However.
Rip-!
The teleportation scroll in his robe was ripped by Feng Wuqing, who was smiling.
His pupils shrank.
—-
"An emergency teleportation? What could it be-!"
BOOM!
The entire mountain was directly incinerated.
—-
Those other two Law Realm experts who were killed first never got the chance to self-destruct, their heads directly crushed.
She deliberately allowed him to live for an extra moment, if only to crush his very existence by his own hand.
The Frigate-Class Interceptors above tried to teleport away, but the void was locked down by the Warship which had, while Liu Gang and Yui Luo were boarded, formed an anchoring chain to them, meaning they could not teleport without taking the warship alongside it, and they did not have power to forcefully teleport the warship as well.
Those warriors on the two frigates were directly slaughtered, leaving nothing but bones as their flesh was carved away by Shou Xin's Sword Domain.
"A-, ah… gods… gods…!"
"Spare us please-, anything… anything we can give!"
"....mother…"
"Waaaaaah!"
Blood rained upon the freed Weapon Slaves, the blood of those who had oppressed them, and all they felt was not relief, but fear.
He was but another tyrant, here seeking power.
He was but another… evil.
Standing atop the yong sword spirit, an eastern dragon, Fukkatsu, Shou Xin hovered above the ground.
The warship flew down slowly behind him, the sun glaring down.
His body was illuminated, and his body dark.
His lips moved, an indifferent voice leaving like a cold breeze which on a hot day was a blessing, and on a cold day a new suffering.
"Carving flesh again and again. Why should I spare any of you? Tell me. Are you all innocent?"
The unbearable pressure which had enveloped the area made those below unable to speak. The two law experts had been impaled and posted on either flank of him.
A bloodstained god.
"You are innocent. You do not deserve this fate. You were robbed by the Great Path's favoured children."
Step by bloody step, he descended.
The destroyed illusory cherry blossom turned into small motes of dust behind him and the ground turned crimson with streams of blood.
"I am no god. I was innocent, but made to be stained by the fate that dared treat me like some sort of material to be forged. I have accepted my stains."
Tap.
His foot, at last touched the land, the earth of which all beings in this world were born, and to where many returned in the end.
"I will lay out my life before the universe and show it the error in it's ways. It should never have tested my will. I am no material to be forged, but an unbending, unbreaking mass of rage."
His voice slowly began to build as his arm raised, his open palm slowly turning into a fist.
"Now tell me. Will you submit as materials before the universe, or will you fight and lay out your life before the universe alongside my own? Will you forfeit, or will you fight!"
His words were not roar, yet they called like thunder.
His tone was not special, yet it roused them to action.
His methods were not noble, yet it inspired them to move!
He did not offer them salvation, nor promises of false peace.
He offered them war.
He offered them… vengeance.
To scream into the silence, and hear their roar echo forever into eternity.
Their very souls burned, from the youngest child to the eldest among them.
They did not know what to call him. But the burning in their chests told them a single thing. The being before them. The young man who stood looking to the sky in defiance.
That man.
He was to be their… goal.
There was nothing for them to do…
…but bow.
—
One week later.
Yanhu City.
Yan Clan, Clanhall.
"...another mine was destroyed. Another set of sky ships taken. Everyday, we lose more and more, we cannot continue in this manner."
"Diplomat. As you know, my Yan Clan is putting forth it's full effort, not a single Elder is left in the clan now, all of them out searching, the ruined city is watched at all times. The information we get from the External Affairs Ministry has not served us, either." Yan Menge sat upon his throne coldly looking down with flashing eyes.
"The External Affairs Ministry has also taken losses. A total of ninety of their Law Realm operatives have been killed over the last month in the constant daily battles. Now, a large detachment force is arriving to defend the remaining mines."
"How many?"
"Thirty Law Realm operatives lead by an Unchained Expert. A warship escorted by ten frigate-class interceptors each carrying a hundred Sixth Class and above chain experts."
"They've sent out quite the sizable force, then." Yan Mengde rested his head on his fist, "I will send our Elder's to join them."
"Indeed. You will."
Crash!
The gates of the clanhall closed and a statue shattered just as it did!
"Bastards!" Risen to his feet like a lightning bolt Yan Mengde felt nothing short of pure, unadulterated rage, "They blame us for their failed information network and flawed defense over the mines? The sheer arrogance!"
