Trading Life for Life to Kill Him!

Since Sheng Nü had put it that way, and taking into account everyone else's answers, Qi Yuan already had an inkling of an idea. Perhaps the blind girl truly did not exist in this world, serving as nothing more than a re-creation forged from the illusions of his mind. Yet... how could the boundless passion of that night be explained? Within Qi Yuan's heart, a faint shroud of doubt and confusion still lingered. His gaze settled upon Shangguan Qingteng and Shangguan Qingmiao. "Last time, you two mentioned that if I came to the Tai Star Domain, you could let me read the original manuscript of the *Secret Essentials of Origin*." Under his gaze, the hearts of both cultivators tightened. Yuan stepped forward at that moment, speaking on their behalf: "Lord Realm Lord, please follow me." "Very well," Qi Yuan agreed. Before taking his leave, however, a thought seemed to strike him. His gaze pierced through the cloud layer, alighting upon the old man and Long Qi. "Those two have a craving for fine drink and would like some immortal brew. Lend me some to give to them." The old man and Long Qi stiffened at once. Never before had they been observed by so many formidable figures at the same time. This sensation of being thrust into the focus of countless eyes made them feel both apprehensive and thrilled. The old man's thoughts were a tangled knot. Long Qi, on the other hand, could scarcely suppress the sheer delight bursting within him. Little Qi... no, Big Qi still remembered them! ... Inside the cloud palace, countless ancient tomes sprawled as vast and boundless as mist. Some were inscribed upon stone steles, some carved into bamboo slips, and others printed on paper. This vast, ocean-like Library Pavilion essentially represented the development of the history and civilization across the various worlds and domains of the Divine Wood Universe. The original manuscript of the *Secret Essentials of Origin* rested in the deepest recesses of the pavilion. "The original text of the *Secret Essentials of Origin* uses the divine wood as its carrier, chronicling all manner of secret histories of the Divine Wood Universe. "However, the passage of time has been far too vast, and many chapters of the original are now missing." Yuan handed the original manuscript of the *Secret Essentials of Origin* to Qi Yuan. Rather than a book, it resembled a wooden stele—a wood carving. Yet, having endured the scouring of an unknowable span of ages, much of the script upon the wooden slab had faded beyond recognition. "Alright, let me look through it first," Qi Yuan said. His attention settled upon the *Secret Essentials of Origin*. Yuan's figure withdrew, leaving the Library Pavilion. Before the *Secret Essentials of Origin*, only Qi Yuan remained. "When the universe first split open, the first ancient god was Pan, possessing a stalwart build, opening heaven and earth with a gigantic axe?" "This... connects to the random stories I rambled on about to the Soundless Sound." "Heaven and earth collapsed, the ground shattered, and a divine goddess appeared... mending the earth with stones." "Did the stories I told influence the Soundless Sound, or... can my words truly turn the mundane into the miraculous?" Qi Yuan recalled the special ability he had awakened. Without that unique power, he would never have been able to communicate with the Soundless Sound in the first place. His voice could transmit at will to any random corner, and then... undergo peculiar transformations, producing unknown effects. Qi Yuan secretly deduced. It was very likely that his voice had influenced the Soundless Sound, precipitating the birth of the Divine Wood Universe. "It seems... my tongue is quite something. It can actually talk a universe into getting pregnant," Qi Yuan muttered to himself. In the *Secret Essentials of Origin*, the records concerning the Divine Wood Deep Abyss merely noted that it was the beginning of the world, an expanse of utter nothingness. "Unfortunately, no information concerning Heitian is mentioned in the *Secret Essentials of Origin*." The understanding of Heitian possessed by Yuan and the other Ancestral Gods of the Renqi Society might well be inferior to that of Qi Yuan, who had slain countless guishen and swept across the Chaotic Star Domain. Sitting in silence for half a day, Qi Yuan read through the *Secret Essentials of Origin* in its entirety. The first half bore a striking resemblance to the mythological stories he had recounted to the Soundless Sound. As for the latter half, it detailed the various minor