"Rescue?" Li Xun raised his eyebrows and thought of the jade slips that Li Ming had sent to him before, and asked, "Isn't this the reason you sent me a message and asked me to come back?"
"Right."
Li Ming took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "Brother, I really can't persuade our parents anymore. They are determined to save the child."
"Child?"
"Where did the child come from?" Li Xun asked, confused.
"It's a long story."
Li Ming didn't hide anything and began to speak slowly.
As he narrated the story, Li Xun began to understand the cause and effect of this incident.
About a month ago, a young couple arrived in Tianyuan City. They were evidently strong, but their bodies were covered in blood, and they had a child with them.
Upon their arrival in Tianyuan City, they made their way directly to the Li clan. They were not seeking anyone else but Li Xun and Li Ming's mother, Xiao Wanrong. According to the couple, they, like Xiao Wanrong, were members of the Xiao clan.
However, the Xiao family they belonged to had recently encountered some trouble, and the couple had fled with their child to escape danger.
Although the couple themselves were relatively unharmed, their child was critically ill.
The couple requested Xiao Wanrong and Li Wuyou to temporarily care for the child while they embarked on a journey overseas to search for a magical remedy to save their child's life.
It had been over a month since their departure, and there had been no news from them.
During this time, the child had remained in the Li family's care, and Li Wuyou and Xiao Wanrong had been using their own energy to keep the child alive. However, this was not a sustainable solution.
If this continued, there was a high likelihood that the child would not survive, and it would take a toll on both Li Wuyou and Xiao Wanrong.
What worried Li Ming even more was that the couple who sought their help had displayed extraordinary power despite their injuries, leaving behind a daunting aura. It was hard to fathom how powerful the Xiao family behind them might be.
If their adversaries pursued them and the Li family refused to return their child, it was highly unlikely that the Li family would escape unscathed.
Li Ming, as an ordinary person, didn't want to witness the downfall of his family. Therefore, after several unsuccessful attempts to convince his parents, and seeing their indifference, he had no choice but to call Li Xun back, hoping that Li Xun could persuade their parents to reconsider their decision to save the child.
"Why does this scenario sound... a little familiar?" Li Xun raised his hand and rubbed his chin.
Could it be that his parents had saved a future emperor destined to rule eternally?
With this thought in mind, Li Xun turned over his hand and retrieved a jade slip.
Affection. After encountering Qin Xueyi again in the Yuanhuang Secret Realm last time, Li Xun had asked her for a communication jade slip. Initially, he had just wanted a means of communication when needed, but today seemed like the perfect opportunity to use it. He wanted to inquire whether Qin Xueyi had any knowledge of the recent events in the Li family.
After all, Qin Xueyi was someone who had experienced a rebirth.
Although they hadn't openly discussed it yet, Li Xun had already made an educated guess. Therefore, he decided to ask indirect questions to see if Qin Xueyi had any information about a world-class powerhouse emerging from the Li clan. "That's right."
Li Xun raised his head and asked casually, "What's the child's name?"
"Xiao Fan," Li Ming responded. "Your surname isn't Shi, is it?"
Li Xun chuckled and shook his head. How could the couple have the surname Shi when they were of the same race as his mother?
Soon, he composed a message and sent it.
It didn't take long for Li Xun's jade slip to flash, and Qin Xueyi responded promptly. As he read the message on the jade slip, his expression took on an intrigued look.
Qin Xueyi's response was concise.
She had never heard the name Xiao Fan before. However, as if a sense of unease had crept over her, Qin Xueyi sent another message, cautioning Li Xun to be wary of individuals named Xiao Chen. "Xiao Fan, Xiao Chen..."
Uttering these two names made Li Xun momentarily bewildered.
Both names felt significant, as if they were characters in a story.
"Well, never mind."
Li Xun shook his head, choosing not to dwell on it. Whether Xiao Chen or Xiao Fan, if nothing unusual occurred, they were potential investments for him.
"Let's go."
Li Xun waved to Li Ming and said, "Take me to see my parents."
"Of course!"
Li Ming nodded.
At the same time, within a concealed chamber, a complex array filled the space, shrouding it in mist and clouds. The room was permeated with a sacred aura, radiating divine light and surging divine power.
At the center of the secret chamber lay a one-foot-square pool. The water within was milky white and exceptionally clear, exuding an immensely rich aura.
In the pool lay a small figure, no more than three or four years old. The child lay motionless, with a pallid complexion, as if life had long departed from him.
There was no sign of vitality, and he resembled a lifeless piece of wood.
At this moment, each of the child's two arms had a hand resting on them. Those two individuals were Li Xun's parents, who had maintained this posture for over a month.
Every day, they continuously infused the child with their true energy to sustain his life.
The moment they let go, the child wouldn't survive for more than a quarter of an hour.
"Very well."
A soft sigh escaped.
Li Wuyou opened his eyes. His once vibrant eyes had dimmed considerably, and even a few strands of white hair had appeared at his temples.
He gazed lovingly at his wife before saying after careful contemplation, "It has been over a month. Perhaps there's truly nothing more we can do for this child."
Li Wuyou held a deep reverence for keeping promises, but he also understood that they had done all they could. Thus far, the young couple hadn't returned, and it was unrealistic to expect them to risk their lives for the child.
"Endure for three more days."
Xiao Wanrong murmured softly.
Though she hailed from the Xiao clan, her clan had long since declined. She had developed a genuine fondness for this child of her own race, whom she had met for the first time, and she wasn't willing to give up until the very last moment.
Moreover, she didn't believe that the young couple had deceived them. As a mother herself, she could sense the love the couple had for their child.
"Very well."
Li Wuyou nodded.
He cast a helpless glance at the child lying in the pool and said, "The child's bone marrow has been drained, and his body can no longer produce blood. To save him, we would need at least a hundred thousand years' worth of Holy Elixir or... the Heaven and Earth Creation Pill."
"These two things aren't something ordinary individuals can acquire. Madam, you should prepare yourself mentally."
"I understand."
Xiao Wanrong gazed lovingly at the child in the water and spoke softly.
Having said her piece, she turned her attention to the child.
Outside the secret chamber, the voice of Uncle Chen rang out, "Reporting to the Patriarch, the eldest son has returned and wishes to see you. Would the Patriarch like to receive him?"