As the Annihilation Fist descended with overwhelming destructive force, the very ground beneath them began to collapse, leaving behind a gaping ruin stretching over ten thousand meters. The once-thriving land was reduced to a barren wasteland as everything was erased from existence.

For hundreds of years to come, no life would grow in this place as the lingering metal-attribute energy would erode everything in the vicinity.

"You can die now!" Liu Wuxie declared with no hint of emotion in his tone.

A searing pain tore through his body—the Annihilation Fist had taken its toll, even with the refinement of the flood dragon’s blood essence and Ru Shou’s embryo.

But the Annihilation Fist’s power was thousands of times more potent than before, and he even channeled power from heaven and earth. Countless laws descended from the sky and merged into this attack.

After Liu Wuxie threw his punch, a bitter smile rose on his lips, and he fell backward.

Right then, Fiery sped over and caught Liu Wuxie on its back before fleeing without any hesitation, paying no attention to whether Sheng Lie was dead or alive.

When the Annihilation Fist enveloped Sheng Lie, it was too late for him to escape, even if he had wanted to. The Great Divine Wind Art shattered in a split second, exposing him before the force of the Annihilation Fist.

With the poison coursing through his body, Sheng Lie could no longer muster the strength for another attack. He could only watch in helpless horror as the Annihilation Fist bore down upon him.

"How could this happen...?" Sheng Lie’s voice was filled with disbelief and despair. A Nascent Transformation Realm cultivator—someone he had deemed insignificant—was about to kill a Spirit Profound Realm expert like him.

Had it not been for the poison, he might have still stood a chance. At worst, he would have suffered severe injuries but escaped with his life. But now, the venom had reached his heart, and he staggered as his vision darkened, barely able to remain standing.

A bitter and resigned smile crept onto Sheng Lie’s lips as he watched the Annihilation Fist descend.

"So be it. Who would’ve thought I, Sheng Lie, would meet my end here?" Despair swallowed him whole. He had been careless—too arrogant—and now, he was paying the ultimate price for underestimating Liu Wuxie from the very beginning.

He hadn’t expected Liu Wuxie to defy his expectations time and again. Yet, even in victory, Liu Wuxie had paid a steep price—now, their destinies rested in the hands of fate.

The Annihilation Fist descended with a thunderous roar, and Sheng Lie was completely incinerated. It was a pity Liu Wuxie couldn’t witness it as his consciousness drifted in and out on Fiery’s back.

As time passed, a gentle rain drizzled from the sky, and Fiery slowed down to seek shelter beneath a large tree, protecting Liu Wuxie from the rain. Even so, droplets of rain still slipped through the gaps between leaves and fell on Liu Wuxie’s face.

Fiery was anxious and helpless as Liu Wuxie showed no signs of awakening, even after being unconscious all day and night. Moreover, his body was burning with intense heat like a living fireball, and this meant he was in a dire condition.

As a demonic beast, Fiery knew nothing about human medicine and could do nothing but pace anxiously. It had considered taking Liu Wuxie to the nearest city, but hesitation held it back. Entering in this manner would be too risky—it would be captured instantly, and its divine beast aura would undoubtedly attract powerful experts.

Yet, Liu Wuxie wouldn’t survive without immediate treatment. He had performed the Annihilation Fist before, but in those moments, there had always been someone to tend to him—someone to pull him back from the brink of death.

This time was different, as there was no one else aside from Fiery.

In the past, Gu Yu had been there for him in the Blood Sea Abyssal Island, and Jian Xin’er had saved him in Azure Mountain City. Each time, they had dragged him back from the jaws of death.

Just then, a grumbling voice echoed from the distance. "This damned weather. One moment it’s clear, the next it’s raining."

"Father, look! There’s a big tree up ahead—we can take shelter there!" A woman’s voice echoed as the footsteps drew closer.

Fiery lifted its head and saw a group of three approaching. It hesitated briefly before placing Liu Wuxie on the ground and retreated into the beast pouch. It had no other choice. If it attempted to flee, it would inevitably cross paths with the trio. And so, it took a gamble.

If these were kind-hearted people, they would surely help Liu Wuxie. But if they turned out to be hostile, Fiery could emerge at that time to fight them to the death.

Fiery had remarkable intelligence, and it made its choice in an instant.

The group of three passed through the bush, and their view opened up.

The middle-aged man at the front swiftly drew his sword and protected the young man and woman behind him.

"Greetings. We’re only passing through and seeking shelter from the rain. If we’ve intruded, we ask for your forgiveness!" the middle-aged man said firmly, undeterred by the rain soaking his face.

However, Liu Wuxie remained motionless, leaning against the tree with his eyes closed. There were no visible wounds on his body—his injuries lay deep within, hidden in his body and soul sea.

Silence filled the air, and the trio exchanged a look, puzzled by the lack of response.

"Father, let me go and take a look," the young man said, planning to investigate the situation.

"Be careful," said the middle-aged man. He followed closely behind, ready to act immediately if his son was in danger.

They were only ten-odd meters apart. The young man observed Liu Wuxie for a long moment, his gaze scanning for any signs of injury. Yet, nothing seemed amiss—his expression was peaceful, almost as if he were merely sleeping.

"Father, he seems to be asleep."

In truth, Liu Wuxie’s soul sea was damaged, and internal injuries ravaged his body. That was why, in his unconscious state, he appeared no different from someone in deep slumber.

