C1241 Wait a Minute!
Fu Xuanwen gazed solemnly at his arm, now resembling White Bone, his head bowed in concentration. The Rod of Heavenly Justice had been removed and was now clutched in his opposite hand. Despite the arm having been ravaged by the death aura, stripped of flesh and blood, it felt perfectly normal after being restored by the Rod and a portion of his own vital energy. His spiritual energy, vital energy, and Soul Power circulated unhindered through his meridians.
Yet, Beru's words had planted a seed of doubt, and when Fu Xuanwen looked at his arm again, something seemed amiss. It was as if he was observing the limb of a stranger, and a sense of unexplained dread crept into his heart. The legend of Master Lin Xuhai involuntarily surfaced in his mind.
As a distinguished expert of the Ebon Star, Fu Xuanwen was well aware of the bizarre and extreme events that had transpired between Lin Xuhai and the Rod of Heavenly Justice. Lin Xuhai, before his demise, had been at a similar stage in his cultivation, stagnating in the late period of the Unbound for years. When an opportunity arose to ascend to the rank of primordial spirit, Lin Xuhai attempted the leap but failed to achieve the breakthrough, which dealt a heavy blow to his confidence.
It was after this failure that Lin Xuhai acquired the Rod of Heavenly Justice, hoping to assimilate the vital energy of the Otherkin contained within it into his own little world of vitality, seeking an alternative path to lay the groundwork for his ascension to the primordial spirit.
The outcome was disastrous; the influx of mixed vital energy into his little world muddled his spiritual wisdom. At a clandestine summit convened by the leaders of the three great upper sects, Lin Xuhai, in a state of confusion, unleashed a killing spree, inflicting severe losses and casualties among the cultivators present.
Lin Xuhai managed to flee, plunging into the extraterrestrial void, where he transformed into a malevolent demon. His actions in the extraterrestrial became even more erratic and brutal, with numerous Otherkin leaders, esteemed cultivators, and archdemons falling victim to his frenzied onslaught.
The Sunlit Order and the Sword Sect suffered significant losses at his hands, which incited widespread outrage. Consequently, Nie Qingtian was commissioned to uphold justice in the Star River.
Because Lin Xuhai had committed grave sins and his spiritual wisdom was so twisted that recovery was impossible, Nie Qingtian decided against imprisoning him in Sword Prison and instead executed him swiftly and cleanly.
Following Lin Xuhai's death, Nie Qingtian returned the Rod of Heavenly Justice to the Ebon Star Sect, and it has not been seen since.
Fu Xuanwen reflected on the past and gradually came to a realization. He understood that Cao Yi, an expert in the Colddeath mystique and skilled in refining blood, was considered capable of wielding the Rod of Heavenly Justice. Thus, Cao Jiaze carried the Divine Artifact with the intention of entrusting it to Cao Yi.
Regrettably, Cao Yi fell victim to the Demon God Grec in the Dark Star Region.
"Please handle the Rod of Heavenly Justice with the utmost care!" Cao Jiaze, who had called forth the white jade ruler, intuited the hidden truth and couldn't help but inhale sharply and exclaim.
Fu Xuanwen, who had intended to confront the Songbird Queen with the Rod of Heavenly Justice, suddenly found himself in a difficult position, wary of the unpredictable Divine Artifact.
"Beru, perhaps you should leave first?" Yu Yuan suggested out of the blue.
"Leave? We're in Kuvrepros; why would we go?" The Great Sage replied with a smile, shaking his head gently. He had become remarkably composed, and he gestured towards the yellow sun, saying, "Xu Jingyao of the Sunlit Order is tampering with the Starborn's Domain, using the sole sun to nurture the Flame Spear."
"The Flame Spear, combined with his power, means that sun... it will likely take hundreds of years to unleash its full fiery potential."
Yu Yuan was taken aback.
"That's enough. You've bought us ample time. On behalf of all the Starborn in Kuvrepros, and as the representative of our chieftain, I offer you our thanks," Beru said, bowing deeply.
Likewise, Leo, blessed by the stars, bowed silently.
Gheirat followed suit.
"Yu Yuan, if you can, please leave Kuvrepros as soon as possible, and take that person with you," Leo suggested, now with an apologetic smile. His previous weariness had vanished, replaced by a vibrant energy. His eyes sparkled with starlight, dazzlingly bright.
