Nilai Keberuntungan Karma: 44.122,9.
Malapetaka Pertama: Bertahan - 7/7.
Malapetaka Kedua: Diklaim - 1/1.
Malapetaka Ketiga: Ditekan - 15 Tahun.
Nilai Keberuntungan Karma: 44.659,9.
Malapetaka Pertama: Bertahan - 7/7.
Malapetaka Kedua: Diklaim - 1/1.
Malapetaka Ketiga: Ditekan - 15 Tahun.
Aliran waktu dunia kembali normal. Seiring itu, ekspresi wajah dua Santo Bumi menebal pucat. Tak ada sisa keberadaan Gong Lau pun, baik tubuh maupun roh, dan ini adalah realitas yang menakutkan. Kebanggungan mereka dengan cepat berubah menjadi ketakutan panik.
Zhang Ziyi turut meremukkan air telustnya. Meskipun mereka bisa jadi makhluk yang telah Naik dengan kekuatan melebihi Batas Fana, memerintah sebagai salah satu terkuat di dunia mereka, peristiwa ini membuat pemikiran mereka kembali ke masa lalu dan mengingatkan mereka pada kerentanan mereka di hadapan kekuatan sejati.
Han Yuhei mengertakkan gigi, memandang Wu Yu dengan senyum puas yang tenang. Senyum puas itu yang pernah ia lihat berulang kali sebelumnya. Ia merasa seperti dirinya kembali bertahun-tahun muda, saat ia dipaksa bungkok dan mentaati keinginan orang lain. Ia tidak bisa tidak tergenggam, tangannya gemetar.
“Kenapa...?” Zhang Ziyi mulai berteriak dengan suara penuh keheraan, mencari penjelasan, tetapi ia menahan napas ketika sehelai petir menembus pikirannya. Petir inil adalah petir pemahaman!
Gong Lau, pemimpin Faksi True Origin, mata-mata bagi para parasit itu, telah bertemu ajalnya yang tidak pasti. Karena berbagai sumpah mistis yang membatasi mereka, para Santo Bumi tidak bisa bertindak melawan satu sama lain, faksi masing-masing, atau klan-klan parasit di luar Sekte Elemen Sejati. Namun, Wu Yu tidak terikat oleh sumpah atau batasan apapun.
Apakah ini sebuah peluang?
Sementara dua Santo Bumi mengalami ledakan mental mereka masing-masing, Wu Yu memandang telapuknya. Sensasi berakhirnya nyawa seorang Santo Bumi masih menggema. Namun, rasa percayaan itu berubah menjadi ketegangan saat ia diingatkan pada balaian elemen yang mematikan. Ia tidak boleh lengah atau puas, jadi senyumnya perlahan menghilang.
'537.' Wei Wuyin memverifikasi pemikirannya setelah peristiwa ini. Meskipun ini belum cukup untuk membuktikan secara tanpa keraguan bahwa Gong Lau adalah anggota Trueborn, ia pasti adalah seorang Pendosa. Namun, dari estimasi penurunan Nilai Keberuntungan Karma akibat pembunuhan tidak langsung, Gong Lau ini pasti seorang pendosa berat. Besarnya Nilai Keberuntungan Karma ini bisa ditujukan pada status Ascendednya, bukan pada Dosa Karma yang ia hasilkan. Sayangnya, Wei Wuyin tidak memiliki lembar perhitungan yang akurat.
'Since ini kasusnya, Santo Bumi ketiga yang meloloskan diri dari Komandan Legiun adalah pemimpin multi-klan dari Domain Elementus. Timingnya terlalu tidak coincidence. Selain itu, karena takut diketahui atau dilacak, mereka mungkin bersembunyi di Domain lain secara rahasia.' Ketika ia mengingat kematian Ratu Dunia Penjara setelah meloloskan diri dari Komandan Legiun, ia merasa Santo Bumi itu bersembunyi karena takut akan nyawanya. Jika Zhang Ziyi benar, maka ia berada di Golden Life Pavilion, sebuah kekuatan netral yang tidak terlalu penting di Wilayah Bintang Grand Cyclic.
