Chapter 2502: We Are of the Same Kind

As long as it naturally lies beneath the rubble, the contract cannot punish it for "defying" Shangguan Biao, for it is willing but unable, and the precondition for triggering the contract's penalty cannot be met.

Moreover, is it not still the "Mother Sovereign, my lord" referred to in the Blood Oath of the Violent Bear King?

He is Shangguan Biao, not the true Earth Mother.

But as its deputy, the Azure Leopard Demon did not sign this heart-bond blood oath with Shangguan Biao, so it can turn against its former master. As long as the demons join forces with the heavenly devils to slay Shangguan Biao, when the Violent Bear King awakens with eyes wide open, it will not only regain its freedom but also receive a generous reward—how splendid!

Although it entails some risk, risk and reward are proportional.

Having figured out these intricacies, Shangguan Biao produced a spirit scroll from his hand, upon which dozens of blood-red characters flashed and gleamed—exactly the heart-bond blood oath sworn by the Violent Bear King.

Holding this heart-bond blood oath, he shook it vigorously twice: "By the oath!"

Seeing this, the Violent Bear King was greatly alarmed: "Stop!"

After speaking, it extended its palm to strike the spirit scroll in Shangguan Biao's hand, but to it, this thing was insubstantial—no matter how it struck, it could not make contact with anything tangible.

And although Shangguan Biao activated it several times, the blood-red characters on the spirit scroll did not rise.

Ling Jinbao beside him saw this and could not help but say: "Useless. It seems the Violent Bear King truly fainted at that time and failed to swear the oath."

Regardless of whether the Violent Bear King betrayed Shangguan Biao, it genuinely fainted when struck by the boulder, so it could not fulfill the oath.

Pache Hai nodded: "No wonder it is one of the Three Demon Kings of Yujing City—it is this ruthless even toward itself."

Seeing the spirit scroll ineffective, the Violent Bear King also withdrew its hand.

Although its bear face could not show expression, everyone could see its attitude beginning to shift.

"No need to try further." Its small eyes flashed with a cruel light: "I did not break the blood oath; you cannot punish me. You thought me foolish, so you gave me a contract condition not finely carved, leaving loopholes to exploit!"

Shangguan Biao's temple veins twitched; even as a soul, others could clearly see: "You too have betrayed me!"

This sentence, stern in both tone and expression, even growled low from his throat, and those nearby clearly heard his disappointment.

Even the Violent Bear King, appearing honest and dull, was merely superficially loyal, secretly still scheming against him!

"I should not have trusted you!"

In this world, where is there even half a trustworthy person?

The Violent Bear King rose to stand on two legs, its head towering several heads above Shangguan Biao. It looked down upon him from above:

"My little grandson admired you so much, and you praised him more than once—only because he poked his head out a few times on Duzhi Mountain, you killed him and sent his corpse to me! Hah, if you wanted to kill a chicken to scare the monkeys, to warn all demons in the city to stay away from Duzhi Mountain, why use my grandson's life to establish authority? You have never trusted anyone; this time seeking me is merely to grasp a lifeline. Yujing City is no longer yours—do you still want me to serve as your ox and horse to avenge your grandson? The heavenly devils in the rift valley only slew your avatar—what a pity!"

The plan it had devised with the Azure Leopard Demon could have succeeded, had it not overlooked one point:

Shangguan Biao is too cunning—he actually used a clone to follow them!

If this trap could have killed Shangguan Biao's true self, they would already have left the city, enjoying freedom and wealth!

"Indeed regrettable." Shangguan Biao narrowed his eyes, giving him a bone-chilling smile: "Every action bears its price; the price of your failure is death! Now, you shall bury this old relic with me!"

He is Shangguan Biao!

Even if heaven's mandate is exhausted, these foolish creatures cannot grasp, manipulate, or look down upon him!

During the master and servant's verbal sparring, He Lingchuan had been on the sidelines, eating melon, until he discerned the other's next intention, then spoke up to interrupt:

"From the moment you were defeated in the Void Beyond, you had no path to life. Falling into my hands is certainly death; entrusting the Secret Realm to the Violent Bear King ultimately also cannot escape death. Your fate has already been written in the book of destiny—"

He pointed at Shangguan Biao, the gold serpent ring on his wrist flashing twin red lights, as if locking onto his opponent without release. In this confined space, his words seemed to come from afar, actually triggering echoes:

"Today is the final act!"

Shangguan Biao cannot claim the "Flowing Light" Secret Realm himself; he can only have the Violent Bear King hold it for him—thus entrusting his life and fortune to the bear demon. His end was sealed from this moment.

Being pointed at thus, the muscles on Shangguan Biao's cheeks jumped twice.

Whether anyone must face death or fate directly, it is hard to remain calm—even he, this evil ghost who has cultivated for thousands of years.

"You will obtain the Flowing Light Secret Realm and let me live; that would benefit you alone." Shangguan Biao spoke hoarsely, "I too cannot rebel against you."

Until the very end, he refused to give up, still striving for that sliver of life: "You gave my former self two choices in the Secret Realm! Now……"

He Lingchuan smiled faintly at him, cutting off his words: "No! Impossible."

"Why?"

"As long as you exist, I cannot control Yujing City." He Lingchuan spoke softly, "It is not that you are useless, but——"

He leaned his body slightly forward: "Without you, it is very important to me."

Yujing City? Shangguan Biao startled, as if only now realizing: "The Earth Mother did not die, right? What method did you actually use……"

"You are simply too greedy, too unwilling to accept defeat." He Lingchuan sighed, "The dead need not know so much."

This sentence doomed Shangguan Biao's last hope of life; he could not help but retreat two steps, forcing a grim smile.

He had once been the Lord of Yujing City, unmatched in glory, now he must die silently in this most inconspicuous corner, this dark and narrow crevice.

He stared at He Lingchuan, suddenly shaking his head with a cold laugh:

"Why could you discover my trap, why could you see through my Secret Realm? I racked my brains in vain, until I realized——

We are fundamentally the same kind of people!"

"In Duzhi Mountain, why did you give my former self two choices?"

"Certainly not out of goodwill, certainly not from kindness."

Shangguan Biao's eyes bulged, bloodshot at the corners: "Now I understand—you also enjoy that feeling, don't you? Looking down from above, playing with others' fates!"

"Their fate, his life and death, success and failure, greatness and insignificance—all lie in our grasp!" He first spread his palms, then turned his hand downward, "What they spend a lifetime pursuing, we can shatter with a flip of the hand, trample with a lift of the leg—how captivating this feeling is!"

"We want to be omnipotent, we want to control others' fates!" He laughed loudly, "This is precisely the meaning of our constant strengthening, constant success!"

He Lingchuan remained silent, like a silent sculpture.

"What is your epithet? 'Nine Abysses'? Are the people of your Cangyan State foolish, daring to enthrone one who bears such a name?"

(End of Chapter)