Ch. 361Burning the Origin
Plot and key events
- Moyin, Lurong, and Brusto ambush Zheli and Luo Feng, surrounding Zheli while Brusto pursues Luo Feng. Zheli warns Luo Feng to escape, then uses his Phantom Bodies to evade the attackers.
- Moyin disrupts Zheli’s spatial technique, while Brusto’s freezing domain and attacks put both defenders under severe pressure. Brusto’s tail spike pierces Luo Feng’s defenses and destroys nearly one-thousandth of his divine body; a soul attack is stopped only by the protection of Luo Feng’s soul.
- Luo Feng retaliates with a powerful blade strike and uses the Shadow-Stacking Demon Box to escape, but Brusto’s venomous spikes shatter his decoys and keep wearing him down.
- Outnumbered and badly injured, Zheli burns his Origin of Gold to fight back. The sacrifice briefly raises his strength enough to challenge Moyin and Lurong, but his power soon runs out, leaving his body critically weakened. Burning an Origin damages his foundation and prevents him from condensing that power again.
- As Zheli and Luo Feng face defeat, City Lord Xingyue finally arrives. His domain pushes back the attackers’ suppression and gives the two some relief. Moyin nevertheless lunges at Zheli before Xingyue can intervene; the chapter ends with Xingyue warning him not to attack.
Character developments
- Zheli shifts from cautious evasion to desperate self-sacrifice, giving up the Origin of Gold to protect himself and Luo Feng. His sacrifice leaves him gravely vulnerable and threatens his future cultivation.
- Luo Feng recognizes the gap between his strength and that of the attackers. Despite staying resourceful under pressure, he is steadily worn down and considers using a rare single-use treasure.
- Moyin, Lurong, and Brusto demonstrate their coordination and overwhelming power. Brusto emerges as especially dangerous to Luo Feng because his attacks penetrate defenses and suppress movement.
- City Lord Xingyue arrives at the last moment, restoring hope—but his arrival has not yet resolved the danger.
Themes
- The cost of survival: Burning an Origin can turn the tide briefly, but at the price of lasting damage to one’s power and future.
- Strength and vulnerability: Even formidable fighters can be overwhelmed when facing multiple superior opponents.
- Hope at the brink: Xingyue’s arrival offers a reprieve just as defeat seems certain, though the cliffhanger leaves the outcome uncertain.
- Loyalty under pressure: Zheli warns Luo Feng even while fighting for his own survival, and both continue to endure despite the odds.
Character interactions
- Zheli tries to protect Luo Feng by urging him to flee, while Luo Feng remains aware of Zheli’s worsening fight.
- Brusto focuses on Luo Feng, testing his defenses and relentlessly pursuing him; Moyin and Lurong concentrate on defeating Zheli.
- Zheli’s burning Origin forces Moyin and Lurong to defend themselves, briefly reversing their advantage.
- Xingyue’s arrival challenges the attackers’ control of the battlefield, prompting Moyin to make one last immediate attempt to kill Zheli.