Menatap layar proyeksi dengan alis yang mengerut dalam, Wei Wuyin tenggelam dalam pemikiran mendalam. Keadaan Zhang Ziyi yang rentan dan pingsan memang merupakan kerugian. Kerugian yang tidak terhitung dalam perhitungannya, komplikasi tak terduga. Dia seharusnya orang yang paling aman, tapi justru ini yang terjadi. Pada titik ini, sikap Han Yuhei sudah jelas sekali dan pendirian Zhang Ziyi sudah lama diungkapkan, mereka sepenuhnya mendukung Wei Wuyin.
Meski War Talisman ada di tangannya, seorang Earthly Saint bukan eksistensi yang bisa diabaikan nilainya. Jika pengepungan baru-baru ini mengungkapkan sesuatu, itu adalah Earthly Saint sangat sulit dihadapi oleh kultivator dengan basis kultivasi serupa kecuali perbedaannya sangat masif.
Eksistensi seperti Wu Yu dan Soul Saint King bisa dengan mudah menghancurkan Earthly Saint seperti Zhang Ziyi. Dan Zhang Ziyi termasuk Earthly Saint biasa. Dia tahu rata-rata Runic Ascendant State Earthly Saint di Grand Cyclic Stellar Region, dari Ma Zheng, adalah 2nd Runic Ascendant State. Earthly Saint yang ditemui Wei Wuyin, dari Lady Clearwind, Sun Li, Ever-Knights, Faye Liying, Tian Muyang, dan lainnya kebanyakan elit tingkat tinggi, 50 teratas dari kurang dari 200 orang.
Enam Earthly Saint tadi misalnya, menunjukkan perbedaan jelas. Bahkan Sun Li baru 3rd Runic Ascendant meski kaya dan berstatus. Lebih jauh, ada perbedaan antara initial state dan current state. Berbeda dengan Wu Yu, Earthly Saint ini semua elit tingkat tinggi dengan latar belakang luar biasa, mulai dari pemimpin starfield hingga anggota berstatus organisasi kaya, dan Earthly Ascension awal mereka terjadi ribuan tahun lalu, bahkan puluhan ribu tahun lalu, memungkinkan mereka memanfaatkan status untuk memahami satu atau dua Runes of Mysticism tambahan.
Sekali lagi mengingatkan fakta absolut yang kejam: Kultivasi itu sulit.
Meski disebut elit tahap kultivasi mereka, mereka kesulitan menghadapi Earthly Saint Trueborn. Tanda bahwa Earthly Saint tidak boleh diremehkan. Hanya kekuatan murni yang mereka miliki, mampu menghancurkan seluruh starfield, sudah cukup membenarkan pentingnya mereka.
Zhang Ziyi adalah kerugian potensi kekuatan yang luar biasa, tapi yang paling mengkhawatirkan Wei Wuyin bisa merasakan tatapan tertarik dan diam dari Yang Chaoyue dan Tian Muyang. Wei Wuyin telah menggunakan satu-satunya eliksir Mystic-World grade yang dimiliki untuk menyelamatkan Ma Zheng dari ambang kematian, mencapai Earthly Saint Phase, Fourth Stage of the Mystic Ascendant Realm. Eliksir alkimia itu bernama Rousing-Soul Demi-Mystic Elixir, low-tier, low-quality.
Itu persiapan terbaik untuk Cai Liuyang, kekasih Blessed itu, Jing Jiu, di Battlefield, dan satu-satunya yang dimiliki Wei Wuyin. Efek utamanya sangat ajaib, catat Cai Liuyang secara detail. Bisa, untuk periode singkat, memulai state Awakened Mystic Intent buatan di dalam Mystic Soul. Cukup untuk otomatis memulai Earthly Ascension, sambil meningkatkan peluang mencapai Runic Ascendant State lebih tinggi dengan dukungan tambahan.
