Chapter 184 | The Otherworld Journey That Starts From a Slime

“Xi Ya, next I'm going to guide you to expand your second major mana circulation route. If it hurts, make sure to tell me,” Zhang Ye said seriously.

“Mhm!” Xi Ya nodded, her eyes rimmed with red as she fought back the soreness in her nose.

She had never imagined that Zhang Ye would help her to such an extent.

How could she ever repay him?

What did she even have left to repay him with?!

Only herself...

As mana was injected into her body, Zhang Ye carefully navigated the blood vessels inside Xi Ya. Starting from the arteries and veins, he gradually expanded toward the capillaries. The injection of mana made Xi Ya feel warm all over, which was incredibly comfortable.

“Xi Ya, circulate the mana in your body along with mine. It might hurt a bit at first, so bear with it for a moment,” Zhang Ye said softly.

He knew that circulating mana would cause Xi Ya pain, but for now, she could only endure it.

Once the Vascular Mana Circulation Route was fully expanded, Xi Ya would be able to cultivate through her blood vessels, no longer having to endure the pain of meridian withering.

“Okay...” Xi Ya nodded and began to circulate her mana.

As the mana passed through her meridians, intense pain flared up. However, Xi Ya was already used to it, and not a single trace of pain showed on her small face.

Her mana began to follow Zhang Ye's, surging toward her blood vessels.

“Remember this feeling. Once the second major circulation route is connected to your mana source, you won't need to cultivate through your meridians anymore,” Zhang Ye said as he carefully guided Xi Ya's mana, expanding her vascular circulation route.

Soon, only the capillaries distributed around her mana source remained.

But at this moment, the mana inside Xi Ya's body was nearly depleted. Even though her mana recovery speed was extremely fast, it couldn't keep up with the rate of consumption.

Seeing this, Zhang Ye immediately injected his own mana into Xi Ya's body to replenish hers.

The moment Zhang Ye's mana entered her body, Xi Ya's face flushed red.

It was... so comfortable...

“Ying~”

She could endure intense pain, but she couldn't resist this feeling of comfort. She couldn't help but let out a soft whimper.

With her mana gradually replenished, the vascular circulation route was finally fully expanded.

Time elapsed: two hours!

One had to know that there were over one hundred billion blood vessels of various sizes in the human body. If all these blood vessels were connected into a single line, the total length would be ninety-six thousand kilometers, enough to circle the Earth more than twice!

Therefore, Zhang Ye had to find the most efficient circulation route among them.

This required an extremely deep understanding of the human body, incredibly precise control over mana, and an abundant reserve of mana.

To expand the Vascular Mana Circulation Route for Xi Ya, the amount of mana Zhang Ye consumed over those two hours was three times the mana reserve of a Three-star Saint-tier!

Had his mana recovery speed not been exceptionally fast, he wouldn't have been able to sustain such consumption.

Fortunately, he succeeded in the end.

“The Vascular Mana Circulation Route is fully expanded. Now, try cultivating using this route,” Zhang Ye said.

Hearing this, Xi Ya nodded.

Because Zhang Ye had guided her so carefully and taught her step-by-step, Xi Ya quickly memorized the Vascular Mana Circulation Route. She only needed to follow the residual path of mana left in her blood vessels to circulate it.

She began to try on her own.

At first, she felt bursts of pain.

This was because she was still subconsciously trying to circulate her mana through her meridians; a habit built over many years couldn't be changed overnight.

However, after Zhang Ye's reminder, Xi Ya realized her mistake. The mana she drew from her mana source completely bypassed her meridians and entered her blood vessels.

Then, the mana began to flow along the newly expanded circulation route, gradually spreading throughout her entire body. Finally, it completed a full cycle!

It was a success!

Xi Ya opened her eyes, her large pupils filled with pleasant surprise.

It didn't hurt... It didn't hurt at all...

Although the cultivation speed of the Vascular Mana Circulation Route was slower than that of normal meridians, it was still more than twice as fast as cultivating through her withered meridians!

The key was... there was absolutely no pain!

“You might not be used to it at first, but after cultivating for a while longer and getting familiar with this route, your cultivation speed will increase as well,” Zhang Ye said softly. “Next is the expansion of the skin mana circulation route, which requires the assistance of sound magic.”

“I'll teach you a song. Pay attention to how the mana circulates in my throat.”