and major affairs of the invasions by Heitian and Heitu. Furthermore, both the Void Paradise and the Yaoguang Universe were mentioned within its pages. "This is..." Qi Yuan's gaze drifted toward the final chapter of the *Secret Essentials of Origin*. The handwriting there was starkly different from the preceding text, bearing a delicate, feminine grace. "It matches... the handwriting on the stone stele before the Sunset Cliff... It comes from the very same person." Qi Yuan was faintly astonished. He had not anticipated stumbling upon something like this here. "However... most of the words have faded." Straining his eyes to decipher them, Qi Yuan could discern only eight characters: *"Clouds bring sweeping rain; thundering serpents stay still and silent."* Beyond those, everything else was blurred beyond recognition. "Clouds, rain, thunder... artifact refining methods?" Qi Yuan recalled the eight artifact refining methods the blind girl had bestowed upon him. "Sigh... the game is about to be cleared. If I can't find you, I might never be able to make your eyes for you," Qi Yuan sighed. He was someone who valued favors and kindness above all else. What he promised, he delivered. By now, the game in this world was drawing toward its conclusion. The role he portrayed was nearing its end as well. Once it concluded, the time would come for his departure. ... "Yuan... handing all seven pieces of the Mankind-Kindled Light over to him—isn't that overly reckless?" The hot-tempered, heavily bearded man spoke with an edge of anxiety. The Mankind-Kindled Light had drained the painstaking efforts of the entire Divine Wood Universe. It was also the sole reliance of the Renqi Society in opposing Heitian and Heitu. Even though Qi Yuan was a Realm Lord and a native of this realm, the members of the Renqi Society were not well acquainted with him. Who could say whether he might turn out to be another 'Yi'? "If the Realm Lord demands them, are you saying you wouldn't give them up?" the white-bearded elder countered. Regarding the Mankind-Kindled Light, the majority had indeed been reluctant to hand the treasures over to Qi Yuan upon their very first meeting. Yet what choice did they have when Qi Yuan's strength was overwhelming, standing firmly in the Realm Lord stage? Had Qi Yuan chosen to act alone, the rest of them combined likely would not have been his match. "It is just that relinquishing them so easily can't help but leave us feeling uneasy," the heavily bearded man remarked. "As the saying goes, 'Do not employ those you doubt, and do not doubt those you employ.' Since the Mankind-Kindled Light is already in the Realm Lord's hands, all we need to do now is place our trust in him," Sheng Nü said. The others nodded. With matters having developed to this point, what else could they do besides trust him? "Indeed. Rather than fretting over this, we ought to give proper thought to how we will confront Heitian and Heitu." The many Ancestral Gods began speaking all at once. Heitian and Heitu were advancing menacingly, staging an offensive even greater than the last. Though the line drawn by Dao Lord Yaoguang still endured, judging by the rate at which it was fading, the Divine Wood Universe still had ten thousand years of leeway. Even so, this latest invasion by Heitian and Heitu was not to be underestimated. It was entirely possible... that like before, half of a grand domain might fall into ruin. "This time, Lord Realm Lord shall serve as the main force... while we... provide him with intelligence support," one Ancestral God said. Since Qi Yuan held all the pieces of the Mankind-Kindled Light, it was hardly feasible for the others to step into the Void Sea. They could only offer Qi Yuan support through information. "May this battle pass without disturbance, with no unexpected twists arising!" "Indeed. Once we weather this conflict, we will gain more breathing room. Other seeds will have time to mature, and... more pieces of the Mankind-Kindled Light can be forged," someone said with a bright, spirited look. "Rest assured. Back then, with merely half a piece of the Mankind-Kindled Light, Yuan managed to repel the enemy in the Void Sea. Now... with seven whole pieces and a Realm Lord stepping onto the field, what could possibly go wrong?" ... Time flew by. Qi Yuan's arrival acted as a shot of adrenaline for the populace of the Emperor Star. Everywhere, people were discussing Qi Yuan, speaking endlessly of this Realm Lord. At present, the moonlight was gentle, and the surroundings were blanketed in stillness. The old man had moved