Chapter 873: The Golden Sapling

Within Xiao Nanfeng's arms, Liu Miaoyin blushed slightly and said, "Let me go."

"Be careful. If you can't block the heartforce assault, don't hesitate to come back," Xiao Nanfeng warned, releasing his grip.

Liu Miaoyin stepped forward, but as soon as she did, the heart force surged again. She instantly saw countless monsters rushing toward her, causing her face to turn pale. She quickly retreated and returned to Xiao Nanfeng's embrace, at which point the monsters disappeared entirely.

"I was just—" Liu Miaoyin tried to explain, her face flushing.

"I understand. There's no need to explain. This is an emergency," Xiao Nanfeng reassured her.

Liu Miaoyin sighed in relief and asked curiously, "Why aren't you affected by this space? And what happened here?"

"I had a stroke of fortune that renders me immune to these attacks. Just now, Saint Lun Hui forced Han Gucheng's malicious body to self-destruct. Then, I killed Saint Lun Hui. The only things left are this charm of heavenly law and green pearl," Xiao Nanfeng explained.

"They're both dead?" Liu Miaoyin asked in surprise.

"Right, I got lucky. What should we do now? This green pearl seems to control the space. Why don't you try using it?" Xiao Nanfeng suggested.

Liu Miaoyin took the green pearl and frowned. "Just as I thought."

"What's this?" Xiao Nanfeng asked, curious.

"This orb contains numerous restrictive seals. It indeed controls the heartforce killing formation, but the heavens designed it so that it would only be usable by Saint Lun Hui. Others can't activate it," Liu Miaoyin said.

"Oh?"

"This green pearl is crafted from clearheart ore. Holding it can help resist some of the offensive heart force," Liu Miaoyin continued.

𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"Is it rare?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.

"It's fairly common. It's often used by those who cultivate their hearts for added stability. Many consider it a valuable treasure."

"Oh? Then you should give it a try," Xiao Nanfeng urged.

Liu Miaoyin nodded and stepped out of Xiao Nanfeng's embrace as she held the green pearl. Instantly, the monsters reappeared, but the green pearl emitted a green glow that halved the number of monsters.

"All phenomena are like dreams and illusions, bubbles and reflections, dew and lightning," Liu Miaoyin intoned.

A black glow emanated from her body. The remaining monsters vanished completely.

"Are you able to block all the illusions now?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"Yes, but the clearheart ore only neutralizes half of them. I had to handle the rest myself," Liu Miaoyin explained.

"It seems that clearheart ore really is a treasure," Xiao Nanfeng murmured.

"No. It's both a blessing and a curse. I wouldn't want to own such a treasure myself," Liu Miaoyin said, shaking her head.

"Why is that?"

"As a cultivator of the heart, I wouldn't want to rely on external aids. Progress comes from within, and dependence on external tools undermines the essence of cultivation. If you're serious about cultivating your heart, never use such aids," Liu Miaoyin warned.

"I understand," Xiao Nanfeng replied, though with an odd expression on his face.

He didn't care about this clearheart ore, especially when his golden sprout was so much more potent. Liu Miaoyin's advice only made him more cautious regarding how to handle it.

"What's your current cultivation?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.

"Me? I'm the same as before, an early-stage Boundless Immortal. With my eidolon, I can express the power of a mid- to late-stage Boundless Immortal. Once I raise my cultivation further, my eidolon will grow stronger as well."

"If you refine this charm of heavenly law, will you be able to advance more quickly?"

"This charm of heavenly law? Aren't you going to use it? I don't really mind. You, on the other hand, need to raise your cultivation as much as possible," Liu Miaoyin replied immediately.

Xiao Nanfeng shook his head wryly. "The charm of heavenly law is rejecting me."

"What? How could that be?" Liu Miaoyin exclaimed in surprise.

Xiao Nanfeng demonstrated, only for the charm to repel him time and time again. She was taken aback.

"These charms of heavenly law were created by the heavens for new saints. The fact that this one is rejecting you must mean there's something the heavens find deeply repulsive about you," Liu Miaoyin speculated.

"Perhaps, but I have no idea what the problem is."

"That's good news," Liu Miaoyin said, her eyes lighting up. "That might be the key to defeating the heavens in the future."

"Let's not dwell on that for now. The charm of heavenly law is deteriorating, so it's better if you use it now to regain your strength. That way, it won't be wasted."

Liu Miaoyin was touched by his gesture. After all, even if Xiao Nanfeng couldn't use the charm himself, it could be given to anyone else—yet he chose to let her have it.

"Very well. In that case, I'll use it to restore my strength as quickly as possible. Once I've returned to my peak, I'll be able to provide you with more assistance," Liu Miaoyin replied, no longer refusing.

She swallowed the charm of heavenly law, which emitted a brilliant green glow.

"Give me a moment. Once I refine this charm, I'll be able to get us out of here," Liu Miaoyin said.