"Father."
"What! You little disgrace!"
"Allow me to join the subjugation."
"...what?"
"I will bring honor to the clan by bringing back my unruly ex-fiance and her lover on pikes to be dried at the gates."
"Hmph. Then go, you damned child. Go now! Out of my sight!"
Crash!
—
Old Sea Spring City.
A pittance of defense was gathered around the city with perhaps a single Law Expert among the thousands of chain experts.
With the Cloud Faring Sect having backed off, it was no wonder that such little support was given to it's defense, especially since the Feng remained indifferent to what was going on, uninterested in it.
A single, overpowering presence sat cross legged upon a spear hanging in the sky, waiting.
"Savior."
His voice escaped his lips leisurely, "Speak."
"The Southern Hallmaster has begun to move in spirit."
"So the Exiled Court has expanded its resources of experts in this small frontier and are now leveraging the forces of the south themselves."
"It would appear that a demon incursion has also begun around the south as well, Savior. What are your orders?"
He had to take a moment of pause then.
To battle for the Exiled Realm, despite it being his birth place, was a decision not be taken lightly.
With the secret of his flesh exposed to the Cloud Faring Sect Master, it was only a matter of time before word got around and those powerhouses from within the Exiled Court, the true powers controlling the Exiled Realm descended to turn his body into a miracle elixir.
Becoming a blood puppet for them did not sound useful at all to his aims.
"You are all dismissed. Your debts are paid."
He waved his sleeve and slowly closed his eyes, a hydra appearing beneath his feet.
"Savior. We wish to stay at your side."
"Hm?" His eyes narrowed, "Why?"
One had to know that these followers of his who called him savior only stepped on this path to repay their debts and nothing more, many of them even had families and such.
It was when he was weaker and younger that he had leveraged that debt to increase his power, but it was wrong to do so any longer.
"Savior… we have never felt this strong before. Battling against the heavens for control of our fates, we cannot stop now and do not want to continue without you to guide us. Please."
Hu Ji frowned deeply.
All he could see were casualties in the making, and for a moment he wondered how his foe must have felt when those who followed him chose to stay and take that oath they wore so proudly.
His heart twisted as he was reminded of those he lost on the path, and wondered how his foe felt as his own fell.
Was he also this enraged? Saddened?
No.
He remembered those unfeeling eyes.
It's impossible.
Before him, everyone looked like corpses on their feet, but their eyes filled with conviction could sway even him, forcing him to take a colder stance.
"I will not be responsible for your lives. If I am chased and need to escape I will leave you behind. If you die, I will not grieve."
"That is fine, Savior. We do not seek recompense. These actions we choose ourselves, with no regret in sight."
His displeasure was clearly shown on his face, yet it was not quite clear to they, who bowed so sincerely.
"As you see fit."
They brightened.
"Yes, Savior!"
"Stop calling me that. I am no longer your savior, debts are repaid."
"...Spear Dragon."
—
Her head laid just beneath his chin within the exquisitely decorated innermost room.
Warmth flourished in his chest, a well-needed break from the bloodshed and life he chose, but was chosen for and now walked.
Villain.
Monster.
Demon.
Devil.
He was called by many names, however.
"Hubby?"
This one…. This one was the one he felt most in his very soul. It made it jump like a child with his favorite thing in the world, but he was no child.
He was a man smitten with this beautiful vixen, yet in his eyes all that reflected were her many phases and complexities, he did not see just the vixen, but the weedy woman she once was, the smitten girl who chased him into the night and cried for his heart.
He saw her for everything she had shown him, and then looked some more, searching for the rest of the universe within her left to be revealed.
He reveled in her company, blissful in her wake and waiting in her times away.
"I'm here."
Leaving a little kiss on her lips, he smiled.
She tasted of fine wine and smelled of bloody flowers, the little cat charm from long ago was still visible between her chest hidden in the valley.
"Good."
She snuggled closer, rubbing her face into his chest before hugging him tightly enough to almost break him, almost.
Pfft-!
He let out a sharp breath and she smiled, laughing away at his distress, yet he found it a bit funny and laughed voraciously as he wrapped his arms around her and did the same.
