Chapter 201: 200: Cutting the Karmic Ties, Severing Destiny

The fourth rank is a relatively more visually appealing grade, especially for warriors who have reached the complete stage of the fourth rank.

Although on the path of martial arts this level is neither high nor low, it can only be counted as a master, not a strong one, yet it is not very weak.

In terms of spectacle, fights involving fourth‑rank warriors are quite entertaining, and third‑rank warriors share this trait as well.

Of course, the main reason is that battles between fourth‑ and third‑rank warriors still fall within the realm that ordinary people can appreciate, or at least comprehend.

Beyond that, starting from the second rank, warriors essentially progress toward a state of "returning to simplicity and truth." Unless one pretends deliberately, a fight between peers at that level would be incomprehensible to an ordinary observer.

Naturally, if a commentator were present, the spectacle would be a different story.

Battles between second‑rank warriors can also be very entertaining; if one can understand them, they are certainly far more exciting than the "noob skirmishes" between third‑ and fourth‑rank fighters.

Saying this might slightly insult Wang Wu, but fourth‑rank warriors truly occupy an awkward tier.

They can't rise higher nor fall lower; calling them beginners is impossible, because they aren't beginners, and warriors at this level wouldn't like that label.

Yet calling them masters is also off, since fourth rank still sits within the middle third rank.

The same applies to third‑rank warriors: one is the highest within the middle third rank, yet cannot rise or fall; the other is the lowest of the upper third rank, also unable to move up or down.

Thus these two ranks appear rather awkward, rather… uh, never mind.

Nevertheless, here, especially before these few cultivators, Wang Wu's aura is still quite impressive.

While he and those human‑race cultivators were in a massive brawl, Yin Shenli was aboard the ship harshly belittling her disciple, to the point that even the three female demons were starting to lose patience.

"Fuck, why is this so hard? Even with True Weapon activated, you're still fighting like this; are you the true form of a Heavenly Demon plus True Weapon? Can't you handle it with ease?"

"You actually got hit? Are you a pig's snout???"

"Fuck, such a good chance just standing still? Are you an idiot? Damn! Seriously, I can't watch this, the more I watch the hotter it gets, how the hell did I end up with such a disciple?"

Wang Wu actually fought quite well, given his level. But Yin Shenli's standards are always high, so his flashy moves were, in her eyes… passable, passable.

One can't be too harsh either; considering Wang Wu's status and talent, it's still passable.

Seeing the three female demons' hesitant expressions, Yin Shenli sighed and shook her head.

"Alright, take your time watching; he's actually doing pretty well."

After speaking, she waved her hand, left the cockpit, and went to another room to play on her phone.

"Is… is Star Lord being too harsh on his disciple?"

Although Yin Shenli left, the holographic screen she left behind remained on, displaying Wang Wu's fierce battle with the three human cultivators.

About a minute and a half after she left, Chai Zhi spoke first, addressing the two Long siblings.

"Deep love brings sharp hatred, right?" Long Qing hesitated, then said, "After all, the Star Lord loves his disciple so much, and his innate talent is undoubtedly overwhelming; it's normal for him to have high expectations of his disciple."

"But… is this perhaps a bit too harsh?" Long He, Long Qing's younger sibling (actually a tomboy), added, "I feel the Star Lord is indeed too…"

"Sharp tongue, soft heart—that's how it is." Long Qing continued on Yin Shenli's behalf: "Don't you recall our third uncle? Our father once wanted to send us to train under him, right?"

Mentioning third uncle made Long He shiver instantly.

"That… that's indeed true, not surprising at all."

Recalling that third uncle, Long He immediately nodded; after all, he was the terrifying monster that made every member of the Long clan quake at the mere mention.

As for why he was terrifying, although third uncle's strength was immense and his teaching skill equally high, few clan members were willing to study under him.

Even those who did soon found it unbearable. Once you entered third uncle's gate, leaving became far from easy.

Of course, third uncle was harsh and sharp‑tongued, but his level was there, so some high‑tolerance disciples still sought apprenticeship under him.

