362: Chapter 87 Battle of the Human Heart_2 362: Chapter 87 Battle of the Human Heart_2 Disregarding Mo Zhen Venerable, there were only a mere two or three individuals in Demon Country who could contend with him.
Yet among those ranks, Peacock Venerable should not have been included…
Prince Jiu was second to none in Chiling City, all thanks to the support of Five-Colored Ridge.
However, this Five-Colored Ridge was a colossal force that rose after the Battle of Poison, when Mo Zhen Venerable perished and his legacies were thoroughly divided by several Demon Country Venerables, and several “newly powerful” individuals also rose to power.
Five-Colored Ridge was one such power.
“There are always some lucky ones who turn calamity into fortune.”
Lu Yuzhen smiled as he mentioned a name that Xie Xuanyi was familiar with, “Do you still remember ‘Chi Hun’?”
Taoist Chi Hun.
Years ago, Xie Xuanyi had fought thousands of miles around, battled in all directions in the North Sea, and with a single strike, he had nearly ended the life of Taoist Chi Hun…
This man subsequently had a great enlightenment, stayed in the realm of Perfect Cave Heaven, and even further comprehended the almost invincible move “Avici Cave Heaven” from the Cave Heaven Realm.
It was a pity that the evil path was difficult to cultivate, and if one were not a brilliant genius, there was no chance to reach the Yin God Realm.
The battle in the North Sea provided a brief opportunity, a moment of divine pity, and Taoist Chi Hun had failed to refine Tao Rules.
If he could have successfully broken through,
He would then have a great chance to reach the peak of the Yin God Realm.
“I understand now.”
Xie Xuanyi sneered, “Peacock Venerable took that sword from my master in the same way as Chi Hun.”
It could be said that during the Battle of the North Sea, Taoist Chi Hun survived a strike from Xie Xuanyi.
In fact,
Xie Xuanyi hardly remembered Chi Hun.
Had it not been for this man being a disciple under the White Ghost,
Xie Xuanyi would not even have sought him for revenge.
“The gist is roughly the same…
but Peacock’s talent surpasses that of Chi Hun by hundreds, thousands of times.”
Lu Yuzhen’s smile beamed, “Now in Demon Country, where mighty forces clash incessantly, warfare is never-ending, and nowhere is peaceful.
However, by relying solely on the Five-Colored Dao, Peacock has carved a bloody path.
His Five-Colored Ridge, even among the top powers of Demon Country, still manages to secure a place.”
Demon Country respects only the strong,
and if one day,
Ao Ying could become a Venerable, she too could establish a force like “Five-Colored Ridge,” presided over by a Venerable, which would be heeded and respected by all upon a single call!
Xie Xuanyi narrowed his eyes.
He saw far in the sky, a Cloud Ship falling as Wuxi Immortal hurried to Snow Mountain, rescuing the surviving members of the Human Race.
On the other side,
The Five-Colored light surged.
Peacock Venerable must have settled his disciples and was preparing to fulfill his promise to confront Wuxi Immortal in a fight.
“Is this the price you paid for helping Prince Jiu remove his Heart Lake Tao Rules?”
Xie Xuanyi spoke softly, “If you needed Peacock to intervene and stop Wuxi Immortal, why are you still here watching?”
He had thought
that Lu Yuzhen, in such an urgent time, had sought Peacock’s help out of sheer necessity.
Now it seemed,
that wasn’t the case at all.
The Taoist appeared relaxed and at ease, his face betraying a sense of light amusement as if he was merely there to watch a good show.
“No rush, no rush.”
Lu Yuzhen chuckled, “Over at Great Yue Kingdom, the fight will take quite a while.
Since it’s a good show, naturally we should watch it scene by scene.”
He seemed to perform a sleight of hand, reaching lightly into his sleeve and taking out a peach.
“Here.”
Lu Yuzhen tossed the peach, and Xie Xuanyi reflexively caught it but did not eat it casually.
He frowned at the Taoist before him, “A good show?”
“To me, the most interesting play in this world isn’t a ground-shaking battle.”
Lu Yuzhen spoke wistfully, “Rather, it’s the battle of human hearts.
A battle of hearts is a hundred times more interesting than a battle of Dao…
Do you know what’s interesting about this fight?”
Xie Xuanyi remained expressionless.
He watched the distant battlefield where two Yang Gods were now locked in combat.
Wuxi Immortal, having recently affirmed his cultivation in a fleshly body despite being wounded by his master…
But after all, the master had not harbored killing intent,
and his foundational Daoist skill was undamaged.
Wuxi Immortal’s strength was still formidable.
This head of the Martial Sect, his vitality powerful like an ocean, nearly drowning half the sky, knew well, although being preoccupied with martial pursuits, that his primary purpose in traveling north was not to kill demons but to retrieve the surviving disciples of Great Chu’s sects.
Thus, as he fought with the Five-Colored Dao, he also retreated,
To ensure the Cloud Ship could leave smoothly.
He even displayed his Martial Arts Golden Body directly, to clash hard with Peacock Venerable’s Devil Body Dharma Form, the impact echoing for dozens of miles, the powerful energy triggering avalanches.
