Chapter 167 The Weight of a Godslayer

Zhou Buyi's thoughts were just an insignificant ripple in the vast tide of ideas within the Hundred Schools' Righteous Army.

In truth, he needed to learn to become a leader more than a hero. 'Peace' was not a simple matter of defeating the demon army. Leading the remaining citizens of Shenzhou to rebuild a brilliant civilization on this revitalizing green wasteland was the responsibility and most important task for their generation.

At this moment, Su Zhou, having finished his lengthy speech, feeling he'd indulged his leadership speech cravings, and ready to return home after showing off, unhesitatingly raised the Mitadu Blade in his hand and offered it to the Confucian Sage at the front.

"Here, the divine blade is yours."

His tone was natural. Su Zhou had never considered taking the divine blade for himself. Although it might not have been forged without him, it was the blood, sweat, and tears of countless heroes of the Hundred Schools' Righteous Army that truly forged its power.

The rare materials alone, the blood spilled during their transport, surpassed all words.

"Ah, what is the meaning of this?"

But in the next instant, the Confucian Sage, without even thinking, handed the Mitadu Blade back. "What are you doing, Grandmaster Su?"

"The Demon Emperor is dead," Su Zhou said, thinking he hadn't made himself clear. "I have no use for this." He handed it back again.

But the Confucian Sage resolutely raised his hand and returned the divine blade yet again. "No, it's best if you keep it."

Even if the Mitadu Blade itself had a will, it probably wouldn't have imagined that it would be so unvalued, pushed back and forth like this.

Taking the divine blade again, Su Zhou blinked. He wanted to shove it back into the Confucian Sage's hands again—did this man underestimate his strength?

But quickly, the Buddhist Sage stepped forward, gently pressed Su Zhou's hand, and earnestly advised, "Grandmaster Su, the divine blade might not be tempting to someone from Kunlun, but it's different for us!"

"This thing possesses innate power. For us mortals, it is like immortality, a source of unrest. If any grandmaster holds this blade, who can resist its power head-on? If they wanted to be emperor, we wouldn't be able to resist!"

"The most important thing for order is balance, or stability." The Daoist Sage also stepped forward and shook his head at Su Zhou. "The old imperial system, with the supreme ruler governing everything, might be the simplest, most direct, and most efficient order."

"But if a tyrant or evil ruler takes the throne, it will be a catastrophe for the people. Therefore, what the Hundred Schools are now trying to walk is the path of 'balance'... Grandmaster Su, even without you, after we slay the Demon Emperor with the divine blade, we planned to seal it away together."

"But since you are here… then take it back to Kunlun! If one day, turmoil rises again in this world, and demons wreak havoc on the world again, there might be a day when you need to wield the blade again and exterminate the demons."

These words were spoken with sincerity, and the Confucian Sage nodded slightly in agreement. He stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes gazing somewhat absentmindedly towards the southwest. "Of course… it's best if there isn't such a day."

That was the direction of the Confucian Sage's hometown.

These words caused a slight commotion among the Hundred Schools' Righteous Army, but since the four grandmasters were discussing the matter, those with grievances didn't dare to speak out and could only remain silent.

"Uh, to be honest."

Having heard them say so much, Su Zhou wouldn't dwell on it, because this idea was actually similar to what he had thought before. But he didn't expect that they would even refuse the divine blade… It was hard to understand.

Sheathing the divine blade and hanging it on his waist, Su Zhou earnestly shook his head. "I'm just a young man who has never held such a good weapon in my life. I usually use my wooden spear and fists. Now you say you want to give me a divine weapon… then what choice do I have but to yield?"

It was one thing to forget righteousness at the sight of profit, but it was another to be hypocritical and pretentious.

"Haha, your honesty is one of the reasons why we are willing to trust you."

Seeing this, the Daoist Sage stroked his beard and laughed heartily. "Not only that, but we also plan to build a statue for you. Although the Great Artisan is still in bed, he said that when he recovers, he will personally carve a giant statue that will be passed down for generations so that future generations can sing praises of your deeds and name!"

