“The Scar of Heaven” returned to its sheath. Meng Qi closed his eyes, feeling the threads of karmic connection attached to him breaking away, returning to the Thunder God of the Nine Heavens, twisting into knots, and vanishing together.
Yet, one particularly strong and resentful karmic thread remained firmly attached to Meng Qi, impossible to shake off or sever, having already become part of his own karmic destiny.
His vision shifted. Meng Qi seemed to see a filthy, stinking little beggar, oppressed daily by the Beggar Sect, often going hungry, living a painful life devoid of light.
One day, a passing carriage splashed him with filth. As he stood dazed, the carriage stopped, and a beautiful woman with an elegant bun stepped out. She possessed a gentle temperament and an alluring figure, dressed in simple white, exquisitely charming.
Gracefully approaching the little beggar, she did not scold him but instead pitied his emaciated and battered form.
Without hesitation, she took the little beggar’s hand and led him into the carriage, declaring her intent to rescue him from his suffering.
At that moment, in the little beggar’s heart, she was a true fairy, the Goddess of Mercy—Guanyin Bodhisattva!
For her, he diligently practiced martial arts. For her, he nurtured his health. That night, red candles burned high, and her white dress was shed, revealing a body of infinite beauty… This became the little beggar’s most cherished memory.
But the world is imperfect, and beauty does not last. The little beggar discovered she had many lovers and male partners, often indulging in passionate nights filled with wanton sounds and desires.
Jealousy and pain corroded the little beggar’s heart. He realized only by doubling his martial arts training could he earn her favor, and only by becoming a prominent figure in the sect could he monopolize her and assist her cultivation.
Opportunity arrived when the little beggar was assigned to contemplate the “Invincible Blade.”
Within the Su Nu Sect, anyone showing potential could attempt to contemplate it, hoping to awaken the blade.
Before the “Invincible Blade,” the hopeful little beggar gained nothing, just like others. Yet, at his most desperate moment, he mysteriously entered a mysterious realm, obtaining the introductory part of the “Purple Lightning Skill.” Mistaken for someone who had awakened the blade, he gained the attention and support of Xuan Nu and the Joyful Bodhisattva, receiving unprecedented resources and the physical offerings of many beautiful and skilled “Bodhisattvas” from the Joyful Sect.
Power, status, respect, and beauty—all descended upon the little beggar, teaching him what it meant to truly live and enjoy life. He indulged in these pleasures, losing all loyalty to his original “fairy,” now desiring only to possess her.
But the little beggar clearly knew that all he cherished came from the “Invincible Blade” and the possibility of becoming a successor to the Thunder God and the Invincible King. If exposed or replaced, he would become just another ordinary male partner, cast into oblivion.
Had he never tasted enjoyment, he would not fear loss. This principle works both ways. Filled with anxiety, the little beggar actively sought and practiced the “Purple Thunder Blade Technique,” hoping that once his skill matured, the Purple Lightning would transform his body and the “Invincible Blade” would recognize him as the true successor.
Though the eighth and ninth strikes of the “Purple Thunder Blade” carried great risks, consuming his lifespan, the now-outer-scenery little beggar still barely succeeded after countless near-death experiences. When he finally mastered these two techniques, a mysterious connection formed between him and the “Invincible Blade.”
Overjoyed, he soon received terrible news—the true successor of the Thunder God had appeared!
Having already become the “Thunder God of the Nine Heavens,” he had long considered the “Invincible Blade” and its inheritance his own. Naturally unwilling to let go, hatred and jealousy consumed him, giving rise to murderous intent—thus leading to the events that followed!
This karmic thread instantly flashed through Meng Qi’s mind, revealing what he must now bear:
“Once again contemplate the ‘Invincible Blade’ and attempt to obtain its inheritance!”
Such karmic burdens did not require fulfilling the other’s wish completely. Meng Qi only needed to contemplate the “Invincible Blade” once; whether he obtained the inheritance was not essential.
