Chapter 1070: Running Away Is Han Lin's Instinct

In this world, it seems that everything has a beginning and an end—lifespan, friendship, kinship, love. Nothing is endless, nothing is forever.

Even the most joyous of banquets must come to a close.

"Canghai Tianjun, farewell…"

"Master, I hope there will still come a day when I can see you again…"

Many Master Dinghai Zhenjun today were unusually emotional, nothing like the deep, scheming old cultivators they usually were—eyes reddening, they bowed deeply in farewell.

Perhaps many of them knew that the face they saw today might well be the last they would ever see in this life.

From this day forth, there would be no more meetings.

"Sword Son, one day I will stand before you and draw my sword against you…"

At this somewhat sorrowful moment, one voice was less than pleasant—coming from the Lieyang Sword Son of the Great Sun Sword Sect.

His eyes revealed battle intent, killing intent, a self-destructive madness, and he even tried to draw his sword at this very moment, caring little for things like heavenly tribulation or lifespan.

But no matter how tightly Lieyang Master Dinghai Zhenjun gripped his sword hilt, he could not draw the longsword.

This was not Jiang Ding stopping him.

No matter how magnanimous he was, toward someone who wished to challenge him to a sword duel, someone who wanted his life, he would show no mercy at all—he would generously and magnanimously grant them death.

Rather, Lieyang Master Dinghai Zhenjun could not overcome the fear in his own heart.

Every soul particle, every bodily instinct for survival, was madly screaming alarms at him; his very body was trembling, and under this terrifying survival instinct, he could not draw his life-bound flying sword.

"Take care, everyone…"

Jiang Ding's gaze carefully and meticulously memorized the faces of all his old followers and acquaintances, making sure he would not forget them. His heart was somewhat heavy too—but then he was immediately amused by Lieyang Master Dinghai Zhenjun.

"May you attain your heart's desire."

Jiang Ding raised a cup of fruit juice, not mocking anything, and said earnestly.

This was no hypocritical comfort.

In the Great Sun Sword Pavilion system, if a Great Sun sword cultivator had the courage to challenge the Great Sun Sword Son to a sword duel, then that sword cultivator was generally useful to the Great Sun Sword Son—to a greater or lesser degree—and there might even appear a peerless prodigy who fought upward against the odds, not a Sword Son but comparable to one.

Killing such a person would greatly benefit the Great Dao.

A Dao Merging-grade divine pill was not as useful to the Great Sun Sword Son as such a peerless prodigy.

"It will surely be so."

Lieyang Master Dinghai Zhenjun ultimately could not draw his life-bound flying sword. He sighed deeply, bowed, and withdrew.

"Canghai Tianjun, take care…"

"Take care…"

"May Canghai Tianjun attain the Dao and become an immortal, with endless lifespan, and may you still recall this day even hundreds of millions of years from now…"

One after another, the old followers and acquaintances bade farewell to Jiang Ding, then walked resolutely out of

the palace, never looking back, no longer clinging to anything.

Their auras were deep and oppressive; they had once again recovered the domineering bearing of peak Nascent Soul cultivators, about to launch an endless, life-or-death assault upon the unknown and terrifying Soul Transformation heavenly tribulation.

Jiang Ding silently watched their retreating backs.

Many of them, from now on, would likely only appear in memory. The Great Dao is heartless.

……

In the Black Demon Palace.

A youth in blue robes, a longsword at his waist, sat upright upon Wang Zuo.

Compared to the banquet he had just shared with his old followers, he had once again returned to his usual calm and indifference, no longer constantly showing a warm smile.

A somewhat terrifying, cold atmosphere spread through the palace.

When Gong Gong Caiyu and Han Lin walked into the Black Demon Palace, they immediately sensed this subtle atmosphere. Their hearts tightened, and their expressions instantly grew solemn.

"No need for tension—it has nothing to do with you."

Jiang Ding shook his head slightly.

