nucmednet Chapter 148: One body and two faces
Chapter 148: One body and two faces
Inside the mysterious hall of Lingxu Valley, Chen Xiao and the others were peacefully at rest, completely isolated from the hustle and bustle of the outside world.
Suddenly, a fierce battle roar, with the force of thunder, shattered the silence and assaulted everyone's eardrums.
The immense energy fluctuations contained within were like the prelude to an apocalyptic storm, causing every soul to tremble.
Their eyes met, and they could clearly see the worry and determination in each other's eyes.
Without hesitation, everyone sped off like arrows towards the source of the battle.
The moment they appeared outside, the first thing that caught the eye was Xi Xi's swaying figure.
Her body swayed violently, her expression was dazed and confused, her eyes were empty and lifeless, as if her soul had transcended her body and was lost in an endless chaotic void, completely devoid of her former agility and determination.
Upon witnessing this scene, Chen Xiao was extremely anxious, his heart burning with urgency that threatened to consume his reason.
She immediately disregarded everything and shouted at the top of her lungs, "Xixi, cheer up!"
The voice was hoarse and trembling with extreme anxiety, yet it was full of endless concern and encouragement, as if it could penetrate through layers of fog and reach the depths of Xixi's heart.
Ning Yuyuan, standing nearby, was also anxious. She shouted with all her might, "Xixi, forget everything else, defeat the enemy in front of us first! If you get distracted now, it will be tantamount to courting death. We are all by your side, fighting side by side, with one heart and one mind against the enemy!"
Xi Xi was finally forcibly awakened amidst the calls.
She took a deep breath, memorized everyone's expressions, and a do-or-die spirit ignited within her.
She tried her best to regroup her chaotic thoughts.
Although her mind was in turmoil from the sudden surge of memories, she knew deep down that this was not the time to dwell on the past. If she did not first deal with the terrifying crisis before her, everyone would be dragged into an abyss of no return.
So, she quickly readjusted the complex power within her body, her hands seemingly dancing in the air, rapidly changing hand seals.
The hand seals flickered and danced at her fingertips, like living spirits playing joyfully. Each change was accompanied by a powerful fluctuation of energy strong enough to shake the heavens and earth, reinforcing the formation's defense and attack capabilities thread by thread, making it as solid as a rock, unbreakable, like a towering, immortal divine mountain.
The fake S seemed to recover from its brief sluggishness and confusion, and it raised its head and let out a sharp, piercing roar that went straight to the soul.
The roar seemed to tear through space, echoing wildly through the valley, startling countless birds and making the already tense atmosphere even more heavy and oppressive, as if a heavy boulder was pressing on everyone's chest, making it hard to breathe.
Immediately, it charged at the formation again like a mad ancient beast, carrying a world-destroying momentum. Its approach was fierce, as if it wanted to devour everything in front of it mercilessly and turn it into dust.
Xi Xi gritted her teeth and struggled to hold on. Large beads of sweat rolled down her forehead like broken pearls, wetting the ground beneath her feet.
The beads of sweat rolled slowly down her slightly pale cheeks, dripping onto the ground and splashing up tiny specks of dust that shimmered and sparkled in the sunlight.
While fiercely battling the fake S, she raced through her mind, trying to piece together those fragmented memories.
She desperately wanted to figure out what kind of complicated and mysterious past entanglement she had with fake S, and why such disturbing and labyrinthine memories would suddenly surface at the critical moment of the battle.
Fragments of those memories flickered and drifted in her mind, appearing and disappearing, yet constantly tugging at her heartstrings, as if calling her to uncover the secrets hidden deep within.
In the fierce exchange, Xi Xi gradually noticed some subtle patterns in the frenzied rhythm of the fake S's attacks, much like a keen hunter discovering the tracks of its prey.
A thought struck her, as if she had found a glimmer of hope in endless darkness, and she decided to take the risk.
She carefully guided the forces within the formation, like a commander leading thousands of troops. In the gap between a fierce, stormy attack, she seized the fleeting opportunity and launched a sudden counterattack as swift as lightning.
A dazzling beam of light, like the blazing sun, shot towards the fake S. Wherever the light passed, the air seemed to be ignited like gunpowder, emitting a sharp "sizzling" sound. It was as if the space itself was being scorched and distorted by this extremely powerful force, like a painting being crumpled.
