Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 330: He’s Already Apologized, What More Do You Want?

"What in the hell is going on in this world of yours!?"

In Demon-Vanquishing Perfected’s grasp, blood dripped from Minghua Celestial Immortal’s severed head. His face was a mask of terror, and his trembling lips twitched—incredibly, he could still speak.

And he wasn’t the only one.

The other three Earth Immortals could also speak. Though they had been decapitated, they were not dead. It was just that the sensation of being amputated below the neck was... less than pleasant.

However, the beheading seemed to have dispelled some sort of "influence" they had been under. In its place, an unprecedented terror welled up within them. Minghua Celestial Immortal couldn’t even fathom his own recent thoughts. ’A world with over thirty Fruits! How could I have been so bold as to come here?’

"Could it be... that a Supreme Venerable made a move against me?"

It was the only explanation. At this thought, Minghua Celestial Immortal’s mouth twitched. He swallowed all his emotions, narrowly stopping himself from cursing aloud.

’That bastard!’

’What kind of being is a Supreme Venerable? They hold a Fruit, they’re high and mighty! To actually attack a minor Celestial Immortal like me... Is there no justice? No law?’

’And where is my own Supreme Venerable?’

’Why didn’t he save me?’

"You... what exactly..."

For a moment, a thousand questions swirled in Minghua Celestial Immortal’s mind, but before he could speak, Demon-Vanquishing Perfected gave his head a hard shake, causing his eyes to roll back into their sockets.

"Quiet."

Demon-Vanquishing Perfected chided in a low voice, his expression somewhat troubled. His Sword Intent was named "Non-Killing." As the name implied, his sword did not kill.

Anyone struck by his sword might be dismembered, perhaps even shattered to pieces, but they would never die. At worst, they would lose all their Divine Power and be reduced to the current state of Minghua Celestial Immortal and the others. They wouldn’t be dead, but they would be incapable of achieving anything ever again.

To some, it was a fate worse than death.

However, in Demon-Vanquishing Perfected’s view, a wretched life was better than a good death. They had, after all, survived. As long as a person was alive, there was always something to hope for.

The next moment, his Flying Light descended.

Demon-Vanquishing Perfected flew back to the boat. As his Divine Sense swept across the vessel, he frowned. The sight of Ye Xingfeng’s absence made his heart sink.

"Where’s Xing Feng? What happened?"

"Senior Uncle!"

Seeing Demon-Vanquishing Perfected finally return, Ye Guyue, who had been holding her emotions in check, immediately flew over. A look of bitter resentment marred her delicate features.

However, before she could open her mouth, Lü Yang beat her to it. "I have failed you, Senior. Brother Ye... died because of me. I am willing to repay these karmic links by submitting to reincarnation within the Sword Pavilion. Please, Senior, do not take your anger out on Senior Sister Ye. The fault is mine and mine alone."

Ye Guyue: "..."

’Who are you calling Senior Sister? You haven’t even joined the Sword Pavilion yet!’

’And he’s a Sword Species!’

"You still want to join the Sword Pavilion?" Ye Guyue snarled, grinding her teeth. "Senior Uncle, this is the man who secretly plotted Xing Feng’s murder! Slay him and avenge Xing Feng!"

Lü Yang, upon hearing this, stood with his hands clasped, his head bowed. A wronged look appeared on his face, but he remained silent, presenting the perfect picture of an obedient boy awaiting his punishment.

Demon-Vanquishing Perfected shook his head at the scene.

The next moment, he reached out and made a plucking gesture, as if strumming the very fabric of the world. The surrounding scenery immediately began to rewind, replaying the events that had just transpired.

This wasn’t a reversal of Time, but a re-creation of past events. Only a Great Trueman who had reached Foundation Establishment Perfection or possessed an extremely high level of Cultivation could accomplish such a feat. To put it simply, it was a matter of asking Heaven and Earth to do them a favor and let them view the "cosmic record." If one’s Cultivation was insufficient, Heaven and Earth would simply ignore the request.

Soon, a series of images appeared.

After a moment, Demon-Vanquishing Perfected’s expression grew grim. He was no fool; he could clearly see the underhanded actions of Ye Guyue and Ye Xingfeng.

"...He brought it upon himself!"

Demon-Vanquishing Perfected grunted, then with a wave of his sleeve, dismissed the images. Though his face was stern, his eyes betrayed a deep, profound helplessness.

"It was clear you two were the ones who wanted to kill him..."

"And so what if we were?"

