C1241 Wait a Minute!
Fu Xuanwen gazed solemnly at his arm, once ravaged by the breath of death, now restored to flesh and bone by the Profound Plamer, which he held in his other hand. Despite the restoration, an eerie discomfort lingered after Beru's words, as if the limb before him belonged to another, stirring an inexplicable dread within him.
Memories of his Martial Uncle Lin Xu Hai's legend surfaced unbidden. As a renowned expert of the Profound Sky Sect, Fu Xuanwen was well-versed in the bizarre and extreme events that had befallen Lin Xu Hai and the Profound Plamer. Lin Xu Hai, whose cultivation had plateaued in the late Unrestrained Stage, had once vied for the esteemed position of Supreme Primordial Spirit. His failure to ascend had dealt a severe blow to his confidence.
In the aftermath of his thwarted ascension, Lin Xu Hai had acquired the Profound Plamer, intending to assimilate the exotic blood energy within it into his own microcosm of Qi and blood, seeking an alternative path to the Primordial Spirit. Tragically, this act led to his mind's corruption by the chaotic blood energy.
During a clandestine summit of the three upper sects, Lin Xu Hai's muddled consciousness triggered a devastating massacre, resulting in numerous casualties among the sects' cultivators. He fled the carnage, venturing into the Outland Starry Sky, where he devolved into a monstrous fiend. His subsequent reign of terror claimed the lives of countless Outlander and human elites.
The ensuing outrage among the upper sects and the Sword Sect was palpable, prompting Nie Qingtian to enact justice in the Outer Star River. Lin Xu Hai's transgressions had so warped his psyche that redemption was beyond reach. In a decisive act, Nie Qingtian forwent imprisonment in the Sword Prison, opting instead for a swift execution.
After Lin Xihai's death, Nie Qingtian returned the Profound Plamer to the Profound Sky Sect, and it has not been seen since.
Fu Xuanwen reflected on the past and slowly pieced together the truth. He realized that Cao Yi, an expert in the Blood God Cult's secret techniques and skilled in blood refinement, was deemed capable of wielding the Profound Plamer. That's why Cao Jiaze intended to entrust the Artifact to him.
Regrettably, Cao Yi fell victim to the Great Demon God Greco in the Dim Starfield.
"Handle the Profound Plamer with great care!" Cao Jiaze, upon summoning the white jade ruler, deduced the concealed truth and couldn't help but inhale sharply and exclaim.
Fu Xuanwen, who had been ready to confront the Luan Bird Queen, found himself in a precarious position, growing wary of the unpredictable Artifact.
"Yu Yuan, perhaps you and your companions should leave first?" Yu Yuan suggested out of the blue.
"Leave? We're in the Illusion Starfield. Why would we go?" The Great Sage replied with a smile, shaking his head serenely. He pointed to the yellow sun, saying, "Xu Jingyao of the Primordial Yang Sect is breaching the Star Race's realm, using the sun to nurture the Fire God Spear."
"The Fire God Spear, bolstered by his power, means that sun... it may take centuries to unleash its full fiery potential."
Yu Yuan was taken aback.
"That's enough. You've bought us ample time. On behalf of everyone in the Illusion Starfield and our Star Race's patriarch, I offer you our gratitude," Beru said, bowing deeply.
Leo, blessed by the stars, silently followed suit with a bow of his own, as did Gheirat.
"Yu Yuan, if you can, please leave the Illusion Starfield as soon as possible, and take that person with you," Leo suggested, now with a sheepish smile. His previous weariness had vanished, replaced by a vibrant energy. His eyes sparkled with starlight, radiating a stunning brilliance.
Gheirat, the realm's general, approached Denise and Docter, gesturing for them to board the warship behind them.
Before turning to leave, Denise waved at Yu Yuan, clutching an empty bottle in her hand. Her gaze conveyed that her bloodline breakthrough depended on the medicinal concoction Yu Yuan had prepared for her before his departure.
"I understand now."
