Ch. 149 - Chu Yang's Fate

“You’re still alive too, you old mudfish,” the old man said with a faint smile. Then he casually extended his right hand.

With just a light tap of his index finger in the air, endless spiritforce gathered at its tip, and space itself shattered beneath that single point of pressure.

Chaos felt a crushing, unstoppable force descend upon it. Even moving a muscle became incredibly difficult.

“You... you’ve broken through to that realm?” Chaos asked, its voice trembling with fear.

“Don’t be so surprised. It’s not a big deal,” the old man replied, shaking his head. “All beneath Grand Emperor are but ants.”

He then waved his right hand lightly, and boundless spiritforce transformed into countless chains, instantly binding everyone from the Yin-Yang Sect, including Chu Yang.

The old man looked at Chu Yang and let out a soft hum of interest.

“What a powerful soul… rare to see in this world.”

Feeling the oppressive force bearing down on him, Chu Yang exhaled deeply and said quietly,

“It is my failure… that I am powerless,” the Lord of Samsara replied in a pained voice.

“No, Master. One of the greatest blessings in my life was meeting you,” Chu Yang said, eyes full of love and sincerity.

“There’s something I’ve buried in my heart that I never dared say aloud… I was an orphan from birth. In truth, I’ve always seen you as my father. And now, knowing I won’t survive, please allow me… to call you ‘Father’ just once.”

“Yang’er… my dear child... rest assured. I swear to you, one day, no matter the cost, I will avenge you. I will crush the True Martial Sacred Ground. That day will come,” the Lord of Samsara vowed.

“Goodbye… my dear Father,” Chu Yang whispered, closing his eyes.

At that moment, the energy around him slowly faded, and a shadow burst forth from his body.

“How interesting,” the old man said with a smile. He waved his hand, and a torrent of spiritforce surged toward the Lord of Samsara.

But the elder roared, “Back in my prime, why would I fear you? An insect like you, I could crush into dust! If I choose to leave today, not even a Grand Emperor could stop me.”

Endless Samsara Force flooded the skies.

“Infinite Rebirth!” the Lord of Samsara said, closing his eyes. A swirling vortex of reincarnation formed around his soul.

The vortex was deep and vast. One glance into it felt like it would suck your very soul inside.

The Lord of Samsara’s soul was drawn into the vortex, and then he was gone.

……………

For every cultivator who walks the Dao of Samsara, they have one chance in life to forcibly enter the cycle of reincarnation.

This is the ultimate act on that path, a supreme rule bestowed by the River of Fate itself. Even a Grand Emperor cannot alter it.

Generally, cultivators do not use this chance unless they face certain death. It is akin to rebirth, but comes with extreme risks.

Life and death are equal possibilities.

If you fall into the path of death, you permanently die.

If you enter the path of life, you lose all your cultivation, and your memories may not remain.

Worse still, your next form might not even be human, you could be reborn as a bird, beast, insect, or plant. Anything in the world is possible. You cannot control your reincarnated body.

“Interesting indeed…” the Sky Shroud Ancestor murmured as he watched the Lord of Samsara disappear. He shook his head with a faint smile.

Then, turning to Xu Qingshan, he said, “The rest is yours to handle.”

With that, Sky Shroud Ancestor vanished without a trace, as though he had never existed at all.

Everyone watching from the shadows trembled with fear.

The True Martial Sacred Ground had been dormant for centuries. Most had only heard tales of their power, but no one had truly grasped it, until now.

Witnessing that old man effortlessly suppress an entire Supreme Sect, someone finally asked in a hushed voice, “Who… who was that senior just now?”

“You’ve never heard of Sky Shroud Ancestor, the War God?” someone replied. “He was once the number one battle general under Grand Emperor Zhen Wu. It’s said he even competed for Heaven’s Will with the Grand Emperor himself, but was ultimately moved by the Grand Emperor’s vision, to establish a golden age for humanity and stand alone against the ancient beasts of the Desolate Era. In the end, Sky Shroud Ancestor submitted, and followed the Grand Emperor into the stars.”

……………

Xu Qingshan looked at the Yin-Yang Sect cultivators still bound by spiritual chains and turned to Xu Zimo.

“Zimo, come here. I told you before, everything I’ve done today is for you. Now, these people… you may deal with them however you like.”

“I don’t need anyone else,” Xu Zimo replied. “I only want him.”

He walked toward Chu Yang, slowly unsheathing Shadow Tyrant, his blade. His gaze locked on Chu Yang.

At that moment, Baili Xiao suddenly rushed forward and threw herself in front of Xu Zimo, pleading, “Please… don’t kill him. I beg you. Please… please... please!”

Seeing her grief-stricken face, Xu Zimo smiled. He gently stroked her cheek and said, “Silly girl, don’t worry. Death is just a release. Living is the real pain. Oh? Are you in pain now? Watching the one you love die right in front of you, isn’t that a pain far worse than death?”

Baili Xiao shook her head desperately, then turned to Xu Qingshan and knelt, slamming her head into the ground over and over, bloodying the earth.

“Vice-Lord… please… I beg you. Spare him.”

“You think I can tolerate this any longer?” Xu Qingshan said coldly. “Back in Sunshine Village, the sect shielded you from the Immortal Spirit Sect. During the competition, Sixth Grand Elder violated the rules and interfered, I said nothing. Now you think that just because you inherited the Grand Empress’ legacy, you can do whatever you want?”

He laughed bitterly.

“Fine. If you love him so much, I’ll revoke your status as the Grand Empress’ successor and kill you both together.”

“Sect Master, Xiao’er is just a child,” Sixth Grand Elder hurried to interject.

