Chapter 2868: Floating Light's Promotion

As he mused, Lu Ye gradually approached Fugang's location.

Looking up, Fugang's figure came into view. He appeared to be in a dilapidated Dao Integration city. The city wasn't large, only about Earth-rank in scale.

Endless Star Abyss energy surged forth, converging into a vast, powerful torrent of Dao power churning around him.

Fugang was spread out in a large 'X' shape, as if suspended in mid-air by invisible ropes. His body was like a bottomless pit, madly devouring the ambient Dao power.

"He's not right!" Jin Yao murmured, her brow furrowed.

As Lu Ye observed, Fugang's eyes had rolled back like those of a dead fish, and he was trembling violently. His expression was blank and stiff, occasionally flickering with a hint of pain, but he made no sound.

The violently surging power was more than even he could bear. Clusters of blood mist periodically burst from his body, only to vanish without a trace.

Lu Ye didn't know what it looked like when Baqiu ascended and broke through that day, because Baqiu had already severed his foundation and failed his ascension by the time Lu Ye returned from the Origin World.

But as Jin Yao said, Fugang's current situation was clearly not right. This was definitely not what a normal breakthrough should look like.

"He's been completely corrupted!" Lu Ye said gravely.

In other words, Fugang currently had no sentience of his own, or it was suppressed and hidden.

The Star Abyss energy's corruption of cultivators' bodies and minds is invisible and intangible. As long as cultivators practice in the Star Abyss, they cannot escape this fate. Figures like Fugang and Jin Yao are particularly favored by the Abyss's will, as they are candidates for becoming true saints.

The Star Abyss blessing, for instance, although it can bring considerable benefits to the blessed, also deepens the corruption.

The longer this corruption lasts, the deeper it permeates the body and mind.

Fugang had lived for an unknown number of years. The reason he chose to hide in the Harmonious Realm was that his own condition had reached its limit, necessitating his retreat to this sanctuary free of Star Abyss energy.

He himself must have sensed something was amiss.

But having been startled, he fled the Harmonious Realm and returned to the Star Abyss, which broke the limit he had been suppressing.

So the current situation is not that Fugang is trying to ascend, but that he has been chosen!

Although the Abyss's will has not awakened, it still retains its instincts. Lu Ye's repulsion by the Star Abyss energy, which makes it difficult for him to use external forces, is a manifestation of this instinct.

It had been desperately waiting for the ninth true saint. Baqiu was originally a suitable candidate, but unfortunately, he severed his own foundation, making the Abyss's wait futile.

Lu Ye still remembered the boundless malice and fury that surged from the depths of Abyss Island when he left the Origin World that day.

In such a situation, with a figure suddenly appearing in the Star Abyss who was qualified to become a true saint, how could the Abyss's instinct let him go?

What's more, Fugang's body and mind had reached the limit of corruption, needing just one final push to break through.

As various thoughts surged, Lu Ye vaguely grasped the truth of the matter.

His heart grew heavy. If this were the case, then this matter was somewhat related to him.

If he hadn't brought Jin Yao out of the nameless place, this current situation wouldn't exist. But how could he have imagined that Fugang would be so startled by Jin Yao's appearance that he would leave the Harmonious Realm?

"He can't be allowed to break through!" Lu Ye made an instant decision. "Fellow Daoist, guard my soul!"

As he spoke, he flashed forward.

Jin Yao's figure flickered, and she vanished.

Two breaths later, Lu Ye arrived near Fugang's figure. Being there, the Star Abyss energy was incredibly violent, and the ambient Dao power boiled around him. He paid it no mind. His Mount Crag Blade was unsheathed with a ringing sound. His Dao power surged, converging into the blade, and he brutally struck down towards Fugang.

He had already begun cultivating the ninth stage of the Lesser World Secret Art. The Mount Crag Blade had also been nourished to over 800 Dao marks. This single strike unleashed over 9,000 Dao marks of power.

Even if Fugang had the qualifications to become a true saint, without the blessing of a Dao Integration Orb at present and relying solely on his own foundation, he would most likely be unable to withstand this killing blow.

However, in reality, as Lu Ye's blade descended, the ambient Dao power around Fugang seemed to come alive, swirling in layers. In a short time, it continuously weakened Lu Ye's blade force. By the time the blade struck Fugang, only 60% of its power remained.

It still couldn't break through his protective Dao power, only causing his body to tremble.

Lu Ye's brows furrowed as he realized something was wrong.

The situation just now was undoubtedly not Fugang's own ability. Instead, during his breakthrough, the surging Dao power around him formed a natural defense.

He didn't know if this was the case when Baqiu ascended, but it seemed likely to be the same now.

Things were indeed not that simple.

In an instant, Lu Ye didn't retreat. His grip on the blade became even steadier. As Dao power surged, a blood-red banner suddenly unfurled behind him.

It was the Immaterial Battle Flag he had seized from Zong Shenliang.

There were many precious fruits on the Talent Tree, but currently, only this item could enhance his strength.

With the appearance of the Battle Flag, Lu Ye felt his strength increase again. It wasn't a huge amount, about 500 Dao marks, but such an increase was not insignificant for any cultivator.

