chapter 08

The air in the small room was charged with energy. Shen Lingzu stood resolutely before the treatment cabin, her hand pressed firmly against its transparent glass. Her eyes glowed with intense determination. She raised her voice, addressing the emptiness:

"Xiao Hong, let's begin."

Her voice echoed through the sterile hospital room, but Shen Lingzu felt Xiao Hong's silent support through their shared thoughts. His presence was a comfort, a constant reassurance. The spiritual bond between her and her spirit beast was undeniable. Ever since she'd discovered Xiao Hong's existence, she couldn't imagine life without him—it was as though he had become an integral part of her soul.

A sudden gust of warm and cold winds swirled around her slender frame. Behind her, a massive, flaming red bird began to materialize, growing to a size almost rivaling that of an elephant. Its presence dominated the small medical chamber as its glowing wings enveloped Shen Lingzu protectively.

Shen Lingzu felt no fear or anxiety. On the contrary, she was enveloped by a profound sense of safety. The embrace of Xiao Hong's fiery wings reassured her completely.

Even if his form had changed, she recognized him instinctively. He was her spirit beast, her constant companion, and she knew he would never harm her—he would protect her from anything.

In this world, spirit beasts were invisible to ordinary people. Only the strongest Guardians and Guides could perceive the spiritual companions of others. This, however, only applied when their hosts weren't using their powers. The moment a Guardian or Guide activated their abilities, the spirit beast's form became visible, even capturable through advanced technology.

The sight of Shen Lingzu summoning Xiao Hong was breathtaking—otherworldly. It was an event that would soon shock the entire world, as scientists and other people of high status in the empire alike would witness it through a high-resolution recording, which included every moment of Hua Rou's husband's treatment.

The phoenix looked like a creature straight out of legend. Its crimson feathers shimmered, the golden edges of its plumage radiating warmth and brilliance akin to sunlight. Its vast wings, adorned with luminous patterns, spread out with an ethereal grace, and atop its head sat a crown of fiery gold, so intricate that it appeared to be a genuine crown rather than mere feathers.

This was no ordinary bird. It was a living embodiment of power and unparalleled beauty.

Shen Lingzu took a step toward the cabin. The phoenix's energy surged outward, bathing the room in a fiery yet harmless glow. If anyone else were present, they would have felt an invigorating warmth—an essence that pulsed with life itself. Unfortunately, the only other person in the room was unconscious, entirely unaware of the extraordinary spectacle unfolding around him.

As Shen Lingzu prepared for the treatment, she felt Xiao Hong's thoughts guiding her, instructing her on how to channel her powers effectively. After all, this was her first time acting as a guide. While she knew that her spiritual energy was similar to her dual elemental abilities of fire and ice, the exact mechanics of their application in healing remained unclear to her.

Thankfully, Xiao Hong was an ancient and wise spirit beast who possessed profound knowledge of the spiritual world—knowledge that even modern scientists struggled to comprehend. With his guidance and Shen Lingzu's sharp intuition, she quickly grasped the process and memorized every step required for the treatment.

In theory, it wasn't overly complicated: she had to infuse her healing spiritual energy into the patient's spiritual sea, locate the damaged areas, eliminate any violent residual energy, and repair the fractures.

The root cause of many casualties during the wars against the Zerg and rogue spirit beasts was the violent spiritual energy left behind in the sentinels' spiritual seas. These battles left traces of hostile energy that clung to their souls, causing instability and, in extreme cases, leading to spiritual berserk states.

Without timely treatment, the berserk energy would eventually consume its host, detonating violently and causing catastrophic destruction to everything nearby.

Traditionally, sentinels were given tranquilizing injections after battles to suppress this violent energy temporarily. However, these measures only delayed the inevitable, often making the residual energy more potent over time, leading to an accelerated demise.

Now, Shen Lingzu focused intently on her task. She extended her spiritual energy into Hua Rou's husband's fractured spiritual sea, which resembled a raging storm—waves of chaotic energy clashing violently, devoid of water but filled with unstable power.

Carefully, Shen Lingzu enveloped the storm with her calming presence. Slowly, the turbulence subsided, as if the raging sea had been tamed by a gentle, soothing force. This was the hallmark of a Guide—their energies inherently tranquil and restorative.

Methodically, she mended every damaged area within the spiritual sea, leaving no fissure or crack unhealed. Her energy devoured every trace of violent spiritual residue it encountered, a trait Xiao Hong explained was unique to her as the only Guide bound to a phoenix spirit beast.

While her work seemed flawless, Shen Lingzu was far from unscathed. Her body trembled, drained of energy. As this was her first attempt at using her powers, and given that her patient was in the advanced stages of spiritual deterioration, the toll on her was immense.

