The journey to the Western Spirit Herb Garden was a grim affair. The air grew heavy with a cloying, sickly sweetness – the stench of spiritual decay. Emperor Defiance, traveling alone, maintained a cautious pace. His senses, sharpened by his recent breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, picked up subtle disturbances in the spiritual energy, warnings of the pervasive corruption. He knew this wasn't a simple beast attack; it was a deeper rot, a perversion of natural Heaven and Earth Laws.
He arrived at the garden at dusk. What was once a lush expanse of vibrant Spirit Herbs was now a blighted wasteland. Twisted, black vines snaked across the ground, choking withered plants that oozed a viscous, dark sap. A chilling aura of Destruction Law hung heavy in the air, subtly perverting the Life Law that should have nourished the garden.
Defiance immediately set about establishing his Purification Talisman Array. This wasn't merely drawing a few Talismans; it involved setting up a complex, interwoven network of carefully crafted Spirit Runes on a dozen large sheets of Spirit Parchment he'd painstakingly prepared. He activated each Talisman with precise bursts of spiritual energy, focusing his will on cleansing and repulsion. As he activated the final Talisman, the array shimmered to life, emitting a faint, pure white light that pulsed outwards, pushing back the encroaching spiritual blight.
The corrupted energy recoiled, hissing like a sentient entity. But it was only a temporary measure. From the center of the garden, a low, guttural growl vibrated through the earth. A creature began to emerge from the black, roiling mist: a colossal serpent, its scales the color of ancient rust, its eyes glowing with a malevolent, sickly green light. This was no ordinary spirit beast; it was a Corrupted Earth Serpent, clearly at the Late Core Formation Stage, its power amplified by the spiritual plague it seemingly embodied.
"Intruder!" a raspy voice echoed in Defiance's mind, laced with venom. The serpent lunged, its massive head striking with surprising speed.
Defiance reacted instantly. He activated a Haste Talisman, dodging the snapping jaws by a hair's breadth. The ground where he had stood erupted, leaving a deep, venomous crater. This beast was strong, far stronger than anything he had faced before. He knew direct confrontation was suicide.
He remembered the whisper from the Spirit-Gathering Jade: "…purification… Root of Corruption… a test…". The serpent was the root of the corruption. He couldn't just fight it; he had to cleanse it, or subdue it.
Defiance pulled out a new, experimental Talisman – a Low-grade Spirit Binding Talisman he had secretly perfected. He launched it, not at the serpent's head, but at its tail. The Talisman exploded into shimmering chains of spiritual energy, momentarily constricting the massive tail.
The serpent roared, thrashing violently, its immense strength almost snapping the spiritual bonds. This gave Defiance precious seconds. He then launched a volley of his strongest Fireball Talismans and Wind Blast Talismans, aiming not to harm, but to distract and funnel the enraged beast.
He noticed something peculiar. Despite its immense power, the serpent seemed weaker where the Purification Talisman Array's light touched it. The corrupted energy around it was thickest at its chest, where a faint, dark glow pulsed – its heart, perhaps, or the source of its corruption.
A bold, desperate plan formed in his mind. He needed to get close, to use the purifying energy of the array directly on the serpent's core. He knew it was suicidal, but it was the only way.
Defiance activated another Haste Talisman and a Strength Talisman, pushing his newly formed Foundation Establishment spiritual energy to its limits. He became a blur, weaving through the garden's blighted trees, dodging streams of corrosive venom and lunging bites. The serpent, enraged, chased him relentlessly, tearing up the ground.
Finally, he reached the edge of the Purification Talisman Array's direct influence. He activated a final Explosive Talisman, tossing it directly in front of the serpent's head. The resulting blast, much larger than any of his previous ones, momentarily blinded and stunned the creature.
Without hesitation, Defiance threw himself forward, aiming directly for the faint dark glow on the serpent's chest. He knew he couldn't use his iron sword. He needed a direct conduit for purification. He pulled out the Spirit-Gathering Jade.
As he hurtled towards the serpent, the jade in his hand pulsed, resonating with the surrounding purification light. He slammed the jade directly onto the glowing spot on the serpent's chest.
A deafening shriek tore through the air. The serpent thrashed wildly, its body writhing as if in agony. The Spirit-Gathering Jade, absorbing the essence of the corruption, began to glow with a brilliant, pure white light, intensely purifying the dark energy emanating from the beast. Black smoke billowed from the serpent's body, accompanied by agonized roars that slowly morphed into whimpers.
Defiance held on, enduring the intense backlash of corrupted energy, his spiritual energy being rapidly depleted. He felt his veins burning, his skin prickling, but he gritted his teeth, pouring more energy into the jade. This was a direct battle of Life Law against Destruction Law, channeled through his body.
Slowly, agonizingly, the dark glow on the serpent's chest faded. The corrupted scales began to flake off, revealing a healthier, dark green beneath. The malevolent light in its eyes softened, replaced by confusion, then a hint of fear. The Corrupted Earth Serpent was being cleansed.
Finally, with a last, shuddering tremor, the serpent collapsed, reverting to its original form – a giant, but now docile, Earth Serpent of the Late Core Formation Stage. Its green eyes, though still unnervingly large, held no malice. The spiritual plague began to recede, slowly being absorbed by the Purification Talisman Array.
Defiance fell to his knees, gasping for breath, his entire body aching, his spiritual energy utterly drained. He was alive. He had succeeded.
He looked at the Spirit-Gathering Jade. It no longer glowed intensely, but pulsed with a stronger, steadier light than before. A new, clearer whisper resonated in his mind, echoing the Primordial Godly Decree:
"...First Law Fragment absorbed... Essence of Purified Life... proceed to the Sunstone Pass... seek the [Redacted Term for next clue, e.g., 'Crimson Star Flower']..."
Defiance allowed himself a small, private smile. He had not only completed the mission but had also pushed the Spirit-Gathering Jade to absorb a fragment of the Life Law from the purified serpent. He had proven his worth, not just as a cultivator, but as a unique force capable of defying corruption. The path to the Primordial Godly Decree was slowly unfolding, guiding him to new, unknown challenges. The Azuremist Sect, for all its dangers, was merely a stepping stone.