"...Fine."
Mobius let out a soft breath, seemingly resigned, yet also as if she had made a certain decision.
"Consider it... recovering an interesting experiment, or perhaps..."
She gently swiped her fingertip, and a miniature, eerie green spatial rift appeared. A dark purple core, radiating an ominous yet powerful energy signature, slowly floated out.
The core's surface looked as if sticky data streams and shadows were constantly eroding and flowing over it—this was the Core of the Herrscher of Corruption, which Lu Jingming had given her.
"This might be fate."
A hint of playfulness flickered in Mobius's emerald snake-like eyes. She lightly tapped her finger, and the dark purple Herrscher of Corruption Core floated up, emitting an ominous yet incredibly potent energy fluctuation.
"After all, wasn't your original identity, little one, the Herrscher of Corruption? For you, this core could be considered... a return to the original owner, a reversion to the source."
Before her voice faded, Mobius's eyes narrowed. The Herrscher Core, containing the Authority of Corruption, was slowly guided by her precise power toward Yae Sakura's heart—the most fragile spot, and where the core had first collapsed.
A verdant, life-force energy halo, representing Infinite vitality, and the dark purple Herrscher power, symbolizing Corruption, emerged simultaneously. These two seemingly opposite and contradictory forces, under Mobius's control, reached a dangerous equilibrium, working together on Yae Sakura's rapidly dissipating body.
"The Servant body bestowed by the Holy Grail has completely collapsed, and the core is rapidly dissolving. Ordinary restoration methods would merely delay the process, which is ultimately futile."
Mobius's voice carried the fervor and coolness of someone conducting an experiment, as if the being before her was not a life but a subject.
"But what if we use this Herrscher Core, which represents Corruption, as her new foundational existence?"
The dark purple light quickly merged into Yae Sakura's body like a living entity.
The unconscious girl suddenly arched her back, letting out a repressed, agonizing moan. Countless bizarre, eerie purple lines, like overloaded circuits or corrupted data, instantly surfaced on her skin. The berserk Honkai energy seemed intent on tearing her remaining consciousness completely apart.
However, all of this was forcefully suppressed and guided by Mobius's overbearing emerald life energy, directing the Honkai energy's rampage into a controllable fusion trajectory.
"Hmm?"
Mobius let out a soft exclamation, a trace of surprise flashing across her snake eyes.
"The speed of fusion and the adaptability... are far beyond expectation. Sure enough, her compatibility with this core is astonishingly good."
She watched as Yae Sakura's body absorbed the core's power with almost an instinctive efficiency. The energy body, originally constructed by the Holy Grail system and relying on negative energy, was being rapidly disintegrated and corroded by the core's power, then reshaped into a purer, stronger physique composed of highly condensed Honkai energy.
Mobius soon showed a look of understanding, her gaze sweeping toward the extremely nervous Higokumaru.
"That's right... she and you are in a deep symbiotic relationship, and your original identity, little one, wasn't it the Herrscher who wielded the Authority of Corruption? If she couldn't perfectly match this core, that would be truly strange."
Such perfect compatibility is extremely rare. Neither the Snow Emperor, the Demon Empress, nor Huo Yuhao achieved a perfect match with their respective Herrscher Cores, meaning the power they could exert was limited.
The fierce energy fluctuations gradually subsided.
The dark purple halo retracted, and the emerald life light slowly dispersed.
Yae Sakura's body was no longer transparent and illusory. Instead, it exuded a solid, robust presence. A faint, dark purple glow subtly flowed beneath her skin, signaling a fundamental change in her internal essence.
On her chest, a dark purple core mark slowly faded, finally vanishing, as if it had been completely integrated with her.
Yae Sakura's breathing became steady and deep. Although still in a deep coma, all her vital signs had stabilized.
This was an independent stability, originating from her own core, rather than relying on the Holy Grail system or negative energy for maintenance.
Just like Phantylia, upon receiving the Core of the Herrscher of Corruption, Yae Sakura transitioned from being illusory to becoming more real.
Concurrently, at the exact moment she successfully merged with the Core of the Herrscher of Corruption, the faint, subtle connection she had with the Holy Grail was completely severed and overwritten.
In the Holy Grail's judgment, the Servant named Yae Sakura had died and withdrawn from the War.
The energy that overflowed when her body, originally composed of negative energy, dissipated was also absorbed by the Holy Grail from afar, converting it into pure positive energy that silently nourished the Douluo Star.
