“Even a fool makes one gain in a thousand thoughts; even a wise man makes one mistake in a thousand thoughts.”
Su Bai had calculated for the Emperor Qing’s Divine Palace, for Zhou Xuan, and even for himself. Yet, he alone failed to calculate Fate. He never expected Fate to be so clever that, just as he was closest to success, he would encounter his former subordinate.
Just as Su Bai fully expected the other party to act against him, the Old Ghost Tianming knelt on one knee, his weapon propped against the ground, showing extreme respect. “Exalted One.”
Su Bai remained silent for a moment.
He suddenly remembered that this was the two point five loop. That wicked obstacle of a disciple hadn’t publicly rebelled against his master and father figure yet. On the surface, Su Bai was still the highest leader of the Emperor Qing’s Divine Palace — Exalted One Qingyang.
“Ahem… rise.” Su Bai put his hands behind his back, his expression profound and inscrutable. He spoke slowly, “I have been in secluded cultivation for many years. Today, on a whim, I wished to travel through this rolling mortal world. I didn’t expect to run into you. It is truly a strange twist of fate.”
“You may withdraw. I still need to continue my enlightenment in this world to seek the wondrous realm of Harmony with the Dao and eternal life.”
“I shall obey the Exalted One’s decree.” Old Ghost Tianming rose as told. Just as he was about to leave, a certain dharma treasure at his waist suddenly made a strange noise.
“Attention all colleagues! Attention all colleagues! A decree from Exalted One Xuantian: Exalted One Qingyang has fallen into madness and lost control! He has fled Emperor Qing’s Divine Palace and lost all his cultivation! Seal off all major roads immediately!!”
“Anyone who discovers and reports the whereabouts of Exalted One Qingyang will be promoted three ranks! Anyone who captures Exalted One Qingyang alive will have their choice of rewards, with heavy prizes beyond that!!”
This announcement repeated three times before gradually fading away.
The air froze instantly. Staring wide-eyed at each other, neither Su Bai nor Old Ghost Tianming moved first.
After a moment of deadlock, Old Ghost Tianming moved first. He suddenly raised his weapon high and strode forward, his face full of rage and his eyes wide. He roared, “Loyalty!!”
But after only a few steps, he suddenly collapsed to the ground. His body struggled violently, and the weapon he held high actually stabbed back into himself. He twitched incessantly.
“Gwah! As expected of Exalted One Qingyang!!”
“Even with your cultivation lost, you are not someone I can resist!”
“But to have fought the Exalted One… I can die without regrets!!”
*Squelch! Squelch! Squelch!*
The sound of the weapon piercing skin echoed in the silent air. Old Ghost Tianming’s legs were pinned, his left hand was severed, and blood flowed profusely. His breath was shallow.
Su Bai gave Old Ghost Tianming a deep look on the ground and ran toward the east without looking back.
—
Old Ghost Tianming was still twitching on the ground. Exhausting the last of his strength, he used his remaining right hand to grab the communication treasure beside him.
“Cough, cough… I found a suspect resembling Exalted One Qingyang running toward the west.”
“Yes, she is very strong. She wounded me.”
“Cough… I can’t go on. I’m about to faint.”
After saying the last sentence, Old Ghost Tianming pulled out a short blade from his waist and gave his own head a hard blow. Even if a puppet body didn’t feel true pain, the shock still made his consciousness tremble.
His willpower gradually blurred, and many memories of the past flooded his mind like a tide.
The doubts and contempt of countless people during his life…
‘Heaven’s will? Destiny? What’s the point of studying that?’
‘Heh! We cultivators follow heaven to be mortal and defy it to be immortal. Why believe in fate?’
‘Hahaha! You’re killing me! A mere Golden Core brat thinking he can research the Heavenly Dao of Longevity? That’s something even Spirit Severing Exalted Ones and Dao-Harmonizing Immortals can’t figure out!!’
