the world could separate them.
-
The sky was getting light and smoke was curling up in the alchemy room.
Fu Shaoping sat cross-legged in front of the furnace with his upper body naked. The scars on his back had not yet healed, but he had no time to care about them. His fingertips gently stroked the ancient runes on the furnace wall. It was the "Nine-turn Mysterious Fire Furnace" handed down from the ancestors of the Nangong family. It was said that it could refine spiritual objects from heaven and earth and had a very high success rate in making pills.
"Shao Ping, your injury..." Nangong Wan stood aside, with worry on his brows.
"No problem." Fu Shaoping didn't even raise his head, his voice was low and firm, "The pill must be made today."
He flipped his palm, and the Nine-turn Resurrection Grass, Burning Heart Wolf Demon Pill, Thousand-year Snow Ganoderma and other medicinal herbs were arranged in order, each of which exuded a rich spiritual charm. Especially the demon pill, purple light flowed, and there was a faint flame jumping, as if it were a living thing.
"The evil nature of the demon pill has not been eliminated yet. If we put it directly into the furnace, it might explode." Nangong Wan whispered.
Fu Shaoping's eyes narrowed slightly, and he lightly scratched the demon pill with his fingertips. A drop of blood fell and was instantly swallowed by the demon pill. The purple light surged, and there seemed to be a wolf howling, but it was quickly suppressed by his true energy.
"Use blood as a guide to tame its nature first." He said lightly, then formed seals with his hands, and the runes at the bottom of the furnace suddenly lit up.
"rise!"
With a low shout, the fire in the furnace suddenly ignited, but it was not an ordinary flame, but the "Xuan Yang True Fire" cultivated in his body. It was green with purple, and the temperature was extremely high, but it was restrained and did not dissipate.
Fu Shaoping looked focused as he threw the Nine-turn Resurrection Grass into the furnace. The grass leaves instantly turned into a green liquid that swirled in the furnace. He moved his fingertips slightly, and the True Fire was like an arm, removing the impurities in the liquid medicine bit by bit, refining the purest medicinal power.
"Three parts heat and seven parts medicinal strength." He whispered to himself, sweat already oozing out of his forehead.
Nangong Wan stood aside, not daring to disturb him, and silently handed over a silk handkerchief. Fu Shaoping did not take it, but just shook his head slightly, his eyes never leaving the fire.
When the medicinal liquid became as pure as emerald, Fu Shaoping suddenly raised his hand, and the Burning Heart Wolf Demon Pill flew into the furnace!
"boom!"
The moment the demon pill entered the furnace, purple flames rose up, and the entire furnace shook violently, as if it was about to explode. Fu Shaoping's eyes became fierce, and he suddenly put his palms together, and the true energy in his body surged out, forcibly suppressing the violent demon fire.
"Congeal!"
He bit his tongue and sprayed a mouthful of blood onto the furnace wall. The runes instantly turned into red chains, binding the demon pill tightly. The purple flame struggled unwillingly, but was eventually refined bit by bit and blended with the medicinal power of the Nine-turn Resurrection Grass.
Inside the furnace, emerald green and purple light intertwined, gradually transforming into a round pill embryo. Fine lines appeared on the surface, resembling a dragon or a wolf, mysterious and unpredictable.
The Dan embryo has been formed, but the most dangerous moment has just begun.
Fu Shaoping's breathing was slightly short, and his fingertips were full of true energy, precisely controlling the temperature of the fire. If the fire was too strong, the pill embryo would burn; if the fire was too weak, the medicinal power could not be fully integrated. He was so focused that even his breathing became extremely light, fearing that the slightest mistake would ruin all his efforts.
Nangong Wan held his breath and stared at his tense back. Sweat slid down the lines of his muscles, dripping onto the bluestone floor and evaporating instantly.
"It's almost there..." Fu Shaoping whispered, with flickering flames reflected in his eyes.
Suddenly, the elixir embryo in the furnace glowed brightly, a strong medicinal fragrance filled the air, and the entire alchemy room was filled with spiritual energy!
"It's now!"
Fu Shaoping suddenly opened his eyes, his hands were like lightning, and he formed the last alchemy formula. The furnace lid opened with a bang, and a purple pill the size of a longan soared into the sky, with faint fire patterns wrapped around the pill body, full of spirituality!
He leaped up, rolled up his sleeves, and stably put the pill into the jade box that he had prepared long ago. When the lid of the box was closed, the pill was still trembling slightly, as if it had intelligence and was unwilling to be trapped.
Fu Shaoping let out a long sigh, his tense body finally relaxed, he staggered and nearly fell. Nangong Wan hurried forward to support him, only to find that his palms were already burned and bloody.
"Is it worth it?" She said with a trembling voice.
Fu Shaoping looked down at the jade box, a faint smile appearing on the corner of his mouth.
"worth."
The flickering candlelight made Nangong Wan's face look even paler.
She sat on the bedside, her fingertips gently stroking the jade box. The purple light of the medicinal pill in the box flowed, and there were faint flame patterns swimming, as if it were alive. Fu Shaoping stood beside her, with fatigue still between his brows, but he stared at her without blinking, afraid to miss any reaction from her.
"This pill..." Nangong Wan raised her eyes and met his eyes, "What will happen after taking it?"
Fu Shaoping's Adam's apple moved slightly, and his voice was low: "It will hurt."
She chuckled, a hint of stubbornness flashing in her eyes: "It hurts more than the snake mother's poison?"
He didn't answer, but just reached out and covered the back of her hand. His palm was rough and warm, with burns from alchemy. Nangong Wan lowered her eyes and saw the unhealed cracks on his knuckles, and her heart trembled slightly.
"Shaoping." She suddenly called him.
"Ok?"
"If I can't make it..."
"That's not possible." He interrupted her, his tone leaving no room for doubt.
(End of this chapter)