Chapter 164

Chapter 164

These past few days, Shen Wang had been staying near the dragon vein, trying desperately to repair it.

But even in the world of cultivation, it's extremely difficult to repair a damaged spirit vein, let alone in an era of dwindling spiritual energy.

Shen Wang even awakened the long-dormant Xuan Jade Immortal Book, hoping to find a solution, but to no avail.

After hearing about the events in the capital, Elder Li rushed back overnight, and Gu Dongting, putting aside his own tasks, followed Elder Li back.

When Gu Dongting left, he seemed particularly downcast, his gaze fixed on Shen Wang: "Wait for me to return."

His demeanor and tone almost suggested a secretive relationship between the two, drawing covert glances from those around.

Shen Wang avoided Gu Dongting’s intense gaze and replied gruffly: "I know."

Not receiving the response he wanted, Gu Dongting's eyes dimmed for a moment: "Stay safe, I'm leaving first."

As Gu Dongting turned to leave, Shen Wang's voice followed him: "Don't overthink."

"I'll wait for you."

Gu Dongting's heart skipped a beat. He turned back sharply to see Shen Wang’s forced casual posture and his slightly reddened ears.

Gu Dongting, both shocked and overjoyed, and somewhat incredulous as if in a dream, wondered: "Shen Wang... does it mean what I think it means?"

Shen Wang, initially a bit embarrassed, but seeing Gu Dongting’s joy, became calm, his eyes carrying a hint of a smile: "Who knows? Maybe by the time we meet again, we'll find out."

Knowing full well that Shen Wang never joked about such matters, Gu Dongting felt a sense of calm in his heart, yet he remained anxious due to the lack of a definitive answer.

Two thoughts battled in his mind, each taking turns to dominate, causing his expressions to fluctuate between happiness and worry.

Sitting on the plane, Gu Dongting was restless, suddenly pondering: If Shen Wang agreed to his pursuit, what would be the reason?

Was it because of him, or because of the other self within him?

This thought somewhat dimmed his joy. Gu Dongting pursed his lips, gazing out the window.

Shen Wang was unaware of Gu Dongting's subtle thoughts. In his heart, ever since he knew Xiao Hei Ge and Gu Dongting were the same person, he never saw them as separate entities.

Perhaps at first glance, these two seemed to have nothing in common, but upon closer interaction, their core essence remained unchanged.

Maybe, even before Shen Wang knew they were the same person, his intuition had already provided the answer, though he himself was oblivious to it.

After some self-analysis, Shen Wang understood his own heart. Not one to be indecisive, once he made up his mind, he immediately conveyed his feelings to Gu Dongting.

If it weren't for the current inappropriate times, a time not for love and romance, Shen Wang would have confessed to Gu Dongting the moment he realized his true feelings, formally ending their lifetimes of solitude.

After mentally defeating the villainous boss preventing him from falling in love, Shen Wang turned back to diligently research how to repair the Dragon Veins.

Immersed in his research, neglecting sleep and food, the members of the special department around him tiptoed, fearing they might disturb Shen Wang.

Just as he was on the verge of grasping an idea, Shen Wang's thoughts were interrupted by a noisy disturbance outside.

"Let me in!"

"This is a government-restricted area, entry is not allowed without permission. Please leave immediately, or we will resort to force!"

"Just you? A bunch of mere mortals, like ants? Hah."

Listening intently for a moment, Shen Wang frowned and muttered, "Who is this person, so arrogant, calling people mere mortals... Isn't he human?"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Shen Wang realized something was amiss and immediately rushed outside, only to see Cong Zhuo with a grim face, confronting the patrolling members of the special department, the atmosphere tense and explosive.

Shen Wang: "..." He had completely forgotten about these two contract spirit pets.

Glancing at the Ninefold Lotus on Cong Zhuo's shoulder, his own contract spirit pet, from which he had once coaxed many leaves and petals, Shen Wang cleared his throat: "Ahem, well..."

"Shen Ge!" The special department members, seeing Shen Wang, relaxed and immediately started complaining, "This guy came out of nowhere and is picking a fight!"

Cong Zhuo also snorted coldly: "Shen Wang, these people dared to stop me from seeing you, truly blind!"

Rubbing his forehead, Shen Wang looked like a teacher dealing with a kindergarten quarrel: "It's okay, this... this is my friend, he's here to see me."

Hearing this, Cong Zhuo was smug as ever, lifting his head high like a victorious rooster.

The members of the special department looked at each other in confusion: "Huh?"

Reluctantly, they withdrew their weapons, grumbling, "Since he's a friend of Shen Ge…"

They had no choice but to let him pass.

As the special department personnel dispersed, Shen Wang was about to ask Cong Zhuo why he was there, but Cong Zhuo had already succinctly stated his purpose: "The Yin energy is too strong now; the little flower is struggling. Put him in your space to recuperate."

Simple, straightforward, and to the point.

Shen Wang looked at the little flower, which indeed lacked its previous vitality, emanating an aura of impending decline.

The little flower swayed its petals, timidly greeting Shen Wang: "Shen Ge."

