Chapter 362:

The enemy had not yet truly arrived.

The chaos of space and time…

The reversal of life and death…

All of it was triggered by just a single, distant gaze.

The true threat—a reality-warping, truth-bending immortal presence—was closing in from the other side of the chaos, slowly but unstoppably, its target locked onto the Tower of Salvation and Xu Xi.

The worst had happened.

An immortal had set their sights on the Tower escaping from the Sorcerer World.

So tired…

He wanted to rest.

But he couldn’t. Not yet.

…

Xu Xi’s body, distorted by the reversal of life and death, was withered like dry branches. His limbs shriveled, his chest sunken.

He looked completely frail.

And yet, his chest felt like it would burst from the pressure.

His soul—billions upon billions of soul flames—was now burning wildly inside his brittle body, the restriction of the Collector trait lifted.

This immense, sacred power granted strength, but it was also devouring him from the inside.

“Sylvia, I’ll treat you right now!”

Her voice, thick with sorrow, echoed around him.

Sylvia rushed to Xu Xi’s side at full speed.

He saw her.

That beautiful face was crying.

Tears dripped down, soaking his body.

With clumsy, panicked movements, she fumbled through her spatial ring, bringing out potion after potion, trying to heal him again and again.

“I will save you. I swear I will.”

She spoke with tear-streaked cheeks and the most determined voice.

This side of the hero—

This fragile, desperate girl—was a Sylvia he had never seen before.

The green glow of her ring shimmered brightly from overuse, shining on her tear-covered face, reflecting a light that took one’s breath away.

“Sylvia…” Xu Xi looked dazed.

His withered, decaying body showed no signs of recovery.

No matter how many healing potions or life sorceries she used…

His soul flames continued to burn his body.

But his pale, dry face held a gentle smile as he softly held Sylvia’s wrist, stopping her futile efforts.

“That’s enough, Sylvia.”

“You don’t have to keep healing me anymore.”

Xu Xi said words that made her tremble.

He looked into her dim emerald eyes.

“I’m sorry… for hiding everything from you.”

“I really believed I could handle it on my own.”

“But I was arrogant. Too arrogant.”

He smiled gently through the pain, blood dripping from torn wounds, his soul on the verge of splitting apart.

Holding his wand, he looked once more at the chaos outside the tower.

The darkness was so twisted that Sylvia couldn’t even make out his familiar, gentle face.

As he gazed into the chaos, he gently brushed her hair back, wiping the tears from the corner of her eyes.

“A powerful enemy is coming, Sylvia.”

She fell silent.

Motionless.

But her eyes trembled harder than ever.

“I’ll go deal with it.”

“So while I’m gone… could I ask you to protect yourself and everyone in the tower?”

His fragile, aged hand rested softly on her head.

Her white-platinum hair shimmered faintly—soft like a witch’s, though the opposite in color.

Sylvia could feel it.

His hand was getting weaker.

“Please, Sylvia.”

Xu Xi made his request.

It was a tone she couldn’t refuse.

But…

She didn’t want to…

Not now—especially not now.

More tears poured down. Her throat, choked with emotion, couldn’t speak. Only her trembling sword hand and watery eyes could respond.

“Master Sorcerer…”

“Please, let me go with you.”

Sylvia didn’t know the full situation.

But she knew…

Any enemy Xu Xi called dangerous must be someone at the sixth ring level at least—possibly even a seventh-ring immortal.

“I can’t… I can’t let you face that alone.”

“I’m your knight.”

“So please, at the very least, let me stand by your side.”

She looked up suddenly, her tear-streaked face filled with pain and defiance, rejecting his request.

She couldn’t bear to watch someone so important to her walk into danger alone.

Not again.

She never wanted to feel the pain of parting like that again.

So please, let me stay—let me protect you.

“Master Sorcerer…”

“I only have you. You’re all I have.”

The weight of her emotions burst from her heart, crashing through her throat as she finally spoke what had long been buried.

I like you.

I need you.

Please…

Don’t leave me behind. Don’t say goodbye.

I’m nothing without you.

I can only feel truly alive when I’m by your side.

“Master Sorcerer, please… I’m begging you.”

“Let me be selfish this one time.”

“Don’t go alone…”

Her bloodied face showed the deepest sorrow. Every tear carried the full weight of her feelings.

Xu Xi’s hand paused atop her head.

He felt it.

The overwhelming sadness coming from Sylvia.

It was the weakness of someone who couldn’t face the world alone.

It was the fear of losing something precious.

It was the terror of reaching for a future she couldn’t grasp.

All of it was what made up Sylvia.

She was a hero.

But also, the ordinary girl Xu Xi had once saved—someone scared of the dark and thunderstorms.

“I’m sorry, Sylvia,” he said softly. His eyes were clouded and blurry. His frail vessel could no longer hold back the surging power of his soul.

Time was running out.

“Sylvia.”

He opened his arms and pulled the trembling hero into his embrace, giving her a place to lean on.

“Parting is for a better reunion. One day, the minute hand and hour hand will meet again.”

“Even if I’m not here, you’ll still be the best.”

“Because—”

“You are my hero.”

It didn’t matter if the world recognized her or not.

It didn’t matter if fate never smiled upon her.

To Xu Xi, she was always the true hero—Sylvia Crowfield.

He acknowledged her courage and effort.

He encouraged her, believed in her, and lit the path for her to walk out of the darkness.

“Master Sorcerer…”

Sylvia wanted to say more, but the fire of her emotions had burned her throat raw.

All she could do was kneel there, sobbing uncontrollably in Xu Xi’s arms.

She cried until she had no strength left.

Until her mind stopped thinking.

Eventually, the crying faded.

She stood up on her own and silently stepped aside, clearing a path for Xu Xi.

Just as Xu Xi believed in Sylvia—as a true hero…

Sylvia believed in Xu Xi too—that they would meet again.

“Thank you, Sylvia.”

His gentle voice echoed.

Holding his staff, Xu Xi stepped forward and passed through the Tower of Salvation’s barrier, heading into the boundless chaos beyond.

And at the top of the massive tower, only Sylvia’s slender figure remained.

She stood there.

Watching.

Waiting for Xu Xi’s return.

No matter how long it took, she would wait forever if she had to.

Even if it meant waiting through a timeless, endless eternity.