into a sprawling residence, an immortal brew set upon his table. Savoring the fine liquor, he wore a dazed, hazy expression. "Sigh, how did that lad suddenly open his meridians and come to his senses? He's heading off to the battlefield tomorrow, and there's no telling if he'll get hurt." The old man felt deep worry for Qi Yuan. He even feared that Qi Yuan might perish in the Void Sea. Yet such words could not be voiced aloud, as they brought ill fortune. "Old Man Liu, put your heart at ease. Lord Realm Lord should be entirely fine this time," Ancestral God Qin said. The secret of the line drawn by Dao Lord Yaoguang could not be shared with ordinary folks, lest it incite panic and birth needless strife. Qin, however, could drop a subtle hint or two. Hearing Ancestral God Qin sound so certain, Old Man Liu let out a sigh of relief. "As long as he's fine, that's all that matters." Long Qi accompanied them in drinking at the side, behaving with utmost caution and deference, though the vibrant sparkle within his eyes could not be suppressed in the slightest. Little Qi's sudden leap into becoming a Realm Lord had brought immense changes to both Old Man Liu and himself. Their cramped dwelling had been exchanged for a massive manor. Every day, God-rank experts and even Ancestral Gods came by to pay their respects. Such a thing had been completely unimaginable in the past. During this time, Qi Yuan had returned once as well, leaving them filled with endless sighs of wonder. "I hope Big Brother Qi displays boundless divine might this time and slaughters all of Heitian and Heitu!" Long Qi said through gritted teeth. "A toast to Lord Realm Lord!" Ancestral God Qin raised his cup and proclaimed. Across the entire Emperor Star, every inhabitant remained on edge. Tomorrow was the day Qi Yuan would depart for the front line, marking the formal commencement of the war. Some were anxious, some were thrilled, and some felt lost and bewildered, their minds stirred by varying thoughts. ... Within the Void Sea. Towering battleships patrolled back and forth, looking ancient, sinister, and stained with blood. Realm Lord Wukong wore an inscrutable expression. "I hear that this time, that Realm Lord will venture into the Void Sea to face us?" The other Heitu clansmen nodded in succession. "Correct. That Realm Lord from the Chaotic Star Domain who slaughtered many of our experts," a Yang God in the realm of Great Ultimate Reason said with lingering dread. "For a Realm Lord to emerge from within the Divine Wood Universe... this person is truly bizarre," Realm Lord Wukong remarked. "Hmph! In this battle, the Mankind-Kindled Light can be allowed to return, but that Qi Yuan must remain behind in the Void Sea!" At that moment, a man enveloped entirely in flames spoke up, his voice dripping with killing intent. "Realm Lord Huoyan, are you seeking vengeance for that nephew of yours?" Realm Lord Wukong cast a measured glance toward him. Realm Lord Huoyan had a nephew named Qi Huang. He had doted on him dearly, even arranging for Qi Huang to pad his reputation in the safe environs of the Chaotic Star Domain. Yet who could have anticipated that Qi Huang would perish at Qi Yuan's hands? How could Realm Lord Huoyan not be enraged? "He is a Realm Lord. Slaying him won't be so simple," Realm Lord Wukong said flatly. Both were in the Realm Lord stage and possessed comparable strength. Slaying someone of that caliber was extraordinarily difficult. "Even if I must stake my life, I will slaughter him!" Realm Lord Huoyan snapped furiously. The Yang Gods present were visibly shaken. While it was true that the guiling source was sufficient to revive them, experts at their level went out of their way to avoid relying on it for resurrection. After all... who could be sure that the resurrected self was truly still oneself? "It seems this nephew was of great significance to you," Realm Lord Wukong chuckled. He had recalled certain rumors. Qi Huang possessed many uncles. Realm Lord Huoyan was merely one of them. Could it be that all those so-called uncles... were merely avatars of Realm Lord Huoyan? And that Qi Huang was Realm Lord Huoyan's crucial stepping stone for stepping into the Myriad Things Realm? Now that Qi Yuan had slain him, it was only natural for fury to consume his heart. This was the enmity of a severed path! Even so... trading life for life seemed exceedingly foolish in the eyes of Realm Lord Wukong. "Realm Lord Wukong, assist me in slaying Qi Yuan!" Realm Lord Huoyan fixed his gaze upon him. Realm Lord Wukong hesitated. "This seat has no desire to