Chapter 825

At the scene, everyone erupted in shock!

Clearly, this was not a killing by another, but self-inflicted death.

After all, Zhu Xuanlun was a Cultivation Base of Void Refinement Layer Twelve, and a prodigy of Void Refinement.

Even a Mahayana Emperor-level cultivator could not kill Zhu Xuanlun silently and without a trace.

Unless it was a spiritual sense ambush.

But that was even more impossible, because Zhu Xuanlun possessed a treasure that defended against spiritual sense attacks—anyone who launched a spiritual sense probe would be blocked, and it would inevitably trigger a disturbance.

Yet here!

Silent, with not a single trace of struggle.

"Xuanlun, my son..."

Zhu Zhengyan completely collapsed, falling to the ground and violently shaking his son's corpse.

Then, a beam of light flew out from Zhu Xuanlun's body.

At the same time, a calm voice echoed: "Father... your child is leaving... You should ascend sooner too. I'm tired. I don't want immortality, and I don't want to cultivate..."

Thus, Zhu Xuanlun's death left no further doubt.

It was suicide!

"Hummm..." The Jin Gang Yao Di waved his hand again, and layer upon layer of arrays sealed off the entire hall's exterior.

He sighed softly and said, "Enough. Today's award ceremony will be simplified—held right outside this hall!"

His gaze swept across the crowd: "According to prior rules, whoever secures first place on the Heavenly Ladder shall be awarded by the Phoenix Clan a 【Nirvana Divine Stone】. After deliberation, we have decided to award this Divine Stone to Wang Dun!"

A chorus of boos erupted from the crowd.

Is Wang Dun the first-place winner?

Yes... and no.

In truth, He Pingsheng was first.

But He Pingsheng was disqualified, and the first-place slot was not his name—it was merely blank.

Jin Gang Yao Di waved his hand. "Enough talk!"

Imperial aura spread out, and everyone fell silent at once.

He asked, "Where is Wang Dun? Has he arrived?"

He Pingsheng stepped forward, smiling and bowing: "Apologies, my Senior Brother Wang has already departed. Before leaving, he told me to collect his reward on his behalf!"

"Is that true?" Jin Gang Yao Di asked He Pingsheng.

He Pingsheng replied, "I dare not conceal it—this matter can be verified by Dalun Ming Wang!"

Dalun Ming Wang, not far away, nodded: "Indeed, this is true!"

"Very well!" Jin Gang Yao Di pulled out a jade box. "Inside this box is the Nirvana Divine Stone!"

"Hehe... this artifact is extraordinarily precious. If added to a magic treasure, it can elevate its rank and enhance its fire attribute!"

"Take it!"

The jade box turned into a beam of light and landed in He Pingsheng's hand.

"Enough!" Jin Gang said. "The assembly is over—you may all leave!"

"Two hours from now, Shitai City will be sealed again. The next opening will be five thousand years from now!"

Next, everyone formed groups and departed.

"Amitabha..." The Buddha Emperor and his sect members sat cross-legged at the hall's entrance, chanting sutras to guide Zhu Xuanlun's soul.

He Pingsheng also took a deep breath, bowing deeply toward the hall—a farewell to this man... who was not his friend.

In truth, he held a very favorable impression of Zhu Xuanlun.

A truly fine man.

Too bad he was saddled with an unreliable father, leading to this tragedy.

"Dalun Ming Wang!" In the void, three Phoenix Clan Yao Di blocked Dalun Ming Wang. "Our Phoenix Clan's Grand Elder wishes to consult you on urgent matters—please accompany us!"

Dalun Ming Wang's face turned icy: "You're trying to distract me so you can kill He Pingsheng, aren't you?"

"Hehe..." The lead Phoenix Clan Yao Di sneered. "What are you talking about? I don't understand. The Phoenix Clan has never held any grudge against He Pingsheng!"

"Why would we kill him? Rest assured—the Phoenix Clan will not act!"

"Come with us!"

Dalun Ming Wang knew she stood no chance against three Phoenix Clan Yao Di, so she could only follow them away.

"He Pingsheng... you must survive!" Dalun Ming Wang shouted. "Yuqing is still waiting for you!"

He Pingsheng's face broke into a bright smile: "Don't worry—I won't die!"

The Phoenix Clan took Dalun Ming Wang and departed immediately.

The Yao Di in the void also left.

Though all had gone, He Pingsheng knew someone was still secretly watching him, waiting for him to leave.

"Nan Qiqi... sorry!" He Pingsheng bowed to her. "I can't go with you!"

Nan Qiqi understood. She bowed forward with both hands: "Comrade He, we should be the ones apologizing. At this moment, I don't know what to say—only... good luck to you!"

"If you survive, the Zhu Que Clan will forever be your friend!"

"Mm." He Pingsheng nodded, then turned into a streak of light and departed.

He traveled all the way outside the city before stopping to attempt using the 【Space Wormhole】 technique to open a void passage.

Unfortunately, it didn't work.

Then go farther!

After flying for a long while, when he was tens of thousands of miles from Shitai City, He Pingsheng halted again in the void and casually punched the air.

Still, he failed to pierce the void.

This was interesting.

Even a Mahayana Emperor could not seal off a radius of tens of thousands of miles around Shitai City.

Not even ten thousand miles.

It could only mean that a Mahayana Emperor was nearby.

"Since you've followed me this far, show yourself!" He Pingsheng didn't know where the Mahayana Emperor was, and his spiritual sense couldn't detect him—he spoke calmly.

Indeed, the void rippled.

The next moment, Kongkong Yao Di appeared a hundred zhang away.

"Don't tell me you didn't kill my son!" Kongkong Yao Di cut in before He Pingsheng could speak. "My son was killed by you, and my Emperor Weapon was taken by you!"

"Am I right?"

"Feng Wu must be hidden by you too!"

He Pingsheng had no interest in lying—no matter how much he argued, the man wouldn't spare him—so he openly admitted: "Correct. I did all of it."

"Someone who threatened my daughter's life deserves death. If he lived, I'd be the fool."

"My son is dead—no matter. Next is Feng Wanxi!"

"It's only a matter of time."

Kongkong Yao Di nodded, then added: "Though I cannot defeat you... you cannot stop me."

Hearing this, He Pingsheng was stunned:???

Cannot defeat me?

But the next instant, he understood.

Kongkong Yao Di's words weren't directed at him—because nearby, to He Pingsheng's left, the void rippled again, and a figure clad in crimson robes emerged.