Of course, there were also karmic threads like those of the Wang Clan’s ancestor, protecting his family through calamities, or ensuring the safety and prosperity of one’s wife and children. These were complex and could not be simply summarized.
“Contemplating the ‘Invincible Blade’ within the Su Nu Immortal Realm…” Meng Qi sighed. “The cost of killing via karmic threads is indeed enormous, practically forcing me into a den of tigers and dragons. If I fail within three years, the karmic backlash will leave me without a grave!”
No wonder it was called the “Unsolvable Blade”—it asked only about karma, not strength!
It could transcend levels, as long as the opponent could withstand it without too great a disparity.
Meng Qi opened his eyes, gazing at the corpse of the “Thunder God of the Nine Heavens” on the ground, now restored to existence, his expression solemn as he murmured, “I killed your body; now I bear your karma.”
Deceased: Mythical “Thunder God of the Nine Heavens,” an outer-scenery disciple of the Su Nu Sect.
Appearance: No wounds, no breath.
Cause of death: Unknown.
Killer: “Wild Blade” Su Meng.
…
Xuannü’s manifestation was exchanging glances with Jiang Zhiwei when her expression suddenly changed. She raised her hand, and a black handkerchief flew forth. Below, in the courtyard, a corpse and a figure appeared.
“Has the Howling Moon Divine Dog died? And he too?”
Only Su Meng remained alive!
Two top experts who had crossed the first Heaven Ladder used secret treasures to ambush an outer-scenery who had only recently broken through less than a year ago. Yet both ended up defeated and slain!
Meng Qi looked up at Xuannü’s manifestation and Jiang Zhiwei. His right hand immediately went to his blade, his aura deepening once more, his eyes filled with brilliant karmic threads as he declared loudly, “Senior, I warned you long ago—your karma is too heavy!”
Clang! The long blade left its sheath!
Xuannü’s manifestation’s pupils constricted. Glancing at the unmarked Thunder God of the Nine Heavens, she seemed to understand something. Instantly, immortal energy surrounded her, and she vanished into the void, fleeing before Jiang Zhiwei could react.
The “Polarity Separation Kerchief” was left unclaimed, slowly drifting downward.
She fled so desperately that she abandoned this uniquely powerful treasure, unable to maintain her refined and ethereal immortal aura!
Given Xuannü’s numerous and heavy karmic threads, Meng Qi didn’t even need to take them all—just a few threads would suffice to trigger a backlash. The consequences would be dire. Even if the current Xuannü’s true body could withstand it, her manifestation was certainly doomed!
Most critically, if the karmic backlash struck Xuannü’s manifestation, it would easily affect her true body, as their karmic connections were inherently intertwined!
In that case, even if the current Xuannü survived, she would suffer gravely!
Thus, after her manifestation fled, Xuannü fully activated her bamboo staff divine weapon, sweeping away the myriad killing energies like the golden crow sword qi, forcing back Yun He Zhenren. Her manifested Su Nu Immortal Realm suddenly contracted, clouds dispersing as she was enveloped, vanishing into the void in an instant!
Yun He Zhenren had no intent to fight to the death. Gazing thoughtfully at the vanished Xuannü, he seemed lost in thought.
“You scared her off again,” Jiang Zhiwei’s beautiful eyes flickered between Meng Qi and the corpse of the Thunder God of the Nine Heavens, seemingly understanding something. Knowing Meng Qi well, she sensed he had mostly been bluffing just now, so she smirked mockingly at Xuannü.
Meng Qi smiled, “One who lives without guilt fears no karmic blade.”
At his current level, he could originally bear only one karmic burden. That meant before contemplating the “Invincible Blade,” using the “Karmic Adhesion” again would cause a backlash, leading to his death without injury. However, Meng Qi cultivated the “Primordial Golden Scripture” as an auxiliary path, forming the “Immortal Primordial Image,” which contained a hint of the essence of all karmic causes. Thus, he could currently bear two karmic burdens. Had Xuannü’s manifestation not fled, he truly would have dared to strike!