However, his standards were lofty; he didn't accept just any beast, preferring quality over quantity—those lacking strength never caught his eye unless their temperament perfectly matched his taste.

When Long Qing mentioned third uncle, Long He, after recalling his terror, quickly felt at ease.

Yin Shenli doesn't seem as harsh as third uncle. Of course, that's probably because she and her disciple are… ahem, digressing.

In short, the battle continues.

Wang Wu's fighting wasn't exactly effortless; to Yin Shenli it looked quite clumsy. Yet to the three human cultivators at that moment, the situation was entirely different.

"Benefactor, why cling so stubbornly?" Upon reaching the complete stage, Wang Wu's speed hit one thousand Mach, which may not seem fast, especially on a cosmic scale.

But don't forget, that's only his normal speed.

When his Heavenly Demon true form and True Weapon state were fully activated, Wang Wu's speed surged to an astonishing eight thousand Mach, nearing the minimum speed of a second‑rank warrior.

The cosmic scale is so vast that even eight thousand Mach, amidst the stars, still isn't considered "high speed."

At this point, the effect of "body technique" manifests.

Extreme Yin True Divine Step.

To the three human cultivators, Wang Wu seemed merely to step forward silently, yet in an instant he could traverse tens of thousands of li, even farther.

One step, ten thousand li away—appearing slow yet unmatched in swiftness.

"Perhaps I should liberate the benefactor, free him from the sea of suffering…"

"Amitabha…"

Each chanting of the Buddha's name rang like a massive bell striking Hu Yuan's heart, leaving his spirit in a highly tense state.

This is the "spiritual attack" embedded in the Supreme Heaven Vajra Gate Technique; even for practitioners of Earth's martial arts, the mental damage interwoven with physical and pure harm in this method is rather tricky.

Otherwise, the Supreme Heaven Vajra Gate could never become the top sect of the Metal lineage. This claim of being the foremost Metal sect isn't bragging—it's factual.

Moreover, it's an evil sect; compared to the orthodox major sects, an evil sect must work even harder to claim the top ranking.

Qin Xiang, though perhaps not the absolute pinnacle among unrivaled masters, can still spar evenly with gatekeeper Wu Yun, each gaining and losing.

But his achievements in technique research are truly top‑tier, far surpassing someone like Wu Yun who merely practices whatever strong arts he encounters.

The overwhelmingly fierce, heroic Qi, the bizarre, uncanny spiritual shock, and the utterly pure essence within combine to evoke a terrifying void force.

One alone would already be enough for him to endure, let alone when these forces converge.

Moreover, Hu Yuan clearly saw that at this moment the eye within Wang Wu's forehead crystal was half‑open.

"Two parts open, eight parts closed." Two parts perceive the external, eight parts perceive the internal; two parts view the world, eight parts view freedom.

Although Hu Yuan didn't know what the half‑open eye signified, he did know one thing: if that eye were to open, if those two arms stopped clasping the Buddha seal.

That means their time of death has arrived.

As the leading Real Person, although he had let personal emotions interfere when dealing with that group of demons earlier, at this moment Hu Yuan was completely clear‑headed.

Even though his mind was on the brink of collapse, his face already twisted beyond human likeness, and his two eyeballs were about to burst out of their sockets.

"Yuan Xiangzi, Zhen Guangzi, in a moment I will give my all to hold him back; you two, use all the life‑preserving treasures you have."

Hu Yuan's voice rang in the minds of the two cultivators, utterly calm, completely opposite to the expression on his face at that moment.

Even under such high pressure, Hu Yuan's reason remained clear.

As the leading Real Person of this sect mission, he naturally possessed outstanding qualities—not only great strength, but also excellent abilities.

Whether Yuan Xiangzi or Zhen Guangzi, both were deeply convinced by this leading Real Person.

Although they had a slight grievance about his handling of those two demons earlier, it did not affect their respect for Hu Yuan.

After all…

Senior Brother Hu was indeed very pitiful.