Seperti tertulis di catatan itu, keistimewaannya berasal dari 100 Mystic Origin Liquids yang digunakan dalam pengracikannya dan bahan aneh berlabel Condensed Spirit Tears, menghasilkan Mystic-Soul Origin. Bahan baru ini lalu dikompilasi dengan bahan mystic-graded lain untuk membuatnya.
Dia sangat menghargai botol itu. Wei Wuyin merasakannya dari betapa terisolasi botol itu di Saint Ring, diamankan dan disimpan dalam kondisi lingkungan yang tepat. Dan dari cara memberinya state Awakened Mystic Intent sementara, bisa dilih betapa berharga produk ini dengan memeriksa Earthly Ascension Wu Yu baru-baru ini. Sebagai kultivator dengan 7th Rune Ascension, dia terdorong ke 8th Runic Ascendant State setelah mendapatkan pencerahan kebetulan ke arah Mystic Intent.
Faktanya, keberhasilan Ma Zheng tiga kali lipat. Termasuk 30.000 tahun usaha kultivasinya sendiri, 1.000 War Souls dan efek pemahaman yang ditingkatkan, dan low-tier, low-quality, Mystic-World grade Rousing-Soul Demi-Mystic Elixir. Pencapaiannya tidak tak terduga sama sekali. Beberapa di luar wilayah tersegel mungkin gila iri mendengarnya.
Sekarang, dengan dua Earthly Saint Klan Kekaisaran menatapnya, dia merasa terpaksa menangani hal ini. Sayangnya, dia tidak punya apa-apa untuk membantu dia segera. Ada beberapa produk pemulihan Mystic-Earth grade di Saint Ring Cai Liuyang, tapi tidak bisa mencapai efek instan seperti yang dia lakukan sebelumnya.
Sayangnya, dia tidak bisa menangani ini dengan cara yang mengesankan. Dia tahu Ma Zheng terbuka menjawab untuk alasan sama, membantu menaikkan prestise dan nilainya lagi. Meski dia menghargai usahanya, itu benar-benar menempatkan dia di posisi sulit.
Wei Wuyin hanya sengaja mengentangkan alisnya jadi ekspresi santai, lega dengan status hidup Zhang Ziyi. "Selama dia hidup," itu saja yang dia ucapkan. Respons terhadap kalimat itu sesuai dugaan dengan mata Yang Chaoyue dan Tian Muyang berkilat berbagai emosi. Mereka sepenuhnya sadar cedera Earthly Saint sangat sulit ditangani.
Ma Zheng menangkap maksud Wei Wuyin, membatalkan proyeksi dengan sedikit senyum. Kemudian, komet cahaya akhirnya melewati batas. Soul Saint King sengaja mengirimkannya ke arahnya.
"Terima kasih atas bantuanmu," Wei Wuyin melirik komet terdekat sebelum dengan tulus mengucapkan terima kasih ke Tian Muyang dan Yang Chaoyue. Bantuan mereka esensial untuk operasi berhasil ini.
Tian Muyang hanya tersenyum balik. Dia menyembunyikan perasaan gelora. Lagipula, mereka baru membantu menggepung Trueborn. Organisasi rahasia itu bukan entitas sederhana. Lebih jauh, Wei Wuyin jelas menyimpan dendam berat terhadap mereka.
Pertama, Fire Phoenix dan kemungkinan Earthly Saint aneh tadi menghancurkan Shadow Egg. Kedua, Earthly Saint berperang dan mengatasi Earthly Saint Trueborn, membunuh satu di tempat dan dua melarikan diri. Ketiga, ada pengepungan terencana untuk menggagalkan operasi berat mereka yang menyebabkan satu Earthly Saint dan empat Demi-Mortal Lords tewas dan lebih banyak tertangkap.
Perkembangan luar biasa dan tanda jelas deklarasi perang Wei Wuyin ke Trueborn. Tapi untuk nyawanya, dia tidak paham kenapa. Sekarang, mereka berdua jadi kaki tangan kemarahan penuh Wei Wuyin. Akan jadi berkah kalau ini tidak menimbulkan masalah nanti.
