Chapter 36: That was close... Has my consciousness returned? White Tiger! Look out!

The four divine beasts shielded Li Muchen and everyone else behind them. Li Muchen hurriedly pulled Empress Dowager Dou and Li Qingyan into the protective circle.

"Do not be afraid; I am here to protect you. As long as I live, no one shall harm you."

Elsewhere, the battle had already begun. The four divine beasts were locked in combat with the tiger demon’s faction and the cultivators of Green Wood Mountain, the skirmish raging in the air. While both sides appeared evenly matched, Li Muchen could faintly discern that the movements of his four divine beasts had slowed significantly.

This change did not escape the notice of their enemies.

"Look!" one shouted. "The four demon beasts are slowing down. It seems they are indeed severely injured. Hold steady and keep the pressure on them. Let’s wear them down; it will minimize our own casualties."

"Agreed—that is the plan."

The tiger demons and the Green Wood Mountain cultivators began to pull their punches, deliberately prolonging the engagement to exhaust the four beasts. They knew that once these guardians fell, the mortals would be at their mercy. Hu Bai believed their strategy was a masterstroke, unaware that this was exactly the outcome Li Muchen had orchestrated.

Following Li Muchen’s prior instructions, the four beasts had begun to feign a further decline in their cultivation halfway through the fight. The goal was to lure the enemy into a protracted battle, as every extra moment bought a glimmer of hope for Li Muchen’s party. All their hopes now rested on Yun Qing.

Li Muchen hurried to Yun Qing’s side, no longer concerned about interrupting his breakthrough. He urged him anxiously, "Yun Qing—Master—?! How much longer will this take? The monsters are at our doorstep. If you don't break through now, we are all going to die here! Oh, damn it!"

Li Muchen called out repeatedly, desperate for Yun Qing to hear him and wake up. But at this moment, Yun Qing’s primordial spirit was under immense pressure, like a balloon on the verge of bursting. The vast surge of spiritual energy in his dantian was relentlessly pounding against his spirit, yet it remained stuck at a single point—a blocked meridian—unable to break through. Despite his best efforts, he could not force the energy past this obstruction. If it remained trapped there much longer, his body would rupture from the internal pressure.

Unaware of this internal struggle, Li Muchen only saw that Yun Qing had lost all sense of self, hearing not a single word. Even as the world outside tore itself asunder, Yun Qing remained seated cross-legged, motionless, not even blinking an eye.

Li Muchen was frantic. As a mere mortal, he understood nothing of cultivation. He could not tell if Yun Qing’s condition was favorable or dire. With no other options, he continued to call out, hoping to rouse him.

Deep within his consciousness, Yun Qing felt as if he were in a sealed chamber where the oxygen was slowly running out. His awareness was fading. If he lost consciousness completely, the blocked spiritual energy would surely shatter his body. Forget becoming a Medical God; he would lose his life entirely.

Just as his consciousness grew dim, he suddenly heard a familiar voice.

"Yun Qing! My dear Master! How long until you wake up? Hey—you haven't fallen asleep, have you? Big brother? Father?! Stop sleeping and wake up! If you don't wake up, I’m going to stick you with needles... Still not waking up? Then don't blame me for being rude! Do you know what this is? It’s a hammer! One strike and your head will be smashed open. Damn it—still sleeping?! Father—I’ll call you Father, is that enough? Master, please wake up! If you keep sleeping, your favorite disciple is going to be slaughtered!"

Li Muchen ranted incessantly, hoping his "lion’s roar" would shake Yun Qing back to reality. Just as he was about to give up, Yun Qing’s eyelids flickered.

Li Muchen’s eyes lit up; hope flickered back into his heart. "Yun Qing?" No response? He tried again. "Master?" Another blink. There was hope! "Father?" The fingers moved too. *Does this guy have a thing for being called Father? What kind of strange hobby is that for an ancient person?* No matter, he would keep shouting.

"Father... Father... Father Yun Qing..."

As Li Muchen prattled on, the four divine beasts were reaching their limit. The backlash from the speed-enhancing pills was intensifying. Hu Bai and the Green Wood Mountain forces gradually gained the upper hand, leaving the beasts covered in wounds. Sensing their struggle, Li Muchen’s voice grew even more desperate.

"Yun Qing! You really cannot sleep anymore! The four of them are down to their last breath. If you don't wake up, not only will they die, but all of us will perish at the hands of the demon clan today! Yun Qing! Do you hear me?! As the Emperor of the Great Tang, I command you—immediately! Right now! Wake up!"

Even as Li Muchen reached the peak of his anxiety, Yun Qing remained with his eyes tightly shut. Aside from that brief twitch of his eyelids and fingers, there was no further reaction. He could hear Li Muchen, but he could not move; he had lost control of his own body.

Yet, as his consciousness began to return, he fought desperately to push that powerful energy past the blockage in his heart, aiming to unite it with his spirit at the crown of his head.

"White Tiger—look out!" Li Muchen suddenly screamed.