Chapter 614: Why take the Corpse Cultivator path out of greed for life and fear of death?

"Old Daoist, I never expected you to have a backup plan again and again; let me see if this backup can still protect your life!"

"A roar erupted around him like a thunderclap, startling Xuanqing Daozhang from his myriad thoughts; his gaze was drawn from the black shield before him, he looked up at the swiftly lunging Kong Yuan Si, his face full of curiosity."

"Not only curiosity, but whether this Evil Cultivator Kong Yuan Si, who walked a deviant path, still knows orthodox Corpse Cultivator combat techniques; moreover, he wonders who the mysterious person who suddenly intervened to save him from Kong Yuan Si's lethal strike is, what abilities they have, and whether they can save him again at a critical moment."

"It couldn't be..."

"Xuanqing Daozhang, using his mind to its fullest, wondered who would save his life at this moment, as one figure after another appeared in his thoughts; he saw Kong Yuan Si unleashing spell after spell, his magical power seemingly endless, continuously supporting him in casting one powerful technique after another."

"Seeing this, the strange look on Xuanqing Daozhang's face grew ever stronger; he even doubted whether Kong Yuan Si had had his head caught in a door back then, otherwise how could he have taken the Corpse Cultivator path, and now abandoned Corpse Cultivator combat methods, not relying on his body to fight."

"One must know that a formidable Corpse Cultivator develops his body to an unimaginable extent—not only can every body part become a deadly weapon, but even his blood and saliva can be used to kill enemies; someone like Kong Yuan Si, who casts spell after spell as a Corpse Cultivator, is completely an oddball among Corpse Cultivators."

"No!"

"It can no longer be called an oddball; it's outright trash!"

"If that's the case, why walk this Corpse Cultivator path that invites heaven's wrath and human resentment? Isn't the orthodox cultivation path better? Even if one cannot follow the orthodox path, one can still take other heterodox ways."

"Could it be that he walks this Corpse Cultivator path simply because he fears death?"

"Myriad speculations rose in Xuanqing Daozhang's mind, completely ignoring the fierce techniques rushing at him."

"With this black shield before him, he believed that if it could block one attack, it could block a second; even if the shield couldn't block a second strike, he believed the mysterious person would act again to save his life."

"He would not let his life be taken by Kong Yuan Si."

"Therefore."

"He had no need to fear; although Kong Yuan Si's techniques, unleashed one after another, seemed costless yet possessed an extraordinarily terrifying momentum, and he could clearly sense that even a single technique, if it struck him, would be enough to leave him without a corpse."

"No, if he fears death, there's likewise no need to walk the Corpse Cultivator path, for whether on the orthodox cultivation way or among heterodox ways, many cultivation methods focus on protecting one's own safety."

"The Corpse Cultivator path is entirely a heterodox way created for combat; its battle strength is extremely strong, yet its flaws are many, and as the saying goes, 'a general dies after a hundred battles'—if one fears death, one would never take this path!"

"Just as the scene of Kong Yuan Si's death and rebirth flashed in Xuanqing Daozhang's mind, and he had just speculated that Kong Yuan Si took the Corpse Cultivator path out of fear of death, this thought had barely lingered before he denied it himself."

"While he pondered how this oddball Corpse Cultivator Kong Yuan Si could have taken the Corpse Cultivator path, he also awaited the appearance of the mysterious person."

"Suddenly his sight caught Kong Yuan Si, who after unleashing a vast amount of techniques, seemed to sense some danger, and instead of continuing to lunge at him, turned and fled."

"No, aren't you trying to take my life? And you just run away?"

"Xuanqing Daozhang's face was full of strange intent as he watched Kong Yuan Si flee—not as if acting, but as if exerting all his strength like a suckling infant; he likewise sensed no unusual aura in the surroundings, Kong Yuan Si should have felt no danger, yet he decisively turned and fled. Suddenly."

"A flash of insight crossed Xuanqing Daozhang's mind, understanding why Kong Yuan Si behaved so inconsistently; he sneered, 'No wonder he's been an Evil Cultivator for so many years—his abilities are ordinary, yet he understands the principle that among the Thirty-Six Stratagems, fleeing is the best.'"

"Only then did he realize that the technique Kong Yuan Si had unleashed to take his life had been blocked by the black shield, and why Kong Yuan Si would strangely lunge straight at him."

"He had originally thought Kong Yuan Si would display his Corpse Cultivator specialty, knowing he was spent; seeing Kong Yuan Si cast spell after spell as if it cost nothing, he should have understood."

"Kong Yuan Si was either drawing him in or attracting the attention of the mysterious person who might save his life, focusing all his attention on these techniques to create an escape opportunity for himself."

"Indeed, just now I was hoping to rely on the Human Sea Tactic to deal with me, but now this Evil Technique has been dispelled by this Guimen Guan, as these resentful spirits are sucked into the Guimen Guan."

"His abilities have probably been reduced by eighty or ninety percent; just now he even capsized in a gutter, and with his cautious nature, how could he dare to confront me head-on?"

"Xuanqing Daozhang snorted coldly and asked curiously, 'I don't know whether the mysterious person who saved my life will help me deal with this beast Kong Yuan Si!'"

"He also didn't know whether to admire Kong Yuan Si's caution or to mock him for being greedy for life and fearful of death."

"Perhaps Kong Yuan Si very much wanted him to die, but Kong Yuan Si cared more about his own life."

"Let alone his current peril being about one-tenth; even if it were only one percent, Kong Yuan Si would likely abandon killing him to create an escape chance for himself."

"This novel you have reached"

"Want to run?"

"Suddenly, a cold laugh rang out like a wailing ghost; the next second, an iron chain flew from the Guimen Guan, and before Kong Yuan Si could flee far, it instantly wrapped around him—no matter how he struggled, it was useless—immediately after, a blurry figure walked out from the Guimen Guan."

"Soul-reaping Envoy?"

"Kong Yuan Si instinctively glanced behind him, only to see the figure emerging from the Guimen Guan—no, it should be called a ghostly apparition; seeing his attire, his whole body trembled, his face and eyes filled with terror he could not conceal, his voice shaking as he wailed:"

"'Sir, sir, what are you doing? My lifespan is not yet exhausted; you, you, you won't take me away!'"

"'If your lifespan is not yet exhausted, why would the Guimen Guan appear?'"

"Le Zizhen snorted coldly, gave Kong Yuan Si no second glance, but turned his head downward toward the luxurious convoy's position, instantly landing on Zhu Xing, a flash of killing intent passing through his eyes."

"Even after all these years, having witnessed countless storms, he still could not forget how he had died miserably at Zhu Xing's hands, and how his wife had accompanied him to the Yellow Springs."

"(End of chapter)"