Chapter 0: 43. Thanking Master’s Grace
From the moment the Heavenless Dharma Aspect stood majestically, overlooking all living beings, the entire city plunged into despair and panic. All cultivators and mortals fled in panic without hesitation. The area where Zhao Xinting and the others were located was instantly emptied, becoming like a dead city where not even a stray dog dared to remain.
With a casual wave of his hand, Zhao Xinting blew the entire roof away.
The two cultivators were already so terrified that they fell to the ground, their faces ashen, trembling uncontrollably.
The red-robed cultivator, almost subconsciously, glanced at his right hand. To think he had a special constitution was one thing, but now he conjured a Dharma Aspect True Person with a mere slap? How could he be so capable? This hand had once slapped a true Dharma Aspect True Person. If he had any say in the matter, he would never wash this hand again. If he had the right to choose in the future.
All the members of the Sky-Concealing Society watched Zhao Xinting with incredulous, disbelieving eyes. Although their president often bragged about his past glory after drinking, claiming to be comparable to gods from the heavens, they never imagined that their exquisite president, who looked like a sheltered young lady, was truly a god.
Zhao Xinting’s eyes were as sharp as a sword capable of cutting through metal. He stared directly at the two cultivators. At his current cultivation level, a mere glance was enough to make them almost faint on the spot, highlighting the vast difference in their strength.
Zhao Xinting’s mood was complicated. Even when facing his master with utmost trepidation, he had never brought himself to rely on the unique aspects of the Heavenless Dharma Aspect to temporarily break a thread of the seal in the Mortal Transformation Stage. Now, he had used it for such a purpose. Could this be considered ‘flying into a rage for the sake of a beauty’?
It was laughable, but he had always been such a laughable person.
“If you have any last words, say them and entertain this seat,” Zhao Xinting said in a deep voice. His words sounded playful, but his expression was devoid of any jest. Killing them casually would truly not alleviate his hatred.
“Spare, spare us!”
“We were blind and did not recognize your greatness, offending a senior. My master is the Patriarchal Demon Flame of the Heaven-Shattering Tower. Please be merciful and spare our lives!”
“It seems you have no last words.” As soon as he finished speaking, the Heavenless Dharma Aspect, which reached the heavens and the earth, held a scale in one hand and suddenly swung the scarlet dagger in the other. The two men’s desperate pleas for mercy abruptly ceased. Their bodies disintegrated inch by inch, instantly turning into two handfuls of yellow earth, their souls and spirits utterly annihilated, never to be reborn.
The scale in the Heavenless Dharma Aspect’s hand, with one end severely drooping, rose slightly and almost imperceptibly due to their deaths. However, for the scale to return to complete balance, more sacrifices would be needed, just as Zhao Xinting had initially promised.
At this moment, Zhao Xinting no longer paid attention to external matters. He focused all his attention on gently holding Yan Qiaoyun’s frail and slender body. The extremely violent spiritual power in Zhao Xinting’s body was now controlled to its utmost. He infused it with immense gentleness into Yan Qiaoyun’s body, carefully examining her injuries.
At the same time, at the Hero Gathering.
“There’s absolutely no mistake, this is the unique Heavenless Dharma Aspect of the Purple Extreme Demon Lord!”
“Flee! If we don’t leave now, it will be too late!”
“This demon is going to wreak havoc again. It’s laughable that I, who pride myself on uprightness, can only watch as the populace perishes, unable to do anything about him!”
Li Yuanzhen was one of the few present who had truly experienced Zhao Xinting’s terrifying strength. Her beautiful face was now ashen. She quickly said to Qin Gou beside her, “Let’s leave quickly too. In your current condition and strength, you can’t do anything.”
“I’m not leaving. I’m going over there,” Qin Gou replied without hesitation.
Li Yuanzhen seemed not to have heard him, grabbing Qin Gou’s right hand and trying to pull him away.
“I said, I’m going to see firsthand what this guy intends to do!” Qin Gou repeated loudly.
This time, many people clearly heard Qin Gou’s roar, and they were all dumbfounded. Some stood frozen on the spot, their eyes filled with fear and astonishment.
“Did the Gentleman Sword go mad?”
“He said he’s going over there? To face the Purple Extreme Demon Lord alone? That’s no different from seeking death.”
“How dare he utter such arrogant words? It must be just an act, right?”
“Gentleman Sword, is he truly as his name suggests?”
Hearing this, Li Yuanzhen paused. She gritted her teeth and said, “Since you’re not afraid of death, this humble Daoist will go with you.”
“No, you stay here.” As he spoke, Qin Gou took out a small spirit boat from his Nas Ring.
“Why?” Li Yuanzhen widened her beautiful eyes, asking bewilderedly.
Qin Gou stepped onto the spirit boat, pulled off his mask, and smiled with unrestrained freedom, “You still owe me so much in gambling debts, you can’t just die so easily.”
With that, the spirit boat soared through the air, heading straight for the Heavenless Dharma Aspect.
At this moment, countless people finally had their wish fulfilled and saw the true face of the Gentleman Sword they had long anticipated.
What a delicate, what a young face!
Had his wish been granted, was he disappointed? Of course not. From the moment Qin Gou stepped onto the spirit boat, from the moment he bravely embarked on the most beautiful reverse journey against everyone else, he had become the most handsome youth in the entire Das Province, an unforgettable pure white moonlight in many hearts.