After his main body fell, a wisp of his soul entered the Soul Prison. The mockery of countless old ghosts followed.
‘It’s that old bastard Tianming again. Tsk tsk tsk, his cultivation is the lowest among us!’
‘Jiejiejie! New Prison Master, whatever you do, don’t listen to Old Ghost Tianming. We cultivators must act against the heavens!!’
‘Hehehe… Old Ghost Tianming, tell us about that bullshit Destiny Scripture of yours to give us a laugh!!’
Until…
“I appreciate your ‘Heaven and Earth Longevity Destiny Scripture.’ From now on, you don’t need to stay in this Soul Prison. Live in my Human Emperor’s Banner as a Guardian God-General.”
She patted his shoulder. She was the first person to recognize his achievements.
A man dies for the one who recognizes his worth.
It was that simple.
—
“My brother told me to save this person! Save them at any cost!!”
As soon as these words were spoken, they acted like a stabilizing anchor, causing True Lord Hongyuan — who had been muttering and refusing to come to the Central Continent — to instantly shut his mouth.
Gu Wanqing had already told him some top-secret information regarding **[Sun Extinction]**.
A desperate era, time reversal, returning to the past, the Demon Venerable Qingyang… and Bai Changsheng’s brother — Mr. Bai!
“How much longer?” Wu Ji, who was focused on controlling the **[All-Access]** formation, asked at this time.
Bai Changsheng sensed for a moment and responded, “Half a cup of tea’s time.”
After a brief pause, she looked up at Wu Ji and said, “Brother Wu, I’m asking a favor of you. No matter how surprised or shocked you are by the person we are meeting, you must exercise restraint! Stay calm.”
“Everything must wait until afterward.”
Wu Ji frowned slightly. Although he was a bit confused, he still nodded.
“You too.” Bai Changsheng turned her gaze toward Ma Zhen, who had a face full of pure innocence.
With that said, the three of them tacitly increased the operational speed of the **[All-Access]** formation.
The **[All-Access]** formation was different from other fixed formations; it was a mobile type. Its movement speed was incredibly fast, appearing and disappearing without a trace. It could break through most restrictions and could even rival a Spirit Severing Exalted One. Its only drawback was that it consumed an extreme amount of spirit stones. No one but a major power could afford it.
The time it took to drink half a cup of tea passed in an instant. When they reached their destination, a figure had already been waiting for a long time!
Ma Zhen saw the figure. They had already agreed on terms on the way, but he still couldn’t help himself. He blurted out, “Mom?!”
“What ‘Mom’? Do you think now is the time for a reunion?” Su Bai raised a hand and gave his second son a sharp flick to the forehead. Then, without looking at Wu Ji’s complex and indescribable expression, he walked straight to Bai Changsheng’s side and grabbed the girl’s slender waist.
“Hurry! Hurry! Take me away from the Central Continent!!”
“Don’t ask me why! I’ll explain to you all afterward!!”
“If we don’t leave now, we’re all going to be finished in a moment!!”
Bai Changsheng subconsciously rubbed the bridge of her nose. She felt a bit guilty and didn’t even dare to look at the two people beside her.
She had also just found out that the person she was coming to meet was actually the main body. Who knew the main body was so cunning now, even keeping her in the dark? The tactics of ‘secrecy brings success, leakage brings failure’ were being played to perfection!
The surprise in Ma Zhen’s heart beside her was not a bit less than Bai Changsheng’s. Just then, he suddenly remembered something. If Mom was here, then that beast of an older brother who had committed such rebellious acts like master-prodding and auntie-prodding…
In an instant, the sky suddenly turned as dark as the underworld.
The expressions of the three changed simultaneously. At that very moment, their magic power seemed to sense something extremely terrifying, and all of them were surging restlessly.
Wu Ji looked up with difficulty. Tens of thousands of miles away, a pitch-black streak of light was hurtling toward this direction at extreme speed!