The Aloof Lord's Mysterious Wife
Chapter 223: Now, It’s Time

Chapter 223: Now, It’s Time

Although this red jade pendant was forged to be extremely realistic, there was a flaw in Ah’Yuan’s red jade that only Royal Heir Qi knew about. He blamed himself for being too excited this time and not checking the red jade beforehand.

"Hehe..." Royal Heir Qi couldn’t help but sneer. He had stirred up the situation in Mu Nation many times before, although unsuccessfully, it must have given Ye Siheng some headaches.

He had been on guard against Ye Siheng’s retaliation, but he never expected to fall for it himself. He had to admit, Ye Siheng was indeed a formidable opponent to have gathered such clear information about Ah’Yuan.

The little bit of blood Royal Heir Qi had supplemented was not enough. He gasped for air, blood seeping from the corners of his mouth, his vision darkening, and he passed out.

"Your Highness!" The attendants supported him, panic washing over them.

Mu’er had been hovering nearby, but she dared not approach for fear of angering Royal Heir Qi.

Hearing the scream, she hurried over. Seeing the injuries on Royal Heir Qi and his unconscious state, Mu’er’s ghostly face became even more eerie and terrifying.

But being a ghost, she couldn’t save Royal Heir Qi.

"What are you standing there for? Hurry, fetch the court physician!" Mu’er shouted. "And bring White-Browed Priest here as well."

The guards rushed off.

Shortly after, several court physicians arrived at the palace. They brought many rare and precious medicines and managed to keep Royal Heir Qi alive, albeit barely.

They all agreed that Royal Heir Qi’s heart meridian was damaged, and with the added poison, even with the best medicine, he would only make it through the night.

Mu’er, shrouded in an ominous aura, roamed in front of the physicians. "If His Highness cannot be saved, you will all lose your heads!"

The physicians trembled and knelt down, begging for mercy. They were at their wits’ end.

Mu’er, feeling both angry and heartbroken, extended her claws, intending to kill one of the physicians as a warning. However, before she could act, a golden light flashed outside, blocking her hand.

Grinding her teeth, she was about to confront the person, but as she reached the door, her expression became respectful, tinged with a hint of choking emotion. "Elder, please think of a way to save His Highness. The people of Mu Nation are too despicable."

The newcomer was indeed White-Browed Priest. He had suffered backlash before and had been recuperating for some time, his complexion still pale.

Glancing at Mu’er, he spoke lightly, "I kept you here to assist His Highness, not to indulge in wanton killing."

Mu’er felt a bit flustered and quickly nodded. Apart from Nanli from Mu Nation, she feared White-Browed Priest the most and dared not act recklessly.

White-Browed Priest walked to the bedside, where Royal Heir Qi’s face appeared even paler against the purple-red bedding.

He touched Royal Heir Qi’s forehead and said solemnly, "His soul is unstable, on the verge of leaving his body. This calamity cannot be avoided."

An attendant knelt down. "Please, Elder, think of a solution! If His Highness falls, the prestige of the Tai Xu Sect will be lost as well!"

White-Browed Priest remained composed, not perturbed by the words. However, he also acknowledged their truth. His four disciples had died in Mu Nation for Royal Heir Qi’s cause. If Royal Heir Qi were to die now, how could he accept it?

After stroking his beard, he quickly came up with a plan. "Prepare twelve volunteers willing to sacrifice themselves. I will use them to extend His Highness’s life."

The attendant was overjoyed and said, "I will make the preparations immediately."

There were many loyal servants in Heir’s Palace; gathering twelve volunteers would be easy.

The sky darkened, as if ink had been spilled across it.

In the courtyard, White-Browed Priest had set up the altar and prepared everything needed for the life-extending ritual.

On the ground, a complex and eerie formation drawn with cinnabar awaited.

The attendants moved Royal Heir Qi to the center and, after all the commotion, his complexion worsened. Seeing his soul about to leave his body, White-Browed Priest narrowed his eyes and used a Soul-Stabilizing Talisman to forcefully keep Royal Heir Qi’s soul inside his body. With little time to spare, they had to start the ritual immediately.

The twelve volunteers were already in position, some looking resolute while others seemed nervous. White-Browed Priest didn’t have time to question them further. With a peach wood sword in hand, he invoked twelve seals. The seals, like eyes, swiftly flew toward the twelve people. The seals adhered to their foreheads, emitting a faint aura. At this point, there was no turning back for them!

Their bodies were immobilized, and their consciousness deprived! Even after biting his finger and sprinkling a few drops of blood, the brilliance of the formation didn’t brighten immediately. The formation first absorbed the essence of the twelve individuals, then slowly gathered it onto Royal Heir Qi’s body, using it to heal his injuries and stabilize his soul.

In fact, this was a forbidden formation because it defied fate itself! As expected, as the formation continued, the sky roiled with storm clouds, thunder booming overhead! The attendants widened their eyes in astonishment. "Elder, what is this...?" As a ghost, Mu’er feared thunder the most and quickly hid.

White-Browed Priest glanced at the sky, his eyes cold. He invoked another seal, pointing both fingers toward the heavens. His robe billowed as thunder gradually diminished. The dark sky began to clear slowly. The attendants breathed a sigh of relief, secretly praising White-Browed Priest for truly being the foremost figure in Qi Nation, able to control even heavenly punishment.

However, after all this, White-Browed Priest stumbled, needing to lean on the table for support. The formation continued to sustain Royal Heir Qi’s life. White-Browed Priest knew he couldn’t collapse just yet. Occasionally, he reinforced the formation to ensure Royal Heir Qi’s successful recovery.

The moon cast its shadow, and only a few stars remained. It was unknown how much time had passed before the brilliance of the formation gradually dimmed. The twelve individuals had already ceased breathing, becoming dried corpses. Even their souls were crushed by the formation and used as nourishment.

White-Browed Priest shakily approached, lifting Royal Heir Qi’s chest clothing to find the wound had healed considerably, and his soul had become more stable. He breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Wiping away sweat, he said softly, "I have successfully extended His Highness’s life. Move him back. He will wake up tomorrow."

"Thank you, Elder!" The attendants were grateful and quickly called for assistance. However, as soon as Royal Heir Qi was carried back to his room, White-Browed Priest collapsed on the ground. Mu’er was the first to notice and hurried over. "Elder!"

White-Browed Priest was barely conscious, his voice weak. "With this feeble body, this is the last thing I can do for His Highness." Mu’er realized it wasn’t about not dying but rather about the time not being right yet. Now, the time had come.

Mu’er choked back tears. "Elder, His Highness still needs you. You can’t leave him." White-Browed Priest opened his mouth, still murmuring something. Mu’er approached and listened closely, realizing he was uttering the names of his disciples.

Understanding his meaning, she said, "Elder, rest assured. I will avenge your disciples for His Highness." Upon hearing this, White-Browed Priest closed his eyes in peace. Suddenly, lightning flashed across the sky again. Mu’er trembled slightly and quickly moved aside.