"You recognize these ancient characters?" Di Yalan breathed out softly, astonishment plain on her face.

"Mhm, I know a few."

Shi Yan nodded, yet he didn't spare a glance at the contents of the scripture; instead, he casually tucked the book into his robe, saying naturally, "You keep the Earth Core Fire Liquid. This Spirit-grade Martial Skill is mine."

Di Yalan nodded, indicating her agreement. That vial of Earth Core Fire Liquid was incredibly precious to her; with it, she was truly content.

"What about these three Demon Cores?"

After a while, Di Yalan spoke again, subtly glancing at Mu Yudie as she did, her expression somewhat complicated.

The Spirit-grade Martial Skill Shi Yan held was beyond measure in value, and now Mu Yudie had gained nothing at all.

The value of the three Demon Cores was naturally less than that of the Earth Core Fire Liquid and the Spirit-grade Martial Skill. Di Yalan intended to share the cores with Mu Yudie but worried Shi Yan might disapprove, so she was testing his intentions.

"Give them to Miss Mu."

Shi Yan understood her thoughts and generously stated, "We can't let Miss Mu leave empty-handed. We have both obtained what we needed; let's forgo the three Demon Cores, shall we?"

"I certainly have no objection," Di Yalan smiled sweetly, genuinely pleased by Shi Yan's suggestion.

Mu Yudie's beautiful eyes held a flicker of surprise. After giving Shi Yan a deep look, she shook her head and smiled, saying, "I didn't do anything, and I've relied on you two for protection the whole time. I cannot accept these Demon Cores."

"Xiao Die..." Di Yalan started to speak but stopped herself.

"I truly cannot accept them," Mu Yudie shook her head resolutely, forcing a self-deprecating smile. "You two nearly lost your lives because of me, a burden. How could I possibly have the nerve to take these three Demon Cores? Sister Lan, Ding Yan, I appreciate your kindness, but I really don't feel I deserve them."

"Take one," Shi Yan pondered for a moment. "Regardless, you must accept one Demon Core. We shouldn't benefit so greatly at your expense."

"Yes, at least take one," Di Yalan insisted as well.

Hearing them both press the matter, Mu Yudie hesitated, realizing it was difficult to refuse further, and finally nodded, "Then I thank you both."

Shi Yan ceased speaking and slowly closed his eyes again, continuing to recover the strength within his body.

Holding his breath and calming his mind, he could clearly sense the changes occurring within him.

For some unknown reason, just sitting there, he noticed the soreness in his flesh was rapidly disappearing...

Centering his mind, Shi Yan focused intently on feeling the transformations in his body.

A flash, like lightning, seemed to strike his mind; his spirit jolted, as if he had suddenly realized something profound.

It was the Undying Martial Soul!

Within his body, flesh, bone, internal organs, and meridians were undergoing subtle alterations.

The Undying Martial Soul was, in a way he couldn't yet comprehend, quietly mending his body, letting his frame, damaged by employing 'Rampage,' gradually return to normal.

Shi Yan was wonderfully surprised. He realized that the Undying Martial Soul not only expedited healing but could also significantly mitigate the side effects of 'Rampage'!

If the Undying Martial Soul hadn't been quietly functioning, he was certain that forcing himself into 'Rampage' would have rendered him unable to fight for at least three days.

But the presence of the Undying Martial Soul seemed to have altered that outcome...

Under the marvelous influence of the Undying Martial Soul, the numbness and fatigue in his body slowly receded.

Based on how his body felt, he should recover more than half his strength in, at most, a day, certainly positioning him to contend with others again.

However, just as he was secretly rejoicing, suddenly, a surge of murderous, violent negative emotion erupted fiercely from the depths of his heart!

This eruption of negative emotion was like a colossal wave, arriving with terrifying intensity!

Threads of aura, mixed with despair, fear, and resentment, seeped out from his every acupoint, transforming into a form of spiritual energy that suddenly surged into his mind, forcibly bewitching his thoughts and twisting his moral compass!

This time, he had absorbed the vital essence of four Innate Realm martial artists and two Human Rank realm martial artists. Shi Yan had been within the stone cave during all six deaths.

Consequently, the vital essence from these six individuals, without a single trace lost, flooded into his acupoints. The essence absorbed this time was far more potent than any he had absorbed previously!

Therefore, this backlash was also far more brutal.

Sitting rigidly, Shi Yan's breathing grew heavy, his body trembling slightly, enveloped in a malevolent aura that gave off an intensely wicked impression.

A few minutes later, feeling he could suppress it no longer, he suddenly snapped his eyes open, glaring fiercely at Di Yalan, and growled, "My strange ailment is about to act up again!"

