Many children, many blessings: Stealing the offspring of powerful figures to cultivate immortality.

No sooner had Pei Yunji finished speaking than the ear-piercing sound of a spear dragging across a stone slab echoed from the depths of the tomb passage.

The silver leaf on Jiang Yining's waist was getting hotter and hotter.

Pei Henian's ancestral blood, flowing along the veins of the leaf, spread outwards, even causing faint dark silver patterns to appear on her fair wrist bones.

"The Bloodline Recognition Mirror can no longer block bloodline identification. Let's go to the left-hand Cleansing Chamber first."

Pei Yunji flicked his sword tip.

The broken bricks on the wall revealed a narrow door engraved with weapon totems. "The Weapon Cleansing Stone can block the mirror light and temporarily conceal the aura of ancestral blood."

Jiang Yining picked up Jiang Siyue and walked inside without looking back.

"No matter how dangerous it is inside, it's still better than standing in front of a gun array as a target. Lou Xiaotian guards the tomb passage, and Pei Yunji examines the array patterns."

Fan Chenxin strode in after him, his black sword held horizontally at his side.

"Silver Leaf swallowed the ancestral blood, and the Buddha Lotus and Green Vine were also disturbed. I need to examine the array marks for you separately."

Lou Xiaotian tightened his grip on the gun barrel, but did not voice his objection.

"What do you want to check? How much breath do you need?"

Jiang Yining didn't stop walking.

"The old lotus mark on the shoulders and neck, the sealing pattern on the sides of the ribs, and the junction of silver leaves and green vines on the waist."

Fan Chenxin followed behind her, his gaze fixed on her back, which was wrapped in a wide robe. "Just follow the direction of the array marks, never touch the green vines, and don't chase after the Pei family's ancestral blood."

Jiang Yining placed Jiang Siyue on the stone platform and turned to look out the door.

"Lou Xiaotian and Pei Yunji guard the gate. Don't touch the stone gate in April. Fan Chenxin stays, but you are only allowed to look at the three places I just promised. Not an inch more."

Fan Chenxin lowered her eyes and deliberately placed the black knife on the farthest stone platform.

Lou Xiaotian stood outside the threshold, the green vine on his chest still stained with blood.

"If the Bridge of Life affects my heart meridian, you must stop immediately. Don't joke around with her Qi Sea."

"Tell Pei Yunji if you notice your dermal lining getting hot; don't try to tough it out on yourself."

Jiang Yining gave instructions through the door.

"Do it your way."

Lou Xiaotian answered decisively.

Pei Yunji raised his sword and pressed it against the door frame, spreading out dark silver ancestral energy.

"I will deduce the route of the spear formation and warn if any Xuanjia soldiers approach."

The stone door slowly closed, completely isolating the tomb fire outside.

The stone chamber was dimly lit, with only a pool of clear spring water shimmering faintly.

Fan Chenxin didn't rush forward; instead, she soaked a clean piece of medicinal cloth in the spring water.

"I need to remove the outer black robe to see if Qing Teng has worn the Buddha Lotus."

"Take off your outer robe. Aoki's clothes should only go up to below his right shoulder."

Jiang Yining sat on the edge of the washing platform with her back to him.

Her slender, white fingers casually untied the dark black belt.

The outer robe slipped down her shoulders, and the blue inner lapel was also torn open halfway, revealing most of her fair and delicate shoulders and neck.

The pale blue vine pattern meandered down from the collarbone, passing right through the dark gold lotus petal left by Fan Chenxin, and then disappeared into the fabric at the side of the body.

The gold and blue hues intertwined on her soft, white skin, exuding a breathtakingly alluring beauty.

Fan Chenxin's breathing suddenly became heavy.

The damp medicated cloth was applied to her shoulders and neck, and the cool spring water slid down her swan-like neck.

The wound on his hand, where the Buddha's bone was embedded, was still bleeding.

As he wiped, the temperature of his fingertips was frighteningly high, even through the medicated cloth.

His warm breath brushed against her neck, and her unique, crisp woody scent filled his nostrils.

"The green vine borrowed the path, but did not absorb the Buddha's breath."

Fan Chenxin's Adam's apple bobbed, and his voice became terribly hoarse.