Yang Chaoyue merasa serupa, tapi bukan cuma waspada pada situasi berkembang, minat pribadinya ke Wei Wuyin yang berbakat dan tampan justru tumbuh. Prestasi mortal ini semakin besar dari prediksinya. Fakta dia menggerakkan upaya terpadu sebelas Earthly Saint, banyak dengan status bereputasi tinggi, dua di antaranya buatannya, tak terbayangkan.
Sama sekali tak terpikirkan.
Tapi, mereka di sini.
Jadi kilauan di matanya tak pudar, dan daya tarik memikat dari senyumnya terus terpancar. "Hal kecil, Ascendant Emperor Wei."
Tian Muyang memutar bola mata di hati. Dia tidak bisa tidak terang-terangan memuji? Tapi mengingat apa yang baru dicapai, mungkin dia layak gelar itu.
Wei Wuyin merasakan mata penuh keinginan Yang Chaoyue menusuk wajahnya. Menjaga ekspresi tak terpengaruh, dia tipis tersenyum dan mengamati Ma Zheng mengambil komet. Imperial Monarch dan Sky Monarch langsung melihat ini dan saling menatap. Tanpa ragu, mereka pergi dengan kecepatan mengejutkan.
Lebih baik tidak mempersulit situasi dengan kehadiran mereka, apalagi dengan tawan Trueborn. Meski mereka ingin tinggal, saluran komunikasi sudah terbuka.
Yang lain segera dibawa, mengungkap tawan kedua sisi. Makhluk Ascended bertopeng Trueborn tampak anehnya tenang dan putus asa sementara sebagian besar barisan Wei Wuyin bingung dengan perubahan dinamika mendadak.
Sun Li, yang memakai battle armor desain indah, tersenyum cerah mendekati Ma Zheng, yang segera melepas segelnya, membebaskannya sepenuhnya, dan membiarkan Mystic Aura-nya mekar gemilang. "Terima kasih."
Ma Zheng juga tersenyum, sedikit kurang cerah, tapi tulus dan emosional. Operasi ini bisa saja kacau, pasti untuk semua yang berpartisipasi bertarung. Variabel merugikan tak terhitung bisa muncul saat pertarungan. Hanya selamat sudah kemenangan besar bagi mereka.
Huoyan Liulan melihat interaksi singkat ini dari keadaan tersegel, dan matanya berkilat aneh. Saat Ma Zheng akhirnya melepas segelnya, dia melepaskan Mystic Aura-nya dengan cara yang lebih mengesankan.
Reaksinya tidak mengejutkan Sun Li, yang tidak merespons. Dia hanya menatap tawan dengan tatap pikun.
Lady Clearwind menghela napas tertekan setelah segelnya dilepas. Sementara yang lain punya pengikatan ringan, dia dibelenggu total. Rasanya melebihi tidak nyaman.
"Dia melepaskan kita..." Faye Liying paling bingung dengan hasil ini. Dia bingung di banyak titik, terutama Soul Saint King membiarkan dia pergi bebas. Dia hampir yakin tidak akan keluar Ninestar Starfield tanpa bayaran sangat berat.
"Dia melakukannya. Apa yang terjadi?" Lady Clearwind langsung bertanya, menatap Ma Zheng. Kemudian, dia mengerahkan spiritual sense mencari Wu Yu. Sayangnya, usahanya tidak hasil. Kilap kecewa melintas di matanya.
"Orang berbaju zirah itu di mana?" Faye Liying menambah pertanyaan. War Commander dan Soul Saint King bertarung, sekitar dua menit, mayoritas disembunyikan cahaya terang, dan akhirnya Soul Saint King keluar tanpa cedera dan melepaskan mereka bebas. Seluruh situasi sangat mencurigakan.
