Chapter 510: Xu Xing's Answer, the Other Clan's Predicament (Combined)

"Do you regret it?"

Hearing his own disciple suddenly ask this, Master Mei Zu had originally wanted to say something, but after glancing at Xu Xing, in the end said nothing.

"……"

The room was quiet for quite a while.

"How to answer this question, I need to think it over carefully," Xu Xing said.

Ji Yin Xue's question — he naturally had an answer in his heart, but how to say it out loud still needed to be weighed carefully.

After all, her temperament was already…

If today's answer made her conduct and style even more extreme from now on, that would be most unfortunate.

Just like that, quite a while passed before Xu Xing finally settled on his words and slowly began to speak:

"These years I have actually also been constantly deliberating whether my own past actions were right or wrong."

"It's just that now, thinking back again…"

"The events of that year were nothing more than acts done in anger; in many places I still fell short."

Ji Yin Xue fixed Xu Xing with a burning gaze.

"So, regarding the matter of that year, Senior, you actually regret it as well?"

"Regret…" Xu Xing paused briefly in thought, then gave a slight shake of his head. "I suppose I do, after all that matter back then was carried out too hastily; if I could have thought it through a little more thoroughly, perhaps so many aftereffects would not have arisen."

Seeing the light in Ji Yin Xue's eyes growing brighter and brighter.

"However, although I regret not having thought it through, as for not killing Yi Feng back then — that, I do not regret."

Hmm?

Ji Yin Xue paused, her slender brows slightly furrowed, yet still did not speak.

"Although in the end he chose that path, before that, Yi Feng was not some utterly evil person."

Saying this, Xu Xing rose from the rosewood chair.

Back then, Yi Feng's younger brother had kept several thousand sword slaves, killed countless people — naturally his death was no great loss.

But after Yi Feng learned of it, he did not let his brother continue his evil ways; instead he immediately stopped his behavior, placed him under watch, and made reparations to the victims.

Still, that was after all his only blood relative…

Although he had stopped his brother's conduct and made reparations to the victims, he also did not report the matter to Silutang.

It was not until Xu Xing purged the Xiang Jianzong from top to bottom that this was uncovered.

And Yi Feng himself, though suspected of shielding, considering that he had stopped his brother in time after learning of it and afterwards actively made reparations…

So even Xu Xing, whose killing intent had been extremely heavy back then, had no intention of taking his life.

"What does Senior mean?"

Ji Yin Xue also stood up, looking straight at him.

"I do not regret not killing Yi Feng, even though he later defected to the Cang Clan, because at that time he truly did not deserve death."

The two faced each other just like that, neither flinching nor averting their eyes.

"Naturally, I also do not regret killing that Yi Jing, even though Yi Feng afterward defected to the Cang Clan because of it."

Xu Xing's tone was calm, yet without the slightest wavering.

"What I see with my eyes — ten thousand possibilities."

The myriad possibilities of a single person's future — if a True Immortal were willing, it would truly be as clear as tracing the lines on a palm, plainly visible, escaping nothing at all.

Of course, a single person's future is also not unchanging.

All that one experiences, every word and deed, even merely a single thought in the heart, will give rise to all manner of new possibilities.

The principle of the divine ability 'World Derivation' created by Honored Hong is precisely this.

"How then can one, on the basis of what has not yet happened, pass judgment on a person who has not committed great evil?"

"If it were truly so, then in my eyes, everyone in the world ought to die."

The human heart's thoughts — ever-shifting, unfathomable.

If viewed by a cultivator skilled in divination and profound in cultivation…

A sudden surge of evil intent in a moment, and there exists that one possibility of putting it into action and bringing calamity to a region.

Even if the possibility is extremely small, it ultimately exists…

Can one, taking that as grounds, pass judgment upon them to forestall future trouble?

Certainly, with Xu Xing's current power approaching that of a Dao-Source True Immortal, he could fully, in a single thought, fix the future of any cultivator below the Merge Dao realm, confining them within a framework for life — not to be undone without a great stroke of fate.

But that would truly be too cruel; Xu Xing had never once entertained the thought of putting it into action.

The thoughts of all beings arise and perish in an instant; since he is unwilling to fix their futures…

That is why reform is needed, adjustment is needed, a new order is needed — to guard against trouble before it arises.

"…" Ji Yin Xue was silent for a long while, then lowered her eyes. "So that is how it is. This is Senior's view of the matter of that year?"

The answer Xiang Jianzong Senior now gave diverged somewhat from the answer she had anticipated.