An unworldly Banished Immortal, truly deserving of the title. Otherwise, how could he have displayed this resolve in the face of death, so different from the norm and ordinary people? The Gentleman Sword, after all, lived up to his reputation!
…
When Qin Gou unleashed his full power to rush to the scene, he saw with his own eyes that Little Zhao was tenderly holding a scrawny little girl. He even wondered for a moment if he had traveled back in time. Since when had Little Zhao reverted to the Zhao Xinting who always had endless patience for children?
Furthermore, Qin Gou clearly heard the voice he detested the most, that greedy demon. “Zhao Xinting, the wish to temporarily open a sliver of the seal in the Mortal Transformation Stage has been fulfilled. You must pay the price – five hundred years of lifespan! Not a moment less.”
The Heavenless Dharma Aspect’s scarlet eyes shed endless bloody light, and he raised the dagger in his hand. In the Cultivation World, not all Dharma Aspects could develop their own consciousness.
Zhao Xinting gave no response, nor did he try to escape. He merely closed his eyes slightly, offering his neck to the blade.
“Bastard!”
A voice, which the Purple Extreme Demon Lord would never forget for eternity, rang out, startling him. Even the Heavenless Dharma Aspect’s action of lowering the dagger instantly froze in mid-air.
Zhao Xinting looked at Qin Gou, who was approaching step by step, and exclaimed, “Master, this time Xinting truly did not act recklessly and kill innocents. Everything happened for a reason!”
“Shut up.” Qin Gou looked up at the Heavenless Dharma Aspect with a face as dark as water. Although he was looking up at it, he exuded an aura of being in the heavens, high and mighty. “Heavenless Dharma Aspect, I should have said that I will no longer allow you to make any deals with Zhao Xinting. You haven’t forgotten, have you?” Qin Gou asked word by word.
“You, you are…” The Heavenless Dharma Aspect’s eerie and sinister voice said intermittently, “You are the master of ‘Divine Feather’… the most unreasonable among all living beings!”
Qin Gou sneered, “Knowing I’m unreasonable, you still dare to be presumptuous? Do you really take my words as mere wind?”
“This is a fair exchange. He gained, he paid; no one has the right to interfere.”
“Is that so? I’m afraid the initial promise Zhao Xinting made to you was never such a terrifying number as five hundred years of lifespan, was it? Wutian, don’t forget, I personally witnessed your birth into this world. I know exactly what kind of thing you are! Over these years, how much lifespan have you already taken from Zhao Xinting? His remaining lifespan is probably less than that of an early-stage Dao Comprehension Realm cultivator!” As he spoke, Qin Gou clenched his right hand in front of his chest and silently chanted ‘Heavenly Demon Unity’. The Kunpeng Fan, which was extremely intimidating to those who knew it, instantly appeared in his hand, and the “Demon Master is Here” talisman was also hidden in his sleeve, ready to be deployed.
“If you dare to be greedy again, I will make you pay. Do you really think my words back then were just talk?”
“You!” The moment the Kunpeng Fan appeared, the Heavenless Dharma Aspect’s aura visibly stiffened. His form rapidly became transparent, and roars filled with killing intent echoed continuously: “One day, I will grow stronger than Divine Feather. Divine Feather has reached its limit and will eventually be surpassed by me. That day is not far off.”
Finally, the Heavenless Dharma Aspect, filled with unwillingness, completely dispersed into heaven and earth.
Upon seeing this, Zhao Xinting, holding Yan Qiaoyun, knelt down on both knees. “Xinting thanks Master.”
Qin Gou put away the Kunpeng Fan and calmly asked, “This exchange with the Heavenless Dharma Aspect to break open a sliver of the seal in the Mortal Transformation Stage, was it all for this little girl?”
Zhao Xinting replied truthfully, “Yes and no. Xinting also did it so that his future self would not regret it.”
“You may go. Don’t linger for too long.” Qin Gou stood with his hands behind his back, a complex mix of emotions churning within him. He sighed, “Don’t think that your master is letting you off the hook. It’s only because you’ve already caused too much panic here.”
“Yes.” Zhao Xinting stood up with a wry smile and made as if to leave.
“Wait.” Qin Gou suddenly took out a few small fruits from his Nas Ring and casually threw them to Zhao Xinting. “While I’m away, it’s hard to guarantee that the Heavenless Dharma Aspect won’t stir up trouble again. With these, you’ll be prepared for any eventuality.”
Zhao Xinting’s cultivation had not entirely faded yet. He immediately caught them with one hand. Upon a careful inspection, he was filled with gratitude. These fruits were incredibly precious Longevity Fruits, and even those he had carefully stored in the Purple Extreme Demonic Sect’s treasury were of Earth Tier quality. His master, who seemed to casually toss them to him now, made it seem as if he were picking wild fruits, as if they were not his own cherished possessions at all. But Zhao Xinting knew how profound this gesture was, filled with deep affection.
“Unworthy disciple Zhao Xinting, thanks Master for your grace!”
For a moment, Zhao Xinting placed Yan Qiaoyun on his back, then heavily kowtowed with his head to the ground. His face was smeared with dirt, and his voice choked with emotion.