"Got it!" Xiao Nanfeng replied.

Liu Miaoyin sat cross-legged and began to refine the charm of heavenly law.

Xiao Nanfeng also sat down and started to meditate.

"Golden sprout, you can absorb the power in this space at full capacity," Xiao Nanfeng murmured inwardly.

His golden sprout's absorption rate surged dramatically, pulling in the space's unique energy at an astonishing rate.

Ripples formed around Xiao Nanfeng as the green fog flowed into him like a river.

The vibrations startled Liu Miaoyin. Worried about Xiao Nanfeng's safety, she paused her refining to observe what was going on.

She saw the green fog being drawn into Xiao Nanfeng's body more and more quickly.

"How is this possible? He's only at True Yin. How can he devour the heart force of the heavens themselves?"

She stood up and began guarding Xiao Nanfeng, ready to intervene if anything were to go wrong.

However, upon seeing his peaceful expression and the hint of contentment in his brows, she realized that he was fine.

As she watched the torrent of green fog swirling around him, her initial shock turned to joy.

"As expected of the man I championed," she murmured with a smile.

She was increasingly convinced that Xiao Nanfeng was destined to defeat the heavens.

As Xiao Nanfeng continued to absorb the green fog, the void began to ripple. The fluctuations in the fog grew larger and larger.

Xiao Nanfeng's mind was completely absorbed in the world of his heart. He was eyeing the golden sprout there. It was rapidly growing larger. The last time, it had doubled in size; this time, things were different. The special energy it was absorbing now boosted its growth rapidly, causing it to thicken as it transformed into a golden sapling.

He didn't know that his rapid absorption had gravely destabilized the space outside. If not for Liu Miaoyin working to stabilize it, it might have collapsed at any moment.

"He's absorbing all of the heavens' heart force, isn't he? If it's useful to him, then I won't let any of it be wasted." Liu Miaoyin focused, conjuring her eidolon once more and stabilizing the void, allowing Xiao Nanfeng to continue his absorption.

After some time, as Xiao Nanfeng absorbed all the green fog, the void began to ripple anew. This time, even Liu Miaoyin couldn't stabilize it further.

"You've absorbed everything? Good!" Liu Miaoyin exclaimed.

As the void trembled and the space shattered, Liu Miaoyin's eidolon protected Xiao Nanfeng.

They once again returned to the world at large. The dark clouds that had covered the sky had all vanished completely.

Around them, Tu Feng and the others had already subdued Han Gucheng's subordinates. When they saw wXiao Nanfeng and Liu Miaoyin emerge, they brightened up with relief.

Liu Miaoyin waved a hand, gesturing for everyone to stay back. Tu Feng nodded and motioned everyone away as well.

Xiao Nanfeng glanced at the world of his heart to see that his golden sprout had grown into a rather sturdy golden sapling.

The golden sapling exuded radiant light that dispelled the fog of his inner world.

Though he couldn't fully grasp its mysteries, he felt an even deeper connection to it.

With a hum, Xiao Nanfeng opened his eyes.

"Ah, Senior Miaoyin, you brought me out?" Xiao Nanfeng exclaimed.

Liu Miaoyin chuckled. "Rather, you brought me out. Aren't you aware?"

"Ah?" Xiao Nanfeng was surprised.

Liu Miaoyin explained what had happened. "How did you manage to nullify the heavens' heartforce killing formation so easily?"

"I don't know myself, but those arrays seem particularly beneficial to my growth. If we encounter more, I'd like to absorb it.

"Very well," Liu Miaoyin promised.

She handed him the green pearl of clearheart ore. "With the array gone, the heavens' restrictions on this pearl are gone as well. It's nothing more than simple clearheart ore now. I'll have you figure out what you want to do with it yourself. Don't rely on it."

Xiao Nanfeng nodded and shook Yang Chuan's body out of a certain gourd.

As Yang Chuan stood up, he exclaimed, "Xiao Nanfeng, we're out! What happened?"

"Saint Lun Hui killed Han Gucheng, and then I killed Saint Lun Hui," Xiao Nanfeng summarized simply.

"That easily?" Yang Chuan exclaimed.

"What else?" Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"Alright, then. You just made it sound so simple that it didn't feel realistic to me," Yang Chuan replied, smiling wryly. Then, his eyes lit up. "What's that in your hand?"

"Clearheart ore."

"Clearheart ore? Really?" Yang Chuan's eyes lit up.

"Are you familiar with it?" Xiao Nanfeng asked curiously.

Yang Chuan glanced at it, then hesitated a little. My cultivation technique requires clearheart ore for a breakthrough. I wonder if I might..."

"Here, for you. Take it as thanks for your help, and as compensation," Xiao Nanfeng smiled.

"Haha, you're the best, Xiao Nanfeng. Call me anytime!" Yang Chuan beamed.

He caught the ore and examined it carefully, then stored it quickly as if worried that Xiao Nanfeng would change his mind.