He stared at the swan neck, wishing he could bite it off and tear off the green vine pattern.

But he could only restrain himself and clench the cloth tightly.

Jiang Yining slightly raised her right arm, revealing the marks on her ribs.

"Continue the investigation; Buddhist breath is not allowed to enter the meridians."

The medicated cloth slid down the vine pattern to the side of the waist.

Fan Chenxin's hand stopped in mid-air.

"I need to pull the fabric open two inches more so I can see the boundary."

"You're only allowed to pull the fabric, don't touch the leaf heart."

The fabric was pulled open, revealing the complete dark gold lotus petal at the waist.

The green vines cut through the edge, forming a nearly transparent bridge beneath the skin.

The shimmering of the slender bridge was exactly the same as the heartbeat of the towering building outside the gate.

A ray of Buddha's light from Fan Chenxin stopped above the thin bridge.

"There's another hidden layer to the root protection contract; your vine lock isn't completely sealed off."

Jiang Yining glanced down at it.

"The vine lock can stop him from burning his source energy, so why can't it stop this?"

"This bridge is beyond his control."

Fan Chenxin leaned close, his gaze climbing up her waistline. "When the 'Slaying Root Spear' falls, the rules of the ancient tomb will use this bridge to forcibly switch your positions. At that time, whether he wants to die or not, whether your vine lock is still there or not, will be irrelevant."

Jiang Yining's eyes turned cold.

"You mean, if Shi Gen really stabs me, he'll be forcibly dragged over to take the bullet for me?"

"Yes."

Fan Chenxin leaned close to her ear, his breath hot, "If I use the Buddha bone to probe inside, perhaps I can find a way to sever the transfer."

Jiang Yining grabbed his wrist with her other hand.

The Divine Tree of Myriad Spirits directly shattered the nascent ray of Buddhist light.

"We agreed to only examine the marks, and not to risk the Buddha's relics."

"That life-saving bridge will make him die in your place, and I can't turn a blind eye."

Fan Chenxin grasped her hand in return.

He had just seen enough of her and Lou Xiaotian crossing the wood marrow in the mirror, and now he could no longer suppress his anger.

"I don't want anyone to die in my place, including you."

Jiang Yining pressed his hand back onto the washing platform.

She pressed her fingertips firmly against the wound on his Buddha bone, her tone domineering, "Lou Xiaotian doesn't need to prove anything with his death, and you don't need to cover his vine pattern with a deeper Buddha seal. It's enough that you've accompanied me this far."

Fan Chenxin stared at her steadily, and the restless Buddhist light in his palm finally subsided.

"I heard you were crossing the wood marrow, and I'm so jealous I want to kill someone."

He gently stroked her wrist bone with his thumb, his frankness direct.

Suddenly, a strange, indistinct cry came from outside the door from a firefly.

Jiang Siyue whispered a scolding to the big red chicken by pressing her ear against the crack in the door.

Suddenly, a screeching sound came from the top of the stone chamber.

A scout in black armor smashed through the stone trough, his spear, wreathed in bluish-white soul fire, aimed straight for the silver leaf at Jiang Yining's waist.

Fan Chenxin reacted extremely quickly.

He ripped off his dark outer robe, wrapping it tightly around her bare shoulders and back, and then pulled her into his arms.

Without any hesitation, he grabbed the tip of the spear with his bare left hand, and the Soul Flame instantly scorched his palm.

"Close the meridian on the right side, and don't let the gunfire touch the bridge of life."

He swung the black knife out with a backhand motion.

The dark gold blade pierced straight through the face of the armored scout.

The scout screamed and exploded, scattering shards of armor all over the ground.

The stone door was pushed open from the outside.

Lou Xiaotian confirmed at a glance that Jiang Yining's clothes were intact before holding the Overlord Spear horizontally in front of him.

"Did the scout encounter the Protectorate? Why is the Bridge of Life suddenly so bright?"

The transparent bridge of life now shone brightly with a blue light, its other end piercing straight into Lou Xiaotian's heart.

Fan Chenxin still held Jiang Yining in her arms, coldly meeting Lou Xiaotian's gaze.

"This isn't a hickey. Ning'er, this is a death pact he made with his life for you."