Yu Yuan had an epiphany and wasted no more time. He quietly said to Rong Xun and Xie Binn, "Let's go. We'll do as Cao Jiaze suggests and leave this troublesome place first."
Beru's confidence meant that if he spoke such words, Leo would surely press him to escort the queen away from the Illusion Starfield.
There was only one possibility...
It had to be either Beru or Leo who had managed to send out the news of what transpired in the Illusion Starfield through some clandestine means.
The mightiest Ninth Level warrior of the Star Race, perhaps even the chieftain himself, must be en route.
And Beru and Leo had already received a reply!
They wanted him to take Chen Qinghuang away to avoid confronting the reawakened Secular Bird in the Illusion Starfield, so they could concentrate on dealing with Fu Xuanwen, Zhu Huan, and their group.
Rong Xun and his companions exchanged uncertain glances.
"What are you waiting for? Let's move!"
Repeating himself, Yu Yuan led the way from the meteorite and casually flew towards the direction of the departing warship.
After a brief hesitation, Rong Xun and the others decided to follow.
Their searching gazes fell on Cao Jiaze, Fu Xuanwen, and Zhu Huan, awaiting their verdict.
"Could you... take me along?"
Out of the blue, the Alien Demon Qiyan, inhabiting the Celestial Star Beast, pleaded with Yu Yuan, shaking his head and wagging his tail in a display of abject subservience, much like a groveling dog.
Yu Yuan ignored him.
The Celestial Star Beast's fiery eyes shone with a gleam of hope, interpreting the lack of a direct refusal as implicit consent.
It hurried after them, frequently glancing back at Wai Zhuo from the Thunder Sect.
"Gentlemen?"
Wai Zhuo maintained a stern expression, his gaze fixed on Cao Jiaze and Fu Xuanwen, anticipating their counsel.
Fu Xuanwen's expression hardened as he barked, "Hold on!"
He had resolved to take a bold risk, ready to unleash the formidable might of the Profound Plamer for a significant endeavor!
But...
No sooner had he uttered "Hold on" than his flesh-covered skeletal arm sprouted a series of peculiar bumps.
After the lumps formed, they began to actively draw power from his flesh, blood, and viscera, concentrating his spiritual energy. They swelled at an alarming rate, quickly morphing into grotesque tumors.
One by one, the tumors grew malevolently, forming hideous masses.
From within the tumors, a faint aura of destruction emanated.
"Desolate Tumors!"
Beru, with his vast experience, sensed the terrifying aura within the tumors and his expression became a mix of horror and amusement, as if he were torn between crying and laughing.
"Profound Plamers!"
Fu Xuanwen, his heart pounding with fear, realized the gravity of the situation. He hastily channeled the purest Profound Heaven Spiritual Spell to invoke the residual divine power of the sect master.
The Heaven Palace Seals that he had previously dispatched were now summoned back to him, flying towards him.
Yu Yuan, who had paused at Fu Xuanwen's call to "Wait," suddenly turned back.
Narrowing his eyes, Yu Yuan focused on the sarcoma on Fu Xuanwen's arm, using his mental faculties to connect with the imprint inside the sword sheath, attempting to communicate with the Optimus Sword that was submerged in the Epitaxial Realm, purifying impurities.
Whoosh!
A dense flurry of scarlet sword light materialized around Fu Xuanwen, resembling a swarm of piranhas.
The divine power left by the current Sect Master within the Profound Plamer emerged, but as soon as it did, it was devoured by the scarlet sword light, rendering it impossible to consolidate.
"Nie Qingtian!" Fu Xuanwen bellowed in rage.
Yet, the so-called "Desolate Tumors" on his arm continued to grow, becoming larger and larger.
The rest of Fu Xuanwen's body rapidly withered and wasted away, particularly around his waist, which seemed to cave in as if the majority of his organs had been gnawed away.
He howled in a frenzy, desperately yelling, "Let Yu Yuan go! Get out of here, now!"
