CH 69.2

The Heavenly Principles did not reply.

Pei QianYue didn’t rush him either. 

The Heavenly Principles wasn’t actually a living creature that existed in reality. He represented this world’s rules, knowledge, and order. He wasn’t human, much less an immortal or God.

As such, he lacked the emotions possessed by the creatures of this world. Any attempts to curry favor or beg for mercy was pointless.

However, this didn’t mean that it was impossible to negotiate with the Heavenly Principles.

The Heavenly Principles was like an instrument running on an extremely precise program; however, this program wasn’t set in stone. He can weigh the pros and cons, calculate, and hypothesize to select the plan that’s most beneficial to this world. 

Pei QianYue was confident that he presented sufficient conditions.

The reason why the Heavenly Principles had interfered this time was because in his calculations, he reached the conclusion that the world was to face imminent destruction. Weighing the pros and cons, he decided on, what he thought to be, the most optimal resolution method.

Killing the cultivators of this world through random selection, and controlling the number of cultivators in the world, as well as returning their portion of spirit energy back to the Heaven and Earth.

Killing two birds with one stone.

The conditions that Pei QianYue presented to him, also, achieved this.

Perhaps the jurisdiction of the Immortal Alliance won’t be able to reduce the number of cultivators within this world immediately, however once the situation is controlled, it will be beneficial in the long run. As for the portion of people who should have died, as well as their spirit energy which should have been placed back into the Heaven and Earth, Pei QianYue will be making up for it himself.

A powerful demon who has cultivated for 3000 years— the spirit energy that he provided can only be stronger than those mortals, not less.

Regardless of how it’s calculated, this was an advantageous and harmless proposition.  

Sure enough, a moment later, the Heavenly Principles said slowly: “What’s your condition?”

The corners of Pei QianYue’s lips curved upwards.

The wind gradually picked up. Above the distant horizons, the intense winds twisted into tiny vortexes within the clouds. Pei QianYue looked up towards the skies and said in a calm and clear tone: “Exempt Feng Ci from all punishments…… and give him back his freedom.”

Let him live freely, die freely, without restrictions henceforth. 

The wild gusts of wind enveloped the Heaven and Earth; the clouds concealed the sun and skies.

High in the sky, a deep bottomless vortex formed slowly. The intense wind swept up the sand, stones, and fallen leaves in a spiral, which were then swallowed by that vortex.

In the depths of the vortex was a figure in black robes.

Very cold. 

Pei QianYue has never felt such a terrifying coldness before in his life. The whistling wind around him sounded like a wailing kind of howl. Every time a breeze blew past his body, it took away a bit of warmth, and a part of his spirit energy.

The breath that he exhaled was already tainted with a faint white fog. His entire body was so frozen from the extreme cold that he had already lost all sensations except for the sharp pain that tugged inside his chest and heart as he breathed. With the rapid loss of spirit energy, Pei QianYue’s hair turned brittle white swiftly; his entire person even became emaciated. 

How unsightly.

Good thing he’s not here. 

At a time like this, Pei QianYue actually rejoiced slightly in his heart.

Feng Ci liked this appearance of his the most. He wasn’t here, so he’d never see his current appearance.

Pei QianYue lowered his head.

The rapid deterioration made his robes appear even wider and broader than before. The brittle white hair was lifted by the wild gusts of wind. His body seemed on the verge of being blown over by the gale anytime and this was indeed the current reality as well. Pei QianYue really couldn’t remain standing anymore. His breathing was so light, even it seemed like it could vanish anytime. 

A demon(妖)’s spirit energy was their source of life. Vanishing along with his spirit energy was also his life force.

Approaching death, people usually acquire a moment of peace.

All the clamors suddenly felt very far. In a daze, Pei QianYue felt almost like he had returned to his childhood, the day when he first met Feng Ci. At that time, it was also the same feeling as right now. He was so cold that his entire body was stiff; he was on the verge of unconsciousness.

The little snake, that was just born not too long ago, curled up onto itself inside the snow— suffering, helpless, not knowing what he could do to continue surviving. 

Then, he saw that person.

Dressed in full white, as if a god descending upon this world, he arrived next to him.

Boom—

A huge sound pulled Pei QianYue from the depths of his thoughts. However, his head, which had already become sluggish and muddled, was no longer capable of determining if this were reality or still merely part of his fantasies. 

Boom!

Another huge sound.

Ktlr rbecv fnfc rtbbx atf ugbecv larfio. Ufl HljcTef rajuufgfv jr kfii, jcv tlr atbeutar olcjiis mifjgfv eq.

