Chapter 9
Based on the betrayal of an agenda, the success of the scheme declared overlapping arrivals, dedicating the absence of death's opportunity to be avoided as in his past behaviors.
Clearly, it could not be tolerated, to normalize the killing of the Supreme Judge in the realm of Humanity, a deed rooted in both palms.
Grounded in stab wounds, with skull shattering as if from marble heated a thousand times, the backlash was felt directly, and without hesitation, the True Authority sentenced the young man to death.
A spell was cast, an incantation capable of overturning the range of power, which immediately struck and rooted within Huan Zheng, its inversion carried out step by step.
Minutes had passed, traversing survival attempts though the Dao Seed, the Falling Crystal, and the Heavenly Axis were all fading, leaving not a single remnant behind.
Here he was, trapped in the lowest realm under the mandate of power—the Star Position.
Even so, though his level of power had certainly plummeted, finding himself fallen to the mere Human Star, the crowd—particularly the twenty figures seeking to hasten his death—found it exceedingly difficult to face Huan Zheng alone.
Yet such a circumstance did not mean that Huan Zheng was safe, or that there existed the safest place for him to situate himself.
Continuing to reflect, he realized that past actions could no longer be undone to align with principle. Subconsciously he recalled, understanding that every act bore consequence, and this was the punishment he deserved following his earlier deeds.
It was useless, defining literal meaning as nothing more than harm.
Coinciding with the sigh uttered within, the long sense of regret was suddenly startled, unwilling to believe as twenty rays arrived, streaking swiftly toward Huan Zheng's present position.
No time was wasted—his palm's fingers moved to calculate.
It had grown thin, less than two breaths remained, when the rushing beams converged directly, forcing his body backward, then downward, plunging through the independence of space.
There was no explanation, such was the strangeness of the event.
Not only nearly all protective talismans, whether treasure of offense or diverse incantations, had vanished, their repeated activation declaring them as dead objects.
Added to this was the target's disbelief in handling the continuity of the case. Without warning, the source was expelled, immediately moving against his field of vision, traversing infinity upon infinity, surpassing both space and time until the Milky Way became a temporary resting point.
Of course, the action was not meant to end.
His banishment from the Divine Seat of Authority continued, once again driven without additional helm, until Huan Zheng's nearness was nearly upon the outer edge of a planet.
That planet was none other than Earth, and whether coincidence or fate, the most populous dwelling of Exiles was precisely the land where the Enlightened Outcast Ling Xu had received his miracle.
Setting aside that thought, with his head tilted downward, he continued descending, advancing at above-average speed to pierce the barriers of the atmosphere.
Returning to the bright youth of eighteen years.
An orphan since the Battle of Harmony of the past era, he was at present joyful, repeatedly covered in layered tranquility as he soared onward.
Though he tried to conceal his outward behavior, positivity was nearly impossible, hard to avoid or push away, considering his temporary dwelling was now only thirty kilometers ahead.
There lay the boundaries of the Xuelan Encampment, the best place for cultivators to complete their missions.
Even by staying only a few days, the fierce conflict between human factions and the Warriors could be exploited, repurposed to reap the best gains in order to maximize possession of suitable cultivation resources.
Always remembering the risks at every corner, his willingness for so long surfaced again, clearing space in his heart with the intent to forge one hundred fragments anew.
Initiated long ago, perhaps over three years, his story was one of skillful seeking, so that a higher position could be grasped as it should.
And just as his heart was wrapped in vows of hope, a dream was suddenly torn, scattering his shallow imagination as an echo warned of looming calamity.
Unknown to him, the deepest recess of Ling Xu's heart could not comprehend the reality that was taking form.
Yet the weak pulse submerging his consciousness recently served as proof—the clear sky-blue revealed itself, accompanied by spreading colors.
It was no longer illusion—the fading aura was real, defining the surrounding space he floated in, its colors beginning to unravel in instability.
Brilliant hues spread fiercely.
Even without being told, Ling Xu already knew—he had to avoid it, unwilling to be drawn into a battle that intuition declared was now at hand.
But just as he tried to move his body away, a suffocating air pressed against him, blocking every escape route whether planned before or conceived in the final moment.
A harsh impact came, mixed with fiery bursts along every edge.
With the bright blue glow in front, while twenty beams streaked from behind, the grand form became clear—it was no ordinary meteor, but one that could carve a crater where Ling Xu now flew.
Setting aside healing, the fatal state could only invite sorrow, its tragic trace seeming not just capable, but willing to abandon body and soul to the heavens with a single collision.
An intention, deliberate? But if so—what origin and what benefit could such an act bring?!
There was no more time to think.
Nothing needed to be hidden—his subconscious demanded survival, determined to save himself after the imminent crash.
"Good fortune draws near. Along with it, endless misfortune will accompany this body…"
Acknowledging his laziness, defining his natural gravestone within the ecosystem, every ounce of subconscious strength moved, hastening his escape to avoid an invasion upon his consciousness.
But moment by moment, as each phrase of encouragement declared itself for the twenty-fifth time, his evasions collapsed, colliding with the weakened vital point of Huan Zheng, who fell freely.
Sadly, Ling Xu could not resist, having no choice but to be struck, for his escape route and alternative maneuvers were blocked by the enormity of the protective sphere.
Through the fierce collision, the two fell together, announcing both the near-death Huan Zheng and the stunned Ling Xu's simultaneous descent.
By coincidence, their falls landed upon separate areas, not by intention but by fortune, securing their impact.
It was the best effort to contain, yet it brought surging efficiency amidst their wild descent.
But no matter how great the effort to prioritize, the meeting of the two was inevitable, marked by the crash as the beginning of their encounter.
Like it or not, the inevitability of interaction must be accepted, impossible to avoid—especially for a God-Enlightened Outcast like Ling Xu.
To be continued…