Pemikirannya Wei Wuyin terus berputar; temuan dan teorinya ini memberikan banyak ide baru. 'Apakah anggota Trueborn sedang diburu oleh sesuatu atau seseorang?' Pikiran ini tak bisa tidak muncul setelah pertimbangan. Ada bukti yang menunjukkan hal itu mungkin benar.
Aksi penghilangan Santo-pencari-jiwa setelah serangan Trueborn yang gagal di domainnya sangat mencurigakan. Apakah ada sesuatu yang lebih dalam?
Perang saudara di balik layar?
Wei Wuyin memutuskan untuk memperoleh laporan lebih detail tentang wilayah bintang jika memungkinkan, terutama dengan membelinyya dari Golden Gate Pavilion. Ma Zheng mungkin memiliki lebih banyak jawaban. Dengan tujuannya terpastikan, ia harus memastikan bahwa beroperasi dengan kebodohan bukanlah pilihan andalannya.
Dengan demikian, Wei Wuyin cukup akrab dengan detail politik internal Sekte Elemen Sejati dan krisis yang ada. Ia tidak mengharapkan Gong Lau memiliki niat membunuhnya mengingat sifat faksi dan kepentertaruhannya. Sehubungnya, ia tidak keberatan dengan Gong Lau yang ada di sampingnya, inilah sebabnya ia belum pernah memerintahkan Wu Yu untuk bertindak dengan bebas sebelumnya. Gong Lau memiliki kegunaannya.
Namun, setelah mengetahui ia mungkin menjadi anggota Trueborn, dan mempertimbangkan kemungkinan mereka akan menyerangnya setelah eksistensi Bai Lin terhubung padanya, ia memutuskan untuk memverifikasi teori, menghilangkan potensi ancaman, dan menenangkan pikirannya.
“Young Lord, bagaimana dengan kedua ini?” Wu Yu bertanya.
Pemikiran Wei Wuyin mencapai kesimpulan, dan ia menghela napas berat. Reaksinya membuat Han Yuhei dan Zhang Ziyi ketegang.
Zhang Ziyi ingin berteriak, tetapi Wu Yu menghalanginya dengan gerakan tangannya. Selain terengahnya, ia tidak bisa berkata apa-apa untuk memohon kasihiah.
Wu Yu tahu apa yang ingin katakan Zhang Ziyi. Ia memutuskan untuk menghematnya dari malu. Ia adalah Santo Bumi, sementara ia kini berlutut di hadapan seorang fana, nyawanya di tanggung jawabnya; akan sangat malaikan bila ia merayom seperti Gong Lau. Apapun kompromi yang ingin diucapkan, tidak perlu.
Setelah semua, jika Wei Wuyin menginginkan mereka mati, ia tidak akan memerintahkan untuk tidak membunuh mereka. Kesalahan Gong Lau adalah menunjukkan niat membunuh dan mencurigai dirinya adalah anggota Trueborn, organisasi yang telah ditindas dengan kejam oleh Wei Wuyin beberapa kali. Tentu saja, Wu Yu tidak tahu semua motivasi Wei Wuyin.
Untuk menawarkan kekayaan, Wei Wuyin bisa menjarah seluruh Domain ini tanpa ada yang bisa menghentikannya.
“Pertama,” Wei Wuyin memandang ke Han Yuhei, “aku ingin meminta maaf atas cara kudidampingi semua ini. Ini hanya Pertahanan Diri setelah Gong Lau memutuskan untuk menyerangku, dan tidak jujur kepadamu berdua. Karena kalian telah mengetahui pengkhianatannya dan manipulasinya lebih awal, mengatasi Gong Lau, menonaktifkan formasi, dan menyelamatkan serta menyelamatkan hidupku akibatnya, aku tidak dapat menilai cukup terima kasih.
“Cuma disayangkan, aku membuat Wu Yu bertindak setelah kalian lemah. Itu kesalahan besar dariku.”
