The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 982: Grey Mountain Stranger

Grey Mountain Stranger . . .

In the vast expanse of the Qing-Yun Realm, where might often dictated the law, the occasional occurrence of individuals descending from the heavens was not an entirely surprising phenomenon. In such a cutthroat world, it was simply impractical to divert one's attention every time a person fell from the sky. If one were to do so, they might find themselves surrendering a substantial portion of their lives to this peculiar occupation.

Yet, this time, the situation was unlike any other. Failure to intervene would result in a dire outcome – Cha Eun Xiao's steed, Darky, would collide with the plummeting man.

All three individuals on the scene, Xuan Bing, Han Bingxue, and Cha Eun Xiao, quickly grasped the gravity of the situation and acted promptly to prevent the impending catastrophe.

The man descended from a great height, his landing marked by a resounding thud. Blood flowed from his nose, mouth, eyes, and ears, reaching an astonishing height of over ten meters into the sky. The observers were immediately drawn to the man's pallid countenance, a stark contrast to the limited injuries on his body. Their eyes settled on a deep sword wound near his heart, a grievous injury that had nearly pierced through his chest, effectively shattering his heart.

The sword had driven through his chest, and the life force within him had been extinguished by the formidable energy imbued in the weapon. Despite his severe injuries, the man tenaciously clung to life, displaying incredible willpower and determination.

Even in the face of impending death, he maintained his presence of mind, opening his eyes and speaking weakly but urgently, "Help me."

Cha Eun Xiao, assessing the man's condition, recognized the grim reality – there was no conceivable way to heal him. Despite possessing an abundance of miraculous dan beads, capable of performing life-saving miracles, none of them held the power to rescue this man. He was beyond the reach of their restorative capabilities. It wasn't solely the sword wound that threatened his life; he had already expended his life energy in a strenuous battle before arriving at their location.

Both his life force and his physical body had suffered immense damage, rendering him beyond the scope of traditional healing.

"Guo Meng from Grey Mountain?" Xuan Bing's brows furrowed as she spoke, almost simultaneously with Han Bingxue's exclamation, "Guo Meng!" Her surprise was palpable.

Cha Eun Xiao, although unfamiliar with Guo Meng, recognized the name. He had heard tales of a mysterious figure known as Guo Meng, hailing from the northern Grey Mountain. Guo Meng, a Dao Origin Stage cultivator of level eight, bore the moniker of Grey Mountain Stranger.

The appearance of such an elite cultivator in their midst, severely injured and teetering on the brink of death, was an enigma that puzzled them all.

In their collective perplexity, the three individuals converged around Guo Meng, their intentions clear. Han Bingxue inquired, "Let us help. We need to understand what has befallen you."

Though Guo Meng acknowledged the recognition in their eyes, he appeared to be struggling. He gasped, his face flushed with the exertion of his efforts, as though every moment might be his last. He desperately sought to articulate something, yet no words escaped his lips. His injuries were evidently so dire that he could no longer vocalize his thoughts.

Cha Eun Xiao, empathizing with the man's plight, sighed and extended a dan bead towards him. Guo Meng was not his adversary, but neither were they acquainted. However, when a formidable cultivator stood at the precipice of their existence, striving to convey something during their final moments, Cha Eun Xiao was compelled to offer his assistance. He possessed the means to provide aid, even though it would come at a considerable cost.

After all, to bestow a supreme dan bead upon a stranger was an extravagant act indeed.

With a grateful look in his eyes, Guo Meng accepted the precious dan bead and then closed his eyes. His gesture conveyed the urgency of his need, not for an instantaneous recovery, but for time. Time was the elusive treasure he sought in his dire state. The potency of the dan bead was unquestionable, yet in his wretched condition, Guo Meng's foremost desire was to delay his inevitable demise.

"He must have expended his life energy to escape from a dire confrontation after sustaining severe injuries," Xuan Bing murmured in hushed tones, her words weighed down by the gravity of the situation. Han Bingxue nodded in agreement. They, too, were accomplished cultivators, and they understood the implications of Guo Meng's actions.

Cha Eun Xiao, meanwhile, scrutinized the peculiar wound. In a subdued tone, he remarked, "Do you notice something unusual about this wound? The sword seemed to pass through his chest without any resistance."

Perplexed, Xuan Bing and Han Bingxue exchanged glances, uncertain about Cha Eun Xiao's point of contention. To them, a wound was a wound, the outcome of a thorough sword thrust. Why should it exhibit resistance?

Cha Eun Xiao had experienced a second lease on life and had not squandered his time in the Land of Han-Yang. Though he had only resided there for two years, he had amassed knowledge that eluded him during his time as the Xiao Monarch in the Qing-Yun Realm. One of these newfound proficiencies was the understanding of wounds.

Assisted by Brother Egg and Boundless Space, he had crafted the invaluable Supreme Dan, the pinnacle of the art of dan-making. Supreme Dan possessed the capability to cure nearly any ailment or injury. Despite his remarkable proficiency in crafting these dan beads, a process that was hundreds or even thousands of times simpler for him than for ordinary individuals, it exacted a considerable toll in precious resources. This was why Cha Eun Xiao exercised great caution when using the Supreme Dan and why he had developed unparalleled expertise in the field of medicine and wound treatment.

During the time when he led an army against the Kingdom of Lanfeng, a force more than ten times larger than the Kingdom of Chen's, he emerged victorious. He achieved this feat by judiciously employing Supreme Dan beads to save and heal his soldiers. His army became an unstoppable force, likened to an army of the undead. His experience during that campaign significantly enhanced his understanding of medicine and physical wounds, making him the foremost expert in the Qing-Yun Realm.

"Cultivators possess an inherent heightened awareness of threats and danger. When an attack is directed at any part of their body, the skin and muscles naturally contract to resist the injury. It's a fundamental human response, and there should be no exceptions," Cha Eun Xiao elucidated. He pointed at the wound and continued, "A Dao Origin Stage cultivator of level eight should inherently possess substantial defensive capabilities within their musculature. Even if Miss Xuan herself were the assailant, she couldn't produce such a clean wound. Even if the assailant forcibly breached his defenses, it would result in a different kind of wound, not one as smooth as this. It would have been more of an explosion, not a clean stab."

"Is it possible that his adversary was significantly more powerful than him and caught him off guard?" Han Bingxue ventured.

Cha Eun Xiao contemplated her question and then replied, "If the assailant were indeed vastly superior and had taken him by surprise, there might be a chance of such a wound, but in that scenario, he wouldn't have had the opportunity to escape from the confrontation."

Xuan Bing nodded in concurrence. She was acutely aware of the improbabilities surrounding Guo Meng's condition, and the puzzle deepened with every revelation.

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