Lf gjlrfv tlr tfjv, obmerfv atf ijra yla bo rqlgla fcfgus gfwjlclcu lc tlr ybvs, jcv ‘rjk’ atf rkbgv-klfivlcu oluegf rajcvlcu lc wlvjlg. 

Pa kjr cb ibcufg atf ybvs bo atja atlc, ogjli sbeat. Ktf sbecu wjc’r oluegf kjr ajii jcv rifcvfg. Llr ibcu ibbrf tjlg oifk klivis jwlvra atf ktlgiklcv, tlr tjcvrbwf ojmf rfgfcf jr kjafg.

Saint Sovereign QianQiu finally retrieved his original body.

Feng Ci stood amidst the whirlwind and looked at Pei QianYue, as if meeting his gaze from afar. Immediately afterwards, Feng Ci raised the QianQiu Sword he held high in the air and gave a forceful swing.

Boom—! 

The transaction between Pei QianYue and the Heavenly Principles was completed. The whirlwind had created an impenetrable barrier around him. The sword energy slammed brutally onto that barrier, but it didn’t do the slightest damage.

Feng Ci didn’t give up. The glow of the QianQiu Sword grew brighter and brighter with each swing, the sword energy beating on the barrier more and more abundant each time.

Don’t do this.

Pei QianYue wanted to say, but he wasn’t sure if he made a sound or not. 

He raised his hands towards that figure in the air.

Those hands were thin and pale white at this moment, as if even his life force had already been drained dry.

Pei QianYue remembered how he looked right now and withdrew his hands again, his lips twisting into a sardonic smile.

There’s not enough time…… just give up…… 

It’s too late……

His spirit energy was no longer capable of supporting his vision. The sense of perception brought by that little bit of spirit energy faded little by little. Fading at the same time was that young man’s handsome and immaculate face, as well as that tall and slender figure.

In a flash, Feng Ci’s spiritual powers surged. 

He raised the QianQiu Sword once again. The roar of thunder in the horizon even overwhelmed the howling of the whirlwind. That impenetrable layer of clouds was finally twisted open by another powerful, unstoppable force. Thunder and lightning fell from the sky, striking the tip of Feng Ci’s blade. 

The young man’s eyes were serene, without any ripples. Carrying the power of these 10 thousand bolts of lightning, he swung his sword heavily downwards—

The rumble shook the Heavens and Earth. That impenetrable barrier finally split open a crack.

The fissure expanded swiftly, from the bottom upwards, visibly collapsing bit by bit.

Feng Ci finally revealed a slight smile, but an unprecedented force suddenly exploded from the depths of the vortex. The powerful surge abruptly threw Feng Ci outwards. 

Feng Ci was forced hundreds of meters away by the impact of that force.

He fell downwards into the forest below. Body skimming over the top of a tree, he finally smashed heavily into a thick tree trunk.

This fall made Feng Ci feel like even his organs were knocked out of place. Head buzzing loudly, it was quite a while before he finally coughed out a mouthful of blood and then slid down from the tree trunk.

With a boom, the tree trunk behind him snapped in half and fell to the ground with a rumble. 

The QianQiu Sword rolled to the side as Feng Ci fell onto one knee, gasping for breath as the thick taste of blood filled his chest.

The scene just now, he had seen before.

At the start of everything, in the first dream that the Heavenly Principles bestowed upon him.

The him back then, originally thought that it was the scene of imminent catastrophe. Who would have imagined that it wasn’t a catastrophe after all, but rather, a punishment from the Heavens. 

“……Are you kidding me?” Feng Ci wiped away the blood on his lips with his sleeve, picked up the QianQiu Sword, and forced himself to stand up with its support. He tilted his head and gazed towards the horizons. That strong whirlwind that was continuously absorbing Pei QianYue’s spirit energy had already stopped, but the vortex in the skies still remained.

“Pei QianYue……” Feng Ci’s voice was hoarse and raspy: “You lunatic.” 

In the deepest parts of the forest, a white light suddenly appeared.

The white light instantly engulfed the entire forest, and also enveloped Feng Ci’s figure within it. The aches and pains of his body vanished subsequently. Feng Ci looked up and saw the figure that stood not far away. 

The Heavenly Principles.

Feng Ci stood up straight and looked at that figure coldly: “I was the one who defied your orders. Why do you have to bring innocent people into this?”

“Innocent?” The Heavenly Principles’ voice spoke up between the Heavens and Earth: “He was the one who had plotted to remove the Heavenly Principles’ spell on the puppet. How is he innocent? He should have been the one to bear all of this from the start. Not to mention, this was his own request.”

“But he did it because of m—” Feng Ci’s voice stopped as abruptly as it began. 