Standing on the peak of Snow Mountain, Xie Xuanyi’s robe was blown back by the force.
“Is this battle related to human hearts?”
Xie Xuanyi watched for a while but did not grasp the meaning of Lu Yuzhen’s words.
“Of course.”
Lu Yuzhen sighed lightly, saying, “The territory of Lanshan Mountain lies on the border between the two countries, both sides isolated and without support.
However, Peacock’s strength surpasses the other; if it were a fight to the death, Wuxi Immortal would not be his match…
So why does he not strike to kill?”
Xie Xuanyi blinked in surprise.
Lu Yuzhen smiled and asked, “Doesn’t he want to kill the Banished Immortal?”
Xie Xuanyi shook his head.
Of course not.
If there was a chance to let a Yang God of Great Chu fall, the Demon Country Venerable would certainly go all out.
“Then…
is it that he can’t kill him?”
Lu Yuzhen spoke again.
Xie Xuanyi shook his head once more.
Still no.
Whether he could kill him or not, that could only be known after trying.
Although the Peacock Venerable had brought forth the Devil Body Dharma Form, he had not targeted a fight to the death.
On the other side.
The Banished Immortal was the same.
Lu Yuzhen almost threw the puzzle in front of Xie Xuanyi, “Guess…
what’s the reason?”
“Because…
you.”
Xie Xuanyi was silent for a few moments, then slowly spoke and voiced the answer.
“Correct.”
“It’s indeed because…
me.”
Lu Yuzhen smiled, “The Peacock wants to kill the Banished Immortal, and the Banished Immortal wants to kill the Peacock.
But they both know there’s still ‘me’ existing in this battlefield, so neither of them dares to exert their full strength.
Despite harboring the intention to kill the other, they dare not unleash their killing intent.
That’s what makes this battle of the Yang Gods the most interesting.”
The Peacock very much understood.
Lu Yuzhen was not the same type of Yang God as those of Great Chu.
But so what?
Lu Yuzhen was still “human”!
Even though Lord Lu saved the prince, having the identity of “human” meant that the Demon Country Venerable could never trust him.
Likewise…
the Banished Immortal could not afford to let down his guard.
When he took in these young disciples, he had already learned the related information of the “White Paper Cave Heaven”.
Using the White Paper to evolve the Dao to withstand the Peacock Venerable.
Such a mysterious existence.
Who else could it be, if not the Master of the Paperman Sect?
“This battle will not determine a victor, nor will it result in death.”
Lu Yuzhen spoke indifferently, “They are observing each other and also observing me…
for everyone involved, this is the best choice.”
Because of Lord Lu’s existence.
Both the Peacock and the Banished Immortal had to hold back.
“What good does this do for you?” Xie Xuanyi frowned and asked.
“Nothing good, but watching the fun is quite interesting.”
Lu Yuzhen shrugged and admitted candidly, “Also…
standing beside you, being seen by them, that’s pretty interesting too.”
…
Xie Xuanyi fell into silence once again.
The Banished Immortal had saved those who were in distress, and soon, the events in the Great Yue Kingdom’s Secret Realm would surely be replayed and presented in full to the leader of the Martial Sect through various forces.
Once he returned to Great Chu.
According to his understanding of the Martial Sect, it seemed that he would have to waste quite a bit of breath explaining things thoroughly.
“Don’t worry.
If you have to report back, I’ve already thought it through for you.”
Lu Yuzhen smiled unconcernedly, “Just say I’m a madman, who demanded your own life as a pledge before I would extend a helping hand to save your fellow Great Chu counterparts.
You had no choice but to dance with the devil.
Also, regarding the information about the ‘Master of the Paperman Sect,’ the dossier Chen Jingxuan compiled wasn’t detailed enough.
This time when you return, you can disclose everything.
The leader of the Martial Sect doesn’t know about our relationship, just sell me out thoroughly, the more thoroughly you do it, the greater the trust you’ll receive from Great Chu’s side.”
“Lu Yuzhen…”
Xie Xuanyi felt quite perplexed.
This person, cautious in his actions, had not left any trace for ten years.
Why, then, had he handed the “handle” over to himself?
Actually, Xie Xuanyi also knew.
The information he could expose was extremely limited; he didn’t even know where the gate of the Paperman Sect was.
Merely exposing Lu Yuzhen alone, what use was there?
Yet…
this person had still found an escape route for him, as if he were convinced that he and Great Chu would sooner or later part ways.
Was this to win over someone’s heart, or was it just his nature?
Xie Xuanyi looked solemnly at the White Robed Taoist beside him and asked earnestly, “What exactly are you aiming for by doing all this?”
“Tsk…”
“If I say I’m aiming for nothing, would you believe it…”
Seeing Xie Xuanyi’s serious expression, Lu Yuzhen gradually reined in his smile.
He stroked his chin, seemingly pondering over Xie Xuanyi’s question.
After a long while,
“Hmm…”
Lord Lu touched his chest lightly with one hand, feeling the beat of his internal organs.
He spoke seriously, word by word, “If I have to say I’m aiming for something…
doing all this, I’m probably just aiming for some happiness.”