“Enough!” Xu Qingshan barked. “I’ve yet to deal with you for breaking the rules. As one of the Seven Grand Elders, you violated the law. The Disciplinary Hall will handle you.”

He waved his hand, ready to strip Baili Xiao of her Soaring Immortal Physique.

“Vice-Lord Xu, wait!” A booming voice echoed from the sky.

Two powerful figures descended, both Empyrean Meridian Realm experts, their seven meridian gates wide open.

Xu Qingshan frowned slightly as one of the men stepped forward.

“I am Baili Chengfeng, patriarch of the Baili Clan of the Eastern Continent.”

Xu Qingshan blinked and looked at Baili Xiao. The pieces clicked into place.

“She is my daughter,” Baili Chengfeng sighed. “In the past, due to complicated political pressures, I couldn’t bring her home. Now that everything is settled, I’ve come to retrieve her. Please, allow me the mercy of a father’s plea. We will return the Grand Empress’ legacy to the Sacred Ground. I only ask that you let me take her away.”

Xu Qingshan replied, “Their lives are in Zimo’s hands. If he agrees, I will not interfere.”

The Baili Clan, located in the Eastern Continent’s core, had once produced a Grand Emperor, Baili Changkong, known by his imperial title, Grand Emperor Chang Kong.

Though not as mighty as the True Martial Sacred Ground with its Four Grand Emperors, their power was still formidable.

“What does Young Lord Xu think? Any terms, just say the word,” Baili Chengfeng said.

“I’ll spare her,” Xu Zimo replied. “But I want something, a chance to enter the Baili Clan’s forbidden land, the Heaven Genesis Microcosm.”

Baili Chengfeng frowned.

“That land is guarded by the clan’s elders. I cannot authorize that.”

“Then never mind,” Xu Zimo shrugged. “You can collect your daughter’s corpse later.”

“Baili Chengfeng!” Sixth Grand Elder, Xiao Ruoxuan, shouted angrily. “It was your cowardice that left my sister to raise a child alone. She died without ever seeing you again. Now you’re going to watch your daughter die too? What kind of man are you?”

Baili Chengfeng was silent for a long time. Then he sighed deeply and turned to Xu Zimo.

“I accept your condition.”

Xu Zimo nodded, then leaned in close to Baili Xiao and whispered with a smile: “Don’t worry. I won’t let you die so soon. This is just the beginning. For now, enjoy the sight of the one you love dying in front of you. Next time… I’ll make your father, your clan, everyone you care about, die in front of your eyes. Doesn’t that sound beautiful?”

“You… you’re a demon! You’re not human! You bastard!” Baili Xiao cried, backing away in terror.

Xu Zimo simply chuckled and walked to Chu Yang.

The two stood face to face. Chu Yang’s eyes were clear and firm. Aside from a hint of regret, there was no fear of death.

“How do you want to die?” Xu Zimo asked.

“A quick death, a brutal one, doesn’t matter,” Chu Yang smiled calmly. “Like the Yin-Yang Ancestor said… Some die forgotten. Some are remembered. Whether light as a feather or heavy as a mountain, I just wanted to live meaningfully, and die meaningfully. Too bad the heavens didn’t agree. But I know… fate is often unjust, and life is not fair.”

Xu Zimo said nothing. He slowly raised Shadow Tyrant.

Memories rolled through his mind, echoes of the past.

He could not help but wonder.

Why did I even become enemies with Chu Yang in my previous life?

In the beginning, Chu Yang had no hostility toward the True Martial Sacred Ground.

He knew he was just a simple village boy, and Baili Xiao was the Holy Daughter of an Imperial Lineage.

He trained hard day and night only to catch up to her. To be worthy of being with the girl he loved.

But when Xu Zimo learned of Chu Yang’s childhood bond with her, jealousy consumed him, and he sent assassins.

That was what forced Chu Yang to walk the path of opposition. He had no choice but to stand against the True Martial Sacred Ground.

Was Chu Yang wrong? No.

In fact, it was Xu Zimo who was wrong.

…………………

“Was I wrong...?” Xu Zimo laughed madly, clutching his face. His grin was twisted.

“I can’t be wrong. If you think I’m wrong… I’ll kill you. If they think I’m wrong-” he pointed at the bound members of the Yin-Yang Sect, “I’ll kill them all! If the world’s morals say I’m wrong, I’ll destroy them and make my own rules! If the entire world says I’m wrong, then I’ll burn it down! I cannot be wrong. Even if I am, you’ll all believe I’m right. That’s how I do things.”

Chu Yang looked at him calmly. He also laughed.

“In the eternal and never-ending river of time, how many heroes have won, how many villains have lost? Whether they lived a life of glory or defeat... in the end they all died. In life... only death is certain. Xu Zimo, you will die too, someday. When your time runs out, I’ll be there... waiting for you.”

“Good... I look forward to it...” Xu Zimo replied hoarsely.

Then, Shadow Tyrant burst into blinding light as he drove it into Chu Yang’s abdomen.

Slowly, he lifted the blade upward, trying to split Chu Yang in two.

“I fear nothing,” Chu Yang whispered, eyes steady. “So the world itself cannot make me fear.”

His final glance was toward Baili Xiao, who had collapsed in tears.

“They say the dead become stars in the sky, to guard the ones they love. I’ll be the brightest one. Xiao’er, I will always love you...”

His gaze slowly faded away.

His life ended in that instant.

Xu Zimo knew, although he had killed Chu Yang…

He could not break his will.

He could not break his spirt.

He could not break his Dao Heart.

Chu Yang’s unyielding heart and fearless gaze, even in the face of death, had never faltered.

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