Chapter 119: Myrtlestar (1/2)

Reaching out his right hand, Lu Yun pointed a finger at the akasha ghost in midair.

Fwoosh!

A fierce black flame swirled atop his fingertip, circulating into a huge vortex.

“What is this… how is this?!” The ghost howled in despair, cowed by the crushing aura that emanated from the youth below.

At this moment, Lu Yun seemed like a lord of creation. The fate of every being was at his whim.

“You sin-steeped thing dares approach me? Heh… hehehe… die.” Nevertheless, it was a struggle for him to force out these words.

Hum.

The Judgment of Life and Death took full effect.

The ghost shrieked once more, this time in pain; its body caught on fire and disintegrated into ash in the blink of an eye. An ominous force rose from the afterimage of its charred shadow, blasting into Lu Yun with vicious spite.

The Tome of Life and Death rose to block this harrowing attack, a last gasp before its master slumped to the ground.

……

“Lu Yun…” Qing Yu stumbled to her feet with great difficulty and hobbled her way over to pull her friend into her arms. “Y-you can’t die, can’t die....”

Lu Yun’s face was deathly pale, even transparent. The flame of life in his body flickered like a candle in the wind, ready to be snuffed out at any minute. Qing Yu poured every ounce of energy she could extract from the Scroll of Shepherding Immortals into his body, trying to stabilize him as best she could.

Despite his damaged soul, Lu Yun had expended every bit of his qi in order to force out the Judgment of Life and Death. There were even cracks on his golden core. The parting blow the akasha ghost had dealt him was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Although the Tome of Life and Death had shielded him from the worst of it, he was nevertheless grievously injured.

“This is all my fault, all my fault!” Tears trickled down her cheeks. If she didn’t have so many reservations about telling him the truth, he would’ve never been deceived by the layout of certain death. He wouldn’t have fallen into the trap and the akasha ghost wouldn’t have come.

It was too late to change the past, there was only a deep-seated regret that threatened to consume her.

A milky light emanated from the scroll, enveloping Lu Yun’s body. Unfortunately, it seemed to have little effect on him. Death’s shadow was already creeping over his nearly translucent face.

Qing Yu bit her teeth together with almost painful force, coming to a resolution. The silver starstone on her chest began to grow in radiance.

“Do you want to save him?” a gentle voice suddenly sounded at the girl’s ear. Instinctively raising her head, Qing Yu saw a carmine figure before her.

It was a woman of such unspeakable nobility that nothing could further enhance her. A violet-gold crown sat atop her head and red robes flared around her like brilliant flames. Her bearing was defined by regal elegance, and an aura of magnificent dignity wreathed about her movements. She loomed like the center of this local world, all life circulating around her to bow down in worship.

“Can you save him?” Qing Yu wiped away just enough of her tears to address the woman.

“I can,” responded the incomparable empress.

“But why should I believe you?” Qing Yu shook her head. “You’re the person buried in that imperial coffin, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” the woman nodded, “but I can indeed save him. Whether or not you believe me… is up to you.”