But… it did not make her feel hard to accept.

"Many matters in the human world often come down to a single thought; the results they produce are worlds apart." Xu Xing gave a soft sigh. "I am not good at lecturing on grand principles. You may take my words as reference, but exactly how to think about it, you must decide for yourself."

Back then, after the 'Grand Mystery Blood Calamity,' he returned from the starry sky.

He made all manner of changes, yet every one of them failed.

From then on, he often pondered.

Although Gu had meddled, making it hard to foresee his defection…

In the end he still felt that the 'Grand Mystery Blood Calamity' he had caused in a fit of anger had not been thought through thoroughly enough.

"This junior understands." Ji Yin Xue raised her eyes to look at him again. "Then if there were a next time…"

"Those who should be killed must be killed as well." Xu Xing answered without the slightest hesitation.

Hearing this, Ji Yin Xue finally smiled and offered a respectful bow.

"Many thanks, Senior, for resolving my doubts. This junior shall naturally heed your teachings."

"I hope my words can help you…" Halfway through, Xu Xing felt that saying more would be a bit wordy, so he simply said, "Forget it, think it through yourself."

How she would act afterward, and how much influence tonight's answer would have on her future conduct—these things…

…would be left for later.

Then, Xu Xing looked toward Master Mei Zu.

"Since little Yin Xue is returning to the sect as well, I'll head back first too."

Master Mei Zu also knew he was going back to see his severely injured disciple, so she did not try to keep him.

"Very well." She rose from the rosewood chair as well. "Take care on your way, Daoist Brother. Drop by my place whenever you're free!"

"…"

Xu Xing did not reply. He merely took a step forward, and his figure vanished without any warning.

For a moment.

Within the Ancestral Grotto-Heaven, only Master Mei Zu and her disciple Ji Yin Xue remained.

"Daoist Brother really does leave in a clean sweep." She muttered.

Composing herself, Master Mei Zu looked toward her sole disciple and said sternly:

"Ahem! You've understood everything Daoist Brother said, yes?"

"This disciple will keep it firmly in mind."

……

……

The Southern Star Domain, the Fu Ling Star System, the Thirty-Seventh Gui Ling Planetary System.

Near the seventh planet.

Three figures hovered silently, gazing into the dark depths of the cosmos, as if waiting for someone's arrival.

The figure on the left was far taller than an ordinary human—nearly three meters in height.

Its body was covered in snow-white fur, looking just like a great white bear.

Yet it wore a long blue-green robe, and its gaze was exceedingly gentle—truly carrying a certain 'refined' air.

Moreover, its realm had already reached the late stage of Soul Transformation.

The figure on the right resembled an insect, far shorter in stature—only about one-point-two-three meters—with a single horn on its forehead and eyes like an insect's compound eyes.

Its fangs were like blades, glinting with a chilling cold light.

Its body surface was brown, dotted with black spots, gleaming with a cold, hard sheen.

Yet despite all this, it still wore a crisp suit, looking quite presentable.

Its cultivation was likewise at the late stage of Soul Transformation.

As for the figure in the very center, its build was about the same as an ordinary human—roughly one-point-seven-eight meters.

Its skin was a blue-black hue, its pupils a crimson red.

Though it belonged to a race that did not grow hair on the top of its head, it wore a wig, bound up with a green jade crown…

And it was dressed in a Daoist robe, with a longsword cradled in its arms.

Its cultivation was the highest of the three figures—already at the peak of Soul Transformation.

These three alien races were respectively the alien kings of the seventh, sixth, and fourth planets of the Thirty-Seventh Gui Ling Planetary System.

And so, no one knew how long they waited.

The figure in the center—the alien king of the fourth planet—suddenly looked up.

On his wrist, he wore a watch-like communication device that kept flashing.

"They're here."

The other two aliens immediately looked in the direction he was gazing.

Tiny specks of faint light appeared without warning in the empty, dark, and profound expanse of cosmic space, steadily converging toward the center.

Accompanied by ripples spreading out like waves on water, a pitch-black starship gradually revealed its true form.

In less than half a second, it completely broke through the barrier of space and appeared in the dim starry sky.

The spiritual-energy light wings on either side of the starship, and the spiritual-energy flames spewing from its tail, all trailed streams of particles like fine sand.

The teleportation array patterns on the hull's surface emitted a ghostly blue light.

Inside the starship, in the control room.

Chi Jiuyu sat in her seat, watching with great interest the three figures hovering outside the seventh planet on the projected light screen.