“...” Han Yuhei.
“...? Zhang Ziyi.
Wu Yu tidak bisa menahan senyumnya, jelas tidak bisa menyembunyikan keagumannya. Cerita sedang disusun, dijalin dengan laba-laba kebohongan yang rumit. Pada saat ini, mayoritas populasi tidak menyadari berbagai detail yang terjadi di Domain Elementus, hanya bahwa mereka melawan musuh yang hebat. Namun, mereka di Origin sadar akan apa yang terjadi. Para kultivator tingkat tinggi mungkin menyadari hasil akhirnya.
Mungkin ada juga cincin perekam yang digunakan.
Tapi Wei Wuyin sedang menyusun cerita untuk menjelaskan semuanya, menyalahkan Gong Lau dan mengusulkan bahwa ia mengkhianati sekte. Sekte Elemen Sejati dan Domain Elementus telah habis secara menyeluruh, jadi jika mereka menyalahkan ini pada Gong Lau, maka faksinya bertanggung jawab atas penyalahgunaan formasi tersebut. Semua tanggung jawab jatuh pada bahu mereka.
Wei Wuyin jelas menyadari ketidakstabilan keuangan sekte ini, dan faksi Gong Lau memiliki kekayaan yang luar biasa.
“... Kenapa?” Han Yuhei mendiam lama. Ini adalah keputusannya. Sehubungnya, ia sudah mercalukan diri setelah kematian Gong Lau. Ia merasa bahwa dirinya pasti yang berikutnya. Setelah semua, ia menggunakan seluruh domain untuk menyerang Wu Yu. Tidak masuk akal bagi kultivator yang sangat kejam itu untuk tidak membunuhnya.
Wei Wuyin beralih pandangan ke Wu Yu. “Aku juga heran. Jika bukan karena Wu Yu, aku akan membunuh ketiganya tanpa ragu, menghancurkan Sekte Elemen Sejati hari ini, dan mengambil sisa-sisanya untukku. Tapi karena dia peduli padamu, aku nyaman dengan hasil ini juga. Asal...” Wei Wuyin kembali fokus ke Han Yuhei melanjutkan: “Asal kamu bersedia menerimanya dan sumpah sumpah misteri.”
“...?” Han Yuhei terkejut. Peduli? Ia tidak bisa tidak memandang Wu Yu. Han Yuhei ingin membunuh Wu Yu, namun Wu Yu peduli padanya? Ia benar-benar bingung, tak dapat dipercaya. Bagaimana bisa?
Hanya ada kebencian, pembalasan, kemarahan yang terendam, dan rasa inferioritas yang lahir di hatinya ketika ia berpikir pada Wu Yu. Ia tidak memiliki sequatu saja memori baik tentang pria kesombongan yang menjijikkan ini! Namun, peduli?
Bahkan tidak bisa dikatakan bingung saat ini, ia merasa seperti dunia tidak sama seperti semenit yang lalu. Wu Yu telah membunuh orang untuk jauh lebih sedikit dari mencoba membunuhnya.
“Little Yu, jangan terlalu berpikir. Jika kamu mau, aku masih bisa membunuh kamu.” Wu Yu berkata dengan nada dingin di matanya.
Perasaan itu menyapu bangun Han Yuhei. Ia buru-buru menjawab, “Aku akan melakukannya… aku akan sumpah itu.” Ini adalah sebuah anugerah, hadiah yang tidak bisa dimengerti, tetapi tidak maslah. Jika alternatifnya adalah kematian, ia lebih memilih hidup. Ia masih muda, memiliki lebih dari dua puluh ribu tahun kehidupan tersisa.
Wei Wuyin mengangguk. Cerita mungkin harus disempurnakan sedikit, ini untuk yang terbaik. Zhang Ziyi bahkan tidak punya pilihan, ia hanya harus setuju. Wu Yu memang telah menyelamatkannya dari membuat upaya memohon yang menjijikkan, karena pilihan itu tidak ada di tangan mereka.
