Chapter 463: Fulfilling the Promise

Chen Mu and the other four did not return directly to the Star Palace; instead, they first went back to the temporary base at Flying Eagle Rock to rest and await word from Star Lord Tianxi regarding the specific condition of Star Lord Ju Men's injuries.

Not long after, Star Lord Tianxi sent a message via the Star Talisman.

Star Lord Ju Men's injuries were extremely severe: his physical body was damaged, and his soul had suffered prolonged erosion from the "Soul-Corrupting Heart Lock" and beast-mystic arts, nearly dissolving.

Fortunately, timely rescue saved his life for now, but he requires long-term rest and recovery, cannot move in the short term, and may suffer lasting complications.

Upon learning Ju Men was no longer in immediate danger, the group exhaled in relief.

"We owe our success in rescuing Ju Men to Star Lord Wu Qu luring the enemy and Star Lord Tianxi acting decisively to save him."

Star Lord Tianfu concluded, "In the subsequent battle, though we severely wounded the Beast God and shattered his ritual, our own expenditures were substantial, and this location is now exposed—we cannot linger. Yet before we leave, there is one matter we must settle."

He turned to Chen Mu. "Star Lord Wu Qu, you previously negotiated an agreement on our behalf with the Shi Gui tribe 'Shi Chui.' It is time to fulfill it."

Chen Mu nodded and briefly recounted to the other three Star Lords the Shi Gui tribe's request to cleanse the black obsidian mine contaminated by the Beast God.

"The black obsidian mine…"

Star Lord Tiankui mused, "I recall that region—it borders the tributary of Poisonous Dragon Pond. The contamination is deeply entrenched. Though the Shi Gui are formidable, purifying such corruption, mixed with dark magic and yin-poison miasma, is not their strength."

"A promise made must be kept."

Star Lord Po Jun spoke bluntly, "Even though our expenditures in this battle were heavy, jointly purifying a mine is no great challenge. Let's go."

Star Lord Di Kong nodded silently, indicating no objection.

Thus, after a brief period of adjustment to restore their states to stability, the five flew swiftly toward the desert plains northwest of Thousand Caves Mountain, behind the Iron Thorn Forest.

…

On the desert plains, several members of the Shi Gui tribe 'Shi Chui' continued laboring in the open stone field.

When they saw five figures clad in Star Robes, their qi profound and unfathomable, descend from the sky, they halted their work, their stone eyes flickering with caution and scrutiny.

Chen Mu stepped forward and communicated via spiritual sense with the leader of the 'Shi Chui,' conveying the message concisely.

Their companion had been successfully rescued, the ritual destroyed, and now they had come to fulfill their promise—to assist in cleansing the contaminated black obsidian mine.

Upon hearing this, the Shi Chui leader's stone eyes brightened noticeably, transmitting an intention of satisfaction and solemnity.

"You have kept your promise. The 'Shi Chui' tribe admire those who keep their word."

He said no more, personally leading two sturdy Shi Gui to guide the five Star Gods deeper into the desert.

After traveling roughly twenty li, the air grew damp and cold, the scent of sulfur and decay intensifying, the ground taking on an unhealthy, oily dark-red hue.

Ahead, a low-lying region shrouded in faint emerald-green mist came into view.

This was the contaminated black obsidian mine.

Near its edge, the pervasive corruption could be clearly felt.

It was not mere poison miasma, but a composite contamination—mixing yin-earth poison, lingering dark magic, and a mad sentient will—adhering to the surface rock strata and deeper veins, continuously eroding and corrupting the once-pure black obsidian.

Star Lord Tianfu stepped forward first, his Star Luo Pan floating in his palm, its needle spinning rapidly as silver threads descended and seeped into the earth.

Moments later, he retracted the compass, his tone certain.

"The core of contamination lies thirty to fifty zhang beneath the surface, connected to the main ore vein and a branch of the yin-poison earth vein originating from Poisonous Dragon Pond."

"There are three sources of contamination: first, the polluted blood and resentful wills seeped into the earth during the Beast God's minor sacrifice here; second, the long-term seepage and accumulation of yin-poison qi from Poisonous Dragon Pond; third, the corrupted aberrant lifeforms born from their fusion, possessing faint self-awareness. Unless eradicated, this place will know no peace."

"Can it be eradicated?" Po Jun asked directly.

"Yes."

Star Lord Tianfu nodded. "But it requires three steps: first, sever the connection between the contamination source and the Poisonous Dragon Pond earth vein to cut off further energy replenishment; second, descend underground and eliminate or purify the three corrupted aberrant lifeforms; third, use large-scale purification power to thoroughly cleanse all residual contamination from the ore veins and soil."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over them. "I specialize in divination and detection, not direct assault or purification. The main burden of this battle falls on Po Jun, Tiankui, and Di Kong."

