Chapter 2503: Returning to the Deep Pool of Fate

Shangguan Biao's smile slowly faded. "The people you've killed are more than ten times my number, aren't they? And yet they still revere you as the Reincarnated Dragon God? Heh, hehehe, I can see the towering blood karma on you right now! You can deceive others, but you can't deceive me——"

He stared fixedly at He Lingchuan.

Unfortunately, though He Lingchuan stood before Shangguan Biao, the light shining through the gap behind him hid the Nine Nether Great Emperor's face in darkness.

Shangguan Biao tried hard to make out his face:

"There are no true saints in this world! Deep down, you are even darker, even filthier than me. Am I wrong?"

Someone who can easily see through his schemes must be a more masterful schemer;

Someone who can easily see through his traps must be a more cunning hunter!

The Nine Nether Great Emperor being able to see through his thoughts and actions showed that he himself was immersed in an even deeper, even vaster darkness!

How could someone like that possibly have a bright heart?

"It's just that you conceal it well, your level is too high, not even your companions have discovered it! Everyone who mentions the Nine Nether Great Emperor gives a thumbs up and praises him as a Saint King! But I've seen through you!" Shangguan Biao also gave him a thumbs up. "You're smarter than me, and you disguise yourself better. You deserve to have won, you deserve it!"

After this lifetime, only before vanishing could he speak his mind freely, and having said it, he actually felt two parts refreshed.

He Lingchuan turned slightly sideways, and the light passing through the gap illuminated half his face, while the other half remained hidden in deep darkness:

"Thanks for the praise, but——"

He paused.

Shangguan Biao was still holding his breath, wanting to hear the rest.

"You're too noisy."

He Lingchuan lightly gripped the hilt of Fusheng.

The saber seemed to tremble slightly, and a faint ripple stirred in the air, like a breeze stirring a single ripple in a pond.

A single ripple, then returning to nothingness.

Shangguan Biao seemed to freeze, time pausing within this cramped space.

Then, a faint scratch emerged at his waist.

The past several thousand years, the most important nodes of his life flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern, from the wronged menial servant, to the Cave Master of Longfeng Valley who held great power, having avenged his deep blood feud, and finally controlling the mighty Yujing City...

He possessed a legendary life, but there was a massive black hole in his heart that could never be filled, never cease churning. Even in death he found no peace, having to become the Earth Mother, busy day after day.

Once, it seemed someone asked him, what exactly did he want?

So many years passed, and he still hadn't found the answer. Or rather, the only answer he found was to grow strong, to become invincible.

And then?

Should there be a 'then'?

If, if back then he had other choices, how could he have ended up...

No! His eyes and heart suddenly brightened.

In truth, he had always had other choices, always.

Fate had given him several chances, but his eyes only saw that one path.

He Lingchuan looked at him with the same gaze Shangguan Biao once used to look at mortals:

"A summer insect cannot be spoken to about ice."

Shangguan Biao looked at his own waist, then at He Lingchuan, wanting to speak but stopping short.

He Lingchuan extended a hand, and onlookers saw Shangguan Biao's figure turn illusory, transforming into a streak of black light, sucked into the Nine Nether Great Emperor's palm.

"Rest now. Let that restlessness and unwillingness return to the deep pool of fate."

After He Lingchuan finished speaking, he reached out and caught a ring falling from midair.

This was something Shangguan Biao kept on himself even at death; it had to be precious.

Sure enough, he took out a coconut-shaped stone from within and examined it closely.

"The Earth Mother's Stone Heart!" Zhu Xiuer exhaled in relief. "Looks like this really is Shangguan Biao's true body."

Such a precious treasure, only Shangguan Biao's true body would carry it on his person.

He Lingchuan obtaining the Stone Heart meant no one else could control Yujing City again.

Last time everyone saw the Stone Heart in Shangguan Biao's palm, it could still beat; now it was as still as a craft object.

"After losing its efficacy, it no longer beats, and Shangguan Biao therefore lost the ability to control Yujing City." He Lingchuan put it away. "Stolen power, how could using it ever be reassuring?"

The second treasure he took out was an oval crystal plate, as thick as two joined palms, completely transparent without a trace of impurity.

Ling Jinbao asked curiously, "What's this?"

Something Shangguan Biao carried on himself definitely wasn't an ordinary treasure.

"This is the Yangguan Path, the treasure the Heavenly Demon wants most." He Lingchuan raised a finger and tapped the crystal plate a few times; *dong dong* sounded, clear and crisp. Judging by appearance alone, this plate really had nothing special about it, but that also fit Shou'an Immortal's consistent simple aesthetic.

"Let me see the living beings inside Yujing City." Finished speaking, he let go.

The plate hovered motionless, and on its surface gradually appeared one tiny dot after another, some light red, some deep red, some red verging on purple, sizes inconsistent.

Bao Chihai pointed at the plate surface. "We're here."

Their location showed several red dots, among them two red verging on purple, and another three or four so faint they could barely be seen.

Ling Jinbao looked at He Lingchuan and Zhu Xiuer — the ones red verging on purple must be these two, right? "Who are these faint dots?"

He hadn't seen any other humans or monsters approaching.

"Moths, bugs, and such..." Bao Chihai shrugged. "There are lots of little things in this city."

Because He Lingchuan's instruction was "living beings in the city," it wasn't limited to living people and monsters.

"This life detector is pretty handy." He Lingchuan put away the Yangguan Path, also exhaling in relief.

Finally intercepted this treasure, didn't let it fall into the Heavenly Demon's hands.

The scale between the human realm and the Heavenly Demon, he pressed down a solid counterweight.

Then, everyone's gazes simultaneously turned toward the Raging Bear King standing frozen in place, the latter's fur standing completely on end.

If it weren't for the Spider Empress blocking the retreat, it would have fled through the door.

"Emperor, spare my life! Emperor, be merciful!" The opponent's strength was enough to crush this old bear, grievously wounded as it was, so the Violent Bear King could only bow his head to He Lingchuan, saying, "I have greatly weakened that old ghost, Shangguan Biao, for you—though I have no merit, I have suffered hardship!"

If it weren't for the great battle at the edge of the rift valley, Shangguan Biao would not have been reduced to such helplessness.

"Where is the Flowing Light Secret Realm?"

The Violent Bear King produced the colored stone and obediently handed it over.

He Lingchuan took it and held it to the light, whereupon he saw the flowing light drifting within the stone.

This is the treasure that bears Shangguan Biao's lifelong grudges and favors.

The Divine Bone Necklace began to heat up again. This is indeed a fine thing.

"After Shangguan Biao became a lonely soul, he used 'Flowing Light' to craft a secret realm as his dwelling—but is this not also his self-imposed prison?"

Having said this, He Lingchuan gently tossed the "Flowing Light" upward.

The stone flew to a position before his neck and then vanished.

The Violent Bear King blinked hard, yet could not see where the stone had gone.

"As for you—" he looked at the Violent Bear King, "Madam, you are dismissed."

The Violent Bear King started in alarm, and before it could turn around despite its grave wounds, the Spider Empress pounced on it from behind and immediately bound it tightly with spider silk.

(End of Chapter)