His sound magic could assist others in cultivating, and this method could also be learned by others, allowing them to cultivate autonomously just by singing.

Of course, the effect would be slightly weaker than if he sang himself. This was because his mana could serve as a source of cultivation for others, whereas others couldn't do the same. Therefore, when others sang using sound magic, they could only assist their own cultivation to speed it up, rather than helping others cultivate.

But it was better than nothing. What Xi Ya needed most right now was to increase her cultivation speed.

Looking at Zhang Ye, who was being incredibly gentle at this moment, Xi Ya nodded softly. The waves of emotion in her heart simply couldn't be stilled.

Zhang Ye looked over at Ke Lan and Ke Ling. The two nodded to him, already prepared to record the mana circulation method.

Zhang Ye took a deep breath and slowly opened his mouth.

Without any accompaniment, he sang a cappella. Yet, the clear, penetrating singing voice instantly captivated everyone present.

“The brightest star in the night sky... Can you hear clearly...”

“The loneliness and... sighs in the heart of the one looking up...”

“The brightest star in the night sky... Can you remember...”

“The figure that once walked with me, disappearing into the wind...”

The singing pierced straight through their souls.

At this moment, in the eyes of Lina and Xi Ya, there was nothing else but Zhang Ye.

The song continued, so ethereal, so melodious.

“I pray to have a transparent soul, and eyes that can shed tears~”

“Give me the courage to believe again, oh, to cross over lies and embrace you~”

“Whenever I can't find the meaning of existence, whenever I get lost in the dark night~”

“Oh, brightest star in the night sky, please guide me to get closer to you~~~”

His singing was just like a guiding star in the dark night—so bright, so warm.

Xi Ya's eyes gradually grew dazed.

You are like that star in the night sky, illuminating me and guiding my path forward.

Thank you, Brother Ye...

I will spend my entire life to repay you...

Forever... and ever...

The melody ended, and the song ceased.

Zhang Ye looked at Xi Ya and smiled. “Does it sound good?”

“Mhm!” Xi Ya nodded her small head, her voice trembling. “Brother Ye... what is this song called?”

“The Brightest Star in the Night Sky,” Zhang Ye smiled slightly, rubbing Xi Ya's small head. “In a bit, I'll teach you the magic sound techniques for the entire song. In the future, you can sing while cultivating.”

“It will bring you strength.”

“From now on, pain will leave you. I will walk this path with you.”

Then he raised his head and looked at Lina. “I'll walk with you all!”

His smile was so gentle, shining like light into Xi Ya's heart, dispersing the shadows that had been hovering there for so long.

Drip... drip...

Tears slid down.

Xi Ya's small face was already drenched in tears, looking like a pear blossom in the rain.

Unable to hold back any longer, she threw her arms around Zhang Ye's waist.

She wept loudly, crying with all her might.

This was the first time she had cried so uninhibitedly, so recklessly.

“Brother Ye, thank you... thank you...”

She repeated those words over and over. The emotions in her heart could not be suppressed, turning into a torrential flood of tears.

She swore again and again with her life, taking oaths upon her soul.

She absolutely could not let Zhang Ye down!

She absolutely could not fail to live up to everything Zhang Ye had done for her!

“Brother Ye...” Lina also stepped forward, gently tugging at the corner of Zhang Ye's clothes, her tears already overflowing like a burst dam.

Zhang Ye turned back and smiled. “Don't worry, I'll solve your constitution problem very soon. I won't make you wait too long.”

“I know. What I wanted to ask was...” Lina bit her lower lip slightly. “Brother Ye, why are you so good to us?”

“Why are you so good to everyone, no matter who they are?”

Hearing this, Zhang Ye laughed heartily. “Maybe it's because I like lively crowds.”

“I hope you all can stay by my side a bit longer.”

“I also hope that when I stand at the peak, there won't be no one beside me.”

“Tsk, you have to know, what people fear most... is loneliness.”

Hearing this, Lina's gaze gradually grew resolute, and she nodded her small head vigorously. “Don't worry, Brother Ye, I'll stay by your side for a lifetime!”

Zhang Ye was taken aback, then laughed heartily as he ruffled her short golden hair. Yet, she smiled extremely happily.

Watching this scene, Ke Lan was slightly moved. She discreetly glanced at Ke Ling, only to find that Ke Ling was still expressionless, save for her pupils slightly dilating and contracting.