In the blink of an eye, ten years passed within the Hundred Generations Book.
Originally, Jiang Qingyi was a Cultivator who couldn't even step into the Qi Cultivation Realm.
But now, Jiang Qingyi had reached the Golden Core Realm.
It had taken her a mere fourteen years to go from Qi Cultivation to the Golden Core Realm. Such talent was considered first-rate anywhere in the world.
Jiang Qingyi was now a Deacon of the Longquan Sword Sect.
Once Jiang Qingyi reached the Nascent Soul Realm, she could become an Elder of the Longquan Sword Sect.
In truth, this was only because the Longquan Sword Sect was a Major Sect.
Otherwise, in the wider world, a Nascent Soul Realm Cultivator was already capable of establishing their own Sect.
"COUGH COUGH COUGH... COUGH COUGH..."
On the bed, Xiao Mo coughed incessantly.
Xiao Mo's face was pale and his expression was terrible. He looked as if he didn't have long to live.
After Jiang Qingyi entered the Golden Core Realm, Xiao Mo no longer needed to use the Heaven-Continuing Technique on her at the cost of his own lifespan.
However, over the past ten years, every use of the Heaven-Continuing Technique had taken a massive toll on Xiao Mo.
Moreover, as Jiang Qingyi's Realm grew higher, Xiao Mo used the Heaven-Continuing Technique on her more frequently, and the cost to his lifespan grew more severe each time.
'At this point, I probably don't even have thirty years of life left. Even if I live for another thirty years, adding the previous fourteen... it still won't add up to more than forty-five years. I still won't reach the "fifty-year" limit imposed by the Hundred Generations Book.'
But did Xiao Mo regret it?
He couldn't possibly regret it.
If given another choice, Xiao Mo would still do the same thing.
Because without the Heaven-Continuing Technique, forget becoming a top-tier Sword Dao genius...
...Qingyi might not have even been able to set foot on the path of cultivation.
'The one thing I'm thankful for is that after every session, I've used a Technique to forcefully conceal my awful complexion. Plus, I go out on missions from time to time. Every time I get back, I intentionally dispel the concealing Magic to make my face look terrible. Otherwise, if Jiang Qingyi found out the truth... I don't even have to think about it; she'd rather die than let me use the Heaven-Continuing Technique on her again. She'd even blame herself to no end, and it would ultimately affect her Dao Heart. Then all my efforts would truly have been for nothing.'
Now, there was only one last thing Xiao Mo had yet to do.
'My body still has a little bit of combat strength. After all, with my Nascent Soul Realm, I can continue to protect Jiang Qingyi on her path. Once Qingyi enters the Nascent Soul Realm, I can finally do that last thing.'
"I just hope that when the time comes, Qingyi won't blame me."
Xiao Mo leaned against the bed, muttering to himself.
But just as he finished speaking, he couldn't help but shake his head with a smile.
'When that time comes, so what if Qingyi blames me? This is all just a life experience; Qingyi is just someone who doesn't really exist anyway. Once I leave the Hundred Generations Book, this "world" will end completely.'
Thinking of this, Xiao Mo truly felt a little reluctant to let go.
After all, the time he had spent living in the Hundred Generations Book was very real.
In over ten years, he and Qingyi had spent all their time together, and they had long since developed a bond like that of family.
"Sigh... I've gotten too invested... COUGH COUGH COUGH COUGH... COUGH COUGH..." Xiao Mo coughed several more times, each one more violent than the last.
Xiao Mo quickly grabbed the handkerchief from the bedside and covered his mouth.
The handkerchief was stained with crimson blood.
"Master..."
Just as Jiang Qingyi walked in carrying a bowl of medicine, she saw her master's violent coughing and hurried over.
"Master, are you alright..."
Jiang Qingyi placed the medicine on the bedside table and knelt by the bed, looking at her master with worry.
Over the past few years, her master's health had been getting progressively worse.
After she entered the Golden Core Realm, her master's Life Fire had become like a candle in the wind, looking as if it might be extinguished at any moment.
Jiang Qingyi didn't know the reason why.
Her master said he had been on a mission and his foundation had been injured.
At first, Jiang Qingyi had indeed believed him.
Because every time her master returned, his complexion was terrible, and he would go to the Medical Hall for treatment.
But gradually, Jiang Qingyi began to feel that something was not right.
Because no matter what mission her master went on, even a minor one, he would somehow run into some powerful expert who would injure him.
'Even if Master's luck is bad, it couldn't be *that* bad, could it?'
"I'm fine, don't worry." Xiao Mo secretly moved the handkerchief away.
But Jiang Qingyi still saw the bloodstains on it.
The young woman pressed her thin lips together tightly.
"Master, let me feed you your medicine." Jiang Qingyi picked up the medicine bowl.
"No need. It's not like your master has no hands. I can do it myself." Xiao Mo tried to take the medicine bowl, but Jiang Qingyi refused him.
"Just lie down, Master. Do you remember after the Tournament of New Disciples? I was injured, and you fed me medicine every day. Now that you're unwell, Master, it's only right that Qingyi feeds you."
"Alright then..." Seeing Jiang Qingyi's determined expression, Xiao Mo no longer refused.
After she finished feeding him the medicine, Jiang Qingyi helped Xiao Mo lie down slowly. "Rest well, Master. Don't worry, you're going to be alright."
"Don't worry, your master isn't going to die just yet. Besides, I haven't even seen you find a reliable Dao companion." Xiao Mo said with a smile.
"Master, don't make those kinds of jokes. A Dao companion... this disciple has no need for one."
Jiang Qingyi gave her master a playfully reproachful look, tucked him in, and then walked out with the medicine bowl.
But the moment Jiang Qingyi closed the door, her beautiful eyes narrowed. She placed the medicine bowl on the stone table in the courtyard and flew directly to the Medical Hall!