On the other end of the distant Mingdu battlefield, Bei Bei was tightly holding the unconscious Tang Ya, being carried away from the city at extreme speed by Jing Yuan.
Behind them, the Holy Spirit Sect forces fought and retreated. Huo Yuhao commanded the massive undead army and the Strikers, tightly holding off the pursuit of Jeanne d'Arc, Aglaea, and others.
Even the powerful Helektra and Cerydra were temporarily trapped by the endless sea of undead and Striker artillery fire, making it difficult for them to break through.
From the moment Helektra saw Aglaea on the battlefield, it was already destined that Helektra and Cerydra would unequivocally stand on her side.
Helektra and Aglaea's relationship goes without saying, and Cerydra, in her original world, also considered Aglaea her successor.
In this reunion in an alien world, they would naturally share the same hatred for their enemies.
Just then, Jing Yuan's keen eye noticed the scarlet Command Spell mark on the back of Tang Ya's hand rapidly fading and dissipating at a visible speed, ultimately disappearing completely.
Jing Yuan knew precisely what this meant.
He couldn't help but let out a soft sigh in his heart, slightly shaking his head, but he said nothing, only increasing the speed of their withdrawal.
He had no intention of helping the Holy Spirit Sect, which is why he only took Bei Bei and Tang Ya. Otherwise, with his strength, he could entirely hold back all the Shrek Academy pursuers by himself.
Once Bei Bei and Tang Ya were safe, he still had to meet that Archon of Annihilation, Celenova. Thinking of this, his gaze subtly glanced skyward.
Up there, the Flames of Destruction and the Storm of the Hunt had split the sky in two, locked in a stalemate.
"Alright, the initial trouble is dealt with."
Mobius waved her hand languidly. A moss-green energy snake, like a living creature, materialized and deftly coiled around the unconscious Yae Sakura, lifting her up.
Perhaps out of some mischievous whim, the way the snake coiled coincidentally accentuated the graceful curves of Yae Sakura's body, presenting a slightly embarrassing yet strangely alluring posture.
However, Higokumaru, at this moment, was completely oblivious to the embarrassing pose her Big Sister had been maneuvered into.
Her small, flaming body flickered violently with excitement, her mind echoing with Mobius's casual words from earlier—
"Let's go. I'll find a powerful patron for you, little one. If you can win his favor, maybe... you'll get to see your sister again."
Mobius deliberately paused, observing Higokumaru's expression, which was nearly frozen in shock, and a mischievous smile curved her lips:
"Just so you know, your sister Elysia... she's there too."
As her voice fell, before the overwhelmed Higokumaru could respond, Mobius chuckled and turned, stepping into the eerie green spatial rift that had silently opened.
The energy snake, wrapped around Yae Sakura, followed closely.
Higokumaru let out a gasp mixed with surprise, excitement, and disbelief, transforming into a torrent of light, eagerly chasing into the rift.
In the Mingdu Imperial Palace, the once-glorious halls were no more, replaced by broken walls and rampant energy turbulence.
Icy killing intent and chaotic Soul Power fluctuations interwove, turning this former seat of power into an unending battlefield of Asura.
He Caitou's eyes were bloodshot. The decades of pent-up blood feud erupted in his chest like a volcano.
Though at the center of the battle, even with the deliberate protection of the Servant Karna, all his life-saving soul tools were shattered, and his Soul Power was nearly exhausted.
The breath of death was close, but he was completely indifferent.
His gaze, sharp as a blade, locked onto the figure not far away—Xu Tianran.
His only obsession now was to witness Karna execute his enemy before his own life was extinguished.
Otherwise, he would die with regret!
"Xu Tianran, today, I will surely take your dog's life to honor the souls of my Father, Mother, and Sister in heaven!"
He Caitou's roar was hoarse but filled with biting hatred. He completely abandoned defense, frantically pouring all his remaining Soul Power, and even his life potential, into the massive soul cannon in his hand. The scorching muzzle concentrated his last vestiges of hatred and fury.
"With just you, my good brother?"
Xu Tianran gave a dismissive laugh.
Although the late emperor had just passed away and he had not yet formally ascended the throne, he already referred to himself as "Zhen" (I, the Emperor), clearly revealing his ambition.
Before his voice trailed off, a chilling, purplish-black energy, full of destruction and ominous presence, emanated from his body—this was the blessing of the Archon of Annihilation, Celenova.