"Kita berhasil," Ma Zheng menyatakan tenang. Dia tidak bilang mereka menang, tapi misi mereka berhasil. Dari tawan yang hadir, itu jelas. Yang lain tidak bisa menahan cibir mendengar jawaban non-jawab, tapi saat mereka menatap Wei Wuyin, mereka merasa tidak bisa menanyakan lebih lanjut.
Wei Wuyin dan Bai Lin sudah sibuk urusan penting lain. Dia mendekati tawan dengan Celestial Eyes pada kekuatan penuh, memeriksa apa yang bisa. Sayangnya, sebagai makhluk Ascended, mereka membuat ini sangat sulit. Tambahan, jubah penyembunyi dan topeng mereka dibuat dari bahan mystic-graded tinggi, shadow-attributed. Bahkan mayat terbakar lawan Huoyan Liulan tersembunyi total, penyembunyian menempel di daging lelehnya.
Tapi, dia merasakan Karmic Sin di beberapa. Mereka benar-benar terasa seperti bahan bakar Blessed.
"Lepaskan topeng mereka," Wei Wuyin memerintahkan tenang.
Gelombang ketegangan perlahan menyebar.
Pertanyaan di pikiran semua orang akan terjawab: "Siapa Earthly Saint ini?"
Chapter 932: A Successful Operation
Staring intently at the projected screen with a set of heavily furrowed brows, Wei Wuyin was in deep thought. Zhang Ziyi's vulnerable and unconscious state was indeed a loss. A loss that his calculations hadn't factored, an unseen complication. She was supposed to be the one in the least amount of danger, yet this happened. At this point, Han Yuhei's attitude was abundantly clear and Zhang Ziyi's stance was long since stated, they wholeheartedly supported Wei Wuyin.
Even with the War Talisman in his possession, an Earthly Saint was not an existence that could be dismissed in value. If the recent ambush revealed anything, it was that Earthly Saints were extremely difficult to deal with by those of similar cultivation bases unless the difference was extremely massive.
An existence like Wu Yu and the Soul Saint King could absolutely demolish Earthly Saints like Zhang Ziyi. And Zhang Ziyi was amongst the ordinary Earthly Saints. He knew that the average state of Runic Ascendant States for Earthly Saints in the Grand Cyclic Stellar Region, from Ma Zheng, was the 2nd Runic Ascendant State. The Earthly Saints that Wei Wuyin had come across, from Lady Clearwind, Sun Li, Ever-Knights, Faye Liying, Tian Muyang, and the others were mostly high-level elites, top 50 amongst less than 200.
The six Earthly Saints, for example, showed clear examples of this difference. Even Sun Li was a mere 3rd Runic Ascendant despite her wealth and status. Furthermore, there was a difference between initial state and current state. Unlike Wu Yu, these Earthly Saints were all high-level Earthly Saints with exceptional backgrounds, ranging from starfield leaders to seated members of wealthy forces, and their initial Earthly Ascension had occurred thousands of years ago, or even tens of thousands of years ago, allowing them to use their status to fully comprehend one or two additional Runes of Mysticism.
Once again serving as a heartless, brutal reminder of one absolute fact: Cultivation is difficult.
Yet despite being referred to as so-called elites of their cultivation stage, they had difficulty handling Trueborn's Earthly Saints. A sign that Earthly Saints was not to be underestimated. Just the sheer power they wielded, capable of devastating entire starfields, was enough to justify their importance.
Zhang Ziyi was an exceptional loss of potential strength, but most troubling was that Wei Wuyin could feel the interested, quiet gazes of Yang Chaoyue and Tian Muyang. Wei Wuyin had used the sole Mystic-World grade elixir he possessed to bring Ma Zheng from the brink of death, reaching the Earthly Saint Phase, Fourth Stage of the Mystic Ascendant Realm. The alchemical elixir was called the Rousing-Soul Demi-Mystic Elixir, and it was low-tier, low-quality.