At some point, they became entangled once again.
Yin met Yang in a place where none did dare tread.
She was standing, clothed and fixing her ruffled hair, a blushing look on her face as she spoke.
"...We've been so much more active lately." Her words flowed like a turbulent river, as though to show some sort of concern.
His pupils shrank, as he realized what it might be and spoke cautiously.
"...child?"
She slowly turned around, and shook her head.
"I have wanted to tell you this for a while but," His eyes widened further as he prepared for a consequence he had not foreseen in the midst of his many battles, "I am barren."
His insides seemed to shatter as he caught his own words in his throat, already preparing to give an answer to a different response he had expected.
Barren.
Unable to give life.
Nothingness.
He quickly understood why.
The World Devouring Physique of a Taotie.
Nothing could grow within her, without being devoured in it's entirety, the Yang to mix with Yin and create life was directly eviscerated and devoured.
Rather than barren… she just could not.
Swiftly he appeared before her, holding her close.
He did not know of the pains of being unable to give birth, since in truth he did not wish for a child yet, or perhaps not at all. With the fate awaiting them, it would be unwise to have a child unless one hated them so truly as to throw them into the riveting tide.
"...I don't think we can have a child as it is. But once I can control it-!"
"You don't need to push yourself," He stopped her before she could spiral, being a powerful cultivator did not aid one in all matters, "Child or no child. I will remain. Take it slowly. We have thousands of years to figure it out, don't we? Even Taotie's can have children too, so why couldn't you?"
She searched his eyes for a place to rest her fears, and found nothing but places, nothing but endless room to sit and be loved.
In his eyes where others found a barren wasteland of screaming anguish and brutalized dreams she found an endless expanse welcoming her everything, no matter what it may be, she found solace.
"...I want to go and see my grandfather." Gripping him tightly, he didn't make a noise.
"Then, we'll go." He leaned forward whispering in her ear as he held her within his warm embrace, "I will prepare gifts."
"What of the Exiled Realm hunting us?" Her upturned gaze caught his as they separated slightly.
"To the dogs with them." His loving gaze was stoked with the flames of hatred towards those who made his beloved worry so, "We are free."
From a long ways away, a voice spoke quietly, yet they could hear it.
"Patriarch. The peoples have been sent into the Demon Realm safely alongside the captured interceptors." It was a familiar guard, the same who had once stood guard at the entrance of the Bamboo Forest, and then at the Heart Mind Pagoda.
Winds gathered and words carried into his mind as though whispering.
"We are heading into the Demon Realm briefly for some business and then heading west. It will take a few short days."
"Yes, Patriarch."
—
"Mother! There are even more dignitaries trying to make their way into the hall to ask about that traitorous Sword Devil!"
"Bunch of flies." Muzondang replied frigidly.
She was not in a good mood.
Ever since they had secretly destroyed those participating clans from the surface and pinned it on the Sword Devil Shou and the Bewitching Vixen Feng, they had been swamped by requests for information about where in Baylen's Rest they resided.
The noble families sought to give presents and the surface coalition wanted to exact revenge for this slap to their face!
One had to know that whilst smaller clans or such didn't care much about face, as they didn't have much, as one grew stronger and their ego advanced, one tried to become more demure and regal causing the value of their face to soar in their own minds.
Such were cultivators.
A slap like this could not be tolerated, and the elder's would not step forward as it would harm their face and so they only wished to send their juniors out to battle.
Afterall, there would be nothing more disgraceful than to send an elder to battle a junior.
It would mean their younger generation was lacking, and by extension, they were lacking.
So here they were again, seeking for information, in specific, the youths had come again looking for the man they sought to battle.
Sword Devil Shou.
His blade of starlight was invisible when it moved, only seen by those it slew.
"Should I just tell them?" Maqi frowned, all of the constant hounding had made her quite irate recently as well, though she couldn't simply slaughter these men as she wished.
"No." Lady Mu slowly began to smile, "We don't need to."
"Warship! My lady, a large warship is approaching alongside tens of interceptors from the Exiled Realm!"
She waved off the guards concerned, even dismissing his rude behavior in breaking into the room due to her good mood.
"Summon the sword attendant."
"Yes, Ma'am!"
Sweating, the guard vanished from her sight as fast as he could.