Sumpah-sumpah misteri yang disumpuhkan menempati banyak detail, terutama terkait keselamatan dan perlindungan Wei Wuyin. Selama berada di Aeternal Sky Starfield, mereka bersumpah untuk membantu Wei Wuyin dalam setiap tujuannya, asalkan tidak mengorbankan kebebasan, prinsip, atau mengancam nyawa mereka. Sumpah-sumpah itu sangat masuk akal dan tangguh, tetapi hanya berlaku selama tiga ribu tahun. Untuk Santo Bumi, tiga ribu tahun terlalu singkat.
Mereka bukan bawahan atau budak, hanya penolong jika diperlukan. Selain itu, informasi tentang topik tertentu tidak boleh diungkapkan. Bahkan jika ditemukan nanti, ini akan tetap kuat.
Keduanya benar-benar kaget dengan isi sumpah-sumpah ini. Mereka tidak terlalu dibatasi. Ini adalah hukuman untuk mencoba membunuh mereka? Wei W
Karmic Luck Value: 44,122.9.
First Calamity: Survived - 7/7.
Second Calamity: Claimed - 1/1.
Third Calamity: Suppressed - 15 Years.
Karmic Luck Value: 44,659.9.
First Calamity: Survived - 7/7.
Second Calamity: Claimed - 1/1.
Third Calamity: Suppressed - 15 Years.
The temporal flow of the world normalized. Along with it, the two Earthly Saints' facial expressions were ashen. There wasn't a speck of Gong Lau's existence remaining, body or spirit, and this was a terrifying reality. Their shock swiftly became panicked fear.
Zhang Ziyi gulped. While they might be Ascended beings that wielded powers that exceeded Mortal Limits, reigning as some of the strongest in their world, this event had regressed their thoughts and reminded them of their vulnerability to those with true power.
Han Yuhei clenched his teeth, looking at Wu Yu who wore a faint satisfied smile. That satisfied smile that he had seen numerous times before. He felt as if he had become thousands of years younger, when he was forced to bow his head and acquiesce to another's will. He couldn't help but tighten his hands into trembling fists.
"Why did…" Zhang Ziyi started to speak in a disbelieving voice, seeking an explanation, but she stopped herself from continuing as a strike of lightning crashed into her mind. This lightning was one of realization!
Gong Lau, the leader of the True Origin Faction, the spy of those parasites, had met his untimely end. Due to a variety of mythical oaths constraining them, the Earthly Saints were unable to act against each other, each other's factions, or those parasitic clans outside the True Element Sect. But Wu Yu wasn't subjected to any oath or restraints.
Was this an opportunity?
While the two Earthly Saints experienced their own mental booms, Wu Yu stared at his palm. The sensation of ending an Earthly Saint's life lingered. However, that growing confidence was doused as he was reminded of that elemental beam of death. He couldn't allow himself to grow complacent or satisfied, so his smile slowly vanished from his face.
'537.' Wei Wuyin's verified his various thoughts after this development. While this wasn't enough to have indisputable proof that Gong Lau was a member of Trueborn, he was definitely a Sinner. However, from his assumed reduction of Karmic Luck off second-hand kills, this Gong Lau was certainly a heavy sinner. This large quantity of Karmic Luck could be attributed to his Ascenced being status rather than Karmic Sin earned. Unfortunately, Wei Wuyin didn't have an exact calculation sheet.
'Since this is the case, the third Earthly Saint that escaped from the Legion Commander is the Elementus Domain's multi-clan leader. The timing would be too coincidental otherwise. Also, for fear of being noticed or tracked down, they likely hid in another Domain in secrecy.' When he recalled the World Prison True Queen's death after escaping from the Legion Commander, he felt that the Earthly Saint had gone into hiding in fear for their life. If Zhang Ziyi was correct, then he was at the Golden Life Pavilion, a notorious neutral force in the Grand Cyclic Stellar Region.
