The Steward Demonic Emperor

Chapter 1103: Cosmic Soul Nurturing Array

Proofreader: Papatonks

In a black space, the black flames spread to every corner, burning the five-hundred-meter-long prismatic dragon. It howled from pain, its pristine scales and sharp claws eaten away. 

In moments, the dragon’s size was reduced to a third.

The dragon squinted and sighed.

He gave up hope. 

[With the death of my soul, I’ll be erased from this world.]

The dragon closed its eyes, at peace.

He had given up on everything, but then Sea Ao gave his eye to save him, sparking hope. Now not even Sea Ao could do anything to get him out of this disaster.

All these changes led to an uneasy heart from peace. He was better off not even trying. 

[Alive or dead, Zhuo Fan, haven’t you made peace with it?]

The dragon smiled, free of pain and ignoring the burning flames.

Hu~

A wind blue out of nowhere, brushing the flames and the dragon. The huge dragon froze. 

[Where’s the pain?]

He opened his eyes to gaze in shock.

[Where’s the thunderflame?]

The cooling breeze passed once more through the space. Pure light followed, shining down like fireflies, bringing a touch of color to this dark place and hope into the huge dragon’s eyes. 

[Why is this light so familiar…]

The dragon stared, feeling soothed under the glow as the light slowly seeped into his body and healed his battered soul. The huge dragon stood proud and majestic once more.

[What’s going on? I was about to die so why am I alive? Where did the light come from? Did senior Sea Ao manage to save me? Can I go back to Qingcheng and fight the Invincible Sword?]

The dragon roared in laughter, focusing his senses on his real body.

Sss~

The thunderflame was still around, but Zhuo Fan’s pain subsided, opening his eyes.

What he saw left him in utter shock, “Qingcheng…”

Chu Qingcheng was hugging and kissing him, though her eyes were still lost. She had done this out of nothing but instinct…

“Qingcheng, hurry and let go!”

Zhuo Fan’s eyes shook, noticing the ravaging thunderflame around him and Chu Qingcheng. He shouted with panic.

He wanted to get his lover away and not drag her down. Only to find out he had no strength to even twitch a finger, leaving him confused. 

Sea Ao smiled, “Awake, are we? He-he-he, kid, I don’t know what miracles you did in your past life to have someone exchange their life to save yours in such a doomed situation. You truly are fortunate!”

“Exchange with mine?”

Zhuo Fan reacted at last, the thunderflame now moved from him to Chu Qingcheng and burned her instead.

Zhuo Fan gasped, finding himself powerless to help. “Qingcheng, leave! I don’t want you to save me, just go…”

Chu Qingcheng didn’t hear him, her sightless eyes staring back at him with her body using her Yuan Qi to take his flames into herself.

Zhuo Fan’s heart was in constant pain, the right eye and the now empty and black left socket shedding bitter tears of sorrow, “Qingcheng, leave! I don’t need saving…”

“Kid, you just don’t know how to count your blessings. Who could save you as you are?” 

Sea Ao glanced at him, “That thunderflame is devastating and needs the right vessel to contain all its power. But this girl has the Empty Spirit Body. Do you know what that means? Since ancient times, hardly anyone understood its real implications. Allow me to enlighten you. Heavenly Sovereign has the Empty Spirit Body. It’s why he got to create the Divine Eye of the Void and grasp sovereignty through the spatial path!

“Now you get it? She has the same body as Heavenly Sovereign, she can take on your Divine Eye of the Void’s role into containing the violent thunderflames. Her soul is a domain soul practicing arrays. With the power of one person, an array can be formed. This array is baffling, able to draw upon the cosmic cycle’s power, but not to fight. It is to help. Your soul was about to fade but the girl saved you in time. Even with the flames off you, you’d end up a wreck with that ruined soul of yours. Now though, your very core is intact and safe, able to reach sovereignty without a worry. And all thanks to this lass, ha-ha-ha…” 

Zhuo Fan shuddered, looking around lost. Thanks to his extensive experience in arrays, he could glean into its functions despite not having a base, “Cosmic Soul Nurturing Array… h-how can someone know it? How is it you know it?”

Zhuo Fan shed tears as she looked at Chu Qingcheng, his heart in agony, “I clearly ruined it…”

“Yes, even as a sacred beast I can tell this array focuses on soul recovery, a life for a life. Every soul is unique, making using the array lead to soul clashes. That’s why only the Empty Spirit Body can use it.” 

Sea Ao sighed, “Kid, no one would ever turn their soul into panacea for another. Unless she did it for one person, to save him when he needed it most. Kid, you are fortunate to have someone who cares for you so much, to give their life for you.”

The tears flowed out of his control. Zhuo Fan stared into Chu Qingcheng’s empty eyes, filled with sorrow and anguish.

[Her only thoughts were for me, but she still doesn’t recognize me…] 

Zhuo Fan shouted, “Qiao’er, get her back!”

Qiao’er shook and took a step forward.

“It’s too late now!”

Sea Ao spoke, “They’re both affected by the thunderflame. Taking the girl will only lead to both of them dying. Let this continue and the brat can be saved. it’s either both of you die, or just one. The choice should be obvious for a smart guy like you.”

“Then I’ll die with her.”

“Throw her off yourself then. Don’t involve the little Thunder Phoenix!”

Sea Ao snapped back, “Little Thunder Phoenix sees you as a father and her as mother. She’ll be killing the both of you. As a father, you should not let your own child carry such guilt.

“Senior Sea Ao, you do it!”

“Don’t feel like it. I gouged my eye out for you and everything. Letting you die would mean I maimed myself for nothing.” Sea Ao glared at him and turned to the pitiful Qiao’er, “This is love, something every Sovereign experienced. He needs this pain.”

“But father…” Qingcheng hesitated watching Zhuo Fan struggle to get Chu Qingcheng away.

Sea Ao smiled, “He’s now weak due to the thunderflame exhausting his Yuan Qi. As drained as he is, he can do nothing but go with our wishes.”

Sea Ao glanced at the two. The black flames were mostly on Chu Qingcheng now, leaving only a little left within Zhuo Fan’s body. Chu Qingcheng could take in no more. And the more there was of the thunderflame, the faster she burned. At this rate the flames would consume her before she finished.

Sea Ao mulled over the situation, his eyes drifting to the three divine swords.

“The lass alone can’t take all the flames. We need to amplify the array!”

Sea Ao flicked and the three divine swords floated over as he mumbled, “The array uses the heaven cycle’s power and needs the five elements at its core to showcase its might. But we don’t have them. I am only able to replace earth, fire, water and wind.”

Heaven Sealing Sea Ao held out a scarlet sword and stuck it at a spot around Chu Qingcheng, “Soaring Sword, representing the boundless earth!” 

Ding!

Soaring Sword was on Chu Qingcheng’s left, shining scarlet.

“Heaven Sealing Sword, representing the surging water!”

Ding!

Heaven Sealing Sword stuck three meters from Chu Qingcheng.

“Decimating Sword, representing the scorching fire!”

Ding!

Decimating Sword stabbed where Sea Ao gestured.

The problem was, what came next?

Sea Ao frowned but heard a whistle as a black sword floated before him, its blade quivering…