"Naturally."

Po Jun made no hesitation, turning to Tiankui. "You handle severing the earth vein?"

"Leave it to me."

Tiankui said gravely, "The yin-poison tributary from Poisonous Dragon Pond is not thick. With my earth-elemental cultivation, I can forcibly sever and seal it, maintaining the block for at least twelve hours."

"The three aberrant lifeforms underground."

Di Kong spoke tersely. "Locations?"

Star Lord Tianfu raised his hand; starlight sketched a simple 3D underground map, clearly marking the three corrupted aggregates emitting ominous fluctuations.

One lay at the end of an abandoned exploration tunnel on the northeast side of the ore vein; one at the convergence of fissures directly beneath the mine; another deeply entrenched at the junction where the main ore vein met the yin-poison tributary.

"I'll handle the northeast one." Po Jun claimed the first without delay.

"The fissure convergence one is mine," Di Kong rasped.

Tiankui added, "I'll sever the earth vein first, then deal with the aberrant lifeform at the main vein junction. That's the contamination core, connected to the earth vein—my method is best suited."

The three Star Gods of the Heavenly Palace realm assigned their tasks in mere words—clean, efficient, without hesitation.

Star Lord Tianfu would oversee detection and guidance throughout, and coordinate surface purification afterward.

As for Chen Mu.

His cultivation had just entered the Ascended Soul Altar stage; though top-tier among his peers, he could not meaningfully participate in a mission requiring direct assault by Heavenly Palace-level forces and underground combat against corrupted aberrant lifeforms.

Star Lord Tianfu glanced at him, his tone gentle. "Star Lord Wu Qu, you've had contact with the Shi Gui. You remain responsible for communication. Additionally, once we eliminate the contamination sources, I will lead the large-scale surface purification—you may assist from the side. Your cultivation's anti-evil properties can aid in cleansing residual corruption."

"Agreed."

Chen Mu felt no resentment.

He understood his place, and knew that in this ad hoc team, leveraging each member's strengths was the most efficient approach.

The Shi Chui leader had silently "watched" the Star Gods' deliberations.

Though he could not understand their words, he sensed a style strikingly similar to that of the Shi Gui—from their concise, decisive gestures and unhesitating task assignments.

Practical, resolute, each fulfilling their role.

"Your coordination is like rock forged over a thousand years," the Shi Chui leader's thought-voice came, carrying a hint of respect.

Chen Mu relayed the words.

The General Star Lord heard this and let out a rare, light laugh.

"That's a fair assessment."

"Let's begin."

He suppressed his smile and moved first.

The General Star Lord's form shot like lightning, plunging straight into a mine passage entrance exposed by the Beast God's earlier battle at the mine's edge.

His divine sense had long locked onto the first aberrant lifeform marked by the Heavenly Treasury Star Lord; with his silver spear in hand, he tore through everything in his path like dry grass before a wildfire.

The residual, faint traces of corruption had no time to react before being crushed into dust by his violent power.

Moments later, a deep, inhuman roar echoed from deep within the passage, then swiftly fell silent.

【General Star Lord has eliminated the first target.】

On the Heavenly Treasury Star Lord's star compass, the light point representing the first contamination source went dark.

Almost at the same moment, the Heavenly Chief Star Lord moved.

He did not descend underground but landed directly on a high rocky platform at the mine's edge.

He formed a seal with both hands and slammed them onto the ground; a dense, heavy, earth-yellow light—seeming fused with the entire land—exploded outward from him!

"Rise!"

With a low shout, the light spread like living roots along the earth veins, swiftly locking onto the tributary extending from Poison Dragon Pond, continuously pumping chilling death-energy into the mine.

The next instant, the Heavenly Chief Star Lord clasped the void with both palms and yanked upward sharply.

Boom—

The ground heaved violently; an unremarkable rock fissure at the mine's edge exploded open, and a thick, ink-black column of death-energy, radiating bone-chilling cold, was forcibly ripped from the earth!

It writhed wildly, trying to break free, but under the Heavenly Chief Star Lord's overwhelming Earth Dao intent, it struggled like an insect trapped in amber, its movements weakening.

"Seal!"

A dark-gold sealing phantom, entirely formed of condensed Earth Dao qi and inscribed with mountain and river patterns, materialized in midair—like a miniature mountain—and crashed down upon the death-energy column.

The column shuddered violently, then froze solid, dimmed, and turned into a block of jet-black stone riddled with cracks, falling into the dust.

The Poison Dragon Pond earth vein has been severed!

Almost the instant the seal was completed, the strongest aberrant lifeform—long in "slumber" or "hiding"—at the core junction where the main ore vein met the earth vein, finally woke in full fury.

A corruption will far more intense and frenzied than the other two, brimming with hunger and assimilation, erupted violently from the earth's depths!