Dong Cha Tian Shi took quite a while to compose herself before she had the strength to rise to her feet.
She had truly been terrified.
Once up, she hurried to Wu Dao Saint Venerable’s side at once, producing numerous precious treasures to set up a healing formation and treat her master’s wounds.
She knew full well that her master’s condition was dire. Without prompt treatment, he might very well lose his life.
After a long bout of healing, Wu Dao Saint Venerable finally regained consciousness and awoke.
“Master, how are you?”
Seeing her master stir, Dong Cha Tian Shi rejoiced.
Though the situation remained precarious, the mere fact that he had woken meant her master would not perish immediately. At least, there was still hope.
“This Venerable’s soul has suffered grave damage. It will require slow recuperation.”
“That ancient spirit domain is now beyond reach.”
Wu Dao Saint Venerable spoke with evident regret.
“But Master, if you do not go, will all the treasures within that ancient spirit domain not simply fall into others’ hands?”
Dong Cha Tian Shi felt deep sorrow.
She knew how long her master, Wu Dao Saint Venerable, had prepared for that ancient spirit domain.
He had even entered seclusion to break through his cultivation, all to more smoothly claim the inheritance within.
And her master had clearly succeeded in his breakthrough, mastering the sixth layer of Dragon Transformation Insight.
With such strength, he could lord over the entire Holy Light Heavenly River. No one could stand against him.
Unless, that inheritance could not be claimed by anyone in the whole Holy Light Heavenly River.
If anyone could claim it, that person would surely be her master, Wu Dao Saint Venerable.
Yet who would have thought that at this juncture, they would encounter such a malevolent star, who had gravely wounded her master?
“Master, it is all this disciple’s fault. I have dragged you into this.”
Dong Cha Tian Shi brimmed with shame.
After all, those three had come seeking her, and her master had stepped forward on her behalf, only to suffer such heavy injuries.
Though it was far from her desire.
Yet in the end, had it not been for her, her master Wu Dao Saint Venerable would truly not have faced this calamity.
“What is done is done. Think no more on it. For this old man to have survived is already a stroke of immense fortune amid misfortune.”
“However, my dear disciple, this old man’s wounds are truly too severe. Not only will they demand prolonged recuperation, they require immediate treatment as well.”
“And now, the only one who can aid this old man in his healing is you.”
Wu Dao Saint Venerable’s voice was exceedingly feeble, yet he voiced no blame towards Dong Cha Tian Shi.
“Master, this disciple will spare no effort to heal you.”
Dong Cha Tian Shi spoke in a tone of solemn vow.
With that said, she began to deploy formations to the best of her ability, aiding her master’s recovery.
Yet Wu Dao Saint Venerable shook his head. “Disciple, with mere such measures, you cannot help me.”
“Master, then how should this disciple proceed?”
“Please guide me.”
Dong Cha Tian Shi said.
At these words, Wu Dao Saint Venerable mustered all his strength, raising both hands to tear open his robes and bare his chest.
And upon his chest was unexpectedly an array.
“This is?!!!”
Seeing that array, Dong Cha Tian Shi’s pupils contracted. She felt a twinge of fear.
Though she could not discern what manner of grand array it was, merely beholding it allowed her to sense its eerie nature.
“Disciple, place your hand upon it.”
“This array of mine will guide you on how to help me.”
Wu Dao Saint Venerable said.
“Master…”
Yet Dong Cha Tian Shi hesitated somewhat.
It was not that she was unwilling to aid her master, but that array was truly too bizarre.
It stirred unease deep within her heart.
“Disciple, this old man was wounded on your account.”
“Surely, you would not abandon me to die, refusing even to help your master heal?”
Wu Dao Saint Venerable asked.
“Master, this disciple owes all she is to your nurturing.”
“This disciple will not defy your will.”
With these words, Dong Cha Tian Shi extended her hand and placed it upon Wu Dao Saint Venerable’s chest.
Hum—
As her palm made contact, a dark crimson glow erupted from within that array.
At the same instant, terrifying shrieks, like the wails of vengeful ghosts demanding souls, echoed through this stretch of heaven and earth.
And Dong Cha Tian Shi’s face drained of colour at once, as she let out a cry of agony.
“Master, spare your disciple.”
At this moment, Dong Cha Tian Shi struggled fiercely, desperate to withdraw her hand.
Yet it was to no avail.
At this time, the prior benevolence on Wu Dao Saint Venerable’s face had vanished without trace. In its stead surged a thick malice.
“You useless thing, forever courting disaster, forever courting disaster.”
“This old man prepared for that ancient spirit domain over many years, only for the calamity you drew down to bar my path. Today, I shall use your life to heal these wounds of mine.”
With these words from Wu Dao Saint Venerable, those eerie shrieks intensified, the crimson glow blazed brighter.
But Dong Cha Tian Shi’s screams of torment gradually weakened.
Finally, the red light faded, the cries ceased, and Dong Cha Tian Shi slumped to the ground with a thud.
Only now, she resembled a withered corpse, her features utterly ruined, bereft of even a whisper of breath.
As for Wu Dao Saint Venerable’s complexion, it had improved markedly.
Though he no longer appeared as frail as before, he still looked to be in a state of heavy injury.
Yet he rose all the same, attempting to take to the skies.
He had barely lifted off when he plummeted once more, crashing hard to the ground.
“Damn it all. Must this old man truly miss his chance?”
At this moment, Wu Dao Saint Venerable’s face was writ with utter unwillingness!!!
…
The site of the ancient spirit domain was, in truth, a rather desolate place.
This was a lower realm within a mid-star domain.
No one knew why such a formidable ruin lay hidden here.
Yet it was undeniable that solely because of this ancient spirit domain, this lower realm had undergone earth-shattering changes.
Powerful boundary spirit masters from across the entire Holy Light Heavenly River frequented the area, with some even lingering long-term.
Especially of late, it had grown extraordinarily lively.
Even those legendary boundary spirit masters, who had long been in seclusion, had now appeared here.
The reason was simple: the day of the ancient spirit domain’s opening drew exceedingly near.
