Chapter 445: Strangers

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

“Question: How can I save An Lin?”

The Dao Seeking Heavenly Book radiated with a yellow glow as it slowly absorbed her blood-drawn question.

Then, it drifted away from An Lin’s body and started to burn in the void.

A stream of golden characters materialized in the air as the Dao Seeking Heavenly Book withered down.

Each character was in harmony with the Dao intent; they were fused with heaven and earth, and they reciprocated with heaven and earth.

“Method one: Have a being of the Dao Integration Stage cleanse An Lin’s body of frost chill within half a ‘ke’ of time.

“Method two: Transfer the Divine Phoenix Bloodline into An Lin’s body within half a ‘ke’ of time. Use the essence flame of the bloodline to drive out the frost chill.

“Method three: Find and apply the Divine Paragon Fruit within half a ‘ke’ of time. There is a fifty percent chance that the frost chill will be dispelled.”

The reflection of the burning Dao Seeking Heavenly Book flickered in Xu Xiaolan’s eyes as she read through these three methods. She appeared especially lonely and frail.

Half a “ke” of time, or seven to eight minutes, was very little time. Once this brief time was up, An Lin would disappear from this world.

The third method was the most straight-forward. She glanced through hers and An Lin’s storage rings yet didn’t find any Divine Paragon Fruit. This didn’t come as much of a surprise. Divine Paragon Fruits were ranked above even immortal fruits. Even supreme beings of the Return to Void Stage found them hard to obtain.

As for the first method—having a being of the Dao Integration Stage cleanse An Lin’s body of frost chill within half a “ke” of time—this was clearly impossible right now. She was currently unable to contact her second uncle and also unable to contact any other elders of the sect. The possibility that some Dao Integration Stage cultivator would appear here within half a “ke” of time was close to zero.

After eliminating methods one and three, she was only left with method two.

Coincidentally, she was familiar with this type of method…

When she was in the Winter Dragon Tomb, she had received Shen Yin’s inheritances. The method that Dongfang Ming had used when transferring his bloodline to Shen Yin was recorded within these inheritances.

Shen Yin was a supreme being of the dragon tribe who possessed both the dragon bloodline and phoenix bloodline, and she had received her phoenix bloodline from Dongfang Ming a short while before he died.

The two of them definitely would’ve never imagined that tens of thousands of years later, a female who possessed both the dragon bloodline and phoenix bloodline would transfer her Divine Phoenix Bloodline to another male.

“It’s just that… this type of bloodline transferral technique causes one’s Dao foundations to crumble. My energy will rapidly drain away, and I’ll eventually become a mortal female who can’t cultivate…” Xu Xiaolan smiled faintly as she murmured to herself. There was a hint of bitterness and anguish hidden behind her smile.

She hugged An Lin tightly as she gazed at his frost-covered body. With a determined expression on her face, she started reciting an ancient incantation.

This incantation was poetic and melodious, like a song.

Shen Yin loved to sing, thus she refined Dongfang Ming’s bloodline transferral incantation. Through this song-like incantation, the bloodline transfer would become even more perfect.

This was a solo performance which had no audience. Xu Xiaolan’s voice was beautiful, and there was the crisp voice of phoenixes contained within the warm melody. This soothing voice could calm one’s mind.

For some reason, the image of her performing with An Lin in the concert in the mortal world suddenly flashed through her mind.

That night, her white dress had fluttered in the wind as she played the guqin.

An Lin had sung, and she had provided the background music. Their coordination was absolutely perfect, so much so that it appeared as though they were partners who had practiced for a long time.

That was the first time they had performed together, and it was perhaps also going to be the last…

He and I are quite a good match… Xu Xiaolan suddenly became lost in this beautiful memory.

That night, the stars had sparkled brilliantly. The white glowsticks waved around by the audience was even more dazzling. She was actually quite tense when she performed for the tens of thousands of people with An Lin. It was just that she didn’t let her nerves show.

When they left the stage, a feeling of warmth and security washed over her. This was because she was holding onto An Lin’s hand.

Why am I remembering these details? As expected, I’ve always treasured this…

Her singing was sweet and melodious, and her voice reverberated around the cave.

A golden spell formation gradually materialized on the floor.

Complex veined patterns slowly grew and formed, eventually forming into the figure of a phoenix on the floor.

Xu Xiaolan cut open her slender wrist. What flowed out wasn’t red blood. Rather, it was a golden blood that possessed her flame essence.

An Lin’s wrist was also sliced open. However, no blood flowed out.

His body had already been frozen stiff.

Under the power of the spell formation, Xu Xiaolan’s golden blood slowly flowed into An Lin’s wound. The anguished cries of phoenixes could be vaguely heard as the powerful flame essence lashed at the frosty chill in An Lin’s body.

Like the warm sun of winter, all ice and snow would eventually melt under the power of this flame essence.

As if meeting its nemesis, the azure-colored frost frenziedly escaped from An Lin’s body.

However, the golden flame essence was everywhere. It flowed through An Lin’s entire body and cleansed him of all the frosty energy.

The golden flame essence started to fuse into his blood, his meridians, his divine sense, his sea of vital energy…

It radiated with a soft glow and gradually became a part of An Lin’s bloodline.

This warm energy pulled An Lin back from the hands of the Grim Reaper and rid his body of the biting cold.

Xu Xiaolan’s face was extremely pale. She couldn’t help but chuckle as she lightly caressed An Lin’s glowing face.

Her smile was beautiful, but it also contained her anguish.

She placed the Flame-Sealing Disc on top on An Lin’s body. Then, she took out a piece of paper and scribbled a note onto it.

“Take the Flame-Sealing Disc back to Vermilion Bird Sect. Cultivate earnestly and strive to improve. Forget about me.”

A few drops of tears fell onto the floor. Before she knew it, tears were already streaming down her face.

The past her had envisioned all kinds of bright and beautiful futures.

In order to make them a reality, she had worked hard and applied great effort.

There were many things that she had yet to do; there were many dreams that she had yet to realize.

In fact, she had dreamt of a day where she could reach the pinnacle of the world with the male next to her. At that time, they would be able to travel the world free of constraints and troubles…

Now, however, all of these dreams had evaporated into thin air. The wings that could enable them had been snapped…

Forcefully transferring one’s bloodline would cause their Dao foundations to crumble and their vital energy to drain away. Eventually, they would be reduced into a mortal human.

The sound of soft sobbing echoed around the cave.

“I’m so silly… You and I aren’t even Dao partners, yet I sacrificed my bloodline for you…

“I’m so silly… I also want to fly higher and look further! Why did I sever my cultivation path to save you?

“I’m so silly… What on earth am I even doing…

“I’m so silly, so silly…”

It was as though Xu Xiaolan wanted to cry away all her sadness and sorrows; it was as though she wanted to cry away all her grievances and regrets…

At some point in time, her soft and delicate lips had already passionately pressed onto An Lin’s lips. Her tears had stained her clothes wet.

Love and affection churned inside her, yet she also felt the bitter regret of falling so deeply in love.

Xu Xiaolan had never understood her own feelings so clearly before.

“An Lin, I’m so silly, aren’t I?

“So…

“Please forget this silly girl. I can’t face you anymore.”

She spoke affectionately as she bade her final goodbye.

After turning around to take one last look at the unconscious male, the female stepped onto her Dragon Sparrow Sword and flew off into the distance.

“The fate between us has come to an end. From now on… you and I are strangers.”

This voice lingered in the air before slowly dying down into silence. A frail and broken figure disappeared into the clouds and vanished from this realm.