"Whoosh!"
Just as the Empress Dowager was approaching, a cunning gleam flashed through the feral eyes of Taosha, and a sinister smile crept upon its twisted and hideous mouth.
Immediately after, it seemed as if thousands of lost souls were wailing mournfully between heaven and earth. The blood-red eyes of Taosha were filled with venomous hatred, and the remaining fierce aura converged like a raging tide, swiftly forming a sharp, abyssal black spike that shot towards the Empress Dowager with unstoppable momentum.
The Empress Dowager’s pupils shrank, and with a swirl of moonlight in her hands, forming a transparent barrier like a cascading galaxy, she guarded herself firmly.
However, the spike strangely spread out. Although partially purified, it evaded the Moonlight Power and pierced toward her heart.
The Empress Dowager’s expression changed slightly, and in a flash, she sidestepped, leaving the phoenix robe on her shoulder sliced open, exposing a deep, bone-revealing wound.
"Buzz..."
The next moment, a black mark appeared near the wound, as if alive, wanting to spread across her entire body.
"Damn it!"
"How dare you harm me!"
A glint of anger appeared in the Empress Dowager’s eyes, and she burst out with brilliant Moonlight Power, which restrained Taosha. Unable to withstand it, Taosha’s body rapidly disintegrated.
As the Moonlight Power surged, Taosha’s massive form cracked inch by inch, finally turning into a wisp of black mist, completely purified.
However, within a few breaths, possibly due to activating the Moonlight Power, the black mark on the Empress Dowager’s smooth shoulder extended further.
Originally white and smooth, her fragrant shoulder now bore an ugly black mark as conspicuous as a maggot clinging to the bone.
"What is this?"
The Empress Dowager’s Dai Mei furrowed deeply, feeling a strong sense of repulsion as she tried to purify the wound with the Moonlight Power.
But the black mark was extraordinarily strange, repelling even the Moonlight Power.
Moreover, each time she activated the Moonlight Power, the mark spread a little more, as if Taosha’s resentment had taken root in her.
Even the Moonlight Power flowing around her was overshadowed.
"Bloodline Curse!"
Tu Yaoyao’s expression turned serious. As a member of the Qingqiu Race, even through the light barrier, she could feel the terrifying nature of the black mark.
This was a curse formed by the trace of bloodline power from an ancient beast, cast by Taosha before it died!
Qin Yu had no time to think, and with a thought, stepped out of the Lifebound Space.
"No, don’t come near me!"
The moment she saw Qin Yu, a trace of joy flashed in the Empress Dowager’s beautiful eyes, but she immediately stepped back half a step, clutching her shoulder, as if afraid of him seeing her unsightliness.
"Empress Dowager, let me have a look."
Qin Yu took a deep breath and tried to squeeze out a smile.
The Empress Dowager shook her head, stepping back again with a face full of resistance.
She didn’t want Qin Yu to see such an ugly black mark on her body!
She feared that Qin Yu might distance himself from her because of it.
At the same time, the Empress Dowager continued to activate the Moonlight Power, attempting to purify the black mark beneath her shoulder.
However, as the Moonlight Power surged, the black mark gradually spread, even that slim hand was unable to hide it.
"Qin, Qin Yu, don’t look at me!"
The Empress Dowager was about to cry.
What’s happening?
This annoying black mark, why can’t it be purified?
Qin Yu hesitated, wanting to step forward and comfort her, but seeing the Empress Dowager’s resistant demeanor, he found it hard to bear.
"Swish!"
The distant battlefield finally calmed, and a streak of golden light roared toward them.
The Empress said nothing, directly grabbing the Empress Dowager’s hand, and although the deep wound had healed, a sinister black mark almost covered half her shoulder, even seeping into the Great Phoenix’s wings.
"Bloodline Curse!"
The Empress’s expression darkened, a grave look appearing in her dignified eyes.
"Your Majesty, can you help me purify it?"
Tears welled up in the Empress Dowager’s beautiful eyes, almost crying in urgency.
This black mark was extremely repulsive to her, and if it were on her hand, she’d want to cut it off.
Without saying much, the Empress was surrounded by a tricolored radiance, emanating a profound and mysterious wave.
Gold, unstoppable and eternal.
Thunder, the power of Celestial Punishment, chastising evil and spirits.
Light, purifying all evil, sacred and spotless.
Compared to the gold and thunder attributes, the Origin Power of Light Attribute was indeed weaker. Clearly, though the Empress had comprehended the Light Attribute Dao Rhyme Power, the path to perfection was not complete, and she had not fully grasped its Origin Power.
But at this time, the Empress could not care about so much, forcibly activating her Origin Power.
As the three Origin Powers merged, the black mark quivered slightly but did not dissipate, not even fading.
This black mark clung to the Empress Dowager’s smooth and delicate skin like a maggot, and it seemed to devour the Origin Power, as it subtly spread further.
Seeing this, the Empress immediately stopped, not attempting further.
"Your Majesty, what is a Bloodline Curse?"
Qin Yu, also worried, couldn’t help but ask.
"This Taosha has the ancient beast’s bloodline, and this black mark is a curse transformed from that ancient beast’s bloodline."
