A moment later, the room was filled with muffled sobs and groans, sounds of stifled, heart-wrenching pain.
"Master..." Zhuque's hands clenched, her connection to her master weakening palpably due to their contract.
She wasn't alone. Baihu, Qinglong, and Xuanwu stood grim-faced, silent.
Inside, a small, dark green blade sliced through flesh, exposing bone. Crimson blood welled uncontrollably, flowing onto the fiery red dress, the wooden chair, and finally dripping onto the floor, forming a stark pool.
"Ugh..." Bai Ran's face grew paler with each wave of agony.
Her lower lip, bitten through, filled her mouth with the taste of iron. Suffocation and delirium washed over her, forcing her to gasp for air.
A heavy scent of blood permeated the room. Gradually, Bai Ran's consciousness began to blur, the only sound remaining the tearing of flesh and bone.
Just then, the space within the room violently churned, and a terrifying pressure descended, nearly making Gu Qingcheng's hand tremble as she held the knife.
The man slowly reached out, wiping the sweat from Bai Ran's forehead.
"Long... Jinhan..."
Her vision blurred, but the familiar fragrance in the air made her recognize him instantly.
Bai Ran couldn't see his expression, but the fingertips touching her were unusually cold.
"Yes, I am here."
Gu Qingcheng glanced at the man before her and quickened her movements. Every second faster she was, Bai Ran would suffer one second less.
Time ticked by, the floor of the room awash with fresh blood.
Long Jinhan stood motionless, watching the person before him. He couldn't describe his feelings…
It felt as though his heart had been shattered into a thousand pieces.
Another moment passed, and Gu Qingcheng slowly withdrew her hand, exhaling, "It's done."
Long Jinhan, who hadn't moved since arriving, faltered when he saw Bai Ran lose consciousness.
Her entire body was soaked in blood and sweat, her lips pale. Yet, thankfully, the tight furrow of her brow had finally smoothed.
He stepped forward, brushing aside the strands of hair clinging to Bai Ran's cheek. Then, he gently and tenderly lifted her, as if she might shatter at any moment.
But as Bai Ran was laid onto the bed, she frowned again, her expression one of extreme pain.
"This!" Gu Qingcheng looked at her, utterly panicked. "What's wrong with her?!"
The replacement of the ghost bone had been smooth, with no complications! Why did she still appear so pained?
Long Jinhan sat by Bai Ran's side, his eyes clouded with gloom. "The final layer of the seal… it has finally loosened…"
Perhaps the pain from replacing the ghost bone was so intense that the fifth layer of the seal, which was meant to remain locked for an unknown time, had been triggered prematurely.
"The final layer of the seal?" Gu Qingcheng looked at Bai Ran's contorted features, her heart aching.
She didn't know about the ancient seal within Bai Ran. All she knew was that this child, who should have been pampered and loved by her parents, was enduring unbearable torment once again.
"Yes." Long Jinhan gazed at Bai Ran's face, his long fingers reaching out, wanting to smooth her furrowed brow.
Gu Qingcheng, though filled with questions, saw that the man was unwilling to explain and asked no further.
"Creeak—" The door opened. She beckoned to the people in the courtyard. "It's over."
Everyone turned and rushed into the room.
The first thing they saw was the floor covered in crimson, a horrifying sight that made them gasp. Then, a figure in black sat on the bed.
"Your Excellency!" Jing Feng and Dongfang Wuji exclaimed, their eyes widening at the new presence in the room.
Xiao Zi hurried into the room. "Hey, how's the little one? The bone replacement is finished, why does she still look so uncomfortable?"
Long Jinhan glanced at them before returning his gaze to Bai Ran. "The pain from replacing the ghost bone has stimulated the sealed enchantment."
"Your Excellency, could it be that the final layer of the seal within Miss Bai has been broken prematurely?" Jing Feng rushed forward, asking anxiously.
"Yes," Long Jinhan replied, his dark eyes dimming. He raised his hand, and a barrier immediately enveloped the entire room.
"Boom—!" A ball of spiritual energy, its origin unknown, slammed into the barrier, creating a violent gust of wind.
Everyone startled, turning sharply to see the already dilapidated courtyard reduced to ruins.
Dust swirled in the air, revealing dense ranks of Divine Realm soldiers not far away.
At the forefront stood two Holy Lords: the Pavilion Master of the Demon Extermination Pavilion and the Palace Master of Tuolu Palace.
"Not good! It's the Divine Realm people!" Xiao Zi gritted her teeth and shielded the unconscious Bai Ran.
"Damn it… they found us so quickly…" Jiang Ye and Zhuque stood side by side, glaring at the approaching enemy.
Bai Ran was unconscious. If she were harmed, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Dongfang Wuji, take Xiao Diao and protect Gu Qingcheng, and leave the Divine Realm!" Jing Feng shouted to him, his expression grave.
"Alright! I'm going now!" Dongfang Wuji nodded solemnly.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Diao immediately understood the seriousness of the situation. She leaped from Xiao Zi's arms and onto Dongfang Wuji's shoulder.
"Don't worry about Bai Ran, she'll be fine. Hurry, come with me!"
Dongfang Wuji sidestepped, and with the others providing cover, he broke through the wall at the back of the courtyard.
"Protect her!" Gu Qingcheng cast a worried glance at Bai Ran before gritting her teeth and running towards the rear.
In times of crisis, she couldn't afford to be emotional. Gu Qingcheng knew her strength was limited, so she didn't linger, following Dongfang Wuji at a brisk pace.
High above, the Pavilion Master of the Demon Extermination Pavilion looked down, his gaze sweeping over everyone before landing on the several fox tails behind Xiao Zi.
"Is that… a Nine-Tailed Fox?"
His eyes shifted from indifference to excitement and madness. "He's still alive!"
"Let's agree now, this fox is mine!"
He turned to the Palace Master of Tuolu Palace beside him, a murderous intent flashing across his face.
However, the Palace Master of Tuolu Palace paid no attention to Xiao Zi, his gaze fixed on the man sitting on the bed behind them.