Chapter 46: A Difficult Solution…

Outside.

Gu Ningyun’s urgent voice rang out.

Lin Fan’s brow furrowed slightly. With a sudden shift of his body, he appeared instantly outside the cave.

When he saw the woman in black lying in Gu Ningyun’s arms, his expression froze in shock. “What happened to her?”

The woman in black was the very master-level expert they had encountered in the tomb of the Spirit Realm stronghold.

They had thought she might have perished in the tomb for failing the trial, or perhaps she had succeeded in passing it and obtained the essence of spiritual power.

But Lin Fan never expected they would meet again so soon.

Moreover, judging by the situation, it seemed the woman in black had come to them deliberately.

“Her condition is dire. The spiritual power within her is in turmoil, apparently caused by an overdose of energy she consumed.

I tried to suppress it with my own spiritual power, but her internal energy is so fierce and wild that when I channeled mine in, it only intensified her suffering.

Everyone here has tried, but none of us have been able to help.

You’re the last chance. If you can’t do it either, we’ll have no choice but to forcibly strip her cultivation.

Otherwise, she will burst from the internal chaos of power and die.”

Hearing this, Lin Fan’s expression grew serious. He had little connection with the woman in black; they had only briefly allied in the tomb due to Zhao Wuyuan’s overwhelming strength.

He had eased her burden and, in return, obtained the Phantom Light Sword Art from that Spirit Realm expert.

The woman in black had repaid the favor by revealing the Misty Swamp territory, helping them evade Zhao Wuyuan’s surveillance.

Their relationship had effectively ended there.

Yet, with her life hanging by a thread right before him and Gu Ningyun offering aid, his refusal to help would seem petty.

“I’ll give it a try.”

The young man paused briefly, then extended his hand. As he poured his spiritual power into her body, he immediately felt her raging energy tear apart the power he sent in like a wild beast.

The woman in black let out a faint moan, her brows knit tightly in pain. Her entire body trembled, sweat soaking her clothes.

No success?

Gu Ningyun’s delicate brows furrowed further. Indeed, if even a master at the foundation realm couldn’t suppress that power, how could Lin Fan, a mere alchemist-level cultivator, succeed?

“For your sake, miss, if I can’t help—”

Just as Gu Ningyun prepared to forcibly strip the woman’s cultivation, Lin Fan, who had not withdrawn his hand, suddenly spoke.

“Don’t worry. I think I have a way.”

What?

Gu Ningyun was startled, and those around her looked at Lin Fan in surprise, uncertain what solution he could offer.

After all, even Gu Ningyun, a foundation realm expert, was helpless here.

“Let me try. If it doesn’t work, we can still strip her then.”

Lin Fan pondered briefly. Though the spiritual power he sent was instantly destroyed, he sensed a sliver of her energy being absorbed into his own body, merging into the Heavenly Furnace and then crushed.

This meant his Heavenly Furnace could suppress the wild energy within her.

Now, his task was to draw all the spiritual power from her body into himself.

However...

The only way he could think of to achieve this was through intimacy, when the unconscious partner’s energy could be transferred to him.

He and the witch had done this countless times over two years—it was no issue.

But the problem was, the partner now was not the witch, but the woman in black. That was utterly absurd...

“What’s wrong? Difficulties?”

Seeing Lin Fan’s troubled expression, Gu Ningyun assumed his method was too complicated and asked.

“Well... I can refine her raging spiritual power, but she has to transfer all her energy to me.

Obviously, in her current state, she can’t do that.

And the only way I can think of is... intimacy...”

What?

Intimacy?

Gu Ningyun was dumbfounded. Beside her, Gu Ningxiang looked blankly at them, while the others stared at Lin Fan in shock, then glanced at the woman in black resting in Gu Ningyun’s arms.

This concerned a young woman’s honor after all.

“Uh... I can’t decide for her.

You—you should ask her yourself.”

Gu Ningyun’s face flushed crimson. As a proper young lady, she had never experienced anything like this. She gently pushed the woman in black toward Lin Fan, then called the others to step several dozen paces away.

“I know you must have some residual consciousness.

I also know this method is outrageous.

But it’s the only way I can think of to save you; I truly can help you with your spiritual power.

But, as I said, you have to transfer all your energy to me.

Your body is in a complicated state now. Even a trace left could endanger your life.

So the choice is yours.”

Lin Fan wore a similarly embarrassed look and explained hesitantly.

The woman in black, her face partly covered by a black veil, weakly lifted her translucent eyelids. Though feeble, her gaze revealed a resolute determination.

Within her eyes was a sorrowful and helpless grandeur that defied words.

She drew a faint breath, as if summoning her last courage to face the decision.

Her fingers trembled slightly as she slowly reached up and gently pulled down the veil hiding her face.

Her pale complexion was like paper, yet it could not conceal the serene beauty she possessed.

Her lips parted, voice as soft as a mosquito’s hum, but clear to Lin Fan’s ears: “If... it can save my life... then... use this method.”

Lin Fan’s heart jolted. He understood well what such a choice meant for a woman.

His gaze hardened with unprecedented resolve. “I promise, I will take responsibility for you, no matter what happens.”

The woman in black nodded lightly, seeming partly relieved by his vow, yet tinged with self-mockery.

Without hesitation, Lin Fan suddenly lifted her into his arms and swiftly dashed into the cave.

Seeing Lin Fan and the woman in black disappear into the cavern, Gu Ningyun’s cheeks flushed deeply. She glanced back at her companions and said, “Let’s give them some privacy for now.”

Inside the cave, a soft moan escaped as the spiritual powers of Lin Fan and the woman in black intertwined, the atmosphere growing intensely charged.

Lin Fan focused entirely on guiding the energy, while the woman closed her eyes, letting her consciousness fade, entrusting her fate to him.

Time seemed to stand still. When the last strand of spiritual energy was successfully absorbed, Lin Fan exhaled deeply.

He knew this step was a success; not only had he saved her life, but a profound, unspoken bond had formed between them.

“Well... I still don’t know your name...”