Chapter 265: Rescue

Inside the grand hall, everyone held their breath, watching this scene unfold. They all hoped that their ancestor, Emperor Zi Lei, would rescue Dongbo Xueying. The destruction of the Demon God Cult’s headquarters and the annihilation of the Great Demon God’s avatar was an exhilarating victory, one destined to be recorded in the annals of the Xia Clan’s history. Yet, the most crucial figure in this triumph, Dongbo Xueying, now lay here, defeated. They could not accept this reality.

Time passed, second by second, and everyone waited anxiously.

“Wu Shen, truly worthy of being one who has transcended to the Divine Realm,” Emperor Zi Lei sighed. “He managed to cultivate the ‘Six Ghostly Grievances’ even before reaching the Divine Realm. This Wushen Sword has been carried and nurtured throughout his long years as a deity. It now bears the Wudu inherently. Fortunately, it’s only a trace, embedded in the weapon itself.”

The practice of Voodoo.

In the Celestial Dominion, countless mighty beings had long since forged terrifying curses of dark sorcery.

Thus, in the ages to come, those who attained the proper realm could gather rare materials and craft their own Voodoo. Among them, the “Six Phantasmal Torments” Voodoo stood as the most legendary—Wu Shen’s crowning achievement upon ascending to divinity. Had he unleashed it personally during his divine era, he could have channeled the Voodoo through the Spectral Godblade upon striking, inflicting even god-tier foes with unbearable agony and crippling wounds in an instant…

Without even striking the foe, the Voodoo curse could be unleashed into the surrounding air, seeping insidiously into the enemy’s flesh.

The Sword of the Witch God was merely a weapon, a mere conduit.

After prolonged cultivation and usage, the Divine Witchblade had naturally absorbed the “Six Spectral Curses” of witchcraft. Though its potency had greatly diminished, it remained more than sufficient to handle demigods.

“Ancestor Zi Lei, is this voodoo called ‘Six Ghostly Grievances’?” Palace Master Chen couldn’t help but inquire.

“Yes, precisely the ‘Six Ghostly Grievances’,” Emperor Zi Lei nodded solemnly. “It was only after joining the Blood Blade Divine Court that I gained the opportunity to personally verify and study countless arcane poisons. That is how I came to recognize it. Had I not joined the Blood Blade Divine Court, I likely never would have.”

Amidst the endless curses of voodoo, to break their hold, one must first discern the venom.

Without identification, how could one counteract it?

Yet, countless Voodoo artifacts lay before one, ripe for study and dissection—a dreamscape for legions of scholars devoted to the arcane arts of alchemy, though mere mortal sects of the Divine Realms could scarcely fathom such treasures.

“Can it be countered?” Palace Master Chen pressed urgently.

Emperor Zi Lei’s eyes swept over the assembled crowd as he declared, “Those gathered here today represent nearly all the demigods of our Xia Clan’s current generation. This young man, Dongbo Xueying, has been afflicted with an exceptionally troublesome curse. While saving him is not beyond our means, there are certain matters I must clarify first.”

Everyone listened attentively.

Chi Qiu Bai, Chao Qing, Sikong Yang, Yu Jing Qiu, and others close to Dongbo Xueying were especially anxious.

“Even if I concoct a mystical potion and deliver it for him to ingest, first, Dongbo Xueying would need to consume it consistently. Yet, the dark curse would slowly adapt, demanding ever-increasing doses while its potency wanes. At best, the elixir’s effects would endure for two centuries before fading entirely, and Dongbo Xueying would still meet his demise. Should he drink the potion too hastily, his remaining years might prove even fewer.”

“Secondly, the Voodoo Curse resides within his body, subjecting him to the relentless torment of the ‘Six Ghostly Grievances.’ You’ve never endured it, so you cannot fathom its horror. Let me tell you—this curse is infamous for its excruciating agony! The very reason Dongbo Xueying lies unconscious is that the pain became utterly unbearable, forcing his mind to shut down. In time, consuming the elixir may dull the suffering, but as its effects wane, the torment will creep back. Overwhelmed by unbearable anguish, he will instinctively seek more elixir, hastening his demise. Though theory grants him two centuries of life, in truth, few survive even a hundred.”

“Furthermore, as the Voodoo Curse has permeated the very essence of his being, he shall never advance in cultivation. His ancient lineage shall remain forever dormant. At the same time, the curse has corrupted his dantian, severing all paths to harnessing Aura. The Aura within him shall wane with every exertion, until naught but emptiness remains.”

(Note: I’ve rendered “巫毒” as “Voodoo Curse” to convey its mystical nature, “斗气” as “Aura” to match fantasy conventions, and maintained the poetic rhythm of the original while ensuring the ominous tone remains intact.)

Finally, the torment of the “Six Phantasmal Torments” voodoo is so excruciating that even with the elixir’s alleviation, the suffering remains utterly horrifying. Under such unbearable agony, it will be impossible for him to focus on unraveling the arcane mysteries of the heavens and the earth.

