Yunxi was not swayed by the visions. She guided a filament of spiritual power around the snow wolf pup's entire body, and her brows drew tight. The injuries were worse than expected.
Although the pup had been born a second-rank snow beast, it had not opened its eyes yet and knew nothing of self-preservation. The fourth-rank Explosive Talisman had ravaged its internal organs. If not for its fur mitigating the force, its insides would already be a ruined mess.
Even so, treatment would take a long time. Otherwise, survival would be unlikely, and even if it lived, it would be a frail little snow wolf, unfit to inherit the Snow Wolf King's position.
Yunxi now had to do more than save the pup's life. She had to ensure it could cultivate in the future. Leaving a feeble cub to the Snow Wolf King would not avert the outcome she had seen.
"Human cultivator, can you save my child?"
Sensing Yunxi's change in expression, the Snow Wolf King asked in a low voice.
Yunxi considered, then said, "I will do my utmost. First, I must repair its internal organs."
She swept a glance around, brushed her storage bracelet, and tossed down a capsule law house on an open patch of ground. A three-courtyard residence unfolded into being. Yunxi turned to the Snow Wolf King.
"Xue Li, bring your child inside. This is not a place for healing.
"My law house has ample space. If you are uneasy, your pack can enter as well."
With that, she waved her sleeve and the vermilion doors opened.
It was Xun Kun's first time seeing Yunxi's law house. A sweep of his spiritual sense told him it surpassed his own. He stepped after her into the courtyard.
The Snow Wolf King and his mate exchanged a look. The wolf mother carefully lifted their cub and followed Yunxi in.
Under the king's command, the pack filed into Yunxi's law house in an orderly fashion.
Yunxi entered the third courtyard's treatment room and addressed Xue Li.
"I am about to begin treatment, and I will use certain special methods. It is inconvenient to have many onlookers. If you insist, one of you may accompany me."
She turned and added, "Xun Kun, stand guard outside."
Xun Kun nodded. This was Ran Xi's domain, and he believed she would not put him at risk. If the treatment failed, separating the wolf king and his mate would also make it easier for the two of them to act.
He seated himself outside, ignoring the many snow wolves curled in the yard. He took out the prayer beads gifted by Yun Chen and tried to sense his position.
In the end the Snow Wolf King persuaded the wolf mother. He followed Yunxi into the treatment room, while the wolf mother settled at the threshold. Her ice-blue eyes watched as the barrier fell, and she forced herself to wait.
Once the barrier was set, Yunxi approached a high-grade treatment pod resting there. She lifted the lid and gestured for Xue Li to place the little one inside.
Xue Li eyed the object, its black sheen cold like an ice coffin, then looked to Yunxi.
Yunxi explained, "This is a mystic treasure I inherited from Yixian Gate, designed to heal grievously wounded cultivators. Your child has not begun cultivation, but his aptitude is exceptional, born at second rank. This treasure can save him."
It was all she could say.
Xue Li finally set his cub into the pod.
Yunxi closed the lid and tapped the holographic scan. She had to confirm the extent of the injuries, then prepare restorative solutions.
She was grateful she had traded with Star Trek for this high-grade pod. In that interstellar era there existed a class of orc-kind, humans with beast genes who could freely shift between forms in adulthood. In beast form they possessed tremendous bodies and fearsome power, many serving in ground forces.
The pod included specialized treatment protocols for orc-kind, especially for those gravely wounded and unconscious, when they could not shift back to human form and had to be treated as beasts. That was a perfect match for the pup's situation.
With the pup's condition clear and her resolve firm, Yunxi decided to use the high-grade pod. No matter what, the cub could not be allowed to die.
Three minutes later, the pod projected a full holographic scan in the air for Yunxi to examine.
After reviewing it, she infused the prepared restorative solutions into the pod. First, repair the internal organs, then the bones. Last would be improving aptitude.
Xue Li watched in silence. Every one hundred and fifty years, large numbers of cultivators entered the secret realm, yet he had never seen a human with methods like this woman's. He could already sense that his cub's aura had fully stabilized.
Then came the long wait. To ensure the medicine's effects reached their peak, Yunxi periodically combed the cub's body with her ice spiritual power. Once the organ repairs were complete, she handed this step to Xue Li. They shared the same source, and his guidance would harmonize better.
Seven days slipped by. Just as the wolf mother began to drum her claws impatiently on the barrier, it vanished. Yunxi and Xue Li emerged, and Yunxi was holding a bright-eyed little snow wolf.
Using spiritual power, Yunxi floated the pup to the wolf mother. "The little one is fine. Let him cultivate by your side from now on."
Only then did she face Xue Li and offer a vial. "As compensation, this is a bloodline-enhancing elixir I refined, tailored for the little one. He can only take it once in his life. Whether to use it is your decision."
While Yunxi and Xue Li spoke, the pup stumbled on unsteady paws to Yunxi's feet, whining and pawing at her robe hem, clearly displeased.
Yunxi could only crouch and coax him. "Little one, your injuries are healed. Be good and return to your mother. I cannot teach you cultivation."
The pup still whined, unwilling. Helpless, Yunxi fetched a bottle from her bracelet and handed it to Xue Li. "This is my gift to the little one, Beast Spirit Pills to aid his cultivation."
Xue Li caught both pills and elixir in his mouth, at a loss for words as his cub continued to cling to Yunxi like a spoiled child.
He was helpless too. The first person the cub saw upon opening his eyes had been Ran Xi, and she happened to be his lifesaver. She had treated him well, feeding him good things from the moment he woke. No wonder he had recovered so quickly.
The wolf mother huffed twice, strode over, and gave the pup a firm pat on the head, then picked him up and carried him away. She clearly did not want to see him getting too attached to Yunxi.
Watching this, Xun Kun's lips curved. The crisis was over. Thank goodness Ran Xi's efforts had not been in vain.
When the pack saw their young Wolf Lord tumble out of the house yapping, they burst into jubilant howls, celebrating his return to life.