The fake S couldn't dodge in time and was hit, letting out a roar like thunderous fury. The sound shook the surrounding ancient trees, causing them to rustle and the leaves to fall like a golden rain.
However, although the attack seemed incredibly fierce, it did not inflict fatal damage on the fake S.
It was like a ferocious beast that had been completely enraged, its power suddenly increasing like a volcanic eruption, and its body exuding an even more intense evil aura, an aura that was like a materialized black fog, making people shudder, as if they were at the entrance to the deepest hell.
At this moment, the energy within Lingxu Valley, like a surging tide, instantly lost control and became chaotic and disorderly.
The surrounding flowers, plants, and trees swayed violently under the impact of the powerful energy, like candles flickering in a gale, as if struggling desperately.
Some ancient buildings also showed slight signs of damage under the tremor of this powerful force, with bricks and stones on the walls beginning to peel off, as if emitting a painful groan, seemingly telling of the vicissitudes and helplessness of time.
The crumbling bricks and stones fell to the ground with a "cracking" sound, raising a cloud of dust that filled the air, adding a sense of desolation and decay to the entire Lingxu Valley, like a once glorious but now gradually fading painting.
Seeing this, the old man's expression turned solemn. His hands moved rapidly and rhythmically in the air like fluttering butterflies, while he chanted incantations and cast spells in an attempt to stabilize the energy within the valley.
The obscure and difficult-to-understand incantations echoed within the valley, as if in a silent battle against chaotic energy. Each syllable contained a mysterious and powerful force, seemingly weaving an invisible net, attempting to reorganize the disordered energy and restore its former peace and tranquility.
Apart from Chen Xiao, the other four also acted as loyal comrades-in-arms, unhesitatingly pouring their strength into Xi Xi's formation without reservation, fighting alongside her.
With everyone's concerted efforts, the fake S's attack was gradually suppressed, like the receding tide.
Taking advantage of this hard-won opportunity, Xi Xi launched an even more powerful attack, seemingly capable of tearing the sky apart.
This time, she skillfully combined her profound understanding of those mysterious runes with the secret arts of the primordial realm, like a peerless artist creating a masterpiece, forming a powerful force strong enough to destroy everything, rushing straight towards the fake S.
Under the fierce impact of this force, the fake S gradually dissipated like wisps of clouds in the wind, leaving only a chaotic energy fluctuation that echoed like a ghost in the valley. The fluctuation carried wisps of dark energy that lingered for a long time, as if telling of its past evil and resentment.
Xi Xi collapsed to the ground like a puppet that had lost its support, but the fragments of memory in her mind still twinkled like stars.
She knew in her heart that although the battle had temporarily come to an end, the path to finding the truth about her origins and her connection with the fake S had only just begun.
It was a road full of unknowns and mysteries, like an endless starry sky, profound and enchanting, waiting for her to explore and uncover it step by step, as if beckoning her to the depths of destiny.
Everyone gathered around Xixi like stars surrounding the moon, their eyes full of concern.
Chen Xiao crouched down and asked softly, "Xi Xi, you just said 'it was me,' what's going on? Did you remember something important?"
Xi Xi's eyes revealed confusion and bewilderment, like a traveler lost in a thick fog, unable to find the way forward, her eyes full of helplessness and hesitation.
She slowly sat up, gently shook her head, and said, "I don't know either. Some images suddenly flashed through my mind during the battle, and I felt like I had some kind of deep, intricate connection with them, but I haven't been able to piece it all together yet."
Ning Yu gently held Xi Xi's hand and softly comforted her, "Don't worry, now that we've come to Lingxu Valley, with so many mysterious runes and ancient powers here, they might be able to help you unravel the mystery of your memories."
The old man slowly approached, looking at Xixi with a solemn gaze, and said, "Young friend, the secret you possess is not simple. This power fluctuation related to it may bring unknown dangers to the entire Lingxu Valley. But since you have come seeking help, I will certainly lend you a hand."
Led by the old man, the group arrived at a quiet stone platform in the valley that seemed to be isolated from the world.
