If He Dies, You Must Pay With Your Life

"Interesting!"

Tyson Xiong watched the scene unfold, the corners of his mouth curling into a meaningful smile.

Soon, Ian Song and Shawn Tu entered the pavilion, with the other five following behind, each wearing a different expression.

After motioning for Shawn Tu to sit, Ian Song took out a box of golden needles from his Masterwork Storage Ring.

The Radiance of Life was simply too miraculous—he needed to use the Golden Needle Method as a cover.

Opening the needle box, Ian Song brushed his palm over the top. Five golden needles slipped between his fingers. With a flick of his wrist, they flashed like cold stars, piercing five critical acupoints on Shawn Tu's scalp.

In truth, a Martial Saint's power already rivaled that of a Nascent Soul cultivator. A Nascent Soul expert could use their true essence to regrow lost eyes, shattered eardrums, or even severed limbs.

But martial artists couldn't do that—their true qi was focused on offense, not regeneration.

"Looks impressive, but let’s see if it actually works!"

Hannah Han, off to the side, immediately launched into her usual sarcasm.

But Shawn Tu's brow furrowed slightly. He could feel his left eye socket and right eardrum start to itch, as if something were trying to grow there.

"Could this kid really cure me?"

For a moment, hope flickered in Shawn Tu's heart.

In reality, neither the Golden Needle Method nor Eastern Medicine Mastery could regrow an eyeball. The key was that Ian Song had injected a strand of true essence while inserting the needles.

Of course, his cultivation was only at late Foundation, so his true essence couldn’t regrow limbs. But simple 'repair' was possible—what Shawn Tu sensed was Ian Song’s true essence mending the meridians near his left eye and right ear.

Ian Song paid no mind to Hannah Han's sarcasm. In just moments, he had filled Shawn Tu's scalp with a dense forest of golden needles.

Meanwhile, Shawn Tu could feel both injured spots wrapped in a surge of warmth.

"Now’s the time!"

Ian Song gave a low shout. His hands blurred into afterimages as he worked, sweat beading densely on his forehead—he looked utterly exhausted.

Boom!

Just as Ian Song placed the final needle on Shawn Tu, he smoothly channeled a strand of divine Radiance of Life into Shawn’s body.

The healing power of Radiance of Life was absolutely insane—practically defying the laws of nature.

In a flash, Shawn felt his right ear and empty left eye socket wrapped in a cool, refreshing energy.

Two seconds later, his eardrum was fixed and his hearing came rushing back.

And just a couple breaths after that, a brand-new eyeball literally sprouted in his hollow left socket.

"What the—this is unreal!"

Even as a Martial Saint, Shawn totally lost his composure right then and there.

Smack!

Shawn ripped off his eye patch and flung it to the ground, then threw his head back and let out a wild, ecstatic roar.

"Easy, Elder Tu. Let me pull out those golden needles first!" Ian called out.

"Alright!"

Shawn nodded, his gaze toward Ian now incredibly gentle—overflowing with gratitude.

The others stared at Shawn’s new eyeball, totally floored. A gouged-out eye, just growing back? That wasn’t medicine anymore—that was straight-up divine magic.

Seriously, it was just too crazy!

Ian quickly pulled out all the golden needles, then went off to the side, sat down cross-legged, and started 'meditating' to recover.

"Hey, Shawn, can you actually see with that new eyeball?" Jason Song asked, still skeptical.

"Zip it! Can't you see the commander’s meditating? Don’t bug him—let’s talk outside!" Shawn snapped.

So the whole crew headed out of the pavilion.

Shawn swept his gaze over Jason Song, Hannah Han, and Tyson Xiong, his tone icy: "I’m backing Little Huang as our commander, period. Let me be clear—anyone who messes with him is messing with me."

"Hmph, don’t try to flex in front of me. I’m not buying it!" Hannah Han snorted.