"Don't talk, Little Qian. I'm hugging you. You'll be fine," said Xiang Shaoyun anxiously.

Xiang Shaoyun had many playmates during his childhood, but only Yao Qian was left. He really did not want to lose her as well.

"I-I am happy..." said Yao Qian with a look of satisfaction.

She could feel how near death was, but she did not feel any fear. For her, just dying in Xiang Shaoyun's arms made death worth it.

"Young master, open Little Qian's mouth. I'll feed her some medicine," said Old Yao hastily.

Xiang Shaoyun hurriedly did as told, and Old Yao immediately stuffed a pill inside her mouth. He said, "Young master, lay her down."

Xiang Shaoyun obeyed and laid Yao Qian on the ground. However, she tightly grabbed his arm, unwilling to leave him.

"Y-Young master, d-don't leave me," she said.

"Don't be afraid, Little Qian. I'm not leaving. I will always stay by your side," Xiang Shaoyun replied.

"Good. I'm very tired. I'll take a short nap," said Yao Qian as she slowly shut her eyes.

Xiang Shaoyun asked Old Yao, "Grandpa Yao, how is Little Qian?"

"Take her back to her room first. I'll tell you later," said Old Yao with a dark expression.

Xiang Shaoyun nodded and carried Yao Qian back to her room. After placing her on the bed, he took another reading of her pulse. Only after sensing that her condition had improved did he calm down.

He walked out of the room with Old Yao before asking, "Grandpa Yao, Little Qian does not seem to be doing very well."

"I know, but it hasn't been easy for her to live this long. She was supposed to die when she turned 18. The yang returning pill I refined for her is no longer very effective," said Old Yao bleakly.

He only had one granddaughter. If Yao Qian was dead, he wouldn't know what to do with his life anymore.

"What is wrong with Little Qian? Is it her physique?" Xiang Shaoyun asked.

"Yes. She has an innate soul deficient physique. Every human has three ethereal souls, the heavenly soul, the earthly soul, and the mortal soul. She was born with only two of these souls, lacking the mortal soul. The mortal soul is also known as the life soul. Thus, she was born with not much life in her. It is already a miracle for her to live until today," said Old Yao.

Xiang Shaoyun was somewhat confused. He knew that each human had three ethereal souls and six corporeal souls, but he had never heard of someone being born with a missing soul.

In truth, the so-called three souls did not mean that a human had three full souls. To be precise, the three were the three parts of a single soul, respectively corresponding to the primordial spirit, the yang spirit, and the yin spirit. What Yao Qian lacked was the yin spirit, a congenital deficiency that resulted in a short lifespan.

"Is there no other way of saving her? Even a dead person can be resurrected, to say nothing of someone still alive. There must be a way," said Xiang Shaoyun, unwilling to accept her fate.

"You're right. Even the dead can be resurrected, so it should be easier for someone still alive," replied Old Yao with a nod. "Her condition is similar to Tongyuan—as in they both need saint medicine to survive. The saint medicine she needs is not as rare as the astral grass, but it is still extremely rare. Furthermore, we need the kind of saint medicine that is extremely beneficial for one's soul for it to work."

"Saint medicine beneficial for the soul?" Xiang Shaoyun was overjoyed, and he took out a saint soul fruit. "I have a saint soul fruit here. It will definitely help Little Qian. Quick, let her use it."

Old Yao trembled at the sight of the fruit.

He stared at the fruit in Xiang Shaoyun's hand as tears flowed from his eyes. He said, "T-This is really a saint soul fruit? The saint fruit that is boundlessly useful for the soul?"

"Absolutely!" said Xiang Shaoyun firmly.

"Good, good. There is hope for Little Qian! There is hope for Little Qian!" said Old Yao in excitement.

"I'll feed her the fruit," said Xiang Shaoyun as he prepared to return to the room.

Old Yao recovered from his shock and stopped Xiang Shaoyun. He asked, "Young master, this is saint medicine. It can quickly help your soul reach the level of a Saint. It is invaluable. A-Are you really giving it to Little Qian?"

Old Yao was a Soul Foundation Realm expert, but with his strength, getting saint medicine was incredibly hard. He also knew very well how valuable saint medicine was. Thus, he found it hard to believe that Xiang Shaoyun would give the saint fruit to Yao Qian.

"This concerns her life. How will I joke around?" said Xiang Shaoyun.

"No, that's not what I meant. This is saint medicine. I don't even know if Little Qian and I will be able to repay you," said Old Yao.

Xiang Shaoyun realized what he meant and said, "I was confused by what you meant, but even saint medicine is still medicine. Its function is to help others. Grandpa Yao, you have always been loyal and devoted. You have never betrayed the sect. Your loyalty is worth more than saint medicine. Furthermore, I grew up with Little Qian. How can I watch her as she dies?"

"Good, good. The sect master has a good son. I was right about you. Although you were naughty back then, I always knew that you were loyal to your people, just like your father. Let me thank you on behalf of Little Qian," said Old Yao, overwhelmed with joy. He even tried kneeling down to thank Xiang Shaoyun.

Xiang Shaoyun hurriedly held him up and said, "There is no need for this, Grandpa Yao. I have always viewed you as my grandfather. If Father found out that I accepted your kneel, he would probably skin me alive."

"Hehe, fine, fine. I won't stand on ceremony, then. Give me the fruit. I will refine it into medicine. Only then will its worth be maximized, and we won't waste its excessive medicinal power by using it raw," said Old Yao with a joyful smile.

"Will that work?" Xiang Shaoyun asked.

"Of course. But to refine it, I need the assistance of a Saint. Otherwise, I alone won't be able to complete the refinement. If I succeed, I will be able to refine at least three or five pills. The medicinal power of each pill will be weaker, but it will be of use for more than one person," said Old Yao.

"That's great," said Xiang Shaoyun with a nod.

If they could get several saint pills from this one fruit, more than one person would benefit. With that, the value of the saint soul fruit would be maximized.

"But we still have another problem. I also need a high-tier flame to use during the refinement. Otherwise, the success rate will be low," said Old Yao with a frown when he recalled something else.

"Will this be good enough?" asked Xiang Shaoyun as he manifested Yun Flame.

"Looks like Little Qian's end has yet to come. This is more than enough," said Old Yao in excitement when he sensed Yun Flame's prowess.

He then started preparing for the refinement and gathered the other materials.

As for Xiang Shaoyun, he muttered in contentment, "So what if it's a saint fruit? So long as Little Qian can be saved, I will be willing to use as many saint fruits as needed."