The Empress’s expression was heavy, she took a deep breath and spoke slowly.
The Empress did not reveal everything; the blood curse can affect the Empress Dowager’s bloodline power.
Moreover, it continuously devours Spiritual Qi and Power of Dao Rhyme, constantly strengthening the curse power.
In the future, as long as the Empress Dowager activates even a trace of Moonlight Power, she’ll suffer the pain of backlash!
"Why can’t it be removed?"
"I really hate it!"
The Empress Dowager was truly anxious, rubbing her palm vigorously, hoping to erase the black pattern through this method.
However, evidently, this was in vain.
Even though the white skin turned red from rubbing, the black pattern showed no signs of fading.
"Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, let me try."
Seeing the Empress Dowager like this, Qin Yu was also a bit distressed.
In his heart, the Empress Dowager was a symbol of innocence and sunshine, even when angered by the Empress, it was just a fleeting temper.
Qin Yu had never seen the Empress Dowager in such a state.
The Empress nodded slightly, showing approval.
The Empress Dowager initially wanted to refuse, for some reason, deep down she didn’t want Qin Yu to see this ugly black pattern on her body.
However, facing the concerned gaze of the Empress and Qin Yu, the Empress Dowager ultimately closed her beautiful eyes.
Qin Yu stepped forward slowly, his gaze filled with gravity.
The lines of the Empress Dowager’s shoulders and neck were as elegant as a swan, her skin slightly rising and falling with each breath, beneath the slender, delicate skin, faintly visible blue veins like a wisp of smoke under white porcelain, inviting protection, yet fearing to break it.
Yet, on such perfect fragrant shoulders, a black pattern spread and coiled like a venomous snake.
It was not purely black, but emitted a hint of dark purple sinister glow. Upon closer inspection, there seemed to be black threads flowing within the pattern, like a bound resentful spirit struggling.
Moreover, the black pattern’s boundaries were unclear, like ink diffusing in water, with an indistinct tendency to seep and spread outward.
"Don’t... don’t look."
The Empress Dowager’s voice was as thin as a mosquito’s, and feeling Qin Yu’s breath, she couldn’t help but turn her head away.
Qin Yu kept observing the black pattern, and only then did he discover the intact wing of a Great Phoenix within the damaged phoenix robe.
Ssss!
Qin Yu took a deep breath, dispelled evil thoughts, and gently extended his palm. As soon as he touched the black pattern, a chill unlike anything on earth transmitted through his fingertips, as if countless tiny icy needles pierced beneath the skin.
He couldn’t imagine the extent of pain the Empress Dowager was enduring at this moment.
"Buzz..."
Immediately, Qin Yu focused his mind, and True Essence surged forth.
"Ugh..."
The Empress Dowager’s Dai Mei furrowed, gasping involuntarily, as the black pattern suddenly heated up, as if branded into flesh, the pain causing a look of agony to appear on her alluring face.
Next, a comforting feeling arose, causing the Empress Dowager’s Dai Mei to relax, her beautiful eyes gently narrowing.
"Qin Yu, you’re amazing, I feel... so comfortable."
The Empress Dowager murmured as if in a dream.
Since the black pattern appeared, she finally felt a trace of relief; if possible, she wished she could stay like this forever.
The Empress’s gaze fixed tightly on the black pattern; if it weren’t for her worry about auspiciousness, she would have scolded.
The words sounded so awkward!
Listening to such soft speech, Qin Yu’s heart fluttered...
However, the most crucial thing now was dealing with the ruinous beast’s bloodline curse, he could only strive to control his underlying impulses and keep channeling True Essence, attempting to refine it.
However, for True Essence, which has purifying effects on malice and death Qi, its effect on the bloodline curse seemed minimal.
Even though Qin Yu tried as much as possible, he merely managed to give the black pattern boundaries, preventing it from continuing to spread like ink.
"Why is his Spiritual Power so unique?"
The Empress’s eyes slightly creased.
Every time she saw Qin Yu purify malice and death Qi, she’d be somewhat puzzled; she didn’t expect that the bloodline curse which even her Power of Origin couldn’t affect, his Spiritual Power could still have an effect.
Yet, the effect was too weak!
If this continues, Qin Yu might exhaust himself and still be unable to purify even a trace.
Qin Yu clearly realized this point, but even if it only had some slight effects, he didn’t give up because of it, as the mighty True Essence continuously surged forth.
The Empress sighed softly in her heart and did not intervene.
Having just seen the Empress Dowager in such pain, her heart ached slightly, if possible, she would even be willing to endure such pain for her.
In the blink of an eye, half a day passed.
As two Half-Venerable Ruins Beasts fell, the shadow of another Ruins Beast emerged in the world.
"Let’s go out first."
The Empress took a deep breath and looked at the somewhat unstable Qin Yu, speaking in a deep voice.
Qin Yu nodded silently, feeling guilty as he glanced at the black pattern on his hand that showed no signs of fading.
However, just as he intended to retract his palm, the Empress Dowager suddenly reached out and embraced his arm, her slender hand tightly pressed on his large hand.
Perhaps because of Empress Dowager’s exertion, the edge of his palm faintly touched the Great Phoenix’s wings.