With Yun He Zhenren present, Meng Qi could not explain these details to Jiang Zhiwei, so he glossed over them vaguely.
Jiang Zhiwei landed in the courtyard, glancing once more at the Thunder God of the Nine Heavens’ corpse, and sighed, “If I had faced two such enemies attacking together, even exhausting my most treasured techniques and treasures, I might only wound one and fight the other to mutual destruction.”
After becoming an outer-scenery, the Sword-Washing Pavilion naturally rewarded her, including not only cultivation methods but also other treasures, so this statement was made with confidence, yet she acknowledged her inferiority to Meng Qi.
“Without opportunity, I would be the same,” Meng Qi smiled, collecting the “Polarity Separation Kerchief” and the jade rings of the Thunder God of the Nine Heavens and the Howling Moon Divine Dog, then removing the Thunder God’s mask.
It was a pale, twisted face—handsome yet fierce.
As the face became clear, the corpse spontaneously combusted, turning to ashes.
Yun He Zhenren flew down, stroking his beard and saying, “This world is truly dangerous. Going out, I meet the current Xuannü.”
Smiling at Meng Qi, he implied his contribution to the battle.
Meng Qi’s eyelid twitched—he was taking credit! Suggesting he had contributed the most, otherwise the outcome would have been drastically different!
Could it be a three-seven split? Meng Qi felt his heart ache.
Sighing, Yun He Zhenren said, “The ‘Primordial Unity Upper Clarity Divine Talisman’ is not like a divine weapon—it diminishes with each use.”
Meng Qi exchanged glances with Jiang Zhiwei. Seeing her silently confirm, he reluctantly said, “Thank you, Master, we’ll follow our agreement.”
“No need for that. The old Daoist will take only one item; the rest are yours,” Yun He Zhenren chuckled.
How could you, an elder, “compete” with a younger generation for spoils of war? While thinking this, Meng Qi asked, “Which item?”
Yun He Zhenren pointed at the black kerchief, “The ‘Polarity Separation Kerchief’ seems to resonate with the old Daoist.”
Though a valuable auxiliary treasure, it wasn’t urgently needed by Meng Qi. Heaved a sigh of relief, he handed over the “Polarity Separation Kerchief” and casually asked, “Master, how many times can the talisman still be used?”
This affected his future plans.
Yun He Zhenren happily pocketed the “Polarity Separation Kerchief” and said, “A few dozen to a hundred times or so.”
“A few dozen to a hundred times…” Meng Qi instinctively looked at Jiang Zhiwei, who also seemed stunned.
Their gazes conveyed the same thought:
Shameless! Cunning old fox!
Composing himself, Meng Qi took back the “Door of Ten Thousand Manifestations” from Jiang Zhiwei, “put away” Yun He Zhenren, and forcefully opened the two jade rings to seek the spoils.
The Thunder God of the Nine Heavens was nearly destitute, possessing only his jade ring, a “Thunder Blade” crackling with purple lightning on the ground, and a secret treasure of Yin Thunder in his hand, along with a single green healing pill.
However, the Howling Moon Divine Dog’s jade ring contained many fine treasures!
As Meng Qi sorted through them, he looked at Jiang Zhiwei and said, “You pick first.”
Though he was the one who killed them, Jiang Zhiwei had contributed by restraining them, making it a cooperative battle.
Jiang Zhiwei shook her head, “No need. You’ve expended greatly this time, and I suffered no losses. Besides, my master sent word—we are to return to the Sword-Washing Pavilion and no longer interfere. I can’t assist you further. Take plenty of secret treasures for safety.”
“Alright!” Meng Qi, weighing the situation, nodded without hesitation.
He felt deeply moved—this was a true companion! Nothing like that fake, inferior “grandpa” figure like Yun He Zhenren!
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