Ch. 1298 - The Resolve To Fight

Elder Bi sighed softly. He knew the situation had escalated beyond repair.

Qiao Huijun’s expression shifted between calm and fury as he stared at Xu Zimo and Wu Zhaodi. Dressed in a flowing white robe, he looked refined and elegant, a folding fan in hand engraved with mountains and rivers.

“Vice-Lord, should we just…” someone beside him whispered.

“The inheritance token is important,” Elder Bi reminded in a low voice.

“Take the Second Elder out for treatment first,” Qiao Huijun ordered.

Disciples rushed into the rubble and dragged out the gravely injured Second Elder.

“The token,” Qiao Huijun said as he stepped forward, his tone even. “I can overlook what happened with the Second Elder, but the token must stay.”

“Elder Bi, didn’t I already tell you my terms?” Xu Zimo asked, ignoring Qiao Huijun entirely and fixing his gaze on the elder.

“I know you intend to give it to Realm Lord Qi,” Qiao Huijun interjected. “But Realm Lord Qi is in deep seclusion. Disturbing him now could have catastrophic consequences. None of us could bear that responsibility.”

“That’s fine,” Xu Zimo said calmly. “I plan to stay in Vast Heaven God Realm for a while anyway. I can wait.”

“And what if Realm Lord Qi never emerges?” Qiao Huijun pressed.

“If he doesn’t come out before I leave,” Xu Zimo said coldly, “then the inheritance token will no longer have any connection to Vast Heaven God Realm. Whether he emerges or not is your problem, not mine.”

“There’s no need for hostility between us,” Qiao Huijun suddenly said with a faint smile. “I believe Vast Heaven God Realm and Master Xu could become lifelong allies. Name your condition, anything within our power, we will agree to it.”

“This token was entrusted to me by Heaven's Equal Emperor himself,” Xu Zimo said. “If he didn’t say to give it to you, then you’ll never have it.”

“Heaven's Equal Emperor… he’s not dead?” Qiao Huijun’s smile vanished as he spoke softly.

Xu Zimo didn’t answer. Instead, he turned to Elder Bi. “Find us a courtyard. We’ll be staying for a while.”

“Are you sure about this, Master Xu?” Qiao Huijun asked, narrowing his eyes.

“Do you not understand plain words?” Xu Zimo shot back.

“Very well,” Qiao Huijun said through gritted teeth. “A man of spine indeed.” He turned to the elder and barked, “Elder Bi, prepare our guest the finest courtyard. Make sure he’s well looked after.”

Without another word, he turned and left, the other elders and disciples trailing behind him.

Only Elder Bi remained, shaking his head and sighing. “Master Xu, there’s no need to provoke them like this. It’ll end badly for everyone.”

“Just arrange the place,” Xu Zimo said evenly. “As for a fight, your Vast Heaven God Realm doesn’t concern me.”

Elder Bi sighed again but didn’t argue. He led Xu Zimo and Wu Zhaodi to a courtyard.

“This is Zenith Courtyard,” he said simply. “You may stay here. If you need anything, come to me. That’s all I can do.”

“Elder Bi, if Realm Lord Qi emerges, let me know immediately,” Xu Zimo said.

“It’s unlikely he will,” Elder Bi replied with a shake of his head.

“Is there any way to make him come out?” Wu Zhaodi asked.

“Only if he chooses to come out himself,” Elder Bi explained, “or if the sect faces a moment of true life and death.”

But both possibilities were nearly impossible.

Vast Heaven God Realm was flourishing, with three Saint Sovereigns and thousands of Grand Emperors. Even without Qi Haoran, they had two Saint Sovereigns on stand-by, there was no need to fear any faction.

And Qi Haoran had been in seclusion for tens of thousands of years. He would not emerge lightly.

“Go about your duties, Elder Bi,” Xu Zimo said with a nod.

After the elder left, Wu Zhaodi turned to him. “What will you do now?”

“Wait,” Xu Zimo said with a faint smile.

“Waiting isn’t a solution,” Wu Zhaodi frowned.

“I was wrong about one thing,” Xu Zimo said, raising his eyes toward the north, the direction of the Ancient Demon Realm. “I’m not waiting for Qi Haoran. I’m waiting for them.”

He was waiting for the Ancient Demon Race.

As for Qi Haoran, if he emerged, Xu Zimo would give him the token, fulfilling Heaven's Equal Emperor’s final wish. If he didn’t, Xu Zimo would simply leave.

“Do you want to learn the Heaven-Shattering God-Scripture?” Xu Zimo suddenly asked.

“Me?” Wu Zhaodi was stunned, unable to believe it.

The Ten Primordial God-Scriptures were legendary, the dream of countless cultivators across the Nine Heavens.

But for Xu Zimo, it was optional, almost trivial.

After all, if Wu Zhaodi didn’t learn it, it would go back to Vast Heaven God Realm anyway. At least if she did, it would strengthen one of his own.

“Yes,” Wu Zhaodi said firmly, her eyes blazing with determination.

Meanwhile, in Vast Heaven God Realm’s council hall, chaos reigned.

Everyone was talking at once, some urging war, others suggesting calling out Realm Lord Qi.

“It’s our ancestral inheritance token! Losing it would disgrace our forebears!”

“That’s right! The Heaven-Shattering God-Scripture is priceless. We can’t afford to lose it again. We must wake Realm Lord Qi!”

“And what if he’s on the verge of breaking through? Will you take responsibility if something goes wrong?” elders shouted back and forth, voices rising in anger.

“Enough! Stop this childish bickering!” Qiao Huijun slammed the table, silencing the hall.

“Vice-Lord, this decision must come from you,” someone said after a moment of quiet.

Once again, the burden fell squarely on his shoulders.

“I’ll consult the two Ancestors,” Qiao Huijun said with a frown.

By “Ancestors,” he meant Vast Heaven God Realm’s two Saint Sovereigns.

“What’s that man’s cultivation level?” Qiao Huijun asked, turning to Elder Bi.

“Probably a Grand Emperor,” Elder Bi said uncertainly.

“A mere Grand Emperor dares to act wantonly in my Vast Heaven God Realm?” Qiao Huijun snorted coldly. “Courage he has, but it’s the kind that gets fools killed.”

The next few days passed in uneasy silence.

The entire sect seemed calm, but beneath the surface, everyone could feel the storm gathering.

Xu Zimo, however, remained utterly composed, eating, drinking, and resting as if nothing were wrong.

Then, one afternoon, Qiao Huijun appeared again with several elders in tow.

“Have you two been comfortable these past few days?” he asked with a smile.

“Good enough,” Xu Zimo said flatly.

“Master Xu, I’ll give you one last chance,” Qiao Huijun said. “Will you hand over the inheritance token?”

“So you’ve decided to fight,” Xu Zimo said calmly.

The hostility in their formation made their intent obvious.

“Young one,” a raspy voice suddenly echoed through the air, “don’t say we bully you.”

Without warning, fierce winds swept through the courtyard.

A figure emerged from the storm.

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