"These three… are the three alien races' managers, right?"

And they even specially came to welcome her…

Not bad, not bad!

"Initiate the ship-spirit hosting procedure. Head to the transit space station outside the planetary system for maintenance and to replenish energy." She immediately ordered.

The earlier teleportation had been interrupted, causing some damage to the starship itself.

Although this starship was about to be replaced, repairing it well would fetch a better price when resold.

After all, mission expenses could be reimbursed…

So the question arose—where should one go to recycle a second-hand starship?

She'd decide when the time came!

If not, she'd go ask little Zhao.

After all, she's a fairy, so her connections must be wide-ranging.

She immediately rose from her seat and walked out toward the control room's exterior.

She was a courteous fish, and since the representatives of the alien races had come personally to greet her, she owed them some respect.

……

……

Several seconds later.

Chi JiuYu arrived outside the starship, and at that moment, the starship's hosting program activated.

After connecting to the extraterrestrial transit station's towing protocol, she touched the teleportation array patterns on the ship's surface and was instantly transported there.

Only when the starship had completely vanished from view did Chi JiuYu turn to face the three aliens waiting beyond the seventh planet.

Cough! Cough!

Once she confirmed her aura radiated sufficient solemnity, she gripped the golden longsword in reverse and floated forward with a stern expression toward the three figures.

At the same time, she mentally rehearsed her opening words.

According to the attached documents, these three alien races had been in constant conflict, but after mediation by the First Investigator—that grandson of the TaiShang Dao Sect—their tensions had eased.

And they were willing to compensate for the losses to the starlane caused by this three-race war.

Emmm…

It sounded fine, but Chi JiuYu couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

Soon, Chi JiuYu arrived before the three figures, and a flash of Jin Guang passed through her eyes.

Soul Transformation late stage, Soul Transformation peak, Soul Transformation late stage.

Their realms were decent, but their foundations…

Were just average.

The three alien kings seemed to notice her approach and stepped forward to meet her.

Just as Chi JiuYu was deciding what opening words would be most appropriate…

"You all—"

But the three aliens didn't stop—they walked right past her.

Huh?

Chi JiuYu froze.

She turned back and saw another figure standing behind her, hunched over, with long white whiskers trailing down.

Covered in pale yellow fur, wearing a red robe embroidered with gold, drooping long ears, overall resembling a fusion of cat and rabbit.

Though barely as tall as an ordinary human's calf, he leaned on a cane over a meter long.

"Ji Ge!"

"Wu Qi!"

"Jiu Fu!"

The three aliens raised their magic power in unison, their voices resonating through spiritual energy.

"We pay homage to Chang Yao Zunzhu!" x3

Chi JiuYu: "…"

So they weren't here to greet her.

Chi JiuYu, ignored, felt her face burn with embarrassment.

Great.

Now she was XiaoChou Yu again!

"Huu~"

She exhaled deeply.

Mission first, mission first!

Just a bunch of trash—she, Hehuan Laozu, wouldn't stoop to their level!

After silently repeating this to herself for a while, she suppressed the awkwardness of being ignored and began studying the cat… or rabbit?

Who was this "Chang Yao Zunzhu" that made these three trashlings bow so reverently?

By the way, did any alien race in the thirty-seventh planetary system of GuiLing even resemble this?

She recalled the contents of the mission's attached documents, then took out her phone to verify them again.

Sure enough, the documents contained no information about this being.

Instead, it reminded her of a rumor she'd once seen on the SpiritNet.

Zunzhu…

Was typically how extraterrestrial races referred to those who had returned to Void.

This cat-rabbit was actually a Return to Void?

Tsk tsk!

Truly, you can't judge a cat by its fur.

Wait!

At this moment, a Return to Void shows up.

Could it be… that this creature orchestrated the conflict between these three alien races?

Forget it—first, record the status of the seventh planet.

Since these trashlings showed no respect to Hehuan Laozu, she couldn't be bothered to deal with them.

Once her investigation was complete, she'd summon them for questioning.

Thinking this, Chi Jiuyu reached out and pulled out several micro-energy satellites, infusing them with a trace of magic power to activate the teleportation energy circuits engraved within them.

Hum~

Hum~

With several faint glimmers, the micro-energy satellites vanished, reappearing beyond the seventh planet, beginning to orbit along its path.

The alien king of the seventh planet—the one dressed in Jige—saw this and his expression changed instantly.

"What are you doing!"