Of course, the even more tragic thing is that the junior sister he had always kept in mind never had any such feelings for him back then; she even died after making a deal with those demons, trading her own life for the life of the one she loved.

If that were all, it wouldn't have driven Senior Brother to such a reaction toward demons; the real cause that made Hu become so triggered by demons now was actually that disciple who was reclaimed that year.

And that person was the man whose life Junior Sister sacrificed herself for.

As for that disciple's feelings toward Senior Brother Hu and Junior Sister, one can say he did what needed to be done, but to speak of how deep the affection was…

Anyway, after returning he found a new partner in less than half a year.

Of course, the other also had true love, that true love being… but that is irrelevant at this moment.

"But, Senior Brother!"

"Real Person!"

The two were startled the instant they heard Hu Yuan's words and responded immediately. Yet before they could say anything, Hu Yuan's voice rang again, cutting them off:

"I can no longer escape, just as that evil spirit said," Hu Yuan's steady voice sounded again:

"Although I have not yet lost reason, that is only a matter of time."

"Let's go, hurry, seize this final chance."

"If we don't leave, none of us will be able to go."

Having said that, Hu Yuan fell silent, and the light on his body blossomed to its peak at that moment.

"Demon!"

Amid a dazzling brilliance comparable to the sun, an equally majestic voice rang out, striking Wang Wu's soul.

"You heretical demon, do you also wish to transcend me?"

At this moment, Hu Yuan's body was riddled with cracks, his eyes radiating divine light; he floated in the cosmic void like a banished immortal: "Then…"

"Ha…"

But at that instant, a cold, sinister chuckle echoed.

The moment he heard the laugh, Hu Yuan froze in place.

"You should be dead."

All the compassion, all the righteous vigor, all the violent frenzy—every emotion vanished without a trace at that moment.

Only the smug triumph of a scheming plot and mockery remained.

Within the crystal of his forehead core, that pair of flesh‑filled eyes had, at some unknown time, fully opened. Upon seeing those opened eyes, many images flashed through Hu Yuan's mind.

The future he once imagined, now the present he is experiencing.

And the past that occupies the largest portion of his thoughts.

Countless graceful silhouettes, countless frowns, repeatedly flashing charming faces.

"Senior…"

When he saw that charming figure standing there, tilting its head and smiling at him, Hu Yuan looked bewildered and reached forward.

"Junior Sister…?"

"It's time to set out."

At the same time, Wang Wu's voice rang out. The countless cracks on Hu Yuan's body erupted simultaneously, and his whole being was instantly expelled from the world, turning into dust within the cosmos.

If time were rewound to just under a second before, and then frozen, one could clearly see: a golden beam shot from Wang Wu's forehead core, striking Hu Yuan's forehead core with pinpoint accuracy.

It entered, then erupted.

The instant it hit, Hu Yuan was already dead.

"That was merely the obsession in your heart, the cage that traps you."

"She doesn't love you, doesn't even remember you; why then stay trapped in this self‑created illusion?"

When the dust dispersed, through the countless fragments drifting in space, Wang Wu also saw the figures on those shards—each face, each scene, the overwhelming majority being the same person.

"Pathetic, pitiful, lamentable."

Wang Wu spread his four arms, swaying in the void, drawing a luminous ring.

It was not the blood‑red aura behind him, bristling with murderous and demonic energy, but a true Buddha Light, full of Buddhist nature, hope, boundless compassion, symbolizing hope, liberation, and solace.

Extreme filth, extreme purity. Extreme evil, extreme compassion.

"Amitabha," Wang Wu intoned a long Buddhist chant, "Benefactor, you may go in peace."

"To cut is not to kill a person; taking life is to protect life."

"Your worldly ties are over, mundane affairs finished; you should step into a brand‑new reincarnation."

He gathered his four arms, forming four distinct Buddha seals; the merit wheel behind Wang Wu shifted from blood‑red to golden, and the killing aura and demonic light over his body vanished at that moment.

Only the purest compassion remained.

This is the Extreme Heaven Vajra Sect.

(End of chapter)