Chapter Sixty-One: A Man at Death’s Door

Wujue hurriedly warned An Yi, “Be careful, don’t touch the trunk! It seems the enemy is already here—everyone, use your guns and shoot!”
At once, everyone stood on the airship, wielding various firearms and opening fire at the trees below. Xiao Yang even threw two grenades, which exploded into brilliant bursts.
In an instant, a raging fire broke out in the forest. Ling’er cried out in disappointment, “I never imagined that the forest I’ve lived in for so long would end up like this!”
“It’s all the damn Heaven’s Judgment Clan causing this. We must fight them to the bitter end,” Wujue said resolutely.
But inside the airship, someone suddenly lost control and began to attack his companions. Huron and Boss Ma quickly restrained him, exclaiming, “Damn, it’s happening again—someone’s having a fit!”
Wujue moved to help and called to Xiao Han, “Quick, there’s no time to hesitate—use your Divine Mirror to save the one who’s turning!”
Xiao Han hesitated. Ever since he left, he’d never thought of using his powers, but at that moment, courage surged within him. Suddenly, a beam from his mirror shot out, striking the afflicted man.
In that same instant, the man stood motionless, gradually losing his frenzy and seeming to find peace in both body and mind.
Dozens of seconds passed as the mirror’s light bathed him. Xiao Han carefully drew the virus from the man’s body, gathering it into a glowing orb, and asked, “What should I do with this?”
Xun’er replied, “Leave it to me—I’ll use magic to destroy this cursed thing.”
But Boss Ma pushed her gently aside, enduring the pain. “Step back, daughter. Watch your father play the hero for once.”
He stretched out his still-functioning left hand, and before the orb of light, a wisp of special purple energy drifted out.
Muttering incantations through gritted teeth, Boss Ma summoned his sorcery, gradually taking control of the virus that Xiao Han had extracted.
The purple energy wrapped around the black virus, separating and transforming it into new energy bit by bit…
Just a little more and it would be done. Sweat beaded on Boss Ma’s forehead; he clenched his teeth and pressed the incantation, ready to dissolve the virus completely. But suddenly, his face twisted in pain as the virus backlashed, condensing in an instant within the purple energy, then bursting free like a black thread, shooting straight into the ceiling.
Boss Ma spat a mouthful of blood and collapsed.
Seeing this sudden turn, Xun’er instantly rushed to her father’s side to check on him.

Meanwhile, Wujue and the others aimed at the black virus clinging to the ceiling, ready to subdue it.
Huron leapt up, latching onto the wall like a gecko, his hand morphing into a massive palm to block the virus.
But after only a moment, the virus transformed into black needles, piercing Huron’s hand and escaping again.
Seeing this, Wujue suddenly executed a fierce shooting technique. A bullet roared out, arcing through the air to strike the clustered virus, blasting it out of the airship.
The bullet carried the virus into the open air, where it burned violently before the virus was utterly destroyed.
Only then did calm return to the airship, but soon the system issued an alarm—damage demanded an emergency landing.
Xiao Yang reminded everyone, “Find a place to sit tight. The airship could crash at any moment, so be ready to hit the water!”
As he spoke, the airship began to lurch and plunge downward at an angle. Suddenly, Xiao Han floated out of the airship, saying, “I’ll hold it up—you all get out quickly!”
He suspended the airship midair with his mirror’s light, and slowly guided it toward the island at the heart of the lake.
Meanwhile, Wujue and the others escaped and assisted from the side.
In the end, they returned safely to the lakeside island, the danger passed.
Wujue and the others went to comfort those inside the airship, while Xun’er tended to her father, Boss Ma, who was already at death’s door, his strength fading.
Boss Ma smiled at his daughter. “Xun’er, it looks like I can’t make it this time. Listen, when I left you with others, it wasn’t what we wanted—there was no other choice.”
“All these years I wandered, I’ve suffered enough. I’m no longer a sorcerer, all because of clan rules. Remember, don’t be bound by a sorcerer’s code—just live as you wish.”
Xun’er gripped her father’s hand and promised tearfully, “It’s all right, Father, I understand. Don’t speak anymore—let Wujue save you. He can save you.”
Wujue stepped forward, about to use his powers for Boss Ma’s sake, but the old man suddenly seized him. “No need, monk. I’ve sinned enough—it’s time to pay my dues. Promise me, look after Xun’er. When we’re gone, you’ll be her only family. You said you’d treat her as your own—don’t forget it.”
He broke off with a violent cough, blood staining his lips, nearly losing consciousness.
Wujue began to recite Buddhist sutras, saying, “Layman Ma, there’s no need for this. I’ll keep my promise.”

Yet Boss Ma held him tightly, saying, “I know, that’s why this is my last request. Accept my gift—use my sorcery for good.”
As he finished, a unique energy rose from his palm, instantly enveloping Wujue’s hand, then spread up his arm, finally swirling around his body and seeping into his pores, vanishing without a trace.
At that moment, Wujue felt as if a special power had been infused into him—Boss Ma’s lifetime of sorcery absorbed into his own being.
Countless images flashed through his mind until, lost in confusion, Huron called out, “Wujue, use the ‘Essence Transformation Sutra’ to refine Boss Ma’s power, or else his sacrifice will be for nothing!”
Wujue’s mind cleared, and the method of the Essence Transformation Sutra formed in his heart. Instantly, he activated the sutra, fusing the sorcerous energy within him and breaking through to a new realm.
Seeing this, An Yi and the others quickly helped Wujue sit down, clearing a space for him to meditate and comprehend his new power.
Huron and Xiao Yang assisted Xun’er with her father’s funeral. As everyone busied themselves inside the airship, ripples again stirred on the lake—Ao Hai appeared with the Dragon King.
The Dragon King, now aware of the situation, had been convinced by his son to temporarily shelter everyone in the Dragon Palace and rid them of the poison. Without delay, he drew the airship and the island together beneath the sea.
After a brief journey, they arrived at the legendary Dragon Palace. Once settled, Xiao Han began to check the survivors and expel the toxins.
Ao Hai and his father contained the people in bubbles to prevent an outbreak if the virus acted up.
With little else to do, the others helped maintain order, except for Xiao Yang, who continued to search the airship for information and track the Heaven’s Judgment Clan’s movements. Xun’er was left alone to mourn her departed father.
Boss Ma had passed completely. Xun’er, wiping her tears, buried her father beneath the Dragon Palace.
An Yi helped; together they dug a deep pit, and Xun’er buried her father, handful by handful.
End of Chapter Sixty-One: A Man’s Final Moments.