Riley closed his eyes and extended his spiritual sense, gently probing the tightly wound knot of energy blocking Jade's heart.
It was a delicate obstruction, one that had likely formed from deep emotional trauma or an internal cultivation backlash.
Under normal circumstances, this would have been a trivial matter for someone like him. A flick of his will, a push of spiritual power, and it would dissipate.
But this wasn't normal. Not even close.
Despite how simple it should have been, this particular blockage was different—volatile, erratic, and deeply intertwined with her life force.
One wrong move, one minor fluctuation in control, and Jade's heart could rupture into pieces. Death would be instant. Messy. Final.
It was the kind of risk that would make even the most seasoned healers on the continent hesitate.
In fact, they'd likely walk away entirely, refusing to lift a finger unless they were suicidal or had a death wish.
But Riley wasn't like other healers.