Wei Wuyin's thoughts kept circulating; this discovery and theory was bringing him all sorts of fresh ideas. 'Are Trueborn members being hunted by something or someone?' This thought couldn't help but emerge after some consideration. There was some evidence that may be the case.
The Soul-Rising Saint's vanishing act after the failed Trueborn assault in her domain was quite strange. Was there more to it?
A shadow war behind the scenes?
Wei Wuyin decided to get a more detailed report of the stellar region when possible, preferably by purchasing it from the Golden Gate Pavilion. Ma Zheng might have access to more answers. With his goals set, he had to ensure that operating with ignorance wasn't his go-to.
As such, Wei Wuyin was quite familiar with the overall detail of the True Element Sect's internal politics and crisis. He didn't expect for Gong Lau to have killing intent for him considering the nature of his faction and interests. In fact, he didn't mind Gong Lau existing alongside him, which is why he hadn't given Wu Yu orders to act freely before. Gong Lau had some uses.
But after learning that he might be a member of Trueborn, and considering they might act against him after Bai Lin's existence was connected to him, he decided to verify his theories, eliminate a potential threat, and soothe his thoughts.
"Young Lord, what about these two?" Wu Yu asked.
Wei Wuyin's train of thought came to a conclusion, and he heaved a heavy sigh. His reaction caused both Han Yuhei and Zhang Ziyi to tense up. The latter wanted to speak, but Wu Yu sealed her throat with a wave of his hand. Besides some choking noises, she couldn't say anything to plead her case.
Wu Yu knew what Zhang Ziyi wanted to say. He decided to save her the embarrassment. She was an Earthly Saint, while she was kneeling before a mortal, her life decided by his whim, it would be endlessly humiliating for her to beg like Gong Lau. Whatever concessions she was intending to make or deals, there was no need.
After all, if Wei Wuyin wanted them dead, he wouldn't have ordered him to avoid slaughtering them. Gong Lau's folly was showing his killing intent and suspicions of being a part of Trueborn, an organization that Wei Wuyin had mercilessly dealt with several times. Of course, Wu Yu had no way of knowing all of Wei Wuyin's motivations.
As for offering wealth, Wei Wuyin could loot this entire Domain without anyone capable of stopping him.
"First," Wei Wuyin 'looked' to Han Yuhei, "I want to first apologize for my heavy-handed manner of dealing with all this. It was only in self-defense after Gong Lau had decided to act against me, lying to you two. Since you two had learned of his betrayal and manipulation early, dealt with Gong Lau, deactivated the array, sparing and saving my life as a result, I am forever thankful.
"It was just unfortunate that I had Wu Yu act after you suffered weakness. That was a major mistake of mine."
"..." Han Yuhei.
"...?" Zhang Ziyi.
Wu Yu couldn't hold his smile, clearly unable to conceal his amusement. A story was being sewed together, weaved with a fabric of twisted lies. At the moment, the majority of the population was unaware of various details that happened in the Elementus Domain, just that they fought a great enemy. Those on Origin, however, were deeply aware of what happened. Those high-level cultivators might be aware of the end-result.
There might even be recording jades being used.
But Wei Wuyin was fabricating a story to explain it all away, putting the blame on Gong Lau and suggesting that he betrayed the sect. The True Element Sect and the Elementus Domain had exhausted themselves thoroughly, so if they laid this at Gong Lau's feet, then his faction would be responsible for the misuse of the formation. All responsibility laid at their feet.
Wei Wuyin was clearly aware of the financial instability the sect faced, and Gong Lau's faction held tremendous wealth.
"...Why?" Han Yuhei was silent for a long while. This was his decision. In fact, he had calmed down after Gong Lau's death. He felt that he was certainly next. After all, he used an entire domain to assault Wu Yu. It didn't make sense why such a tyrannical cultivator would spare his life.
Wei Wuyin turned to Wu Yu. "Trust me, I'm baffled too. If it wasn't for Wu Yu, I would kill all three of you without a blink of an eye, collapsing the True Element Sect today, and scavenging the remains for myself. But since he seems to care about you, I'm fine with this result too. As long as…" Wei Wuyin returned his focus to Han Yuhei, continuing: "As long as you're willing to accept it and swear a mythical oath."