Without hesitation, Shen Wang opened his space and placed the Ninefold Lotus inside.

The mustard seed space was a world unto itself, unaffected by the outside pollution, filled with numerous spiritual plants and diligently tended by the spiritual peaks, making it rich in spiritual energy.

Upon entering, the little flower immediately revived like a parched land embracing a rainstorm, stretching out its branches and leaves with a comfortable sigh.

Seeing this, Cong Zhuo finally relaxed, "I don't know what's happening, but the Yin energy between heaven and earth is becoming denser. If this trend continues, soon all the spiritual energy in the world will transform into Yin energy."

By then, will this world remain the realm of the living, or become hell? Who knows.

Shen Wang was also aware of the changes between heaven and earth, the influence of someone orchestrating behind the scenes, the evil spirits, formations, death, and slaughter, all generating Yin and evil energy.

The damage to the Dragon Veins that maintain the land further accelerated the dissipation of spiritual energy.

Shen Wang did not hide anything and shared the situation with Cong Zhuo, ending with a sigh: "The hidden power has been scheming for hundreds of years, nearly encompassing the entire world in its plot. Now, the whole world is in turmoil, and I can only do my best to maintain peace in this land of Huaxia."

As for other countries, he was willing but powerless.

Cong Zhuo also saw the Dragon Veins, his eyes flashing with envy and admiration: For a Jiao, transforming into a dragon is the lifelong wish of all their kind.

Cong Zhuo was born during the era when humans and mythical beasts competed for fate, with the beasts at a disadvantage. All legendary beasts took to the battlefield, and most perished. He had never seen a real dragon.

Gazing at the fracture in the Dragon Vein, Cong Zhuo asked, "In this condition, can it still be saved?"

"It's not a living being, just a spiritual vein that has taken form. Despite its current state, with some care, it can survive a few more months," Shen Wang explained slowly. "I've found a method, which involves finding several spiritual veins and using them as a glue to bind its two halves together."

Just like how a broken human bone can heal itself when fixed in place, a damaged spiritual vein can also self-repair when surrounded by abundant spiritual energy.

"In today's world, are there still any spiritual veins left?" Cong Zhuo looked doubtful, thinking that perhaps a couple of Yin veins might still be found.

Shen Wang sighed again, "That's exactly the problem."

It seemed like the situation had reached another deadlock.

Both man and beast fell into a mutual silence.

As Shen Wang pondered how to artificially create a few spiritual veins, Cong Zhuo's gaze shifted unpredictably while looking at the Dragon Vein.

After an unknown period, Cong Zhuo's eyes gradually firmed up, "If the Dragon Vein has taken the form of a dragon, could dragon's blood, real dragon's blood, heal its wounds?"

"Real dragon's blood? That's even harder to find than spiritual veins," Shen Wang rolled his eyes, then replied, "But yes, real dragon's blood could indeed help, though its effects might not be as good as those of spiritual veins..."

As he spoke, Shen Wang suddenly realized something and looked at Cong Zhuo in shock.

Cong Zhuo's gaze was still fixed on the Dragon Vein, his eyes slightly glazed as he delved into his memories, "My grandmother was a dragon... I don't know what kind, but she died before I was born."

"Thanks to this dragon whom I've never met, there are a few drops of real dragon's blood in my body..."

It was because of this trace of real dragon's blood that he had been captured by human cultivators, who planned to extract it from him after their affairs were settled... But that person never returned, and Cong Zhuo survived.

Speaking of the past, Cong Zhuo had become much calmer.

True dragon's blood, so precious that both human cultivators and mythical beasts coveted it. If his identity had been revealed back then, not only would human cultivators have tried to kill him, but his own kind would also have sought to extract the true dragon's blood from his body.

After all... for the Jiao Dragon clan, the obsession with true dragons is always strong.

True dragon's blood, indeed. Shen Wang rubbed his fingertips, knowing that even in the world of cultivation, it was an extremely precious treasure.

Being Gu Dongting's spirit pet, he clicked his tongue in resignation. Shen Wang spoke harshly, full of frustration at the missed opportunity with such a treasure: "Now you mention this... you aren't planning to use true dragon's blood to save the Dragon Vein, are you?"

"Why? You're a mythical beast who can survive and cultivate in Yin energy. If I remember correctly, you also detest humans."

Cong Zhuo withdrew his gaze, displaying a rare seriousness and solemnity: "I can live in Yin energy, but the little flower cannot."

Imprisoned within the formation, Cong Zhuo spent thousands of years in solitude and loneliness, carefully nurturing a small flower, watching it grow from a fragile sprout into its current form.

They spent every moment together, the only bright spot in their otherwise lonely lives.

Hundreds, thousands of years... for Cong Zhuo, nothing in the world was more important than the little flower.

Even if the little flower could now live in Shen Wang's space, it couldn't stay there forever. What if Shen Wang died?

Shen Wang: "…Even if you die, I won't, thank you."

Considering that this Jiao was willing to offer his true dragon's blood, Shen Wang didn't argue further. He looked at Cong Zhuo, "Are you really planning to use true dragon's blood to save the Dragon Vein?"