Chapter 116: The Saint's Corpse

Three crystalline boundary lines, radiating divine essence and razor-sharp, remained intact despite the impact of the Prison-Suppressing Beam; in fact, they seemed to have absorbed a newfound power of decay.

"I suggest you stay right where you are, fellow Daoist."

The ethereal, indifferent voice echoed through the void once more.

"Let’s see how many times you can withstand this."

Hearing that calm, unhurried tone, Feng Shang’s eyes turned icy. He raised his hand, four cosmic crystal stars gripped between his fingers, ready to burn through their energy in one go.

"Brother Feng Shang, wait."

Qing’er stopped him and stepped forward gracefully. Her eyes flickered with strange golden flames as she stared into the surrounding void. "A sword of three-foot rotted wood, a solitary robe in the cultivation realm. We should have realized earlier—in this cultivation domain, the only sword master capable of defining such boundary lines is the renowned Domain Lord of Guchu."

"Nine hundred million years ago, you survived the trials of life and death, obtained a sword of primordial decay, defeated the Domain Lord of Qihuang, and renamed the Qihuang Domain to the Guchu Domain under the sanction of the Star Sea. Am I wrong?"

The starry sky suddenly fell silent.

Qing’er’s words rang out, her long black hair dancing in the void, the golden glow in her beautiful eyes undimmed. She took a deep breath and continued, "Of the Nine Sages of the Star Sea, at least four are on good terms with my Ninth Grandfather. Tell me, Domain Lord Guchu, acting so boldly today—are you not afraid that the Star Sea will strip you of your title?"

Silence.

Huang Ha and Huo Zhuo exchanged glances, both struck by a wave of shock.

Guchu held a dual identity. Outwardly, he was the Domain Lord of Guchu, ordained by the Nine Sages; in the shadows, he was an Eighth-Rank God-Slayer, standing in opposition to the Star Sea. The Nine Star City also maintained close ties with the Star Sea. Because of this, he had always acted from the shadows during their operations, never revealing his true identity. They had not expected this young girl to recognize the power of his Rotted Wood Sword.

Huang Ha and Huo Zhuo’s origins were obscure, making it difficult for the Nine Star City to pursue them. But Guchu was different; as a Domain Lord, if he were hunted, he would have to abandon the massive foundation he had built here.

"He is the Domain Lord of Guchu?"

A great turmoil stirred within Feng Shang. The Great Thousand Cultivation Domain was endlessly prosperous and vast; anyone capable of governing such a territory was an elite among God Lords. Domain Lord Guchu was undoubtedly one of them.

*Woo...*

Suddenly, the cosmic winds howled. From the distant starry sky, a figure emerged—a man with black hair, sharp features, and a tall, upright stature. His gaze was deep and distant, carrying an aura of peculiar tranquility.

As soon as he appeared, everyone reacted with shock.

"So it was you wielding that sword!" Silver Flame stared at the newcomer, his expression cold. His Heaven-Shaking Halberd trembled violently, humming with a powerful force that threatened to tear the void asunder.

"A Domain Lord sanctioned by the Star Sea, yet walking alongside the creator of the Divine Shrines..." The young man’s expression grew grave, his words highlighting the gravity of the situation. The Divine Shrines were wreaking havoc, and while the Star Sea provided constant support, a Domain Lord like him was not only ignoring the crisis but actively collaborating with the creator of the shrines.

"Interesting, truly interesting." Qing Tian’e’s eyes swirled as he muttered this twice, a thousand thoughts racing through his mind.

"Guchu, why did you come out? Could you not have simply denied it? Do you not want to be a Domain Lord anymore?" Huang Ha the Daoist anxiously transmitted his voice. He, Huo Zhuo, and Guchu were all in the same God-Slayer faction; they stood or fell together. A stronghold as large as a cultivation domain could not be abandoned lightly. The God-Slayer Alliance would hold them accountable!

"You were impulsive. You shouldn't have revealed yourself." Huo Zhuo shook his head. As Qing’er had said, it would be no difficult task for the Star Sea to depose Guchu.

"It matters not. Abandon it if I must. I have grown tired of it over these many years. There are plenty of God Lords in the Alliance with clean records who can take over at any time," Guchu replied, standing with his hands behind his back, his voice indifferent.

"This... but still... *sigh*..." Huo Zhuo shook his head, words failing him, eventually reduced to a sigh.

Guchu turned to Xia and said calmly, "Whatever means you have left, bring them out. Today, I sacrifice my status as Domain Lord; I shall assist you with all my might."

"Good!" A spark of brilliance flashed in Xia’s beautiful eyes. "Since you are willing to help, I will compensate for your losses today. I do indeed have an item that requires the three of you to join me in striking into that Xuanming Star. I will reward you handsomely afterward!"

As she spoke, she raised her slender hand, and the Divine Moon mark on the Moon-Slaying Sword glowed fiercely.

A dilapidated passage appeared in the cosmic void. Cold, black mist surged out from the opening, as if concealing something of ultimate evil within.

"What is this?" Huang Ha was startled. The dark, evil mist was surging with an aura so strange and of such a high level that even he, a Cultivation Lord, felt a chill run down his spine.

"The remains of a Saint," Xia replied. With a wave of her hand, a withered, black, foul-smelling skeleton, shrouded in dark mist, drifted slowly out of the passage—an object that had existed for who knows how many eons.

Instantly, the cosmos turned dark and lightless. A biting cold pervaded the area, and the space was blanketed by an unfathomable, decaying death aura, as if the heavens themselves were being buried.

Dead silence. Everyone felt their skin crawl.

"This is... a complete Saint’s skeleton! A priceless treasure!" Huo Zhuo exclaimed in shock, unable to take his eyes off the intact skeletal frame.

"How did you obtain this?" Huang Ha could not help but ask, licking his lips as greed surged in his eyes. A complete Saint’s skeleton contained the cosmic laws the Saint had comprehended during their lifetime and was a divine material for refining treasures. It made everyone envious.

"Wait, this Saint’s skeleton has been blackened and twisted!" Huang Ha quickly discovered the problem. As if witnessing something truly terrifying, he recoiled, putting distance between himself and the skeleton, a chill rising in his heart.

The pitch-black skeleton was heavy with death. Both inside and out, it was covered in black mist, its origin lost to time. The evil power emanating from it corroded even the void, and the most precious cosmic laws had undergone an unimaginable, sinister mutation that made them useless for enlightenment!

"There is a supreme ancient curse upon it, one that does not belong to this era and contradicts the current universe of spiritual energy. If one were to be infected by it, I fear no one could save them," Guchu said, his expression grave. Even he spoke with such caution. Perhaps this Saint had died from this very curse.

The thought was terrifying!

"Where did you find this? Quickly, put it away! This thing is too evil!" Huang Ha’s eyes widened in genuine fear. He retreated further, sensing that if he were to be tainted by the curse on these remains, he would die.

"That is—"

In the distance, Qing’er’s golden eyes glowed. Looking through the void at the Saint’s remains, her brows furrowed. More golden runes overflowed into her eyes as she tried to observe deeply. But then, she saw that the skeleton was covered in dense, writhing curse scripts, like billions of devouring ants swarming—a manifestation of death, decay, and ill omens so evil it exceeded all limits. Her delicate body trembled.

With a muffled groan, Qing’er closed her eyes, utterly exhausted, her face deathly pale.

"What is wrong?" Feng Shang noticed and supported her swaying shoulders. He saw her beautiful eyelashes trembling against her pale skin, and she could not seem to open her eyes.

"She pushed herself too far!" Feng Shang’s eyes narrowed.