The space fell into a deathly silence, broken only by a few muffled groans of suppressed pain.
The Vanguards and guards who had been sent flying by the shockwave gradually got to their feet, each one covered in dust and dirt, their faces a mixture of lingering shock and fear.
They looked at the dark iron prison wall, pierced through by Wind of Evil's body, cracks spreading across it like a spider's web.
Then they looked at Lord Zhimu in the center of the area, slowly retracting his stance, his aura as calm and steady as ever. Unconsciously, everyone's Adam's apples bobbed as they swallowed hard.
Just what kind of monster was he?
No further words were needed; the facts had already hammered themselves into everyone's hearts.
If that level of force had been unleashed without restraint into Ussa's chest, his heart and the surrounding flesh, sinews, and vessels would likely have been pulverized into dust in an instant.
Wind of Evil wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and sprang back to his feet in a kip-up.
"Unless I'm mistaken, that was the folk martial art Eight Extremes Fist, right? But this level of destructive power... How on earth did you manage it?"
Lord Zhimu lowered his arms, his expression still showing little ripple of emotion.
"It's zhenqi. I cultivated zhenqi through my elixir organ, combined with years of tempering. That's all."
The corners of everyone's mouths twitched involuntarily.
They had seen Xianzhou natives who cultivated zhenqi from their elixir organ before, but one as powerful as Lord Zhimu was truly a first.
"Everyone, I haven't finished explaining everything yet."
Lord Zhimu retrieved an object from his jade message's storage space, casually kicked up a nearby stone table with his foot, and placed the object on it.
"Ussa's heart had long been replaced by an abundance scourge."
"What?!" Wind of Evil's expression changed drastically.
Lord Zhimu raised a hand, gesturing for everyone to look at the transparent containment device.
Inside the device, a mass of dark red, nearly black flesh, still slowly writhing and contracting, was securely sealed.
Even through the barrier, one could feel an overwhelming, heart-palpitatingly dense aura of life.
The unique, almost violently twisted vitality characteristic of the blessing of abundance faintly permeated the air.
It was powerful, yet carried an indescribable sense of ominousness, fundamentally different from pure life force. It seemed more like a living mutation, forcibly proliferating and defying natural laws.
No detection or debate was needed. Everyone present, especially the Cloud Knight Vanguard who had fought the Borisin for years, were all too familiar with this aura.
Wind of Evil examined the minced flesh closely, sensing its power, his brow heavy with gravity.
"It truly is a scourge. Decades ago, when I went to the Luofu to meet the Marshal, I saw a branch broken from the Ambrosial Arbor. The aura was quite similar, though this is much weaker in comparison."
"No matter how weak, it can still grant formidable power to the Borisin."
Lord Zhimu pointed at the writhing minced flesh inside the containment device and said gravely:
"That's why I brought it back to the Yaoqing Shackling Prison for proper disposal by the Ten Lords Tribunal. Don't be fooled by its shattered state; it would recover completely in a matter of days."
Wind of Evil: "You did well. If this thing fell into the hands of other Borisin, it would undoubtedly give birth to another Borisin war leader."
Hearing this, a flash of understanding passed through the eyes of those around them.
No wonder Ussa died so decisively; the abundance scourge he relied on for survival had been temporarily destroyed.
But it had to be said, Lord Zhimu's strength was truly terrifying, capable of even sending a General flying.
"Lord Zhimu, the position of Cloud Knight Sword Master of Yaoqing has been vacant for over ten years. It seems now it can only be you," one of the Vanguards said.
All Cloud Knights must train in the sword, so no one bothered to quibble over the title of Sword Master versus a hypothetical 'Martial Master'.
The others instinctively nodded, agreeing with the previous statement.
Unexpectedly, Wind of Evil closed his eyes and sighed: "Due to some personal reasons of Lord Zhimu's, he will not assume the position of Sword Master."
This was also the reason why the Sword Master position had been vacant for a decade—because no Cloud Knight could defeat him!
However, Wind of Evil understood Lord Zhimu.
In the past, besides the duties of planning and deployment, a Xianzhou General also needed to lead from the front, breaching enemy lines and slashing through formations.
But after the Azure City calamity, the Marshal issued a strict order: no General of any Xianzhou ship was to leave the main vessel without authorization.
How long this strict order would last remained uncertain to this day.
Wind of Evil thought to himself that perhaps the order would only be lifted when the threat from the Abominations of Abundance significantly diminished.
But he might not live to see such an era.
The others were taken aback, but they could read the expressions on Wind of Evil and Lord Zhimu's faces and understood this was not a matter to pursue further.
"The important post-battle acquisition has been handed over. If there is nothing else, this subordinate will proceed to the Alchemy Commission for a rationality inspection."
"You've worked hard on the Hunt expedition."
Wind of Evil patted Lord Zhimu on the shoulder.
"Now that the Borisin have lost their war leader, they will struggle to become a significant force for at least a century. This campaign lasted several years. You can take a good rest for a while now."
"Thank you, General. This subordinate takes his leave." Lord Zhimu gave a slight bow of his head and then departed.
Once he left, the remaining Vanguards also dispersed.
Only Wind of Evil remained, staring at the flesh inside the container, his brow gradually furrowing.
He couldn't shake the feeling that this scourge-heart minced flesh was strange, but he couldn't pinpoint why... After concluding his post-victory itinerary across various locations, Lord Zhimu finally returned to his long-absent home.
To call it a home... since the fall of Azure City, the days he had truly spent here were not many.
Of the more than ten years that had passed, nine had been spent carrying out the Xianzhou's will for The Hunt.
"Lord Zhimu, you have returned."
Sleeping Snow and Clear Cold had long since finished their post-battle inspections and had been waiting at home.
"Is Jingliu not here?"
"This subordinate checked the transmitted battle reports. Her squadron is currently in the Magu Star System, 61 light-years from the main ship, where the fighting is intense," Clear Cold reported, bowing her head.
Lord Zhimu gave a slight nod, his gaze falling on Clear Cold's legs.
After a long moment, he let out a soft sigh, tinged with years of remorse.
"A leg injury that should have healed in three years was delayed until now because you followed me through life-and-death battles... I am truly sorry."
"Lord Zhimu, why would you say such a thing?!"
Clear Cold couldn't bear to hear him speak like this. She replied with heartfelt respect:
"If not for you, how could I have returned to the path of the Hunt expeditions? Please, do not apologize again! No matter what the future holds, I vow to remain by your side until my dying breath."
Lord Zhimu was taken aback, noticing a glimmer in Clear Cold's gray eyes that she had never revealed before.
He was silent.
It wasn't that he didn't understand; it was that he couldn't allow himself to understand.
One who meddles in forbidden arts is destined to walk the lonely edge of a blade. How could he drag her into this lightless future?