Gong Gong Caiyu had been steadfastly upholding Master Tushan Law, running about tirelessly for hundreds of years, greatly slowing the corruption of many high-level cultivators in Master Tushan Master Tushan Zhongting.

As for Han Lin, there was even less need to say.

This man cared nothing for fame or profit; he had a natural low-profile quality. Unless pushed to a critical moment, he was simply the most ordinary person in any crowd—so ordinary it was almost perverse, never revealing anything unusual.

Clearly he did not want to be corrupt, but after carefully surveying his surroundings, he immediately blended in with the dust, committing many minor offenses one after another, making himself consistent with the Master Dinghai Zhenjun around him, never standing out in any way.

"I called you here because I have some gifts for you."

Jiang Ding raised his hand, and two square gift boxes flew to each of them: "One supreme-grade Soul Transformation pill, which can raise the success rate of Soul Transformation by thirty percent. I hope you are well, and that in the future we may still meet again, recall together the matters of Yue Kingdom back then, chat together, laugh together."

He had deep feelings for his old followers and acquaintances, but there were differences even within these feelings.

Gong Gong Caiyu—his most loyal supporter under his command, an important figure he relied upon to rule Master Tushan Master Tushan Zhongting, the most reliable member among his political-administration maids, and someone who had grown up alongside him from childhood. The bond was different.

Han Lin was quite different, though he too was a friend from their youth.

Between the two there was somewhat the feeling of a gentleman's friendship, plain as water—neither owed the other anything. Having spare capacity now, he gave it casually.

In the long stretch of time, truly close friends were simply not that many. Although Han Lin's feelings for him were not deep, he actually ranked quite high up.

These supreme-grade Soul Transformation pills had been commissioned from an immortal gate for refinement not long ago.

The materials were gathered over the years by him, and obtained from the treasure vaults of a royal family of the Horn Demon Imperial Clan that he had captured. Ten were refined in total; after reserving some for Zhang Zhang Junsheng, Master Dinghai Master Dinghai Zhenjun, Luling Master Dinghai Zhenjun, An Siyan, Jin Jin Lingfeng and others, two or three remained, hence he gave them to the two.

"Gong Gong Caiyu's is a gift."

"Han Lin, yours is a loan. Old price—ten times return after Soul Transformation."

Jiang Ding added another sentence.

A gentleman's friendship is plain as water.

This kind of relationship has its pros and cons.

The benefit is being on equal footing.

The downside was, this wasn't a loyal subordinate, wasn't kin or friend — sending something too extravagant, he couldn't quite bring himself to do it.

"Yes, Young Master."

Gong Gong Caiyu's face showed a look of excitement; she immediately took it, without any shyness about it.

"Little Martial Uncle truly is a gentleman."

Han Lin gave a wry smile and likewise took the jade box.

This Little Martial Uncle really thought too highly of him — if one were to send him a supreme-grade Soul Transformation Pill, he would definitely accept it, without the slightest embarrassment, no need to pretend it was merely a loan.

But even as he said so, his Dao heart was the opposite, instantly becoming far more transparent.

Han Lin understood himself.

He was an extremely self-centered person.

He cherished family bonds, cherished friendships, and had his bottom lines — he wasn't some immortal-path old demon, but — once he encountered danger too severe, he would immediately flee, without regard for others.

Family bonds, friendships, love — these he cherished.

But, all these emotions combined could not compare to his longing for immortality on the immortal path!

When others were too good to him, with no selfish motives whatsoever, he would feel a certain hidden discomfort.

Because, in that case, he would be unable to flee first at the moment of danger with a clear conscience — he would have to consider the kindness shown him, consider others, causing his Dao heart to suffer torment.

Why must the Dao heart suffer torment?

Because no matter what, he was determined to run first.

Even if he owed others an immense debt of gratitude, even if his heart felt uneasy, even if his Dao heart clashed violently — this would not affect the speed of his escape; it would simply be very painful, with inner demons sprouting forth.

Rather than that, Han Lin would prefer from the very start not to owe others too great a kindness.