The Path of Immortality: Starts With Creating Water Bear Gu-Chapter 453: The Death of the Artifact Fanatic

"No!"

Upon witnessing the scene, Long Xuan turned pale with shock.

On the steps of the Black Altar, all abilities were stripped away. The only thing that determined strength between opponents was the raw power of their physical bodies.

Humans were naturally physically weaker than spirit beasts, whose bodily strength was inherently ten times greater than that of humans.

On these steps, a spirit beast beating a human was like a grandfather punishing a grandchild. What’s more, this "Artifact Fanatic" was a Fourth-rank spirit beast, a true Beast King, whose physical prowess surpassed most other spirit beasts.

Under the suppression of the Doom Gu, Zhu Jiuge stood no chance against him.

As Long Xuan expected, Zhu Jiuge was still under eighteen—barely an adult. How long could she have trained in body refinement?

Though her physical strength was considerable, it was still worlds apart from that of the Artifact Fanatic. After only a few exchanges, she was struck down from the altar by a single blow of his weapon.

Zhu Jiuge rolled heavily down the steps, landing outside the altar. By the time Long Xuan reached her, she was already covered in blood and deeply unconscious.

He rushed over and anxiously pressed his fingers under her nose, quickly checking her injuries.

After a moment, Long Xuan's heart sank.

That strike from the Artifact Fanatic had been at full force.

Under that one blow, Zhu Jiuge suffered grave injuries—multiple shattered bones and ruptured organs. Even worse, she had been struck by a Divine Artifact, which left behind a mysterious power that was now inhibiting her ability to heal.

If it were anyone else, they would’ve already died hundreds of times over.

Only through sheer, heaven-defying luck was she barely hanging on to life. Without such fortune, she would have perished instantly.

Long Xuan quickly threw a handful of high-grade healing pills into her mouth. While these pills were of excellent quality, they could only heal external wounds—they could not dispel the divine might left behind by the artifact. To truly save her life, another method would be required.

At this moment, the group of Gu Kings behind him finally arrived. Seeing the massive altar before them, every one of them showed a look of awe and came to a stop.

"What a colossal altar... This must be the Black Altar that seals all powers. No one should step onto it lightly. On that altar, no one can defeat that spirit beast." Jiu Kang urgently warned.

"So that's the otherworldly flower, the Ressurection Flower, on the altar? Let’s see how this Artifact Fanatic meets his end."

Zhuge Yuan looked at the dark figure atop the altar, clenched his fists, and let out a sinister grin.

"Heh... All we need to do is wait. He’ll bring about his own demise—we don’t even need to lift a finger." sneered He Jiong, watching the altar with mockery in his eyes.

Before long, a crowd of about two hundred people had gathered around the altar. Most were Gu Kings—few Spiritual Sea-stage Gu cultivators had managed to make it this far.

Yet everyone remained silently around the altar, not daring to step onto it.

By now, the Artifact Fanatic had reached the top of the altar. Gazing at the brilliant red Ressurection Flower at the center, his eyes turned red with excitement. Breathing heavily, he rushed forward without hesitation and plucked the flower.

In that moment, everyone watching held their breath. All eyes were on him, waiting to see what would happen next.

They didn’t have to wait long. Soon after he picked the Ressurection Flower, two figures—a kindly old man and a playful young girl—materialized before him.

The old man looked at him with a gentle smile, while the girl wore a mischievous grin.

Seeing the two, the Artifact Fanatic’s legs buckled beneath him. He dropped to his knees.

"Master… Senior Sister…"

His voice trembled. His eyes were filled with tears…

Below the altar, Jiu Kang witnessed this touching scene and sighed, "Two phantoms appeared—those must be the ones he wishes to resurrect."

"But the Ressurection Flower can only bring one person back. Who will he choose to revive?"

"His revered master? Or the senior sister with whom he shares special feelings? That’s a truly painful decision to make."

"He must be torn inside right now."

Zhuge Yuan stroked his beard and said, "No matter who he chooses, the moment he picked that flower with his own hands, his fate was sealed."

"With the Artifact Fanatic’s death, the crisis of the human race will be resolved, and our mission completed."

"Such a pity," sighed Cha Shan, shaking his head. "The Artifact Fanatic wielded a Divine Artifact and had unmatched battle power. Not even a thousand Gu Kings could bring him down. Who would’ve thought he’d die so simply here."

"To think such a powerful figure would have an emotional weakness—it’s both lamentable and admirable. He was truly an opponent worthy of our respect." Cha Shan’s eyes were filled with reverence.

Long Xuan looked at the kind-faced old man and then at the playful, charming girl.

To choose the master was to give up the senior sister. To choose the senior sister was to abandon the master. He could not have both.

Whomever he let go, the pain would be unbearable.

Long Xuan also wondered who he would ultimately choose.

On the altar, the Artifact Fanatic looked to his right at his master, then to his left at his senior sister. His fists clenched. His expression was torn with anguish. He could not decide.

He remembered the master who had cared for him in every detail, the senior sister who once brought him a bowl of hot soup in the snow… They were both irreplaceable family. Equally important in his heart. Forcing him to choose was cruel beyond belief.

Time passed by the second. He remained kneeling, unable to decide.

Finally, under the confused stares of all, his body began to turn to dust, scattering into the air.

The elderly phantom and the girl’s phantom also began to fade, like illusions vanishing into nothing.

Time was up.

He had made no choice.

The Ressurection Flower devoured his life force, and no one was resurrected.

In that moment, the Artifact Fanatic spread his arms and allowed himself to turn to dust. A peaceful smile appeared on his face—was it relief, or liberation? With that smile, he faded completely into the wind.

The Artifact Fanatic was gone. So were the phantoms. Everyone stood stunned.

He hadn’t revived anyone—a twist no one had expected.

"A pity. He was too conflicted, and missed his chance. In the end, no one came back." Jiu Kang sighed with regret.

"Perhaps he had no choice," said Cha Shan. "To save one is to doom the other. How could he choose? No matter what he did, it would bring unimaginable pain and leave eternal regret."

"Perhaps he chose to follow them himself, never to be apart. That may have been his final wish." Cha Shan’s voice was tinged with sorrow.

"Such a shame about the Ressurection Flower," someone added. "That divine flower only blooms so rarely, and yet he wasted it without using its power. A perfect opportunity to bring someone back from the dead, gone just like that."

"I truly wanted to see for myself how the Ressurection Flower could resurrect the dead. Legends are just legends until you witness them firsthand. I still find it hard to believe such a divine object could exist."

Zhuge Yuan stroked his beard, deeply disappointed.