Mortal Dawn and Dusk, My Eternal Life - Chapter 19

The cold blade mercilessly cut open A-Mu’s young chest. Blood did not gush out as expected. The eerie blood-colored runes around the stone platform, activated by the old Daoist’s chanting, emitted a demonic red glow, forming an invisible force field that forcibly confined the blood within A-Mu’s body, preventing any loss. This was an extremely sinister formation, designed to maximize the preservation of the “sacrifice’s” body after the heart transplant, preventing it from rapidly deteriorating due to blood loss.

The old Daoist’s withered hands trembled slightly with excitement, yet they were exceptionally precise as they reached into A-Mu’s chest cavity, digging out the still stubbornly beating heart, along with a few severed blood vessels, with brute force! It was a young and vibrant heart, still subtly pulsing in the old Daoist’s hand even after leaving the body, radiating a faint warmth.

Modern Su Mingyue’s consciousness, at this moment, was on the verge of collapse! The excruciating pain and despair of having a heart violently ripped out made her wish to instantly dissipate into nothingness rather than endure this inhuman torment!

The old Daoist gazed greedily at the vibrant heart in his hand, his eyes filled with fanaticism. Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately pressed this heart into his own already opened chest! Then, he picked up the faintly beating heart taken from the wolf demon and quickly stuffed it into A-Mu’s empty chest cavity. The entire process was bloody, cruel, and nauseating.

After completing all of this, the old Daoist sat cross-legged on the ground, forming hand seals, and rapidly chanted ancient and sinister incantations. He intended to use secret techniques to forcibly fuse A-Mu’s heart with his own body, and at the same time, to activate the wolf demon’s heart, making it beat again within A-Mu’s body to maintain the life force of his “immortal vessel.”

Time passed, minute by minute. The atmosphere in the secret chamber was suffocatingly oppressive.

Gradually, an incredible scene unfolded! The old Daoist’s skin, which had been withered like tree bark, began to visibly plump up! The deep, bone-showing wrinkles on his face gradually faded, as if smoothed by an invisible hand. His graying hair, starting from the roots, slowly turned black, regaining its dark luster!

In just the time it took to burn a stick of incense, the old Daoist, who had been on the verge of death and showing all the signs of advanced age, transformed into a ruddy-faced, robust middle-aged man! The severe pain in his chest, which had been caused by his heart ailment, also vanished without a trace, replaced by an unprecedentedly strong heartbeat!

“It’s done! Hahahaha! It’s truly done!”

The old Daoist felt the immense changes in his body, sensing the powerful pulse of the young heart in his chest, and couldn’t help but let out a burst of ecstatic laughter! His laughter echoed through the secret chamber, filled with triumph and arrogance. He had succeeded! He had truly succeeded! He had used this heaven-defying, life-stealing evil art to extend his own life, and even… regained his youth! Eternal life was within reach!

The old Daoist excitedly stood up, constantly examining his hands that had become plump and strong again, feeling the long-lost abundant energy within him. The smile on his face grew wider and wider, almost reaching his ears. He was immersed in the immense joy of rebirth, almost forgetting about the “sacrifice” still lying beside him.

A-Mu, at this moment, had long since fallen silent. His chest was crudely sewn shut, but the wolf demon’s heart that had been implanted did not begin to beat as the old Daoist had expected. It just lay still in A-Mu’s chest cavity, cold and lifeless. A-Mu’s pupils were already dilated, his face completely bloodless, and his body was gradually growing cold. Clearly, he was… dead. At least, on the surface, that was the case.

Modern Su Mingyue’s consciousness, with the “end” of A-Mu’s life, plunged into boundless darkness and coldness. She felt no pain, no sensation whatsoever, only a deep, bone-chilling sorrow and… helplessness. She watched helplessly as A-Mu suffered such a calamity because of her, yet she could do nothing. This feeling of powerlessness caused her more torment than any physical torture.

After his initial ecstasy, the old Daoist finally noticed A-Mu, lying motionless on the stone platform. He walked over, checked A-Mu’s breathing, and felt his pulse. His brow couldn’t help but furrow.

“Hmm? What’s going on? Why isn’t this wolf demon’s heart beating?” he wondered, puzzled. Logically, with his secret art, he should have been able to revitalize this demonic heart within A-Mu’s body. Could it be… that the boy’s body was truly dead?

The old Daoist looked at A-Mu’s young yet lifeless face, a hint of regret flashing in his eyes. “Alas, although I have become young now, how long this heart can sustain me is yet unknown. It’s truly a pity that you died before I could figure out the true reason for your longevity.” He shook his head, murmuring to himself. In his opinion, A-Mu’s secret to eternal life was certainly not as simple as just a heart. However, the person was now dead, so further research was impossible.

But then, he thought to himself, he now possessed a young heart. With the aid of elixirs, he might truly be able to achieve his dream of eternal life. Thinking this, his slight regret vanished, replaced by even stronger excitement and anticipation. Clearly, he was overcome with joy and forgot about his soul-searching technique!

“Hahahaha! From this day forward, I, Qingyunzi, will be the only one in this world capable of eternal life!” The old Daoist laughed wildly again, his voice particularly grating in the empty secret chamber. He constantly admired his hands, which were gradually plumping up, feeling the youthful power within him. He was completely immersed in a pathological ecstasy, as if he could already see his immortal future.

However, just as the old Daoist was beside himself with triumph and roaring with laughter—

A change, once again, occurred without warning!

A-Mu, who lay on the stone platform, already deemed “dead,” his crudely sewn chest suddenly…

…slightly rose and fell!

Immediately after, a faint, yet clearly audible…

“Thump!”

A heartbeat, abruptly sounded from within his lifeless chest cavity!

The implanted, cold wolf demon’s heart, after a long period of silence, had actually…

…unexpectedly, started beating!