"He’s not asleep—he’s unconscious!" the middle-aged man stated firmly. As someone at the high levels of the True Profound Realm, he could tell at a glance. If Liu Wuxie had merely been sleeping, he would have stirred when the rain fell on his face.

"Father, what should we do? Should we kill him?" The youth’s face flashed with a hint of ruthlessness. There was no one in the surroundings, and no one would find out if they killed Liu Wuxie here. After all, they had been in the mountain range for days without harvest and were returning now.

"We bear no grudge against him, so why should we kill him?" The woman stepped forward to stop her elder brother. Even if they had a grudge against Liu Wuxie, it was underhanded to attack him when he was in such a vulnerable state.

"Hua’er is right. We have no grudge against him, so why should we take his life?" the middle-aged man said, satisfied with his daughter’s response.

The youth scoffed and made no further move. Though he had suggested killing Liu Wuxie earlier, he hadn’t displayed bloodlust.

"Then, what should we do now? Are we going to leave him like this?" Since they couldn’t kill Liu Wuxie, they couldn’t possibly abandon him here as he would succumb to the cold.

"This person doesn’t look like an evil person. Let me check his condition first," the middle-aged man said, gently touching Liu Wuxie. When he noticed no reaction from Liu Wuxie, his divine sense entered the latter’s body, but he soon frowned when he saw the state of Liu Wuxie’s internal organs.

Liu Wuxie’s internal organs had suffered severe damage with many ruptures. If left untreated, there would be repercussions even if he survived.

As his divine sense approached Liu Wuxie’s soul sea, trying to awaken him, it was blocked by an invisible force: the Soul Shield. Liu Wuxie’s body had gone into self-defense mode, preventing any external divine sense from reaching his soul sea.

This left the middle-aged man no choice but to retreat from Liu Wuxie’s soul sea. When he stood back up, his brows were locked tightly together.

"Father, how is he?" The woman asked in a concerned tone.

"He has suffered severe injuries, and if left untreated, he will likely die," said the middle-aged man after a brief pondering, and silence fell heavily upon the group.

"Father, haven’t you always taught us that saving a life is an act of virtue greater than anything else? Since we have encountered him, how can we stand idly by?" Hua’er raised her head to look at her father. Since they had encountered Liu Wuxie, there was no way she would leave him here.

"What if he turns out evil?" the youth countered. He believed they should just let Liu Wuxie perish.

"Not everyone in this world is evil. Besides, he’s only at the Nascent Transformation Realm, and we have nothing to fear even if he’s evil," Hua’er insisted. She couldn’t bear to leave an injured man here.

The siblings couldn’t agree and could only turn to look at their father, waiting for his decision on whether they should save Liu Wuxie.

"Hua’er is right. Since we’ve run into him, we can’t possibly ignore him, or it will affect our dao hearts in the future. Moreover, he’s only at the Nascent Transformation Realm and cannot pose us any threat," said the middle-aged man, finding reason in what his daughter said.

Acting against one’s heart could shatter one’s dao comprehension. A single crack in one’s dao heart could hinder future cultivation—a burden that might never be lifted.

Since his father had decided, the youth sighed, knowing there was no room for further argument.

"But what should we do? We don’t have enough medicine, and it’s hard to treat such severe injuries." The youth shrugged. Even if they wanted to help, there was nothing they could do.

"Let him take this Grand Purity Pill. It will help protect his heart pulses, and we can find a skilled physician to examine him when we return to the city," said the middle-aged man, retrieving a porcelain bottle. He tipped an ink-green pill onto his palm.

"Father, you can’t do that!" The youth protested. That pill was meant for his father’s condition, and what would his father do if it was given to someone else?

The woman also hesitated and wondered if it was worth sacrificing a Grand Purity Pill to save a stranger.

"I know what you’re thinking. The Grand Purity Pill might be able to alleviate my injuries, but it can’t cure me completely. If it must be used, let it be used to save a life," said the middle-aged man. He was somewhat optimistic about it, as he knew about his condition.

He could only extend his lifespan slightly with the Grand Purity Pill, but it wouldn’t treat his condition.

The youth turned to Liu Wuxie with seething hatred—the reason his father had sacrificed the life-saving pill. But he knew arguing was pointless; his father had already made his decision.

The middle-aged man crouched down and pressed the Grand Purity Pill between Liu Wuxie’s lips, then uncorked a bottle and poured water to help him swallow.

The Grand Purity Pill was a first-grade spiritual pill. While it wasn’t a precious elixir, it could treat injuries and extend one’s lifespan. The middle-aged man had spent immense resources to purchase the Pill, but it had helped Liu Wuxie now.

"It’s too damp here. Qiang’er, carry him on your back. We must return to the city quickly," said the middle-aged man. The Grand Purity Pill could only stabilize Liu Wuxie’s injuries, and it was uncertain if he could be treated.

“This is all your fault!” Qiang’er spat, scowling. Yet, despite his resentment, he stomped over, gave Liu Wuxie a hard kick, and grudgingly hoisted him onto his back. Though unwilling, he would not defy his father’s command.

They had originally planned to rest for the night, but with Liu Wuxie’s life hanging in the balance, they had no choice but to press on. If his condition worsened, lasting repercussions might remain even if he survived.

And so, the youth, Qiang’er, carried Liu Wuxie on his back and walked on the mountain path.