I Can Save Her

The state of the Mystic Immortal was truly unstable.

The entire world was real, but Xu Jinghong in the tavern was false.

Before Xiuzhi appeared, he was merely a mortal stripped of all his magic—useless Old Xu, the owner of Hongxiu Tavern, anything but Xu Jinghong.

Yet after Xiuzhi appeared, this world became the illusion, and Xu Jinghong in the tavern became real!

Slowly, he ceased to be a mortal, no longer the useless Old Xu. Bit by bit, he regained himself. The tides of heaven and earth turned in his favor—the world was him, or perhaps he was the world. Everything was improving, and his strength gradually returned.

But now, Xiuzhi was fading away, vanishing forever... His newly restored heart shattered in an instant, and the entire world plunged into chaos!

If Xiuzhi truly died before his eyes a second time, he wouldn’t survive the blow. At best, he’d explode on the spot; at worst, he’d lose control, sinking into a mindless, ominous state as the world collapsed into an abyss, madly devouring the true universe beyond!

In other words, he would become a Half-Cosmic Aberration—unlike ordinary demonic fiends, he’d be devoid of reason, drowning in agony, tormenting himself endlessly, driven purely by instinct!

"Yi... Yi'an, don’t... don’t waste resources anymore. It’s useless... Just seeing you again, Xiuzhi is already content..."

In the tavern’s backyard, Xiuzhi—her body half-transparent—mustered the last of her strength to reach out, gently caressing Xu Jinghong’s cheek as she murmured, "Yi... Yi'an, can you promise me one thing?"

Xu Jinghong said nothing. Tears blurred his vision as he frantically poured precious soul-nurturing immortal energy over Xiuzhi, desperate to slow her dissipation.

But it was futile.

Once a lingering will faded, the scattering of a remnant soul was irreversible!

"Yi... Yi'an, do you hear it? The wind chimes..." Xiuzhi’s consciousness was already scattering, her voice barely a whisper.

Xu Jinghong despaired, his heart cleaved in two. Watching his beloved grow ever more translucent, his tears burst forth like a flood, his voice choked with sobs. "Xiuzhi, I... I hear it. I’ll promise you anything, just don’t leave me. I truly... I truly can’t live without you..."

"Silly..." Xiuzhi forced a faint, beautiful smile. "Yi'an must promise me... after I’m gone, you’ll be alright. I... I broke my vow. If there’s a next life, you..."

Before she could finish, her hand slipped limply away, her body dissolving into motes of starlight, slipping through Xu Jinghong’s embrace...

"NO!!!"

"AAAAAH!!!"

Xu Jinghong’s heart-rending roar shook the heavens, the entire world trembling in response!

Yet at that very moment—

A calm figure strode into the backyard and, without hesitation, slapped Xu Jinghong across the face.

SMACK!

"Why are you shouting so loudly?!"

Xu Jinghong’s crimson eyes snapped toward the sudden intruder, a terrifying sword intent erupting from him. Above, a colossal sword shadow—Xu Jinghong’s legendary blade—materialized in the sky!

Without Xiuzhi, nothing could restrain the peerless slaughter of the Jinghong Sword!

It harmed others—and itself!

Everything in sight: Kill! Kill!! KILL!!!

"I can save her."

Quick as lightning—

Xu Jinghong’s crimson eyes cleared instantly.

Like a drowning man clutching at straws, he wouldn’t relinquish even the faintest hope!

"Please, save Xiuzhi. Whoever you are, whatever the cost, I’ll pay it. Even my life—a life for a life. I beg you..."

The once-proud Sword Immortal of Jinghong now knelt humbly on the ground, forsaking all dignity for the slimmest chance to revive his beloved.

"A man’s knees bear the weight of gold! Kneeling is beneath you!" Chen Yi scowled, his voice sharp. "A Sword Immortal groveling—do you think she’d be happy seeing this?"

Xu Jinghong remained silent, still kneeling.

"Tch, you’re hopeless..."

Chen Yi sighed, waving a hand to gather Xiuzhi’s scattered remnants, condensing them into a divine statuette before speaking slowly:

"The dead can reconstitute their true spirit through faith. But your Xiuzhi is only a remnant soul—reforming her will take time. Are you willing to wait?"

Seeing that Chen Yi could truly stabilize Xiuzhi’s fading soul, Xu Jinghong answered without hesitation: "However long it takes—even if the seas dry and the suns burn out—if she can return, I’ll wait. I’ll wait forever!"

The greatest fear is hopelessness. With even a sliver of hope, one finds the strength to press forward.

Gazing at the delicate statuette of Xiuzhi in Chen Yi’s hand, Xu Jinghong felt vitality surging through his decayed body, as if boundless strength welled within him!

"You’re quite the character." Chen Yi smirked. "I’ll tell you this—your Xiuzhi will become a local earth deity in the Purple Star Continent’s immortal realm. Only you, who knows her best, can call her back. Come to Purple Star. You’ll know what to do when the time comes."

Currently, the Purple Star’s Heavenly Dao couldn’t formally bind this wandering Mystic Immortal. After all, Mystic Immortals were formidable—especially someone like Xu Jinghong, whose "Invincible Sword Domain" manifested as a miniature cosmos. Unleashed recklessly, the current Purple Star Continent wouldn’t survive!

So for now, he’d be relegated to menial tasks until the Heavenly Dao ascended enough to grant him a proper title.

As for whether he’d flee... Unless he abandoned Xiuzhi—and could defeat Chen Yi—he wouldn’t escape!

Xu Jinghong agreed instantly: "Deal!"

If it meant saving Xiuzhi, he’d do anything!

Chen Yi grinned. "Good. Welcome aboard. But first—you must reclaim your true self."

Raising a hand toward the sky, he declared, "Go. Defeat your inner demon, and reclaim who you truly are!"

"Understood!" Xu Jinghong surged to his feet, his sword intent erupting like an unsheathed blade—sharp, unstoppable!

Yet beneath his overwhelming edge lay a trace of tenderness. After one last glance at Xiuzhi’s statuette, he slowly drew the long-buried Jinghong Sword from the earth, his aura skyrocketing as he ascended step by step into the heavens!

"You’ve finally come. I’ve waited long."

Atop the sky, a figure wreathed in majestic sword energy turned—revealing Xu Jinghong’s own face!

Yet Xu Jinghong showed no surprise. He merely raised his sword and uttered coldly:

"Peerless Sword Immortal, Jinghong Sword—I challenge you!"

This was his inner demon, the greatest obstacle to reclaiming his blade. Without defeating it, he could never regain control of this sword-forged world—nor break free from his aberrant, ominous state!

Meanwhile, back in Hongxiu Tavern...

After taking the last sip of immortal wine, Chen Yi slowly set down his cup, his gaze profound and distant:

"Come on, you big dumb dragon. I've taken the bait—now let's see your hook..."