General Gheirat, the commander of this realm, approached Denise and Dogget, gesturing for them to board the warship behind them. Denise, clutching an empty bottle in her hand, turned back to wave at Yu Yuan, her eyes conveying that her bloodline breakthrough was thanks to the medicinal concoctions Yu Yuan had prepared for her before his departure.
"I understand," Yu Yuan realized suddenly, no longer hesitating. He whispered to Rong Xun and Xie Bin, "Let's go. We'll heed Cao Jiaze's advice and leave this troubled place first."
Beru's bold declaration suggested that Leo would soon press him to take the queen away from Kuvrepros. There could only be one explanation: either Beru or Leo had already managed to send word of the events unfolding in Kuvrepros through some clandestine means. The Starborn's mightiest ninth-level warrior, perhaps even their patriarch, must be en route. And Beru and Leo had already received a response!
They wanted Chen Qinghuang taken away to avoid confronting the reawakened secular bird in Kuvrepros, choosing instead to concentrate on dealing with the imminent threat posed by Fu Xuanwen and Zhu Huan's group. Rong Xun and his companions exchanged glances.
"What are we waiting for? Let's move!" Yu Yuan repeated, leading the way from the meteorite and leisurely flying towards the wrecked warship. After a moment's hesitation, Rong Xun and the others decided to follow.
Their questioning gazes fell on Cao Jiaze, Fu Xuanwen, and Zhu Huan, awaiting their decisions. "Could you... take me along?" Suddenly, Qiyan, the fiend inhabiting the Starbeast, pleaded pitifully with Yu Yuan, shaking his head and wagging his tail in a sycophantic manner, much like a groveling dog.
Yu Yuan ignored him. However, the Starbeast's flame-filled eyes gleamed with surprise, interpreting the lack of outright refusal as tacit approval. It hurried after them, frequently glancing back at Wei Zhuo from the Thunder Sect.
"Gentlemen?" Wei Zhuo, with a stern expression, focused intently on Cao Jiaze and Fu Xuanwen, waiting for their input. Fu Xuanwen's expression hardened as he barked, "Hold on!"
He suddenly resolved to act, regardless of the potential risks. He was determined to harness the formidable power of the Rod of Heavenly Justice for a grand endeavor!
But...
No sooner had he uttered "Wait" than peculiar bumps sprouted on his arm, which was as gaunt as white bone.
These bumps began to siphon the vital energy from his flesh, blood, and organs, drawing in his spiritual energy and swelling at an alarming rate. In no time, they morphed into grotesque tumors.
The tumors grew malignantly, knotting together in an ugly mass, emanating a faint breath of ruin.
"Blight of Ruin!"
Beru, with his vast knowledge and experience, recognized the horrifying aura within the tumors. His face twisted into an expression that was a mix of wanting to weep and wanting to laugh.
"Rod of Heavenly Justice!"
Fu Xuanwen, his heart pounding with fear, sensed the danger and quickly channeled the purest Heavenly Spiritual Spell to awaken the residual Divine Power of the Sect Master.
The Mark of the Celestials he had previously released now answered his call, flying back to him.
Yu Yuan, who had paused at Fu Xuanwen's "Wait," now abruptly turned back.
Narrowing his eyes, Yu Yuan focused on the sarcomas on Fu Xuanwen's arm, using his mental faculties to connect with the Titanblade, which was submerged in Zekrica, purifying itself of all impurities.
Whoosh!
A dense flurry of scarlet sword light materialized around Fu Xuanwen, swarming like ravenous piranhas.
The supreme divine power left by the current Sect Master within the Rod of Heavenly Justice emerged, but with each strand that appeared, it was devoured by the scarlet sword light, preventing it from coalescing.
"Nie Qingtian!" Fu Xuanwen bellowed in rage.
Yet, the so-called "Blight of Ruin" on his arm continued to proliferate, growing larger by the moment.
The rest of Fu Xuanwen's body rapidly withered away, becoming emaciated, particularly around his waist, which seemed to cave in as if the majority of his organs had been gnawed away.
He screamed frantically, "Let Yu Yuan leave! Go, now!"
