Little Shrubby knew Lin Mu would recover on his own, and what he was facing wasn't true exhaustion of energy but the fatigue from the sutra he had used.

Lin Mu's throat tightened slightly at the sight. For all his strength, for all the power he had accumulated, it was this creature... once no more than a fiery fuzzy cub, that reminded him what true loyalty looked like.

He reached out and gently placed his hand on Little Shrubby's head. "Little Shrubby," he said softly.

The beast's ears twitched at the sound, and a low rumble came from deep within his chest.

Slowly, the creature's golden eyes opened, warm and bright. The growl that followed might have sounded fierce to an outsider, but Lin Mu knew better. It was not anger or warning.

"Master..."

It was affection... his name spoken in the only way Little Shrubby could.

Getting down, Lin Mu smiled and said, "I am fine now. You did well."

Little Shrubby blinked, then gave a short nod before rising slightly, stretching his body in a long, luxurious motion. He yawned once, showing his sharp teeth, and then lowered his head again to nuzzle Lin Mu's shoulder.

"It's alright," Lin Mu said with a chuckle, patting the creature's neck. "You can rest now."

Growl-

But instead of resting, Little Shrubby tilted his head back and let out a deep, echoing growl that reverberated throughout the icy hall. The sound rolled through the corridors like thunder, awakening the still air.

Moments later, the echoes of hurried footsteps approached from all directions.

Daoist Chu was the first to appear, his robes fluttering slightly from the sudden movement of Qi.

Behind him came Monk Hushu, his prayer beads still glowing faintly from his ongoing chants.

Meng Bai followed closely, his expression filled with visible relief, while Cattaleya and several Ice Drakes trailed behind.

At the front of them all stood the Elder Ice Drake, fully restored. His towering figure exuded power and dignity, his blue-white aura once again radiant with vitality.

When they saw Lin Mu awake, all of them spoke at once, their voices overlapping.

"Lin Mu!"

"Brother Lin!"

"Master, you are awake!"

Lin Mu looked at them and gave a small, reassuring smile.

"I am fine," he said, raising a hand. "I just used too much Qi in one go."

Daoist Chu frowned. "Used too much Qi, he says," he muttered. "You nearly drained yourself to death. If it were anyone else, their meridians would have already collapsed."

Lin Mu gave a quiet laugh. "My body cultivation helps. I am sturdier than I look."

"I know, I know... but still..." Daoist Chu couldn't help but sigh.

Lin Mu paused for a moment, feeling the subtle ache in his mind.

In truth, it was not his Qi depletion that had knocked him out. His physical strength and meridian network could handle that easily. The true exhaustion came from the mental toll... the sheer precision required to use the Healing Heart Sutra on so many beings at once.

Each Ice Drake had a massive, complex body filled with dense flesh and multiple Qi pathways completely different from humans.

Healing them was not as simple as channeling energy into wounds. It required deep concentration, constant adjustment, and perfect control to ensure that every trace of the Drakesbane poison was purged without damaging their internal balance.

If he had been even slightly careless, his Qi would have run out before the healing was complete. The thought made him realize how narrowly he had succeeded.

Meng Bai stepped forward, his youthful face filled with concern. "How are you feeling now, Master?"

Lin Mu nodded. "I am not tired anymore. My body is fine, and my Qi has already recovered to about ten percent. I will be back to full strength in a short while." Daoist Chu exhaled a deep breath of relief. "Good. You scared us for a while."

"He sure did. When you passed out, you suddenly grew heavy and I had to carry you back." Cattaleya chimed in.

"Oh... The Dao Skill must've deactivated when I passed out from qi exhaustion." Lin Mu realized his normal body weight had probably returned.

"Dao Skill?" Cattaleya raised a brow.

"I'll explain later." Lin Mu said, since this was not the time.

Then Lin Mu's eyes softened as he looked around. "How long has it been since I collapsed?"

The Elder Ice Drake stepped forward, his voice calm and steady. "It has been

about one full day."

Lin Mu nodded slowly.

Before he could ask anything more, the elder's expression changed, his voice filled with deep emotion. "Every Ice Drake in this hall, and those resting beyond, are alive because of you. Were it not for your intervention, we would have lost half our kin within the hour. You have given us back our lives." Lin Mu shook his head. "I only did what I could. What anyone would have done.""

But the Elder Ice Drake's gaze hardened. "No, Lin Mu. You did far more than that. You fought against a poison that targets the bloodline itself... a curse meant to end entire draconic clans. There are few healers, even among the Immortal realm, who could have achieved what you did in such a short time."

The hall grew quiet.

Even Monk Hushu's gentle chanting had ceased. The air seemed to vibrate faintly with restrained emotion.

After a few breaths of silence, the Elder Ice Drake's aura flared slightly, the cold wind swirling around him.

His expression turned grim, his voice like rolling thunder. "The Ephemera Sect

will pay for this."

Every Ice Drake present lifted their heads, their eyes burning with anger.

"They dared to attack our kin, our unborn! They dared to defile our world with their vile toxins," the elder continued, his tone deep and unyielding. "The day you march against the Ephemera Sect, the Ice Drakes of the Silent Lotus World will lead the charge. We will be the vanguard that brings their sky crashing down and freeze them into their eternal tombs!"

ROAR!