Seems like this kind of ... isn't so bad either.

Hearing this, a faint smile appeared on Chu Xingchen's face. His gaze swept over the surrounding Tribulation realm cultivators, who wore somewhat curious expressions, and he said,

If you don't want to eat it, there will always be others who are curious. Does anyone want a taste? The medicinal effects are super good.

The Tribulation realm cultivator from the Tianyan Sect took two steps back, unable to conceal a look of disgust. As for the rest of the Tribulation realm cultivators, none of them were curious enough to insist on tasting it.

After all, the legendary Ten Complete Tonic Pill of the Tianyan Sect might have actually been created by Chu Xingchen himself.

To some extent, the terrifying reputation of the Ten Complete Tonic Pill was already beginning to rival that of Bai Xuanling.

Seeing that no one responded, Chu Xingchen continued, This place is closest to Yunxiao Hall. I invite everyone to head there first to rest and recuperate.

Hearing this, the Tianyan Sect's Tribulation realm cultivator spoke up, It sounds like you don't plan on leaving with us.

Chu Xingchen nodded slightly and said, Yes, I have other arrangements.

The Tianyan Sect's Tribulation realm cultivator said with a tone of concern, The injuries you suffered are no lighter than ours. If it weren't for the Connate Primordial Dao-Fixing Dual Qi Bead, you would probably be talking to us on your back right now.

In this battle of encirclement and suppression, Xu Linglong's main target had always been Chu Xingchen. In terms of sheer firepower taken, Chu Xingchen was undoubtedly first.

Many of the attacks were basically withstood relying on this supreme treasure of the Xuanqing Heaven Sect.

Moreover, on the journey back, a group of Tribulation realm cultivators couldn't just set up a formation on the spot and teleport back.

At a realm like Tribulation Transcendence, shifting talismans could no longer move cultivators over very long distances.

Cultivation realms were like massive mountains; no matter how high-grade a talisman was, it still had its limits.

The same principle applied even to teleportation rituals, which practically had to operate on overload just to transport Tribulation realm cultivators.

True high-level cultivators basically had to travel on their own to save time and effort.

After Chu Xingchen advanced to the Tribulation realm, under normal circumstances, teleportation formations basically had nothing to do with him anymore.

They had to fly the whole way back. If Chu Xingchen left the group, he would be completely alone. Although Xu Linglong had been dealt with, what if another Heavenly Demon ambushed him halfway, specifically targeting him?

Chu Xingchen replied, Another cultivator is coming to meet me.

Then why don't we wait until the other cultivator arrives to meet you before we leave.

It is Bai Xuanling who is coming to meet me.

Alright then...

The Tribulation realm cultivators exchanged glances, then each cast spells to conceal their tracks and began heading back in the direction of Yunxiao Pavilion.

Chu Xingchen watched the rainbow streaks of light as they left, then let out a heavy breath. He raised his hand, and a gilded spirit pet bag appeared in his grasp, which he gently shook out.

Donggua's figure tumbled out of the bag.

At this moment, Donggua's cultivation base had plummeted all the way down to the Qi Refining realm.

Chu Xingchen swept his gaze over it and could ultimately only offer a single word of praise, What a tough life.

To survive until now with such injuries and still have a breath of life left, and to even manage to catch Chu Xingchen's attention during the clash so that he could conveniently fish it out...

If he had been a moment later, the entire Eastern Sea would have turned into Donggua soup.

In truth, Chu Xingchen originally hadn't wanted to save it. After all, no matter how you looked at it, Donggua had ultimately chosen to betray him, even if that betrayal was part of Chu Xingchen's plan and had long been expected.

Chu Xingchen couldn't clearly explain his thoughts at the time. Perhaps he just felt that dying so simply after a backstab was letting it off too easily.

There was no need for pity anyway.

Donggua's aura was so faint it was almost non-existent, and all the meridians in its body were completely shattered.

Its Divine Sea was a sea of ruins, and its Origin Platform was broken.