With teeth clenched, she persevered through the final stages of the treatment. Xiao Hong, sensing her struggle, channeled his energy into her, his presence unwavering.

"I won't stop now! This has to work!I can do it, Shen Lingzu declared aloud, her voice filled with resolve. She could feel Xiao Hong reassuring her, silently telling her he was there to support her. A faint smile touched her lips.

No longer alone, she felt emboldened.

Focusing every ounce of her remaining strength, Shen Lingzu delivered one last surge of healing energy. The room filled with a fiery light that emanated from her, engulfing her completely.

Moments later, the light dimmed, and Xiao Hong's majestic form vanished.

Shen Lingzu staggered, her gaze fixed on the person in the cabin. Seeing the life return to his face, she finally let herself collapse beside the treatment cabin. Completely drained, she struggled to breathe, sweat dripping from her brow.

"Xiao Hong... are you okay?" She whispered weakly.

A faint response echoed in her spiritual sea, assuring her of his well-being. Relieved, Shen Lingzu exhaled slowly.

At that moment, the door burst open violently. Her aunt, Hua Rou, rushed in, flanked by a team of doctors. Shen Lingzu froze, staring at the crowd in disbelief.

"I'm done for this time," she thought. Of course, she had been in the room, and no one would believe she hadn't done something to cause the patient's recovery. But she wouldn't admit it, not even under torture. If she didn't confess, there was nothing these people could do, even if they were certain she was involved. Without evidence, she could still escape.

The more Shen Lingzu repeated this thought in her head, the more her expression eased and her fear subsided. But the poor girl didn't know that all her heroic actions had been captured by the best 3D camera in this world.

When Hua Ru entered, her eyes saw only her husband. She rushed toward him as the medical capsule opened automatically. It naturally did so whenever the patient's recovery reached 100%.

The moment Hua Ru reached the capsule, her eyes met a pair of gentle brown eyes, and her voice caught in her throat.

Her husband... The husband she loved with all her heart, who had been in a coma for so long. She had always dreamed of seeing those brown eyes open and looking at her with tenderness again, but it had never happened. She had even lost hope that it ever would. Yet here they were, those loving eyes she remembered, gazing at her once more.

Tears began streaming down Hua Ru's grayish-blue eyes. She couldn't stop crying. Hua Ru, with her slightly bluish-gray hair matching her eyes, had always been a stunningly beautiful guide. But years of suffering had left her looking dull and faded. Yet now, even though her tears were mingled with sorrow and joy, her beauty seemed to return with the happiness and smile that graced her face.

Her husband, looking at her, said slowly, "Don't... don't cry, Ru Ru... you... you look ugly when you cry."

His voice was weak and halting, having just awoken from a long coma, but Hua Ru understood him. Her husband had always teased her with this line every time she cried. He was back.

She nodded, wiping her tears away, and smiled at him.

Before the couple could enjoy their romantic reunion, an elderly man with long white hair and red eyes interrupted them impatiently. "Madam Feng, please step aside. Let us examine the patient quickly."

If he had any less composure, he might have pushed her aside and taken over the patient's body himself. Of course, he was frantic. Even without examining the patient, the medical reports they had just received from the cabin and other instruments showed that the patient's spiritual sea had recovered by 100%. This was utterly impossible, even with guidance. Everyone knew the highest guidance rate in the entire empire for decades had been only 90%.

All the doctors and scientists in the room were both excited and anxious, eager to conduct a detailed examination of the patient and witness the results firsthand. Who had the patience to watch a romantic reunion between this elderly couple? Well, their research was far more important.

Hua Ru, also worried about her husband's sudden recovery, stepped aside to allow the doctors to do their work.

Only then did she notice Shen Lingzu lying on the floor in a pitiful state. Her beautiful face was pale, drenched in sweat, and even from a distance, one could see her trembling muscles.

"Xiao Ai, sweetheart, what's wrong? Why are you sitting on the floor like this?" Hua Ru hurried over, supporting her as she spoke in a concerned tone.

The corner of Shen Lingzu's lips twitched slightly.

Aunt Hua Ru, don't think I didn't notice how there was no one else in your eyes but Uncle just now. You even walked past me without seeing me. She thought this to herself but said nothing to Hua Ru. She knew her aunt must be very worried about her husband's health and didn't want to embarrass her.

Of course, she must be deeply anxious about her husband's condition. She had suffered so much because of it.

As Hua Ru helped Shen Lingzu onto the seat by the wall, a shocked voice came from one of the doctors behind them.

"Impossible...

Impossible! ...It's normal!"

"The patient's spiritual sea… His spiritual sea indicates… full recovery?!"

The entire room fell silent in an instant, leaving only the sound of heavy, irregular breathing...