The stone platform was covered with even more complex, labyrinthine runes, faintly emitting a ghostly light, as if telling ancient stories. These stories seemed to have traveled through the long river of time, whispering softly in everyone's ears, as if recounting the past glory and legend of Lingxu Valley.
The old man said, "This is the Spirit Enlightenment Platform of Spirit Void Valley. It may help you delve deeper into your memories and find the truth, but the process may be risky. Are you willing to give it a try?"
Xi Xi nodded without hesitation. With a mix of trepidation and determination, she walked up to the stone platform and slowly sat down cross-legged.
The old man and the crowd sat around the stage and began to cast a spell, guiding the power of the Spirit Enlightenment Platform slowly into Xi Xi's body.
Xi Xi closed her eyes tightly, feeling fragments of memories surging into her mind like a raging tide. She struggled and searched in this torrent of memories like a drowning person.
The blurry images gradually became clearer, like the sun breaking through the clouds, and she saw a mysterious place, which seemed to be an ancient ritual site.
A mysterious atmosphere permeated the place, with both himself and the fake S present, but the surrounding scenery was filled with unknown symbols and strange lights, as if he were in a magical otherworld.
Some voices echoed in her ears, as if telling a long-ago secret, but she could not immediately understand their meaning.
Those sounds seemed to come from a distant time and space, carrying the vicissitudes of time, gently trembling in the depths of her soul, as if awakening her long-dormant memories.
As time went on, Xi Xi's expression grew increasingly pained, and her body trembled slightly, as if she were enduring immense suffering.
The crowd watched nervously from below the stage. Chen Xiao couldn't help but want to interrupt the process, but the old man raised his hand to stop her, indicating that interrupting at this time was like reining in a horse at the edge of a cliff. Once out of control, it would fall into an endless abyss, not only wasting all previous efforts, but also possibly causing an even more terrible disaster.
Just as Xixi felt she was about to be swallowed by the vortex of memories, suddenly, a bright light flashed, and all the fragments of memory seemed to be integrated by an invisible force, like the hand of a god.
She discovered a shocking truth—she was actually a protective force sealed within the fake S's body.
However, after the relentless erosion of time and a sudden change, the forces of the two became disordered and confused, leading to the current situation.
Xi Xi suddenly opened her eyes, her eyes filled with shock and relief, as if she had finally found the light after groping in the dark for a long time.
She slowly stood up, looked at the anxious crowd below the stage, and said, "I understand, I understand the reason for all of this..."
Upon hearing Xi Xi's words, everyone looked at her anxiously. Chen Xiao was the first to ask, "Xi Xi, what exactly happened? Tell me quickly!"
Xi Xi took a deep breath to calm her inner turmoil and said to Chen Xiao in her mind, "I was originally created by the main god, and I am one and the other two sides of the same coin as the fake S. It is evil, and I am good. After the main god noticed this, in order to seal its evil power, he sealed me along with it. But as time passed, the seal loosened, and with the interference of the outside world, our power gradually became unbalanced, which caused the fake S to go out of control, and I also lost some of my memories and fell into confusion."
No one else knew that Xixi was communicating with Chen Xiao in her mind. They assumed that Xixi was confused and unwilling to tell them the truth, and they dared not ask any more questions.
Chen Xiao said thoughtfully, "So how do we completely solve the problem of the fake S? Since you were originally one, is there a way to restore you to your original state?"
Looking at the runes on the stone platform, Xi Xi said, "These runes have given me some inspiration. I think I can try to re-integrate and purify our power. But this requires a powerful energy source to start the ritual, and there can be no interference during the process, otherwise the consequences will be unimaginable."
Unaffected by their presence, the old man listened to their entire conversation. After stroking his beard and pondering for a moment, he said, "Deep within Lingxu Valley lies a spiritual spring that gathers the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, which may serve as an energy source. However, there are also guardian spirits there, and one must pass their tests before using the power of the spiritual spring."
Xi Xi looked at the old man again before nodding and agreeing to go to the Spirit Spring.
Guided by the old man, the group set off into the depths of Lingxu Valley.
They walked along the winding path, where the flowers and plants on both sides became increasingly strange, shimmering with a faint fluorescent light, as if guiding them.