"What's going on?"
"What happened to them?!"
Wan Guimang and Ji Juekong were shocked to find that neither of them possessed any true essence.
The immense aura of the Eternal Realm that had previously filled the air had now vanished.
This meant that Mu Qingqing and Xuan Qingming were now just two ordinary old people on the brink of death.
Stripped of all their power, Mu Qingqing and Xuan Qingming fell to the ground like withered leaves.
Fortunately, Wan Guimang and Ji Juekong caught Mu Qingqing in time, while Xuan Qingming crashed heavily to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
Back on the ground, Ji Juekong and Wan Guimang carefully supported Mu Qingqing, who had become an old woman.
Both tried to infuse her with true essence, but to no avail.
"How did this young girl become so old?"
"Quick, infuse her with vital energy!"
"We've already tried, it's no use! Her breath is growing weaker!"
No matter how hard Ji Juekong and Wan Guimang tried, they could not save Mu Qingqing's life.
Finally, Mu Qingqing's life flame was completely extinguished, her shriveled, wrinkled arms drooping.
Ji Juekong and Wan Guimang fell silent, deeply aware of their powerlessness to save Mu Qingqing.
They had intended to take this cold corpse back to the Human Race's sacred land for a proper burial.
Suddenly, Mu Qingqing's body floated up on its own. A rich vital energy and soul power coursed through her, repairing her body.
"What is this?!"
The scene before them filled Ji Juekong and Wan Guimang with astonishment.
Gradually, Mu Qingqing's original appearance was restored, and her cultivation realm returned to the Eternal Realm.
However, Mu Qingqing's soul fragments also completely merged with Xin Ci's main soul at this moment.
Her body gradually reverted to Xin Ci's form.
At that instant, Xin Ci regained control of his body and his eyes snapped open, shouting anxiously, "Qingqing, stop!"
However, upon waking, he only saw the bewildered faces of Ji Juekong and Wan Guimang.
"Xin Ci, you..."
"Where did Qingqing go?!"
"Calm down first..."
"Tell me, what happened to Mu Qingqing?! Why can't I sense her existence?"
"Did something happen to her... Tell me quickly!!"
Xin Ci grabbed Wan Guimang and Xuan Qingming by their collars, shouting hysterically.
In truth, he might have already guessed Mu Qingqing's fate.
But Xin Ci refused to accept it.
Tears of grief streamed down his face; Mu Qingqing's disappearance felt like the loss of the most precious thing in his life.
At this moment, self-reproach, sorrow, fear, and despair, a multitude of dark emotions, churned within Xin Ci.
Devastated, he became numb and speechless. In the twilight's afterglow, he appeared to have aged considerably.
Ji Juekong and Wan Guimang also guessed that Mu Qingqing was likely dead.
They did not know what to say and could only remain silent.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Suddenly, a faint cough was heard from not far away.
Xuan Qingming was seen struggling to stand, supporting his incredibly aged body.
Ji Juekong and Wan Guimang's first reaction was: this demon is still alive!
Whoosh!
A gust of wind swept past, and Xin Ci, filled with hatred, instantly appeared before Xuan Qingming, grabbing him by the throat. His reddened eyes fixed on him, and he roared, "If it weren't for you, Mu Qingqing wouldn't be dead! I'll kill you!"
Xuan Qingming, now without any power, felt himself on the verge of suffocation.
However, Xin Ci suddenly released his grip.
He had no intention of letting Xuan Qingming go easily; he didn't want him to die so quickly.
At this moment, Xin Ci's eyes were blinded by hatred. He wanted Xuan Qingming to live in a state worse than death!
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Xuan Qingming lay on the ground, gasping for breath and clutching his throat violently.
Seeing that Xin Ci had actually stepped into the Eternal Realm, Xuan Qingming's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Eternal Realm! Cough, cough... So that's how it is... Mu Qingqing, Mu Qingqing, I never expected you to have such a method to deal with me."
Xuan Qingming's words stunned everyone.
"What do you mean?"
"You don't know yet? The only reason you were able to break through to the Eternal Realm was because Mu Qingqing poured all the energy absorbed from the Mind's Eye into your body, allowing you to break through."
"However, you've gotten too arrogant. I, Xuan Qingming, did not lose to a mere brat like you, but to Mu Qingqing!"
Even at this juncture, Xuan Qingming refused to admit defeat.
Xin Ci's face darkened. He suddenly grabbed Xuan Qingming's collar, looking him in the eye and saying, "I know you and Mu Qingqing are both outsiders to this plane, so you must know a way to save Mu Qingqing!"
"Hahaha... Of course I know, but why would you think I would tell you?" Xuan Qingming sneered.
"Xuan Qingming, I advise you not to be ungrateful!"
"Don't forget, you are now nothing more than a stray dog. Even a child without the strength to even tie a chicken could easily kill you!"
Seeing Xuan Qingming's arrogant attitude, both Ji Juekong and Wan Guimang felt a surge of anger.
Xin Ci, however, simply held tightly onto Xuan Qingming's collar, looking at him as if he were already dead, and said word by word, "You are just a mortal now. I have plenty of ways to extract the thoughts from your soul."
"I advise you to speak yourself. Don't test my patience!"
"Heh, it really doesn't feel good to be held in someone's palm..."
Xuan Qingming laughed self-mockingly, then his expression turned cold and he said, "Hmph, don't look at me like that. For over sixty thousand years, I've had enough of these disgusting stares."
"If you want to know Mu Qingqing's whereabouts, let go of me!"
"You'd better not play any tricks."
With that, Xin Ci released his grip.
Xuan Qingming patted his rumpled chest and said carelessly, "Mu Qingqing has completely merged into your soul. Even if you've stepped into the Eternal Realm now, you can't revive her..."
"So you're playing us?!"
"If you think so, then it is."
"Damn you! You're looking for death!"
Wan Guimang, furious, raised his fist to strike Xuan Qingming, but Xin Ci stopped him.
"Xin Ci, what are you doing?"
"Let him continue speaking. If there is truly no way, I will make his life worse than death!"
"Worse than death? It seems you truly hate me, but I have no intention of making excuses for myself."
Xuan Qingming sneered and continued, "Although Mu Qingqing has merged into your soul, she has only merged halfway."