The next instant, the Dao power reserve on the Talent Tree rapidly depleted as Lu Ye wielded his long blade into a blur of afterimages.

Every strike was with full force, each unleashing nearly 10,000 Dao marks of power.

Amidst such dense sword light, Fugang was like a peeled onion. The ambient defenses around him shattered inch by inch.

The sharp blade light gradually approached Fugang's physical body.

As if sensing danger, Fugang's already violently trembling eyes began to tremble even more fiercely.

Suddenly, his eyes rolled back forward. He stiffly turned his head, staring blankly at Lu Ye, who was within arm's reach.

That gaze made Lu Ye momentarily lose himself.

The moment their eyes met, he seemed to see the figure of a monster lurking in an unknown place. That figure was vast and magnificent, incomprehensible and indescribable, instinctively filling him with dread and terror. It was like the origin of all calamities and the end point of destruction.

Lu Ye's hand movements paused slightly.

Even in the Origin World, he had never seen the true body of the Abyss, as it was sealed within Abyss Island. Yet, in that instant, he seemed to catch a glimpse.

A strange, guttural sound suddenly echoed in his mind.

In his Soul Sea, Jin Yao's expression changed, because not only Lu Ye heard the sound, Jin Yao heard it too.

The moment that sound rang out, Lu Ye's Soul Sea was heavily impacted, stirring up tumultuous waves.

She quickly shook the Soul Suppressing Bell in her hand. Its ringing resonated, surging forth, but it couldn't immediately calm the turmoil in the Soul Sea.

Lu Ye's head throbbed, feeling as if it would split, and he vaguely had the illusion that his soul was shattering. Yet, after only a brief hesitation, his offensive became even more fierce.

The natural defense around Fugang shattered even more severely, and Lu Ye's sharp blade force had already caused blood to seep from Fugang's skin.

After several breaths, Lu Ye finally cleared all obstacles. The only thing left before his long blade was Fugang's protective Dao power!

Just as he was about to press on decisively and slay Fugang there, a chilling sensation suddenly crept over him.

Without warning, he felt as if a pair of cold eyes were staring at him from behind. It was like a fierce beast, baring its fangs at him and opening its bloody maw.

He would die!

If he were to deliver this strike, he would truly die!

The moment this thought crossed his mind, Lu Ye didn't hesitate in the slightest, and the blade descended.

At the same time, a violent force erupted from behind him. As a mirror's light shattered, Lu Ye felt pain throughout his body. The flesh on his back exploded, and he was sent flying.

In his inverted vision, he vaguely saw a masked figure standing behind his original position. The mask had a white background with a clear red character "Two" on it!

His consciousness became muddled. He vaguely heard Jin Yao's cries of alarm in his Soul Sea, and the Mount Crag Blade had already flown out of his hand.

*Clanking sounds...*

A strange, clanking sound was heard, as if chains were being dragged. Lu Ye tried to open his eyes to see clearly, but his eyelids felt incredibly heavy. Finally, his consciousness sank, and he fainted.

In the vast, boundless Starry Sky, Lu Ye's broken body lay still on a shattered meteorite.

The Mount Crag Blade, which had previously flown out of his hand, had autonomously returned, hovering by Lu Ye's side like a loyal guardian.

Liao, having been nourished by Lu Ye, now possessed over 800 Dao marks of power, comparable to a Dao Integration body. However, without Lu Ye's Dao power reserve, Liao was like a tree without roots or water without a source, unable to exert much of its true power. But this was all it could do for now.

Having followed Lu Ye for so many years, Liao had truly never seen Lu Ye suffer such severe injuries. His back was a bloody mess, his internal organs were almost all shattered, and even his Dao bones had developed many fine cracks.

Jin Yao also stood nearby, looking at the Mount Crag Blade, her eyes filled with surprise.

The soul and the blade seemed quiet, but they were actually communicating telepathically.

"He should be waking up soon," Jin Yao said. Before Lu Ye fell unconscious, she had been using the power of the Soul Suppressing Bell to sort out his chaotic Soul Sea. Now, his Soul Sea was no longer in great danger; his unconsciousness was solely due to the severity of his physical injuries.

Moreover, such injuries showed no signs of healing. The terrifying Dao intent lingering around Lu Ye's wounds was impeding their recovery.

Almost the moment Jin Yao's voice fell, Lu Ye slowly opened his eyes.

He was startled at first, then remembered what had happened. Immediately, bone-deep pain radiated from all over his body.

He slowly sat up, turned to look at Jin Yao beside him, then at the Mount Crag Blade, and raised his hand to retrieve Liao.

His gaze shifted to the shattered Earth-rank city in the distance, and his eyes slightly darkened.

"I'll heal first!" he said. He then immediately activated the power of the Talent Tree, burning away the Dao intent that had invaded his body.

A full half-day later, with the burning away of the invading Dao intent, Lu Ye's injuries slowly began to heal.

Once he opened his eyes, he immediately looked at Jin Yao. "Where's Fugang?"

Jin Yao said, "After you were injured, a black chain suddenly appeared, shackled Fugang, and then he disappeared."

Although he had already guessed this outcome, upon receiving confirmation, Lu Ye's heart still grew heavy.

Fugang... had ultimately ascended to a true saint!