Chapter 16: Mysteries of Guixu

As Chen Jiuzhang rushed down the mountain with the fully assembled Celestial Master Token in hand, he arrived just in time to see Shen Qingluan pierced through the shoulder by the claw of a giant shikigami. Her entire body was hoisted into the air.

Despite her pale face, a stubborn smile lingered on her lips. Her bloodied hand still clutched the fragment of the Imperial Jade Seal with unyielding resolve.

"Qingluan!"Chen Jiuzhang felt his heart clench tightly.

The Celestial Master Token flared with blinding golden light like an enraged dragon, slicing through the mist and severing the shikigami's claw in an instant.

As Shen Qingluan fell, Chen Jiuzhang leapt forward and caught her firmly in his arms.Her body was limp, warm blood soaking through his robes.

"Does it hurt?"he asked, voice trembling, as he gently wiped the blood from the corner of her lips with his thumb.

Shen Qingluan rested her head against his chest, listening to his pounding heartbeat.She gave a weak smile.

"Is your heart racing because you're afraid I'll die,or because you're worried no one will help you solve the secrets of the Guixu Secret Realm?"

"Both,"he replied, pulling her closer.

The healing power of the Celestial Master Token slowly flowed from his palm into her body.He felt her trembling eyelashes brush against his wrist, and her pain-tightened frame slowly began to relax.

In that moment, the clash of weapons and the howls of monsters around them faded into a blur—only the warmth of the woman in his arms and the sound of his thunderous heartbeat remained.

"Hey hey hey! Can you two save the romance for later?"

Zhang Chengying waved half a peachwood sword while fending off more shikigami.

"At least wait until we finish the fight!"

Su Nian, wielding only a fractured bell, had her chains wrapped around a shikigami's neck.

"Cousin, Sister Qingluan's wound hasn't healed yet—focus!"

Old Wu turned the burning Prophecy Scroll into a wall of fire, trapping several shikigami—but suddenly, his expression changed drastically.

"Watch out! The altar's disturbance has summoned the Gatekeeper Beast of Guixu!"

Before he finished speaking, the ground exploded open.

A giant beast, covered in bronze scales, burst forth.A chain-wrapped horn coiled atop its head, and every breath it took exhaled foul black mist.

Chen Jiuzhang gently laid Shen Qingluan behind a massive stone, but just as he rose to fight, she grabbed his wrist.

"Jiuzhang… that beast's weakness is…"Shen Qingluan coughed violently, blood splashing onto the back of his hand."It's under its reverse scale… only the combined power of the Celestial Master Token and the Imperial Jade Seal can…"

"I understand."Chen Jiuzhang held her hand in return, feeling her fingertips growing cold."Wait for me."

As he turned, the Celestial Master Token and his birthmark erupted with brilliant light.Behind him, the phantoms of the Twenty-Eight Constellations rose again.

Shen Qingluan watched his retreating figure with unwavering eyes, pressing the Jade Seal fragment to her chest, silently gathering her remaining power—ready to strike when the moment called for it.