As he shouted, his magic power surged, gathering spiritual energy like a raging tidal wave, forming a massive white claw that lunged straight for the micro-energy satellites.

Huh???

Wait, are you out of your mind?

But Chi Jiuyu couldn't just watch as the alien crushed his micro-energy satellites—he slashed with his longsword.

Zing!

A pure white blade of light suddenly appeared, radiating boundless ferocious slaughter.

The white claw shattered like tofu at the touch of the blade.

The blade's momentum did not wane—it sliced straight toward Jige, ready to sever one of his arms.

At the critical moment, Chang Yao Zunzhu lightly tapped his cane.

Dub~!

Though the space was utterly empty, a crisp collision sound rang out.

A crimson ripple spread, effortlessly crushing the blade of light.

Void Return!

And definitely not one who had just ascended!

At least far stronger than those watered-down Void Returns from Xuanxiang Realm!

Chi Jiuyu immediately made his judgment.

"I am Chi Jiuyu, Investigator of the Xiang Jianzong. Are you planning a rebellion?!"

As he spoke, he already pulled out the seven-colored jade token.

A Void Return alien had inexplicably come here, and during a critical investigation, dared to attack an investigator.

It made no sense at all!

Emboldened by lingering fear, Jige cried out again: "How dare you—before Chang Yao Zunzhu!"

"Shut up, trash!"

Zing!

The pure white blade of light flared again.

Meanwhile, the seven-colored jade token was already on the verge of activation.

Now that his identity was revealed, if that cat-rabbit dared strike again, he would sever his flesh and seize his soul to bring back for interrogation!

Shua!

Blood sprayed out as a massive arm shot skyward.

Jige's eyes were filled with shock.

Chang Yao Zunzhu was right here—why did I…

Yet the other two alien kings were equally stunned.

They saw Chang Yao Zunzhu already kneeling on the ground, his face pale and grim.

"Old man Chang Yao did not know the Xiang Jianzong's emissary had arrived. I have offended greatly—please, emissary, spare this old man once more."

He was no ignorant fool holed up in some backwater.

As one of the very few alien Void Returns in the Fuling Star System, he knew better than anyone how powerful the human race had become.

And the weight of the words "Xiang Jianzong" among humans…

Had he known this man's identity, he would never have lifted a hand!

Had he known this planetary system was under investigation, he would never have come here!

Chang Yao's swift, decisive action left Chi Jiuyu stunned, and the atmosphere froze instantly.

Weren't they about to fight? Why did he suddenly kneel…

Wu Qi, with his wig and clutched longsword, could no longer watch: "Zunzhu, your noble body—why must you…"

"Shut up!" Chang Yao snapped, without raising his head. "The Xiang Jianzong's Immortal Emissary is supremely revered, a peerless genius who achieved Soul Transformation at merely twenty-two. His divine abilities shake heaven and earth—he is the universe's foremost prodigy!"

"This old man's lowly form cannot compare to him even a fraction."

Coincidentally, he had indeed heard Chi Jiuyu's name—hence his terror.

The survival techniques of a disciple of this caliber…

He would swear that even if every single being in the Fuling Star System perished, she would suffer not a single scratch!

All this flattery made Chi Jiuyu feel slightly embarrassed.

This cat-rabbit speaks quite pleasantly, doesn't he? All that flowery nonsense.

But I am the universe's foremost prodigy…

"These vile beasts failed to recognize the Immortal Emissary's supreme talent—this old man shall seize them at once and leave them to the Immortal Emissary's judgment!"

By the end of his words, his aura was thick with killing intent.

His pure Void Return magic power formed a domain, suppressing all directions.

The three alien kings had already been stunned upon hearing Chi Jiuyu had reached Soul Transformation at twenty-two—such a thing was beyond their comprehension.

Hearing Chang Yao's words, their hearts turned even colder.

Just as he was about to turn and flee, he felt as if he were a little insect trapped in amber, unable to move a single inch!

"Fine, just these three small fry, I can take them down easily on my own."

"It was this old fool who offended you! This old fool offended you!" Chang Yao said in terror.

Chi Jiuyu: "..."

I mean, there's no need to be this scared, right? Her Jiuyu Laozu isn't some especially bloodthirsty person.

"What I mean is, I still need to investigate, so let them go first."

"Well then, since there's nothing more for this old fool..."

"You stay too. After all, you suddenly appeared—it's hard to say you're not the mastermind behind all this."

Chang Yao: "..."

These three damned beasts! (End of chapter)