Chapter 2457: How Would You Choose?

Shangguan Biao shouted: "I don't need you to save me..."

Before the words were finished, the other party grabbed his collar with one hand and dragged him out of the window:

"Look there, the Earth Mother has already awakened, no need for your Blood Dew Golden Pill."

One sentence struck the vital point, also shaking Shangguan Biao out of his half-mad state.

What?

Shangguan Biao stared blankly, following the direction of the other's finger, and saw Duzhi Mountain turned upside down, the valley reshaped, the medicinal fields destroyed, rainbow light flashing in midair, and in the darkness, huge stone figures emerged—

"Earth Mother... awakened?"

The Earth Mother has slept for so many years, why did she wake up tonight? Is it related to the earlier explosion?

He Lingchuan pointed again at the surroundings: "Outside is in such chaos, you are bewitched by your inner demon, unaware of anything."

Everyone in Duzhi Mountain was alarmed, running to stand in a row under the Ghost Claw Locust, stretching their necks to watch, while the medicinal cliffs and huts behind were empty. Only Shangguan Biao had just been immersed in his own world, hearing no external sound.

He didn't even think why the entire Duzhi Mountain was nearly overturned, only the three rows of houses under the Ghost Claw Locust remained unharmed.

Inner demon!

The true form of the Red Ghost was finally revealed by He Lingchuan.

That's why others couldn't see the Red Ghost, because it was never real, merely Shangguan Biao's own inner struggle.

"The reason the Duzhi Mountain Secret Realm records this segment is because this is Shangguan Biao's 'Night of Demonic Possession!' Dong Rui, who had been eavesdropping with the 'Wind-Following Ear,' suddenly realized, 'He invited the Red Ghost to reside, thus opening his own heart's door! The former Shangguan Biao died that very night.'"

"Listen well!" He Lingchuan said solemnly, "The Earth Mother has awakened, no need for the Blood Dew Golden Pill, your original plan is already bankrupt!"

Shangguan Biao opened his mouth, but could not speak.

He glanced at the distant giant stone figure, then at He Lingchuan, the first feeling rising in his heart was actually a sense of relief.

The Earth Mother no longer needs the Blood Dew Golden Pill, he, he no longer needs to sacrifice his mother!

Although it hasn't happened yet, the psychological torment this matter inflicts on him truly surpasses the past ravages of Longfeng Valley upon him.

"Moreover, Li Yun has already taken action, your original charge of privately trading spirit herbs has been cleared, no need for punishment. From now on, you are just an ordinary menial disciple of Longfeng Valley, meritless and blameless, starting anew!"

Shangguan Biao suddenly lifted his head, wanting to say something, but He Lingchuan's voice rang like a great bell, each word drilling into his mind:

"You also know, if you follow the original plan to rely on Li Yun, Xu Liangye, and their ilk, even if you overcome the immediate crisis, they will later squeeze you dry! Unless you become more vicious, more ruthless, more heartless than them! By then, forget sacrificing your mother, you could betray all your kin, forsake all true feelings! By then, you would no longer count as a person!"

"I know!" Shangguan Biao's gums were almost bleeding from biting, "But this is Longfeng Valley! How can I turn the tide against the odds, rise on the wind?"

He Lingchuan then said: "Very simple, I can help you."

"You?" Shangguan Biao pursed his lips, "What can you do?"

This person could chop his inner demon flying with one blade, indeed impressive.

"I give you two options." He Lingchuan raised his wrist, producing a small cloth bag, and asked Shangguan Biao, "Have you never considered Xiao Ying's suggestion?"

Shangguan Biao startled: "What?"

"The world is so vast, why must you cling to a single Longfeng Valley?"

Shangguan Biao gave a bitter smile: "How could I not have, day and night! But do you know, the cost of leaving Longfeng Valley is so high, I, I cannot afford it!"

"Is it just money and Xuan Crystals?" He Lingchuan opened the bag's mouth, Shangguan Biao took one look and his eyes went straight.

Inside were several Xuan Crystals, red to the point of purple.

Shangguan Biao came from a medicine merchant family, but had never seen so many high-purity Xuan Crystals gathered together.

"Just this bag alone is enough to compensate Longfeng Valley for your freedom." He Lingchuan pinched out a Xuan Crystal with two fingers, gently shaking it before Shangguan Biao's eyes, even under moonlight, this treasure more precious than jewels still flashed with captivating light.

Shangguan Biao stared at him, eyes wide with astonishment: "You, you who exactly are you!"

"I am the only existence that can help you escape your current predicament." He Lingchuan tied the bag's mouth, "You may call me 'Fate'."

"What?" Shangguan Biao's eyes widened, "But..."

At this moment, a menial disciple ran past in haste, casting a strange glance at Shangguan Biao. He Lingchuan stepped back two steps, and a strange scene appeared:

The menial disciple passed directly through him, like hitting air, without the slightest pause.

Shangguan Biao immediately shut his mouth.

Indeed, the one who could slay the Red Ghost was not an ordinary person, possibly not even human.

No wonder that menial disciple looked at him strangely. In critical times, whoever sees him talking to himself in the air would have this expression?

Shangguan Biao swallowed, then moved his gaze from the Xuan Crystals: "If I leave Longfeng Valley, where should I cultivate next?"

"Is there only one Longfeng Valley in the world?" The many subordinates of the Nine Abysses Great Emperor, if they saw him so earnest, would have their jaws scared off, "Joining another sect, starting anew, what's wrong with that?"

The Blood Demon behind grew impatient: "Can't we just hold a knife to his throat and force him to pick the golden lotus?"

He Lingchuan tugged his cloak, silencing it.

His other important plan was still proceeding in secret, but absolutely cannot be spoken of, still needing him to linger a bit longer in the Secret Realm.

Even the Blood Demon closely following him hadn't noticed, the Secret Realm's master should be even harder to detect?

"You say you are 'Fate,' then you should give me more choices." Shangguan Biao felt unwilling, paused for a few breaths before asking, "What is the other option?"

"The other?" He Lingchuan took out a wave drum with his left hand, only one small drumstick, the drumhead still bearing two cracks.

Looking closely at the drum handle, it was still stained with a bit of fresh blood.

"This is Li Yun's lost dharma implement, capable of partially invoking the Earth Mother's power." He Lingchuan smiled, "This was lent to him by his master, Li Yun lost the treasure, now he must be very anxious."

Just now, after chopping off one of Li Yun's hands, he had already figured out the use of the wave drum. Encountering the sandstone giant python on the way was purely accidental.

Shangguan Biao moved: "You, you stole it?"

If Longfeng Valley discovered Li Yun couldn't guard this wave drum, the latter would be in big trouble. After all, Li Yun has plenty of enemies within the sect, they wouldn't miss such a good opportunity. So, "You obtaining this wave drum, you can return it to him, or keep it for yourself, as you wish."

Shangguan Biao's eyes lit up, his breathing also became rapid.

He Lingchuan held the bag in his right hand: "Hold it, and you will henceforth escape the sea of suffering."

He held the wave drum in his left hand: "Hold it, and you can accumulate merits, exchange for a chance to climb back up in Longfeng Valley."

Under the moonlight, He Lingchuan gazed into Shangguan Biao's eyes, as if wanting to see through all his thoughts:

"How about it, which one do you choose?"