Ye Guyue was completely unable to understand. "Senior Uncle, we didn’t actually kill him! Now that Xing Feng is dead, are you saying he’s blameless?"

"Besides, for him to use an Ability to vanish at that exact moment... he was clearly trying to kill by a borrowed hand!"

"Just a coincidence."

Demon-Vanquishing Perfected shook his head and looked at Lü Yang. "He was inside the ’No Heaven’ at the time. I’ve been there myself. It blocks all Spiritual Perception."

Ye Guyue fumed.

’She even began to feel a sliver of resentment toward Demon-Vanquishing Perfected. No wonder the Patriarch always said our Senior Uncle marches to the beat of his own drum. I never thought he’d be this stubbornly naive!’

Just then, Lü Yang spoke up. "Senior, it truly was my fault."

His expression was mournful, his face a mask of guilt. "Though I did not intend for Brother Ye to die, I feel I must still bear some of the responsibility."

After he finished, Lü Yang turned to Ye Guyue and said with utmost sincerity, "Senior Sister, please don’t worry. Though Brother Ye has died, his soul might not be completely scattered. If he can be reincarnated, I will personally guide him into the Sword Pavilion and help him return to his former Peak. In a way, this can be considered his own karmic destiny."

"...The Jiangbei Demon dares to speak to me of Karma and karmic links?"

For a moment, the valiant beauty’s face flushed a deep crimson, and the look she gave Lü Yang was brimming with killing intent.

’He was stealing her lines!’

"...I’m sorry."

Lü Yang quickly recoiled, taking a subtle step closer to Demon-Vanquishing Perfected. He lowered his head again, resuming his pitiful expression of a wronged man awaiting his fate.

"Enough."

Seeing this, Demon-Vanquishing Perfected finally spoke. "Xing Feng brought this upon himself. After he reincarnates, I will find a way to guide him back to the family."

To a Perfected Person, even having one’s soul scattered to the winds didn’t mean true death. Within this corner of Heaven and Earth, the shattered fragments of a Soul would still be collected by the Netherworld and reformed. Although the result would be an entirely new person, if one traced their origins, it could still be considered a form of reincarnation.

But how could Ye Guyue be satisfied with Demon-Vanquishing Perfected’s decision?

"Senior Uncle..."

"Say no more," Demon-Vanquishing Perfected cut her off. "He has apologized. What more do you want? Do you really want him to pay for Xing Feng’s death with his own life? To force him into reincarnation?"

"Remember, you two were the ones in the wrong to begin with!"

He was, after all, a Great Trueman at Foundation Establishment Perfection. Now that he had spoken and set the tone, Ye Guyue could only shut her mouth in frustration, lowering her head to hide the murderous intent in her eyes.

Only then did Demon-Vanquishing Perfected turn his gaze to Lü Yang.

"The Ability you obtained is the ’Guan Chou Sea,’ I presume. It proves your Dao Heart is quite firm... Not bad."

His gaze was full of appreciation. He looked Lü Yang up and down, a peculiar glint in his eyes, as if he were inspecting a prize seedling showing excellent growth.

Lü Yang bowed in response. "You flatter me, Senior."

"Rise."

Demon-Vanquishing Perfected waved his hand dismissively. At that moment, the head of Minghua Celestial Immortal in his grasp suddenly spoke. "Daoist... what will happen to my Profound Spirit Realm?"

Minghua Celestial Immortal’s tone was completely devoid of its former arrogance and aggression.

Clearly, he was well and truly ’awake’ now.

As his words faded, Demon-Vanquishing Perfected was left speechless. After a long pause, he slowly shook his head, his expression grave as he looked toward the horizon.

"It’s... too late!"

As if in response to his words...

RUMBLE!

Suddenly, a tremendous roar tore through the dome of the sky. A myriad of brilliant colors stained the heavens, and within them, the phantasmal image of a majestic Celestial Court appeared.

However, all around that Celestial Court, Fruit Position Stars suddenly blazed to life. From north, south, east, and west, they completely encircled it. The vast starlight formed into chains, wrapping around the Celestial Court layer after layer, sealing it off and preventing its escape as it was slowly pulled down.

What had been a mere illusion was thus becoming terrifyingly real.

In an instant, the sky turned a blood-red as fire rained down from above. A rapacious feast was slowly unfolding Beyond the Heavens, a sight that made Minghua Celestial Immortal’s eyes threaten to split from sheer horror.

"The True Monarchs... they’ve begun the Heaven-Slaying and World-Destroying!"