It was the greatest form of preparation for Cai Liuyang, the lover of that Blessed, Jing Jiu, in the Battlefield, and it was the only one that Wei Wuyin possessed. Its primary effect was extremely miraculous, according to Cai Liuyang's detailed notes. It could, for a brief period, initiate an artificial state of Awakened Mystic Intent within the Mystic Soul. That was enough to automatically initiate the Earthly Ascension, while increasing one's chances of reaching a higher Runic Ascendant State with the added support.
As stated in those notes, its specialness originated from the 100 Mystic Origin Liquids used in its concoction and a strange material labeled as Condensed Spirit Tears, generating Mystic-Soul Origin. This new material was then compiled with other mystic-graded materials to make it.
She cherished this bottle with the utmost importance. He felt it from how isolated it was in the Saint Ring, secured and stored in the proper environmental conditions. And from how it granted one a state of temporary Awakened Mystic Intent, one could see how extremely valuable this product was by examining Wu Yu's recent Earthly Ascension. As a cultivator who had a 7th Rune Ascension, he was pushed to the 8th Runic Ascendant State after having serendipitous enlightenment towards Mystic Intent.
In fact, Ma Zheng's success was three-fold. It included his own 30,000 years of cultivation efforts, a 1,000 War Souls and their enhanced comprehension effects, and the low-tier, low-quality, Mystic-World grade Rousing-Soul Demi-Mystic Elixir. His achievements were not unexpected at all. Some beyond the sealed regions might go crazed with envy after hearing of it.
Now, with the two Imperial Clan's Earthly Saints staring at him, he felt pressed to handle this matter. Unfortunately, he didn't have anything to assist her immediately. There were a few recuperative Mystic-Earth grade products within Cai Liuyang's Saint Ring, but it couldn't achieve an instantaneous effect like he had done before.
Unfortunately, he couldn't deal with this in an impressive fashion. He knew that Ma Zheng was openly answering for the same reason, helping elevate his prestige and value once again. While he appreciated the effort, it truly placed him in a spot.
Wei Wuyin could only deliberately unfurrow his brows into a relaxed expression, relieved by Zhang Ziyi's living status. "As long as she's alive," was all he said. The response to this sentence was as expected with Yang Chaoyue and Tian Muyang's eyes flashing with various emotions. They were fully aware that injuries of Earthly Saints were absurdly difficult to deal with.
Ma Zheng caught on with Wei Wuyin's intentions, cancelling the projection with a hint of a smile. Afterwards, the comets of light finally passed the borders. The Soul Saint King had deliberately sent them his way.
"Thank you for your assistance," Wei Wuyin gave the nearby comets a glance before earnestly giving thanks to Tian Muyang and Yang Chaoyue. Their help was essential to this successful operation.
Tian Muyang merely smiled in response. He hid his tumultuous feelings. After all, they had assisted in ambushing Trueborn. The clandestine organization was not a simple entity. Moreover, Wei Wuyin clearly seemed to hold a heavy grudge against them.
First, the Fire Phoenix and likely that strange Earthly Saint from earlier destroyed a Shadow Egg. Then, the Earthly Saints fought against and dealt with Trueborn's Earthly Saints, killing one on scene and leaving two fleeing for their lives. Now, there was a planned ambush to thwart a heavily invested in operation of theirs that led to one Earthly Saint and four Demi-Mortal Lords losing their lives and more being captured.
It was an outrageous sequence of developments and a clear sign of Wei Wuyin's declaration of war on Trueborn. But for the life of him, he couldn't understand why. Now, the two of them were accomplices to Wei Wuyin's vigorous wrath. It would be a blessing if this doesn't cause troubles down the line.
Yang Chaoyue also felt similar, but instead of feeling just wary about this developing situation, her personal interest in the handsomely talented Wei Wuyin grew. This mortal's feats were becoming increasingly greater than she could've ever predicted. The fact he fielded a united effort of eleven Earthly Saints, many of them with highly reputable statuses, two of which he made, was unimaginable.
