Striking down “Great Luo Demoness” Gu Xiaosang, failure results in annihilation…
Meng Qi felt as if struck by lightning, staring blankly upward, as if through the misty haze, meeting the gaze of the Master of the Sixfold Samsara. This death mission was actually to kill Gu the Demoness!
And if he held back, sparing her life, he himself would die. In other words, only one of them could survive, no exceptions!
Upon first encountering the mission, she was an innocent neighborhood girl, her features not yet fully matured, delicate and timid;
Striking down Dorchad, she reappeared, lively and exquisite, dressed in white, captivating with laughter, both demonic and ethereal, extremely perilous yet irresistibly alluring;
Within the Demon’s Grave, cunning and treacherous, she disguised herself as Xiaozi flawlessly, her motives mysterious and methods unpredictable, suddenly erupting with deadly intent before vanishing abruptly. The most beautiful things were often the most dangerous;
Among the Three Mountains and Four Rivers, by the riverside, waves rippling, a small boat approaching, a white-robed fairy playing the xiao at the bow, melancholy and plaintive. At that moment, her demeanor was otherworldly and graceful, like the ideal beauty by the water’s edge. She directly addressed him as husband, eloquently recounting the tales of the Hegemon and Thunder God, smiling as she asked, if one day she were to be trapped by others, knowing the dangers involved, would he come to her rescue like the Hegemon?
During the New Year festival in Yecheng, lights on the bridge as bright as day, she suddenly turned around, standing amidst the dimming lanterns. Her white fur cloak accentuated her snow-like complexion, her beauty and grace hidden beneath an elven charm. Later, they joined forces, scheming against each other, outwitting Luoli while nearly falling into a trap set by herself;
Sailing down the Jiangdong River, meeting again on the river, her appearance unchanged, her demeanor the same. She urged the little girl beside him to call him “father” cutely, nearly scaring him to death;
Within Xingyun Manor, Zuoju suddenly appeared, white lotuses descending from the heavens. He was saved by her but also fell into her hands. However, Gao Lan later intervened, leaving him uncertain whether it was a favor or a grudge;
Meeting again in Shendu, drifting on the river, washing feet in the clear water, her wisdom opening the Nine Heavens’ Gate. Under the threat of the Mad King and the Demon Master, they rescued each other, advancing together. By the Immortal’s Pool and within the Hall of the Past, she saved him twice. In the Graystone Hall, for safety and to escape the Nine Heavens, they cultivated together to heal;
In Bayan Valley, near Shendu, two more encounters, both not Gu Xiaosang but Yulongzi. Only through the connection of the Fruit of This Life did he awaken her. From then on, he understood her relationship with Yulongzi and thus with the Eternal Mother, comprehending her struggles and desires;
At the beginning of this encounter, Meng Qi found it hard to calm his mind, memories flashing by. Was it hatred or gratitude? Seemed affectionate yet indifferent, all surged into his heart, indescribable. Finally, it settled on three sentences:
“We are the same kind of people, yet we are not the same. I am selfish, yearning to attain the Dao’s fruit. On this path, no matter who falls because of me, I will not waver. Even if my husband, in the future, becomes an enemy under the control of a great power or blocks my way, I will kill you without hesitation.”
“At that time, I will bury you on a secluded little hill, plant it full of white flowers, and worship you year after year, mourning you as a widow, until my Dao is achieved, then resurrect you, and enjoy you night after night…”
“If you die by my hand, I will live in solitude until I attain the Dao, then resurrect you.”
Her words carried a smile, yet an inexplicable sorrow. At the time, Meng Qi felt it was pathological, only sensing the thinness of his green robe and the cold lake breeze. Now, her words still echoed in his ears, yet the moment had come where only one could survive. And the one urging and forcing him to take action against her was not Gu Xiaosang, but himself. How unbearable was this situation!
Entangled too deeply, their love-hate relationship hard to untangle. Yet merely the three times she had saved his life prevented Meng Qi from harboring any intent to kill.
Anger, hatred, and the helplessness of being forced into a corner erupted like a volcano within Meng Qi’s heart. The Sixfold Samsara deserved to perish!
After the incident in Bayan Valley, his true self had already become obedient, still as carefree as ever, still fond of showing off before others, smiling joyfully. Even when asking about matters, it was only for explanations of events long past. Yet the Sixfold Samsara still did not let him go, giving him an exceptionally cruel task before his Dharmakaya!
Killing Gu Xiaosang would bring no peace to his heart, and all courage to resist would vanish. If he could kill Gu Xiaosang today, tomorrow he might have to kill Jiang Zhiwei, Ruan Yushu, Zhao Heng, Elder Brother Qi, Master, and Younger Brother. But if he did not kill her, he would die instantly, his body destroyed.
He must find a way to escape from the Master of the Sixfold Samsara. He could only attempt to escape, or else both his body and soul would be enslaved. Though it seemed full of opportunities and cultivation advancement, in reality, it was no different from being a puppet, a life worse than death!
Yet he was not yet prepared, had not yet followed the planned steps to deceive the Sixfold Samsara gradually. Even with his Earth body as his most secret and probably most crucial trump card, he had not yet learned “Past Events Fade Like Smoke and Dust,” nor did he know the specifics of what precautions were needed upon the return of the Great Powers, nor the layout of the mysterious Great Being behind it all. To act rashly would disrupt all calculations and timing, making it almost a suicide mission, even if the Sixfold Samsara was currently weakened!