Di Yalan was momentarily stunned, then her face flushed crimson, and she whispered to Mu Yudie, "Xiao Die, don't look, turn away."

Mu Yudie’s face also reddened. Biting her lower lip, she consciously moved to the cave entrance, her back to them. "Keep your voices down; don't attract any demonic beasts. I... I'll stand guard at the entrance."

"Mhm," Di Yalan responded in a voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz, then proactively embraced Shi Yan.

Inside the stone cave, a rhythmic, soul-stirring melody gradually began to emanate.

...

After a very long time.

Shi Yan let out a low roar, his body trembling slightly, as he climaxed within Di Yalan's form.

From his body's acupoints, wisps of strange, arcane power suddenly emerged.

These forces roamed chaotically within him; a very small fraction, accompanied by essence, was infused into Di Yalan's body, but the majority of the strange energy surged wildly through his meridians, saturating his entire being.

He abruptly opened his eyes.

Shi Yan pulled up his trousers, ignoring the hazy-eyed Di Yalan beside him, and suddenly strode toward Mu Yudie, demanding, "Miss Mu, quick! Quick!"

Mu Yudie’s delicate face turned ashen with fright. She instinctively backed away, shrieking, "No! Don't come over here!"

"A portion of the medicinal power in my body has suddenly overflowed!" Shi Yan gasped, walking step by step toward Mu Yudie urgently. "I'm trying to control it, see if I can divert some to you, to help mend the ruptured meridians in your body!"

"I don't want it!" Mu Yudie screamed. "I'm not ready. I don't want to do that with you, don't come near me!"

"I didn't say do that!" Shi Yan roared.

He felt those strange energies divide into numerous streams, swirling through the meridians and flesh of his body, nurturing both his Martial Soul and the vital essence in his abdomen.

If this rate continued, in a short time, all these arcane powers would dissipate within him.

His focus became unprecedentedly sharp. He forcefully blocked a small stream of the strange energy surging back up his arm, straining to maintain control, intending to infuse this portion of energy, via the dispersion of vital essence, into Mu Yudie’s body.

Seeing Mu Yudie retreating step by step, Shi Yan grew impatient and suddenly lunged forward, embracing Mu Yudie in one swift movement.

Mu Yudie's voluptuous figure was suddenly enveloped completely in his arms. A refreshing, heart-stealing fragrance subtly drifted into his mouth and nose, causing his spirit to jolt.

"Let me go!" Mu Yudie refused to believe Shi Yan’s explanation, hammering his chest with her small fists, struggling with all her might.

Alas, with her meridians ruptured, her vital essence could not cohere properly.

Unable to unleash any real strength, she was no different from any weak woman, entirely incapable of shaking Shi Yan.

"Be still!" Shi Yan exerted a little more pressure, locking her delicate body tightly against his, leaving her no space to move.

At this moment, the strange energy flowing in Shi Yan's arm rapidly moved to his wrists, channeling through his palms and injecting into the meridians on Mu Yudie's back...

"Try to utilize this medicinal power; circulate it to your ruptured meridians, quickly!" Shi Yan whispered close to her exquisitely shaped ear while holding Mu Yudie.

Mu Yudie's ear felt itchy, and her delicate body involuntarily trembled slightly. She inwardly cursed Shi Yan for being overbearing.

However, she distinctly felt two streams of strange power flowing in from Shi Yan's palms into her body, circulating back and forth within the meridians on her back.

Under Shi Yan’s sharp prompting, Mu Yudie finally quieted down. She stopped struggling and focused all her attention on sensing and attempting to control those arcane forces to repair the severed meridians in her body.

Shi Yan held Mu Yudie tightly, acutely aware of the marvelous nature of her form, inhaling the fragrance emanating from her. For a moment, his thoughts wandered, and his lower body uncontrollably stirred again.

"Ah..."

Mu Yudie let out a soft cry, her face flushed with shame, and urgently said, "Let go of me quickly! ... If you stay like this, I—I can't calm my mind!"

"Mhm, I'll let you go," Shi Yan acknowledged, knowing this was hardly the time to take advantage. He nodded, pressed a kiss against her ear, and added, "Consider this payment for my gift of medicinal power."

With that, Shi Yan released his hold, stepped back two paces, leaned against the rock wall, and slowly closed his eyes.

Mu Yudie’s neck was completely flushed. Both ashamed and annoyed, she glared fiercely at him and muttered a curse, "You are a scoundrel!"

After cursing him, Mu Yudie took several deep breaths, her high breasts rising and falling several times before she managed to calm down.

Understanding the urgency of the situation, she dared not continue accusing Shi Yan. She hurriedly sat down on the spot and began attempting to utilize the arcane powers Shi Yan had gifted her to mend the ruptured meridians in her body.

...M