Gu Ruoyun’s heart shook violently and she clenched her fist in a tight grip.

　　Zixie… This fellow has always put my best interests first yet he never tells me anything! A few years ago, he had not hesitated to risk his life in exchange for my own. Now, he has been revived with great difficulty and yet he’s still only thinking of me.

　　What have I done in this life to deserve a friend who would give up everything he has for me and would even sacrifice his own life?

　　“Master, Zixie did not tell you this but during the past few days, he had been using his own powers to suppress that power source within his body. He had been waiting for himself to break through to the rank of a Martial Saint before he absorbed that power source completely. That way, he would then return to his peak abilities! However, no one expected that power source to suddenly become uncontrollable which has caused him to turn out this way.”

　　Gu Ruoyun fell silent for a moment before asking, “Yunyao, do you have any way to help Zixie? If this continues, he may die!”

　　Zixie has already left me once. This time, no matter what, I won’t let him leave me again.

　　“Master,” Yunyao hesitated for a moment before she continued to speak, “There’s one way but you’ll have to use your mental energy to enter Zixie’s body and help him seal the power source in his body! However, there are a few flaws in this method – once Zixie reaches the rank of a Martial Saint, he would not be able to absorb the power source immediately. He would only be able to break the seal progressively!”

　　“That isn’t much.” Gu Ruoyun raised her eyes and spoke with determination in her gaze, “Even though I’ve grown to my current state, it was all due to Zixie’s help. If he had not been around, I might have already died a few times over. However, I can’t only rely on him constantly. Even if it’s impossible for him to return to his peak in an instant… So what? I can stay by his side and accompany him as he slowly grows.”

　　“However,” Yunyao paused for a moment then continued to speak, “Master, you and Zixie are tied together by a contract so only your mental energy can be safely used to enter his body but this is also dangerous for you! You are still at the rank of a high-level Martial Honor. ¹ If you force your way in to help him seal that source of power, there’s a high chance that the power might snap back at you and cause your mental energy to collapse!”

　　A collapse in mental energy would mean that, from then on, Gu Ruoyun would become an imbecilic fool!

　　This was Yunyao’s greatest worry!

　　If Gu Ruoyun had reached the level of a Martial Supreme by now, she might have stood a chance to do this without risk. However, she was only at the level of a high-level Martial Honor and would not have enough power to withstand the energy from the power source! At the end of the day, she might not be able to even save Zixie while she herself would end up in a complete disaster.

　　“Zixie is the first friend that I’ve encountered in this life.” Gu Ruoyun lowered her gaze and looked at the blood-covered boy. A light, the meaning of which no one understands, flashed in her eyes as she said, “He has protected me for so many years and now it’s finally my turn to protect him! No matter what, I cannot watch him slowly lose his life. Even if I fail this time, at least I’ve given him everything I’ve got.”

　　The Vermillion Bird’s eyes moved and she stared at Gu Ruoyun in shock.

　　I had formed a contract with this woman only for the sake of my friends! Gu Ruoyun’s best interests had never in my heart at all.

　　Yet, this time, I feel as if I’ve been mistaken in my past convictions about her.

　　Humans… Not all of them seem to be completely wicked!

　　At the very least, this woman before me is willing to sacrifice herself for the sake of her contracted spiritual beast!

　　This sacrifice comes with a heavy price. If she fails , she would truly be turned into an idiot! Nevertheless, after knowing the consequences, she still chooses to do this… In this world, how many humans would make this kind of sacrifice for a spiritual beast?

　　“Perhaps my decision in following her is not a mistake.” The Vermillion Bird fell silent as she muttered to herself.

　　It was only at this very moment that she truly felt at peace with having Gu Ruoyun as her Master!