At this moment, Meng Qi suddenly thought of the “Lord Lingbao” Chong He Daoist, understanding his feelings when he sat alone in a quiet room, gazing into the void, repeatedly whispering to himself, “If the Sixfold Samsara Master gives a mission that violates one’s true heart, such as killing one’s parents or betraying one’s sect, what should one do?”
He must have felt the same as Meng Qi now, the same grief and anger, the same dilemma between two difficult choices. With his strength, cultivation level, and experience in the cycle, he must have had a backup plan, but still had not been fully prepared. In the end, he listened to the voice of his heart, choosing to break rather than bend. Throughout history, the hardest choice was death itself!
Yes, throughout history, the hardest choice was death itself!
Living one’s life seeking vengeance and gratitude, living gloriously and passionately. Better to die standing than live kneeling. Having lived two lives, I’ve already gained more than I deserved!
Meng Qi quietly clenched his fists, his gaze suddenly turning calm:
When endurance reaches its limit, there’s no need to endure further. When retreat is no longer possible, one must live by facing death!
The Cycle Talisman had two months, extendable by a year, while the mission itself had a one-year interval, totaling two years and two months. This might be the last two years and two months of his life. He must seize every second, making the best preparations!
He couldn’t pretend to be indifferent, or the Sixfold Samsara would suspect him. Yet he couldn’t reveal all preparations openly, for that would equate to suicide.
The most concealed and crucial method was his Earth body, which absolutely could not be exposed, so it absolutely could not be used.
Secondly, the Dao Yi Seal was the main manifestation of the “Cause of All Results,” entering its path extremely difficult, surpassing “Only I Am Supreme.” Especially below the Dharmakaya level, causal involvement was relatively minimal. Normally, he would need at least three to five more years to preliminarily master it. Therefore, he needed to re-enter the “Investiture Era,” seeking the Yuxu Palace, obtaining the Pangu Seal and the Four Symbols Seal, gathering the Eight Seals to approach Yuanshi, which should greatly accelerate the cultivation speed of the Dao Yi Seal.
At that time, outwardly he would be intensifying his cultivation, striving to quickly cross the third Celestial Ladder, becoming a Half-Dharmakaya, gaining recognition from the Hegemon’s Blade, obtaining the “Past Events Fade Like Smoke and Dust,” while secretly using the Dao Yi Seal as the foundation to create a similar technique himself. As the “Cause of All Results,” its mastery over past and future was absolutely superior to the Hegemon’s.
Meanwhile, he still needed to utilize the Dao Yi Seal, rooted in the Yellow Spring bones, to locate the reincarnation of the Evil God Huangquan. By glimpsing into Zhenwu’s ultimate fate, he sought to determine whether this Emperor had left behind any arrangements or legacies, thereby fortifying his own power.
Then, he also needed to seek out Gao Lan for the Mirror of This Life, studying it together with his fragment of the Mirror of the Next Life, to prevent other hidden dangers.
These secret endeavors might not necessarily escape the Sixfold Samsara’s notice, but their existence would cover up the Earth body, diverting the Sixfold Samsara’s attention. At that time, he could openly build a road while secretly crossing the river, seemingly severing the past connections and Sixfold Samsara’s shackles of this body to prevent the return of the Great Powers and the manipulation of the Sixfold Samsara, but actually transferring his Yuan Shen (True Spirit) and cutting the connection between his Earth body and this body, thus gaining rebirth.
Of course, to show that these efforts were his “secret” preparations, he currently had to pretend to be casually forging the Moral Ice Sword and restoring the Seven Kill Stele.
“Little monk, are you okay?” Jiang Zhiwei pursed her lips, looking at Meng Qi.
Meng Qi withdrew his gaze and “smiled,” saying, “The death mission is to kill the Great Luo Demoness. It’s truly a case of settling old scores. However, the Eternal Mother seems to be returning. None of the ancient Great Beings are simple characters. Sigh…”
He didn’t hear, nor did he want to ask about the rewards for completing the mission, because there was no need.
Jiang Zhiwei and Ruan Yushu looked at Meng Qi with clear eyes, as if recalling various rumors and gossip, yet ultimately choosing to trust their companion, both comforting him by saying, “The mission is in our own world; we can ask for help, so it’s not too difficult.”
“Mm.” Meng Qi nodded, watching them both exchange a year of time, leaving the rest of their merits, and choosing different reincarnation worlds.
Quietly watching their every move and expression, Meng Qi suddenly felt calm, his heart at peace, enjoying what might be his final life of less than three years.
In the not-so-distant future, perhaps they would all be separated forever… As emotions surged within Meng Qi, he suddenly spoke out, “Zhiwei, Yushu, Old Five…”
After calling out, he didn’t know what else to say.
“Little monk, what is it?” Jiang Zhiwei looked at Meng Qi in confusion, while Ruan Yushu and Zhao Heng also turned their gazes toward him.
Meng Qi smiled, “Be extremely cautious while cultivating within the reincarnation world.”
When the moment came, words faltered.
“Just to say that?” Jiang Zhiwei couldn’t help but laugh, knowing that Meng Qi would go to the Immortal Trace first, sell off the remaining items, and quickly forge his divine weapon.
Ruan Yushu’s gaze was as gentle as water. After a pause, she said, “You too, be careful.”
Watching them leave, Meng Qi closed his eyes briefly, his expression suddenly darkening as he stepped out of the Reincarnation Plaza.
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