"Uh, is that necessary?"

Although he was secretly overjoyed, and even laughed inwardly at Yala, saying things like 'Haha, Yala, I told you, as long as I take action, no matter what world it is, I will definitely be treated with extra courtesy, and it will never be like you where everyone shouts to beat you!', and received Yala's annoyed reply of 'Annoying!', Su Zhou, on the surface, hesitated a little. "It's a bit of a waste of manpower and resources…"

"It's a deterrent." The Confucian Sage smiled and said to Su Zhou. Then, he turned around, his eyes flashing with a fierce light, and said loudly to the silent Hundred Schools' troops behind him, "Likewise, it is to let future generations know that there was once a Demon Emperor who slaughtered millions out of selfish desire, causing Shenzhou to be devastated."

"To let future generations know that even if the demon army swept across the world and oppressed all living beings, there would still be a hundred schools who would rise up in righteousness and fight them until the last drop of their blood was shed."

"Also, to let future generations know that in this world, there exists such a Kunlun traveler who wields a divine weapon, hates evil like an enemy, and will come forth to slay demons when the world is in chaos."

—If you really want to leave, then become our deterrent.

This was a heartfelt message that Su Zhou could hear from the three aging grandmasters.

"Yes… the sacred tree is retracting its power, and the wood qi is condensing. If it's a true demon soldier or undead clan, it might be fine, but if it's someone like the Three Sages who have been able to prolong their lives by being infected with wood qi… I'm afraid they really don't have much time left."

"So, afraid that after they die, the originally united Hundred Schools will fight for the sacred tree and the power of the Mitadu Blade, they want to use my name as a deterrent, deterring possible ambitious people."

Su Zhou was very smart. He had eaten the fruit of wisdom and could understand the deeper meaning behind these words, and could also understand everything the three old men had painstakingly planned.

—Then, why not?

So, he laughed loudly, turned around, opened his arms to the sacred tree, Su Zhou looked at the withered Banyan Undead Tree, and then, as before, declared boldly.

"Indeed—it should be so!"

Several days later.

Carrying a large bag of spiritual plants, a brand new Dragon Horn Cross Spear on his back, and the Mitadu Blade on his waist, Su Zhou stood on the desolate road leading to the Kunlun Mountains in the northwest.

The originally wide national highway was overgrown with weeds and scattered shadows of trees, making it difficult to see the road ahead.

But obviously, no one cared about such trivial matters.

Now, bidding farewell to Su Zhou were the three grandmasters, as well as Zhou Buyi, Li Daoran, Weilie, Liu Xizhao, Fang Hui, and the Great Artisan, who was still lying on a stretcher, among other acquaintances in this world.

"Let's stop here."

At Su Zhou's request, this was not a grand farewell. After all, why would the sons and daughters of the martial world need so much entanglement? Just leave, don't look back, life is full of encounters!

So, Su Zhou clasped his fist in return to everyone who bowed deeply to him, and then, laughing, turned around, stepped into the air, and flew away.

"The sun rises a zhang high in Fusang, human affairs are as fine as hair. The wild man is furious at the sight of injustice, wearing down the myriad-aged blade in his chest!"

"I am not an ancient person, I draw my sword when I see injustice, and I act when I feel resentment!"

"Everyone, I hope there will be a day when we meet again, and I also hope there will be no 'again'!"

When everyone looked up again, Su Zhou's figure, leaving in a carefree manner, had disappeared into the distant wind and shadows of the trees.

Everything seemed to be coming to a close… perhaps.

In the distant high sky, Su Zhou, gliding in mid-air with the help of the wind, took out the Celestial Scale. As spiritual power was activated, silver light lit up, and a spherical light orb, displaying a scene of an ordinary Earth residential living room inside, appeared before his eyes.

Su Zhou smiled and touched the light orb, and then, his whole being turned into light and disappeared.

—Ride the wind, walk the mortal world, sing loudly, chant wildly!

—Travel alone for a thousand miles, wander through the worlds, help those in need, draw the sword to assist!

Everything had just begun!