Pointless.

The Heavenly Principles has always only looked at the outcome. Tracing back to the source, Pei QianYue was actually the leading culprit of this incident. If he didn’t order WanFa Pavilion to create the All-Restoration Device, things would have been completely different today.

Regardless of Pei QianYue’s original intentions, it didn’t change this outcome.

Feng Ci closed his eyes. 

Pei QianYue had already calculated everything clearly.

That’s why he chose a method where Feng Ci could only assist from the side, but never interfere. It was all for today, just to remove Feng Ci from this entire affair.

“The transaction is already completed.” The Heavenly Principles said slowly: “From today onwards, you’re no longer the Son of Heaven and have no need to fulfill your obligations and responsibilities as the Son of Heaven. Go, if you continue to pester, the Law of Heaven will not forgive you.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Feng Ci felt something loosen around him. 

Inexplicably, there seemed to be an invisible shackle that quietly opened, releasing a soul that has been imprisoned for a very long time.

This originally should have been his long-cherished wish for thousands of years. But when he finally fulfilled this wish, Feng Ci didn’t actually feel any sense of delight or happiness.

He took in a gentle breath and calmed himself.

“Father……, no, Heavenly Principles.” Feng Ci said coolly: “Since you like making bargains, how about we make another transaction?” 

The Heavenly Principles did not answer.

That huge figure lowered his head slightly and gazed down at the young man in the forest.

The forest was a complete wreck. Feng Ci stood there quietly. His plain white robes were lifted slightly by the wind. He looked like a fallen immortal, immaculate without any blemish.

“Before you said that without interference, the spirit energy of this world would completely wither away after 1000 years, leading to its destruction.” Feng Ci looked head on at the Heavenly Principles and said slowly: “But what if…… that conclusion is wrong?” 

The forest remained quiet and still for quite a while, as if even the wind had stopped blowing.

After a moment, that huge figure finally answered slowly: “The Heavenly Principles never makes any mistakes.”

Feng Ci chuckled: “How can there be such an absolute thing in this world?”

The Heavenly Principles asked: “What are you trying to say?” 

“I’m trying to say, since the reason for the Heavenly Principles’ interference in this matter is based on the fact that this world is about to be destroyed, then if this reason does not stand, you will have no rights to take away anyone’s spirit energy.” Feng Ci subconsciously glanced towards the direction of the cliff: “And life.”

“What evidence do you have?”

“It’s not like I can predict the future like you, so naturally I can’t provide any evidence.” Feng Ci smiled and said: “But the Heavenly Principles’ ability to predict the future is not accurate every single time, isn’t that right?”

“If you can accurately predict the outcome every single time, then why did you not predict today’s arrival 3000 years ago when I spread the Art of Dao to the people of the world. Why didn’t you…… stop me right then and there?” 

The Heavenly Principles fell silent again.

“Humankind is unpredictable.” Feng Ci said: “The things within this world can change in an instant. Sometimes, even a tiny little discovery, a careless incidental thought, can change many things.”

Just like how Pei QianYue had decided to establish the Immortal Alliance back then, which almost changed the direction of the situation.

“You said that humankind’s greed is endless. This is indeed true. But there are so many people within this world. Some people are greedy, selfish, and unreasonably demanding, but other people also work hard to live a good life, pursuing, advancing, and persevering relentlessly day by day for the ideals within their hearts.” 

“Why not give those people a chance? Or are you saying that those people deserve to pay the price for the greedy and avaricious?”

“……Not to mention, do you think you can stop them by sending envoys into the world to kill a few people?”

“During these thousands of years, they have already experienced countless destruction and devastation, any one of them as terrifying as the current catastrophe they face. Yet was there any one time that truly ended their generations of tradition and legacy?”

“Humans are the weakest, yet most tenacious creatures of this world. Even if you kill them all until only one person is left, that person can still ignite one day and start a wildfire.” 

“Without the extinction of humankind, the legacy will never end. Can you really stop them?”

The Heavenly Principles fell silent for a very long time.

Just as Feng Ci said. Humankind was the most grandiose creature of this world. This was also why such an extremely precise instrument like the Heavenly Principles can never calculate and judge their existence. 

That’s why the Heavenly Principles cannot appear within the world carelessly, incapable of interfering with the development of the current state of affairs. 

Unless the world encountered a major crisis.

“What kind of transaction do you want to make?” After a long time, the Heavenly Principles asked slowly.

“I am willing to become your envoy again in this world.” Feng Ci said calmly: “Give me a thousand years. I will guide humankind to walk onto the correct path. I can promise you that the foretold catastrophe will not arrive. The human race will find another way.”

