The surrounding tremors abruptly ceased, and the entire mountain peak was engulfed in a storm of dust.
As the dust settled, the divine spring was sealed.
The torrent of light dispersed, and Ye Ziling collapsed onto the ground, clutching her chest and gasping for breath, her mind a void.
As drops of water slowly fell from the jade bottle, she gradually regained her senses.
Her head throbbed with a pain that grew clearer and clearer, as if someone were gouging her skull with a knife, wave after wave, the agony causing her entire body to twitch uncontrollably. She curled into a ball, hugging her knees, veins bulging on her forehead.
Memories surged like a tide, completely overwhelming her consciousness.
Ye Ziling had no idea how she returned to Qingle Palace; everything before her eyes was a blur.
Seeing his sister had not returned for a long time, Ye Jingxian paced restlessly outside the door. When Ye Ziling walked in as if in a daze, he rushed forward to support her, asking with concern, "Ling'er, where have you been? You've been gone for two days."
Ye Ziling did not reply. Instead, she quietly gazed at the tree adorned with red sashes, her eyes welling up with tears.
Ye Jingxian peered behind her, noticing the absence of Bai Yu. He asked, puzzled, "Where is Immortal Lord Bai Yu? Didn't he go out with you? Why isn't he back with you?"
Ye Ziling remained silent, her eyes moist. Under Ye Jingxian's gaze, she remained silent for a long time before saying, "Second Brother, I... I couldn't protect Bai Yu."
It was her own uselessness, unable to protect anything.
Despite being reborn, she still couldn't change anything.
Jun Lan had painstakingly helped her reshape her mortal body, only for her to be so ineffective.
Ye Jingxian stood frozen on the spot, only recovering his senses after a considerable while. He reached out and grasped Ye Ziling's shoulders, disbelievingly asking, "What did you say? Immortal Lord Bai Yu... cannot return?"
"It's my fault..." Ye Ziling lowered her gaze, concealing the sorrow and pain in her eyes.
Ye Jingxian's heart suddenly felt as if a thousand flavors had been mixed together, causing him immense discomfort. Their savior, the Saintly Doctor tribe's savior, was gone just like that?
Ye Jingxian knew Ye Ziling was blaming herself, and he quickly comforted her, "Ling'er... it's not your fault. Don't blame yourself too much."
"Brother..." Ye Ziling suddenly raised her eyes, her eyes red. "I have a way to save Bai Yu!"
She suddenly remembered that the one who sealed the divine spring last time was General Jun Lan, also known as Ling Xi. If he could seal the divine spring before, he could surely do so now.
But she had said such harsh words to Ling Xi last time; would he still help her?
Never mind, Bai Yu had sacrificed himself to help her. Saving him was the priority now.
"Sister... where are you going so late?" Ye Jingxian couldn't help but call out as he watched Ye Ziling's retreating figure.
"Tonight, don't wait for me for dinner!" Ye Ziling
She glanced back at Ye Jingxian before disappearing into the night.
Ye Jingxian sighed as he watched his sister leave.
Ye Ziling ran all the way, directly to the palace where Ling Xi resided.
When she arrived, Ling Xi was helping the Heavenly Emperor review a scroll. He looked up at her, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. Then, he leaned back in his chair, suppressed his emotions, and said indifferently, "What business does the divine maiden have with this top scholar?"
Ye Ziling stood rooted to the spot, her palms clenched, but she could not bring herself to speak.
Given his reaction, it was unlikely he would help her save Bai Yu.
"Ling Xi."
She walked closer to the desk, her gaze fixed on his face, wanting to speak but hesitating.
Ling Xi was somewhat surprised that she had come to find him in person. He thought she had finally come to her senses, only to hear her speak of something unrelated to him.
"I know it's somewhat improper to seek you out so abruptly."
"But now, Bai Yu sacrificed himself to seal the divine spring..."
Ling Xi didn't let her finish. His eyes suddenly darkened, and he slammed the scroll onto the table with a loud noise, saying coldly, "Enough."
Then, a mocking smile spread across his cold face. His throat moved, and he looked at her coldly, "The divine spring? The spring of that demon realm, is it?"
Ye Ziling looked at him and nodded. "Only you can save Bai Yu. If you refuse... then so be it."
Faced with Ling Xi's abnormal attitude, Ye Ziling knew he was unlikely to save Bai Yu.
Ling Xi stood up, his intense gaze making her uneasy. He advanced towards her, and the suppressed anger within him suddenly erupted. He snorted coldly, "Why would the divine maiden think I would help someone who has nothing to do with me?"
"Yesterday, you told me to forget everything from the past, and now you're lowering yourself to find me for Bai Yu..."
"Ye Ziling, where is your former pride?"
As Ling Xi pressed closer, Ye Ziling unconsciously took a few steps back.
He reached out and grasped her wrist, demanding coldly, "When you stabbed me before, did you never consider that I might die?"
Ye Ziling flung his hand away, gasping in pain, "Ling Xi... now is not the time to settle old scores."
Besides, she hadn't intended to kill him when she stabbed him before; he wouldn't have died.
Ling Xi's cold eyes lit up, and his tone was laced with mockery. "When did the divine maiden become so kind? Or does it depend on the person?"
"I did stab you before... but I didn't intend to kill you," Ye Ziling admitted honestly.
"...Didn't intend to kill you?" Ling Xi repeated mockingly.
She was raised in an ice cellar, and the only thing that remained unmoved was himself.
Ye Ziling knew that continuing to talk would be a waste of breath.
She tried to pull her hand away, but he held it tightly, preventing her from breaking free.
His palm felt as if it possessed magic, its scorching heat transferring to her palm, as if it were going to burn her skin.
Ling Xi's eyes were dark and deep, impossible to fathom. He stared at her for a long time, and seeing that she had no more to say, a fierce fire ignited in his pupils.
Ye Ziling bit her lip, daring not to speak further, allowing him to hold her hand while averting her gaze.
"You are now begging me for someone who has nothing to do with me?"
Could such a proud person stoop so low as to beg him for someone they had known for less than three months?
She hadn't shed a single tear when he died, but now, with Bai Yu in trouble, she looked so lost, forsaking even her pride?
Ling Xi's voice was sharp and somewhat suppressed, each word laced with resentment.
His grip was so strong that she felt her wrist might break, but she forced herself not to show weakness. "If the top scholar is unwilling... I will not insist."
Ye Ziling turned her gaze away from him, gave her wrist a forceful tug, breaking free from his grasp, and swayed slightly before walking out of the grand hall without hesitation.
Watching her retreating back, Ling Xi's eyes filled with icy coldness, and he clenched his fist.