Chapter 481: Convinced in Heart and Mouth

The Black Mist aura raging inside him was not particularly strong.

Bai Ze could still barely stay conscious, stumbling toward the Starry Sky that the Nine Immortals were suppressing.

Swoosh!

At that moment, a streak of light fell.

Lin Chuan arrived, standing proudly within the Starry Sky ahead.

"Move aside."

Bai Ze's face twisted in pain, no longer willing to fight Lin Chuan, only yearning for a swift death, to free their soul and preserve the dignity of the Bai Ze lineage.

Lin Chuan narrowed his eyes, his expression solemn.

"You've been corroded by Black Mist."

He could clearly sense that within Bai Ze lingered a strand of Black Mist aura, eroding Bai Ze's body and soul.

It seemed, then, that the Black Mist had already gained some sentience.

The situation was far more severe than imagined.

It caused Lin Chuan's sense of crisis to surge suddenly.

"Move aside!"

Bai Ze shouted again, "I am already doomed, pose no threat to you; I will go to the Nine Immortals and end my life."

"Our grudges end here."

"I suppose you are not the type to completely disregard the bigger picture."

He thought that as one of the living beings of heaven and earth, Lin Chuan's stance on the Black Mist aligned with his, and would not act on impulse.

"No need to go to the Nine Immortals," Lin Chuan said with a slight smile, "I'll resolve it with my own hands, which is better."

"You!"

Bai Ze was momentarily stunned, then erupted in fury, "You underestimate the power of Black Mist; even a single strand of its primordial aura you cannot handle."

"Get out of the way!"

He was about to lose control, attempting to forcefully break through Lin Chuan's barrier.

In the next instant, Lin Chuan moved.

Pfft!

The Sword of All Beings drove mercilessly into Bai Ze's chest, piercing it.

"Aaaah—!"

Bai Ze let out a heart‑rending howl.

But they did not die; instead, they were surprised to find that the Black Mist's primordial breath within had vanished.

"How could that be?"

Besides the Grand Array of Living Being Purification, are there other means to eradicate the Black Mist's origin?

Not to mention the Black Mist's source; even its diffused shadow energy is hard to counter, only sealable, not refinable or eradicable.

How did Lin Chuan achieve that?

He soon learned the answer.

Pfft!

Lin Chuan withdrew the Divine Sword, glowing with vibrant life, from his chest, leaving it unstained and without a drop of living being's blood.

"The Black Mist's primordial breath was absorbed by this sword?" Bai Ze was shocked.

"My sword does not cut living beings; it only cuts Black Mist," Lin Chuan said with a smile.

For the first time, Bai Ze felt their own perspective was narrow.

Lin Chuan repeatedly surpassed his expectations and imagination; it turned out that he had long prepared in advance, devising ways to combat Black Mist.

"I lost."

Bai Ze said the words with difficulty, completely drained of spirit.

He had to admit, he was utterly defeated.

A total, utter defeat.

"You have a little more backbone than I imagined."

Lin Chuan smiled, "I thought you would have your consciousness devoured by Black Mist, becoming its puppet; that would have made things much more troublesome."

He indeed panicked for a moment.

According to his imagined script, Bai Ze would have fully blackened, becoming a newly evolved version of a villain.

Fortunately…

Bai Ze's backbone still remained.

"I don't want to hear your mockery."

Bai Ze said coldly, "Kill me, settle the grudge; I hope you can successfully ascend to Immortal and restore tranquility to this world."

"No rush," Lin Chuan shook his head, "How about we make a deal?"

Bai Ze was startled, "Do you want my soul?"

He had long been paying attention to the business of Myriad Symbol Pavilion.

Now he understood roughly that Lin Chuan gathers souls to forge this peculiar sword, a Divine Sword capable of eradicating Black Mist.

"Hmm," Lin Chuan nodded.

"What can you give me?" Bai Ze asked.

"I will give you a chance for revenge."

Lin Chuan smiled, "You were almost devoured by Black Mist, reduced to a puppet, a pawn being manipulated; don't you want to retaliate?"

Heh.

Bai Ze sneered, "I suppose, but handing over my soul to you is no different from becoming a pawn; you overestimate my scope."

"Such provocation is useless to me."

"Make your move!"

"There's another advantage," Lin Chuan added.

Bai Ze frowned, "What?"

"Doesn't your Bai Ze lineage possess a Deity‑like bloodline spiritual inheritance? Think about it—you this generation could have boundless glory, just one step away from ascending to the Immortal Realm."

"And the result?"

"We were almost controlled by Black Mist, reduced to pawns."

"Will future generations of Bai Ze regard you as a disgrace?"

Lin Chuan knows Bai Ze's mindset; he is a being that values dignity and face.

Compared to a miserable death, the other side would prefer something more dignified.

Bai Ze snorted, "Let you speak of breaking the heavens is useless; future matters are none of my concern."

Lin Chuan smiled, "As a term of the deal, I can teach you the method of forging the Sword of All Beings; this will bless your Bai Ze lineage."

"Really?"

Bai Ze was moved.

This condition is indeed very tempting.

The Bai Ze lineage has been strong in every era, almost always at the pinnacle of the world, yet has never produced a singular supreme champion.

It has never been able to give rise to a Peerless Heavenly Pride that dominates an entire era.

Is the foundation insufficient?

Or some other reason?

Perhaps the Bai Ze clan still lacks a bit of auspicious Qi.

True great auspicious Qi.

Throughout the ages of Bai Ze, several elders walked a path completely different from his: they did not seek a single Immortal nor pursue Longevity, but instead protected the world and accumulated Merit.

They believe this will bring great auspicious Qi to the Bai Ze lineage.

In past generations, Bai Ze has supported several heroes who fought for Heaven and Earth; this indeed brought fortune and many insights to later Bai Ze clans.

"My path has been severed; since that's the case, why not seek blessings for future generations."

Looking at the Human Race man before him whose ascent to Immortal was cut off, Bai Ze felt conflicted but had to admit the other was outstanding.

He has far more hope than him, walking an alternative path to ascend, transcending the Heavenly Dao, and saving the masses.

"I have another condition."

Bai Ze spoke again.

"You speak."

Lin Chuan laughed; Bai Ze had the right to bargain with him.

He had a premonition.

As long as Bai Ze can willingly merge into the Sword of All Beings, perhaps he can become its final component, making the sword a complete form.

Otherwise, finding such an opportunity again would be too difficult.

Lin Chuan certainly didn't want to think it through to the end.

He still needed a beloved one to merge into the sword; saying that he could still slay Black Mist without the sword, he didn't want that to happen.

"My condition: if one day you truly defeat Black Mist, you must erect a monument for me, let the world revere it, and proclaim my Merit."

Bai Ze hoped to claim a share of auspicious Qi through this.

"Fine."

Such a request was not a request at all for Lin Chuan; he agreed readily.

"Then… come."

Bai Ze had no regrets; it was all death, and he also secured what he needed.

Neither side had much left to say.

After Bai Ze handed his soul seal to Lin Chuan, Lin Chuan also told Bai Ze the forging method of the Sword of All Beings, a path that cannot be duplicated.

Speaking it aloud was actually meaningless.

"It's over."

After reviewing the forging method, Bai Ze's spirit received a final shock, conceding defeat with both heart and mind.