Chapter 81: Confrontation
Chapter 81: Confrontation
“With your strength, couldn’t you handle him?”
“In a direct fight, no one can kill him.”
Huang and Black Shadow’s expressions shifted. Having been sealed for countless years, they dreaded facing that person again after barely escaping—this was why they’d avoided showing themselves before Zuo Meng. Simply put, years of imprisonment had made them timid!
“If even two Ancient Deities can’t oppose him, we stand no chance.” Hearing their description of Master Xue, the Emperor of Chu felt icy despair. There seemed no hope of overcoming this.
Was Master Xue truly so powerful?
He didn’t appear formidable. Could these two be mistaken?
“We approached you because we have a plan,” Black Shadow declared.
“Over countless eras, we’ve tested and explored until finding a viable path.”
After escaping the Seal, Black Shadow and Huang had studied the laws of existence through endless cycles. Finally, they’d devised a “rebellion against heaven” strategy to overturn their fate.
“Human energy. By gathering immense momentum, your Chu Kingdom is humanity’s core in this era—the focal point of destiny.”
Black Shadow produced a massive chunk of dark iron.
“This special ore was collected across countless eras.”
After taking out the iron, Black Shadow explained human energy’s role to the Emperor of Chu. These insights came from their study of cosmic rules. Though inferior to Zuo Meng in broad understanding, they surpassed him in applying specific principles. It was like comparing a generalist dabbling in a hundred fields to a specialist mastering one.
The Emperor of Chu accepted the iron, approving the plan—a scheme spanning innumerable eras.
Fifteen days later.
Tai Chu Fairy Mountain.
The foot of the mountain lay barren. This oldest immortal sect had decayed into ruin within a month.
Light flashed as a colossal flying artifact descended.
“Begin the formation,” ordered the Emperor of Chu, stepping down and glancing at the two Ancient Deities disguised among the crowd. Both they and Headmaster Xue of Tai Chu Fairy Mountain were invincible foes. With no alternatives, he obeyed the deities—though he loathed all of them. Whoever died would please him.
“Prince Xing, you’ll deliver the killing blow.”
The Emperor handed his waist sword to Prince Xing Zhao Zheng.
This blade bore humanity’s essence, said to severely harm Master Xue. The Ancient Deities had personally chosen Zhao Zheng, even helping him complete his final breakthrough into the harmony with the Dao stage.
Great Chu’s royal experts spread out, hammering black iron stakes into the earth to form a massive pattern. Craftsmen had forged these stakes using Black Shadow’s methods, each infused with human energy as unique artifacts.
“Activate!”
As Black Shadow drove the final stake, gray mist erupted, isolating the area’s spiritual energy and creating an ancient era-like pocket dimension.
“Heaven Lock and Earth Seal is complete. The blessed land is severed from the outside,” Black Shadow told Huang, sensing the great formation’s power.
BOOM—!!
Huang, standing on the other side, struck directly, shattering the immortal stone atop the mountain peak and exposing the entrance to the Blessed Ground.
So strong!
The Emperor of Chu and several Great Chu Transformation God cultivators threw wary looks at the two figures but stayed silent.
“Move.”
Zhao Zheng gripped the Emperor’s sword and charged in first.
Upon entering the Blessed Ground, the group immediately saw a white-robed youth sitting at a stone table in the open courtyard. The man was calmly brewing tea with a set of utensils. Three lazy dirt dogs lay beside him, while several figures stood behind – the last remaining elders of Tai Chu Immortal Gate, those who had known Zuo Meng longest.
“Headmaster Xue…”
“Master.”
Both the Emperor of Chu and Zhao Zheng froze upon seeing him, not daring to advance further. The two Ancient Deities had disappeared after entering the Blessed Ground, whether hidden or never having entered at all.
“You came?”
Zuo Meng observed the newcomers without surprise, as though welcoming guests.
“The tea will be ready soon. Wait a moment longer.”
The group hesitated at the entrance, glancing about uncertainly.
“Master Xue, do you know about Great Chu’s vanished citizens?”
The Emperor of Chu coughed and stepped forward to demand. Having smashed through the Blessed Ground’s entrance, there was no room for pretense.
“I know.”
Zuo Meng answered bluntly, already sensing his imminent awakening.
The Emperor of Chu stared at him, then at the Tai Chu Immortal Gate elders behind. “Headmaster Xue has fallen to madness. Will you follow him into darkness?”
Zhi Hua and Yu Ruyi behind Zuo Meng stayed silent. They’d seen the sect’s recent changes. Zhi Hua, being closest to Zuo Meng, had reported everything to Uncle Xue immediately. Yet Zuo Meng’s response left them adrift – they stood present but deeply conflicted.
“Master Xue, your slaughter is excessive. Does your cultivation heart remain steady?”
Since Zuo Meng had spread his cultivation method, talk of slaughter-tainted hearts had spread through cultivation circles.
“Not slaughter… you wouldn’t understand.”
Zuo Meng shook his head. No one comprehended reality better than him. He’d taken these spirits. When the world restarted, he’d return their souls for Rebirth. Without reincarnation, this was salvation – else at era’s end, those failing to reach Ancient Deity-level cultivation would turn to ash.
Buddhas aid the fated. Medicine saves those meant to live.
Zuo Meng wasn’t blindly kind. He’d only taken those who’d practiced his cultivation method and shared his karma. Claiming their spirits gave him their essence – resolving old debts. Saving them for the next era would forge new virtuous connections.
😜😜😜Golden Novel translates the best Chinese web novels for you!😜😜😜
“Clearly mad. You must come to Great Chu.”
Prince Xing Zhao Zheng couldn’t endure more. Though this was his master, the man felt utterly alien now.
Shiiing!!
A sword light exploded forth, sword energy piercing the heavens as it slashed toward Zuo Meng.