His martial soul, the Purple-Gold Sky-Extinguishing Dragon, was already a top-tier Destruction-attribute martial soul. Infused with Celenova's power, it had long undergone an evolution. Purplish-black light flowed over his dragon scales, emitting a pressure far surpassing ordinary top-tier martial souls, essentially making it a Super Martial Soul.
However, He Caitou's greatest reliance was never himself.
Just as his roar subsided, a light, as brilliant as the scorching sun, suddenly tore through the chaotic battle, bypassing Long Xiaoyao's obstruction and standing upright before him.
The light was sacred and dazzling, as if it gathered all the radiance in the world.
The figure, clad in golden armor and wielding a Divine Spear burning with unquenchable flame, stood as an insurmountable barrier before He Caitou.
It was his Servant, the Son of the Sun God, the Hero of Generosity, Karna.
Karna's expression remained calm and detached, his molten gold eyes placid. He simply observed Xu Tianran, and beside him, the two figures of Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xishui, whose auras were slightly erratic and clothes even somewhat damaged.
Evidently, in the previous exchanges, these two Limit Douluo, who shook the continent, had not gained the slightest advantage against the Son of the Sun God, but rather suffered considerable losses.
Karna did not speak. He merely raised the Immortal Spear in his hand slightly.
The flame at the spear tip burned silently yet furiously, the surrounding temperature rapidly increasing. That pure and vast divine radiance violently collided with Xu Tianran's Destruction aura and the formidable pressure of the two Limit Douluo. It actually pushed back their combined momentum with an overwhelming dominance.
The next moment, Karna moved. He transformed into a golden streak of light that tore the heavens, his Divine Spear thrusting straight, the target aimed at Xu Tianran's heart.
Long Xiaoyao's figure flickered like a phantom, creating countless black shadows. A dragon claw, condensed with Dark Soul Power, shot out, attempting to catch or deflect the trajectory of the Divine Spear.
Ye Xishui shrieked, unleashing a torrent of blood. The foul, stinking blood waves, carrying terrifying power that corroded flesh and soul, surged toward Karna from the flank, attempting to contaminate his pure, flawless Divine Light.
He Caitou also let out his final roar, injecting all his Soul Power into the soul cannon. A beam of blood-colored light, containing endless hatred, erupted and shot toward Xu Tianran.
However, the disparity in strength between the two sides was too great.
Xu Tianran didn't even move. The phantom of the Purple-Gold Sky-Extinguishing Dragon behind him opened its mouth and spewed out a condensed purple torrent of destruction, instantly shattering and annihilating the blood-colored light beam with ease.
The torrent of destruction kept its momentum, rushing toward the completely exhausted He Caitou.
This forced Karna to split his attention. His molten-gold eyes instantly lit up, and the True Name of his Noble Phantasm was revealed: "Brahma, Cover the Earth!"
It was not a spear thrust, but a scorching solar ray shot from his eyes, precisely intercepting Xu Tianran's attack path and neutralizing it.
But it was precisely this momentary distraction and shift in attack that gave Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xishui a chance to breathe. The two managed to join forces, barely fending off Karna's offense.
Just at this moment, a wild, furious roar, like thunder from the nine heavens, exploded:
"Xu Tianran, you wicked spawn, come and face your death!"
A figure, entirely shimmering with emerald green light and radiating an overwhelming toxic miasma and tyrannical vital energy, slammed into the battlefield like a meteor, heading straight for Xu Tianran.
The newcomer was the Sect Master of the Body Sect, Du Busi.
His entire body was surging with vital energy like a sea. The ultimate power of his extreme poison and Body Martial Soul perfectly fused, making him look like a Toxic Flame Demon God.
His joining instantly broke the stalemate.
Du Busi completely disregarded his own defense, adopting a fight-to-the-death strategy.
He concentrated all his berserk power into a single point, roaring as he forcibly tore through the defense perimeter set up by the combined efforts of Long Xiaoyao and Ye Xishui. An enormous emerald green palm, condensed with Limit Douluo cultivation and extreme poison, carried a world-destroying momentum and violently slapped toward Xu Tianran's face.
Xu Tianran's expression finally changed.
Facing a life-and-death strike from a newly joined Limit Douluo, he dared not be careless any longer.
The purplish-black Destruction energy around him surged and condensed. The phantom of the Purple-Gold Sky-Extinguishing Dragon roared, and he fiercely threw a punch, meeting the toxic palm head-on.
Boom—!!!
The terrifying explosion deafened all nearby.
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