It was outright unthinkable.
Yet, here they were.
So the sparkle in her eyes refused to give way, and the alluring charm exuded from her smile was constantly on display. "A small matter, Ascendant Emperor Wei."
Tian Muyang rolled his eyes in his heart at her. Can she not be so overt with the flattering? However, considering what he'd just accomplished, maybe he deserved that title.
Wei Wuyin could sense her desirous eyes searing into his face. Maintaining an unaffected expression, he faintly smiled and watched as Ma Zheng retrieved the comets. The Imperial Monarch and Sky Monarch immediately saw this and glanced at each other. Without hesitation, they left with mind-blowing speeds.
It was best not to complicate the situation with their presence further, especially with Trueborn captives. While they would love to continue staying, the channel for communication was established.
The others were soon brought over, revealing the captives of both sides. The masked Ascended beings of Trueborn seemed oddly quiet and dispirited while most of those a part of Wei Wuyin's line-up was confused by the sudden shift in dynamics.
Sun Li, on the other hand, who wore her exquisitely designed battle armor, brightly smiled as she moved closer to Ma Zheng, who promptly unraveled her seals, freeing her completely, and allowing her Mystic Aura to grandly flourish. "Thank you."
Ma Zheng showed a smile as well, a little less bright, but earnest and emotional. This operation could have easily gone sideways, definitely for all those who participated in the fighting. There were endless detrimental variables that could have revealed themselves during the fight. Just surviving was a huge win for them.
Huoyan Liulan saw this brief interaction from her sealed state, and her eyes glinted strangely. When Ma Zheng finally removed her seals, she unleashed her Mystic Aura in an even more impressive fashion.
Her reaction came as no surprise to Sun Li, who showed no response. She merely looked at the captives with a thoughtful gaze.
Lady Clearwind released a heavily suppressed breath after her seal was undone. While the others had light restraints, she was shackled thoroughly. The feeling was beyond uncomfortable.
"He let us go…" Faye Liying was the most baffled by the outcome. She was confused on many points, mostly with the Soul Saint King allowing her to freely leave. She was almost certain that she wouldn't be leaving the Ninestar Starfield without an exceptionally heavy cost.
"He did. What happened?" Lady Clearwind questioned immediately, looking at Ma Zheng. Afterward, she exerted her spiritual sense to try and locate Wu Yu. Unfortunately, her efforts yielded no results. A glint of disappointment flickered in her gaze.
"Where's the armored fellow?" Faye Liying added to the question. The War Commander and Soul Saint King had fought, something lasting for over two minutes, the majority of which was concealed in bright radiance, and at the end, the Soul Saint King came out unscathed and let them go free. The entire situation was incredibly suspicious.
"We succeeded," Ma Zheng calmly stated. He didn't say they won, but that their mission had been a success. From the captives present, that was clearly the case. The others couldn't help but frown at the non-answer, but when they looked to Wei Wuyin, they found themselves unable to inquire further.
Wei Wuyin and Bai Lin were already invested in other important matters. He approached the captives with his Celestial Eyes at full strength, inspecting what he could. Unfortunately, they, as Ascended beings, made this exceptionally difficult. Additionally, their concealment robes and masks were forged using high-level, mystic-graded, shadow-attributed materials. Even the burnt corpse of Huoyan Liulan's opponent was thoroughly hidden, the concealments adhering to his melted flesh.
That said, he could feel Karmic Sin on quite a few. They truly felt like fuel for Blessed.
"Unmask them," Wei Wuyin calmly ordered.
A wave of tension slowly spread out.
The question on everyone's mind was about to be answered: "Who were these Earthly Saints?"
Komentar Chapter (0)
Login buat ikut berkomentar.
Belum ada komentar di chapter ini. Jadi yang pertama!