throw away his own life." Realm Lord Huoyan was willing to trade life for life, but he was not. "You only need to assist me from the side! Once the deed is done, I will open my divine sea and permit you to comprehend my rules of fire!" Realm Lord Huoyan declared irritably. Hearing this, Realm Lord Wukong was taken aback. "Are you serious?" One had to understand that for a Rule Realm Lord, the rules they cultivated were of paramount importance. The rules comprehended by each Realm Lord served as their trump card, their greatest reliance. For Realm Lord Huoyan to open his divine sea and freely allow Realm Lord Wukong to comprehend his rules was a perilously dangerous venture. During that process, should Realm Lord Wukong harbor any malicious intent, Realm Lord Huoyan would perish on the spot. Of course... with the guiling source, he would resurrect even upon death. Yet to Realm Lord Wukong, a resurrected self would cease to be the original self, an outcome he went to great lengths to avoid as well. Now that Realm Lord Huoyan had presented such a lavish reward simply to hunt Qi Yuan, how could Realm Lord Wukong fail to be tempted? "Fine. I will gladly lend a hand," Realm Lord Wukong said, his ambition burning hot. If he could master another rule, it would mark an immense advancement for him. In the future, ascending to the Myriad Things Realm, or even the Heaven-Opening Realm, might no longer be out of the question. At present, Heitian and Heitu possessed Realm Lords in the Myriad Things Realm, but not a single one in the Heaven-Opening Realm. If he broke through to the Heaven-Opening Realm, he would become the foremost figure among Heitian and Heitu. "If that is the case... our battle plan for this engagement must be altered," Realm Lord Wukong pondered with his head bowed. Heitian and Heitu were invading the Divine Wood Universe. To the Divine Wood Universe, the war was brutal and fraught with desperate intensity. Yet to Heitian and Heitu, lacking the supreme directive from Heitian, everything was merely... a probe and a diversion. Thus, when Yuan had brought half a piece of the Mankind-Kindled Light into the Void Sea last time to confront the army of Heitian and Heitu, they had possessed ten thousand ways to slay him. Yet in the end, no one had stepped forward to strike. The reason was simple: half a piece of the Mankind-Kindled Light was enough for Yuan to take down a Realm Lord with him. No Realm Lord was willing to die, even if resurrection via the guiling source was guaranteed. This time, however, was different. Realm Lord Huoyan was willing to die, willing to be reborn through the guiling source. Since someone was willing to pay the price, bringing about Qi Yuan's demise... would be simplicity itself. ... "So this is the Void Sea?" Stepping into the Void Sea all by himself, Qi Yuan felt as though he had plunged into a quagmire. The Void Sea... was a unique spatial expanse produced by the collision of two universes. Ordinary Yang Gods found it arduous even to walk within it. Constraints seemed to press in from every direction, making every step an uphill struggle. Only upon reaching the Realm Lord stage or higher would these restrictions diminish substantially. Of course, if one wielded a curious treasure of light, ordinary God-rank or even Heaven-rank cultivators could step into the Void Sea as well. "If you advance for half a day, you will reach the fleet of Heitian and Heitu," Yuan's voice emerged from a communication artifact. "Lord Realm Lord, you merely need to hold the Mankind-Kindled Light and halt the fleet's advance!" Last time, Yuan had done precisely that, confronting Heitian and Heitu in a standoff that lasted over a decade. In the end, the fleet had retreated without taking another step forward. "Understood," Qi Yuan agreed with a nod. Besides the seven pieces of the Mankind-Kindled Light, he carried five special communication artifacts upon his person. These communication artifacts relied upon the Mankind-Kindled Light to function, enabling Qi Yuan to receive messages from the Divine Wood Universe even within the depths of the Void Sea. "What if they attack me?" Qi Yuan inquired. "Can I strike back?" "Under normal circumstances, Heitian and Heitu will not recklessly attack you within the Void Sea," Yuan explained. The Realm Lords of Heitian and Heitu cherished their lives; none were willing to trade their life for another's. "However, if someone does attack you, Lord Realm Lord naturally may retaliate," Yuan answered earnestly. "And what if I wish to take the initiative to strike?" Qi Yuan asked.