Chapter 396 - 231: Becoming the Night, Star Abyss Prison
The Guardian Beast Flower Venerable had just summoned was also an Ice Attribute entity.
This giant, Eternal Tier ice tree, blooming with a full canopy of flowers, manifested a domain.
This domain, filled with drifting frost and snow, enveloped the Punishment Flame Griffin.
It directly synergized with the ultimate attack unleashed by Frost Day’s Order Beast.
The ice shell covering the Ice Flame Griffin grew thicker and stronger.
The Deceit Knight, currently clashing with the Fallen Star Night Qilin, realized that to escape with the Punishment Flame Griffin...
’I have to get rid of Flower Venerable’s Guardian Beast first!’
The Deceit Knight feinted an attack on the Fallen Star Night Qilin with his Emperor’s Tool while moving toward Flower Venerable’s position.
But things didn’t go as the Deceit Knight had planned.
The Fallen Star Night Qilin fought with exceptional ferocity, completely disregarding its own injuries.
Every one of the Fallen Star Night Qilin’s attacks, imbued with Star Power, was already difficult for the Deceit Knight to handle.
At the same level of the Peak of Ten Thousand Nations, an Order Beast was inherently stronger than a Lifebound Deceit Beast that had grasped the Power of Rules through unorthodox methods.
’This Fallen Star Night Qilin’s trade-blow-for-blow strategy has already left a wound on my body deep enough to show bone, and we’ve only clashed a few times!’
’The Fallen Star Night Qilin isn’t much better off, of course. The giant horn on my Emperor’s Tool pierced straight through its shoulder blade.’
’An injury like that would take years to heal, even if it’s constantly nurtured in the Star Emperor’s Soul Base.’
’But my strike, one that threatened its very Origin, didn’t make the Fallen Star Night Qilin hesitate. It only made it crazier.’
’Unless I’m willing to take a few of its attacks squarely on my back...’
’...I won’t be able to free myself to deal with that new Guardian Beast Flower Venerable summoned.’
’The Star Emperor isn’t just some run-of-the-mill expert at the Peak of Ten Thousand Nations. She’s a veteran powerhouse.’
The longer the Deceit Knight fought the Fallen Star Night Qilin, the more anxious he grew.
’The Fallen Star Night Qilin has been out for a while now. Star Night herself is bound to show up soon.’
’And judging by how her Qilin fights, she won’t let this go easily when she does.’
’With her Emperor’s Tool and that Rule Purity Body of hers, Star Night is more than capable of making me stay in the Xin Xia Federation... permanently.’
At this thought, the Deceit Knight glanced at the hysterical, red-eyed Prince of Deceit beside him.
He decided to retreat.
Just then, the stars in the sky blazed to life in an instant.
Starlight converged on the Fallen Star Night Qilin’s back, and a ribbon, deeper in color than the night itself, coiled through the air like a Spiritual Snake.
Her face a mask of cold fury, Star Night grabbed the serpentine ribbon with one fair hand and gave it a light shake.
A magnificent star chart instantly appeared upon the ribbon.
"You people from the Mass Divine Sect’s White Mist Divine Hall are far too brazen!"
"Since you dared to cause a scene at this estate, you can stay here forever!"
The Deceit Knight clearly felt Star Night’s boundless killing intent.
The finality in that killing intent sent a chill down the Deceit Knight’s spine.
To have reached the level of the Peak of Ten Thousand Nations meant one was an apex expert in their own world.
It also broadened one’s horizons, revealing through the Virtual Source Network just how vast everything was beyond one’s own world.
In that context, no one was willing to die.
"Star Emperor, my power may not equal yours!"
"But if you insist on keeping me here, I’ll make sure you regret it."
"If you’re hell-bent on this, your seat among the Three Emperors of the Xin Xia Federation will be forfeit."
Star Night didn’t waste her breath on the Deceit Knight. She simply called out.
"Body of Night, Star Abyss Prison!"
The deep, dark night became like a physical substance, enveloping the Deceit Knight who had merged with his Lifebound Deceit Beast, the Eternal Flame Nightmare.
Even as the Deceit Knight used his Emperor’s Tool, the Heaven-Shaking Yama Axe, to unleash his Imperial Decree: Molten Lava Demon Execution Ground, raising a massive commotion...
...it was all swallowed by the darkness. Star Night and the Fallen Star Night Qilin had also vanished.
Flower Venerable watched the sky with a complicated expression.
’Star Night is prepared to keep that Deceit Knight here by force, even if it means suffering grievous injuries herself.’
’The Deceit Knight’s threat—that he could make the Star Emperor lose her seat among the Three Emperors of the Xin Xia Federation—wasn’t just an empty boast.’
’Even if the Star Emperor has the rank of the Peak of Ten Thousand Nations, if she can’t wield its power...’
’...then her claim to her seat among the Three Emperors would be illegitimate.’
’Even if the others said nothing, the Dragon Emperor would almost certainly propose a replacement.’
From what Flower Venerable knew, the Star Emperor was not a reckless person.
For her to be willing to make this decision, a decision that would cost her and her Order Beast’s Origin, there had to be a reason.
Flower Venerable thought for a moment, and her gaze fell unconsciously upon Zhong Yi.
’Could it be because Zhong Yi has the ability to heal someone at the Peak of Ten Thousand Nations?’
’I was at the Eternal Peak, and Zhong Yi treated me then.’
’It’s not impossible that Zhong Yi could also heal someone at the Peak of Ten Thousand Nations.’
’If that’s the case, then from the moment Zhong Yi used the Instant Jade to summon the Order Beasts of the Star Emperor and Frost Day...’
’...to the Fallen Star Night Qilin receiving Star Night’s order to trade blow for blow regardless of injury...’
’...all the way to Star Night herself appearing and deciding to trap the Deceit Knight by force... it all makes perfect sense.’
The night sky churned. Within that tangible darkness, two powers at the level of the Peak of Ten Thousand Nations were clashing violently.
Zhong Yi, Flower Venerable, and Tao En all looked up toward the sky.
They watched until the darkness gradually dispersed, revealing the brilliant midday sun that should have been bathing the land in light.