“You spent 3000 years to break free from these shackles, now you want to wear them again. Don’t you want freedom?” 

“I do, but since it’s already been 3000 years, a bit longer makes no difference. Not to mention……” Feng Ci looked up and towards the distant cliff. His gaze turned gentle and soft: “I suddenly discovered that there’s something more important in this world than freedom.”

He withdrew his gaze and chuckled softly: “I seem to be temporarily unwilling to part with it. That freedom is completely useless to me.”

The wind gradually stopped. A beam of light pierced through the sky, dispersing the heavy layer of clouds.

Catching the wind, Feng Ci flew up to the peak of the cliff. Immediately, he saw the person who had fallen there. 

Pei QianYue’s head of fine black hair had completely turned brittle white. A pale hand reached out of his robes, gradually turning ashen white and ice-cold.

Feng Ci knelt down on one knee, bent down, and pulled this already lifeless body into his arms.

“Idiot.” Feng Ci said softly.

The breeze from the horizons encircled the two of them. The spirit energy contained within the wind slowly transferred back inside the body. 

As long as in 1000 years, the spirit energy of this world does not wither as predicted, then the Heavenly Principles have no reason to take away Pei QianYue’s spirit energy. Conversely, if the situation still heads towards that direction 1000 years later, then Feng Ci and Pei QianYue will face a price even more dreadful than death.

This was the consequence of making transactions with the Heavenly Principles.

Pei QianYue’s body started to glow. This was the spirit energy currently returning to his body.

Feng Ci placed Pei QianYue back on the ground. The other’s originally withered and emaciated body began to recover rapidly. The color of blood also gradually returned to his face. 

Very quickly, his fingers moved slightly. Then he woke up.

In a flash, Feng Ci withdrew his hand, which originally covered the back of the other’s hand.

Pei QianYue’s consciousness was still slightly dazed. He turned his head extremely slowly to face Feng Ci’s location: “……Master?”

His spirit energy still has yet to merge back fully into his body, so he was unable to view things with his spirit energy. However, even in complete darkness, he can still clearly sense Feng Ci’s presence. 

Feng Ci cleared his throat and made a stern face: “En. It’s me.”

“The Heavenly Principles…..” Pei QianYue’s voice was quiet and hoarse.

Feng Ci said coolly: “He left.”

His voice was frigid and clear. He has never used this kind of tone to speak to Pei QianYue before. 

Pei QianYue moved slightly, as if he wanted to sit up. However, as soon as he lifted his arm, he was immediately pressed down by Feng Ci: “What are you doing? Your spirit energy has not yet been restored. Do you not want to live anymore?”

Ice cold hands covered his and gently grasped Feng Ci’s hands: “Want to touch you.”

Feng Ci’s expression changed again and again. Ultimately, he didn’t have the heart to pull his hand away.

Pei QianYue’s body was still very weak. His hair had also remained brittle white. Feng Ci knew that this was because the Heavenly Principles still removed a portion of his spirit energy. 

It was the price that Pei QianYue agreed to pay previously, the price of defying the Will of the Heavens.

The Heavenly Principles never makes a losing bargain.

Nevertheless, this person was still alive; that was already enough.

After some more time passed, Pei QianYue asked: “How did Master find your way here?” 

Feng Ci’s gaze landed on the other’s brittle white hair and said with a temper: “If I didn’t come, was I supposed to wait for you to die?” 

The power of his soul was extremely strong. That drug Pei QianYue used to knock him out really couldn’t last very long.

And fortunately, that was the case.

Feng Ci doesn’t even dare to recall the feeling he had waking up alone in LingWu Mountain. He squeezed his eyes shut and forcibly suppressed the emotions that surged belatedly in the aftermath— shock, panic, and…… fear. 

If he had arrived just a bit later……

Pei QianYue stopped talking again. Feng Ci was filled with fury with no place to vent. He said gloomily: “Are you dumbfounded? Isn’t there anything you want to say to me?”

“There is.” Pei QianYue said quietly: “I’m sorry.”

Sorry for acting on my own. 

Sorry for letting you worry.

“……But I don’t regret it.” Pei QianYue’s voice was very soft, as if he needed to consume a huge amount of strength to say each sentence: “I’ll never regret dying for you.”

The rims of Feng Ci’s eyes turned red instantly.

He shifted his gaze, closed his eyes, and sighed silently: “Anything else.” 

“Actually yes.” Pei QianYue grabbed Feng Ci’s hand with all his strength and revealed a slightly weak, but extremely beautiful smile: “Yesterday, I said something wrong.”

“You are my God, have always been.”