"..." Han Yuhei was stunned. Care? He couldn't help but look at Wu Yu. Han Yuhei wanted nothing more than to kill Wu Yu, yet Wu Yu cared for him? He was incredibly confused, in complete and utter disbelief. He couldn't accept that statement. How could he?
There was only hate, vengeance, repressed anger, and a sense of inferiority born in his heart when he thought of Wu Yu. He didn't have so much as a single good memory in his mind relating to this abhorrently arrogant man! Yet he cared?
It would be an understatement to say confused at this point, he felt as if the world wasn't the same as it was a minute ago. Wu Yu had killed people for far less than trying to kill him.
"Little Yu, don't overthink it. If you want, I can still kill you." Wu Yu said, a cold chill in his eyes.
The feeling splashed Han Yuhei awake. He hastily responded, "I'll do it…I'll swear that oath." This was a blessing, a gift that couldn't be understood, but it didn't matter. If the alternative was death, he much rather choose life. He was still so young, having over twenty-thousand years of life left.
Wei Wuyin nodded. While the story might have to be refined a little, this was for the best. Zhang Ziyi didn't even have a say in this, she just had to agree. Wu Yu had indeed saved her from making any embarrassing attempts basing her dignity, since the choice wasn't in her hands.
The mythical oaths were sworn, covering many details, especially concerning Wei Wuyin's safety and protection. While in the Aeternal Sky Starfield, the two swore to assist Wei Wuyin with any objective he had, as long as it didn't infringe on certain liberties, principles, or threaten their lives. The oaths were extremely reasonable and airtight, but only lasted for three thousand years. To Earthly Saints, three thousand years was short.
They weren't his subordinates or slaves, but just helpers if needed. Furthermore, information regarding certain topics couldn't be disclosed. Even if discovered later on, this would remain strong.
The two were thoroughly shocked by the contents of these oaths. They weren't very restrictive. This was the punishment for their act of trying to kill them? Wei Wuyin saw their shock and attributed it to Wu Yu's personal request, once again causing Han Yuhei's stomach to grow uneasy and his thoughts to feel messy.
While Han Yuhei was unable to know that Wu Yu had never asked for any of this, Wei Wuyin merely said these things in the hopes of easing relations for now, to better suit his purpose. Moreover, killing them would actually negatively affect his plans. He needed at least one of them alive, but two made it seem less deliberate and honest.
Once again, Wu Yu was reminded of Wei Wuyin's scariness. He could visibly see the aggression in Han Yuhei's eyes lessen, feeling guilt even, likely questioning everything. Of course, if it was up to him, Wu Yu would've unhesitatingly crippled them both and taken over the sect.
As long as the Lin Clan survived, the True Element Sect's oaths would remain strong. As such, this would be an amazing base of operations, especially with the Imperial Clan held back by their old mistakes. But this worked too. Wei Wuyin had kept two guardians to maintain this safe house of his.
Furthermore, he learned thoroughly about all those restrictive oaths the two swore with the various mystic-tier forces and Imperial Clan. When he learned that more than a hundred different oaths were sworn, he was absolutely staggered by all of this, even more so by the contents of the oaths.
He now knew why the parasites decided to be parasites.
Holy fuck!
Not only were those territories in the Elementus Domain essentially lost forever, it was the True Element Sect's responsibility to protect it from all sorts of invaders. And those oaths affected every member of the True Element Sect, former or otherwise, so leaving the sect didn't help. Even if you did, and found a way to free yourself from the oaths, intending to eliminate the parasites, the True Element Sect was the first line of defense!
Yet the external clans had no real obligation or oaths in place to force them to act. If they decided, they could abandon the True Element Sect without any repercussions. For example, if the Imperial Clan freed themselves from all oaths and came knocking. The True Element Sect must defend while those clans could escape.
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