For a cultivator, this was already a certain-death situation, and Donggua's aura was so weak that it could die at any moment.

Chu Xingchen did not hesitate. He took out a pill and used his spiritual energy to push it into Donggua's mouth.

In just a moment, Donggua, who had been deathly pale and unconscious, suddenly furrowed its brows tightly.

Not long after, Donggua's weak, thread-like groans of pain rang out.

Chu Xingchen took a chair out of his spatial ring and sat down on the spot with a weary expression, waiting.

While he waited, Bai Xuanling, having received the news, rushed over.

Chu Xingchen first raised his hand to signal Bai Xuanling to hold off on talking, indicating they should wait for Donggua to wake up first.

Fortunately, they didn't have to wait long.

Donggua struggled to open its eyes, gazing up at the vast blue sky.

You are free, Chu Xingchen said softly. Xu Linglong is dead, and the rest of the Heavenly Demons shouldn't remember a weakling like you.

Without Xu Linglong, you are of no use to me anymore.

That tiny bit of aura in your body is sustained entirely by your feeble Qi Refining cultivation. If you tried to fight, you would probably die on the spot before you even threw a punch.

No one can cure you now, not even me. Since you are no longer a threat, you are allowed your freedom.

However, you absolutely won't live past a week. With these injuries, you've reached the end of the line.

Stay here and savor it. You only have about three days of freedom left, this hard-won freedom.

Donggua tried to shift its head to look at Chu Xingchen, only to find that it couldn't do so at all.

The expression on Chu Xingchen's face was extremely cold as he said, So, endure the pain, crawl up, and breathe in your most desired freedom amidst the agony.

Silently count down your final moments, feel the reluctance of every passing second, and then just die like this.

I am not a very generous person, so the final punishment I am giving you is a brief and limited freedom.

After finishing his words, Chu Xingchen stood up, put away his chair, gave Bai Xuanling a slight raise of his eyebrows, and completely ignored Donggua lying on the ground.

Bai Xuanling glanced at Donggua groaning softly in pain on the ground, then followed his footsteps and asked curiously, Did you feed this Donggua a pill you refined?

Chu Xingchen nodded slightly and said, Yes, otherwise it probably wouldn't have even survived today.

Bai Xuanling clicked her tongue lightly and said, Tsk, why do I feel like if it didn't eat it, it could last three days, but after eating it, it might not even make it past today.

But I think it would be more appropriate to conveniently chop Donggua into Donggua chunks. Leaving something breathing makes me a bit uncomfortable; if it stopped breathing, I would feel much better.

Hearing this, Chu Xingchen nodded understandingly. Putting it that way, I do regret it a little. But I am a Tribulation realm cultivator now, and my words should carry enormous weight.

Bai Xuanling laughed as if recalling something. Tribulation realm cultivators don't necessarily keep their word either. Those old undying geezers speak as if they're making solemn vows, but in reality, much of what they say is less reliable than dog shit.

You'll understand in the future. After all, you kid aren't exactly a Tribulation realm cultivator whose words carry enormous weight either.

Chu Xingchen originally wanted to retort that Bai Xuanling was also a Tribulation realm cultivator, but then he remembered that she was no longer one.

No wonder she sounded so certain when she made such sweeping generalizations.

Thinking back to those years, Bai Xuanling hadn't scammed any fewer people when she was in the Tribulation realm.

Donggua listened to the sound of the two leaving, experiencing an extremely abnormal and terrifying sensation in its body that felt like its soul was leaving its shell. At the same time, it could also feel that its internal injuries had been stabilized somewhat in a very bizarre manner.

This was probably the effect of the pill Chu Xingchen had mentioned.

Once the pill's effects wore off, it would probably truly reach its end.

Enduring indescribable agony, Donggua didn't know how much time it took before it finally managed to sit up from the ground.

Its gaze looked towards the setting sun about to dip below the ocean surface.

The final freedom, huh?

If I were to die like this...

It actually wouldn't be so bad.