“Therefore…”

“If we save him, theoretically, he has at most two centuries left—perhaps even less than a hundred. He will endure the torment of Voodoo day and night. His physical cultivation and battle qi will stagnate, impossible to advance. The unbearable agony will shackle his ability to unravel the mysteries of heaven and earth.” Emperor Zi Lei’s voice deepened, “Moreover, rescuing him demands an endless supply of medicinal elixirs—enough to sustain two hundred years. Delivering such elixirs would be akin to bestowing a divine artifact upon the mortal realm!”

“Since I’ve entered the Blood Blade Divine Court, I can afford it, but at such a great cost, saving a crippled individual, is it worth it?”

Emperor Zi Lei gazed at the group of Xia Clan’s extraordinary beings, “The decision to save or not rests with you!”

Silence enveloped the hall.

No one had anticipated such an outcome.

The ‘Six Ghostly Grievances’ hex was so excruciating it could render even a transcendent being unconscious—an agony beyond imagination. Even with the elixir, Dongbo Xueying would still endure unbearable suffering, writhing in torment day and night. Under such relentless anguish, how could he possibly focus on unraveling the mysteries of Heaven and Earth? His physical cultivation and battle qi would stagnate, and his lifespan would wither away—at most two centuries, and even that was merely a fleeting hope.

And delivering the elixir was comparable to sending down a divine artifact?

Throughout the Xia Clan’s long history, only the most formidable ancestors had been capable of sending down divine artifacts. How many such artifacts had ever been bestowed?

“Is there truly no way to completely heal Dongbo Xueying? If we know it’s the ‘Six Ghostly Grievances’ voodoo, surely there must be an antidote somewhere in the entire Divine Realm?” Palace Master Chen pressed anxiously.

“There is indeed a way!” Emperor Zi Lei responded. “Not only for the ‘Six Ghostly Grievances,’ but even for more potent voodoo curses, the Divine Realm holds solutions. Yet the price far exceeds what our Xia Clan can bear! If Dongbo Xueying were in the Divine Realm, saving him would be effortless. But he remains in the mortal world, where the true forms of Divine Realm powerhouses cannot manifest. We are limited to external aids like medicinal elixirs for treatment. A single dose capable of instantly purging the ‘Six Ghostly Grievances’ voodoo from a transcendent being would be akin to descending a hundred divine artifacts upon the mortal plane. Even if all the divine beings of our Xia Clan pooled their treasures, it still wouldn’t be enough!”

Palace Master Chen dared not ask further.

Even if it were feasible.

It would be impossible to convince the Xia Clan’s ancestors to sacrifice all their treasures. Even if the younger generations were willing, the ancestors in the Divine Realm would never agree. After all, the ancestors had their own lives and struggles in the Divine Realm.

“Make your decision, don’t delay. This young lad cannot hold on much longer,” Emperor Zi Lei urged, looking at all the demi-gods present.

Yu Jing Qiu was anxious and tense.

The decision?

To save or not?

She naturally wished to save him; otherwise, Dongbo Xueying would perish! Yet, the demi-gods of the Xia Clan also needed to consider the immense cost. Emperor Zi Lei was willing, but the rescued Dongbo Xueying would merely be a cripple.

The demi-gods of the Xia Clan exchanged glances, no debate was needed, each had already made their decision.

“Save him!” Palace Master Chen declared.

“Save him!” Mountain Master He said without hesitation.

“Xueying has rendered great service to our Xia Clan. He is the most gifted extraordinary being in our clan’s history. His future was once boundless, but he has endured countless hardships for the sake of our clan, breaching the Demon God Cult’s headquarters and destroying the Great Demon God’s avatar. He has sacrificed so much, facing the assassination attempts of Wu Shen and the Great Demon God, ultimately ending up in this state. If we do not save him, can we still call ourselves the Xia Clan? If an extraordinary being dies fighting for the Xia Clan, we must never betray any of them!”

“Save him!” Palace Master Tai Shu also affirmed.

“If it required ten or eight divine artifacts, threatening the very foundation of our clan, I might hesitate. But sacrificing a single divine artifact won’t shake our foundation! However, if we do not save Xueying, the Xia Clan will no longer be the clan we are willing to sacrifice everything for!” Chao Qing’s voice thundered, his eyes blazing like lightning.

“Save him!”

“Save him!”

“Save him!”

Yu Jing Qiu’s eyes turned red as she listened.

Every demi-god present voiced their decision, a collective will that even Emperor Zi Lei couldn’t help but smile at.

The Xia Clan was still the same Xia Clan he remembered!

Though they had endured countless calamities, even retreating to the Xinhuo World, the Xia Clan had never bowed. Whether it was the abyssal demons, invasions from other worlds, or threats from the Great Demon God and other powerful divine beings, even the subtle pressure from the ‘Earth Temple’—nothing had ever made the Xia Clan yield! The Xia Clan would always rather stand and die than kneel and live!

This world was the Xia Clan’s world; no one dared to interfere recklessly.

The Earth Temple? We allow you to spread your faith, but you must abide by our rules! The Demon God Cult? If you defy the rules, you must remain hidden in the shadows. Should you dare to show your face, you will be hunted without mercy!

Every extraordinary being of the Xia Clan was fearless in the face of death, but likewise, the Xia Clan would never betray these extraordinary beings.